The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-08-01 00:00:00

Tilt

AN ADMONITORY ADDRESS
TO THE INDIXENDENT ELECTORS OF THE UNIT.
, ED KINGDO*.

FELLOW AND Diurnal. ELEcTOn%
AMldst *the multiplied consequences of the deg.
racy of the timesi and the effects of corruption, non
forms a mere prominent feature, *Gone more to le
lamented, than the stipineuess and apathy it eteterate
upon Subjects of national and indeed vital interest.
t• Strongly impressed with the idea that the anima,
Lion of the people to their own interests, and coustitu!
1. timid& manifeeting-trle4tin' proper dire6tiensis the
parent and preserver of all that is nationally dear and
:valuablc, and op less as the contreul of the ditty
terested many, .104 the interested few conceivini
the public welfare ought to be paramount to :Mist".
views, I have been induced to submit the follow*
::sentiments to your most serious attention. As it 14s
I been say anxious wish to promulgate priucipits
foundniern the purest public virtee, and the soundest
and most constitutional docteine,l trust I shall be
•,
acquitted of arrogance, in anticipating, that they *ill
be allowed their merited weight, and operate on your
!af pilling into action, when an opportunity
! sh ll occur, that most estimable of all your priti-
:liffrthe Ekctice Franchise. The opinions
deliver-
ed (however imperfectly and butnbry attempt),l
must meet the concurrent sentimeuts of all who 'are
governed by the love of truth, andeeal iu superting
the national happiness and interest. •
I tinst, that neither my name nor principles will
weaken the pretensions upon which I now rest my
daitn4o your attentions to the truly important subject
1 of this Address; 'Monet 1 am:aware that my iodivii
dual influence is too contracted, and the priticipleS
by which lam alone actuated (the principles upon
• which the #evelutions.velas founded), I fear, are toe
obsolete at present to warrant my indulging any rev
sanguine hopes l'roni the assiduity of my humble la-
bours, however strenuously exerted and 'demonstra-
bly connected with your dearest rights as a free pee-'
pie. But if I slid not feel myself warranted in the
hope that I addressed a powerful body, of my coun-
trymen, when I thus call on.my brethren who consti-
tute the aggregate body of the Electors of- the Im-
pede,' Parliament of these Realms, I would not waste
my labour on a desperate cause, nor profane the doc-
trine of liberty by discussing it to voluntary slaves.
The freedom of election is the only solid basis upon
which our liberties can constitutionally stand. Sim-
ple and obvious is the axiom, that the cause of the
people is successful exactly as they are truly and
virtuously represented, and •in proportion .to the
energy of their original power. Such energy, acting
through the classes of the Constitution, which the
people originally made, preserves our constitutional:
liberties as kpeeple, and our power as a nation; for
it watches integrity, and provides ability in the per-
sons you permit to administer your affairs. Various
and intricate, on the contrary, is that system which
yQu havabitherto allowed to subsist by corruption :
—ambition:, avarice, and intrigue, when unbounded
attdenrestreined,, arc the surest engines to enslave.
impoverish, and destroy any country.—Rectitude has
only one direction ; but the obliquity of treachery is
infinite. It has been said, with sound and, petaliar
energy, by an unrivalled political writer, '4 That
the direction in which the people of this country-act,
when they act rightly, is through the Parliament
whiclv,they have elected;-to the throne which they
have raised.—lf w:ckalness or weakness be found in
the counsels or ,counsellors of the Crown,-Parliament
is the instrument appointed to punish or to dismiss :
but if the instrument fail, the laud will exert. her
native strength.--The people, of original right as a
free people, will vindicate the country, correct their
Pailiament, and reform all abuses. I know this was-
not the law of Jefferies, I know it is not the law mt.
cognised by meaty now ; but I know ' it is the right
reason of the British Constitution.' " Public guilt
being capable of such diversity, ,it iii ,evidently the
duty: of public virtue to exercise the most scrupulous
attention to the several assaults that rosy be made by
unconstitutional power, and will be ever made, in'.
some degree, against the interests of the community
at, large.
One bf the principal causes of the peeient calamitelel
state of this country, is the misapplication of the 1101,
timed revenues in pensions, unmerited by public enee
vices, and lavished by the Minister in the Or*.
an undue and corrupt influence in both Hoeserni
Parliament. There it a current rdmeur that. *
present Parliament will stem be &solved—the Oil,
ful situation of our country is suck as .to require you
not to be tai recollect '
will be period
redress your
if you fail,
of returning ,
jority of true
bers—men
follow your
Reform, indispeosible
rights and
can no longer
tires, - but
:into Abject
keep constant!!
will vary her
as she changes
not courage
hope, by blasii
--el. of

Libartin.

