Star. — London, England, 1819-09-24 00:00:00

~~. ; h I ~~i %\ s' Highness the Prince gent, in order,by such an un- Valified•prostitiition t e Ronal character, to stifle an efficient and satisfactory inquiry into those crimi: nal and deplorable misdeeds of their own agents— (Hcar,ltear.) And this answer from those very Mi nisters, who were ready to direct Special Commis sions to be held, when the alleged criminality wa-, imputed to much humbler culprits. After the whole Country had before them the conduct of the Man chester Coroners—after the Lancashire Grand Jury had thrown out the Bills preferred against the ac cused, the King's Ministers have ventured to insult the understanding of the people, by directing the re monstrating parties to apply to the ordinary tribunals for redress, at the same time that they declaim against the injustice of any extra-judicial inquiry —( Hear.)- -It is to be deeply lamented, that his Royal High ness the Prince Regent has, by the principles of the Constitution, been prevented - from communicating 'his own judgment on the late outrages, or of acting upon his own principles in regard to them. For his character must have undergone, indeed, a very great and strange alteration, if he could from himself ap prove of any answer to the prayers of his people, which was irreconcileable with his own dignity, as much as it was at variance with good feeling and good taste—(Hear, hear.)—But whatever was the character of that answer, it is a duty, which we owe to the principles of the Constitution— to the rich in heritance we acquired by the blood of our ancestors rte their memory—to the hopes of our children's children—to the majesty of the abused and outraged Jaw, not to relax in our efforts, but to persevere thud all these great considerations shall be vindicated.... (Hear, hear.)—Let it from this day be remembered, that we can never shrink from the obligations which we thus voluntarily impose upon ourselves—(Never, never.)—To advance, and not to recede, must be now our duty, until effectuailneans shall be taken to pro cure an efficient inquirrinto the conduct of our enc. rnies. The country must be fully informed, whether the blood that has been shed has flowed under an absolute necessity, though by the swords of agents who executed the orders of an alarmed Magistracy with a malignant and unfeeling cruelty? or whether the people of this country, assembled in the exercise of a rightful act, have been met by a sanguinary out rage on their lives and liberties, unequalled in the history of former oppressions, indeed unknown, till the times in which we live? If that necessity did not exist—if the assembled people were, as it did appear, pursuing a rightful course, it will, it can be no excuse for those cowardly and atrocious agents to plead that they acted under the orders of the local Magistracy, or of the servants of the Executive Go vernment. This Government is, at least we:, a Go.i veroment of law—(Hear, hear)—and even martial law limits obedience to la wful: orders—(Brave! hear, hear.)—This distinction was not confined to free States, but was recognised even in despotic Govern ments, where the will of the Sovereign constituted law, because that will was subjected to the principles of reason and humanity. When the infamous Charles IL of France issued his sanguinary orders to a French Governor for the massacre of his Protestant subjects, what was the answer be received ? The answer of a brave and gallant officer was thic, - Your commands (commands, mart) I have com municated to the garrison and inhabitants under my orders ;. I have found amongst them brave soldiers and loyal citieens, but not one executioner or assassin.' —(Skouts l'amktaae ceatimited fir SOW moments-) Would to GOD that in the year 1819 all the cities of England could make the same proud boast—( 4 All but Manchester," frost the crowd.)—lndeed, all but Manchester, I rejoice, can give that proud assurance; and even of its regular military garrison I feel proud, to say, that by no act of theirs have they forfeited the claim—(Applause.)—lt is with feelings of pride I reflect, that the very regiment (the 15th Dragoons) in which I had the honour e , receive my military education, has maintained its own high character, and preserved unsullied the acknowledged humanity of the British soldier —(Hear, hear.)