The National Register. — London, England, 1817-03-03 00:00:00

deiced by what took place on the 24 of December, when the mob attempted by force of arms to carry Weir object into effect ; nor should he hesitate to say, that if the question stout on that single crowd, he shoti - hi think himself author ised to provost. the measures which he should bring betbre the House; the stfort,..however, bed been successfully put down. It had shewn imokr the tintsks of Pat liamentary Reform, and had not been confined to the borders of the metro,eilis.--socit•ties had met, who were - not conterned with half measures ; they were ell azreed oil the ttrc. ssity of smiting and co-operating togethei in urine their influence and physical feria-, if netwesary, to obtain their object , namely that of rout ruling -the Constituted authorities. The Societies, the principal of which were tile Speweren, entertained these views, thonelt he was reads to admit some of them enter tained wherry steve. Could may malt doubt their real ob ject? tie would assert, that the greater mass were the se- 1 hides fur diseeminating wicked and affiliated revolutionary Inetroires, and that they received the Spencean doctrines; that a wicked conspiracy ball existed for subverting the Con stitution ; and that it was sidliciently strong fur that purpose. 'Fhey expected to find their hopes of success in corrupting the public mind, particularly the tilanufai luring part of the; conutry. If any part of the poptiletion felt more horror than the other, it was aericultural. This being the situation of the country, he shou ld atete what measureit it ,was in the coutemplatiou of Ministers to propose to avert the danger. .4.. Dill had been introduced in the other house for a temporary suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act ; and though at present be should not make any propovition of that nature, yet it would be resorted to. He declared that the adoption of such a measure was most reptiguatitto the minds of the Mi nisters, anti gave him much pain to propose; but while he admitted this, he must say that any Minister who should neg lect to recommend it would betray the ditties which lie owed to his country. It was a measure aluue calculated to sustain the laws at present in existence, and to preserve the liberties of the conuirs. Without it, the conspirators could not be I arrested? apii they might be permitted, consequently, to co on with their wicked projects, and deluge the country with blood. There never was a case in wi.telt the necessity for adopting it so strongly existed as at present. He should propose it with every guard for thelibeity of the subject, con vest, nt with the safety of the State, and propose to continue it fur a longer period. He would Wish it to ben local mea sure, and not extend it to Ireland. He would now state the other measures which were inilispensible to the safety of the state. A law had been passed in 1.70.5 to protect the per son of the Sovereign, which unfortnitately, to the disgrace of those times, had been attempted A law was then enacted to last during his life. He thought that the House would out rcf.usc to throw round the Prince Regent that shield which under similar circumstances, they had placed over the' So vereign ; especially as his royal Highness was exercising the So, ereignty. Another branch of the subject was, the at te mils which lead been made to seduce and debauch the sol diery and the navy : it was necessary to protect the State against melt attempts. Those who were guilty of such crimes committed a must serious offence against the State; fur they attempted to induce the military to perjure themselves, and to forgo those oaths whirl; they had sworn of allegiauce to the Sovereign. The Noble Lord then adverted to the Acts of 1795 anti 1799, against Seditious Meetings; rendering illegal all those societies which hound themselves by secret or illegal associations; and those who affiliated and fraternized, to colect what they called " the physical three." In 1799, those societies were rendered illegal ; for the Government of that • day finetid it necessary to resist the progress of that system which grew out of the French Revolution. The Statute Law of the Beaton was rendered nugatory by the operation of the 115th of the King; and, therefore, the object of the Legislature Insist be to revive both laws, and thus meet the apprehended dances. When the Seditious bills to which he had Whaled were introduced, there had been several dangerous Meetitigs ' at Copenhagen-house audelsew here, which