The Times 1831 - 1840 Nov 18 1831 Cumberland County Meeting #4

Nov 18 1831 Cumberland County Meeting #4

The Times, Friday, Nov 18, 1831; pg. 1; Issue 14699; col C                           CUMBERLAND COUNTY MEETING.                                            ---------------------                                                (From the Sun.)     [continued] The Rev. E. STANLEY said, that in those times of tergiversation and vacillation too little had been said in praise of that consistency which had been shown by Earl GREY through a long political life. Through good report and through bad report he had held on the even tenour of his way, and struggled for these principles in his youth, which now, in age, he strongly advocated, and showed how deeply he was impressed with the vital necessity of reform. He (Mr. STANLEY) remembered the noble earl when he stood forward at the head of a society called Friends of the People, and it might now fairly be said, that after a lapse of 40 years, he was again at the head of the friends of the people - he meant His Majesty's present Ministers. (Cheers.) The unfortunate and inauspicious rejection of the bill by the House of Lords had led to the present meeting, that the Lords might be taught that there was no re-action in public feeling, as had been falsely asserted. If the people had been passive since the last election - if the crew had rested upon their oars, it was because they had stemmed the torrent, and might quietly swim with the stream. When the necessity for a different line of conduct had arisen, they had shown themselves ready to meet it. (Applause.) No man who knew Earl GREY, or had watched the conduct of his colleagues, could doubt that a bill equally efficient as the last would be brought forward - ("We will take nothing less") - and there could be little fear of the Lords again venturing to set themselves in hostile array against the nation. The new bill would be the twin-brother of that which had been thrown out; and the only alteration which he (Mr. STANLEY) contemplated in its features was that, as the younger born, it might bear upon its front the mark of the census of 1831; but that, he imagined, would not generally be looked upon as an unfavourable mark. (Applause.) It had been said, that if Earl GREY were sincere, he would show it by cresting a number of peers; but Mr. HOWARD had shown how dangerous might be such a precedent. It was scarcely to be hoped that we should always have upon the throne a King so patriotic as he who now filled that seat of honour; and a despotic Sovereign might turn against the people a precedent that had been established for their protection. His good friend, Mr. JAMES, had spoken somewhat harshly against the bishops, and the cloth of which he (Mr. STANLEY) was an unworthy member. ("He could not say too ill of the bishops.") But he must be allowed to say that there were good and bad men in all professions; though he most sincerely regretted the part the bishops had taken upon this important measure. It was highly impolitic, but he hoped in future they would see the necessity of opposing themselves as strenuously to the corruptions in temporalities as they were bound to show themselves in matters purely spiritual. ("Oh, they're a bad gang.") A vote of thanks was but a poor return to Earl GREY and his colleagues for all their labours and anxieties; but it would show them how their services were appreciated by the country, and that would no doubt be some consolation for the fatigues they underwent. The rev. gentleman concluded by cordially seconding the vote of thanks and confidence in Ministers. The motion was put and carried unanimously, and with three cheers. WM. WYBERG, Esq., of Isell-hall, then stood forward to move the thanks of the meeting to the two county members, Sir J. GRAHAM and Mr. BLAMIRE. With respect to Sir James, they would recollect that, besides attending nightly to his duties in the House of Commons, he had to attend to pay strict attention to the Admiralty office, and give his advice and assistance as a member of His Majesty's Council. With respect to Mr. BLAMIRE, he had fully redeemed all the pledges he had given on the hustings at Cockermouth, and though his labours had been very great, he was glad to see him look so well, and apparently so able to battle again with the boroughmongers. (Cheers.) With respect to the bench of Bishops ("Oh, away with them,") he was not prepared to say that he blamed them more than the other Lords who had voted against the bill; but this he was prepared to say and to contend, that the bishops ought not to have seats in that house. (Much cheering.) They would much better fulfil their missions by staying at home in their respective dioceses, and watching their flocks. It was monstrous that 199 persons should have the power to oppose the will of a gracious King, and the wishes of a whole people, expressed in a way that ought not to have been misunderstood, and could not be misinterpreted. It was certainly noble to have a giant's strength, but oh, it was tyrannous to use it like a giant. MITHAM HARTLEY, Esq., of Gill-foot, said, that being an individual who had