The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-21 00:00:00

bud been made to Site bosse by ministers of the crown.—
They had not been supported by soy evidence Mat bad been
adduced either at York or before the Oldham Jury t the
cart leads of noses, and the trampling nod., foot of maxis-
trate". appeared to have had nil fousidation in truth. He
hoped they were not made wills a view of deluding that
house. Be that fart, however, es it might, the effect had
been that the most grievous inroads were made upon the
constitution. By thesis acts, it new constinopen was in►.
pelted moon the country I—iti 1819 that was undone that
had beet, effected iu 1684.—Under all these circumstances,
be maintained, that if the house had uoy regard fur character,
If they thought any thing of self estiinution, or of the (Ili.
lion of the world, they at least would demand thot inquiry
should be instituted into the deeds of the Itith of August.--
The country could never be strifled till such inquoy was
botituted ; till it took place be must cunsider the adminir
tratioa us stewed with the transaction of 'bat day, on which
there were twice -a nasty killed and wounded as there were
Woof d'et, wbeu Admiral J'•rvts (now Lord Si. Vincent)
beat the French. Tbeee were upwards of 690 kilted and
woonded, con•isling of men, soonest, and childien ; and
according to the law of God, on es hich the law of man ails
&elided, the spilling of human blood must be accounted for.
Hr uu•brd that the house would ere that its character re-
quired that inquiry should be instituted; and he therefore
concluded (amidst loud cheers) that t►e house resolve itself
into a committee of ioquiry into the conduct of the yeo-
manry and magistracy at Manchester oo August 16,1819.
Mr. HO BIIOUSE seconded the motion.
Mr. B. WILBRAHAM ruse to oppose the modem as ea-
•errssary. The hon. member entered into ea extended view
of
the transactions w hich took place at Manchester on the
day in question, and read a number of depositions made ►y
individuals to she w that the route of the town and neighbour-
hood was suck as justified t►e magistrates in the line of con-
dart they had adopted. These depositions described the
fears of the devotee's's, on account of the rondo. t of She
radicals, their training, exerriviag, &c. as so great, that they
'mold owl rest in their beds. The reuduct of the mob was
such as fully justified the magistrates in calling iu the aid of
the military, who were grossly insulted by them. Theriot.
net he said, was read by a magistrate from the window—by
Mr. Eeciestone shut this not being deemed sufficient, aouther
magistrate, Mr. &Nester, read it in the street.
Mr. BEN N ET P —Has be made an affidavit to this effect?
(Cries of " Order 1")
By a member —Has he sworn It /—(Oiller, order!)
Mr. WIL BRA H A M roomed, and proceeded to read vari-
ous depositions, stating that moues and other 'similes were
thrown at the soldiers i but the meeting was nut ultimately
dispersed because it was riotous, but because it was decidedly
an illegal assemblage. Mr. fi ulme was knocked of his horse
and *early killed. He might be asked why ibis evidence
was nut brought forward during She trial at York 1 the
reason was that the learned judge oat rowed the question.
■nd very properly, to the consideration of the legality or
Illegality of the meeting, and the Jury, after the fullest coos
sideration, found a verdict of guilty.
Lord MILTON next addressed the house. His boa.
friend had spoken of the testimony of some of the wit-
nesses at Hoot's trial, and stated that one of them Barlow,
had spokes; in his affidavit before the magistrates of the
quantity of stones snd brickbat' which were on the ground.
Now it was singulat that this person had never mentioned
a word of this in his evidence at York. How could his
account on both occasions have been so different if he had
spoken the troth in either! How could such facts as were
saitl to have beets sworn to before the nagis•rates by this
witness have escaped the sagacity of his hoes. and learned
friend (Mr. Scarlet') who had conducted the case 1 There
was another witness (Dontliorpe) who had in has deposi-
tions said that he heard one of the persons going to the
meeting declare that they 'soul!' come in such force as to
overcome MI the civil and military authorities : bet the
person who it was sworn had said this was Wilde, one of
the accused. At the trial in Yurk the learned judge—a
judge, of whom he never thought or spoke, but with love
and lion (loud cheers), Irons what be knew of him
both in a public and private character—had said that
there was no evidence against Wild. Would there have
been nu evidence if Dontliorpe had hero tam ggggg ed 1—
(Hear, hear.) Would there have been none if Miller and
Pikers bell there swore what the hosiourable gentleman
bad now referred to as their testimony ? Hut if those per-
ilous had been called, their cross-examination might have
gone to negative the facts which they were now cited to
prove, All he cared fur was that no precedent should be
established by the non-iniesterence at parliament to lead
to military lastegd of civil authority being resorted to im
this country.
Mr. WILMOT spoke In justlficatioa of the Manchester
snagistrates, and concluded by saying, that the blood that
was shed ea that occasion, if it was shed by the magistnstes
in the exercise ore n und di creams, was nothing more these
the exercise of justice on air extended scale. (Loud cries
of" Hear," (sum the opposition, stud repeated by this
Materiel benches,)
Mr. PENMAN should be well content to leave the qurs•
Hun as d by the hon. member fur Westminster, rend by
has noble trine' the member tar Yorkshire ; for pal w dhstends
ink what had fallen from the other two grittleuren allo bad
taken trait its the debate, he could not conceive that the
house did not feel astimishmetit at the slim a preserved by
his Majesty's ministers, earshot whom such grave charges
hero 'hough', and had hero allowed to remain uniefuted.—
The I , thenilser for Hover tool stated that it taught he po.
little that in the alorin of the moment the magistrates had
cuilimisted certain a. ts w hicli required apology. To that
Idea he ►hould lois r had nu objection I but it Was not now
a question of apology, but of praise—not II question of i I.
thilgesive, but of reward, Another honinsroble gentieurau
hod said that the imlividuals who had suffered full the 10th of
August were to be considered as haying suffered under the
sword of justice. (Hear. bear.) If such doctrines were out
botned.otrty reprobated, all the magistrates who were
"'Alined nod encouraged by his harangue would gu into the
tumor y with that sword in their hands, and *heath it in the
►osnm of their country men. w henever a questionable meeting
was iu their uthelibourhood, and they had a military fusee
lir back their inlet fei elite. (Cheers.) With regard to the
Manchester massacre, be considered it to be an event obi h
was more deserving of compassion than of being held up to
thr courts us an example *piths of imitation. He uttered
Me magistrates who acted on that occasion his compassion
fur bowing been made the instruments for the dasigl.t.•r of
their fellow countrymen, but withheld from them Ills raise.
.--He cared little a hether the drpOslliolll which 1111. Juni.
Member had read were made at the time w hen th.•y se, re
said to have beet. made, or whether the riot act had hi en
read to the multitude, because they had nut hero put au
evideoce at the trial at York. If the government could
beet moved those circuhatahces, be bad no duubt they