—What was the offence imputed to the assembled people? Was it that they had peaceably met to petition, contrary to the injunctions of the Magistracy ? If that was the offence, then I must say, that though I rejoice to see my Constituents this day assembled under the con duct of our estimable officer, the High Bailiff—(ap plauses)—an acquiescence MI i ch, from his intelligence and character, 1 anticipated ; yet, if he had refused, I should have felt it my cliity, in accordance with the wishes of the Electors, to have presided at such a Meeting, both as a Representative of the People and as an Englisliman—(Th avo !)—Under that im pression, I wrote from the country where I was at the time, that in the event of any objection to accede to the Requisition, they had my authority to state, that I would preside, and charge myself with the re sponsibility—(Cheers.) I did so under the authority of the Bill of Rights, a dirtction which it was the duty of every British patriot to follow. But then it was said that the people Manchester were met to Petition against the abus in the Representative System ! And why not? To the abuses of that system they attribute the grievances under which they suffer ; and without adverting to the remedy they propose, I look upon the want of a Reform, so help me Gon, as the primary source and permanent cause of all the evils that afflict the country— (/leer, hear, hear.)--Is this the language of Revo lutionists? Are these the sentiments of the dis affected, who wish to subvert the State ? It has been the language and the conviction of some of the most virtuous, most independent, and most en lightened men that ever adorned this country. Was it net the language of the head of the House of Russell, uniformly held, and recently more emphatically ex pressed, in his admirable letter to the Concentric So ciety of Liverpool—a letter in which the first Duke in the country states it as his uniform opinion for the y years that a Reform in the Representation remedy for the public grievances, and the ity against all , the dangers with which the mcuaced—(' Bravo I worthy Jthe name frost She crowd.) But then we were told, , particular plan of the Manchester people—., :all for Universal Suffrage arid Annual Parlia -justified the outrage. That plan was consi many, and in that I agree, as very objec attracted the opposition of those who property, from a reluctance the most natu place tti . at property under the protection of - posse none; it- was rendered the more objectionable from the very reprehensible intolerance with which its advocates presseait.—(Hear, hear); but it was not on that or any other account an uncoil stitutionil sr an illegal object; and could therefore furnish no justification for the atrocities that bad been committed (H'ede, hear.) In this land of Chris tian charity, were an assembled multitude of Eng► lishmen to be sabred and trampled down, without any beacon to warn them of their danger, or 407 suggestion that such an assault was in contempla tion:'—(Hear, hear.) But then they assembled with sticks and clubs. These sticks and clubs, and for cible array, I feel convinced, will turn out to be of the same description as we know the technical lan guage of the law introduces into indictments for crimes of the humblest character. These weapons of attack which alarmed the Manchester Magistrates were, I am convinced, neither sensible to feeling nor to sight. They were, like the dagger of Macbeth, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat.oppresied brain ! (Appleuses.)—The subject I feel to be too serious even for any allusion bordering on levity; but I can-, not resist repeating . to you an anecdote which I re cently heard at Paris from a French Gentleman who had long resided here, with whom I was conversing on the recent outrages at Manchester. That Gentle man, holding a stick of a certain description in his hand, observed, that he never expected to have lived to that day when the Magistrates of any part of Eng land could resemble the stick I then saw.—' It has,'; said he, • as you perceive, a hammer on its head.' If you go into one of our strops to purchase it, you must, ask for a Juge de Pais—a Justice of the Peace—(A laugh.) It got that name before the Revolution, be cause that worthless race, at that time, were particu larly conspicuous as peace-breakers, instead ofpeace tnakers'—(Contieued applause.) But next, we were told of the array of flags—why, I think we have all witnessed not less than 150 flags of various colours carried through the streets of Southwark on a recent occasion (the - Election) ; and I trust, when the period arrives, we shall see them again ; and yet no party or person considered the carrying of such banners ille gal—much less a justification for military violence. But then they b2re the inscription of ' Death or Li berty !' What or that ? Were not these words the rallying cry