Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-23

the most rigidveconomy and eintient re-
uencniEeirt to be adopted ia every dc
partment OF this expenditure.
Another great evil, sire, of which we
would complain, and which we cannot
but consider, at the origin and source
OF our principal misfortnnes, is, the cor
ruptci state ut the commons house of
parliament, whose violations of the prin-
ciplcs ot genuine representation are so
| fragrant, that, on a late occasion, they
were admitted by the speaker Of that bo-
dy 10 be as notorious Us the sun at noon
day; and it has been offered in evidence,
at the bar OF the honorable house, that
seats III parliament are bought and sold,
with the same facility as stalls i'll Smith
| field; IN fact, several instances have
latterly come before the public. which
mark the corruption of that assembly, in
the most incontrovertible characters
10 mention only one, 1t appears from an
unreiuted public document, that ninety
of its members are placement or pensio-
| ners, and share among themselves annu-
ally about two hundred thousand pounds
of the public money; from which it
must be evident To your royal hisliness,
| that we have Just cause to demonstrate
| against the present constitution of that
| house; and That 1t is not without serious
| apprehension ttiat we view branch OF the
| legislature, which Our education and our
habits have taught us To consider as the
depository of our liberties, and the guar
dian ofour properties, in danger of losing
this constitutional character, and beco-
ming an arena of political gladiators, as
sembled TO combat for court favour, and
contend for national plumber. Repre-
sentatlon, sire, was not designed by our
ancestors to be a subtle fiction, which,
under specious- name, should cheat us
OF our liberties, but substantial reality,
which should guarantee to us the dispo-
sal of our properties, the security of our
persons, and the preservation of our
rights And, sire, we should consider
ourselves unworthy of the name of En-
glishmen, ii we were not determined, that
the freedom of our foreiathers, earned by
their virtue, shall be maintained by the
virtue of their descendants"
AS faithful subjects, we feel it our
bounden duty TO make known to your
royal highness (wlat is there reason to
believe princes too seldom know the
real condition of the people land by time
ly motion, to convey to Your royal ear,
the necessary, though unpleasant truth,
that your people are dissatisfied-th
they feel themselves oppressed, insulted,
and degraded; and that, without some
prompt alienation of their burdens,
there is too much reason to fear that
mems minds win become prepared TO
seek, in political crisis, for that relief
which their situation renders SO indespen-
SADLY necessary.
Yes, sire, 1t is this strong sense of duty
alone, which renders us thus solicitous TO
III
and our. country; with no prediction
TO indulge, no wish to CRAFTY, but
what centres in our country's veal, we
should blush in asserting our claim to
the character of Englishmen, could we
entertain sentiment in our hearts, that
had not for its object the houor, peace
and prosperity OF our beloved coun-
try.
We do, therefore, most respectfully en-
treat that your royal highness will be era-
ciously pleased forthwith to cause the
parliament to he assembled, and to re-
commend to them, in the most urgent man
rer, the adoption of prOsnpt and efiicac-
Gus measures, for the relief of the national
burdens, to point out TO them the neces-
sity there exists for reducing the army,
abollshing all sinecures, pensions, grants,
and emoluments, not merted by actual
public services; of bringing the charges
of the civil list, within such moderate
bounds az the circumstances of the coun-
try will enable it to meet; and restoring
to the people their undonbted rights, a
full, fair, and equal representation in the
commons house of parliament.
The reading Of the petitions was fre-
quently interrupted by loud plaudits:
X. DenisOn, esq. seconded it, and when
put by the chairman, it was unani-
mously adopted as the act of the meet
ing.
Votes of thanks were passed to the
mayor, and to Messrs. George Gill, and
Thomas Bailey; and the meeting broke
up III the most peaceable manner.
s.s,.-.
WEST-INDIES.