were most:alarming totter loyal part of the nation; but then none of those Meet ings, as now, had proceeded to acts of violence. At the Meet ings of the present day, popular Orators had presented them selves, watching fur the eye of the auditor, to seize the fa vourat le opportunity fur wee king on his passions and imbeci lities. What, in fact, had been in contemplation only in 1195, had been carried into effect in 1810. hlinisters,there. fore, would be besotted If they waited for the return of the danger. The-law was not an arbitrary one, but productive of snitch gond. He was convinced, that in no country was the public mind so responsive as in this; and if Parliament spoke out. naaay ntisgudied persons would be convinced of their error, and the societies expire. There was soother branch of the subject, which was of great importance ; and that was, tlinse bovieties in which individuals were allowed to give pub licity to their blasphemies; he meant Debating Socitiees. It was necessary to place these societies under the restrictions alluded to, They were common in poblie houses, and were Open to receive what they called " light and information." The Spencean and Hampden Chubs met, stud diffused their lights into Ireland and Scotland, the same as the Societies Melt formerly met with the British and Corresponding So cietit s. The lights they difhised, and the evidence which was furnished by the Club Officers, were those emanating from " Philauthropists," far so the Spenceaus called them selves; they professed to deal out happiness fur mankind, as eh H. feimers du. Their creed was evidence of their sin cerity iu that rt spiel , nor did lie wish the House to think that the Hampden (Antis acre any better that' the Spencean, who were to distribute land, and to subvett all the losinda tions in society. The Hampden Chef) and Union Club prute,seil similai loch hies ; and thought the Coinati:tes might have mistaken the Cub limn %Inch a Petition was presented to the other House, set there was an Union Club existing in London of the description referred to. The Sheffield Union Cleo recognized it in Isl 6, and stated that any man might become an honorary member on paying a hue of gas. lf, therethre, a Cull) did not exist, lee aas suri•rised ; but they had a happy facility in changing their names, anti adoptie I c Vutions similar in i ffect to other Clubs. Th. , Legislature would he i:s ivelling if they did not provide against the clan g .r. The principles of the Spencea it Clubs, thought profras mg to be founded on the Agrarian Law, was dust of plunder --a eyste it to:- establishing a sort of parochial plan, in whirl; the larrll , rds, whom the.) , had despoiled, were lot to he suf fered to perish, but to become pensioners on the totality of their ileeenil. rs. The Noble Lord then recapitulated the Lead., of his measures, and coneluiled with motet wing, that Ministers woitl•l betray the duly w Melt they owed to the country if this did hot press on the attention of' the House these measures. The Noble Lord moved fur leave to hiring in a Bill for more effectually preventing Seditious Meciin... and Assemblies. Mr. PONSONBY admitted, that it ITAA perfectly true, the Committee were- unanimous in in4kilig their t, and the statement of the Noble Lunt Was perfectly cot rect. IL would go as tar as the Noble Lard iu atreugthcuiug the aria THE NATIONAL ItTGISTER. of the Executive, when the strength was to be need for the safety of the State. No man could more condemn those loutish societies, such as the Spesresins, nor reprobate more their wild and chimeri ca l id e as. A 1 4% mg said thus much, be should. however, °Neel to the introduction of any measure having for its object the inspention of the Habeas Corpus Act. Sir F. BURDETT was of opinion, that the long and multifa rious speech of the Noble Lord coasisted ofuxaggerations,,aud was not warranted by list Report of the Committee; be there fore could not a„ sec with the Right-Hon. Cisentleman mho spoke before him, and must raise his voice against the coca , Awes to Am :proposed by the Diable Lord. Theiloc trines were the ronsequenee of false alarms, whisk lie (hi] not think would hate again hemp raised in. he country. and alto , it at tributed to thediation the charge of being.