of every Englishman, in the proudest period of our history ? Ilow often has the air been rent with the acclamations which such a sentiment inspired? If we had reached that state when such a sentiment as these words conveyed was considered treason, I thank my GOD that I am and hope to die such a traitor—(Tuinvitsourapplaute.) But, Gentle men, we have bees told that the Manchester people proceeded to the Meeting with.military movements. Pray who are to be the judges, or who were the judges of those military movements ? Are we to con sider the Reverend supporters of the Church Mili tant to be judges of such matters? They may es- 1 surge to themselves a knowledge of this kind, but are we to bind ourselves to their opinioni ?—(No,no!)— Por my part, had I witnessed this military assem blage, I am sure I should have called it an awkward squad. It has been said that they practised the lock step—the goose step! but even had they done so, was this a ground for a cruel, a ssmguinary massacre of the people r.--(Afe, ire) The lioneui able °culls : - man pro deeded to state that he did not approve* Of those Meetings attended with riot and tumult ; but he felt it his duty to step forward when the rights and liberties of Englishmen were at stake (Applause.) With respect to brr. Hunt, heft* himself obliged to' say, that that Gentleman, with wham he had no per .sonal acquaintance, had, during the whole' o(the Manchester business, acted with a presence of mild, talent, and patriotism, which entitled him to the thanks of the Public—z(Loud applause.) That Gen tleman had been charged with the greatest infringe; ment of the laws. He had been remanded on a charge of High Treason ; but this charge was not, could not be persevered in. He was ultimately admitted to bail, on a charge which, even if guilty, did not subject him to the loss of life or limb—(L ou d cheers.) But why or how was it that the people of Manchester were to Ise considered out of the pale of civil society? Were they to be massacred by lawless authority, and without allowing the people of England an oppor tunity of enquiring into what had occurred ? No ; the people of England were too much enlightened, too much addicted to legal and constitutional inves tigation, to pass over in silence such horrid and de testable outrages—(Applause.)--But supposing, for a moment, that the Manchester Magistrates had been justified in leading the Riot Act, which he denied, and which, if read at all, must have been read in a corner ; but, even supposing this, if those Magistrates had been actuated by a just and humane feeling, what would harm been their conduct ? Christian charity and Christian feeling would have dictated to them a different line of conduct. They knew that the Meeting was to take place—they knew who was to preside, and they might at least have given Mr. Hunt an opportunity of warning the Meeting to dis perse—of telling them to go to their homes. But mil nothing of this kind was done. Scarcely five minutes bad elapsed when Military Law *as introduced.= The Cavalry were ordered to charge, and Military execution was put in force with unrelenting severity —(Shaule! shame !)—The charge was ordered, and murders were committed with Impatiity—(Shams !) He would not dwell upon the horrors and atrocities which had been committed, becluse he did not wish to atate the feelings of his auditor s , by- t detail which would call upon the very stones to mutiny (Chearing).—He declared to his MILKER, and to the Meeting, that, in considering this question, he had divested himself of alt political or party. feeling ; he looked at it as a question which affected all parties, however they might differ on other questions —as a question which involved the happiness and liberties of the United Empire—(ipplause).—lndeed, it would be baseness and wickedness in the extreme to allow party feelings to interfere, where the lives and liber ties of the people were at stake. The conduct of the Magistracy and Yeomanry afforded just ground for arraignment. They had invaded the Rights of She, People, and had downed them to Military execution. This, he said, was a just ground of arraagnment ; and he hoped and trusted that such conduct would net be allowed to pass with impunity--(Cheers).