The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-19

H'e} tuouSnt proper, cut tnat IL Snouiu &c /,
to pray his Majesty To- convene his Parlia I
: ..n., in order that the enquiry should De
: .rried Oh openly and in the face o. the ma |
q ION, and that it should be discovered where |
l. he blame really was, whether in the Minis
ters or the Generals. The Ministers were
certainly responsible in the first place as
they had the selection Of Generals, as we'll
as tletappo;ntment ot the armies, which the
Generals were to command, and the sup
plying them with provisions and every thing
necessary for CARRYING onthecampaign with
honor. After expressing regret for the alb
sencc of Sir Francis Burdctt, who was pre-
vented attending from the afl;Stion OF pri-
yate friendship (tl,e illness Of Mr.. Teoke)
and congratulating the Meeting in wars
terms on the presence at Mr.. Sheridan, he
proceeded to ~aninadvert on the history OF
the prescnt ~caInpHign. The Spaniards, he
conceived, had conducted their business most
wisely. They began with getting rid ofa
stubborn, silly old King. (This last expires
sion caused such Il general hoo;ing, that the
F., speaker was obliged to conclude, which he
did by reading the following resolutions.)
ReSofved, That we consider, as among
thcprincipal Causes which led to the late Con-
v~ertion III Portugal. the system that prevails
with regard to military promotion.
/ hat uIe existence and extent OF that sys-
ten arise out of the necessity imposed upon
Ministers to prefer rank and influence to me-
rt and experience.
That this necessity proceeds from the cir
curpstances which urge a Minister to con-
ciiiate Parliamentary influence, rather than
to seek the public interest.
That these circumstances are the natural
result of the present state of the represen-
tation of the people in Parliament.
That owing to this state of thesrepresenta-
| TAn ~ ill., 49,. - ~
purpose, as it is termed, OF managing Parli-
anent, and carrying on the government. to
sacrifice the public interest, by complying
with the desires. and compromising with the
vices, OF the worst description of men, name
iy, the borough proprietors: hence it APP
pears impossible that any Minister Can be
AN honest man, and therefore, until a reform
III Parliament takes place, no honest man
ought to become a Minister.
That there is no security against the fire.
quent repetition of military disgraces, nor Can
the people expect or hope for an ~effectual
and permanent redress Ct their grievances,
until their representation in the Commons
House OF Parliament be restored to them.
That, without a parliamentary reform,
the people have no means OF recovering the
Liberty they have lost, no CHANGE OF retaining
that which remains.
This amendment, or adoption to the ORR
glnai Resolutions, having been proposed pre-
vious to their being severally read, Mr..
Clarkson proceeded TO submit them one by
one to the sense of the Assembly. Three ct
the Resolutions having been put and carried,
on the fourth being put,
Mr.. Sheridan slept forward. He said he
was cOniidenI the meeting would feel, that
he, who agreed With the honorable gentle
man on his right hand, that the conduct of
Ministers must undergo examination in an
Assembly of which he was a Member. could
not debate the question at great length in
that place. He could not, however, stand
silent by without expressing his reprobation
Of that aspersion on the City of London,
which his majesty's Ministers had dared to
throw on it,. Before he commented on the
Resolution now proposed, however, he must
notice some OF the occurrences which had
taken place at the present meeting. His ho-
norable friend on his right hand (Mr. Fin
nerty) had expressed his regret at the alb
sence of the worthy Representative of The
City (Sr F. Burdett). He also regretted
mis- absence, but he would & 4 kssom 9s honora.
I ole < justiHable nature. He could declare that
the hon. Baornet had not uttered one word, or
preached 2 single principle, during the last
session OF Parliament, which he (Mr. She
ridan) woald not be proud to stand by and
support. He FELT himself also called ON to
notice the compliment paid to himself by his
honorable friend, SO much beyond any desert
ST his. In stating that he had never said a
~oId, or given a vote contrary tothe interests
OF the people, during the whole ofhis political
career, nal decreess, his honorable friend, he
was confident however had done him no move
than justice, He was fully conscious of the
attention and Indulgence with which ne was
always listened to by the inhabitants o.
Westminster, and also by the House of Com
mons. In return, he could only assure them,
that the price was not upon earth which
could induce him to desert the principles he
mad hitherto espoused, &t in then the interests
OF the people His honorable friend had said
that it was consistent with the true princi
pies of the Constitution, TO adept the string
OF Re solutions respecting Parliamenttry Re
form which he had moved. He (Mr. She
ridan) said so too; ADD let his honorable
friend or any person else, move for Parlia-
m,entary Reform, and he should be the first
: to supportit. But when his honorable friend
said, that till Parliamentary Reform was OBJ
tanned, there could be no honest Minister,
and that till then no honest man should ac-
ce1t of Being Minister, he (Mr. Sberidsm)
must dissent from him. His honorable friend
knew what q Minister was and as Such he
must know that Parliamentary Reform
could never be carried but BY the influence
of an honest Minister. He asked the honor
p nhIa ncnfl.I,.. - InNI- - kH. N,.,k 4.I A.