The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-23

IN parliament. The treasury was the place
where this traffic went ON to the greatest and
most corrupt extent. The secretary ofthe trea
sury was generally the agent in all those tr,rsac
tions on the part OF the government, Hear
Hear If gentlemen meant by this cheer
Ing to imply doubt of his statement, he should
be very happy TO be allowed u committee to .x.
anime into the fact. At every dissolution OF par
lament, there was an Office open at the treasury,
where the friends of administration stated their
terms, and where persons made their bargains on
different terms, according to the abilities with
which they were supposed capable of support
ing the government. This was his firm belief,
and he believed it was also the belief of the pub.
lie. He thought the house should correct abll-
ses OF this magnitude, at the same time that they
were passing bill with respect to minor often
ces.
Mr.. BANkEs observed, that as to the abuses
IN the East India company, he, as chairman of
the committee appointed for the consideration
OF that subject, had brought down a rccommen-
datioa to the house, that it was not necessary to
pass any specific legislative measure on the sub.
Ject Although the system ofthe government of
this country changed with the hantsto whom it
was conhded, it was not so with the East India
company. One of their regulations was, that at
any distance oftime, an appointment obtained
corruptly would be set aside. He conceived that
the present bill mustbe useful, as rendering this
sort of corruption more difficult than it was be-
fore.
Mr.. CREEvEY said, that the noble lord was
perfectly correct in stating, that seats in the par
Lament had been notoriousiy bought and sold by
the treasury. He would say, that this was not
only his belief, but that it was within his know
ledge. The treasury not only bought and sold
these seats, but they kept in great degree the
monopoly of that market IF this was attempted
to be denied by ministers, he should be glad to
have the opportunity approving it, and he could
easily prove it from the lips of any one who had
ever been secretary of the treasury. It was abb
solute nonsense and deiusion on the public, for
the house to spend their time i'm considering abu-
SEES in the commissioners the lottery, and every
other minor department, when they knew, and
The public knew, that the greatest of all abuses
was constantly practiscd by every secretary of
the treasury, i'll buying and selling seats in par
Lament To talk oia dissolution ofparliament,
as an appeal to the people, was mere mockery and
imposition 1t was perfectly well known that
dissolution ofparlianent was not appeal to the
people, but to the treasury (Hear Hear
Although he had great respect for the last gov
ernment, and owed some personal favors to them,
yet lie must say, that their dissolution of para
ment, at tue end Of four years, like the dissolu-
ton by tile present ministers, at the end of about
four months, was not an appeal to the people but
the treasury, loud cries of Hear :, Hear
Until the house was disposed to suppress the o.
dious and unconstitutional traffic, the legislating
ON those minor abuses was mere mockery and
deIusion
The CHANCELLOR of the ExcHEeuER said.
he was happy to find that the noble lord Oord
Folkestone) had attributed whatever there was
OF osscurlty in the BILL to the desire of making it
as comprehensive as possible. He was also
glad that the noble lord had admitted that the
bill would render the commission Of these often
ces more difficult in future. AS to the purchase
and sale of places Connected with the courts of
justice, thai had prevailed from remote times,
Bat he believed that it would not be said that the
practice al all interfered with the purity of the
administration Of Justice. AS to what had been
suggested with respect TO the prevention of the
traffic for seats in parliament, this would be a
matter which might fairly be stated when the bill
should come into a committee. 1.-THE noble lord
or hon. gentleman would then bring forward any
proposition ofthat sort, the house would be very
ready to take II into their consideration. The no.
bic lord had stated his firm belief of the existence
OF such transactions, and the honorable gentle
man had gone further, and stated, that it was
within his absolute knowledge. The hon. gem
tleman, to be sure, might have some knowledge
from the confidence which was reposed in him
by the late administration, with whom he was
connected. Loud cries Of hear hear He
Gould not recoliect, however, that the hon gen.
tieman (Mr. Greevey )hsd, at the time when a
specific charge was brought agains, a secretary
&.
house the benefit of itis knowledge. Tie house
wCiId perceive, tI,at the case he alluded 10 was
when charge was brought against tie secretary
oi the treasury, Mr.. Fremantle,) for Interior
ence in the election of Hampshire, where he was
undoubtedly a frceholder The hon gentleman
did not then tell the house word OF that prac
tee which was within his own knowledge, of Sc.
cretaries OF the treasury corruptly interfering
III the election of members of parliament When
he had that knowledge, how did it happen that
his patriotism was asleep on that remarkable oc-
casion !-( Hear !hcar J Ifhe would, however.
then bring forward impartially those specific ca
ses thai were within his own knowledge. he
would probably find the house very ready to at .
tend TO them.
Mr. CREEvEY, in explanation, said, that
what he had stated was not as charge against
any particular admins tration, but mere mat
ter OF fact. The knowledge which he spoke of
by no means proceeded from any condolences
which had been reposed in him by his friends
Mr.. WHITBHEAD said, that he was bappv
that the suggestions of his noble and honorable
friends appeared to be received with so much
cordially by the right honorable gentleman 1.-THE
chancellor OF the exchequer,) and that it seem
ed to be admitted that the practice of trafficing
tor seats OF parliament was thing which ought
not to be tolerated. He supposed that when the
right honorable gentleman (the chancellor of
the exchcquer) called upon AN honorable friend
OF his Mr.. Creevyj to bring one set of cases be.
tore the House. lie was also ready to practise
that impartiality which he recommended, and
bring forward those cases which were within
his knowledge. (Hear : hear - Ii was
nonsense to pretend to be ignorent of those abu.
ses. What member of Parliament was there
that did not know that such things were done }
Ed not lac know, did not the right honorable
gentleman know, did not every body in the house
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