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aid of one single quality of eminence as a public
Mitaioter—withoutintegrity, magnanimity, politital
virtue or capacity, by observing and cultivating the
natural corruption of human nature, it is possible
for him to accomplish the destruction of the noblest
system of human freedom*. All the enemies:toll-
bprty possess the same object. But the silent
'pro-
gress of this insidious sap is attended with one peat-I
liar evil ; that It makes Nonparties in the serreeiler
of your Rights, apd strikes at your 'Liberty,
through a blameable want of tenacity in the exerche
of your most valttaftle constitutionally preventive
.privileges. The calamities we have already suffered
by the successful operation'of electioneering corrup.
tion, and the undue intlueesee of office, are • too
Whiny, as well as too evident,lo need enumerating.
—Our misfortunes, in conquence, are now daily
accumulating. We are Wont to enter on a wider,
and,.l am afraid, more destructive system of war-
fare; and all the consolation (with this prospective
view of our accumulating burthens) that we receive
from Administration, is an assurance'that the justice
of our cause Improves, as our 4tnation grows more
desperate. In the mean time provinces are lost—
just quarrels succeed to unjust—the powerof our
inveterate enemy increases—alliances, the most un-
natural, are sought and purchased—while our, re-
sources diminish; wisdoni is a stranger in oar Ssoutt-
,cile, end a sort of accelerating calamity becomes, as
It were, the natural condition and habit of our af-
fairs.
When, tkerefore, the period again arrives—when
the grand and legitimate prerogative of redressing
public grievances reverts into your 'own hatticis (as
nothing political can claim your attention more seri-
ously than the choice of HONEST Itepresettatives), it
behoves you to juard against bribery curd corruption,
as you would against a plague or a pestilence. It
was this evil (allow me to remind you) that dissolved
the greatest empires in the universe, acrd sunk them
us' to the most abject state of poverty and slaver), ; it
Is from this evil (unless' speedily repelled by your
public virtue) that England has to dread the most
tltal consequeitees. The venality and corruption of
the times call-alOnd on the virtuous for resistance—
far correction. {To be particularly circumspect in
chalet men of approved• independent princides—
mei who despise corruption, and who wiliplace their
greatest glary in promoting tke true interest of their
cosntry ; employing the power delegated to them as
a real bulwark of the Liberties of the People, re-
stoiing Parliament to its original parity, by shorten-
Welts duration, and perghsg it of those LOCUSTS,
Placemen, Contractors, and Lows Jobbers. The
profligate manner in whiCh the Sacred rights{ of free
Election have been hitherto-violated, cannot fail to
excite the indignation and serious alarms of every
patriotic uncorrupt Elector—for what City, Bo-
rough, or County is there, in which there are not a
handful of bribed hirelings, creatures of corruption,
ready at all times to be forced in upon the undue
mandate of an aspiring Individual, and who has got
virtue enough to resist the temptation of place tend
peusion.
It appears to me that in many'places, (and' which
aggregately form a great portletrofthe Visited King-
doms,) in the • state of their representation, the
dearest privileges and bittkiright 'of the freeholders,
are degenerated into mere objects of barter.
The thraldom, as to this respect./ in which these
places are held, is most ignorniniouvand injurious.
In this there is an obvious tendency to deteriorate
the national spirit, to consider the elector and elected
as equally dependent: in so sacred a delegation,
therefore, as government, no confidence can exist,
and each party betrays and is betrayed, and national
benefit in consequence becomes immolated to situster
and private views. The coppequences of this system
are too terrific to contemplate, as representation,
and the whole sum of. its right!, becomes a personal
disposable property, not-the conslitrdional and con-
fidendel•truat or the representative.
If any *dictate .for your suffrages act otherwise
than on purti-viewt of principle, it is impossible for
Ilium to represent a body of constituents. He repro- {
sent hinise(f only, Ids family, bissonnexions, lad'
ids interests,—go is a mere state automaton. -it*,
,• •,
Ile an opposite system ?ale, that security can Its
found stwhere theelaction (a the pure result of ap-
pribation, ems• uatini from unfettered choice,
founded on disinterested and virtatbes principles.
To dorruption, every principle %if the Ckinstittt;
tiokiltpremr, of lite seems tolieid"; anal the tow
et Velttteptes catching the epicittnic disease, tail,
spinners - such depiseed principles,

