The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-05-17 00:00:00

31111E‘STATEVIIA N.

fi,rniili9,l6 'RAW lane Mi, fludliftresseiyebbwd it
-
!OPP Ri4)/Pleili hY .ille-frtebotam of Xer,k4tige.
who had loquesied him te,preseot a isetilion for ;lieut..;
HC (Mr. Coke) hall represented to them that they hsd
two very able end independeet representatives, and
who would give them setiefaetioe. They however
still mow* hjes.to pitiment ire audithey stated that
it we lestcoosie a roprgeented the greatest herleY
county in particularly repeeted
that he would melee knows to the county of Norfolk
the object of their petithin, which, as he had stated,
west to prarthat respectable men might be allowed
to brow beerifor sale. , because they thought it would'
increase the Aertestotptioo of that setts!.. Mr. Coke,
after reconmettdieg therwricultoriets to consult
ise for.
that purpose, concluded by saying, that shosid not
discharge Ms dety did he tiet on ail occusloos tell
them what be thought bemelleiel to their interests.—
(Applause.)
Mr. E. Hume Otitao, after themitipg 444.0.
trite. in his own name And in,that of the meeting for
signing the requisition, proceeded to move the resolu-
tions. He come .Ihevearel .the present occasion ee
the request of irony Venda. sitheOgh he felt .Ise self
but ill qualified to do justice to the object, but as It was
his practice never to shrink from the performance of any
duty his eeighboses thought .fit to entrust to hist
hand, he had .prApared Roma seseieliaes. which
should wish, if approved, tebe embodied in a petitiop;
bet before he read them be ehateld offer to the meeting
some remarks by way of preface. Upon this
most important subject it was nee sssss y for him
to 'smite it apparent what was the cause of the thews'
—from what that distress originated; and if it slid
appear to arise from taxation. his OW MAW .wool''
he to stew how those taxes were applied; sod if ap-
plied improperly, the necessity of reform Inuit be the
jest conclusion: And first as to the distress. If the
meeting looked from the highest to the Immo walk in
life—from the peer to the peasaat.ehey wveld Sad all
equally embarrassed. He was speaking of the landed
peer, nut feuded, the latter being well off at ,this
time. The man of Linded property was sufferin'
great dcpriration. He coald not collect his rents,
and in order to keep ep his establishments he mist
burrow the capital. If they earned their oheervatioa
to the middle class they would find their situation
more deplorable—distress increasing, ruin fast ap-
proaching; and if they enqnired into the cause of,this
distress, they find it proceeded from an enormous tax.
ation. To establish Ibis fart he had made an accurate
'calculation of the direct and indirect taxation he paid.
and he found it amounted to the enormous este of
1100/. per artisans. He snide this declaration too,in the
teeth of the bill of fare of the Duke of Buckingham.
!laving proved the cause of tliu distress to be taxation,
Lis meet object would be in a similar manner to prove
how it was applied, or rather misapplied. It had
been unblushingly asserted by Ministers, on the ques-
tion of the Postmasters General, that they were ne•
yto increase the influence of the Crown. He
(Mr. Gibbs) would be glad to know where the Go:
ternment obtained the power of supporting that nndnr
influence without the consent of the people. The pro-
ceeds of these taxes were swallowed up by • standing
army during'
peace. It was an unprecedented thing in
this country, as it was impossible the kingdom coati go
to war. Fur what reason was it that it was raised, hat to
keep down the Constitutional spirit of a justly indig-
nant people. It harrowed up his very blood wise; he
recollected for whom those taxes were gathered. For
those very men who possessed seats in the House: who
acted under the influence of those who pensioned
them oil. How could the House of Commons there-
fore, composed as it was, of the nominees of Peers, of
Borough-mongers and Pensioners ; how could lit res-
pond to the wishes of the people, while the Govern-
ment could so easily command a majority un all oc-
casions. If thus composed, and lie defied any person
to contradict him, how could that House be called the
fair representation of the people. In this outline be
proved that distress existed, that taxation was the
cause of the distress, and having proved that the taxes
were misapplied, it was right to conclude that the
only relief was to be expected from Reform in Par-
liament.

