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Pr*m Cobbett'« Lotukpi Register, ofOctober 12.
TO SIR FRANCIS BURDETT, BART.
my hat GOOD would a Reform of Parliament now dot Jlnd
' in WHAT MANNER can it take place without creating
confusion?
Middleton Cottage, 7th October, 1816.
g,« The9e are the questions which the sons and
•daughters of corruption now put to us. They can nr
longer denv the existence of the corruption; the declar -
lion of some members, that they thought no worse of Cas-
ti rea"-h and Perceval for their conduct in the case of
frt nun Dick, and tiie avowal of others, that the traffic
j,. scats was as notorious as the sun at noon day: these
<leclarutions have silenced those who had the impudence
to contend for the purity of the present tiling. They,
therefore, give that up, and now' contend, that if a reform
were to take place, it would do no good, and might throw
the country into confusion. And, proceeding upon these
grounds, they ask us the questions, which I have plac
ed at the head of this letter, which questions it shall now
t>e my business to answer, seeing that we now certainly,
ifljliy opinion, approach the hour of reform, or that of
confi :sion. At such a moment, it is proper that, v.e
should be able to show, not only that reform would do
rood when curried into effect, but that, if now entered
tins,ha fertile mgcefttmr}'*wy*r.d aav*l skill and enuragr
caught up, all at'once, out’&icomnu.ix hid? Nothing hot
this; that there the executive is unbiased in his choice, an-
myself abl
to do to the satisfadfSm of every impartial man in the
kingdom.
' With regard to the first question (“wliat stood would
a reform of parliament do. 3 ”) I ought first to observe on j
the impudence of such a question. When a man conies 1
into a court of justice and sues for anv thing which he
claims as his rigAf, the judge and jury do no! ask him
■what good the "thing will do him, if lie gain his cause.
The onlv question with them is, whether Li is claim bx
j;nt; whether he has a riidtt to the thing for the "ecovcn
!ol'which he sues. What should we sax to a thief, detec
ted with our plate in his possession, if he were to say,
that he would’ keep it because, in his opinion, it would
dons no good, if we got it back 3 But, this is'-an old trick
with wrong-doers, who are always ready to pretend that
the wronged >arty has not suffer 'd any real injury 1>
.the wrong; or, at most, but -ittie injur , or lutle com
parative injure. The man who is robbed upon the high-
-wav suffers, in general, but a trifling loss; the recovery
of a few shillings is not worth the half of his trouble; but,
this consideration does not save the robber from the gal
lows. It being acknowledged, tin. re‘ore, :ha' represen
tation ought to precede tux-dioo; to be represented by-
persons chosen in themselves being the uiidunbtedright
of all the tax-payers in the kingdom; the people’ may
surely be permitted to judge for themselves as to the
use thev shall make of ihe-r right when trey shall obt.-.i;.
Tiosst ssVion of it; and thus we might, if we chose, dismiss
4jiis question without another word
But, sir. tin-cause-is too good for its advocates to slum
the whole of society to choose from; while here, theic
is a borough faction, whose pretensions and power super
sede the legitimate power of the executive, a ptfwt :
which would instantly be restore-d to it by a reform- '
parliament. It is well,known wliat heart-burnings tnej
are in the army and navy on this score. Pariiamentai ii
interest is well understood amongst the gentlemen < !
‘hose professions. Merit is -a thing, therefore; litt.
sought after, because worth very little- when acquire-d.-
Of all the professions and ranks of society, none ougi -
more anxiously to wish for a reformed parliament, 'tin.-
the officers in general, anil even the- nriVates, of the arm-
and navy; and yet there are men so stupid as to suppos.
that these bodies would present a great obstacle in th-
way of reform. As ambassadors, consuls, &c. the Ame
ricans send their most aide citizens, while our’s consist.,-:
persons chosen from the motives before menlioned.-
Tlie superior talent of the American diplomatists, isutu-
versally acknowledged. Indeed, wliat Englishman ca-,
refrain from blushing at the endless proofs which the
last twenty years have given to the World, of this super:
oritv, winch is made the more conspicuous by theixngn* ,
o, both countries being the same? Yet, is tfy re no «• ..
city of talent of this sort in England. But, the talent,
on, it may be carried into effect without any risk of ere- be vail, hie by our executive, must nave the horoup - in
ating violence and confusion. This I think myself able terest at its back; and. as dial is seldom the ease. w*e an
at anv time, or under any circum-
ahont to state tile .
