Star. — London, England, 1819-10-01 00:00:00

remedy. Much criticion itaft been. the numbers of the Meeting ; now he he subtilest lawyer that ever lived, to statute which limited the numbers who at Public Meetings; and if the law limits, what were they who were wiser ?.....(1,0;:(1 cheers.) But the legality of Lad been most clearly evinced by the, ow who were the most deadly adver ! who attended it—he meant the Man straws. They would recollect, that a v had been called, which the Magis- N v clumsy manner (for, with all their v could not write a single sentence of ! . i) hrd termfd an illegal and uncon eei;ne. This Meeting the Reformers i the advice of a Gentleman in their i ie.liatelv called another, to consider Rcibrin only. Did the Magistrates etiog as illegal ? No ; they could not, d not—O•eisl. Did not, then, their occasion, when contrasted with their on the other, acknowledge its legality? Ind legal it was to all intents and pur ,A. The Magistrates, on the day it met, a holtse with the intention of watching lot blame them for watching) the pro le Reformers. Now, it might be worth these watchful Magistrates, and to and what they were. First came the Ilay and Mr. Norris, stipendiary Magis- Ns who receive wages for their Magis s. These stipendiary Magistrates were :owe on the body politic, were unknown Constitution, and borrowed from the nn of ancient France—(Cheers). Every clam looked upon them with suspicion, mere likely to be servile tools of a base the just arbiters of law and equity— re Rev. Mr. flay might have some sym ie Reformers ; for he thinks that all is thinks that "there is something rotten in lenrnalk:" he is a discontented man. " Yes, le is extremely discontented, as I am in the sine 'll4 of his salary" —(Laughter). ~ices the insignificant sum of £5OO for is the year to Manchester ; yet he deems ly too sm dl for his valuable services-- and thiliks it would be a noble Reform to 111500 to £BOO a year—(cheers). Thus r. Norris and Mr. Hay, the principal F the Manchester Magistracy : with re test of the Bench, they consisted of re acturers, who, like candle-snuffers at a -e sometimes used to eke out the fag-end -n—(Laughter). What would they think 'm. who, though a leading man among t Justices, had sat many years on the he knew that a potatoe was a vegetable? continued). In the course of his judicial. —no, he meant in the course of judicial instituted against him--this flower of Learnt this valuable lesson at the cost of reiter). Under the inspection of these the Meeting wok place at Saint Peter's s quiet, ordrly, and decorous. Mr. Hunt, e Orator of the Meeting, was even ex n to preserve order and tranquillity, when I Owen, the pawnbroker, came forward it. This worthy, who, like a hog, smelt at a distance—(Pids of laughter)—made loath that the peace of this Meeting, in would end iu a riot. Now, what did the do? Did they admonish he multitude No. Did they try the capability of the r to execute the warrant which they had tst Mr. liant and others? No.° Did they a friendly warning to their friends, the istables? No; for if they had warned the they malt have warned the People too— So the Special Constables were quietly left e, and orders were given to disperse the d seize Mr. Hunt. Ile could hardly trust h the detail of what followed, but he must 'at before the crowd were at all %warned of a Yeoman cut down a woman with a at her breast, and as she was falling from r of the first blow, gave her a second— A r.,t of indignation from the crowd). Was gallant deed? Was not this a true Man /—(Cries of dc He is, he is!") Did not ;ell deserve to carry the thanks of the Prince ug in his pocket ?—(Shame). Mr. Hunt eaesl, and insulted, and beat to a degree ii:graceful to humanity—(Cheers). After had been accomplished, an attack was he mass of the people; the onset upon de omen and helpless children continued until duals were wounded, and six actually died sabres of the Yeomanry !—(Shame). What . ‘ibsequent conduct of the Magistracy? It na:ked by an impotent attempt at bullying, ..A.owed by as impotent an attempt at con- He apt.caled to their proceedings lir their !, and I.') :he proceedings of the Coroners As no one was allowed • eor to cc•l:ect evidence, a verdict was c mre than one case, of " Accidental ..‘:i . :cl l he understood, that Ashworth, Cciistable, was cut down in mistake instead of a Reformer !