Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-24
BRITISH ADMINISTRATION.


sirRobert Peel, the present British Prime
Minister, has addressed letter ostensibly to his
immediate constituents Of the Borough OF Fam
worth, but designed, in reality, for the whole
neone Of England II is important us show
ing the contemplated course and policy of the
new administration. We subioin the material
parts,-n,1g or TGUTa dLh Ha3QH
Nov + say at once that 1 will not accept poi
-wer on the Condition ofdeclaring myselfan apost
, tate from, the principles on whichi have herel
,stofpre acted AT the same time never VIII an-
NIT that have been, either before or after the
Reform Bile the defender of abuses or the enc
INV of iutftcious reforms appeal with confl-
dence, in denial ofthe charge, TO the active part
q tobk In the great question of the currencyEin
the consolidation and amendment OF the .Crl-
uflnafI awNin the revisal OF the whole system
of trial by Juryl-to the opinions ] have profess
eIan6 uniformly acted on with regard to other
branches of the jurisprudence of the country
Ianoeal do this as a proof that Have not been
disclosed, to acquiesce in acknowledged evils,
fixIir The mere sliperstitiouS reverence, Tor
ancient usages, or from the dread Of labor or
responsibility in the application of remedy.
But the Reform Bill, it is said, constitutes a
new era; and il is the duty of Minister to de-
clare explicitly, first whether be. will maintain
the Bill itself; and secondly whether he will act
unnn the spirit in which il was conceived
with respect to the Reform Bill itself, will
Repeat now the declaration which made wnen
.iEehtefed the House of Commons as MeH9er
of the Reformed Parliament-that consider
the Reform Bill final and irrevocable settle
ment Of great constitutional question, settle
'Vnlent which no friend to the peace ana welfare
of this country would attempt to disturb, either
by direct or insidious means.
tori Thsn,; as to the spirit Of the Reform Bill, and
.,the willingness to adopt and enforce it as rule
bof government. If by adopting the spirit OF the
sHsiorni Bill il be meant that we are to live In
Uerpetualvortex of agitation, that public men
1,can only support themselves in public estimation
.abysadoptng every popular impression of the
Isay; by promising the instant redress OF every
ytiiihg which anybody may call an abuse; by
Sabandoning altogether that great aid OF 60
.lysrhrnent more powerful than either law or
lreasony the respect for ancient rights and the
-!d6xefence to pfescrfptive authority-ii this be
1ths spiritgof the Reform Bill will not under
-taketo adopt ID! But ifthe spirit of the Reform
Bib implies merely careful review of insttu-
-fions. civil and ecclesiastical undertaken in a
,Sriehdly temper, combining with the firm main
1tenancei6f established rights, the, correction OF
proved aliases, and the redress OF real grlevan-
ices, lin that case can, for myself and col
leagues, undertake to act in such spirit, and
with such Intentions. M
Such declarations of general principles are, l
am aware, necessarily vague; but, IN order to
ne More explicit, viii endeavor to apply them
have of late attracted the greatest share Of pub
lie interest and attention, aaS -
take, first, the Inquiry into Municipal Cor
porations. IN r.tih
II is not nv intention to advise the Crown to
interrupt the progress OF that inquiry, or to
transfer the conduct of it~trom those to whom
III was committed by the late Government. For
myself gave the best proof that was not un-
friendly to the principle of inquiry by consent
ing to be a member of that Committee of the
House of. Commons on which It was originally
deyolved. r.-
No report has yet been made by the Com
inissioners to whom the inquiry was afterwards
referred and until that report be made, can
not be expected to give, on the part of the 60
'yernmenl any other pledge than that they will
bestow on the suggestions it may contain, and
the evidence on which they may be founded,
full and unprecedented consideration.
~ will in the next place address myself to the
questions in which those of our fellow country
men who dissent from the doctrines OF the Es-
,tablshed Church take an especial interest
Instead of making new professions, viii re-
1er to the course which / took upon those SUBJ
jects when out Of power.
In the first place, | supported the measure
brought forward by Lord Althorp, the object OF
which was to exempt all classes from the pay
inent. OF Church rates. applying in lieu thereof,
bS,t hof q branch of the revenue certain sum
for the building and repair OF Churches. ne
yer expressed, nor did entertain, the slightest
objection to the principle of a bill, of which
Lord John Russell was the author, intended to
relieve the conscientious scruples OF DlsSenters
in respect to the ceremony of marriage. give
no opinion now on the particular measures
themselves. They were proposed by Ministers
in whom the Dissenters had confidence; they
were intended to give relief and it is sufficient
for>my present purpose to state that supported
the principle of them.
Iopposed, and am bound to state that my
opinions in that respect have undergone no
change, the admission Of Dissenters as claim
ofright into the Universities; but expressly de-
clared that If regulations enforced by public
authorities experimenting the professions of
law and medicine, and the studies connected
with them, had the effect of comforting advan- !
tages of the nature Of civil privileges on one
class Oft the Kings subjects, from which another
class was excluded, those regulations ought to /
undergo notifications, with the view of placing
all the Kings subjects, whatever their religious
creed, upon afooting of perfect equality in re-
spect to any civil privilege.
II appeal to the course which pursued on