236 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



cition of all the papers relating lo 

 this subicct. 



Mr. Western added, that if the 

 crown were once allowed to raise 

 money, under tlie [ reiext of bene- 

 volence!, there would be an jnstint 

 stop put to the extrcis.' of all the 

 rights and (iuties of parliameut. 

 Exclusive')' <.f itsprivilfire tt> legis- 

 late, the power of raising money 

 by imposing taxes, I>elo;'ged solely 

 to that bodv ; but the scheme in 

 €nnfon)platio:i would transfer ifeis 

 poM'cr to the executive depart- 

 ment. Were this to happen, there 

 would be no further occasion for 

 parliament to meet, as it would 

 th'^'.i be divested ol all its authority 

 and importance. 



'I'o these reasonin'^s Mr. Pitt 



O 



replied, that voluntary contribu- 

 tions for levies, when these were 

 ass'.^nted to by parliament, were 

 strictly legal, andconsistent with the 

 precedents ; and that a message 

 from the Kitig would be brought 

 to the House on the subject in 

 fjuestion. 



Mr. Fox insisted, on the other 

 side, that the precedent alluded 

 to by ministers, was totally ir- 

 relevant. The contributions du- 

 ring the American war were truly 

 voluntary, as no official authority 

 had prompted them ; but, in the 

 present case, it was plain that <iie 

 executive power had assumed the 

 right of demanding pecuniary as- 

 .sistance from the people, without 

 the iiUervtution of parliament j 

 which w.is undeniably unconstitu- 

 tional, and subversive of all the 

 hws that had so carefully provided 

 • against the levying of any money 

 but with the positive and formal 

 consent of the representatives of 

 the nation. 



He was followed by Mr. Francis, 



who asserted that ministry wan «»- 

 der no necessity of recurring to 

 such a method of obtaining money : 

 it w»s both irreg 'lar and needless. 

 The readiness of parliament to 

 grant supphes, was uuquestiour'.ble. 

 'lo what intent had tninistry re- 

 sorted to any oliier inedium, unless 

 to create a incccdent unfavourab'e 

 to the curr.mons, and lo producejea- 

 lousy ai id discord arnong individuals ? 



^';r. Srrjeant Adair, who spoke 

 next, did not deny the illegahty of 

 the mode recommended ; but he 

 exculpated ministry, on the ground 

 of expediency at the present junc- 

 ture, and as nowise aiming at in- 

 fringcmi.nls of jjarliameutary rights. 

 It was altogether an abstract qi es- 

 tloD, better avoided than brought 

 into discussion. 



A contrary opinion wasexpresscd 

 by Mr. Grey, who said bethought 

 it incumbent on llie House to pass 

 a censure of disapprobation on the 

 measure, as militating against the 

 laws and constitution of the realm. 

 The question being put, was car- 

 ried in favour of ministry. 



A message from the King was 

 delivered to the House on the 25th 

 of March, purporting the intention 

 of the enemy to invade the king- 

 dom, and requiring the necessary 

 succours to oppose him, by in- 

 creasing; the militia ; and informing 

 it, at the same time, that, relying on 

 its concurrence, the King had is- 

 sued orders to that purpose. A 

 corresp.)nding address was moved 

 by Mr. Dundas, to assure the King 

 of the readiness of the House to 

 concur in all the measures rcquiihilc 

 for the prosecution of the war, as 

 just and necessary. The address 

 proposed, was carried without op- 

 position. 



'I'he ministry's attempt to pro- 

 cure. 