--The Yeo manry had executed the orders given them with a ferocity which was disgraceful to them, and which must evgr be a stain on the British character t Let • tikose charges, however, be brought before a feu sad just Tribunal ; let the conduct of the Magisteley and guiltless, isbtehfeaniralymaedajufd6goedn,,iet them have-the ful ; and if they be found praise of their condact ; let the country be relieved from the odium under which it at present laboured. —When he had first heard of these matters (he was then in Paris), he was surprised; he said, in his let 'ter, to his Constituents, that he could not suppose Mieisters were at all implicated in what had taken place—that they could not identify themselves with such.proceedings—that they were determined to dis charge their duty impartially to the country and to themselves; but what was the fact.? 'Those pro ceedings had been sanctioned—they were applauded, and this approval was nothing less than a recom mendation of similar measures en similar occasions. But were the People of England prepared to put up with this? NVere they satisfied to bear with these op pressions ?—( No, no .')—Were they prepared to place the lives and liberties of seventeen millions of people under such a despotism ?—(No, no !)—What had been done for the People ?—Measures had been adopted to transport some thousands to the sandy deserts of Africa ; but this mode being deemed insuffi cient to remove the starving thousands, the more ex peditious mode, the sword, was resorted to—(Cheer tug).—He said, in his place in Parliament, when ,an additional Tax of Three Millions was imposed, that it was a Tax which could only be levied by military oftecution. This system might be carried on, but it I fkould never reckon him as one of itsadhereats; nor should he, living, be reckoned as one of the slaves, who were to endure it—(B ravo).—But why should, they hold their lives and liberties on such a precari-1 ous tenure? Was it to be supposed, if what the People wished for—if a Reform in Parliament were to take place—if that Reform, the seeking for which eras designated Treason at Manchester, were brought about—that such a disgraceful scene as that which took place at Manchester, would pass with impunityP On the present occasion, he hoped and trusted, that the Landed Property, the disinterested friends of the, People, would come forward ; if they did not do so, they would be guilty of the most culpable apathy.-- This was no time for crimination or recrimination; they ought cheerfully to receive all who joined them, and the word ought to be ~ Oblivion and Union"— (Cheers).—This country was at present one of the most degraded countries in Europe—(No, no !)—He asserted that it was one of the most distressed and de graded countries in Europe; look at the laws—were they not calculated to promote the happiness of every individual in the State? Let them observe how those laws had been violated—let them observe the system of violation carried on, and then let any Gentleman stand forward and state that we were not degraded. He hoped the Gentleman who differed from him would come forward and convince him by argument that he was in error; nothing could give him greater satisfaction than to find that he was so. Look at France, a country which but a short time since was sunk and darkened by the grossest barbarism. What was it now ?—(A set of Jacobins). He denied this ; it was a country so far advanced in the path of free dom and prosperity as to leave us at a fearful dis tance, and so crippled and disabled too, that we were scarcely able to follow in her course--(//ear),— ere the Honourable Gentleman was interrupted - loud and repeatxd shoats of ..Here's Hunt s .V ant's a-coming," &c. The crowd were for some time agitated ; at length Mr. Hunt made his appear-, ance, and was greeted in the loudest, if not the , warmest manner. He at length mounted the cart, and was kindly received by Sir R. Wilson, who shook hands with hina.3—The Honourable Gentleman pro. ceeded—As a philanthropist he rejoiced in the im provement of France ; as an Englishman, however, *gave him pain to find that this country, once the seat of freedom, should be so far outrun. He re joiced is the improvements made in the French Con stitution, a‘he hoped that we should long continue in habits . of friendly intercourse with that country. But, returning to England, he knew not of any sedi tious publication which could operate half so injuri ously to our Government, as a comparison between the present state of France and this country —(Loud cheers). He begged to conclude, by hoping that the Meeting would hear with patience every Gentleman who should offer himself to the Meeting, however different his opinions might be from those which called them together. The Honourable Gentleman sat down amidst the loud and reiterated applauses and cheers of the Meeting. Mr. BRAND, in rising, observed, that the cause of their Meeting had been so fully and so ably discussed in London and Westminster, that little was left for him to say ; he would ther efore confine himself to a point or two. First, he begged to ask one question : Did the Manchester Magistrates act legally in calling in the Military to disperse the Meeting of the 16th of August ?