The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-04-16

'1iT Il. huiNtN rose 10 present peu-
ton upon the subject OF parliamentary
reform, from the inhabitants Of Wake.
field and its vicinity. He had several
others from the same part OF The coun-
try upon the same subject, and he took
that opportunity OF protesting sgainsta
doctrine, with respect TO the present
ing petitions which had recently been
urged. He consider Cd it as throwing
an unfair bonus upon the shoulders Of
members oil tina. house, who, in Tie ex
ercisc of their duty, received petitions
hom the people, and presented them
there II formed, likewise, an impedi
ment to the exercise OF that right Of pc
titioning. which every Englishman pos
sessed. He 5egged leave distinctly TO
state, that he had not thought it his du.
y TO read The petition he then held in
his hand. He had merely looked TO
what was its prayer ,and its general pur-
port; he had not examined whether
he language was such S the house
might deem offensive; nor, indeed, did
he think he should be acting fairly, if
he presumed to intercept, by any eXer-
else of his private Judgment and dis
cretioD, the right OF the petitioners 20
appeal to that house in Whatever way
they thought most hkelyto obtain their
end. 1t was the duty Of members to
present petitions, when their fellow
subjects requested it, and TO leave it to
the house TO determine, whether they
should be received or not. At he same
time, however, he must observe, TIA,
he thought the right CT rejecting pc
tit@n, as exercised by the house, We
ry questionable privilege.
The speaker stated it to be the es-
tablished custom of the house, tina,
members should read the petitions they
presented, and see that their language
was respectful.
Sir f. Burdett said, he had read the
prayer of the petition, and was not :
ware of any thing disrespect(ul in the
language of ii.
The speaker" The honorable baro-
net has said every thing required by the
house, He has stated the substance OF
the petition, and that, 10 the best Of his
judgment, it contains nothing disre-
spectful."
Sir +. Burdett--H do not mean 20
say that have read all these petitions
that would indeed be severe task, for
so many of them have been entrusted "a
my care, that the reading of them all
would occupy the whole time Of the
session."
MIR. Canning reqt ested to know il
the honorable baronet had read the pc
tition.
Sir T. Burdo0 replied that he should
answer no SUCH nor any other question
from the last speaker. But he woult
broadly put it 10 the house, would they
feel 1t their duty to reject the prayer o.
half million OF distressed and suffer.
ing worthy people, merely upon an un,
ascertained point of form or would
they endure, amidst the united sorrow.
of an affiicted population, that a few
crown lawyers, or newly made minis
tiers, should catecbise the presenter o.
such petition, upon the most sbsurt
point # order ever contended for.
AT The request OF Mr. Canning, the
speaker repeateG the rule he had before
laid down.
MT canning repeated lis oete' NINA
ton, acling under the sanction OF The
high authority of the chair, in witch hi
considered embodied the authority O.
parliament, TO oppose the reading oil
the coniessedIy unread petition.
Mr.. Broug CHAM rose with great warmth
70 reprobate the zeal, he would say the
presumption Of the last speaker, in en-.
devoriDg to close the doors ofthAl house
against the reception of petition echo,
ed by the groans and sutferings Of the
public. He considered the opinion OIL
the speaker as mere dictum, and one
not sanctioned by vote of that house
When. petitions were flocking into The
house from all parts of the kingdom
complaining that they were the author.
of all the misChiefs which had beer
brought on them, was it right or safe
on their part, 10 add fuel to the fame
by asserting that 10 be the rule OF thi.
house. Ill order 10 defeat the right o
petition, not one trace or ves;igs o
| which is any where TO be found amonps
the standing orders or regulations o
| the house.
@lr Francis Rqrdett informed TIT
house that he bad twice read the pe,i
items, during the debate.
Lord CochraHe supported the recep
ton o. the petitions, NOTWITHSTANDING,
they were unpleasant to the feelings
no doubt, OF nlacenpn and etnecsriets