—(Loud In the case of Platt, no evi -1 :D be given; and, at Oldham, the a.i;, - ,urned, and the reason given ;•icious Dei),lty, Mr. Batty, was We don't evidence :" He believed him ; for the Came before the Public, the more inex co:lLl:let of the Magistracy appear l • :-en came tine Grand Jury of the County, ; ,- ;•nt II:11s presented to them, though of the cutrages complained of was ad - ;Lent —; ('Gee's). There was a law which 7.v,:ktracy of the Country to take charge were supported by evi watrant against any person ac -- 1.1.. v did not please the Magistrates • When Mr. Harmer and Mr. Denison with depositions against the Ca-1 1 -Ly re: a,ed to take them ; and yet they them to any number against a ' C:ey would not take a single solitary " ! P i ; .. a .I,inchester Yeoman—(Loud tl:en, the People of England sit and thir;s in supine indifference? Shall 1 e 1::e slaa:;hter of our unoffending country aciiiiicsce in the screening of the murderers ."rom justi,:e —(A loud and sudden cry of" No I" burst front thepo). The whole voice of the country was in unisoth;them ; it answered loudly, as they had done, " So." Let them all, therefore, unite in addressing ley the Prince Regent for justice; inquiry was all wanted; justice was all they claimed; and he trusted they would never rest till an inquiry was granted and justice obtaine4l—(Checrs). With this view he had drawn up a Petition, which had been carefully weighed by those to whom the management of that day's proceedings had been in trusted. This Address would soon be read to them ; but before it was read, be coald with to say few words upon the principle on which it was drawn. He had endeavoured to draw it up so that every man who abominated the atrocities perpetrated at Man chester might sign it, whether he was a Whig, Tory, or Radical Reformer—(Cheers). He had carefully avoided all debateable matter. This case of blood undoubtedly, and in all probability of murder also, was too melancholy for any man to wish to indulge his own pi ivate views and feelings upon it—(Cheers). The Address referred to the great subject of the Meeting. and to that single point upon which all of them were agreed. Should any man say, " You shill not mourn over, or express your abhorrence at, the bloody deeds at anchester, without you join in my political creed?" No; be trusted that they would . . all abstain from such irritating language. A voice from the tomb of their slaughtered countrymen im peratively called upon them to agree, to use conci liating, and to avoid irritating language—( Cheers ). If the friends of liberty acted in concert with each other, and in the mild spirit of mutual conciliation; if they preserved that unanimity which too ofteithad been wanting in their councils, they would be too powerful for their enemies, powerful as those enemies - • were, and would preserve their rights and privileges inviolate—(Cheers).—lf, however, instead of pursuing this line of conduct, they descended to petty intrigues and trifling squabbles, punishment would soon follow on their foolishness, aad they would all be consign ed to the honors of military execution and of Man chester law !—(Loud and continued applause).—He would detain them no longer, but would make room for his friend Mr. Sandars, who would read the pro: posed Address to them. Mr. Shepherd then retired the front of the hustings amid the enthusiastic cheers of an immense concourse of people. Mr. SANDARS then came forward, and read the following Address: " ?Otis Royal Highnes: Ozoacs, Prince Regent of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. " May it please your Royal Highness—The undersigned In habitants of the Town and Neighbourhood of Liverpool humbly beg leave to approach your Royal Highness, for the purpose of earnestly soliciting your Royal highness to direct your most vigilant attention to the transactions that have taken place at Manchester, on, and subsequently to, the 16th of August last— transactions, which, in the view of your Petitioners, have a cha racter of violence and outrage unknown to the mo dern: periods of British History, and with respect to which they believe, from the answer which your Royal Highness was advised to give to the Common Council of the City of London, that the lull truth has nst yet been suffered to reach the Throne. " Of the expediency of holding a Public Meeting, conalltuted like that which took place at Manchester on the 16th of August, many of your Petitioners entertain doubts ; but that it was le gally convened they are all convinced, and in this opinion they are confirmed by the fact, that a Meeting intended previously to be held in that Town, having been declared illegal by the Ma gistrates, was therefore abandoned ; but no such declaration was made by the Cvostituted Authorities as to the Meeting of the 16th; and yet the Meeting in question was dispersed by an i armed fOrce, who fell upon an unsuspecting multitude, and in discriminately killed and wounded Special Constables and the rbpulace—man woman, and child. This arme d was sent into the assembled multitude for the avowed purpose of executing a warrant against certain indi viduals. " Your Petitioners would