--(No, no /)—This was a question of vital importance, from which another resulted, and that was, whether they were to live under the government of the laws, or whether they were to be dragooned Out of their liberties by a wicked and treacherous set 'of Magistrates ?—(No, non—From the very able manner in which the question had been already handled, he felt a difficulty in approaching it. There was one point, however, which remained, and on that he would say a word or two. It was a wise and salu tary maxim of the law, that no Clergyman could sit in the House of Commons: how happened it, then, that Clergymen were allowed to act as Magistrates ? The disability in the one case, held equally good in the other; Clergymen ought to be wholly abstracted from temporal affairs; they had an arduous duty to perform in following their avocations. The fact, however, was different, and Clergymen were to be fono . d, who had, contrary to th e Di v i ne f org i v i ng =of their MArras, imbrued th e i r h an d s i n t h e of their countrymen---(Cries ?f " Shame, *Anew I') Another point to which he wished to ad- Vert was, the grounds on which the Manchester MA liStratec declared the Manchester Meeting to be ille gal. The Cavalry were called out, they were ordered fie act. but he doubted much if any of those Divine Magistrates were aware of what the law was—if any br 4= bad ever read Burst's Justice on the subject ! rs(e.ilisering), But he could find a better excuse for Bine sapient Magistrates than they had hitherto ode for. themselves. The fact was, that they had Nett reading Scripture on the occasion, and had acted TOR their reading. They found in the Holy Book that it-was better a man should be slain by the sword 'than starved with bunger—(Cheers). They fo un d this In the litb and p& ifutrientsOuns, and ii was lamentable to find that they put thei e met , execution. The next point to which he rt ry the conduct of those nancheste r J an i wa* so deeply dipped thei r h an d s i n blood, thst Neptune's ocean could not wash them cle an . applause). Manchester, that prr;T:rcus,, happy town, had been made the sce ne (if terrible and disgusting scenes ; it might considered the modern G olgotha. But ' sue were not to pass unheeded. The Laws • tution of England had ever been her pri ( in her prosperity, and surely they would fort and consolation in the hour of he r (Loud cheering). A Mr. lIATTON apologized for the abt Calvert. That Ifonourable Gentleman st% zerland, and could not, from the shorta t y notice, attend the Meeting. Mr. Soloists had received a letter to this effect: btu i vented by illness from attending, had rail (Mr. Hatton) to make this statement, And the Meeting, that, though absent, Mr. ^al! and wishes were with them—(Applause.) The foregoing Resolutions were then II rigid unanimously—(Cries Hunt. lb,, Mr. BLACK moved a Vote of Thank worthy Representative (Sir R. Wihen) Ice exertions in the cause of the people. bo; out of Parliament.-- , Carried unanimous and repeated cheering.) Sir It. WILSON returned thanks. I . ';!)1 tion was a most laudable and ttsefil object bition. lie acknowledged that he coat,' when it could be accepted, consistently wits he would gratefully receive it. lie sbct' be found ready at his post to do his di country; and he trusted that his Ccasti:ue i never find him an ungrateful servant. stormy times, public men were more sikf wreck than to mend their fortunes; but r tion should induce him to desert me come what may, he should have the having exerted his best efforts in supo r ; liberties of his country—(Loucichrers.) able Gentleman concluded by exhorting' to disperse quietly, but at the same to upon the Resolutions to which they ha, themselves, and to be ready to act upon thei ever it became their duty to do so. [The Meeting became clamorous for . who stood in the waggon, to come forward. Mr. &FRIGHT proposed a vote of char' HUNT, for his praise-worthy conduct at This was objected to by the HIGH said, that he could not allow of any Reser put, which tended to call forth any Gent. was not a householder of the Borough. Th] .only objection to the Resolution. A considerable discussion took place who were Mr. HuNT's friends, and those opposed to his coming forward. At len;:t Sir Ror.ctir WILSON came forward. Ii ready expressed, in the warmest terms, bs tion of Mr. Hunt's conduct at Manchester