The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-09

every quantity OF tobacco he could SELL would be
obliged 10 make Journey send messenger the
Office for permit, which could not be obtained with
trouble, expense, and delay and that should law
be enacted IN consequence Of this motion, il would 10
all probability be time or other used as prece-
dent for introducing excise laws into every branch Of
the revenue in which the liberty Of Great Britain
would be no lq The course OF this debate, Sir
Robert Walpoe took notice Of tho multiiudes which
bad beset all the approaches to the house lie said
would be easy task for designing seditious person
raise umolt and disorder among them that gen.
tlemen might give them what name they should think
ht, and affirm they were come as humble suppants
but he knew whom the law called sturdy beggars and
those who brought them to that place could not be
tain but that they might behave IN the same manner.
This insinuation resented by Sir John Barnard,
who observed that merchants Of character had right
10 come down TO the court Of requests and lobby Of
the house Of commons In order solicit their friends
and aeqnantances against any scheme or project which
they might think prejudcisl to their commerce that
when he came into the house. he none but such
deserved the appellaon OF sturdy bcggars little the
honorable gentleman himself, any gentleman what
ever. Aftora warm dispute, the motion was earned by
q majority OF sxty-one votes. Several resolutions
founded on the proposal; and these the house
agreed though not without another violent contest.
The resolutions produced bill, against which petitions
were preferred by the lordmsyor. aldermen and
mon council OF London, the cities Of Coventry and
Nottingham. A motion was made that counsel should
the majority. and the petitions ordered to lie
the table Had the minister encountered no oppose
ton but that which appeared within doors, his project
would have certainly been carried into execution but
the whole nation alsr ned and clsmored loudly
against the excise bill The popuace still crowded
round Westminster Hall, blocking up oil the avenues
to the House Of Commons They even nsulted the
persons Of those members who had voted for the mi
nistry this occasion and Sir II bert Walpole began
to be IN fear Of his life. He therefore thought proper
to drop the design by moving that the second reading
Of the bill might be postponed I'LL the 18th day Of June
Then. complaint being made OF the insolence Of the
Populace, who had matreaed several members divers
resolutions taken against those tumuuous crowds
and their abettors; these resolves were communicated
to the Lord Mayor Of London the sheriff Of Middle
sex, and the hgh-bailif Of Westminster. Some indi.
vlduss were apprehended the court Of requests as
having fomented the disturbances; hut they were
released The miscarriage OF the bill was celebrated
with public rejolcings in London ard Westminster;
and the minister burned in efgy by the populace
After the miscarriage Of the excise scheme, the house
unanimously resolved to inquire into the causes and
abuses IN the customs and committee OF twenty -one
persons was chosen by ballot for this purpose