Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-02

/ Stigma which ha,l been thrown by Minis.
! tiers on all the petitions, and on their en-
beavers 10 stop all evidence and prevent
all enquiry, by which alone Justice could
he done( Hear, hear !)--It was such con
Duct that destroyed the confidence of ,l,e
country IN the measures OF government
n WAS such conduct that stigmaiised tl,e
Secret Committee of The House, and made
their reports no Justification of The adnli-
nisiration IN the eyes of impartial men,
Ike had yet TO learn by What legitimate
process III argument II was decided, that
because one petition had presented ex-
aggeraied SiatemeHs-tbat because ano-
thcr bad addressed 10 The House what
waS falSe-ihat because third had mag
nlhCd his suiiC.ngs beyond the strict line
OF tIuih-jhereiore the house was to lend
no ear TO any petitions, however different
IA their nature, and however differently
they came recommended by .he character
oi those who framed them. The House
had now got Ia tliis--that IL reckoued
complaint sufficient to excite suspicion
again I The person who preferred IL. and
thought II enough 10 throw discretiit on
mans word or oath, iihe was found com
ing forward TO state his grievances. You
are q Petitioner" Was The language of
genllemen opposite, " therefore YOU can.
not be believed You complain of oppres.
sion and hardship, therefore YOU must be
an lmposior." Was the House thus 10
turn deaf ear TO the Petitions of lie PEG
pie How could it support its own con-
Slsicncy, or show any regard TO lis profess
SioGs As often "a II was approached
with Petitions Tor Reform, as often as The
Petitioners presumed 10 say to it--' You
a. not represent the people you neither
attend 10 Their wants, orallow them 10 en-
Joy Their nights; II answered pharSaical
", Uur he could not use another plirase).
we are The real representatives of The
people We deliberate for their advantage.
We consult their wishes, we throw The door
VIDE open 10 petitions" But what was
the use of this hara abstract rich, of peti-
ioning; what did i, signify whether The
doCgS of the House were thrown wide
open 10 applications or not, if the Ppii-
lloi,s Of The people produced no effect: iC
they were merely received and neglected
and II tie Petitioners, when they com
plnued Of grievances, were 70 he told
your statements are false, they cannot he
listened 10 they do not even deserve in
q"lrH into their allegations Z? THIS was
not the manncrin which The House should
perform lis duty to The n, ople-ihis was
notihe way nWhiCli ii should fulfill It's of
hrc ri standing between them and The 10
vernmcni, hea ing the rRprpsentatiGns
and The PRAYERS Of the former, with wiI-
linz and ndu.geni ear, and the defence
"i me Iatier"ilh tie most scrupuloms jeal-
ousy-( Hear. hear, hear !)-supportin the
iormerand leaning against The latter. prov
ing shield OF deieuce 10 the one, and re-
sisiing the encroacIimtn's and arbitrary
designs OF The Oiicr.-( Hea,' )-Mr. r.
maintained, that the Suspension Ac, was
reSoried To by Ministers 10 preserve their
places they saw that their standing ar
mes and ih II resistance 10 retrencl,m!ent
placed them III jeopardy, and hence orisi
mated their CRIES about plot. and consul.
racies. plot was necessary for their
power and they made one: they would
MAINTAIN their places, though at the ex-
pense OF the public Liberties. -Ifall inonj
ry was thus 10 be rrsisied-ifa confidence
III Ministers Was always 10 b cherished
by The H0use-and il, after such conduct
Members were TO meet their constituents
amt be secure iii their re elections then.
he would say, 1t matiered little who were
IN Office, or who Out: it maitered little
hat the forms Of the Constitution were
preserved, when lis substance was gone ::
"heA The first storm That rose would be
he signal for surrenderi:ig i; and The ma
ton was 10 enjoy lis liberties al the good
will and pleasure of Tie Minister'S
(Heor, hearD
IT.