100tle of 9nish HUNTS, baviled od nadation, and representation should go hand in BARING'S AND PALMERSTON'S the bon Member for Calne, that there who sd digasl sd SPEECH onog gaived fought in the army and the navy of their 3 9 A hodaiw country who paid the greatest portion of the 19 ON THE REFORM BILL bed taxes--who were called on, to contribute to 900 tud saidonerie of begins bed to the support of the Government by a tax levied eid bed svad bluow pads adored sodi toon almost every article of human subsistence 19HUNT'S STUFF. 17oque -visado ads 10 March 2309b02 ad3 donm of now doidwagle 101 zoda Moda 30 ago Mr. HUNT addressed the House at that early period because he was not very well, and did not anticipate that he should hear any-thing from the eloquent speeches of other hon. Members on a subject to which he had devoted his life. He had listened attentively 10 every-thing which had fallen from both sides, and must say that the plan of the noble Lord had gone far beyond his anticipations, He believed he had been personally alluded to (No, no!) as having taken a prominent part in this subject, and hoped, therefore, that he should not be considered presumptuous in delivering his sentiments on that occasion. He meant to do so unequivocally, because his voice was the voice of millious. noble Lord had described his measure as The coming between those who resisted all reform, and those who wanted too wide and sweeping a reform; and he hoped the noble Lord would not, to use an old adage, between these two stools fall to the ground. The noble Lord who spoke from that side of the House said there ought to be no reform; and as that noble Lord's sentiments were cheered by those on that side of the House, he should

their sentiments. In like mauner, he would assume the boo. Member for Calne's speech as expressing the sentiments of those who sat on the Ministerial side of the House. And he must say that he was extremely sorry to hear that hon, and learned Member say in his eloquent speech that we ought to give representatives to the middle classes to prevent the lower classes from having representatives. He regretted to hear that sentiment, because it was by no means calculated to conciliate the lower classes, and reconcile them to the measure of the noble Lord. When the hon. Member for Calne (Macauley) talked of the rabble as opposed to what he was pleased to call the middle classes, did he mean to admit that in taking away from that rabble the right of choosing representatives, he was also willing to exempt them from the payment of he taxes from serving in the militia, or from being called on to fight the battles of their Country (Hear) Every man in the king om knew his opinions on these matters, He had always advocated, both without the alls of that House and within them, the rinciple of an equality of political rights, e had always contended, and would still ontinue to contend, that every man who paid xes to the state was entitled to a vote in the oice of his representatives, and that taxa

was he to be told by the hon. Member for
Calne that those persons were unfit to choose
their representatives, and that the plan then
before the House gave an extension of suf
frage to the middle classes, in order to prevent
the lower classes from obtaining their rights
(Hear.) This was the declaration of the hon.
Member this was the principle of the mea-
sure before the House; and he spoke the
sentiments of millions when he declared that
it would give no satisfaction to those who
were justly entitled to the exercise of their
constitutional privileges, It had been said
that the plan now before the House was not
reform, but revolution.
admit it to be revolution when it was proved
to him that the rotten borojghs were a portion
He, too, would
of the constitution. (Hea) Now when the
of the rabble he looked very hard at him.
hon. Member for Calue was talking so much
Loud laughter.) He understood that laugh.
(Hear, and continued laughter.)
sorry the hon. Member for Calue had not
remained in his place, that he
He was
might look now in the same way at hig (ME
Macauley here resumed the seat he had for
Mr. Hunt
merly occupied.). Well, he saw the hon
Member now, and he asked him again if he
was prepared to exempt all those from the