* set of :thieves. Could it be believed, that this lolicnlouasystem of dividing the property would ue tolerated ? Could not the lemllords arm, and defend their own property ? But this pamphlet of the Spenceau.systum, which the Nut& Lord_seemed so fond of, was not a system to be olatinud at. These was :is much danger to be apprehended from the Ex-Spruces:it Society to the Noble:Lord belonged, who hastier so long a time been divitliwg the property of the land.. Wish respect to the Conspirators, and Clubs, and Societies, were.nottliere laws enuo4ll to pinkish these descriptions of ,persons ? —.was the It betty of Use press unfettered ? And whete would the Nubie 'Lora stop In his measures? He had to propose so many, that It waipossible he might *propose re-past lath) laws. He hod she tionour of being Chatent so of the .Liatoptku Chili. the mo ther of all conspiracies; according to the Nob Lord, be therefore had been guilty of trea-son in corresponding wills different parts of the country. It was die Commons of En::- laud who ought to complain of their property being sl.- stroyed. But the mischief originated wills the Union 1:1M, - and the Speuceans. Ire had the honour of being is member rat the forsuer, which put girth one Address and exposed. Why, the mischief Aid not so originate, but with the -Noble Lor d, who had been charged with all kinds of conspiracies. How stood the fact? The Noble Lord was (without using an ex pression of olfenee) an old offender. :Had the. House forgot ten the career of the Noble Lard in Ireland ? The scenes of blood which took place there, and which be now wished to act again here? Why, the Noble Lord had been convicted of hying a wholesale dealer In seats, and therefore could not presume to boast of being immaculate. The Committee had said, that few of the middle classes were engaged ; why, this was testimony in favour of the majority (tithe people, who, it the Report WaS any thing, had been tnaliglied. They were not all Ministerial As einhei son the (;outiiii is e e some 10111 been taken front the opposite side of the House; but the) were old alarmists, and ready to fall in with she idea of danger, when raised, HI laid been, by the evidence trti:eti haw e the Committee. Mr. W. ELLIOTT did, in his conscience, think there were grounds for the st*pension of the Habeas Corpus Art. Sirs. RossILLY contended, that the laws, as Airy now ex isted against treason, sedition, and libel, were sidlieieut for the suppre.ssion of offence. mach as thaw lie liad mentioned. The ATTOR •GEN RR A L would aay nothing uu the sub ject of the Hills propuied to be brought, until they should be brought before the House. . 'Fie SOLICITOR-GENERAL contended, that there was at present no law fur the prevention of titinultuus meetings, ' though there was a law by width they might he ptini.sdievi if. they, after meeting, proceeded to rMt and sedition. Neither ; was there any law :sesamet illegal assotaations shape ist which they now existed. The law against vesisteing sailors aim so/diets front their allegiance had expired last * year, and it was now found necessary tu les ivo it. Mr. I.lnotteux* rose to cuter lUS protest against some con cessions made to the Noble Lord opposite by his Rialit lion. Friend (Ponsonhv). Upon the face of the• Report itself at ap peared, that the Committee did not know who and what were the convirations t• but the Report only stated, that few or none of the higher or middle classes of the people were en. gaged in these treasonable practices. Was it union vague and expre.ssions that they were to pay away the Cousti-: Mimi by instalments; to nicht the Gagging Bills, and tO - the suspension of the Habeas C.orpus Act, and per haps orate trial by Jury? He ridiculed the idea of the Spen crans going to attack the Tower; and what was worse, to obstruct or destroy the grert bridges, without one sapper and iner among them. Such looseness in the Report showed a degree of rashness in the Committee, which ma Ic him a little cautious how he allowed hausell to be carried away to agree in such measures as those proposed. But he meant by nu means to deny that conspiracies of a dangerous character existed; still their enquiry should be, whether the Constitution was out now strong enough to ward oiled the danger that direstelid it. He implored the House to pause before it put such power !Mei the bands of Ministers, which might be converted ivy them into party purposes, to get rid of the groat questions of reform, economy, and retrenchment. He thought the Act fur the security of the Regent's person should pass into a law, as well as that of the seduction of the soldiers and sailors ; but he would enter his protest against the Bill for suppress ing debating societies. Lord COCHRANE considered every man who supported a , t of measures like these as an enemy to the constitution. He considered it as most illegal, that the people of England should be deprived of their liberties on the report of the Committee. Formerly, whenever the Nlinisters of the Crown wanted to deprive tl e people of their liberties, the House used to deny the supplies to the Crown; and the people. would now [lava no other means of redressing themselves, but by a ithhuldim , from the tas gatherer the mood of Ilaeir taxes.