yl-scussitm u on it
£u«ic:*s. In sett hr
would be accomplished by a > jorm, such
orhtjecfs which ; r sent themselves, tl
is tom ‘ermine wh'-re to begin and what ord
ood things, which
!> is the crowd
the difficulty
to pursue
tc hi bias almost hv force! Met
in
B-it. if the reform did no more ‘hut put an end for ever
to scenes of notorious bribery and corruption, to all that
meanness, fixing, dvimkenncss, violence, fraud anil false
sue-ring, which spread thcmselvis over the country at
every genera! election; if the rfir.n did no more than
put an end to these, would that be no good! balk of re
ligion. indeed! Circulate
schools an.':
Dc-rli re, a.- the judges do, that Christianity is a part of
the law of the land! tub, at the same time, suffer to ex
ist a sy'Stem of election, which hecessuri y produces eve
ry snccies of crime kn-iwn to tlie law, anil every species
of vice which is a mark of human degndatiou! 't he exist
ence of tins enormous evil is notorious to ail tlie world.
There is not h mm in tin country, who is not wed ac
quainted with the horrid scenes of infamy' produced by
every general election; and, therefore, that mail who
pretends to labor far a reformation in tlie morals of tiie
people, and who does not do his best to procure an abo
lition of this fruitful cause of all the worst sorts of im
morality', must of necessity be a hypocrite, and, accor
dingly, ought to be held in detestation; for wliat can be
more detestable, wliat more worthy of our abhorrence,
th-n the conduct of a tn.m, who professes an anxious de
sire to make tlie oeopie virtuous, while he is, .either ac
tively or passively, giving h s support to a system which
he knows must, as long as it exists, fill the land with de
ceit, fraud, dr.iiikenncs, breaches of the peace, and
perjury?
- Without going a step fur'he r, therefore, here is a good
unite sufficient to justify our endeavors. But, great as
th'i good would be, it does not surpass many others
which would be the consequence of a reform of the par
liament. It is now manifest, tlat the government is .m-
b .rrass t 1 for the menu* of paying the interest of :t3 debt;
tiuA the agriculture and Undo of tiie com.try are ruined,
that the ship ,-i-ig of the country are rotting. The ques
tion of our enemies'points, therefore, to tins: “Would a
reform remove the embarriits.neitis of the government;
V. 7 o-lid it revi—e agriculture, and trade, and navigation,
all of a sudd—i?” No. But, because I cannot restore
to life the valuable horse which mv servant has kllieil,
ou-dit Ido keep that servant, and ;rive itim the care of
my less valuable horse which is yet alive? ft'a gentle
man has a steward, who has brought ills estate imo di
lapidation, an l nearly ruined both landlord and tenants,
docs that gentleman, when betakes a strict look into
hi* affairs, keep the same steward in his employ merely
because no new steward can replace his estate ia the sit
uation in which the former steward found it? No. In
order to prevent total ruin, ruin to his children .is well
as to himself, he appoints another steward forihwi ii, and
■as soon as he can attend to any tiling else, he takes
measures to punish the knave, who has brought him to
the verge of beggary.
It would be impossible for a reformed parliament to
restore to affluence or competence tiie hundreds of thou
sands of persons wno have lately become insolvent. It
would be impossible for a reformed parliament to find
the means of paying away sixty or seventy millions a
vear. It would he impossible for a reformed parliament
to prevent the mortality from taking place in cases where
the mortal stall lias been given. It is impossible for the
present parliament to pat, much longer, the interest off
the debt in full; and. a reformed parliament would cer
tainly - not attempt it. Bill a reformed parliament would
do a great man.'good things at once; and. ia the space
of a very few years, it would restore the country to ease
and happiness.
I. ft would do away with the profligacy, bribery, and
perjury of elections, and would thereby, in one single-
act, do more for 'he mor.ds of die people, than has since
tlie system has existed, been done by ali the bihle socie
ties, and all the schools tliat leav e ever been.vet on fool,and
all sermons that have ever been preached.
II. A reform: d parliament would instantly put an end
to that accursed thing, called parliamentary interest,—
Promotion and rewards a -d honors in the army, the na-
vv, the church, die law, anti ill all other departim-ms,
would f iliow m-int, and not be bestowed and measured
out according to the number .of votes that tin- party, or
h s friends, were able to bring to the poll in support of
tins or that set of people in power. Thus would the na
tion be sure to have tlie fuu benefit of alt that it need
ed of the best talents and greatest virtues that it posses
ses 1. It was from this cause, sir, and this cause alone,
th it America shone so bright i.i the late contest. The
ms surprized to see nav ai and in litary comman-
were, spontaneously out. of lakes
■xposi d to ali the shame which bungling agent* never
fail to bring upon * nhi-'n; and. notwithstanding that ..
tr.be of underlings of . Wafer taie-nttl an toe chuff ar.
