§ Mr. Stuart Wortleypresented a petition from certain merchants of Halifax, praying, that the Bank Restriction act might be renewed. He was ready to admit, that some bankers had affixed their names to this petition, and confessed he did not see what objection could be made to it. He did not know how far a right hon. gentleman meant to carry the principle which he had laid down; but it certainly appeared to him, on a question of this nature, involving so many intricate points, and embracing so many delicate topics, that bankers, who were so much concerned in money transactions, were most capable of judging, as being most acquainted with the subject.
Mr. Canningrose to present a petition to the House upon the same subject. The petition was signed by about 200 most respectable and intelligent inhabitants of Liverpool, and not only was to the same purport, but, he believed, in the very words of the last petition. It was signed by individuals entertaining a variety of political sentiments, and he believed about half the bankers in Liverpool had affixed their names to the petition. This was a question of peculiar interest to the county of Lancaster, as the whole circulation of that county was in Bank of England notes; and in this respect the observations of the right hon. gentleman could not apply. There was one peculiarity in this petition, that one of the gentlemen who had signed it, had thought proper to enter into an explanation of the motives by which he had been actuated in affixing his name to it. He (Mr. Canning) had had full liberty to erase that explanation, if he had thought pro-per; but conceiving that it was not inconsistent with the forms of the House, and that the petitioner had concurred in the general prayer of the petition, he had not struck it out. This gentleman was a man of the highest respectability, and of some 213 consequence in the commercial world; he was an individual for whom he entertained the highest personal respect, but with whom he had the misfortune to differ in politics; so much so, that at the last election at Liverpool, this gentleman was chairman of the election-committee of his antagonist. On this account it was, perhaps the more his wish to do him justice on the present occasion. The prayer of the petition was for a continuance of the Bank Restriction act; but it recognized the importance of the Bank of England resuming cash payments, allowing, however, that the present was not the fit opportunity for that purpose. The name of the gentleman who had entered into this explanation of his motives was Cropper, and his explanation was as follows:— "James Cropper wishes that payments in specie may be postponed, but does not agree in the importance or advantage of their ever being resumed." He confessed that he much differed from Mr. Cropper in this qualification of his opinion; but he was extremely anxious that it should be received by the House, unless it absolutely vitiated the petition.
§ Mr. Tierneywas happy to see that at least there was one individual who was not ashamed of openly declaring his opinion. This was the most honest signature he had ever seen to any petition. The signer spoke out manfully, and declared what his real sentiments were; he disguised nothing, and seemed to be afraid of nothing. He earnestly wished that this noble example should be followed by others.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.