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


the question, as 10 what Interior proceed
ings at all We're necessary. This their
lordSIips would DO, with Il due regard
to the liberty OF the subject, with every
disposition 10 couline the powers of the
executive government within the ordinary
limits prescribed BY law. with the utmost
tenderness 10 the People, and respect TO
their rights and privileges but, at the
same lime, with determination to sup
port and uphold the constitution and 90
yeinment III the country. With respect
to the assertion of Il noble Earl. that this
WAS most tremendous charge against
majority of the People of this country
where did the noble Earl find such Il
charger Earl GrosNenor-ln theSpeech)
In what speech ? In the speech from The
throne, or the message of yesterday
There was no such charge either in the
speech or message; on The contrary, II
had been held out that the fullest conf
dence was placed in the loyalty and Il
deity of the grea, body Of the People of
this nation. His noble friend U.ord Hol-
land) who spoke hast, had urged the ex-
lstng diSireSscs of the country, as par
tlcular reason why 10 ulierior proceed
ings should be adopted, unless justified
by the most indispensable necessity. II
was silv alone ilat could Justify them
at any time; but at all times, there were
some individuals III every country dispo-
sed to do mischief, if they could but il
was not In the season OF prosperity that
the attempts of these persons were most
likely to excite much notice or cause
much alarm II WAS in times Of difficulty,
external or internal, that the endeavors
OF People ofthat description were attend
ed with most success. But there WAS no
charge Of dlsioyaty or classification intima-
ted or inSinuated in the speech or mes
sage against the general body of the ma
ton. vast majority WAS no doubt SIN
cerely attached TO the laws and constitu-
ton; but manv even of the well disposed,
but uniformed, might he mis!ed by the
artiul and designing, and more particular
~ III season OF general and severe pres
sure and the executive ought not TO be
insensible of the dangers that might re-
suit 10 the government and constitution
OF This country from that source. Supine-
ness and indifference i'll the executive
might he attended with the most fatal con
sequences and it had been the care of
the advisers of The Crown not TO exhibit
that supinencss and indifference, but at
least TO call The attention of Parliament
to the subject. Their Lordships would
look at the matter with candorand Impair
tally, with every disposition TO refrain
from infringing the liberty ofthe subject.
but also with aresolution not 10 sacrifice
substance to mere names.
Earl Grosvenor, in explanation, said,
that the charge must be supposed to have
been brought against large portion of
the People, otherwise it would have been
IDLE and unnecessary 10 have called the
attention OF their Lordships TO the sub
ject
Eall Grey.-Ie did not know that anv
reasonable objection could be made TO tie
motion now before their Lordships: for
when message came down with com
mUnication that such practices existed,
and threatened such dangerous conse-
quences us were stated in the messare.
ii was the duty of the House TO send that
information 70 acommittee, 10 be examin-
ed and the communication having been
made, Il more proper course could not
be adopted, than the usual mode ofpr
ceeding on such occasions. Whether the
dangers were really such as required the
adoption OF any Interior measures by Par
ilameRt, was precisely that particular
matter on which they would have after
wards TO decide, when the whole subject
should be examined and the report before
them " till that period arrived. he should
suspend his Judgment; but while he so
suspended his Judgment, he could not
help joining his noble friend in lamenting,
that, under the present circumstances of
the country, any necessity should have a.
risen, even in the opinion of the noble
lords themselves, for coming to Parlia-
ment with such a communication. They
had done no more than Justice to the
great body ofthe People, when they had
had expressed the fullest reliance on their
attachment TO the laws and constitution.
even under circumstances of the severest
pressure. While exposed TO hardshpe
and distress almost unparalleled dis
tress extending from the lowest to the
highest ranks in the community, and OBJ
Grating upon the great mass OF the p0pu-
latlon, with pressure unknown AT any
former period, partly from the inability OF
the higher classes to afford that relief 20
the lower, which, at other seasons Of dis
tress they bad been enabled TO give
while suffering under this accumulation
OF llardships, the People had displayed a
patience, fortltude, resignation and conf
dcnce, III the Parliament and Constitution
of tlieir country, which had never been
exhibited, under such circumstances, by
the People of any other country on
earth.
But If such were the effects produced
by the Constitution of this country, the
executive government, their Lordships,
and Parliament in general, ought to con
slider well before they did any thing that
could impair the confidence ofthe PeoDle