humbly submit it as an important subject for your Royal Highness's consideration, that previously to this obviously perilous measure, no trial was made whether the Civil Power was competent to the arrest of the accused ; that blood was drawn before the Cavalry penetrated the crowd; and that when the parties accused had quietly surrendered them selves, the onset was continued on the .sleeting, the consequence of which has been, that nearly 400 of his Majesty's people have been wounded, many of them severely, and that six have died of the wounds which were then inflicted on them. , " Atrocious as these proceedings appear to your Petitioners to ,ise, they humbly beg leave to represent to your Royal Highness, that their feelings of sorrow and indignation on this occasion are aggravated by the systematic opposition to inquire into them, which seems to have beep entered into by certain of the Consti tuted Authorities in this Country. Your Petitioners take this method of informing your Royal Highness, that Inquests ott the dead have been held without adequate inquiry; that attempts have been made to exclude the Public from the Coroner's Court; that when witnesses have attended to bear testimony to the share which individuals have had in the proceedings of the 16th of August, an luquest has been twice adjourned, to the great hindrance of justice ; that the:Magistrates of Manches ter have refused to take depositions against persons accused of 1 I feloniously cutting and stabbing ; and that the Grand Jury of the County has, as your Petitioners have been informed, thrown ' ) lout several Bills preferred against certain of the Manchester Yeomanry, when supported by the oaths of the wounded and I other witnesses. " With these facts before them, your Petitioners cannot but feel indignant at the conduct of your Royal Ilighuesa's Minis-1 ters, who, upon the mere report of parties deeply implicated in those transactions, and without instituting any inquiry, pro- fess to have procured from your Royal Highness an approval of transactions, which, we are persuaded, when fully developed, will be found to be abhorrent to the feelings of every descendant of the Illustrious House of Brunswick. " Impressed with these considirations, your Petitioners hum bly but earnestly implore your Royal Highness, either by sum rnorang your Parliament, for the purpose of immediate investi gation, or by any other such means as may suggest themselves to your Royal Highness's wisdom, speedily to institute a strict and efficient inquiry into the occurrences which took place at Manchester, on, and subsequently to, the 16th of August last for this inquiry, they are persuaded, can alone soothe the re sentment and allay the agitation, which now unhappily pervade this country. " The loyalty of Englishmen consists in a rational attachment to their Sovereign, and to the laws of their country ; and your Petitioners anxiously hope, that your Royal Highness, by gra ciously interfering on this solemn occasion, to promote an ap peal to those laws, will obtain for yourself the blessings of a grateful people." As soon as the Petition was concluded, loud bursts of approbation followed from the surrounding mul titude, which at this time amounted to not less than 6,000 or 8,000 persons. On the question that it be agreed to, being put ' Dr. CROMPTON came forward. He observed, that whep such horrible sceries took place as those lately witnessed at Manchester, when the blood of our fellow'-countrymen, most wantonly shed, cried aloud for justice, it was time that the friends of the coun try should stand forward; it was time that thevoice of , the People should reach the Throne, and seek.re dress for the attack which had been made on the lives of some and the liberties of 4111—Wear, hear), If the atrocities which had been perpetrated on the unolfending multitude at Manchester, had occurred to a Meeting of Whigs or of Tories, or even to an assemblage of the Boroughmoners themselves, it would still be the duty of the Public to demand strict inquiry into such atrocious outrages. In look- ' tug back to the transactions of the fatal 16th of Au= gust, it behoved them to trace out the cause, why it was that the Yeomanry Cavalry, who had been the inhuman _butchers of their townsmen, had been urged on to perform so cruel a deed ? It would seem that those in power had found the opinion of the People too strong ; •that they had gained strength by their unanimity in demanding redress for their grievances, and that they were determined by extir• pation to stop complairts which they were resolved not to redress. Therefore it was that they had sent a military force to act against them. It was known that the people never would consent to be tyrannized over by those who had