not a doubt that a vote of thanks to him would be carried unanimously. If, howev was passed,it would place the High Baili ation of difficulty, as Mr. Hunt was not holder of Southwark. He hoped, then, mi and his friends wished to hear rr. I.lunt Gentleman would not solicit the occasion of thanks to address the Meeting. The Hrc;s BAILIFF, at length, waved non, and the vote of thanks was put and c; loud cheering. Sir ROBERT WILSON proposed a Vete cl the High Bailiff; who returned thanks in pressive manner. Nothing could give heartfelt satisfaction than the pleasure ofd his duty with satisfaction to himself and gi to his fellow-citizens. The High Bailiff dared the Meeting to be dissolved, and left gon, accompanied by Sir R. Wilson and' —(Loud cries of" Hunt! thin!!") Mr. HUNT stood forwa r d. Il e h a d Wave miles to meet his fellow-citizens, and he pleasure in addressing them. Ile wished , a little of what had been done to-day. Thanks had been passed—(" tame it!) sooth, an Englishman was told that it Wol gal to come forward and S:l% - , "l than (Cheers and " Bram', Ilua He could, assure them and their high Bailiff, that I fully justified in addressing them as ary oth man; nay, more, the Meeting was a 5 144, moment as it was before the Ka h le Bath hustings—(Chcers.) Mr. hunt now took and, like Mark Antony, exhibiting the Czsar, pointed out the impressions left by strokes which he had received at Mancl particularly called _the attention of the 3 one incision, which, he said, was made al . in custody. This appeal made to the feel s multitude was answered by cries of " Skenif In the course . 9( his speech Mr. hunt Nigh Bailiff a petty officer. This term was to by some Gentlemen on the Hustings, w! upon him to apologize. Mr. Hunt said I apologize. An expression of his hadbten ception to—he was ready to apologize : apology was this—either the High Baud . the law or he did not. Jf be - did know the he ought not to have prevented him (Mr. h speaking ; if he did not know the law, then to go home and learn it, and in the mean term " petty officer" W.IS properly applied When he found that the High Bailiff knew And acted upon it, then he would change and call him a Superb Otiie:r, if they . (Cheers, mingled with some diz.approbc , t: o, ought to know that the whole of the (Tags! and .Dtingeon Bills, had expired in 18IS, any person in the crowd had as much rte the Meeting_ as the High Bailiff had—(.4P, While Mr. Hunt was speaking, a cart passed the crowd, loaded with timber. A little ar the cart held up a pole, with the remnant upon it. Mr. Hunt, observing it. sauk " UT' Gentlemen, stith a symbol as that would dered seditious at MancheEter"....(Lood la ' By this time the young wig in the car!, en] cident or design, lowered Lis Cap of bbert] called it ; and Mr. Hunt went on. After servatiens on the High Bailiff, and many II of self-devotion to the Cause of the Peori. f r Leo chided by sincerely tbaisking them 9 IR i ..i I I 11111 ,' H ‘s. last thirty ye was the rem only security • .; country was if Ruud!, that the part their call for ruents—justi dered by ma tionable; it possessed prc sal, to place thole who po • ..: 1 1 , r *vh o i; that R 64 dea n - is, proud, t ail • it, it. t such vs and , • h. ride a n d e d be gii ad, .er &S t:tett tr a ,i„.. th ortne st ionmp t I . • la tub raine, k , j; ul and to it S 4 , 11 rut aria % tanks t. 5 • ) for hi; , .1c both . 3 ionst.rs, u'olic ap , , object of et oTeted i t: with his din et shculd ux is duty to s Lituer.ts tnt. er likely to ,t nc cons] ie p e o p l o . „ satisfaction rup-iort ci .T 1 Tie 11 „ the 3I o ponder . - had pled,. 3n them iv— for ward.] thanks to . at .1 BAILIFF, esclut ',on to , ientleman . This was . .. between ;hoe hose how en; th e i Ile had , his app ester. He im (Mr. . wever, the lailiff in a .1 s not a • it, much as [act, that ion cf the ved his ob:. id carried :e cf Thanks' s in a sax CI ive him me ofdischarEi - id gratific4:4 ailiff erica d left the %rag. .nd his fric..,..‘ ravelled rmi I he now lea cd to tell thee 1 r. A Vote d it!).—an,l would be Me' hank however' hat he was as other Geode regal at et 3aiiiff left the ok oal - his is* he mantle d by the saw inchester, rj to Mecing while he was feelings of kanie, 4cof • Int called I vas objec:ei c, who called „ aid be c ool. teen taken* te . Nov, did kno r • the law, ell r. lictr.t) from then hen" nears tine lied to him.- - mew t he law, ge the te l ", eY Pl ease ' at:opt-Air. ggin Ap g d right to caU liSea shunt c c rch b 0 ,s sent 44 I LOok,eir'F' eld be c" aii. ica t e ; ';!'" either bl . „, , e ` c. pert'', a' !ter sem: tv preieo , r Lee 14';'""'