Mr. Rigby. Mr. G. Mr. Dowdeswell spoke in favour of the Bill, and mentioned the decifion of the Worcester election. Mr. RIGBY was greatly against the Bill, and contended that treats ought to be given at elections; he faid, the Act would fuit the elected, but not the electors: he was much against the decifions that had been given by the different Committees that had fat; he faid they had disfranchised Shoreham and not Worcester, which was much more corrupt than the former: and mentioned another inftance which happened at New Windfor; he faid none of those practices were fo infamous as those practifed by people who had burgage tenures. Serjeant Glynn anfwered him very fmartly, and was much in favour of the Bill being made perpetual. GOVERNOR JOHNSTONË faid, Mr. Speaker, I should Johnstone, not rife at this late hour of the night, if I did not think I had fomething new to fay on the fubject, notwithstanding it has been fo much exhausted. I therefore beg the House will indulge me, by hearing a few words as the reasons for my vote.→→→ I conceive the Bill, as it now ftands, to be a moft beneficial Bill; fo far from altering the Conftitution, I think it is only recurring to the firft principles of our government, trial by jury. Nevertheless, I fhould deem it arrogance to pronounce decifively upon any regulation of government, however flattering, on general principles, without a fufficient experience, fo various are the fprings of human action. If this question, therefore, could be difcuffed and determined with equal fairnefs, at the expiration of the term limited by the Bill, I fhould certainly with to give it the trial originally proposed; but, fince that is impoffible, as I apprehend, I fhall now vote for making the Bill perpetual. My reafons for believing it hardly poffible the Bill fhall receive a fair decifion on its merits and experience, three years hence, are thefe: It is clear this Bill diminishes the power of the Minister in all controverted elections; at a general election, it may be calculated at not less than thirty members. Unlefs, therefore, we can fuppofe he fhall prefer the publick good to his own intereft (which I will never fuppofe of any Minifter), he will endea vour to get rid of the Bill by every infidious art. We must all be fenfible of his power and opportunities, and therefore we fhould embrace this happy moment of rendering the tafk more difficult, especially as it always remains in the breaft of the House to make fuch alterations as may be neceffary, and even to annihilate the Bill, if it fhould (contrary to the experience we have already had, and to all human forefight) prove per picious. I here lay down my axiom-" This Bill is contrary to the intereft of the Crown or the Minifter." And with all due deference to the memory of Mr. Grenville, I believe if he had been Minifter that he would not have propofed it; nay, I believe that he would not have permitted it to pafs. A happy coincidence of circumftances forced it on the Houfe. A ftrange coalition of parties now favours its final confirmation, before men dare forget their former declarations, and before the golden bridge is completely formed to pass them through the ivory gate. Another reafon ftrikes me ftronger. If the Bill is permitted to run to the last stage, notwithstanding this House may then pafs it unanimoufly, the House of Lords may reject it. Every man must feel the difference between reviving a Bill when expired, or keeping it alive when yet exifting. In the fame manner we must see the difficulties between destroying a Bill, and permitting it to fall in the prefcribed courfe. It is like murder and a natural death. I think, therefore, we fhould look to the preservation of this Bill in due time, that in cafe the Lords fhould prove refractory, or Minifterial arts should be practifed upon them, we may have time to enforce our wishes. refpecting this Bill by the means the Constitution has put in our hands. I fee a Right Honorable Gentleman laugh (Mr. Rigby); this puts me in mind of another argument; he has boldly declared his objections to the principles of the Bill. It is probable he may become Minifter of this country. I am fure he has my good wishes; but that I may wifh it with all my heart, I defire this Bill may be perpetual, that I may have no referve in the good-will I bear him. For thefe, and many other arguments which have been already ufed, I heartily concur in the motion. fter. Mr. DEMPSTER faid, it was needlefs to compare the dif- Mr. Demp、 ference between the prefent and former methods; for those who would oppofe this Bill would not hear any reason. The queftion was put, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make the present Act for trying Controverted Elections, by Committees, perpetual." For the Bill, 250. Against it, 122. Majority, 128. A COR A CORRECT LIST of thofe Gentlemen who voted for PERPETUATING the ACT for regulating the TRIALS of CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. Charles Allanfon Sir Edw. Aftley Wm. Baker If. Barre R. H. A. Bennet Sir W. Blacket Rd. Wm. Bootle Lord G. Cavendish Sir T. Clavering C. W. Cornewall Sir C. Davers well Lord Vifc. Downe Tho. Foley, fen. Sir Wm. Codrington Wm. Frankland Wen. Coke Maj. Gen. Frafer Rofe Fuller Rd. Fuller Samb. Freeman T. E. Freeman Alex. Garden Bamber Gascoyne Lord G. Germaine J. Glynn Ambrofe Goddard Wm. Greaves James Grenville Sir J. Griffin Wm. C. Grove Sir Wm. Guife Tho. Halfey Tho. Hampden Wm. G. Hamilton John Hanbury M. B. Hawke Lt. Col. Hay James Hayes Rob. Hepburn Hen. Herbert J. M. Heywood Noel Hill Hon, G. Hobart Rowland Holt Lt. Gen.Honeywood Benj. Hopkins Beaum. Hotham Lt. Gen. Howard Hon. T. Howard Sir H. Houghton Lord Vifc. Howe Hon. Maj. General Howe Geo. Hunt Wm. Huffey Phil. Jennings Geo. Jennings Geo. Johnstone Lt. Gen. Irwin A. J. Jof. Martin Hon. C. Marsham Earl of Panmure Rd. Pennant Hon. Capt. Phipps H. M. Praed Rt. Pratt J. Smith Edw. Southwell Rt. P. Taylor J. Tempest Earl of Thomond Wm. G. Vanneck G. V. Vernon Sir F. Vincent Sir P. Warrender Alex. Wedderburne Viscount Wenman Sam. Whitbread Lord Guernsey A COR A CORRECT LIST of thofe Gentlemen who voted AGAINST Robert Adam T. Barret bell that Measure. Hon. Hen. Fane Hon. R. Fitzpatrick fon Rt. H.H. S. Conway Soame Jennings Hon. Major Conway William Jolliffe Whit. Keene T. E. Crefwell, fen. D. Kennedy J. Crauford Sir G. Ofborn Lord Rt. Spencer Nat. Webb TELLERS. R. Hon. G. Onflow Rt. Hon. Ld.Ongley Hon. C. J. Fox. George Onslow February |