patriotism in their mouths, and plunder in their hearts ; that they would still continue to seek, in a fair and constitutional way, a remedy for the evils which they suffered. Their as sembling, therefore, was hateful to those who could not resist their opinions, and military force was re sorted to, in order to put an end to Meetings which, it was well" foreseen , would lend to the cllistruction of all the obstacles to Reform. It was to the want of this Reform, hat the whole of the late melancholy proceedings should be attributed. If a Refcrm . is Pcliament had taken place, the fatal massacre at Manchester never would have occurred, because there would then be no occasion for the assemblage of those who were its victims—{Cheers). —There would be no occasion for the Meeting he then addressed, who had come to mourn over their murdered coun- trymen, and to demand justice upon their merciless assailants. If his Royal Highness the Prince Re gent had been properly advised of the transactions which had taken place, he was certain he never would have given his thanks to those who had been guilty of such atrocities ; but he believed he was kept in ignorance of them, by those interested in their concealment. lie should wish, on the present occasion, approving, as he cordially did, of the Pe tition, to add one little sentence • expressing the opi nion of the Meeting as to the necessity of this Re form.--(Here the speaker was interrupted by cries of " No, no;" and others "Go on, go on: This produced a little corilitsion . for a moment, which was put an end to by cries of " ('hair, chair.") The Earl of SEFTON observed, that being called upon, he would declare it as his deliberate opinion, that, consistently with the terms of th Requisition by which they had assembled, the su4ect touched upon by the last speaker ought not to be introduced for discussion, because he was certain it did not come within the terms of that ltequisition. He did not wish to be captious, but he would put it to the Meeting themselves, whether, having come for one avowed object, they ought not to confine themselves to that alone ? But this they could not possibly do, while they branched into another quite different(Cheers.) As soon as his Lordship had sat down, considera ble difference was apparent in the Assembly : some anxious that the proposition for Reform should be tacked to the Petition, while others, and they seemed the majority, were desirous that the subjects should not be mixed. Colonel WILLIAMS at length came forward, and was loudly cheered. He said that he had been of the same opinion with the learned Doctor on the ques tion of Reform—but that he had foregone its intro duction as not relevant on the present occasion. How ever important the two subjects might be, they should be kept distinct; for on the present occasion, the introduction of the one weakened the force of the othes --Ile trusted, theiefui e, that sons Gentle • men who had thought • it necessary to introduce the question of Reform would withdraw it for the pre sent, as its introduction could only tend to delay the other proceedings, and destroy their unanimity. Having said thus much, he would now offer a few words on the subject on which the Meeting had been called together, and he would trespass on their time as little as possible. It was important to consider the recent proceedings at Manchester, though they appear ed only as a past of the proofs of conspiracy against the people, which, in his mind, had been formed some years past, and which he now saw gathering to ma turity. The Meeting of August 16, gave rise to a charge of conspiracy against the people. There was, indeed, a conspiracy, but after what had occurred, it would not be difficult to determine where the con spiracy lay, and who were the conspirators. They (the Meeting) would not forget what had been done two years ago against the people, who, being deli vered up to the tender mercies of a Secretary of State, were imprisoned without any alleged crime, and discharged without an attempt to bring them to trial. They would recollect the Bill of Indemnity, which was passed to screen the leading actors in those scenes from the just severity of the law. This 'was but one part of what he termed the conspiracy against the people. They would also recollect, that , only a few months had elapsed since the right of ap peal in cases of murder, a right which had existed I for centuries, was taken away. It was about ten weeks before the massacre at Man 'tester that that salutary law was rendered inoperative, for the be nefit of those who had long enjoyed it. Was not, he would ask, that a proof of malice aforethought ? Did it not seem as if some violent blow were delibe rately pre-determined against the people's rights, from