The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-24
LONDON, AUGUST IL.
, kIDDLESEx MEETING.

.freeholders, at the Mermaid, in Hackney, to
eonsidsrof Resolutions 10 be offered on the SUBJ
ject OF Parliamentary Reform.
MIR. Sheriff SMITH stated to the meeting, the
object for which It summoned. II was to
take into consideration such propositions fer Re-
form az would secure the reality and the of
representation in the Common House of Parlia-
snent.
Major CARTwRIeHr then came forward
He supposed that many had been disappointed
when they considered the length OF time which
had elapsed since the requisition originally
signed. This subject was, however, of nature
and importance which required the most mature
consideration, both in the manner and the time
for bringing it forward. 1t necessary also
TO consult those men who had taken their stand
In Parliament upon the rock of the Constitution,
and who had felt and proclaimed the necessity
Of resisting and waging war against the wicked
despotism of the faction of the borough mongers
"a faction, which, for their own private ends,
trampled alike on the liberties OF the people, K
on the authority of the king-( 4ppiquses. He
felt 1t ecessary, in the beginning of his address,
TO take notice of what had fallen from Noble
Lord, (Lord Selkirk, y who had chosen to stand
forward as the champion OF the faction of the
borough mongers. That Noble Lord had stated
in his pamphlet, :" that such reform was ne
cessary that Parliamentary Reform was not the
road to any practical improvement; that what
was stated OF its necessity was not only
HOT truc, tRat IL was the very reverse Ut the
eruth" He also stated, that all the exertions in
favor of Parliamentary Reform, were "experi-
nents to throw down the landmarks of the con.
ahtuton. 1t the reasoning of this champion of
the borough mOnger faction were to be consid-
cred, and,t we're to be asked, whaiIit was that
he called the landmarks OF the constitutions"
Il would be found that he meant nothing but the
rotten boroughs. 1t appeared to him, however,
that suchlandmarks resembled the ruins of Rome
and Athens, or merely showed where great and
free nations had once existed, but were DESTROY
ed by the corruptions of their governments al.
fiduses. OF such landmarks there were album
dance |; but they were not the landmarks of the
liberties cfthe country, but of its Slavery eyeot
Hfti0Rse) Our old constitution consisted of
two branches, the military and the civil The mi
itary branch of it consisted of all the people of
England, trained to the use of arms, under the
Airection OF the nobility and gentry Of the coun.
try. OF this ancient military Constitution not
vestge now remained, and in the place of it we
saw nothing but barracks, many of which were
,hlled with German soldiers Even German Off.
GERS had been appointed to the command of En-
Gsh Districts. He therefore considered that
all the landmarks of the antient Military Censti-
hutton of the country had been completely reno.
we'd. As TO the civil branch of our ancient Con-
stitution, the great feature of it was the repre-
sentation ofthc people in the Commons House of
Parliament.
Upon the principle of free and equal represen.
Sation, the people Of England would be now en-
titled to 65S representatives, fairly and freeIv
chosen. Instead of that number, it appeared,
however, that in close boroughs, the borough.
monger faction possessed $50 Of these seats
that they had removed so many landmarks of our
liberties, and made them land marks of our des
potism. { <ppiduses Besides the close bo
roughs, there were fifty seats filed by the most
notorious venality and corruption on the part of
the electors. 1t there fore appeared, that most
ms tnr,f Of 6
OF Commons were not chosen, rs the Constitute
on intended, by the free and fair election of the
people! That was not the whole of the grievance.
Even after the members had SO entered the house
they were bribed by pensions and places from the
government. 1t appeared by late report, there
were no fewer than liz pensioners and placemen
IN the house /; and that there were .evsnty.sipbt
more, who, being officers in the army and navy.
were entirely dependent upon Ministers, for
hopes OF promotion in their profession, and or
opportunities to gain rank and distinction SO
that cut of the 65S landmarks of the constitute.
On to which the people were entitled, 6IS had
been removed. In Holy Writ, it had been said,
Cursed be he, that removeth his neighbours
landmark" So much solemnity hsd been given
90 this curse, that it was to be pronounced pub
hcly before the people, and all the people were
sosay amen" LoHd applause and cries of
Asnen J Now, ii a curse so solemn was order
ed to be denounced against the man who would
defraud his neighbor of few yards of land, by
removing his landmark, how deep a curse ought
TO light on those traitors, who, by removing the
landmarks OF our freedom and our constitution.
had done the most essential injury to millions of
shelr ~countrymen. (L1piauSe. The House
Of Commons had been represented by Mr. Burke
and many distinguished writer's, as representing
Jury IN many respects. 1t had lately been con.
tended, that it was absolutely necessary for Mi
masters and Placemen TO have seats in the house.
IN order to give information. If il were necessa.
ny for them to sit there to give information it ap.
peared to him, that they should have bench to
themselves, and not be entitled to vote. AS gi.
vers OF information, they were in the light of
witnesses but although it was necessary in
Courts OF justice that there should be witnesses,
and sometimes culprits, yet what would be tho't
II the witnesses, after giving their evidence, and
Me culprit, after making his defence, were i'm
mediately to enter the jury box, and give their o.
Pinions on the verdict (Lsud Abblause By
the same means which deprived the people of
their liberties, the King was also deprived Ofbis
aathorlty and independence, and obliged to be
dependent on, and vassal to, the faction of the
eorough-mongers. His revenues, which used to
be furnished to him by the free votes of his oyal
subjects, were now giyen at the pleasure of the
Borough. mongers and he was dependent upon
chem for every shilling of his revenue. If il
were asked who were those borough. mongers il
would be answered, that their number was so
sconsderable, that they would hardly fill cor
Ker OF the hall in which he WAS then speaking
and that they were able TO impose upon his Ma.
jesty whatever Ministers they thought proper.
and they were able to dictate to those Minis.
ters such measures as they thought proper. II
had No al. II