The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-02 00:00:00

help thinking that this course was likely to involve the House
in a very considerable difficulty. It was quite clear that this
was a matter over which the House had no jurisdiction.—
(Hear, hear.) It related to a Member who had made some
engagements with his constituents, with which, how-
ever, the House had nothing whatever to do ; and if
the Hon. Member persisted, he would be taking an advantage
of the petitioners by making a statement which they could
not answer ; and, besides, that it would be establishing a
most dangerous precedent. If the Honourable Member
volunteered an explanation, he thought he must admit that
he would be taking an advantage of which he ought
not to avail himself, and though he ( Sir Robert Peel) did not
participate in any charge against him, he would have
another opportunity of explaining himself to his constituents,
and a better one too, as the question did not properly come
under the jurisdiction of the House.—( Cries of " Hear.")
Mr. F. BUXTON said the Honourable Member was no
doubt anxious to vindicate himself, and it would be rather
hard if he were not allowed an opportunity to do so.
He recommended the course suggested by the Right
Hon. Baronet ; at the same time he hoped it would go forth
to the world that no imputation could be substantiated against
the Hon. Gentleman.—(Loud cries of " Hear.")
Lord HO WIC K concurred with the Right Hon. Baronet,
and thought if they allowed this proceeding to go a step fur-
ther, the House would establish a most dangerous precedent.
—( Hear.) It was stated that the Hon. Member had pledged
himself to resign his seat if he pursued a certain course, but
he trusted the House would never recognize that principle.-
-( General cries of " Hear, hear.") The Hon. Gentleman
had been attacked in the newspapers, and a course was be-
fore him by which he could explain himself to his Constituents
without bringing the matter before the House.
Mr. ROEBUCK would ask whether the Chair had not
put the question whether the petition should be received, if
so, was it right that any Honourable Member should be
called to order while speaking on the question ?—( Hear.)
He thought he had a right to talk for an hour.—( Laughter.)
Sir R. PEEL explained.
Mr. JO HNSTONE said in compliance with the feeling of
the Horse he should not force his statement upon it.—( Cheers. )
The Petition was understood to be withdrawn.
THE ,RIOTS AT WOLVERHAMPTON.
On Lord JOHN RUSSELL moving the Order of the
Day for going into a Committee of Supply,
Mr. TH 0 RNE LE Y rose to ask a question of considerable
importance of the Noble Lord, and when he said that
it related to the recent outrages at Wolverhampton, he was
quite sure the House would favour him with its indul-
gence—( Hear, hear)—he had received a statement confirmed
by Mr. Roaf, a Dissenting Minister, alleging that the soldiers
were brought in in a most unexpected manner, as very few
elections had passed off with less riot. Three persons had
been shot, but although the military had been called into action,
there appeared to have been very little confusion, the only
breach of the peace being some one breaking four panes of
glass at an hotel. He could not see why the military should
interfere on such occasions, and believed it was quite illegal.
—( Hear, hear.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—I cannot but most deeply re-
gret what has occurred at Wolverhampton. I agree that it is
a most painful and distressing occurrence. The Hon. Member
has made a statement of certain facts that have been communi-
cated to him, and it is similar to one which was forwarded to
me as Secretary of State for the Home Department, by the
Rev. Mr. Roaf, a Dissenting minister. Immediately on re-
ceipt of it, I desired that the magistrates who had called in
the assistance of the military should give a full account of
the transaction : and I likewise communicated to the Com-
mander-in-Chief, that he might obtain an account of what
had occurred. The Hon. Gentleman has proposed that an
agent should be sent down by Government to make inquiry.
The adoption of such a course would be liable to very
great objection, inasmuch as the agent could only take
the voluntary depositions of any persons who might come
before him ; he would not be authorized to make any legal in-
quiry into the transactions, and thus the Government, after the
inquiry had proceeded to a certain extent, might have no au-
thority or power to carry it further. All I can say is, that
every account of this melancholy transaction which has been
forwarded to my office shall be laid before the House. For
my own part I am only anxious that the fullest inquiry should
take place into the transaction. If any further inquiry should
he necessary, after the statements of the different parties have
le,sen received, I can only express my wish that it should be one
of a strictly impartial description.—( Cheers.) In the mean time
I can only say that no ex-parte statement, whether it come from
the side that may be supposed to be excited by the fact of the mili-
tary having been called out, or whether it come from any other
party, can fairly be taken as a statement of the facts, because
there are on this subject a great variety of contradictory
and conflicting statements. I will mention, in corrobora-
tion of this assertion, that in the account transmitted
to me by Mr. Roaf, it was stated that the soldiers
had furiously charged the people in the market-place,
and that in turning the corner one of the horses
fell, and was killed. The account from the other side was,
that the horse had been struck by a stone, and that he died
in consequence of the blow. It now appears, by the deposi
tion of the veterinary surgeon who examined the animal, that
he died of a wound inflicted by some sharp instrument, which
had penetrated to the heart. I only mention this circum-
stance, to show what a great variation there is between the
different accounts, and with how much caution the first state-
ments, relative to any transaction of this kind, should be
viewed; the more especially when it h:is occurred just at the
close of an election, when men's minds, both on the one side
and on the other, are naturally heated, and when they are,
consequently, most disposed to give credit to such statements
as chime in with their own views, without investigating the
subject very closely or impartially. I repeat, that I shall be
ready to institute any further investigation ; and I am bound
to say, that I do not think there is, either on the part of the
magistrates or the military engaged in the affair, any disposi-
tion whatever to shrink from the fullest investigation of the
circumstances.—( Cheers.)
Mr. VILLIERS had also received communications from
the borough of Wolverhampton, fully confirming the state-
ments made by his Honourable Colleague, though he was
aware that much reliance was not to be placed upon what
had taken place in the midst of excitement, and although
he had gone over all the circumstances in order if
possible to find out something to qualify the state-
ments and justify the parties implicated by them, he
had been unable to find out any thing which showed that
no riot had been proclaimed in the town, or that the soldiers
had not been called upon to act with a violence,
he believed, totally unparalleled in the history of
this country.—( Cheers.) He had a guide by which he could
measure the extent of the disturbances that had taken place
in the town, for he had received a communication from
persons who all agreed that the disturbance that did occur
on Wednesday last could not be named in comparison with
the disturbances that took place at the last election for the
borough. At that election it happened to be his fortune not to
be tl* popular candidate, and as he considered that his friends
had been rather hardly dealt with, he applied to the magistrates,
who stated they had no effective police; he then suggested
that some precautionary measures should be taken to keep all
quiet during the night ; this suggestion was coldly received by
the magistrates. This he did not attribute to any difference
in political opinions between the magistrates and himself, but to
their knowledge of the disposition of the people in that town.
The military were not then called out, and no disturbance took
place. In the present instance, however, he was at a loss
to know upon what grounds the Magistrates had thought
proper to proclaim a riot in the town.-7( Loud cheers.)
In his opin ion there were facts connected with the conduct of
the military that loudly called for the inquiry suggested by his
Honourable Colleague.—( Hear.) He should consider the
conduct of the military extremely illegal and uncalled
for, till he was informed to the contrary by some military
member of that House—( Cheers.) Were the military to go
out and act according to their own discretion—( Cheers)—
firing on the mob in a manner totally uncalled for? He en-
tirely agreed with the suggestion of his Hon. Colleague, that
Government ought to send out some competent person to
inquire into the matter. Such a course would tend to allay
the great excitement that prevails in the manufacturing districts.
It was in his opinion reasonable, just, and expedient, for the
Government to send down an Agent to institute an inquiry
into this melancholy occurrence, in order to let the people
of this country see that they had a Government prepared,
awl also willing, to offer them redress.—( Hear, hear. )
mr. FO STE R—ln consequence of the absence of his friend
the Member for North Staffordshire, who was confined from
indisposition, he felt it his duty to defend the con-
duct of the Magistrates of that county, and
to vindicate them from the charges by which they had been
impugned. He would, therefore, beg to read a statement of
this melancho•ly disturbance which he had that morning re-
ceived from the Rev. Mr. Clare. He then proceeded t. read
the letter of the Rev. Gentleman.