g, iv rally st.ecu ii to i ce- imp iny him, wr have s< eJi many
of their public papers «,i-»b*c<m- and • >u<«gr«.iiniaticai, a*
hardly -o iuiv, t meaning; to s v nxTlIiin^: <<♦ tin Want of
knowk ilge,-.f arg iinc-iv, mil of fore--, win-o t.jcv al
most inv.,ri..biy t x!uhit Vi tui* : r, fort*, t p .r.iain-tit
would put to rights. The h«st i.d-nts w<*u.4, »n >ln« im
portant deoart.ii nt aTse, be r if d f--r*h it.'■. tlw. coun-
try's S nice. There conid exist n<i umii't- • n sendin,,
an unfit . erson in any fore.g"! mission. F,v«-iy ert in so
sent, w-.uikI kmi-.v. f hat ii v r-.\ *-ui honor vou.d i-o.ow
hi* meii.s. sfi-1 ib« divgr.tcv and puni*unic*»t uoul-i f-n-
lo-.v misbe’n..vi'o indie chirr'i, too, the crown, the
bishops, mid even priva 1 '- p» r*-n.>ge, would be frern
from this source of undo' Sms. itniioi- h uiten*-# ivouiil
no ion ero-n n pSli.s to ru-h livmgw. white it clos-.u
them against learning uid flirty, and true charity, unsup
ported ov fhat intrie*t. And thus would it be in every
department. Attd, sir, wnuhl this it"t t-e a go df This
good would opt-rme instantly. 1 ! wouiti be completely
in the p-aw er »fu n-fm-nird mrii.iv ot toefl'ct it; and ii
is iiardlv lo be believed, tils' it vv-mid be p- jj.ble to 11 ;-ii
a king, wno would not be glad to he t'liu*restored lo Lhe
free use of uis lawful autiioriiy.
m. A refunhed j -nitim-iit ivouU!, i'i the space of one
single week, carefully examine the hmg ii*. of shiccnr-
ists, pension*, grants, and otlier emolument*, of indiviioi-
ais, derived Fi .-m tiie public now They wouid ci-iiic-
.d'iy distinguish, between those ,v ich bail bien urallied
for public* services, known and a- k tedged, or capa
ble of being proved, and those far dir g-ranii.ig of which
no good reason could be- asstg-ied. Flay would iuqinre
also into the d ru.ion of thes-j se veral gtr.nts, would as
certain the aggregate sums which the parlies i*ad feceiv-
ed in this way, would ..sc.evtain the means of" tlie present
possessors, would trace* the'public money b xk to its
source, and would then adopt such u.e.isur s thereon as
justice might point nut, And would this be doing no-
‘h’ng? Would tins be no goal? Would it b. no good
tocurtail this enormous hc.nl -if - vpi nd-ture: Would it he
no good to leave a large* part of this money in the li nns
of the farmers a:iu tradesmen, in c,--di*f to assist them in
paying tne poor-rates, and other necessary taxes? IJ.-you
tlii’.k, sir, that it vvou-d he an easy mailer to peivie.de a
reformed parliament, that GiV-huk K-ihr ougiit to receive
ten thousa nd pounds u o-ci"? Or tout (iaiiimig ought to
have- receive ! more th.-n timt sum per year, white he was
at Lisbon, whither he went, in part, at hast, us it was
avowed, for the recovery of f hc health of his child? Vcrv !
proper, would a reformed parliament say, for you to go
and endeavor to restore your rlvld to neidtii but not very
proper for you he mrint.imed lucre ns an ambassador,
while the king lg-d no court there, and did not live in tne
country. And a reformed parliament would tell him,
that the people of 'Rnp-bird had no more rc-asam to care
about the licnlth .fins son. th n about tliat of any pauper
in any of the work-houses, or out, uponan allowance, on
the Northamptonshire scale. A reformed parh.aii. nt
\v ould with great difficulty be sb.h- to pi iccive the propri
ety of pay ing the amount of tlie sin- cures off lords Cam
den, Liverpool, Eilenboroii ji, and the rest of that des
cription, and would be inclined to beiicve that, to put an
end to these, was a more likely w,iv to keep laborers out
of the poor house, tuan.coliccting pennies out off the
scanty earnings of those laborers, to be put into George*
Rose’s Saving B . ks. * reformed parliament would not
forgetto :n(|uir'* w'-'V Mr. Ihinsonhy and lord Erskme
receive four thousand pounds a year t-acii, and are to re
ceive it for life; srby Mr. Huskir.son is always to rec-ive
twelve lmndred pounds a ytar, wiieu iie is m an office,
w hich brings hint in nice th. n tliat sun-; why his wiije' is
to have a good fat uensiun after !iis death, if s!ie should
out-live him; ..fty Hr:.. 'Inlet ciu Fan anil William Lif
ford are kept by the public; why the Seymour; receive
such ilium n-e su ns, and tiie Somersets; diy i..ily Louis
Paget, and nun-er-ius other dames of quality, nee.vv i
comes out of the public taxes. Tiie winy anil tne wnier. -
fore of all these items, and liuudreds upon iiundreus ot
others, worn 1 a reformed parliament scrupulously ex
amine, and, having made their examination, tuey would,
I imagine, lay tiie priming-hook abou. them with soint
effect. t
IV. A reformed parliament would, without a dry’s de
lay, set a committee to work to inquire into tiie- amount
of the salaries of ill persons.in public employ. They
would ascertain, whether the said s.darits of such persons
