Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-11


| stances which have now been specified,
| it is the decided opinion OF this meeting
| that there is no other means OF relief, no
other way of satisfying aud tranquiiizins
| the minds oithe people, Tor the present,
! or of securing them, fcrthe future, but by
| a complete change, OF the political sys-
TEN of Administration-by Z return from
wrong TO right, and FROM Injustice to JUS
| tice-bv AN immediate reduction of all the
unnecessary public burdens, and the
practice of economy III every department
| of the public eXpenditure-and,a above all,
by speedily returning TO the first primer
| pies of the Constitution, and restoring TO
| the people their undoubted right, that of
| freely. equally and ANNUALLY eiecting their
own REPRESENTATIVES to Parliament.
9th. That when the inyeterate nature
Of the present system of corruption is con-
si1rrcd, aud the power q number OF thatde-
testable Faction which Is Interested III sup
porting it, are taken into view, we hold 1t
TO bethe mperious duty Of aiiwho areanx.
ious 10 see Britain once more a Tree ann
nonrishimg country, and VINO wish vel
10 herirue interest and honor, TO liz Their
minds steadily on the real causes 81 the
present distress, to unite their energies,
and to persevere in legal and constituti-
nal way, hut at the same Time WIN The
utmost irmness, i'll demanding OF our
Rulers-not as favor, but a right-the
immediate consideration of The nations
grievances, and the adoption ots mea-
sures and arrangements, as SHAH most eff
fectuailv remove the present distresses,
and guard the country for the future "a
gainst the recurrence of similar evils.
10th. That Il Petition, founded on these
resolutions presented To his Royal High
ness the Prince Regent, requesting that
he will assemble Parliament without de-
lay, and call upon it Immediately TO de-
wise measures for the reduction of the
Taxes and the Standing Army the abo-
lition ofall Pensions, Sinec,mes, Grants
and other EmOluments, not merited by
public services-and the adoption of the
most rigid economy iii every Department
of the Siate-and, above all, cali upon it
TO take immediate steps towards q tho
rough and radica! reform in the Commons
House, towards tlie total destruction of
that system of Borough Usurpation
which is equally hostile to the rights of
the Crown and the privileges ofthe peo-
ple-and towards the exclusion from the
Commons House, in all time coming, of
those Piacemen, Pensioners, and Holders
of office under the crown, who now de
veur upwards of 300, 0oOe of the taxes
annually. in the face of the Act of Settle
ment, which declares, that " No person
who has an office, or place ofproiit UNI
der the King, or receives Pension from
the Crown, shall be capable of serving as
q Member of tie House of Commons"
--l2 ". III. oh. ..
lth. That Petitions, embodying the
spirit of these Resolutions, be also pre-
pared for both Houses of Parliament, and
presented Immediately on the opening
of the Session.
10th That Committee be appointed
for conducting these Petitions.
18th. That the Meeting recommend it
TO every town and village in Scotland, to
declare their sentiments on the present
state of tie country.
18th. That the Thanks of this Meeting
be given TO the Right Hon. Lord A. Ha-
milton, the Right Hon. Lord Mayor and
Livery of London, the Independent Flee
tors of Westminster, Sir F. Burdett, Lord
Cochrane, Major Cartwright, VIM. Cob
liampden Club, for their unwearied ex-
ertions, iii the cause of Parliamentary Re-
forIA
18th. That the especial Thanks ofthis
Meeting are due TO Mr.. Turner, for the
accommodation has afforded the Bur-
gesses and other inhabitants of the CITY
N this occasion, and for his able conduct
III the Chair.
10th. That the Thanks oftliis Meeting
be given to The Editors of the Glasgow
Chronicle, Globe, Morning Chronicle,
Statesman, and Aberdeen Newspapers,
for their great exertions in our cause in
particular, and the liberty of mankind in
general, and TO all the independent con
ductors newspapers through the empire.
this meeting being well aware that the Ii
berry of The press is the palladium of all
the civil and religious rights of Britons.
18th. That by the Bill of Rights, il is
declared, '''rhat itiStlle right ofibe sub
ject to petition the King. and all com
mitmcnts and prosecutions for su.h re
ttiOnlng are unlawful. Therefore, it is the
opinion ofthis Meeting, that james Black,
Esq. Lord Provost Of this city, by his ex
pressed determination TO prevent, by all
means in lis power, the Meeting of the
Inhabitants in The Public Green, which
belongs to The Burgcsscs and Conmuni-
~ OF the City, for the purpose ofexer-
! csing their Constitutional right ofPeti-
| tioning their Prince aud Legislature
(tlle Trades Hall and every suitable
place within doors having also refused
! hath thereby, as far as his influence ex-
! nded, been instrumental in preventing
! the Inhabitants from exercising their nm
aienable right ofpetitioung tie Throne,
and hath consequently forfeited all claim
to the confidence of every Burgess and O.
/