Mr. Ulnas then read the following resolutions:—
That this Meeting views, with feelings of the deep-
est regret, the distress and nub lent to which the
people of this once happy country are reduced, more es-
pecially- that branch of the community connected with
agriculture.
That this Meeting is of opinion, that this distress
and embarrassment are principally occasioned by the
immense weight of taxation, which presses with accu-
mulated and destructive force upon the middle and lower
dusts, while the proceeds of that taxation to a great
amount, it is unblushingly avowed, are lavished to in-
crease the influence of the Crown, and to obtain majori-
ties in the House of Commons; and as enormous mili-
tary force is maintained in the time of profound peace,
for no other possible object than that of subduing the
constitutional spirit of a justly indignant people.
That we can see no prospect of any mitigation in
the sufferings of the people, whilst this great defect exists
in the composition of the House of Commons; and that it
is therefore essential to the dignity of the crown, to
our happiness as a people, and to our existence as a
great nation, that such a reform should immediately take
place as swill cause the feelings and the interests of the
great body of the people to he fully represented in that
honourable house.

That a Remonstrance and Petition, expressing
these opinions and praying for such reform, be therefore
now agreed on, in order that it may be presented to the
House of Commons.

Mr. WALTER Tut:am:Lb, in seconding the resolu
tions,said, that having taken an active part in the bu
siness of the day, were lie to content himself with
simply seconding the resolutions, without offering any
observations upon them, he might be accused of an
indifference towards the object of the meeting, almost
amounting to stoicism. If the subject were not ex-
haustless, he should have found a considerable diffi-
culty in addressing the tweting„ after the able end
perspicuous manner in which the gentleman who
moved the resolutions bad submitted his remarks to
their notice.—That gentlemen Itad stated to them the
intimate connection there existed between the distress
and the cause—taxation, and their grievances he had
' traced up to the only legitimate source of the evil—
the eon-representation of the people in Parliament.'
He dweld endeavour to take a similar line of Argil. I
meat. always ditevping in view the one great object,
Parlisturotery. Iterwrin.7(Applatise.)—llut if he was
to pursue the subject through all its labyrinths,
through all its interesting reusilicati!tos, he should
pat their patience on the rack.—Jrhe public had been
lad atilt the transition, (rota war to peace had nem
,ioned the distress. Again they /sad been told, aid

dissultingly,teklohntAlstelismiwppieut thweptellelof $ll.
,distress *Welt Melt. e. we
bour,to ricer to the argument of .the Noble lewd (to
ether ignoble).Lord, who tells us that the yeoinatir.
%poet return to their smock frocks, or rattier to penu-
ey, Wretohedness, and want. 'I he statement of an-
ether snob a food, -the:linekinghato hill of fare, was
*pop an equality wit* theformer, who allow. a feriae,
of 400 acre, of land 601.,per annum to live upon. aced
this declaration too from a mat whose family art
drawing their subsistence from the pockets of the
people. This was the way in which the country were
treated by those very own who were tieing out of the
VIII aim,* of the people. lYlay had Ministers oppose.:
every wish for retrenchment, but because they felt it
would weaken their patronage? Why bad they op-
posed every redaction of taxation ?—because It was
their object to spend, not to.spa:v. Another point
Ip' the offices in the West Indies. held .by persons
who performed their,doty by deputy, a system of
patronage of an camomile extent. He (Mr. Thurtel:)
could not see why the expenses of the Imvernearnt of
this country should not be conducted with as little ex•
YO as that America.latter amonoted to
pelf of The
46,0001. the former to 000.400/. Ile wonitl not dwell
atany knob on the subject he WA+ now adiont to
speak neon, our did he intend to tucks any invi.lious
comparisons. lie considered the corruption of the
chard' to have a considerable share in the. cause .f!
