The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-08

I n
ced the object of the meeting, which he ob.
served he felt it his duty to convene in com
p.iance with the requisition of nearly 1900
electors,
Mr.. Stureh then came forward to move
certain resolutions. IL was unnecessary for
him to dwell at much length upon the loss
which the City Of Westminster had expe
rienced, in being deprived OF a most able
and faithful representative. (.dphiauSe.
/ mis- loss was deeply felt by them ALL ana
no words that he could use, could add any
thing to the impression which was already
on their minds. Itbecame the duty of those
who signed the rcquisition for the present
meeting, to examine a,,entiveiy into all the
circumstances attending the case, and con
nected with the present motion. TWAS
their .op;nion at the first, that it would MOI
have been prudent to call the meeting at an
earlier period. as it could hardly be expec
ted that mems minds would then have been
cool enough to enter into a calm and deli
berate consideration of the subject. 1t was
for that reason that the meeting had not
been called sooner. Many of those, howe
yer, who signed the requisition had found
it their duty 70 turn in their minds the re-.
solutions WHICH appeared tothem proper.to
submit to the meeting. These resolutions
he would feel it his duty to read TO them,
and he felt convinced that they would meet
with their decided appreciation. It was not
necessary for him to make many prelmi,
nary observations, for the case upon which
they were. called together was perfectly
known aud understood by them all. The
House of Commons had thought proper to
conhne, during their pleasure. Sir Francis
Burdett, their representative he could
safely say that more honest or ADLER man
never appeared, as the representative of
that cit T mi IN Tic
had been broken open, and he himself drag
ged to prison, there to remain during the
pleasure of the house. Would that meet
ing believe that it was for any crime p
con. No! They could only conceive it
was for honestly doing his duty, and nothing
mere than was his dhtv. He had resisted,
as he conceived himself bound to do, what
he thought most arbitrary and unwarrant-
able stretch of power. Their honored re-
preventative certainly possessed trmness
of mind watch in the discharge of duty.
was not to be shaken, (affsianse, but still
it would be right in them 10 shew him that
he had every support which their entire APP
probation and warm affection could give
HIM. When the arm OF power had been
stretched to such an unwarrantable and un.-
precedented length, it was necessary to
interpose whatever shield the constitution
allowed the people, to protect their rights in
the person of their representative; He
trusted that the resolutions he had.to sub
NIT would be considered perfectly legal,
constitutional and honorable. He hoped &
confidently trusted, that the citizen s would
not by the slightest irreguiarity, afford
handle to their bitter enemies. He trusted
they would ever continue TO press upon
the parliament the necessity Of such par
liamentary reform Is would give them the
substance and not the shadow merely, of
representation and that the time would
come when the people would De fairly re-
presented in the commons house, when no
nure money would be taken out Of the
pockets of the people than was absolutely
necessary and when the money that was
raised would be expended with economy.
Considering the harmony which had usually
prevailed al their meetings, it was a most
unnecessary parade of military strength, an
useless insult offered to the electors OF West
minister, for government to pretend to sup
pose that the peace of the country waslike-
Iy to be violated, by their meeting, in the
regular and Constituted manner to complain
of grievances. This was among the mum
Der .ofinsults which were daily offered the
public feelings; and nc was convinced that
their peaceful conduct on the present day
would sbew the folly of the preparations of
govern nent. After many other general OBJ
scrvations, he concluded by moving the fol-
lowing resolutions:
(7he8e Resolutions zvere in HE last
Enquirer.
Upon moving the first resolution,
mr. Wisharf offered himself to second it.
He hoped that the. Importance Of the occa :.
sion would plead his apology for submitting
a few observations. According to our con-
stitution, he remarked that the King had
his prerogative, the two houses Of Parlia..
n. sAt their privileges, aud tie people their
rights, each of which it Was the duty Of
those who wishcdto maintain the CONSTITUTE.
on TO uphold. The rights of the people had,
however, been. so grossly violated by the
transaction which gave rise to this meeting,
that il became Incumbent. upon that and
every other popular assemblage to- leave no
effort untried tor the attainment of redress.
Indeed, he must feel himself quite ignorant
of the principles of the Constitution, if 1T
were consistent with those principles to have
the beloved, the honest, the intrepid repre-
sentative of that meeting forcibiy dragged
from his home, and committed TO a prison,
for vindicatug the rights of personal free /,
dom, for anmadverting in a letter to his
constituents upon the imprisonment Of an
Englishman without trial. This was not, it
would be recollected, the first time in which
the House Of Commons had manifested a
disposition to usurp authority. and to rise
above the precepts of the law. AZ the be-.
ginning of The last century, they attempted
To interrupt civil suit instituted against one
Of their members, denouncibg all those AZ