Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-30

| N'"'S uP'u tue Livery OF LoRlOn, acCuS
toned as they were to be addressed on
pubic occasions by respectable and eln'
| qnent men, whose absence at this interest
log period they must all unite in lamen,ine
but he could assure the Livery, that
the hearts OF those gentlemen were with
tnem IN this business, and that they were
| only prevented from attending by the
| state OF their health The contrast viii, h
those who heard would naturally draw be-
tween himself aud the gentleman he ailu-
| ded 60, was one which claimed their can
donr, particularly as the situation in which
| he now came forward was one unlooke d
and unsought for by him, and his only rea-
| sons for which were deep feeling of the
| importance OF the subject which had called
| them together, and a sincere regard for
the best interests Of our common country
(hppiause. 1.-The public distress which
the Livery of London were now called
upon to consider was as manifest as It was
uneXamp cd-it came home 10 the PER-
sonal knowledge, the business aid the bo-
SONS OF all who heard him. The extent
OF our agricultural distress had been &C.
knowledgei i'll the speeches of every mem
Der or the House of Commons. How melan-
choly that situation was, was proved from
the number of deserted farms the far
mers in many instances flying from their
leases, and whole parishes being left with
hardly an individual to pay poor rates
and other parochical taxes. Similar was
the case of the manufacturers, merchants.
and tradesmen in all parts who all join
ed IN declaring, that the distresses under
which they suffered were unparalleled. Il
was proclaimed by the number of bank
rupts who appeared in every Gazette ; ard
this number, great as it was, they wei
knew, was small when compared with
those who silently compounded with their
creditors. Even those Ike himself, who,
IN middle rank of life, were won't to glo-
ry IN their independence, would soon be re-
duced so low, if matters went on as at pre-
sent, as to ask that aims which man of
spirit would rather die than resort to.
(Applause.) The public distress indeed
was so giarng and inControvertible, that it
had been Acknowledged at late meeting
by royalty, by episcopacy, and even by o.
vergrown s'necur.sts and pensioners them
selves. In ireland the distress was great
er; and letter which he had received
from Dublin informed him, that in the ci
ty OF Cork alone 5000 families were rel!e-
we'd by sonp shops. We were told indeed,
IN pamphlet written by right honorable
pacenen and sinecurist, George Rose,)
that the war, with its taxes and burdens,
was to secure to us the "blcssed comforts
OF our holy religion" CA laugh Here
he would remark, by the bye, that man
who knew any thing of what religion was
would never think Of resnr;ing to George
Rose for any information upon it. But let
us see whether there was any truth in the
assertion. Why, in Stafiordshire, we were
now told, that numbers of people were ac-
tually prevented from going to any place of
religious worship, because they had not
frsn ~sN.fs NNC ls.Tk Il
and these were the blessed comforts of re-
ligion secured by the war.-(Hear, hear.)
Whatever might be the amount Of the dis,
tress under which the country laboured, if
we lost sight of the true causes of it, no re-
al good whatever could be done & he had
the sanction OF the Livery Of Londonon ma
ny occasions tor stating, that the system
OF unjust warfare which had been carried
on for more than 20 years was the main
cause. In that war we had spent more
than 900 millions of money, in taxes rails
ed and in debt contracted, which was more
than had been spent in all the wars in
which the country had been engaged for
two Centuries preceding it. Since the
commencement of the last war, our debts,
our expenses, our poor rates. had been
multiplied fourfold-The result had been an
enormous & overwhelming taxation, show
hS t'"t al uiJuSI WAT, however pros
porous it might be, was the reproach, and
would ultimately be the ruin, of every peo-
pie.
One thing connected with that war had
been the enormous subsidies lavshed On
foreign powers. He was speaking within
compass, when he stated these subsidies
as at least amounting to 90 millions, torn
from the sweat and industry of the people
of this country. Here Mr. Flower tod a
story of the late learned LAWYER, Sergeant
Hill, who had the strongest adherence of
all foreign subsidies, and who was wont 10
observe, that he wished pair of loaded
pistols should be placed on the table of the
II use OF Commons, there to remain. and
if any member whatever should rise 10
propose subsidy TO any foreign power.
then 1t should be the standing order of the
house, that the only answer to be given.
was, that the Speaker should take up the
pistols and blow his brains out. (Great
laughter and applause.) He might be
told. however, of the glory which the
country had gained but all history would
show, and that Of the Romans in partcu-
lar, that any nation that placed its happl-
ness III military glory, would eventually
be destroyed. After ali, what were these
glorious results Of the WARP They were
subversive of the best principles Of soci .ty
in regard to France, the people of which
had had government imposed upon them
contrary to their own consent ana wishes.
Our government had declared, they ONLY
wished to get rid of one man, and vet tbey