The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-03-03

4 fS@S>SSAS''
to remain. But what must strike ever,
person with establishment was, thatwe were
hghting III Spain to maintain the cath oiic
religion, to the exclusion OF all Others, while
an England we refuse to receive as allies
the most valuable part OF the nation be
cause they profess the catholic religion
Hear, hear
The people of ireland might well com
piain; there was something almost amount
ing to treachery to the nation, in keeping up
the ierment i'll that part of the united King
DOM 1t was extraordinary that the speech
did not notice the state of Ireland. 1t contain
ed all the faults which could be inserted, by
calling upon the suhhosed representatives OF
the people-(A cry Of order order y
The SPEAKER THAT is not language
which the house can hear"
Sir Francis Burdett proceeded. He did
not consider he had used language which
was supplementary. If it could be pro-
we'd that many of the Representatives were
not sent by the people that the barter for
seats In Parliament was common that it
had been avowed, and not Only avowed that
such practices were used but that it was
as notorious as the sun at noon day." then he
thought 1t was not necessary to be so over
scrupulous and delicate in the epithets which
he might use in the course of his speech.
After what the house had heard on the sub
Ject during former session, it would not be
conceived, he contended, that this house was
The fnre representation of the people at
large. The hon. Baronet then required to
the topics in the speech, and expressed his
concern thatthe restrictions should have been
imposed on his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, who ought not to be shackled-
these restrictions were insulting, and ough.
not to have been brought forward. Howe
nntnrtnnltR he oh ,,xl-
themselves on the occasion, they would now
have the happiness to reflect, that the time
would soon expire when these restrictions
would be removed, and the Executive Gov
eminent be restored. Then they might eX-
pect to see that liberal system of English
policy Ito which his Royal Highness had of
ten pledged himself to adhere) once more
effective; system which, at the close OF
the reign OF George ii. had raised this coun
try to the pinnacle of glory. The Prince
had seen persons of great abilities exercise
their talents OH the subject of Government !;
some were advocates for an absolute form
OF Government, others for an aristocratical,
and others tor democracy, and some had
written In favor of a mixed form but not
one had written in favor of an olligarChy-
ain oiligarchy OF rotten boroughs, which
could be tOund in the system of any other
Government but England.-That olligarchy
was the root of ali the evils which at pre-
sent overwhelm the country. 1t was for the
purpose of calling the attention of the Prince
to these evils that he now proposed the adj
dress--evils which had led TO the most seri-
Gus consequences-abroad Sovereigns were
chased from their thrones, or abandoned
them, and at last were compelled to receive
a scanty pittance ofthe kingdoms over which
they reigned, at the hand of Bonaparte.-
While such practices were CARRYING Oh at
nome, it was idle to call this country the wi
sest, and the most free of all the nations in
Europe. If we turned from the Continent,
and looked at home, there was nothing con-
solatory-taXation had increased to an "a
farming degree, the industry of the people
was paralysed by the frequent demands
from the government for money, until at
length panperism had ensued, and the vast
sums thus raised were eXtravagantly vast
ed.-Ihe collectors of taxes, though acting
under all act of parliament, were not acting
constitutionally. The exactions of Empson
& Dudley, in the reign of Henry VIII called
forth the Indignation OF the people, and they
were consigned TO the block, for acting un-
der the sanction of an act of parliament
The plea of an act of parliament did not
excuse them. Now, what was the situation
OF the country, burthened as it was with sur
veyors and surchargerss Every country
in the Kingdom now had it's Empsons and
Dudleys, tolerated by special act of the
borough monger of parliament, and the per-
sous surcharged before those worthy COM
mssioners were denied the assistance of a
solicitor. In short, such was the system
pursued in respect to those eXtortions, that
the whole land "as kept in state of terror.
In proportion rs this system OF extortion
encreased, the government proceeded in o.
Their respects to enslave the people and by
the erection of fortresses, under the name of
barracks, took military possession of the
country. They augmented the military
force, and hired great number of foreign
mercenary Germans. Could any thing be
more awfully alarming The principal re
monstrance of the House of Commons, in
the reign of Charles |. was the having 1000
foreigners in pay. Indeed the Whole of the
conduct OF government seemed as if they
had lost all feeling our own soldiers were
compelled to wear a German earb, with
whiskers and trappings attached to their
dress. Were the enemy more alarmed at
the sight of pair of German whiskers than
they would be at the front of smooth ia
ced Englishman Could any thing partak c
more OF absurdity and Of folly. But these
toliies perhaps are intended as blinds to o.
Their and greater enormities. These were
some of their grievances. Another was,
that system of military discipline, as it is
called, which was coming home very fast
upon the backs of all the people. The very
name OF local militia man was now dreaded
every man who is the father NJ a fatuiIt,5 80