Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-05-04
Ibe constitutional cNbi0.
BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MAacu ), 1881.
Question, Of Parliamentary Reform.

part Of his speech, which related to his own per
eonal situation, was holly unnecessary TO him for
'f his noble friend had not thought 1t necessary to
Explain the grounds upon which he was This night
prepared to adopt q different from his own.
even from his silence he should have drawa no un-
favorable conclus, lie legged bis noble friend
Lim. lie (Sir X. Pcci had been placed IN the same
situation; he had found II necessary, from due re-
gard 10 the principles which he'd always regulated |
his conduct, TO adopt different course from that .
which he had formerly advocated; and no therefore
ought to be the last man 10 refuse the Indulgence !
Of which he had stood in need to public men who |
were placed in q sImilsr situation. (lIear) He
never would believe that public men did not look
10 higher motives than desire to retain their
places, when they induced to charge
their opcinns: and tbs character, the views, snd
the conduct of his noble friend afforded SUITS |
cicnt guarantee for the purity Of his motives. Ha-
wing thus initiated The generous custom which pre- |
vailed even in less dign6ed encounters-havng
as he might say, shaken hands with his noble |
friend, by rslievcing himself from any suspicion oil
personal hostility what he should say, tho noble
Lord would not be displessed IT, with perfect free
dom Of discussion, he subjected his speech to some
observation and comment. A. time when the
House had been expecting that some member of hi.
Maesty's government would give SEINE explanation
Of this messurc-at moment when the House wish
ed 10 know not what was the public opinion Of it,
but what practical ground could be alleged for 1.-The
adoption of what might be called constitution
the noble Lord had, instead, thought proper TO
institute ptrsonal comparison between the merits
OF the last and the present administration (hear
bear.) That part Of his noble friends speech had
consisted Of sarcastic illusions to the conduc. and
opinions Of the late government. and Of attempts.
and not very successful ones (hear-to magnify the
present administration At the expense Of the pre-
coding (Checrs.) 'Sse,' said the noble
Lord. "what have dune 81 very believe"
SAID the noble Lord, that If thore had no. been
change in the government this great measure would
mt have taken place." lie (Sir Robert Peel, would
jtv
should prevent him from doing justice where he
thought there was merit, and giving praise whore
prase was due. .hsar) He admired the course Of
the present Home DcpaI tmen,; he admired the con-
dnct of the Noble Marquis now at the head of the
Irish government; ever since he had re-assumed
that office, be had seen nothing in his conduct but
whet entitled HIM TO praise and admiration; nd he
believed there was much truth in what had boon
said his noble friend that had the ,,o
tration been 10 office they would have been abe to
effect VIVA, had been effected there by present sd
m'pis.ration (flsar) But would they have had the
Same assistance, Loud cheers from the opnosi-
ton Would they, if they had introduced the rnea
sures which had been adopted by the noble Mar
quls-called upon to adopt them in a time Of great
public eSctement-have found all party feeling Civ
ing woy TO considerations Of public policy and uni.
ted al! IN the general support Of the government,
in order to defeat the efforts OF individuals to dis
tnr5 the prosperity of the country? His noble
hcnd-he would not enter deeply into the
comparsion-but his noble friend most rccol-
!cc, that with respect to Ireland, that very IN
srument which had been welded by the noble
Marquis with Characteristic vgour and SUCCESS wa
an instrument which had been placed bis hands by
the late dmnistratIoo---( Hear )-contrary to the
opinion and contrary to tho votes, of many members
al the present administration; and thai if the late
Government had BEEN in their attempts TO maintain
the peace of Ireland, somewhat mped-I by the VIC
lenco OF local and internal force IT was not tho late
Government that commenced the reduction of the
yeomaary. (Hesr) In his snxiety to find cause for
blaming the administration which had preceded the
has hlo fyro hsl ,h.,
Government had consented to transfer the elective
FRANCHISE from East Retford to Birmingham, the
loose would not now have been discussing the ne
cessty for general reform; for that that single
measure weuld havo quoted the spprehausons ofths
people, and have satisfied them. (IIcar But If
nom such small events such mighty results would
spring-'f the transferring the franchise from East
Retford TO Birmingham would have been go s.,isfac.
Tory to oil classes OF the community IIcar)-that
there would now have been necessity for reform,
1t was incumbent upon the house to inquire what
was the paramount consideration under these circun
etances, which render II imperative 10 chsnae TIM
constitution or the coontry. URear( His noble
friend said "Why-dd you not consent to the dis
f'anehisemest Of Enst Retord'' Unless he fS,,
Robert PccD ais,ook not his noble friend and him
sell entered the House together that fatal nia
which led to the dissolution Of tho late GoveIn
Dent. and his noble friend ard himself had inte.-
drd TO give their votes the same aide upon that
occa.isn but the Effect Of ,aunt upon his late
Eight Honorable friend (aIr Husk,sseb) had COM
the course which he had tended 10 sdopt, g. which.
out Of sense Of honour led him to tender his re-
signstion. H1sar) But said his Noble Friend 'it
you had transferred the elective franchise from East
Retfort to Birmingham, in 1928, there would not
hsve been the least necessity for reform now, &"
Cries of No, answered by cheers from The Cppo-
siuon.) Would his Noble Friend have rested sr,is-
fed, then, IN the present state of the representa-
tion, with the five grand defects in IL which he had
enumerated, ond would he not have thought il his
duty TO come forward and rescue both parties-the
representatives and the reprcsonted-from nc effects
NJ the corrupfcn no had described Hs Noble
Friend had lauentcd that the voice Of Mr. Cpnnin,
could not be heard in that House, and had assumed
that thOt voice would have been raised in fayonr Of
The plan ofhis Majesty's Government. 7, might be-
go. God grant that he here! God grant that
that voice might now be raised in that House. con-
WINGED, as ne was, that IT would be raised 10 CON
found .hc isDacies and sophIstrirs by which the
public mind was deceived. II Mr. Cnnn ng had
lived ond had changed his opinions on ths
question, he would hsvo had tho mnn'Iness 10
Pvow the chasge. But no expression Of Mr. Can.