which that law, if unrepealed, might have protected them: If that Act had not passed, which struck the right of appeal from the list of British privileges, was there a man who had suffered in the late mur ders, whose widow, by the exercise of that Light,, might not have brought the murderers to justice ? If that act of repeal had not been passed, there was no human power could have saved the murderers at Manchester from the strict and certain vengeance of the law. But what had happened by advice of the late Attorney. General P—this powerful shield of Bri l , tish liberty was torn from the hands of English men, and they were then left exposed to the merci less charge of the Yeomanry Cavally—(Lorid cheers.) [Great stress had been laid on the circumstance, that the Riot Act had been read before the charge of the ,Yeomanry. Now he maintained that that Act ought not to exist on our Statute-book at all. It was passed at a time when the country was in open rebellion, and could have no reference to such times as the pre sent. At all events, it was only intend:A for tumul tuous, and not for peaceable Meetings. 13itt he cared not one farthing whether the Riot Act or a Procla mation was read at all. The Meeting was a peace able one, and was going on peaceably at the time this Act was said to have been read ; but, supposing there had been a necessity for reading it, and that it *as tead properly and publicly, ttett followed up by any measure of force had elapsed, and not unless-the people disorderly. The people were then to custody ; but what Lawyer or Magi those Reverend Justices of Manchester, that sabring and cutting an unarmed ever contemplated by that Act? Tin nel then went on to shew, from other the existence of a sonsßirac . 7againsf the People, on the part4f hts Majesty' He alluded, amongstieveral, to that I ing circulars to the Lord Lieutenant! wi-o, he observed, were not Civil M: Military Governors, who had the cm Militia. In conclusion he observed, t 1 do well to defer the question of Reform day, when he pledged himself to be one would come forward and give it his w. Mr. EGERTON SMITH tad tressed the urged the necessity of unanimity on the casion, and the importance of the Meer" itselfto the particular subject which tht, bled to discuss. Though a Reformer would not wish to have that or any other troduced which might create a division - an occasion. The Whigs had come and now that they had come, it would _ quarrel 1% ith them. His respected friend, used to compare such a contest to one - - clogs, and he deprecated its contint said, the clogs would beat the boots hoped that no such contest would nr but that boots and clogs would unite their common enemy—(Applause.) verted to the massacre at Glencoe, William, which was unequalled in thing which had ever previously occur tory, but it was eclipsed in atrocity at Manchester : for, in the former who were seat to butcher the Macdom beforehand their reluctance to perf( deed ; but in the recent instance the ent, for the Cavalry seemed to deligl task to which they had been set, and pily, they seemed but too willing to massacre at Glencoe was intended 1 People, but it had the contrary effect the People at one end of the kings pitch of indignation, that the Court affect displeasure at the proceedings, of Stair was dismissed for ezecut which he had received, and which Liam afterwards declared he had others without reading it. He did not that this was the case in the recent ths valry and others at Manchester, nor i a similar sacrifice would be made to ing on the present occasion, by the , nisters ; but of this he was sure r their be mourned for. The cold-blooded these proceedings had been looked the hireling writers of Government gusting. There was one London Pal which was as full of lies as it was advertisements ; and there were not ; ' ing to the late amount of deaths in the charge of the Cavalry, that coria7 numbers who suffered in the Riots i and after admitting the number six in Manchester 4 and describing the other instance as 285, concludes lance in favour of timely interfereno cold-blooded writer ought to have counting-house calculation, and salt and one great error into which he fel, was no riot at Manchester, and no grow rible cruelties which were there per] in the instance to which the Mancht. compared, there was a riot ; amounting open rebellion. Mr. Smith then cor that if any resistance had been mad I sion, it would have been made a groi perty Tax, and every other severe Ministers were well disposed to cat He next observed upon the salary which the Reverend Magistrate of I Ethelstone) received ; for those, he very dirty work to perform ought Why, the 5001. was not more than those who were wounded; and the ; which it was said the Reverend Gentli might perhaps be thrown in for killed—(Applause.)