—Ortier, ' Oruer! The SpeA xen. It will be impossible for the House to en (litre .uelt language—holding out to the people that they should resist the laws. I.ortl CocuitsNa assured the House that nothing was farther front lus thoughts than active resis.atwit; anti as for passive resistairee iu the way lie had alluded to, it was daily practised by the quietest people on earth—the Quakers, Mr. C\]\lVt. tidicated the assertion of Air. Brougham, that ail tites . e plots were invented, by Ministers to divide the phalanx of opposition, and de feat them iu the ethirts they were !Omit to inst:e t.. (hive Ministers front their seats. He denied that tioverniumit was acquainted with the extent of these combinations at the time that Pilrli,nlitnt was last prorogued. Neither did he believe that the miliappy man, who in the iti.tocenee and of Ms heart was matte the puppet in a temporary I,qt urn, when he intended Indy to malt a !- , Plash, ilioaineti that he was exciting to rebellion. he &meet vs Welt assailed us was various; in some parrs, assumed the shape of h religion ; in others of treason and s•'. din at. These matures here no , meant against the absord dm:trines of Vl, , pr. Out day, bitt against those who r.•ent forts to put th •fli.elvtg into the first stage of operation. Ile dill not attribute to these mill , that tiny would diva e the land; but be did impute to thew, that if they cou' the) MARCIT 5. would take it. The Government asked not these measures as a boon, but as a burden they were to bear for the peace and secutiry of the community. They were enacting laws , Ur the protection of the gteat and sound part of the people, and of prinieltment for the few and (lie %irked. With the dreadful examples of the French llevulation before our eyes, he would not say we onelit to dread; hat it , All 3 our duty to guard against such circumstances. Time societies began .by critsitig the m o ue of God from the heart; and into a mind so void, it was not difficult to infuse hatred. towards its fel now in attires. After the polities of the day were discussed, the relaxations of rebellion were in infidelity. Was it then ,toomugli, that the Government was armed ffiith.a piou . r of checking such monstrous evils? Stich evils would warrant (4)1 . 11111mm in proposing far severer .nium.sures to the Home for its stoptiolii but flume, in their (minion, were .sufficient. Lord Ara I.loltPrs would nut objectio.the Bills on tiv.. fist roarlim7. The iionge then divided- an the bringittg n l t of the Bill for the •Sitpktresmion of Seditious Meetings-- For tho Bill Wu— Against it t-1--:ll.ljority 176. On onr return to the Gallery we found Lord rA STI.FRFAGII ttwvidg Aim leave to .bring in it Bill for the were effeetnal preservation of the tierson exercising the Sovereign .Ituthority. Tlie Seditious AssvitiblitsdAill WAS then Jrottglit in, rood a first lime', and ordered .fur a second reading on Wednesday. The fill! fur extending the 27th of the King, for puniMiing pertnns for seducing the astititury; also the lint fur ac_ euriug the person of his lite Prince itegent were severally brought in, read it first, and ordered fora se e cond reading on WitiltictLiy.—Adjottrued.at twelve o'clock TUF. , .1).1%, FEB. 2). The Intsiness of the greatest public interest this -day was that relating to the LORDS OF VIE ADMIRALTY. Sir M. W. Runes . moved an Addres• to the Regent, riv ing to re•luee the number of the Lords of the Aihioraltv ; but he would it to his Royal Highness to say how far they should be redo Howes er, he might just state, that in his opinion they sle.alti he reduced to tier. There never was a time when such a 'ethic-theta was no necessary as :it-prewar, o hen the people were pigi!iouitia for reti enehment trout one end of the country to the other. It might be objected to lois .motion, that Ministers had adopted amore extensive scale of retrenchment than was common ; but the abolition of sines cures would not relieve the country from its distresses. Nei. tiler couth we look for relief by a Be:dimwit) of she salaries of the efficient servant: , of the Crown, who were in general paid at an under rate. But it was by the destruction of useless, places, which were only kept up and paid in order that those who enjoyed Ilium mierht sepport the Government, that the cry Of the people seal to be put a stop to. The Honourable Baronet traced the origin of the office front the reign of VIII., and thrunah the intermediate viols, down to the year 1775. In the latter year they were but five; sitkee that Cale, they .have g !retail), INT.. $ . 