Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-05-03


and N proof, 10 tho speech of my noble friend who
has brough, forward this motion eight. the
course Of argument which my noble friend adopted,
and in The far and candid speech which ha made
cannot desire to discover more absolute contrast
tho doctrines maintained by those with whom he is
leaEued. Ny noble friend admitted. IN the course
Of his address tn your Lordships, that whatever may
havo been his former opinions this subject, and
whatever may be his own feelings wishes on tue |
question. he could no longer deny the necessity of
reform He admitted that the people Of this country
lad expressed themselves plainly and loudly and witt
unprecedented unanimy, III favor of this great
question He allowed that the of the people |
had been raised in peaceable, but IA. acknowledged
in irresistible, manner for parlismenn ~ reform
Therefore my Noble pfiend, making oil those adj
missions, obliged acknowledge that reform must
be gran ed; and TO certain degree ny Noble Friend
must still further admit, that not only must reform
be granted. but that 10 yield to that unanimous wish,
TO obey that irresistible voice and Satisfy he peo
plo, the reform which ls to BIO granted must be not
OF nominal but of an edrctual description (IIear
At all events, my noble friend has admitted the
necessity Of some measure of reform But what did
The Nob'o Duke wv s.lingtoD) say on this subiec'
If ever have heard declaration which has more
titan another mortified me, it is the declarao which
has been made by the Noble Duke; if ever have
been more grieved by one thing than another in Tie
course OF my life, 1t is by the line of conduct which
has been taken this subject by ono who has
rendered great services the country at the head
OF her armioS-who has rendered equal great SER
vices at the head of the Kings rouncs-serv,ces
which shall be ever forward to acknowledge ard
which With ray latest breath, shall be anxious
to proc!am-If over, repeat have been mortified
cIsratlun which that Noble Duke made at the com
mencement Of the present session, the subject Of
reform. had expected, and had foncily hoped that
that Noble Duke would have yielded to what he must
have the general desire of tho country, and
that with the bolness Of public man. and of q cap.
TAIN he would have hesi,a,ed in adopting those
measures, and pursuing that course which could alone
satisfy the just expectations of the people of this
Empire. But that fatal declaration which The noble
Duke made against all reform, the CONNIE sccmcnt
Of the present session. dsspated all those homes and
now astcr several others have changed their pr
and yielded to that side which they it was vain 10
resist, have heard that nobls Duke again, with
manly consistency, declare that his opinion remained
unchanged. While that noble Duke saw those who
had heretofore steod with him fairly bac ksldng from
the causo- becoming the victims of cxpediency-and
all, one by one dropping from his side-to hear that
noble Duke, under such circumstances, in manly
strong and honest terms tell POUR Lordships thst his
opinion remained unchanged on the subject. while
the voice OF the public had been raised against ito
hear him say that, so far from exciting my astonsh-
men may add my acknowledgements exactly what |
had expected from that noble person. am ready to
award Its Jdstness OF praise to the noble Dukes
sis'ency, but I feel that the noble Duke may be
perfectly consistent and still be in the wrong. feel
that the noble Duke may be perfectly consistent him
SELL ana yet that he may not have boen able pre-
serve the consistency of every else employed for
him. will warn him that he has mates on board who
do not pull the vessel up the stream; that stationed
either end, they work in opposite directions; that
|
reform, and for having things as they are and who
agree With the noble duke himself tina, the const,u
on IS most perfect one, and that if it were left 10
them to create It over again. they could call into
exstcAce single perfection in it. nor hone Tn
add star to that galaxy Of rotten boroughs which
excite their admiration. and demand their respect
that Vhe there are those who thus go with the Noble
Duke, thare those his side, and arrayed with
him against the present measures of reform Who IN
like him. are ready to admit the absolute necessity of
some species of ,eform. Ey Noble Friend who
brought forward pith
Noble Duke against the present of reform.
differs much more on the general question of reform
from that Noble Duke than he does from his Aaiesty's
Minister'S he only differs from them in degree they
going to an extent which he cannot come up and
there are in fact but few points of variance between
u.s. can now, therefore, think, successfully retsrt
upon the enemes of reform that charge which in for
times they evel!ed the heads Of the advocates
of reform. can tell them that two of them seem
to agree in their mode of opposing. or objectnp to
this In bringing forward the settlement of
such an important question this, it is nothing won
dertuI tat those whs propose the plan should find diff
hcutes IN determining the course which should be
adopted; but that those who have only mere nega>
tive to support and to deny what tho others ask for
and to rehut what tie others propose-that they
anouid differ SO much amongst themselyes-I lock
Upon MS singular feature in the discussion of this
great question, and of the strongest and most n
conroveFtibie proofs that the pressure of argument,
and OF public opinion is that side of the question
yhlch ID esPoused by me and my Noble Colleagues
have no desire to eiain your Lordshps by abiding
TO the details OF this measure, fitting oppoE.
tuhitY WIZ arise tor the discussion Of it, but can
not avoid observing upon the concession as will call
IT. which has been made by my Noble Friend who has
opened this debate There is no avowaI there is no
admission, which ever heard made Upon sny great
popular question, which up the acknowledge.
ment which has been made by my Noble Friend as 10
The unanimous acceptance Of this great measure by
all classes all ranks, and all descriptions of persons in
this country. Men of every sect, party and class
who may hitherto have enlertiincd a dtffe renee of
opinion on the question Of reform, have with mirac-
niou' unanlmy, abandoned all their differences and
cordially united in favor of the present plan of reform
But this Is not the most extraordinary fact connected
with the present measurc.-They who will be injured
by it-they whose franchise will be virtually taken
from them, with but few miserable plons-the
majority of that class who will he virtually dsfran>
chsed by this measureioin the country and yield to
the torrent OF opinion which has become quite ire
sstble, II favor of tho measure But here am re.
minded of question which heard put from the cross
oenches-that quarter eminent for sagacity-a;d
which tho, It may have escaped their Fortlsips TN
acquaOed as they with the subueties of the law
dld not pass unObserved by I have heard it said
from the cross benches, that they ought to be furnish
cd with the dates Of the petitions, well as with the
prayers which they contained know to what that !
question leads am we'll aware what foundation will