iiad been raised m consequence of the i ise m the p uces of
■'hatall such establishment* are alhenrrt to tf- e princi-
,d«svif thc EnglLstxconstitution, would support no suet:
.-ling; hut would Irvok upon the nation a* most secure,
when underihe pro'ccti-on of the arfns of free uten, com
manded by their natural leaders, the geutkinen of Eng-
• »nd, selected for their skill and courage by a king, un-
ontrolled and unencumbered by borougli interest and
family intrigue. If possible, still Less necessity would a
reformed -parliament see for barracks, fortresses and de
ots.'in tlie hearj of England. Such a parliament would
levote these places to demolition and sale for useful
surposes. Rows cf officers, joined .together by the arm
’ ke chain-shot, lounging up and down the streets of
towns, and thrusting the tradesman and farmer from the
oavement, would be an object of which a reformed par-
laineut would soon rid thecounrry. Long sw ords dr-g-
'■nig the groundylofty caps and brass helmets, "tied under
>.« chin-, whiskers, muffs, tippets, jackets, bark hoots,
‘aise calves, false shoulders, and tlie whole list of German
badges and frippery would fly away before the acts of a
r. fbrnied parliament as tlie dust and dead leaves and
- otten limbs of trees fly through the air hefore a thun-
leratorm i>- Caroling; and we should once more behold
tne plain and warm English coat envelope the bodies that
e ints.in th* br-ivt and Honest hearts of our countrymen.
In examining t!.*- haf pay list, a reformed parliament
could proceed, not so much with an eve to economy as
a ill. an eye to impartiality; for as to compassion, no mail
vho o s served .is a soldier or a sailor ought to be expos
ed to the p.tin of exciting such a feeling. A reformed
parliament would inquire upon what grounds sucif large
incomes are awarded to some officers on tin ha fpay and
reir ed lisi*, wiiiic so very smail a pittance is awarded
to other* They would soon discover whether tin- same
.arson, in omny instaiuas, does uoL in fi.et receive emo
luments under different heads and names i f abowanct.—
Tiic-y would judge a hetlier one m..u ought to receive, fin-
no very distiuguislied exploits, as much as tw eutv other
men, e-ch of whom has been e xiiosi -I l.. much risk ,-.s
tiiat one man; and whatever else a i*el"ornied parliament
might do in this respect, certain I am that they would
never suffer hundreds f Tindsliipmcii, who have faced
death in a thousand shapes to starve in our streets or
become paupers. A* to tins matltr, a reformeii parlia
ment would first take care that an impnr'iat distrihn n
was made; and Having seen tin-.*-, they would rely upon tne
justice >'f’he people to afford the means of any nccess.i-
,-nientatiou.
I reformed parliament, elected l>v the people them
selves and having no reason to suspect, tliat any seers:
enema s of th. government could have any power to do
mischief, womd have no occi sion to expend monev in
‘•secret serxices ” Gere would be a saving at i-ncecouat
to the comforiabb-suooort of ait the discharged midship
men. A reformed parliament, ciiost n by tiie people,
and re-clios- n yen. y could have no idea of expending
money for-.ny secret purpose. Ii would openly avow ali
its objects, and would scorn lo owe its safety to the aid
of spies and informers. L would need no eves-droppers
mid put house topers t-> give it information of tlie j.eo-
pie’s feelings ami complaints. The poil yearly taken
would fuiiy instruct it upon these heads. The real
agent of the people, it wouid meet and hear what
die people lliemxclvis had to -say, and it would
obey ti.eir wishes, which never could he contrary to
the.r interest*, unless nature should take the singular
frolic of moulding men's minds in sucli away as to
make them desire that which would do them Imi-ni.—
A reformed parliament would, therefore, want no “se
cret service money f it would need lio lured scouiidri lsto
inform against this mail or tiiat man; to mark uut diis man
as a triend, and that man an eneim oc tlie government;
’his man as loyal, and that mail as disloyal: there wouid
be- none of this disgraceful sov-work; none of those de
vices, bv which neighbors,friends, families, are set togeth
er by the- ears; none of those infamous proceedings,
which ty rant aelopt upon their favorite maxini of “lilvule
arid dstrr.yUnder tlie guidance of a reformed parlia
ment, no man would rise up into riches as a reward for
be'rat i ig a friend or a client. Tiie word traitor would he
used In its proper sense It would be applied to the mi*-
cre-ant who should prv into the bosom of a man, „ml
the.-; sell the secret, to the attorney wiio should under
mine ihe cause, or the advocate who should aim at the i
life or reputation of Ins employer. A reformed
days, and very little busing of impor*,** .
