The Sun.
London, England, 1816-05-09 00:00:00

gOne tbrottglitbe ditl'erent ftountiS tin Which tore
rested the expedicurY of the measure he proposed;
atrd.he could coacctVe ntc argument on which it
was likely it could be opposed, except that of an
aversion'to malse any elotoge the law—an ob.
jeetion its answer to which he would only say,
that it scented to him a timbre rational, though
perhaps not so ardent an , admiration 'of the law,
to endeavour to remedy thole imperfections to
odtich all human institotions are subject, than
allow those faults to continue Which might pe re-
moved. Ile concluded by moving, " that leave
be given to bring in a Bill for securing and ex-
tending the Liberty of the Press."
The ATToRNEY-G EN 1:: RAL felt no disposition to,
refuse his Hon. and Learned Friend an opportu-
nity of bringing into the House a Bill, the object
of Which was to secure the Liberty of the Press.
But at the saute time he was obliged to enter his
protest against all and every of the changes pro-
posed by his Hon. and Learned Friend. `He
therefore reserved to himself the right of discoss.
log the question in the progress of the Bill, He
then replied very ably to the arguments of the •
iron. and Learned Gentleman, on the subject of
ex officio informations and Special Juries. As to
the first, he contended that it was absolutely ne-
cessary, for the security of -the State, in trouble-
some times, that there should be the power of fil-
ing ex' ngicio informations, and the lion. and
Learoed*Geotleman had not ahem' that it would
he better to vest this power in any other Officer
than the one by whom it was now exercised. As.
to time other poiot—Special Juries, he maintained
that COmmon Juries were not composed of men
who could be supposed capable of Intoning a pro-
per judgment on the nice construction. of words
io a libel. By a particular detoil of the manner
in which Special Juries are chosen, he totally re-
futed the audacious calming, that it. was:usual to
pack Juries. -
The Sol tl
icrron-asEttAL begged to be allowed
to take this opportimity of entering his protest
against the alterations in the law proposed by his
Hon. and Learned Friend, whosepotiOn was he- -
fore the House. As to the proposal of allowing
time troth of a libel to be given in evideoce,
Ile
thought it would prove destructive of social
comfort,. It would allow a ntan, who had .conts
mitteda wrong, by publishing what he had no
right to publish, if calh d to account for this, to 1
put his accuser on his defence. There was no I
man who might have been guilty of ,any buffo-.
dence in the course :of his Ile. of which be might
have well repented— who have by his Inittre
condUctretrieved his character—awl who might be 1
Worthily enjoying happiness in the bosuns of his
family, who ought not have his deservedly re-es„.
tahlished 'character destroyed—and his fortune
ruined by arty Malicious person it; a pamphlet or
newspaper, bringing up this. cirelnostance fot'•
gotten awl t' betted of. When such a libeller was 1
broneur to trial, he had only to prove the truth
of the libel, acrordbig to the proposed alteration,
and therm lie would come off victorious. And this
lityller might, day after day,' ye-8r after year,
repeat the publicatitm of time libel, and when
called to account. gi'"ff by Prnimg the
Ifluhtof
it. wooot not such a easy !;new toe, impolite',
injustieo of an alto a,Clun lu the law
lion. and Learned Gentleamman then &scanted at
some length on this point with much ability.' He
shortly replied to what was said by the Mover On
the aimliject 4)1 cx glficip laminations and soecial
juries, and conchtded by saying that he would not ,
oppose the brine:nig in of the Bill, but reserve
the further discussiou of it, tiil its prt.%tess
through the
MaattYa'rr noticed one kind of libel, which
in its effects might he much more mischievous to
individuals by ritiniog their character, their for.
tone, perhaps I...yeti affecting their lives, which
diet nut seem to have poome,within-the vietv of the
Hoo, Mover (Mt. Brougham). flettlholed to
expressiens' used, iiithat Muse towards indivi-
duals, in which their characters might:be unfairly
attacked, and when the persons sti,aggrieved- de-
mantled satisfaction, they wertomet by the person
who assalVd their (Malawi* with assertions of
time privilege of Parliament and instead of that
atonement which was usual in private life, the
assailant would have the Speaker of the House
for his second, and time Serjeaut at Arms for .a
,bottle-holder. The' 1100. and Learned. cientle.:
titan insist reeollect some sock ease as that to
which he thus alluded.
Mr. Bitooon AM:warmly repelled the unprece-
ateoted and unprovolted attack witi,4 hail been
made upon him •by the iloomirahle Geltleman
. who, had , just
.sat down—an .attack whtels was
wholly UneonhCald With time question before the
House. Ile perfectly recollected the eircumstatree
the Hon. Alentber„altuded to. It was this. Jo
the course of ,an inquiry which took place in that
House about four, years ago, he, .(Mr. Broug-
ham) as a Member of Parliament, in the discussion
,upon the evidence, made such remarks as be thought
fit ,on the testimony of a witness who had been
examined at the bar. In doing tins he consulted
no' Man, and less than the least of any man did he
consult the Ifini.Genticutatt, He (Nlr.Broughato)-
on that occasion had expressed a strong and poOted
opinion—au opinion which he was ready to repeat,
.ronl from time repetition of whieh he was not to be
deterred - either by the proceedings of the Hort,
Gentyntatt's frieud out of doors,' or by his Imo
less regular proceediogs _ion after this
he received a lettertrOtu the-witness allotted to,
civilly requesting that he would read the report in
the newspapers of, what had been ascribed to him,
amid state its writing whether or not it was is cor'..
rect account. When he said that, he declined.do.
nig so, he'llimly deiteribed what he was Sure would,
nuttier sinubir eironiStances, be the conduct of
every nuns in that house, Ile had yet to learn
'that the privileges of that House were so entirely
at an cod, that at the desire of any individual a
• Member, instead of taking time repose 3o Steedfttl
to hint, was to become, forsooth, a corrector of a
newspaper report, of his 0 wnsentiments. 'flm,an-
swer in ‘r high he (\lr'.B.) declined to comply With'
the requisition 'wide to him, was of coarse couched,
in civil terms, but stnnetiMe afterwards lie received
.another letter,of ,a nature very differeut from the
former! coutaining :as gross abrrachi of the
privileges of that House, as foul Sit aspersion on
time character of a Mettilmer of it, and is an nOwar-
, rantable. an inroad on the rights and privileges of
free tliktlSSioll ;A Parliament) ai had perhaps ever