Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/142

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

128 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1815- for it.* The list is mainly interesting from its containing the names of two men who afterwards took prominent positions in the Radical lines D. W. Harvey, who had entered Parlia- for the first time ; and Joseph Hume, who had been returned in 1812 as a Tory, but who now sat for Aberdeen as a Liberal. The broader question between ministers and opposition was raised on the i8th of May, by Tierney's proposal for a com- mittee on the state of the nation. It was avowedly a motion of want of confidence, and Whigs and Radicals united in its support. The result was largely in favour of the Government, the numbers being 178 for, and 357 against, Tierney's reso- lution. The position which the Radicals intended to take as representing and defending the interests of the body of the people was illustrated on the 22nd of June, when Hume presented a petition from artisans for the repeal of the laws against combinations of workmen. In submitting the petition, he said, " He would leave it to the feelings of every gentleman present whether it was just to give to the rich master the power of combining against the journeyman, and to prevent the latter, if he attempted to procure what he considered to be a fair remuneration for his labour." The labourer was to be made aware that his voice could be heard in Parliament, and he naturally became the more anxious for a reform which would give increased power and efficiency to his friends. It was on the ist of July that the first open protest was made by the Whigs of their difference with the Radicals on the subject of reform. On that day the Marquis of Tavistock, who had shown himself one of the most Liberal members of his party, presented to the House of Commons a petition from Liverpool. In making the presentation, he said, " He regretted to say that he had lately had but too many oppor- tunities of witnessing the dissensions which prevailed among

  • The following are the names of the ten :

Barnett, J. Ommaney, F. M. Wellesley, W. P. T. L. Harvey, D. W. Protheroe, E. Williams, W. Hume, Joseph Rancliffe, Lord Burdett, Sir F. ) Lawson, M. Sebright, Sir J. Wilson, Sir R. Tdlers '