save an attempt which originated in the *, lat "
strain the issue of bank faculties, (that is “ *’ 0 J° **-
msing to pay sums of money , but promising * t0
••ums m payment of debts,) and requiring the banksT^
redeem such notes. A fter some contrntfon between t b°
mends ol the banks arid tlieir opponent* * fdit hs
jirohihiting the further emission^ «
reqmruig the redemption of wl«t had bei n pr, ' "'
firTfom i,nn8,pi “ ° bjeCt ° flht f " tnd » bill ZZ
“1 ne small grain harvest throughout York state
been noli and abundant, 'l he i-W h „ h * 1 ^
cedcnUy heavy in weight, and ex'cSit “ Sitv"^
tne crops of hay have been poor and scanty »nd llit’i
no corn raise,1. What corn there is. a joil' in .;, ' w
considerably blasted in appearance In «h ' 1nd
parts of the state, apples ^^ a^int^’” *“>
dance, but not so in tiie northern parts nor J ' IU '
Massachusetts.”—.Vutiouul AkhKaJ'J' * Ule <«
^HAYANXAir REPUBLiCAy^
Tuesday Evening, December S, £816.
' it’! ' a
VI.
FJiEK SCHOOL.
. or many years past be*n ,v**-
for it* benevolent institutions, particular!v
ty and Female Asylum. Hmnireusof f ,rM t W
and female, have those associ,.tions snatched fr" 8 ’
and riiiii, and qualified them, by a judicious e,i-,c?
tiou and strict atteiitinn to morality, to move in run*
miy v. nil credit to tiienisciv es and benefit to the corn'**', 1 '
but much remains yet to be done in tiie cause of iiam .nV
ty. Many c.nlilren, with both parents living,
w.iom these institutions art- uiuhie to extend os*i, , r J ?
are expo,earn .-nos, evils attendant on orpliani.r.i '
Groaning under die very fangs of poverty, ail they j .t
, ail they hope lor, is « miserable pittance: i.» ,irc*i« t
■vteiic.e, until bodily strength iuhv enable
Us A OIL SoC't
male and ft
want
to
Vide ft)r t.beiiisclvbut,aV‘-s! t
uiv they foiuui tiutr menu diah
i»vm
re nonage
’ i*
aive
.,y-d,
exr,,-. ts -tun
slaves of vice—Vcs!
•i litiui". that die rod ofempirt: ini fht
“Or wak. .i ecstaiv the living ]\ re
Ikc.i, for Want of -ux.pcr instruction, riccomo <be i:-c n .
nu-nts of crime, lo prevent *i iC |, cf r r4s . *
warmly interest every phiianthr-ipi-.- jn d friend i f ’’
order. Nothing c-n he so effictu ,1 a prevent',d
iorm.-.tion of a f ee-school, t'. ,r
cliidren. It would bring many a gian -ndiul, now s.'mn-
labvrinths of ign
•rial
ive. * ihs
nistruction ofiw.i .t-.-g
be ring in
the laoyrmtns or ign-,r..i.ce, to ligj.t an,' ren
eit-r them subservient to the good of die n..'ti,> n „mi indi-
seems, tliat
1 mg be neglected by
ci-oinp isiitd bv fc-
viiiuwi Kiiiiiv. Strange, very s
such ait establishment should so
our ic-iiow-citizens. and left to be
males. Yes! to tlie ir honor be it spek^u. itu-,v rcsoe-ct-
-bie ladies of this piace, with th, t im ii.uuq- and pro'not"
ness winch endear the female charac-cr wherever it'
left unshackled by ty rants, are now eng..gad in the
ganization of such an
is
-giu in ti:e or-
institudon; and, we hci e, t fle v
may not tail in completing their object fir want of me..ns-
but that the humane of the other sex, at-nin- for
ne i*I*. ; * t - :ice > tttay tender the necessary ...d.
past
TilE ELECTION,
Purposed to be hoUleu in this place, yesterday, to fill
tiie vacancy in the lower house of c ngi-ess, occas-anvd
by tiie resignation of Aiu i-kh Cutuhsi t, dat no* ' .ice
pi. ee. l he failure arose from the want of justice* to
preside ai the poil. I: is believed the sx-ne c..use i:as
likewise prevented lhe election at evert cnuri iioii*ein
tlie eastern ais-rict Tiie -ilu : edged He J,u,n.'. «: fie
27til nit. stales,tout ih-imcs L. F*. C#fAULT.:x, I'liu-.-rum-
eo by many n embers ol me iegislauire, had consented
to be considered a cantiiuafe.
