Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-30

II
bic a few years ago, when ]. Horne
Tooke in his petition undertook TO
prove at the bar of Parliament tina,
seats were bought in the house OF
commons, like stalls at a fair; the
same facts are now reiterated in open
debate, heard without denial or emo.
ton, and justified as essential to the
su port Of the so eminent.
We subioin few extracts from tn
speeches on this subject
House Of Commons, Thursday, .HtrI 30.
A BILL TO PREVENT THE SALE
OF PLACES.
The chancellor of the exchequer
moved the order Of the day, for the
second reading of the bill for proven
ting the sale of places.
On the question being put,
Lord Folkestone had but few
words to say on the subject. He OBJ
served, that these sort of preventive
bills very rarely did any good. AS
long as temptations were Suffered to
remain, offences would be com mitted.
Notwithstanding the provisions OF
such bills, the ingenuity of offenders
would continue 20 evade them, at a
little more eNpence CT trouble. If
the inquiry he had proposed few
nights since had been gone into, there
would have been no occasion ioc the
present measure. As to the Offices con-
nected with the courts of law, he found
that they had been for long time re-
gularly bought and sold, AuS he, could
see no reason why this practice should
DC suffered to continne. There was
mother omi sion, no wcver, in the act.
which appeared TO him of more ma.
terial moment. The attention of the
house had been much fixed 10 East
India writerships and cadetships, but
there was another thing of much more
consequence which had not been no.
nced.-lt was most notorious that
there was traffic for other places, and
siso Tor seats in parliame at Hear
Hear. Heart )-rhis was a thing
most contrary TO every idea OF the con.
'Itutton, & yet it was most notorious ;
ana as 1t was most notorious, he
thought the right honorable gentleman
would do well to introduce clause in
his b IL to prevent trahcing for seats
in parliament. The treasury was the
place where this traffic wenc on To the
|geatest and most corrupt ex emit. Til {
secretary of the treasury wa general
| ~ the agent IN al those transactions
on the part of the government, (Hear
Hear y III gentlemen meant bv this
cheering to imply doubt of his state
ment, he should be very happy TO be
allowed committee TO examine into
the fact. At every dissolution of Par.
lament, there was an ofilce open NJ
The treasury, where the friends OF
administration stated their terms.
and where persons made their bar
gains on different terms, according to
the abilities with which they were
supposed capable OF supporting the
government. This was his firm be.
lief, and he believed it was also the
belief OF the public. He thought the
house should correct abuses of this
magnitude, at the came time that they
were passing a bill with respect to
minor offences.
| Mr. BAEKEs observed, ,ba, as 10 the abu.
ses 10 the East Ind company, he, as char.
man OF the committee appointed for The
consideration Of that subjeG q, had brought
down recommendation 10 the house
NAT II was not necessary to pass any gpe
tic legislative measure on the sobie6
although the system OF the government
lotthis country changed wi h the hands te
whom 1t was conGded, it was no, so with
he East lodia company. One of their
regulations was, that at any distance OF
time, an appointment Obtained corrupIy
would be set aside. He conceived tha
the present bill must be useful, as render.
ing this sort Of corruption more difficult,
than II was before.
Mr. CkEEyET said, that the noble lord
was perfycily reel in S ating, tina,
seats m The parliament had been noto.
rously bought ADD sold by the treasury
tie would say, that this was not only bI,
belief, but that il was within his knowledge.