--Cln the course speech, he mentioned the circumstance of Norfolk, having remitted to the herd 50/. in aid of the Manchester communication was receive& with Mr. RIJSHTON, though quite favt tition, conceived that the cause of fleeted with the lWsiness of the day, come under consideration. If Ref( place, the murders at Manchester been perpetrated. We should not non-descript monsters, half soldier man, without a particle of the hone belonged to those two professions orders to cut and maim a defenceli beings who were as ready in the GOD to proscribe the People, as orders elsewhere to cut them down We should not haiie.seen a Grand evidence, throwing out bills; nor to take evidence connected with tit( murders.. He concluded by sayini, reason why the assembly should be declaring to the Prince Regent the unities which they mourned. Mr. MARTIN warmly supported ter what had transpired at,. and sul 16th of August, it was impossible t could with justice be deferred. Mr. THOMAS SAILTH strongly urge of urging the question of Reform. Mr. 11. CROMPTON read the a• Crompton had alluded to in his the necessity of carrying it. It the necessity of Reform. After a short desultory discussion, CROMPTON, Mr. 0. WOOD, the Rey ,and Mr. RATHBONE, took a part, Dr. CROMPTON consented not to addition, and the original Petition tied unanimously, amidst loud apr The Rev. Mr. SHEPHERD now . Meeting on the conduct which had t i 1 , •sl 3 i a 1 • $ . ',I 1 i 'li, it could ne4 hit 4 , until an hour ' ••• il l e had continues • . o be taken into - i• , . • •,; • , • gisttate, except l• , ~ „, , , In', ever thought i i; t i t , . multitude was l t .1 ' to gallant Colo- 1 1 r circumstances, A the liberties of • I i 1 1 1 ', is Government. . 1 , one of address • t is of Counties, ;i i I. t '•. lagistrates, but ' t I i• ,'• , immand of the i that they would t 1 nrm to anotlizr , , ••, . me of those who 1 i ~ warm support. ' g. e Meeting, a• d . ! • the present oc • 1 I eeting confining ' .• 1, they had assent. -s ler himself, ho 1 ' I I 1 . It• other subject in- I l I upon so solemn slowly to them, 11 i' dbe impolitic to , '; • end, Dr. Taylor, 1 of boots against 1 , . ii n 'I% uance ; for, he I , I ots at last. He , V 1 Ik. II I now take place, ' i. 1 ' . ,i ite to kick out' i Mr. Smith ad- , in the reign of cruelty by any ~ urred in our his- 11 ' , by the massacre , case, the soldiers , I. I maids, expressed , form the bloody case was differ , :1 1 , ght in the horrid : I d which, unhap- I , o undertake. The 1 ' , to frighten the ' • ct, for it mused . . „ gdom to such a , , , , . rt was obliged to , • % 4 ' t" i, and the Master • I. , acing an order • 1 I order king Wil- I 1 . 1 I signed amongst not mean to hint thanks to the Ca- , i • did he know that 1, o the public feel- • • t • • dismissal of hli- ' I 1 eir loss would not .1. Pt . •ci • t , I i way in which ‘ , ' I • , upon by some of i . 1 . It was truly dis- .' t / tper, The Courier, s of Government t" !' ° '1 t a few, in look- I 1• 1 $ !' in consequence of or , l 1 . npared it with the i 1 1 , in the year 1780,_ of deaths to he , 1 the lives last id 3 i: . 1 1 i ' • t•s by saying, 4 , ba- rice 279." But this • r ', 4 4 i e followed up his , '`l , • id errors excepted: 3 / 4 ell was, that there • . ground for the hor- I ' rpetrated; whereas ,• • , ,• , , ' I l i' ''• • 1 tester Meeting was • t• , mnting almost to ',. 4 k i , ~ 1 1 , 1, 4 I ontinutd to argue, ade on that occa- round for the Pro. : t• ' i re measure which I arty if they could. : ry of 5001. a year 1 • i I ' ' ' Manchester (Mr. 1 ; • , • , 1 ' 4., . . 4 , e added, who had ' i , - ' t to be welt paid. lan 11. a man for 1 ,, he additional SOU ' 1 ; entleman expected, ; i the six that were • rse of Mr. Smith's . " I;i . / tance of Mr. Coke, 1 • f' he Rev. Mr. Shepa 1 •1 ; t f t, 1 1 ,1 i • subscription. Thts i loud applause. 3 , t 1 I 11 1 vourable to the Po- 1 1 •f Reform was cue- i , . I, and might well • , i . Reform had taken 1 ri 1 1 ' n• would not have of have seen those • , 1 ier and half clergy- i • i , i 1 1 nour or feeling that 1 I ns (Cheers), giving 1•1 iceless multitude— f i ' 1 pulpit of the linring ' ' # they were to give ' , 4 li. . vn (Loud cheering.) i :1 ) d Jury, after strong a Coroner refusing • i 1 he same melancholy ' I ii .i ng that he saw no be prevented from • 14 to cause of the cala- 1 , t d fk% the Address. A I # 1 ' - albsequently to, the _ , • .. le that strict inquiry I, ' urged the necessity • 1 1 I ' addition which Dr. 1 , I speech, and urge.! advocated strongly 1 1 i ssion, in which Dr. 14 , ,1 11 .ey. Mr. &week), - 11 I • ' 1 , i o press the proposed on was put and cal.- , , 0 pplause. i II 7 ' i congratulated the _ iad been adopted ott I Ii , ,