THIRD DECEMBER, 1816.
[CO IINCXIC ATfclJ.j
U hat apolitical Day tfi-.v is! The vvorlil never witness
ed so pure and interesting electoral assemblies, as v. iU
—i _ ,, t meet tins I’av. in every state of the union, e.xc.p wliat
pai-lin- ! 1U,S * u retofore happened in Uiis f.-voicd land, since the
ment would set t'.ie exani de of lio'.ding such perfidious '■ *‘ do F ff’ n '* le Rder.., constitution, ri-oui Maine to
and mercenarv monsters in abhoi rence. ! Jd eoi .'S' , “j ele 'ptoi*s, .selected by the people, meet and ballot
VII. Nothing wouid be improved by a reformed par- ! tor u,c cl, ‘ c ! of the country—for the. ruler of
up, as it
nil tne people of England were utterly astoii- hand of a reformed pr.dia.fi
'see tlieir ships and armies either captured by, or to ali meritorious men, of all ranks, it would snow
/
'ia disgrace before men w 10 had never befor
icard of! But, if we had considered, that the Pre-
it of the United States had, in the choice of his
.timanders, the wnole of the nation lying open before
i n, and that he had no particular interests to consult in
the determination, we should have been less surprized. If
he had had borough-mongers, or members of corporations
to consult in his appointments; if the lady of this man, or
the sister of that man, or the father of another, and so on,
Jvtd had the dictation, of his appointments, the Porters,
and Decaturs, and Cliaunceys, and McDonoughs, and
tocksons, and Browns, might have remained to till the
;vnd, wiute proteges of corruption were letting in the
; ; ,- i0 as of the enemy to devour its produce, and enslave its
inhabitants. This, sir, is the people, to whose conduct
and institutions we are to look. They are a people like
ourselves in all things except where- our institutions
have an effect different from their’s. AVhaj should make
crimes so rare among them;- and great public virtues and
talents so- abundant. Why should that soil, more than
provisiots an i labor, whim tookpi .ee s--rnc y v..r* ago.—
It would soon he discovered, that tiie salaries of the
judges, for instance, h ve bi en doubled within the last
twenty y cars; and tiiat the grounds upon wlucii the aug
mentation, took piace, was the rise in the price of provi
sions uiid l..bor. This being th.-undeniable facq and it
being al io undeniable tiiat tiie prices of provisions anil
i..bor h.,ve come down to their amount, a reformeii
parliament, freely chosen hi, all ibe :a,e-t>ayers, wou.d tax,
that the judge’s salaries ought to bt reduced U> their fo
uler a non an-.i it any one grumbicd at tins reduction,
a ref.;i-meil parliament wouid call linn a most unreasona
ble and unjust man. Tne Same would be done xvitii re
gard to doe police justices, ami oilier persons appointed
by the government. Great crouds of peopie m office
wouid tie citsmtsseti wholly,' and jjicir salaries -ave-i; but a
reformed parliament would not be under the necessity of
turning m-.-rd clerks out to starve. The fault has not be n
their’s, it" they have been uoprofitaLiy employed. The
expence of aff ording them a dec- nt maintenance, in pro
portion to tlieir talents and length of service, wouid be
trifling, and they would receive it, except in cases where
their introduction and pr-,motion had sprung notoriously
from
- interest,, for between men tlius fostered,
and other men, a <l:s- motion would nece s riiy bt r mad,-.
More than a million a ve.tr of expence wouid thus be
lopped off in a week, without any one act of cruelty or
injustice. Let tiie spawn of tlie horongh-eorruption re
turn back lo fi-eil on Uie flesh that its parent has collected;
but let tlie hard working clerk and ins fan my find food
at the hands of national generosity.