H

0

been confined in a dungeon for advocating thought that this, very same Reform and he certainly never circumstances, to take the consequencesi ufiar expected then to see that House yield to the force refusal. He knew what it was to be in gaalza of the saying of Lord Chatham, that if re- (a laugh;) he had been confined two years form did not come from within doors, it would and a half, (Question" and laughter,) and het come from without with a vengeance." The knew that persecution never made converts. hon. Member for Calne had observed, with (Hear.) Although he looked with respect on truth, that there was no desire to attack the the right hon. Baronet near him (Sir R. Peel)T rights of the throne. A good deal had been and venerated his high talents, he rememberedis said about the greasy radicals who went walk- the time when he was in his custody (loudia ing about the streets of London. (A laugh.) laughter;) but, bating the high talent the p He was as thorough a radical as any in exist- right hon. Baronet possesses, he, (Mrds ence; but where was the man who could say Hunt,) as Member for the borough of Pres that he had ever said a word against the rights ton, stood now quite as high as he did, and of the throne? He had, as it was his duty to considered himself fully his equal. (A laugh.) do, protested against the profligate extrava- He knew no way in which his constituents! gance of members of the Royal Family. (Cries were touched by this measure; but, if theyis of Question," and "Order." He would not were, and a great constitutional object was object to the passing of a Civil List, but he about to be achieved, he should be willing to f did object to the profligacy of that Femily make the sacrifice, (Hear, hear.) He begged fr which had brought the institutions of the it, however, to be remembered, that he con-s country into disrepute, and which had en sidered the borough of Preston as good as any d couraged the demoralization of that House. other in the kingdom, Was it because theydt (Question) To the situation to which that possessed universal suffrage, or something likem House and the country were then brought, it, that it could be said they chose improper the Royal Family, he contended, had mainly men to represent them Certainly notero contributed. He hoped, however, that the They had for their representatives at different. measure before the House would be car- periods members of some of the highest H ried, if it was only because it gave the country families in the kingdom; and the exercise!) an increase of 500,000 electors; although he of their privileges had never been found faults would tell the hon. Member for Calne, that with. He, it was true, had not much prais ten times the number of good and honest perty. The late Government had taken carens voters would still be excluded. He trusted, that he should not become rich; for it hadis that when the hon. Member had occasion to placed him in gaol; (hear, and a laugh) butis speak on the subject again, he would re- did he seek the suffrages of the people of id member this, and deliver himself with a dif- Preston? After the massacre of Manchester le ferent temper and tone when he had occasion ("Question") he had been invited to stand forib to mention the state of the people. (Hear. that borough, then under the influence of the q He was told that ten pounds was the proper great manufacturers, and although the goodsds qualification, but he thought that the best will was as great as it had been since, he was to vote was that which came from the industrious defeated, and 400 families were afterwards.pm artificer or manufacturer, who earned from in the year 1820, expelled from their homes o thirty shillings to three pounds a week; and in consequence of having voted for him. (The of he was determined in the course of these dis- hon. Member was here interrupted by loudow cussions to take an opportunity of submitting cries of Question"). The noble Lord, the ds a proposition on that subject to the considera- Member for Devonshire, (Lord Ebrington,) ita tion of the House. He repeated, that all who had been permitted to say how he got into of paid taxes should have a vote, and he knew Parliament for that county, and he hoped theup the feeling to be strong in the Metropolis, same indulgence would be granted, without that a number of persons who had no vote re- claiming any thing on his own account, fortiw turned that circumstance as a ground of ex- the ancient borough of Preston During the on emption on their militia-paper. (Cries of last election he was proposed, without any "Oh.")He repeated, they considered them-canvass or solicitation on his part, audi ima selves exempted, and demanded exemption, because they had no share in the choice of representatives. In the North, he could tell them, that many of the young meu were determined to rot in guol rather than serve in the militia, unless they obtained this privilege. (Cries of No and a laugh. He said Yes; and he would go further. He would tell them, that were he in their situation, he would do the same (Laughter.) If they deprived him of his bight of speaking in that Housey she would naturally take another course, beThe law says, that if a mad, drawn to serve in the militia, refuses to do so, he is to be committed tu prison and he, for one,

three days, he polled 3,020 votes. The o
people of Preston did this, not from any sa
hostility to the right honourable Gentleman,
the Member for Windsor, (Mr. Stanley,) not ose
from any dislike to his family; but hell)
would tell the House why they did it. They of
had read in the Act of Settlement that nonol
placeman or pensioner was entitled to hold asdr
seat in that House, and so they chose hims
He hoped that this measure would be carriedjuil
and that there would be no reaction, althoughbib
he really might ask how the great mass of the to
people could be called on to come forward and sw
ask that House to support a reform, from thies vo
benefits of which they were to be excluded, andex

