Die Veneris, Aprilis 14m0. Moved, HAT the bill, intitled a bill fupply of military arrangements are connected with the fupport of a court majority in parliament. Tfor the exclation of con- preffed with actual impofitions, tractors from the lower house of After fome debate, the queftion Majority ❤ 41 60 19 It was then moved to reject the bill. The question was put thereupon, and refolved in the affirm ative. DISSENTIENT, 1. Becaufe the commons, defirous of re-establishing the reputation and authority of parliament, and of giving fatisfaction to the people, at a time when the moft cordial and unfufpicious confidence between the reprefentative and conflituent bodies is effentially neceffary, have come to a refolution, That it is neceffary to declare, that the influence of the crown has increased, is increafing, and ought to be diminished.' This refolution we conceive to be undeniably true, and highly feasonable, Their commencement of the diminution (which they have folemnly engaged to make) by the bill here rejected, is no lefs judicious. In the midft of a war, in which nothing (among all its unhappy circum llances) is more remarkable than the prodigality with which it is carried on, it appears peculiarly neceffary to remove from parliament the fufpicion that the rafh adoption, the obiti nate continuance, and the corrupt and terrified with the certain profpect of farther and heavier burthens, have a right to be af fured, that none fhould have a power of laying those burthens, who have an intereft in increafing them. Neither is it fit that they who are the principal fubjects of complaint, fhould fit as the controllers of their own conduct. Contracts can never be fairly made, when the parliamentary service of the contractor is a neceffary, onderstood part of the agreement, and must be reckoned into the price. But the most unexcep. tionable contract being a matter of great advantage to the contractor, it becomes a means of influence even when it is not a principle of abuse. It is the greatest of all the bribes a minifter has to beflow; and one day's job may be worth the purchase of the fee of most of the places and penfions that are held in that house. III. Because no reafons have been affigned for the rejection of this bill, but fuch as appear to us frivolous or dangerous, It was argued as neceffary to abate the phrenzy of virtue, which began to fhew iticlf in the Houfe of Commons. This new fpecies of phrenzy we look upon to be rather a character of foundness, than a fymptom of infanity; and we fairly declare, that, as we frequently come into contact with the other Houfe, we heartily with that that distemper may become contagious. Another reafon aligned again this bill, that it is not poffible for vaft pecuniary emoluments to have any influence on members of parliament, appears to originate from fo perfect a puerility of understanding, or fuch a contempt of that of the house and the nation, that it is mentioned as a matter to be animadverted upon, not anfwered. Of the fame nature is the argument drawn from the fuppofed improbability of abufes in contracts, because the law has left in the hands of ministers the means of profecuting at law the fupporters of their power, and the accomplices of their own fraud and malverfation. Thefe arguments will give little fatisfaction to those who look at the House of Lords as a barrier against fome poffibly fudden and mistaken warmth of the Houfe of Commons, that might be injurious to the juft prerogatives of the crown, or the rights of the people; but we will not bear the grofs abufe of this conftitu. tional power; or that this Houfe fhould fet itself as an obftruction to the most honourable, manly, and virtuous refolution ever come to by an House of Commons; a refolution made in direct conformity to the petitions of their constituents. We proteft, therefore, againft our ftanding in the way of even the firit fteps taken towards promoting the independence, integrity, and virtue of a houfe of parliament. Pembroke, and Portland, For the first and third reafons, adopting however very heartily in the prefent ftate of parliamentary reprefentation the found principles contained in the fecond, which yet I conceive inapplicable to this bill. RADNOR. His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, June 19, 1780. TH My Lords and Gontlemen, HE outrages committed by bands of defperate and abandoned men, in various parts of this metropolis, broke forth with violence into acts of felony and treafon, had fo far overborne all civil authority, and threatened fo directly the immediate fubverfion of all legal power, the deftru&tion of all property, and the confufion of every order in the ftate, that I found myself obliged, by every tie of duty and affection to my people, to fupprefs, in every part, thofe rebellious infurrections, and to provide for the public fafety, by the moft effectual and immediate application of the force entrusted to me by parliament. I have directed copies of the proclamations iffued upon that occafion, to be laid before you. Proper orders have been given for bringing the authors and abettors of thefe infurrections, and the perpetrators of fuch criminal acts, to fpeedy trial, and to fuch condign punishment as the laws of their country prescribe, and as the vindication of public justice demands. Though Though I trust it is not neceffary, yet I think it right at this time, to renew to you my folema affurances, that I have no other object but to make the laws of the realm, and the principles of our excellent conftitution in church and ftate, the rule and meafure of my conduct; and I fhall ever confider it as the first duty of my ftation, and the chief glory of my reign, to maintain and preferve the established religion of my kingdoms, and as far as in me lies, to fecure and to perpetuate the rights and liberties of my people. The bumble Address of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament offembled. WB. Die Luna, 19° Junii, 1780. Mot gracious Sovereign, 7E your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament afiembled, beg leave to return your