The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-07 00:00:00

SEARCH FOR ARMS RILL

On the minion for bringing up the Report of the
Search for Arnie Bill—

Errl '3RE:Y expatiated on the dangerous power of
healing into a man's house. and exposing the in-
metes to violence. It was the certain right of every
subject to possess arms; it was a right founded on
the principle of self-defence; it was a right esta-
blished also by the Bill of Rights, which autho-
rised resistance to an oppressive Government. He
could not, therefore. consent to its suspension. even
for • limited lime, without a necessary cause. but in
the present instance no sufficient ground was laid.
There were no satisfactory proofs that disaffected
persons had procured •rots to any considerable
extent. Those now in the hands of the lower
ctasaer, were such as they retaitied since the lob-
vidals were discharged from military service ; of
this charge there were no satisfactory proofs—all
wee loose and general. Where any thing specific
Was stated on the 4tubjrct, it gars only in two or
three cases, where the arms were made on the appli-
cation of the informants themselves. A relative of
his (his Lordship's brother), who resided in that
part of the country which was the seat of alarm,
had removed front it with his family. but that rela-
tive had assured I the alarm was exaggerated,
and that he was influenced in his removal, that,
in the event of any disturbance, however remote. lie
might have nothing with which to reproach himself.
That the Radicals were increasing, and have as-
stunted ■ more systematic plan, lie believed ; but
be contended that their number was exaggerated.
As evidence of this, a meeting at Newcastle was es-
timated at 30,000, and yet the whole population of
the place, men, women, end child, did nut exceed
28,000. A desire of Parliamentary Reform, he
believed, was general, not only there, but to every
other part of the kingdom. It was not confined to
Radicals, it extended to persons of superior eoodi-
Pone of influence end property. He dial not say
that if not repressed within, it must break out
with veogyance, but lie must say that where such a
general feeling prevailed this was nut a time for
violent and restrictive measures. l le mind there-
fore pause before he consented to a Bill of this aa-
tore. It was • measure of unprecedented power.
and subversive of the rights if Englishmen. It
would be nugatory and iiiefficient with respect of
its professed object, and daogeruu. with respect to
every other; it would operate •s a notice to the
disaffected to procure and conceal arms without
delay, while the 103 al and well-meaning would
buffer.
The Earl of SlsteTroisoas read extracts front
letters received that mur $$ i oo g from two Magistrates
and the Cannuteodiog Officer at Newcastle, which

stated their uprreliension of a simultaneous move-
ment or the disaffected as btrly soon to take place,
and that the object of the Radicals was not reform,
but trilhge. A great addition, he added, had beta
lately mode to their supply of arms, and therefore
he hoped no time would be lost in pasaing the Bill,
conceiving it, as he did, s measure necessary to
preveut insurrection,
The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, in explana-
tion, his statement of the great comber of the
Radirabt was not of his own kilowledgr, bat made
uplift the authority of others who were rye-w diseases.
F.srl GREY, iii explanation, said that the people
of Neneastle were only spectators of the meeting
there, but that those persons who constituted it
were clneflv from the iirighbouriug districts on the
hanky of the Tyne, which contained a numerous
populstion.
Lord Easxlne said the Bill was without a pre-
cedent iii the rituals of Parliament. Tt early it
into effect, it was sufficient for the iraurnier to mike
his statement merely out belief. No positive aver-
ment on oath was required, sod consequently in the
case of a false charge, the injured party was left
without redress.

The Er.rl of DARN LST p►oposed an amendment,
lerivitia cut the clari+e for sr:irching houses fur arms
by night, but declined to press it, on the stigges.
Lion of Vtieonot SIDNOUTN, that the clause to which
it referred had been gone through, and that the
Noble Earl would have an opportunity of moving
his amendment to-morrow.

The Bill. with the amendments, was then order-
ed to be engrossed, and read the third time to-
morrow.

The Reho►t of the Military Training Hill was
then brought up, •nd ordered, with the Amend-
ments, Ito be engrossed, and reed the third time
tu-morrow.—Adjourned._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MONDAY, I:W[3MM •.