The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-09-10 00:00:00

MEETING of the COMMON COUNCIL.

A Court of Common Council was yesterday held
at the Council Chamber. Guildhall. in pursuance
of a foriatisa. ..4.4 la wire! reopeetable
Members of the Court. for the purpose of taking
into consideration the conduct of the Magistrates
and yeomanry cavalry of Manchester. in the recent
melancholy proceedings at that place. At Intlf-past
eleven o'clock, the avenues to the Council Cham-
ber were completely tilled by individuals anxious to
hear the debate. A few minutes before le o'clock,
the doors were thrown open, but there was not
space sufficient to contain one-third of the candi-
dates for admittance. Those who could not get in
ranged themselves in two compact rows, extending
from the Council Chamber beyond the room in
which the Aldermanic Courts are held.
The LORD Mayon took the Chair precisely at
12 o'clock—and, some routine business having been
dispatched, his Lordship rose and said—
" Gentlemen, I hold this Court to-day in conse-
quence of a requisition I have received, signed by
several Members of the Court. I hold it, Gentle-
men, with great reluctance—because, I think, when-
ever crimes have been committed, or are alleged to
have been committed. in any part of the country,they
ought to be referred to the proper tribunal, before
whom the necessary evidence shall he laid, in order
to come toe correct judgment, instead of discussing
them here or elsewhere. Notwithstanding the re-
luctance I felt, I have called the present Court, and
1 leave the subject in your hands, hoping that you
will act with prudence and moderation."
The Requisition having been read by the proper
rose and said—" My
Officer—
Alderman WAITIINIAN
Lord Mayor, although 1 feel as warmly on this
subject as it is possible for any member of this
Court to feel, I never must forget to state. that the
introduction of this question was not voluntarily
undertaken by me. It was not my desire to bring
it forward. because I rather wished that it should
be pieced under. your comisteration. by some
one of those Gentlemen by whom the requisition
lie* been signed. I am perfectly persuaded that,
in requesting me to undertake this task, their
jadgment is erroneous in one respect—they have
expressed too high an opinion of my talents,
and too humble a one of their own. My Lord
Mayor. there are some difficulties thrown in the
way of discussion on this occasion, which appear
to me to be very unusual. Because I ever under-
stood it to be the characteristic of a Chairman, to
act merely in au official capacity—to summon public
meetings, whets so requested—but to take no part
whatever in the discussion which may ensue ; and
this is the first time since I had a seat in this Court
(a period of three or four-and-twenty years) that I
have heard the Chief Magistrate state opinions front
the. Chair, in order to influence the decision of
the Court in its proceedings.—(lleac, hear.)—
But l do confidently feel, that this Court will act
on its own unbiassed opinion and impression—that
it will maintain its own character and its own dig-
nity—and not allow its decision to be warped or in-
fluenced from one quarter or another.--( flear.)—
If, my Lord Mayor, I were not to endeavour to put
a very considerable check and control over my own
feelings while discussing a question like the pre-
sent, I might be hurried into a degree of intem-
perance which is better avoided on all occasions.
It is not with a view of inisrepreaenting any indivi-
dual, or number of individuals—it is not with a
view to advocate any particular political cause, or to
support any given political doctrine, that I am now
induced to come forward. The present discussion
has sprung from one common evil—end that evil i*,
that, upon this occasion, there bas been a wound
inflicted on the constitution of the country—on that
constitution in the preservation of which every intli-
victual is interested—(Hear, hear)—and it is the
duty of those who are so interested, without reference
to any set of men, strongly to express their opinion.
without endeavouring to prejudge or prejudice any
case hereafter to be decided. It is for all public
bodies to make a solemn appeal to the feelings of
the country. and to call for a full inquiry into
those hideous atrocities, which are unequalled in
the history of England.—( Fleur, hear.)—My Lord,
it appears front every account that has reached the
puialic ear—even from the Ministerial organs them-
selves—that the Meeting ut Manchester was le-
gally assembled, that their proceedings had been
peaceably conducted, that they had been dispersed
by a military force, and that defenceless and unof-
fending individuals were trampled to death. while
others were cut down by the sabre, in cold blood.—
It appeared that men, women, and children, unable
to escape front their assailants, were destroyed,
though innocent of any offence.--(Hear, hear.)—
If any Gentleman can chew me a precedent for such,
a proceeding in the history of England, I should
be anxious to exanstne it—for,. I confess, that, at
present, I know of none.—/Hear, hear.)—Here
1 must say, that it is not necessary for me to give
any opinion on the necessity of calling those
nieetings together, or enter into a discussion of
the objects they have in view. My sentiments
on thus subject are well known. I have de-
livered them on many public ocCissions, and
I have always held that the conveoing .thein was