The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-04-14

. ne hat Colonies had their price, but
OF tic safety e The country there could
be no price, arl all ha5ard ought, most
carefully, to be avoided Hear, beGr.
therefore carried the reduc.
ton as low as possible, consistently with
tina, principle, Ministers were neverthe.
less prepared TO propose the vote Of
their estimates only for a limited time,
reyisable'in the present session Of Par
liament. Respecting the arguments
used in opposition to the Address, il
had been said Of the American war, that
the addition of iayes at its close was a
proof of prosperity now, at the termi-
nation of the late war, the people had
been relieved from taxes 10 large
mount---no matter in what way that re-
duction had been efFecicd-( Hear,
hear. )--thc difference was, that after
the American war new taxes were I'M
posed, and after the latter the burdens
Of tho nation were considerably light.
ened. Ii was true, however, that the
STATE OF the country demanded The most
anxious investigation, and it was equal
]y true that this Investigation was re
commended from the throne.
A great deal Of fault may be found
with that part OF the address, which
referred to the feelings of the people:
it has been said, that 1t accused the
people generally of disloyal,y. On the
contrary, the people at large were prais-
ed for their patience and fortitude !;
but it was, at the same time, notorious,
that endeayors had been made to ipoc
ulate upon their dispositions spirit of
YioIencs and insurrection (Hear,
near The honorable and learned
gentleman had asked, were those who
assembled to petition the legislature
to be treated as insurgentsl Certain
iy nct. But did not those who profess.
ed that parpose always adhere strictly
to the execution ofit! For himself he
could truly say, that he blamed not tho
innocent men who attended these meet.
ings, and listened TO the haransnes
which were there addressed TO theft
and passions, but those who
with perverted heads and hard hearts,
could retire TO their homes, where they
Gelt no suffering, and leave behind a
a drenched and starving auditory, be-
fore whom they had labored to stimulate
rebellion as a duty, and to execrate cha.
rity as a crime (Hear, hsar.
Reduction could not take place with.
out throwing many individuals on the
world. He could not shut his heart any
more than his ears to the cry of power
sy. To this extent he was an unwilling
OF haf< he 49, ~ al.
times admitted no alternative. The
h6h. ans learned gentleman had inti-
mates that greater benefits might have
been derived by making our military
preponderauce subsecvient 10 the as
sertion ofic commercial advantages. He
was surprised that he should have ex
pressed such an opinion The great
value Of peace was, that il was The pa
rent OF commerce; and was it likely,
II that point were attained, that the in
dustry. the active enterprise, and the
accumulated capital of this country
should be far behind it? .
With respect TO the observation OF
tie hon. gentleman who spoke first,
as to generally prevailing desire for
parliamentary reform, whenever that
question should be agitated he was pre-
pared 10 meet it, not with any sugges-
ton of partial or temporary reform, but
should be prepared to oppose the RENE
dy by direct denial of the grievance
Hear, hecr J He denied that the
house was net, to all useful purposes,
an adequate representation of the PEG
pie. He denied that there was in the
history OF this country any practice, OIL
any theory, which could give a sane
lion to the doctrine of universal suf.
frage and annual parliarients Our
system has grown up with the growth
OF the nation, in strength, prosperity y,
and renowD il had adapted itself 10
our institutions, habits and wants. IL
was good for every practical cbject-.-
Whenever It should be transformed in
TO the mere agent Of popular will, there
might be some kind OF constitution,
some uDtried being, watercd with blood,
and flourishing to destruction but from
thst moment the British constitution
was gone. Hear, hear, hear. A.
galnst all ssch theories he was deter
mined TO take his stand (He0r, hear
He warned those who listened TO these
doctrines, that those who set the stone
rolling were not always able to control
its impetus.
The r,,,,> II Iy,.... L.