vads and adorodanitepovhs tot пogyaub & ai baino u made its members hypocrites he would have his heart made a very cullender with bullets, (A laugh) The principle of the measure was founded in property, and intended for its pro tection; but he was prepared to contend that without the Ballot the princ ple would be wholly defeated in its operation. He was sorry he had trespassed on the House so long. He did not often do so, and should not probably do it again; but the importance of the occa

the system they possessed. He believed that anxiety with which the House wished to hear this subject would now be pressed on their the opinions of the right hon. Baronet (Sir R. attention by petitions. He had heard of nut-Peel) and the Members for Boroughbridge merous meetings about to take place; and (Sir C. Wetherell); and he confessed he shared although the noble Lord' (Lord John Russell) that anxiety, for he had not heard as yet a thought that there would be no agitation, and single argument or observation on the subject assured the House that there would be none, of Reform with which he had not been familiar he (Mri Hunt) knew from good authority that for the last twenty years. He was sure they there would be such agitation as they had never would not make use of any of his arguments to us seen before (Hear, hear, bear.) There used to serve their purposes (hear, and a laugh and be itinerant orators to support the spirit of he should therefore at once conclude, in the these meetings; but now there were to be hope that, if opposition was to be offered to) meetings of the Common Hall and the Com- Reform, there might be some reason found in mon Council, and throughout the kingdom, those who offered it. Inpost outs batardivinos on the subject of this Reform plan. While he had the power to address himself to that HUNT'S STUFF, No. 2ad Tuansm March 12, vino any tili, boi House, he would do very little out of doors. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) There he had Mr. HUNT was the first, he said, who had the privilege of speaking that which he con- spoken in that House respecting the neglect of ceived likely to benefit the cause he espoused; the petitions of the people; he was now happy and he therefore left to other's the task of doing to find he had two allies in the persons of the the work elsewhere. (A Taugh.) He assured hon. Members for Boroughbridge. (Laughter.) them there was no new light broken in on The Ministers never could have pretended to him with reference to this matter. He had bring in the Bill under the pretence that its always held the same opinions. At election was in compliance with the wishes of the people." dinners, and elsewhere, when a little knot of The number of petitions on the subject of Parpoliticians condescended once a year to meet liamentary Reform were in all 6460 They h their constituents, and where he heard them praved, in addition to Reform, for retrench utter language they would not have dared to ment, for reduction of salaries and pensions, of make use of in that House, he had always re- sinecures and allowances, for the shortening of commended that these should be sent and many for the Ballot, but only to say those things in the place where the whole two of all these thats from Exeter and that world would hear them, and benefit from from Bristol-prayed alone for any thing which them; and that rendering duty to their con- was granted (cheers from the Opposition) but stituents, those constituents might also be left he was bound to add, that all over the country, to play their bwir part when the occasion re-in every parish of the metropolisje in every quired bitodHe might occasionally have been town an and village throughout the land, the led to use expressions, respecting that House, people were running mad in favour of the which were thought disrespectful, but he Ministerial measure. He had letters every confessed he HAD BEEN MISLED BY day, and sometimes 25 over his number, which OTHERS and that, with the exception of was very expensive, giving him accounts of some interruptions, of which he could scarcely meetings to support Ministers, Never was complain more than others, he was bound to there greater unanimity; but he should be a says that he had been mistaken with respect to hypocrite if he did not declare, that although he the character of its Members, and that it did would support the Bill, he would not be satisfied not deserve the censure he had cast on it. with it, as it did not concede any of the favourite (Hear, and daugh. He had little m more objects of his life neither retrenchment, nor to say, for he had already trespassed too reduction of salaries, or sinecures,pur) pens long on their attention; but Be must add, sions, nor extension of the suffrages (indeed that those who said the Ballot would make in many instances the Bill operated ds avourmennigreater hypocrites seemed t know tailment, nor the vote by ballots nor, in short, little of human nature or of society. They any one of the objects he had most ardently did not seem to recollect that at the clubs desired He would not, therefore, hesitate to of the highest classes in England the Ballot say, that even after this, Bill was passed, wabneobstantly resorted to as a means of would go forth and endeavoon outs of that evading the odiuin ofate but if any more for the people. mahowabstolay in these clubs that the Ball House and in that House, to get a great deal