V. Precisely tlie same principle would guide a reform
ed parliament in its reduction of the army, and in its sif
tings of tne navy. In aii ca*es where promotion or re
wards could be traced bark, to tiie borough interest, the
at would be unsparing; but
how
liberal a people, fii.rly represented, can be. Be the cause
in which suitors and soldiers have night what it may,
they have incurred no blame. Their wounds ought to lie
regard,, d, anti so also the length of their service,. * proofs
ony of iheir valor; and it xxouid be one of the first prin
ciples of a reformed pariiamenet to reward and hold in
honor valiant men. A reformed parliament would s iffer
no man to beg in a sailor’s or a soldier’s coat. If an im
postor, they would whip him: if a real soldier or sailor,
they wouid give him .uuple menus to have house and
home, and to be weti fed and cloathed. But a reformed
parliament wouid see no necessity , I imagine, of a com
mander in chief's office, with an -enormously expensive
staff’. They would >ee as little necessity for supporting,
at an enormous expense, acudemies where the sons of
borough-voters, and oluer proteges, are educated (in
some cases under foreign masters) in the art of war, and
xvho are thus, from tlieir ear'iesi youth, separated and
kept as a distinct cast from tlie res- of the nation. A re
formed parbwaiuit, adopting tlie rogjum of _BjLxck6io*K,
liam.-nt more than the reputation of the JJur. 'l he gov-
ermni nt under the influence of, and con'r-ded bv, a j
reformed parliament; would st„nd in m ed ot no acute
men,, bred to lhe law, to lay traps for, and catcii the ,
people. It would hu-c no desire to find out the means j
of prying into < very man’s minx’, and purse. The taxes :
wouid be Mich as were necessary; they would be simple j
in their nature, obvious in tlieir source, : mpartial in their :
distribution amongst tiie payers, and easy in the as*e*s:;-
inent and collection. It would acquire no law-lords at j
the Hoards; ii would not require the keen education ami J
an,l inexorable liahits of a lawyer to be a collector or ’
supervisor. Acts of parliament on fisc .1 affairs would j
not swell into volumes any more. The people would j
understand the xluties they had <o perform towards
their government; and the gentlemen of the long robe, I
rescued from he disgrace of being tax-gatherers and
sure barge is, would a* they formerly did, raise their
heads bohiiv in courts of law and justice, having tlieir
eye* fixed upon fair fa ne, won in their profession which,
in i’.self, has always been considered oS learned and hon
orable. As to the tribe of small lawyers, xxiio j
possess, or are expecting places, they might be told |
to seek “compensation for loss of profession” by becoine-
mg turnkeys or g toior s clerks; but, sir, as w.is proved in
tile case of your old friend “governor .?//*-,” the office of
prison-keeper ought never to be entrusted to any m..u
without great caution, l'.iis would be making a furious
sweep at the bar; but lowering the number wouid be
raising the character of t!:.,t body, and we should again
s- t* study, learning', eloquence and integrity, tiie means
of raising i:ui i ers in fortune and honors. We should
again s. e tne bar possessed by men, who xx ouid scorn to
truckle to tlu- unde-rungs of ministers, and, fertile sake
rf mere bread, become tiie third or sixth clerks in the
other* of government.
\'HI. 'l he press would he wliat it ought to be. Per
fectly free to utter tne words of any man, who confine d
Iiiiiisc'.f wii bin the bounds of truth, as to public men or
public matters. A reformed parliament would want no
body to assist it in blinding- the people. It would stand
in need of no deception, no fraud, no falsehood The
hireling crew of editors and authors xx ouid indeed, se
verely suffer. They would he reduced to heg-garv or
excited to the gallows for robbery xir theft; but, what
do the people owe them, except it be ill will and curses'
They have been the most efficient instruments in produ
cing our ruin; and they, at this moment, are laboring
with a uegree of malignity, which w ifiieit demonstrates
their sense of the desperateness of tlieir cause, must go
to the account of tlieir dements, whenever that account
shall be .se tied. A reformed parliament need care no
thing about the press, in an v way but for the protection
of the freedom of that guardian of public morals. Tlie
parli.-mcnt would have to meet their constituents annual
ly. Their conduct could never be misrepresented with
anv degree of effect. There could, therefore, b- no mo
tive for nii-ing llie press, which Would become wliat the
press alway s ougiit to be. A reformed parliament would
naturally be anxious f:r the instruction of the people in
political matters, but it Wouid effect this desirable object
bv the frequent discussions which annual elec.us xx ouid
give rise to, and by the promulgation of its acts amongst
all classes of the people, the acts being written in plain
and intelligible language, and stripped of ait that uncouth
jargon unit that cumbrous tautology, by xvhich craft ob
structs tu * pursuit of common sense. Ali the. filthy and
base intercourse between the undc-rlings of office and the
hirelings of the press would cease. There would be no
sinecures given to such men as Canning and Gifford,
and ali the swarm of reptiles, who now fatten in this
way, would die, or be no more heard of.