-ati

oA6fktkiaa

mono
Mask

imbibed fi'om their fathers; incompatible with true
loyalty to a..Prinee of the House of Hanover, and
conformable only to those false pritsciples whirr the
examples and practices of a•corrtipt Administration
'have fatally imposed on thdir minds:ll'll4 ii in vain to
expect from such men any redress Jf &Laces ; for
where the-whole machine of GiiveAsiefrntli manages!
by those who have deserted the prrneiples of their
ancestors, and are determined to etnbractensey sen-
timent and rule-of conduct which may promote their
personal interest only, no dependence cast be placed
on the profession of such men. ' ft' remains diets
;.,,) he, ...
,Nr you, at this'eventful crisis, tormtve these well-
.intentioned truths in your miudsv, tad to think for
yourselves. If these(necesaarily confused)ehservations
meet your judgments, as founded iu a national re- •
pedlar Nola- Golistitution's dearest's-Ws, you wiii.
duly appreciate' them; and befere
,yti again ever
promise your Votes to any Candidates itOpealing to
you dr that purpose, you will require some security,
before you again vest them with seven years' further
authority, that they will respect the FUNDArtENTAL
MAXIMS of the BIMINI COSSTITUTION, and ascer-
tain the just limits between the Pawns and Prins.
oaxtva of the Caows end the inalienable Itiotera
and PAIYILXGES of the Ptoroe. - r.
• :Our•atieestors haie eisefy, vested us with the means
'of reformatiOn and defence in our elective power :
innd stall we tamely persist in returning the same de-
scription of amen, who have evinced themselves will-
ing.te make encroachments,- and pervert our consti-
tutional rights; and who, untie( a coafidence of
more than palish connivance, have employed, both►
by themselves and!their emissaries, a most pernicious
,and unnatural influence, to corrupt the People, and
to sap the foundations upon which the happiness of
ourselves and our posterity absolutely depend T
' I have thought it my duty, as a fellow Elector of
two of the most opulent and popular Counties in the
Kingdoms to offer you these sentiments, merely ma
the rumourpf a dissolution of part It mhit thewever
near or remote that event may actually Kr-o 4) ; and
that they may duly live in your minds, and contri- '
bute to rouse you to a suitable vigilant and tenacious
. exercise of pinr elective functions, whenever that
period may arrive, to the then existing danger of your
. country, is the heartfelt wish and only object of,
• • Gentlemen, and Brothet• Freeholders,
• Your Independent Fellow Elector 'and Friend,
• _ . WAI.TEIt IIONYWO.;1) Y&TC.

1.1:6.) IL r ''• . 2 4 .. .
tit seriIiNSGOCUTION iErw elm FRANCA
'..s. n atin ra is .COUNTR r ~ . •
On the subjecCof the late Negeciation, Mr. She..
ridan, as us4l,•made ff splendid speech, in which ha
took"occusioncto hap all manner of evil eliititets oft
the hiaA Is( Napojeon, and to itignatize all his efforts
for ImactPits hollow and insincere. Mr. Whitbread
replied; and detesting, as we do, vanity, and partisn.
lady literary ' or political vanity, with all oire
heart; *e monist but experience some 'portion of
pleasure, when we find, that this true Englishman "of
the old stock, has touched upon nearly all the topics
which we advanced in favour of commencing a pa-
rific communication between the Courts of St. Cloud.
and St. James's. Indeed, it appears plainly to us, that
if the &Minuet' advanced by Mr. Sheridan, never to
listen toFrance were adopted in this country, we must
have biteintinahle war, for Mr. Sheridan asserts, that
with the Prinoh Emperor we must never treat, unless
beshould acknowledge, by a formal instrnment, our
maritime rightt-,-rights, which, by the .viay, he has
pledged himself, and ltiMbst sworn neverto acknow.:
ledge. In the opinion which **ventured, uttsupport.,
ed by any of our contemporariist at the time the pro-
posal was first made known, to advance, namely, that
Loyd Castlereagh, instead of having returned suchins
answer as he had done, should have statedto Napoleon.
that on every part of the'propositiou, saving Or' A ilieri, •
regarded the Spanish succession or Dynasty, as it is
called, he was ready to negociate—iu this opinion
we find ourselves supported by the great aut ,ority of
Mr. Whitbread—and having such a tower of strength
on our side, we shall not hastily surrender our,
opinion. Allowing even, for argument sake, and
only for the sake of argument, the Emperor of tins,
French had only made the proposition in the expecta..
tion that it would encounter rejection, -would it not
be prudent to disappoint him on this score, and to
put'apon his shoulders the onus and the • Odium of
contlimiog the war ? But, then we mighi-disgtist an&
intimidate Spain. What ! by making the restoration
of Ferdinand the bah upon which -we should con-
descend to negotiate at all We conclude toy reiterating
to the strongest terms, that for a longtime to come Eng.
lead will not have suthitn opportunity, and 'we std'
dillettrety grieved -that the Government of the Re: "
just has thought fit to reject it with such contumely
'sit rilo*a.* ...(l'itesolaw' a Jeureal, July 28.)
• . . ,
~s: A.‘ ~,-, .minsier •
.MON'rfil..t.4GßAlr'ifThrilitlL REPOign.,
I. -..IIIIIIIMAA ..
Tk; Via:Jr:lb* .'vest: s scared), yet taidwil la may aims
the algeldo it as ever Immo, but. oast or k damaged, ang :
' ofindisier ea. The turnip leads ItalrefWerked well, but
*wing 4.istyet.covapletlet 8 the &Maid tondos and cabins:fee
iVris= The fallow, iv p mellow sad friable state. All
the island; minable of grown's; a crop of carat _
beif.bwo %vv.& i• ow rm.... . .. ,
; 7mestoutest wheats have bee a good deal beaten devia.
the rate and thunder stems, whilst the light crops am • .
/pails base haws sippareaily improied: lliw awl am
_ :
hcaLq.itterarea libido the pet fortaAhd, with . a r
of breads or burnt ean. The .Hde*
Lum= only ad asked nom the cars this lk
montsmili ijii 4 Wet hat; as bar as the Hailed p.-
enttisat Of 'the reporler has eittesded, ern hip
Oben mare dm] and free free *oath' and Isparta",
am* circumstances, than in the present meow Ildslir p;-?ltan
:filtoi he agirihated to the anassetkallidnwa of the. -
Eg=edit inlet/all of dandtloa; aleaseill
rnsaas an* fittairrahldl.: usesosagsnl
i• °W. .-. . .
:. •
. CUM.( N. IL lAilds, do bole wr Tallftliglllij
' itaieb rdsti inwerot, which ca
llitaisedhendle
=tit a "Zrelsvirsa""
mad in faequr of a b:;11 at peered *lout*, mittvi•
:Re
vomge swat has enjoyed for More than a eMarr
Anitto math of. its prownrity is-to he attributed. Ate
Swig list et the Crops, sad It expeettdir Mathis fors.
AVM fie ihrwardest mastics. . coal.e of Calved la tarells
pow skiwiww*Wacifey.,