Majefty our humble thanks for your molt gracious fpeech from the throne. We feel the utmost abhorrence and deteftation of the outrages committed in various parts of this metropolis, by bands of defperate and abandoned men; outrages that broke forth with fuch violence into acts of felony and treason, and which threatening fo directly the immediate fubverfion of all legal authority, the deftruction of all property, and the confufion of every order in the fate, called loudly for the fpeediest and most effectual application of the force entrufted to your Majefty by law. We beg leave to teftify our warmet gratitude to your Majetty, for your paternal care and concern for the protection of your fubjects, fo maniteft in the meafures your wildom directed in this urgent neceffity, to fupprefs in every part thefe rebellious infurrections, and to provide for the general fafety, by the restoration of public peace. We thank your Majefty for the communication you have been pleafed to make to this houfe, of the proclamations iffued in this alarming conjuncture. We learn with fatisfaction that orders have been given for bringing the offenders to speedy trial, and to fuch condign punishment as the law prefcribes, and the viadication of public juftice demands. Although the uniform tenor of your Majefty's conduct rendered unneceffary the renewal of your gracious affurances to your parlia ment, yet the manner in which they are given, raifes in us the warmest emotions of gratitude, affection, and duty. Such a declaration of the juft and wife principles that are the rule and mea fure of your Majefty's government, and more to all your fubjects, and must endear your Majefty more tachment, confidence, and zeal. meet with the fulleft return of at His Majefy's mft gracious Anfwer. falutary effe&s. Nothing can give me greater fatisfaction than the confidence you repofe in me. It shall be justified by the whole tener of my reign. The bumble Addrefs of the House of Commons. Moft gracious Sovereign, We learn with fatisfaction, that proper orders have been given for bringing the offenders to speedy trial, and to fech punishment, as, upon conviction of their crimes, the laws prefcribe, and the vindication of public juftice certainly demands. Although the conftant tenor of your Majesty's juft and contitutional government, made a renewal of your Majefty's royal affurances to your parliament unne WE, your Majefty's moft du- ceffary, yet we cannot but receive tiful and loyal fubjects, the Commons of Great Britain, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your Majesty the humble thanks of this houfe, for your moft gracious fpeech from the throne; and for the communication which your Majefty has been pleafed to make to this houfe, of the proclamations iffued during the late molt dangerous and alarming dif turbances. We think it our indifpenfable duty to exprefs, in the ftrongest terms, our abhorrence of the proceedings of thofe tumultuous affemblies, and of the criminal acts of outrage and violence committed by thofe defperate bands of men, and our highest indignation againft the authors, promoters, and perpetrators of them; and to acknowledge, with the warmest emotions of gratitude, duty, and affection, your Majefty's paternal care and concern for the protection of your fubjects, in the meafures which your Majefty, as the father of your people, and the guardian of public fafety, took in the hour of extreme and imminent neceffity, for the immediate and effectual fuppreffion of thofe rebellious infyrrections. with great thankfulness, fo fignal at mark of your Majefty's gracious attention; and we beg leave, on our part, to affure your Majefty, that this condefcending and endearing declaration, cannot fail of fecuring to your Majefty, in the hearts of your people, the most affectionate returns of confidence, attachment, and fupport. 1 On Saturday, July 8, his Majesty clofed the Seffion of Parliament with the following Speech. My Lords and Gentlemen, this long feffion of parliament, that your Your magnanimity and perfeverance in the profecution of this juft and neceffary war have enabled me to make fuch exertions as will, I truft, by the affiftance of Divine Providence, disappoint the violent and unjust defigns of my enemies, and bring them to liften to equitable and honourable terms of peace. Thefe exertions have already been attended with fuccefs by fea and land; and the late important and profperous turn of affairs in North America affords the fairest profpect of the returning loyalty and affection of my fubjects in the colonies, and of their happy reunion with their parent country. fo cheerfully granted, and for the confidence you repofe in me. No attention fhall be wanting, on my part, to render them effectual, and to fee them faithfully applied." My Lords and Gentlemen, Let me earnestly recommend to you to affift me, by your influence and authority in your feveral counties, as you have by your unanimous fupport in parliament, in guarding the peace of the kingdom from future difturbances, and watching over the prefervation of the public fafety. Make my people fenfible of the happiness they enjoy, and the diftinguished adcellent conftitution in church and vantages they derive from our exftate. Warn them of the hazard of innovation-point out to them the fatal confequences of fuch commotions as have lately been excited; and let it be your care to imprefs on their minds this imfurrections to refift, or to reform portant truth, That rebellious inthe laws, muft end either in the deftruction of the perfons who verfion of our free and happy conmake the attempt, or in the fub ftitution. And afterwards the Lord Chancellor, by his Majefty's command, faid: My Lords and Gentlemen, It is his Majesty's royal will and pleasure, that this parliament be Gentlemen of the House of prorogued to Thursday, the twenty Commons, I feel myself under particular obligations to thank you for the large and ample fupplies you have fourth day of Auguft next, to be then here holden; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday, the twenty-fourth day of August next. By |