-39ls to gir sdt lo brabosta sdt sd of idque no silt as batos nedt 9200 d Ila BARING AND PALMERSTON to throw away, would be most wilfor and to (795 buc incautious. (Cheers.) That being his view of Jo Jesolo fill the case, he hardly need make any apology MBARING This was a question on which his right hon, Friends near him, with whom he he felt the greatest anxiety and hesitation, as, had, for nearly five-and-twenty years, been indeed, every man of thinking in that House pretty constantly a party man, for stating his must feels The measure now before them sincere opinion on this subject. But it was said was do ordinary act of Legislation; but, in that the King should keep to himself-the point of fact, it was a new constitution that Aristocracy to themselves and the Commons they were called upon to consider. (Cheers.) to themselves, He, however, contended that It might be said, he knew, that the old con- that was not the constitution of this country stitution was worn out that it worked so ill, and he should like to know what practical that it was the cause of misery, and misery to grievances the people had to complain of, besuch an extent, that it behoved them to look cause this was not the constitution? Had the into the affairs of the nation, with a view to power of the peerage ever trampled on the the remodelling of the Government. But people? Had not the people more power even though this might be said, he was sure in their hands was there not, in fact, more that honourable Gentlemen on all sides of the popular power in this country than in any House must admit that, in fact and substance, other country in the whole world? He would the measure now proposed was a new consti- confess that his great apprehension of the entution. (Loud cheers.) He was sure that no croachment of the popular power was because honourable Gentleman below him could doubt he thought that in a short time it would lead that this was the proposition which the House to the destruction of all liberty, (Cheers.) was called on to consider. (Cheers.) Refer- What grievances were there that had arisen ence had been made to governments which from the action of the Government? Had the existed in all parts of the world; but at least peers, at any time, passed any law that gave it must be allowed, that the only constitution them the preference? In Courts of Justice, which had tried to mix a popular influence did not the Commons staud on an equality with that of the Aristocracy and the Monarch with them? Did the people find that their was that which had been tried in this country rights were not as secure as those of the (cheers) a constitution which had (he would peers? (Cheers.) He must confess that, for not say by the wisdom of our ancestors, but a his part, he know of no such things. On the good deal by happy fortune, or, more properly contrary, he thought that the very mixture of speaking, by the gift of Providence) at last the three powers in this country was the brought them to that state of things which greatest protection and support of its welfare. hitherto had been the envy of the world, and (Cheers.) He also thought that the influences till of late years the subject of pride and satis- that had been spoken of were extremely well faction to Englishmen. (Cheers.) And what calculated to check the over-eagerness of the was that Constitution? As he anderstood it, popular feeling, though, at the same time, it was the three Estates of King, Lords, and that House did really respond to the voice of Commons and this had been tried for the the people, of which, as he had said before purpose of giving to the latter a share in the he could give no stronger proof than the adinterests of the country. But now some said, mission which had been lately made by the is speaking of the Commons, they were hou, Member for Middlesex, Undoubtedly sticking, rotten, and corrupt; but he said there was great restlessness, abroad; but that it was that House which had been the of that he personally had no apprehension. means of mixing up the popular body with the But, at the same time, did not that restlessness various compounds of the interests of the show itself also in that House? The people country. But whether the result had been did not quite know what they wanted-and the good working of that general system to in the same manner the House of Commons did the welfare of the country or not that was not quite know what they wanted, (A laugh.) the question of which the country was to They had turned out oue Administration and judge (Hear hear.) And when they had put in another; but, for all that, they did not heard the hou. Member for Middlesex state show that they were disposed to support either in the course of the Debate, that if the people the one or the other. This, was restlessness were left to themselves, the House would not that responded to that of the people; therefore, have any very different aspect, he thought in this way, it might also be said that they that it might be assumed, that the present represented the people. It ha had been well representation was a pretty fair one of the said, that the House of Commons just repres voice of the people. He did not mean to say sented the people so as to afford them time that a better constitution than that of Eug to reflect. That House did not do things in land might not be imagined, but if all the the hurry of those who went to taverns and constitutional-mangers of the world had never market places for the purpose of talking been able to invent one where there was so politics, but they met the popular voice as much rational liberty, he was entitled to say though they had said to it, Just take time that this was some proof that it was beyond to, reconsider the matters The benefit of the reach of the utmost wit of man, and that this system had been sufficiently evident accident had given them that jewel, which, the great question of Catholic Emancipation;