Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-15

hts was moi tic lit occasion ter enter |
ing into details: but this he would say, !
That IN making fresh reduction of the
military establishment, they had been
guided by one priuciple onl,, and that
was the principle of safety. II was true
that colonies, had their price, bul OF tie
safety oi ~ country there could be no
price, and all hazard ought most carefully
TO be avoided. Hear, keor) Having
iIicrctorc carried the reduction as low as
possible, consistently with that principle.
Ministers were nevertheless prepared TO
propose the vote of their estimates only
for a limited time, reyiseable in the pres
ent session OF Parliament. Respecting
the arguments used in opposition TO the
Address. II had been said of the American
war, ;llai The addition of taxes at It's close
was q proof ofprosperity now, at the
termination of the late war, the People had
been relieved from taxes TO large amount,
no maiterin what way that reduction had
been etfectedt--( Hear, ar(--the difference
was, that after the America war new taxes
wera imposed; and after the latter. the
burdens OF the nation we're considerably
lShtcned. |; was true, however, tlIat lie
state OF the country demanded the most
ANXIOUS lnves;i CATION, aud il was equally
true that tins investigation was recon-
menIcd from the Throne.
A great deal of fault had been found
with that part of the Address which refer
red to the feelings of the People: it had
been said, that ii accused the People ge-
nerally of disloyalty. On the contrary,
the People at large were praised Tor their
patience and fortilude but it was, at the
same time, notorious, that eBdeayo,s
nave been made, TO inocuate upon their
dispositions spirit ofvolence and insur-
rection. lJfe0r. hears The hon. and learn
Ell gent. had asked, were those who assem-
bied 10 petition the Legislature to be treat,
ed As insurgents? Certainly moi. But
dld those WHO protested that purpose al
ways adhere strictly 10 the execution of
1t FOR himself, he could truly say, that
he blamed not the innocent men who at
tended these meetings, and listened to
the harangues Which were there address
sed TO their prciudices and passions, but
those who, with perverted heads aud hard
hearts. could retire to their homes, where
they felt no suffering, aud leave behind
them drenched and starving auditory,
before whom they had labored to stimu-
late rebellion as duty, and TO execrate
Charity as a crime. (Hear, hear)
Reduction could not take place without
ing many individuals on the world. He
stated this, not as an argument against
reduction, but as frank avowaI, that in
cutting deep, he could not but fcelsevere-
". He couldnot shut his heart, any more
than his ears, to the cries OF poverty. To
tins extent he was anunwiliing reformer:
but the necessities ofthe times admitted
no alternative.
The hon. and learned gentleman had
lntlmated, that greater benefits might
have been derived by making our militia
ry preponderanee subservient to the as
sertIon OF commercial advantages. He
was surprised that he should have express
sed 5 UGH an opinion. The great value of
peace was, that If was the parent Of com
mercc; and 1t was likely, i,iat It that point
were attained, that The industry, the ac-
tive enterprise, and The accumulated
capital OF tins country, should be far be-
hind it?
With respect TO the observation ofthe
hon gentleman who spoke first. as 10
generally prevailing desire for narlismen-
Ears reform, whenever that question Should
De agiiaied, he was prepared 10 meet it, not
win any suggestion of partial or tempo
rary reform, but should be prepared 10
oppose the remedy by direct denial OF
The grievance. tHeGr, hears He denied
that the house was not, TO all useful pur-
poses, All adequate representation of The
people. He denied that there was in the
history OF this country any practice, or
any theory, which could give a sanctio n
to the doctrine OF universal suffrage and
annual parlIaments. Our system had
grown up with the growth of the nation,
in strength, prosperity and Ienown: it had
adapted itself TO our Institutions. habits
and wants. 1t was good for every practi-
cal object. Whenever it should be trans
formed INTO the mere agent of popular
viii, there might be some kind of consti-
tuition, some untried being, watered with
blood, and furnishing to destruction f:
but from that moment the British consti-
tuition was gone. (Heay, hear, henri A.
gaIDst ibsuch theories lie was a ,ermin-
ed TO take his stand. Hear, hear.) lie
warned those who listened 10 these
doctrines, that those Who sci the stone
rolling were not alwa. S able 10 control lis
impetus.
The ruin Of France had been accom-
plished by despising the first indications
OF misehIetas too contemplate to deserve
notice. twas Indispensable, that the poi
son OF doctrines, at once lie most PERM
rlous and the most absurd, had been long
through the body Of the com
Let them hear the ingenious
creed OF these patriots Of the soil. CA
augh) Here MIR. CanningTcad an extract
rom publication, entitled we believe.
. Sprncean Plan" England was not
he trusted to BE- blotted from The list Of
NATIONS, because, after an ovtr-straiued
though necessary effort, she was sunk i'm