(~ To be concluded in our next. j)
a nappy and pow erml nation—a nation riis lnguished for
its growing science, ar!s and Warlike achievements—tor
its liberty—for its refuge from the tyi-anm of Europe
tor its commerce, honor, and courage; in fine, ! .r all that
is good and worth living for. And let it be recorded,
to tne astonishment of entightened Kui .e, that tins elec
tion of a popular chief, xviit be made by the true repre
sentatives ot a rep,-Cue, without foreign lnHutme or
force—without intrigue, danger or tumult. IVhen and
where, has such r.n ex :mpie been afforded to tlie world,
lx for- it x-.-.is exemplified here. Tins Hay, the de ctnd-
..uts ol \ arums countries, representing mi.lions, unite to
Son of Collin,hi
the- head of Intse- t mud
EXTRACT TO THE EDITORS.
Pittsfield, (alfo-v*.) fShvember 15, ISIS.
“I arrived in Albany on Sunday Iasi, and on Monday-
had the pleasure of seeing the two branches of the legis
lature in session. Both appeared more respectable than
I had anticipated. There are more plain dressed rustic
looking-men in the house of representatives of tiie con
gress of the U nited States, than in the house of repre
sentatives and the senate of Ncw-York state. The votes
on the choice of electors of president exhibited the great
superiority of tlie republicans over the federalists in tlie
assembly of tliat state. The sefsjon continue^ only eight
elect
Stales. No f .reign ministers, hired age,its, cu;rapt,mi
or military , d.-re to interfere with the elec ion of this
Hallowed Day. American patriotism and dev..non to
colliery alone, wili elect an American patrioi and ins iun:e
is, M'.ixime. Compare the choice of Poland, Venue a,. 1
modern Rome’s xMic-fs as it u-ed to be, to tins Da* and
admire, hoxv the Genius of America soars above ail go
vernments. Europe exlubns nothin^ in ,ts elections, but
fr.-ii.-l, violence or br.btrv. To y -u, Ci'izer.s of tne
United States, was it reserved to e.-tabli-h the purely,
j real nature and practicability of a republic, sufficient in
its strength lo r- pt-. domestic or foreign foes; and suffi
cient in ns institutions, fully ana quiet’y to represent you,
even in the executive chair. A CITIZEN.
*
MARINE SOCIETY.
The -Marine Ssciery of this city* will thankfully rereive
any naturalar artificial curiosity which the officer* of
vessels and others from foreign countries and elsewhere
may he disposed to present.
A book to record the names of the donors and dona
tions will be kept by the secretary.
At a meeting of the subscribers, to form a Marine So
ciety in iie city of Sav.Jinaii, at the Exchange, on Mon
day evening, dd December. 1816—Cap'ain AbiiauxmN!-
c ho as was called to the cl*air, and Olixi.k L. Doasox,
secretary.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed consisting
of four, and unit Abraham Nichols, James Murk. Alex
ander Hunter and Jonathan Hattellc be that committee.
Resolved, That this society shall meet and elt-c: officers
on Monday evening, fiiii mst. at lmlf past 6 o'clock, at
the Exchange.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
published in both the papers of this city.
ABRAHAM NICHOLS, Chairman.
O. L. Dobso.x, Secretary.
SAVANNAH PRICE CURRENT.
Colton, sea-island, per ib. .58 a 40; Cotton, upland, per
lb. 23 a 24; Rice, per exx-t. •* S 5 25 cts.; Corn, per
bu*hcl. S’ df jets;, a gl 50cts.; Four, per barrel, gl4a
gl5 ; Beef, per barrel. Lo. 1, Sll; Pork, per barrel, S* 5
Bacon, per lb. 16 cents.
PETTY WAR IN THE SOUTH.
Mouaxt Rat, October 3.
Entered, ship Henrietta, Campbell, 21 d.iv3 from
Charleston. On the morning of Wednesday last, oh
Cape Nicola Mole, the sh,p Henrietta was boarded by
two officers and twelve men, from a boat belongingto a
large topsail schooner, under the Independent flag.
The officers and most of the boarders were Frenchmen;
tiiev stated the crew of the vessel to be 60, and of all na
tions; many* in the schooner xvere observed to be color
ed. They were cruising, expecting to fall in with the
Spanish vessels bound to Cuba. They behaved politely
to captain Campbell, the passengers and or--w. Ihe
schooner is a large pilot boat built vessel, painted black*
Same day about noon, the ship becalmed, the mull at the
mast head gave notice of a large row' boat pulling to
wards the Henrietta, from the land; she neared them vo.
rv fast till 3 o’clock, when a tittle breeze sprung up.
captain Campbell ordered every sail to be set, and tioic
dow n for them; this r.otat all intimidating her, captain
Campbell fired one of the Henrietta’s guns at her ana
stood to windward. Masts were immediately got up m
tiie boat, 3 lateen sails set, at the same time pulling -o
oars, and 3tood after the Henrietta, w ho only escaped
by night coming on, when captain C. altered his cours ,
and fortunately saw no more of her. The boat is forfi-
fied, and tad Uwe* guns tananted on her torecas-e.