the dia:resl, inasmuch as it possessed an undue. i.utl
eutte.; and he must be allowed to th.t he indulged
a hope that some commutation of tithe would en.
tercel upon, and instead of the shearers, the clergy
would 'become the shepherds of the flock —(hear, ap•
pietist.) Public charities were also a subject of mach
abuse. ft would be in the recolleetion of the meet
ing, that ehont two years since Mr. ilroagliato pro-
posed that these charities should be investigated.—
What was the result? Ten Co ..tatissioners were ap•
pointed with a salary of 1000/. each for this porpese,
and 841001. for contingent expenses. Suppose them
to be all honest men, and that they proceeded to the
examination of the 7090 charides, it would have
taken them 40 years .to bare investiguted all. at the
rate of three per week. But what was the consequence
—the benefii to accrue? Why the money went into
the pockets of. the Commissioners. This was the way
in ouch the corruption of the House of Commons
was still kept np, and chis investigation would cost
the country at the conclusion of the forty years,
720,00111. The most simple plan would have been.
sod one which an idiot would have imagined, was to
allow every parish to examine the accounts of its
charities. Thus the public would have had an eye
to the frauds, and the expense would have been spared.
lie now rants to the question of reform. He :Host con-
gratulate all on the changes of the signs in the times ;
that change was rapidly going on, and he hoped to
see it spreading more and more powerfully, The
glorious minority on the motive of Lord .1. Russell,
was a proof pinkies that the change was tepidly in-
xreasing. -A radical reform could only save the coun-
try from lacing driven to a state of destetectiop. hot lie
hoped that ere long they Would see the sun of thecm;-
stitution rise in undiminished splendour, and dissipate
all the mists of corrals:hoe. If they-looked at home
they would there see the wonderful •ohange.takins.
place. There were but a few who were not included
"In MC change, and they it ere those who were fatten-,
ing upon the corruption ; tie remainder were with
them. But their reasons •for opposition might be lu-
dicrously described by the following stara
" I do Dot like the., Doctor Fell, • t
Tb• reason why, I cannot tell,
lint I do not like thee, Doctor Fell."—(Applause.)
They were persons who said the reforatem were not
loyal ; bat these men were gradually changing their
opinions, and be was quite ready to extend the right
hand of fellowship to all. A most forcible writer,
Junius, had said, and it was a simile now fully exem-
plified, that " the flaming loyalist, who **late scorch-
ed us in the meridian, is now gradually sinking to the
West, and is hardly felt as be descends."—(Applause.)
—Mr. T. then read several quotations from -,nlinent
writers to prove the necessity of reform. lie load thus
stated his opinions upon thin most important subject.
which Le thought would add greater splendour in the
Crown. lie trusted that the idle fit of spleen would
ever pass by him as the wind which he regarded not,
lint while he discharged his duty in an upright and
conscientious manner, he should ever be able to disre-
gard and to defy any person who might point at him
the finger of scorn, of contumely, and contetnpt.—
(Applause )—He (Mr. Tburtell) did think that re-
form would add a ray of splendour to the Crown of
these realms, for no government was stable tv!inse
foundation was not raised upon the broad basis of
time, and upon the hearts of the people. It the
country was but firm, the principles they advocated
would rise irresistible ; and be would exhort the meet-I

ing, in the words of the dying hero of Trafalgar,
" England experts that every man, in every place.
should do his thlty."—(Hear, applause.).—eThe resolti•
Lions were then put seriatim, and passed unanimously.
