Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-12-11

support tnlS INDUSTRIOUS dilu unColiStltu-
tional parliament. This immense army
would no longer be necessary, if parlia-
ment were looked up to by the people at
large; it would no longer be necessary
ifthe people viewed it as their safeguard,
and not as the instrument of their oppres-
sion; if the people did not see them
selves excluded from all share in the
appointment of those who called them
selves the representatives ofthe people.
This overgrown army is, however, es-
sentially necessary for the support of a
government carried on through a cor
srupt house of commons for must do
justice to the gentlemen calling them
selves the house of commons-though
Fought to beg pardon for saying cor
rupt house of commons. (Order! or
Der
Here the speaker interrupted him,
and the baronet retracted, and said, they
were not corrupt, but on the contrary
they are honest representatives and fol-
low the interests of their constitute nts,
but not the interests of the public, as the
public have not sent them here. Speak
ing of the opposition he again observes
SIN vain have the gentlemen opposite
endeavored to persuade us that the
ruin in which we are involved is imagin-
Vy.-Not even he,
"--whose magic song
Made huge Plinlimmon bow his cloud
topp'd head"
would be competent to such an under
taking.-What then are we to do? To
set about endeavoring to repair the inju-
ry we have Observation-Disclosures are the
first steps which we ought to take9 To
revise the whole frame of the constitu-
ton; to accomplish radical reform in
the representation of the people; to
make every practical retrenchment i'll
the public expenditure-to abolish es-
Establishments serviceable only to the
cause of corruption. 1t has been said
by those whose only object is change
of ministers, "give us good men and
they will give us good measures" No
thing, however, can be more visionary,
mere inconsistent with Just political
reasoning, than that false axiom. 1t is
contrary to all experience-it is contra
ny to all history-it is contrary to the
opinion of the most celebrated political
writers-it is contrary to the sentiments
of Locke, of Blackstone, of that greatest
of all, Harrington, who, opposing in his
day the arguments of those who wished
for change of men instead of change
of measures, said, "give us good men,
and they will give us good measures,
IN the language of demagogues; give
US good orders, and they will give US
good men, in the principle of wise le-
8isiation." Tits only those, indeed, who
expect "to gather grapes from thorns,
Or figs from thistles," that can thus ex-
poet good from evil What we, the re-
formers, maintain, is the right of the
people to be substantially represented
In this house. 1t is the interest of the
king it is the interest of the people;
it is the interest of the public creditor;
it is the interest of all orders and de-
grees of the state, that few individuals
shall no longer be permitted to enjoy
the, privilege of nominating large pro-
portion of the members of the commons
house of parliament. The state of our
country demands that the legislature
should take into consideration system
which, in plain and simple truth, is
grinding the people to atoms. Those
gentlemen are grossly mistaken who
suppose that the presence of large
Standing army will enable them to force
upon the people the continuance of
system heretofore unknown in England.
They are grossly mistaken if they think
that it is possible to resist moral force
by the bayonet. But, sir, it is to the ex-
pense of maintaining large standing
army N the country, that l principally
object. Y am under no great apprehen-
sion with respect to its disposition to as
eist in the destruction of the liberties of
ITS country. have no hesitation in say
ing that as far as our liberties are con-
cerned, am under infinitely less fear
from the gentlemen of the army, clothed
In red, than l am from the gentlemen of
the long robe, clothed in black. There
is no great danger of an English army's
.eubverting English Liberties. But the
expense of supporting such an army, is
indeed a serious evil. Sir, | DEFY his
xnajesty's ministers to show any rational
ground for keeping the army up to its
present establishment. The situation of
Europe is not such as to induce any be-
liefthat it may soon be necessary to call
forth the warlike energies of the state
Most unfortunate, indeed, would it be
Tor the country, were any necessity soon
90 fo.