s

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II

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1

•
aken by surprise--to recollect teat. [Amid Weil *toners on such depinved principles,
nod in *lab the power toconstituti * till afr:ludittknothing bat. the -endow of pub4c virtue,
urselvertirreelf to your own hoar; and asa ilia the most corrupt toots in the State me.
I, when this . opportunity nest occurs, trigoilkt, by changing and scum-
ng as your liepropOntolires a large ma: oit abOitaeettments.to the immediate and,bi-
true and comfits' independent Met& iratal oioi lot thireziatimg-41thentarde Hence
i who will pledge themselves to you to is, that men, whosesecestOsiagindiSed thmogoiroa
r instructions, and support that system of it the field and in the Clibisieti In thedelesco at the
odispeosible to the preservation of your prfitleal and civil rights ofilteit courftryeseM;linire
maintenance of your liberties,—the fault istely become the strong*, 449jcitsi.Apir the;. Via.;
nger be said to exist In your Repreeenti- mgatire of the Crown, this lOW tt: Wildlolllllike.
t in yourselves, if you sink ultimately timid eatoodoo of !mob loaltogi
t slaves. It' Is aeusoory tb*t you skald to ap arms 0411kot. Ada -Maid rii*PPost
istantly in your Weds, that atabiden tiaO freebie - et, the pl.; ohsl
her cosiducf And bar onion, as easily thMegb the. arm, miltavtilial-at' a aarrofig,
Mingo . Those., 414 bare 4404abirfor#0, both hail ihiAtf reilteek*Kgit.clekeg-,
age elmilt MIRY ban the laileoo,olOlTlSfit dieetthlefiSPilgq. *O4l their
. a 6
bluing yolkvotes and corrupting your C0*11.6110 witi‘AnalimPtooll-mmolug4",.
of 'equally ultimately undermining your
Ihne ir!---I"Y4 without *hi ;' . PriasligaliboY soot Moe

i.
14" \
'

View ail siwat hive
with a considerable
elide* or bile mould
this year, alihasigh
perainni in.
ded, ern hoe never
id impurities, ender
MOO. This is Fobs"
s of due ff. R. winds,
Moo/0 so frequent.
satire to the crops di •
we., Inane detracte4 '" ,
vise have been din(
sny. These freqinie 4
trei ZOh *ow
repgrellul a.'
a, cento_ry, •
sto attribute!. it • ;
ristetedytthla a foga. - •
14'111.110 4
.theril4
•
, •
• ,
4;1
rfl
-