The Marquis of Clevelandpresented a Petition from the Mayor and Corporation of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, praying to have a Member to represent the town and places adjacent in Parliament. The petition was accompanied by a statement of the increase in the trade of Stockton, to the correctness of which he could vouch. In 1811, the duties paid at the port to the Custom-house were 4,000l.; and in 1830 they amounted to 40,000l.; making a difference of 36,000l. in the latter year as compared with the former. The number and tonnage of vessels entering in and clearing out of the port had increased in proportion. He must take that opportunity to state, that neither in presenting the petition, nor in anything that he had done respecting the measure of Reform, had he the least view to his own private interests, as distinct from those of the public. It was well known that he should be personally a very great loser by the passing of the measure of Reform now before the House, but notwithstanding that, he had strenuously supported it. For the same reason, and on the same principle, he totally disclaimed any views to his own personal interests in anything which he might do to promote the measure or to alter its minor provisions. In looking at this measure he kept totally out of view what had been, were, or might be, his own personal interests, and had acted, and would act, with respect solely to public grounds, and with an eye solely to the interests of the community. He had no view to any interest of his own in the county of Durham when he presented 1095 this petition, and he did not take upon himself to say positively that the prayer of it ought to be granted. But at the same time he thought it his duty to present the petition, when called upon by so respectable a body to do so; and he could take upon himself to say, that the statements and the prayer were well worthy of their Lordships' most serious attention. As for himself, he spoke on the subject of Reform as an independent Peer of Parliament. He congratulated the country, and all those who were most anxious to promote the interests of the country, on the restoration to power of the present Ministers. This was a matter on which all parties might well be congratulated, for he was persuaded that the restoration of the present Government was the only means that could have remedied dissatisfaction and prevented revolution. He would not then have troubled their Lordships with any remarks, but that he thought it the duty of every man to come forward in these critical times and boldly avow his opinions.
The Marquis of Londonderry, after the disclaimer made by the noble Marquis, could not suppose that, in presenting this petition, the noble Marquis was actuated by any view to his own personal interests. But still the noble Marquis might deem it of importance, from other considerations than his own interests, to promote the object of the petitioners, and to propose that a Member should be given to Stockton; and, if the noble Marquis should think fit so to do, he would support the proposition. He observed, that of the ten Members given to the county of Durham, eight were given to the north, and only two to the south. He certainly thought that this mode of distribution was objectionable, and ought to be amended; and he gave notice, that when they came to consider this part of the Bill, he would propose that the Member should be taken from Gateshead, and given to Stockton. He did not, however, blame the noble Marquis for the distribution made in the Bill, nor did he blame the noble Earl at the head of the Treasury. The arrangement was made by others, and very probably the noble Marquis and noble Earl had nothing to do with it, but it was an arrangement, that ought to be altered.
The Marquis of Clevelandwas glad that the noble Marquis had turned a Reformer, and that he intended to propose to give a Member to Stockton. At the 1096 same time, from his own knowledge of the county of Durham, which was probably not inferior to that of the noble Marquis, he thought it would not be advisable to take the Member from Gateshead. It was the place of the greatest consequence in the county next after those which, claiming to have a Member, had not been objected to.
The Marquis of Londonderrydid not know what he had said to induce the noble Marquis to think that he had turned Reformer. If they were pressed with such tremendous force from the other side that they must yield, they could not help it; but certainly he was not a Reformer. They might, however, be forced to come to a re-consideration of the details, and then they would, of course, endeavour to render them as little objectionable as possible.
§ Petition laid on the Table.