1%; but surely that number .Was not now neceste . w hell in a state of peace. De cow-Nth-I by moving an Address to the licgent, praying that he would direct that the Lords of the Admiralty should be reduced cuusisteatly with the essigeney est tlw public sere ice. 1.91 .1 CM! . T.ER FAGIII thought the lion. Paronet might have waited till till' tiepin t of the Finance l'ommattee had been brought np, to vshorn these measure's of retresie •nt had iscen refeered. At 11w same time he was free to ent.fess,thit it was not Ids Latentiou to have.propossel :my redaction in the nuntbcr (.1' the X.otils of tip Admiralty. The number of ships lit commission in it Ili/te of peace were bat a very •amall part of the duty of the Admiralty ; thr they had to intend to all the minute details of the Dock yards; their Joules were then ntomitly at the microns. He therel;.re contended, that, as a einestiotrof limuoess, an reduction ought Su take plact . lie inaiuttilieiftli a t Ministers shelved nu indispositiuo towards reshiction ; they had made reductions thia-year to timc uniennt alai?, minima, and dia4 produced estiniatt R 7no o litiol. hatim , w what was expected. He should put it to Gent:coup opposite, as men of hourint, if they would have ally mare hesitation in applying at the lior.se Canon's or Admiralty for promo , ion to those who deserved it, than dairy were in the habit ot' daily supporting his Majesty's Government. (Beer, heur.)—lie • enitclatiled by moving the previous question. Lord Stlrptitteti the motion. Mr. Law opposed the motion. Mr. W wan could not agree that because economy and re trenchment vette good things lit themselves, it was propt e to adopt every species of them. He 'night agree to strip ott the embroidery, hot nut the decent ornauteaLs turd supports of Gu vermueut.--( Bier, hear!) Mr. Ha Nit Es contended, that this office migld be abolished without matting down the prerogative. Mr. 'lust:twin supported the previous question. Mr. Citoarit rose to correct a umis-statemead in respect to the appointment of certain Commissioners. who went not at tached to the Admiralty Board. Front 168.1 •to the present time, there was uo iasrauce of there being fewer than seven Commissioners at tOOW, a year each, with the exception of 1610 t, in which year there were only six Cuminu.z.sioners at that tate. Mr. CANNING could not consent to take the view of the question which the /fon. Baronet had taken. Ile nuiAt con sider the motion as the first of a series ef attaelsa., which wait intended to be directed against political unite. The Right HOU:Gentleman contended, that Alittisters lwd dirretefl their attention to all those offices which in the public 'Moil were deemed Aim-curt s; and the consequence bad been it practical retrenchment, so tar as they; • could be eat tool into egret, without Iletrionent to the public. service. 7 iou2ll all this Ltd been Ctireted, 1111• did not suppose that it mould satisfy those, whose only Abject WWI to ens it 11114 to clamour egaittwt all of flees, and never be satisfied. 51r. Boot .;stAst supported the motion. On a division, the numbs rs were—For the Motion, 208— ,k,gainst, 142 —Majority in favour of 55. —Adj. 1110)Ni91)AF. FEB. 2n. Though various petitions for Iterurin, 6:e. Were presented this they, all other bilsiiier4 mum give wtt to (be great gory. (ion connected With the— HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION BILL. Lord CASTLEREAGn moved for (lie labt irceding of the 13111 'nought from the Lords fur siispentLug the liathea4 Cor pus Act. Mr. lIENN ITT took the earliest opportnirity of entering his protest grilllNt the Inischievons tendency of the Bill. He rely ette:l that lila lion. Frie n d (Mr. Pinismiloy t r.hosild ha% e ,lowed himself to sit in the same chamber will' the Noble for he w is a person, after what hail ;,weed, not lit to be trash d ; unit Ine enuld assur e the Noble Lou], that if he hail named him (Alr. B.) on the Conimitice. he %unlit not have at withi him. The lion. Gi ntleinan iliQelatineil ail party feeling on the present OcCaAtill. The Hun. Gentleman roi. that peritivtuus tl4etillle3 end bIiP•VIKILUns libLl)