The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-20

oited more constitutional principle In this
country the good sense would generally pre-
dominate ut popular elections, he was CON
yincetl. unless some dangerous delusion, in
the shape of religious cry, was arttuily
raised to conceal some unconstitutional pro.
Ject. II was manifest that lin the public
'uind there prevailed great and growing in
disposition to that house-( No, no, from, ma
|uy members. )-That such indisposition
existed. he was persuaded; and he most APP.
pretended that those who did not believe il.
would not awaken from their deluson until !,
was too late. 1t had been generated by acts
done in that house during the present and
latter sessions of parliament. Many of its
decisions had given great disgust, SO much,
that in their wrath against that house, they
would deprive it of those privileges which TO
house OF commons duly constituted they
would freely graat,-The opposers of re-.
form endeavor to DENY thatit is the wish
OF the Country. They ground the assertion
ON this, that the people have not petitioned
tor it.---But they have yearsago petition.
ed. and the reason they did not repeat them
was, that they feel disappointed and dis
gusted with the .postaCy of those who once
were firm supporters of it. Thee have
found all their petitions for the redress of
grievances disregarded; and in that very
session they have seen the hanse of commons
refuse to receive the prayers of the people.
But 1T was most idle TO believe that they did
not wish for reform in their hearts. is ne
cess'ty became every day more absolute
wise councils might do great deal, but,
Tor complete recovery. in his opinion, a re
form in the construction If that house WAS
essentially necessary. What has been the
fate OF other nations who ne elected The means
! ot national safety /? Did Prussia reform 7
Lid Austria redress the peoples grievances.
way has SPAN heen the theatre OF havoc
and desolation ?-Were their miseries to be
traced to the experiment of reforms Or ra
Their, was it not the effect of the resistance
with which their respective governments
| treated every proposition of redress and anle
Iteration Had Sicily reformed ?
And what, Notwithstanding the liberal as
sistance of Great Britain, will be its fate,
unless thar government shall be wise enough
to acrede To the reasonable wishes of the
people SubJugated Europe has fallen, not
because She made rash experiments on her
systems OF government, bu by sanctifying c
very aouse. and pertinacInusly refusing to
accede to the just desires at the pc ople she
destroyed the moral energies, and though
she placed arms in the hands of those who
ought to be her defenders, there remained no
thi"g OF lniiuence over their hearts when
Drought IN contact with the enemy What
was the effect of the denial of reform in Ire
.OI
Its parliament became so glarng and SO des.
trucuve, as to have rendered i, necessary to
merge 1t IN the legislature of Great Britain.
Far better wouldlt have been for the recip.
rocal happiness OF both islands, that the
coarse OF reform had been pursued, and that
the two indedendent parliaments had been
continued. When the right honorable gen.
tieman (Mr. Bourne) talked of virtual re-
presensation and its beneficial effects, how
q int l. e.
representation of Scotland, Hear. hear!
Did 1t exist there How was it that il es
capped his observation Was i. thar he
knew nothing of its situation, of its CRYING
grievances upon that subject; or with the
skilful adroitness of . dexterous pleadsr. ne
carefully abstained from that " hich must
have exposed his fallacioas sopnistry
Compensation for boroughs had been ALA
ded u ; 10 1t he was decidedly averse -
There was not feature of right conn, c,eu
wi-h such principle The thing here was
different from that ofIreland there co.npen
satIons were made There il was .,d uitted
by the right hon. gentleman who nav was
at the head II It's excheqier, thai every
thing connected with the union was b ,ngh.
{ Hear, hear M. Wh.bread proc ed.
ed to Comment upon the mischiefs winch
must follow from the collusicns between me
patrons of boroughs and the minjs;er-,ne
~ '''S 'iio SliueE 10 grail
fy has ambition or his avarice; the other
the honors of the crown, to the money OF he
people. TO acquire parliamentary support
suppose some great lord with his six or Sc.
ven nominees in that house, should in the
longing OF his empty vanity, grasp for those
distinctions which were ordained to reward
heroic achievments-that lie should threa
ten The minister of the day with the defect
on OF his nominees in that house, unless he
obtained that ribband, which, though an OF
nament to merit, must, when otherwise con
ferred, be considered badge of disgrace TO
the wearer Has such case never hapnen
ed, on was 1t impossible that ii should ever
happen again! Had it never occurred that
menaces OF similar nature were made IN
a minister, unless his countenance was Civ
en- to some proposed public work, in which
was, however. blended some little of orivate
interest, but tor the accomplishment of which
the public money was to be entirely applied
II, then, such things have happened If
they can happen agaiu--who was it that
Gould deny 1t to be a most prcfligate exercise
OF those powers which were entrusted for far
different purposes Between the contepdinp,I
opinions of his hon. friend and that nj the !
night hon. gentleman (Mr. Bourne) opDo |
site. he (Mr. w } was placed in dreadfu |
alternative Ills hon. friend said. thar IN. |
less reform took place, a military despotism
would follow. ihe right honorable gentle
man was fully persuaded. that if reform was
acceded to, this country, after being drapged |
through the vortex Of democracy. would ar |