" TO THE RIGHT MON. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME

DEPARTMENT.

" MY Loan—ln compliance with the request contained in your
Lordship's letter of yesterday's date, that the fullest information
may be supplied relative to the proceedings subsequent to the close
of the poll in this town, we beg to state, that during the whole of
the last day of the poll the conduct of the multitudes of people as-
sembled in the streets was very violent; many respectable persons
were rolled in the mud, arrd assailed with mud and stones, and
some seriously injured; and we received repeated applications to
send for a military force ; as, of about forty or fifty special con-
stables who had been sworn in, and were all that could be procured
at the time, some did not act, and the rest were completely over-
powered. The undersigned, therefore, sent for a troop of the Ist
Dragoon Guards from Dudley, six miles off, requesting them to
come within a mile of the town, and to halt there till they heard
from us again. At the close of the poll the number of people in-
creased so rapidly, and their behaviour was so violent, that the sol-
diers were desired to advance immediately. Their appearance, at
about five r.m., seemed to check the mob, and at six the under-
signed, Mr. Hill, informed Captain Manning, the officer in com-
mand, that he thought they might be sent to their quarters, which
was done, though the mob did not disperse ; yet, as they did not
proceed to acts of violence, it was thought they would be tran-
quillized, and Mr. Hill went home, about three miles off, At
about seven o'clock P. M. the mob began to assail the Swan
Inn, where some of the successful candidate's friends still were.
Several windows were broken, and some persons attacked, and
the undersigned Mr. Clare went among them with some special
constables, and entreated them to desist; he was spit upon, and
compelled with the high and special constables to retreat to the inn,
and when he appeared at the vvindow he was assailed with stones,
and struck while reading the Riot Act. The soldiers were then
called out, and the mob commenced a furious attack upon them ; a
street near the market-place was barricadoed with two carts and an
iron chain ; many of the soldiers were struck with stones, and one
horse was stabbed in the side, and fell down dead, while standing
still, which is necessary to be stated, because it has been asserted
that the horse fell while charging ; the undersigned Mr. Clare saw
him fall. The fact of the violence of the mob during the election
and subsequent to its,close can be substantiated by affidavits, if ne-
cessary ; and a declaration of approbation of the conduct of the ma-
gistrates and soldiers is, we believe, being signed. It was not until
after the death of the horse that the soldiers were directed to fire,