Mr. Yonsict said, that notwithstanding all the argil.
ments which heal been so ably brought forward by the
mover and seconder of the resolutions, be still, in pro-
posing the petition, should beg to offer some observo-
tions on taxation and reform. His first object would
be to consider in what manner taxation bore upon all,
fur it was not only in the reduction of taxation that
the bilgdous must look to, but they must go iinniedi-
::.tely to the ruot of the evil, and enquire the cause
of the taxation, and the only cause was the uon-rep.e-
sentation of the people. Mr. Young was of opiniu.l
that every liousenolder °ugh• to possess the right of
voting at an election, as he was subject to the imposi-
tion of taxes by the Parliament. Could the meeting
suppose for a Moment that if there had been • reform
that Ministers would have been allowed to tax Ame-
rica when she possessed not the power of sending
Members to Parliament to gamed her interests?—Sot
A single Ministerial man uoul.l be found who could
adduce any forcible argument in mite defence of such
a principle. The American war was undertaken
spun the most destructive principle of compelling per-
s..s to pay taxes who possessed no share in the repre-
sentation, end be (Mr. Y.) considered Mr. Coke's
opposition to that war as one of the brightest laurels
on his brow. That war had increased the debt of this
country to 900 millions. It was necessary for every
0011 to know, although perhaps souse of the company
might be acqnainted with the fact, that 556•Marobere
wf tJu House of Commons were returned by 140,000

la sae. He mod i ask W t is was a We haeareent.- -
wive of the people. How could • people he declared •
to he nspresentrai when the majority of the Moues
were elected by 8000 pantries only ? With regard to .
the revenne..coold it be,believeri, but it WAR a fact,
that in 1710 the d,•*.t of this country arecomted to
3.304.6731. and in the Imo year the canto-deo of tole
revenue alone amounted to 4,253.6!•0/ Tibia was one
species of Marro:lt. The lion. Deist who voted wi h
the Ministers danced at the Treasury fur the patron-
age which the collet-6,m of the revenue gave them the
poirer to bestow. .% anther entirety of indnence was tit"
East ladies. Ile had been is that itereice, sad knew
that every thin; was gained by iudnance; ereiorty
nor talent were of no avail. In liPid Mr. Pitt ob-
tained Car government some power in. the India al-
tars—the coaseeneace was, that the•patronaoe of .
this company Illeeed into the House of Conimoi.s, brad
persons obtaiuetiseats bymeansofthieratronage. This,
if neceseary, he could prove satisfactorily. Waathis dm
real representation of the people? WMg it to be tolerated
that the seats of the House of Commons were to be
bought and sold like cattle ?---(llear.) •It was this
powerful patronage which enabird Ministers to com-
mand those vast majoriti ai ; but a licht new •seerned
to be breaking in opon the country. The agricultur-•
fists seemed to be improving in their knowledge of
thesvtem of government. !they who alert oppc- el
to the petition were now becoming of th,ir opinion.
Ise (Mr. Young) felt prom) of tl is ; ha coasidered it ,
to he a sunny proof that the mind of the country had
become Italie Ittened, and he sincerely trusted that this
knowledge would cotaitate to shed its rays until
the whole kingdom became enlightened.—(Applanee.)
And he trusted that as they had roused themselves
from that kind of lethargic sleep. to wl•ich they
had so long been seta:ref, they would never again fall
into a similar slumber. When lie called to Ida mindthe
mom who at this time hold the reins of government,
whoolte saw that nothing had been done by them
that tended in the smallest degree to relieve the
Country, be did anxiously hope that the kingdom
would never refrain front petitioning Parlictirmt
statil they obtained the full enjoyment of their tight'
and. privileges. Mr. Yowl; ccr.ee;ved tl.at those
Members who bad so strenuously opposed the ?resent.
system of patronage, and who had advocated the cause
Of retrenchment, richly deserved the thauks of tier
country, nod he u ao *sawed that they would receive the
thanks of the major' yof the people. 1-!le lion. C•nt.'
theta referred to the suhjezt of the representelion of
Soothed. lie went on at great length to describe the
manifest non-represerstatioo .of the country. In tile-
comity tef Dumbarton there were only eleven voters,
and ohly these persons had a vote in the counties who:
held land •nder the Crown. and it 'watered tint the-
greatest tumbtr of voters wise HO. lie contended
that Mr. Pitt went to war with France to pot down
the rising spirit of liberty in that country:: aril that'
the pretended opening of the Scheldt • nos merely a
rasa subterfuge, in the hope of subduing tile theist
1
rising spirit of freedom in this country. ' heir. Young,
:after some further remarks on the subject of reform,
which we arc, for want of room, obliged to rattail, anti
upon the system now pursued by Minitters in the rr.
caption of petitions and upon the exertions of MI I.