signed the requisition, he felt it to be his duty to attend, and had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Ever since he was the size of the umbrella which he held in his hand, he had been a reformer; and to those who did not know what reform meant, he would tell them. (Cheers and laughter.) It was simply a change from worse to better. (Great cheers.) And why, he would ask, ought not such a boon to be granted? WILLIAM BLAMIRE, Esq., M.P., at considerable length, returned thanks for himself and his colleague, who, he said, was allowed, by those who were best able to judge, to be the best First Lord of the Admiralty that ever filled the situation, and he must say it was an honour to Cumberland to have a member belonging to her filling a situation in the Cabinet, and who had a head to direct and a hand to guide the thunders of the Britsh Navy, with credit to himself, and with satisfaction to his country. (Cheers.) For himself, he was not aware he was deserving of thanks. (Cheers, and cries of "You are, you are.") He had been selected from humble life, and sent to Parliament, for an express purpose, and to perform a specific duty - a duty which, he trusted, he had not lost sight of (cheers); for, although he had not been able to do much as regarded the provisions of the bill, yet he had not been absent from one single division upon the reform question. True, he had not said much upon it, but he thought he had acted a more judicious part, because he saw that they only were the best friends of the people who said least, and voted most. (Loud cheers.) However, the thanks which he had received from them that day would serve to relieve those harrassing and fatiguing hours which he must have to pass, before he heard that wished for sound, "that this bill do now pass." (Cheers.) But, if he was sent to Parliament to assist in carrying reform, he had returned ten times more convinced of the necessity of it. (Cheers.) He could see no good that would accrue to the country until reform had been gained. (Cheers.) He had seen and even voted for grants of public money, which his conscience told him he ought not to have done; but he did it for the sake of expediency, under the hope that, when this bill was carried, a different course would be persevered in. (Cheers.) But while he said this, he did not blame the present Ministers for it; many grants which had been passed had been for sums expended by the late Ministers. (Hear, hear.) He had the greatest confidence in the present Ministry, for he believed that their professions of economy and retrenchment would be carried into effect in a reformed Parliament. He called upon the people not to despair, even if the bill should again be rejected by the Lords - ("We will," - "They dare not," - "Let them do it if they dare,") - because, he believed that Parliament would then be dissolved, and the King would suspend the writs for the rotten boroughs, and issue new ones for those places enumerated under the new bill. (Immense cheering, which lasted for some time.) And why not? It would not be a breaking up of the constitution, as had been said by some, but a renovation. (Cheers.) The law said no peers should interfere with elections, and what right do the peers have to interfere with the House of Commons, when they wish to enforce that law? ("None;" loud cheers.) He hoped and believed that that course would be adopted, and then the boroughmongers might do their worst. (Cheers and laughter.) In answer to a person in the crowd, Mr. BLAMIRE then stated his reasons for voting against the Truck Bill, which he designated as being absurd in principle, and impracticable in detail; and concluded by exhorting the people to be peaceable and firm, and he had no doubt that victory would speedily crown their exertions. (Great cheering.) Danger, it had been said, would follow the passing of the bill; but he was of opinion that more awaited its rejection. (Applause.) J. DIXON, Esq., of Knells, said he had been called upon to move a vote of thanks to the two members for the city of Carlisle, Mr. JAMES and Mr. P. H. HOWARD, and he did so with great pleasure. They had done their duty manfully and efficiently, and had thus rescued the city from the disgrace of sending members who were either the nominees of Lord LONSDALE, or who neutralized each other's votes by opposite votes upon every vital question. He was satisfied that the passing of the Reform Bill would be of the greatest advantage to the commercial interests of the country. (Cheers.) J. FERGUSON, Esq., of Carlisle, seconded the motion in an able and impressive speech, which we are sorry time forbids us to report. Mr. JAMES again stood forward to return thanks, and was received with three cheers, and spoke with much energy. In what he had said about the church he did not mean to include the hard-working clergy. The bishops opposed reform, because they knew a reformed Parliament would not grant them money to build churches, which they ought to do out of their own revenues, as well as feed the poor, for which the tithes were originally granted. (Immense cheering.)

 

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