Harne in the cansemf "commit. and retrenchment, read
Issisttition, found. I on the resolutions. • . , 3,1. ' •
'Mr. GARWOOD rose for the first Limo Pritlililot tO EV
dress a public meeting. fie did so undet coilikkft."
'able dilhenity, and mast therefore claim 'fbe indol:
geoce of the meeting. Mr. Garwood began by al.
lading to the inequality of the repreeentition. Mar-
cbester, a place which was inhatafteill by 90,009 per.
sons, sent na representatives to Parliament;' While the
•boroughs ofeastle !tieing and Old Sarum, places
whem there were scarcely any inhabitants, sent each
:taromembers. It was impossible for any person to
toieterri that this was a fair representation of the pro-
,ple.• This was not the only ground upon which the
necessity of reform could he argued, cif the only ob-
jection that cones be made to the present fystetn.—
The chief oftj .ction urged against the prayeis fur re.
(Iran was, that no practical plan had heed proposed,
that•lt was two vaguely defined; but ' lie trotted *that
the country would not he deceived' by 'atich oppot;.
thin. The Minieteri too stated as an objection. that
the potpie ' who ' retreated this' reform had not a
clear idea of what they required, and that :he Ma-
tes,'" Was not sofficiently desperate to require such
relief. • They said' too. that the lopping °I these
mrerimeauces might :Oars the Constitution. If, in-
deed, Die .operation was performed by In tins!iilfel
operator, such indeed might be the ease. The peopl,-
did tot require, they did not ask, to be allowed to re-
form this abuse themselves, but with a due sense of
the widow of Parliimeat, they plead it in their own
bandit. Such a measure could indeed tend rreatly
i to the benefit of the country ; and the people feeling
I such to be the case threW the entire onus of fixing the
particular form opon the wisdoia of Parliainent.
They referred to the Haase of Coinmons the new mo.
Jelling of the Constitution. 'Die Hon:Ai:mt. then
spoke of the remark that had been lately made,
that " all were poor." Who•wati it, be would ask,
had brought the country to this state of poverty?
And was it to be tolerated, that the very oxen who had
been the cause of this poverty, should be the first to
cast that poverty in their t..e.lt ? When this was the
cat..., was it to i;I: expected that any i •ief C01:1•1 ne
relied upon from.the llourse of Commons? A vi.:;coc
pertinacity of opi.•lon to the oil system of g-,ve, n•
mesa, brought Ch•ales tht. First to the block, and kW
been the cause of 1.1. e revolution; anal if Moister,
still pursued their adherence to the system they have•
so long carried on, revolution must be the inevitable
consequence. Mr. Garwood had not the least .latilc,
that at the time the boroughs received their (rant like,
they were places of some relative important- in the
isingdoui ; but if that relative importance had ceased,
Ike contended that their franchite should ce.use also,
as far as regarded them, anal extend to such places
as Manchester, Iliiiningham, and many other of lii,..
note. Mr. Garwood contended, that no change of
measures could be expected without a change of men.
Ministerr, he was certain, would come forward
to propose any real motion fur relief. They bad too
long delayed its proposal. If they did come forward
to propose any measure, the merit of it would be en-
tirely lost by its delay--it would be extorted from
them as a boon, in order to preserve their pliers.
The measures adopted by Ministers, if kept in force,
would never suffer a reform to be carried, because that
would do away with the sinecures and pensions, those