The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-21 00:00:00

Opening his letters.—(Hear; hear.) A Member of Par-
ltijnatrt, who stands up here and puts so grave a clues-
, under so grave an imputation, has an unquestion-
able right to the privilegescommonly enjoyed by Members
of this House, to receive an answer to his question.
It is of the greatest importance to Members of the House
that their correspondence should_ be inviolate, and that
an communications passieg between them and their
constituents should be of the most free and confidential
character.—(Hear, hear.) To Members of this House—
the great inquest of the nation—people are sometimes
in the habit of addressing letters, in which much is some-
times stated which should not be mentioned, much that
may be disapproved of, much that it would have been
Tar better to have suppressed—but still, Sir, the dispo-
sition in a Member of Parliament to receive com-
plaints is a virtue and a merit, and he dis-
charges his duty by so doing. —(Elear, hear.)
A °w,Sir if such correspondence is to be subject to the
'usPection of our political opponents, to men, it may be,
of the strictest honour and integrity, still they are our
Politcal opponents—have their minds heated by the
111111 i 3 conflicts which nishtly take place here, and are in
taat frame of mind when they may interpret senti-
teuts, Perfectly harmless in themselves, into evil, and
ut a eonstruc.ion upon them which never was intended
1,7 the writer—(Hear, hear)—never once entered
"Is head. And this power allows such men to
(14)1411 a correspondence, in its nature the most
those Very points upon which we are most opposed.
1"
any Member of the House of Commons offers to
prove that
his letters have been opened, and offers to
nait proof that such has been the case, he has a
ght, in my opinion, to substantiate and have his cha-
-scter cleared up, for, if such suspicion is justifiable, he
heaht
hr no tto continue a Member of that House.—(El ear,
.-°ut
i Ifan
catve, on the other hahas nd, lie has bright to een so treated
pe araion. If the 'h
Hon. Gentleman's motion had
QU eluded with calling for a Committee to in-
whetherlo the propriety of seriously considering
n we are not now in a condition tc legislate
att-P°a„sil , this subject, I would have given my
eal„rwr` to the motion. To a propcsal for in-
iss-J into the complaints of a Member of Parlia-
. pelt' who complains that his letters have been impro-
ahri "Pellet', Ido not think there could be any reason-
Objection.—(Cheers.)
att a b._r• WORTLEY would not support the motion of
-4170„,. • Member for Finsbury, and thought that the re-
IC; "the Secret Committee fully exculpated the Right
TC• the Secretary of State fur the Home Department.
ande. Ron. Member for Montrose, with that justice
tulpartiality for which he has ever been remarkable,
ikecated the tone in which the' Hon. Member for
te usbnry had brought that matter forward, and looking
se the quarter from which it came, lceiking to the per-
threrance with which the accusation was pressed against
pi.„..e Right Hon. Baronet, he (Mr. J. Wortley) was im-
esed with the full conviction that the object
seesh.
sky
, for was to attach a stigma to the
tr-e of the Rib-ht Honourable Baronet which
most unjust. He put it to any Hon. Member in
that
"°use to suppose himself in the position of the
41413 t Ron. Baronet—the country in a state of tumult,
tewthe responsibility of preserving order altogether
er,,,,,?ag on Hon of the Right Hon. Baronet, and
Ataf L'anY Member say that, possessing that power,
red:"°wing that it wasexercised in similar cases by his
t '-'ess°ll, would any Hon. Member, in such a case,
apt
have acted as did the Right Hon. Baronet? He had
used this power in a greater degree than had others
position, and he excelled many of those in the
n
and punctuality he exhibited in the exercise
retha 11slag'reeable duty. He would not allow warrants to
Ai" In force longer than was absolutely necessary.
11
bad.. been. said that the Right Hon. Baronet had made
la 'Lief:lnstitutional use of this power; but could any man
flea that the power itself was illegal or unconstitu-
et° And it remained yet to be proved where the Right
WBaronet had abused the exercise of the power.
VS(11;11,:ld they say that no letters should be opened ?
.Ploy' "t was well known that letters containing ex-
seculare Matter had been sent through the post, and
h „,atlY one venture to say hat those letters should not
1171Cryned ?—(Laughter.) Hon. Members might laugh,
ese auch things had been done. It had also been said that
tue correspondence of foreign ministers had been
C Nate, and that this circumstance had disgraced the
(hear
stnent of England in the eyes of Europe.—
this near.) But that power was not only exercised in
to hacvountry but in every nation of Europe. Were they
the a another Committee on that subject? That was
(14Tiestiunl• There was another and a more important
to(o, I`.m. On what grounds were they to give that
oittec? Had they within those walls more honcur-
he men than those who had formed that Committee?
Member for Montrose sung: sted that they
Nver-" have a public Committee, but if that Committee
site constituted would they get the Noble Lord oppo-
urc)r,sr the Right Hon. Baronet on that side to give any
heteation on this subject, when such information would
BAs grA ards laid before the public. What ground then
lisp 511 Y alleged for asking for this Committee ? The
he Member: for Finsbury said, in the first place, that
tl'at 11°t Put upon the Committee. If a Member of
Illeouse brought an accusation against another Hon.
aho'"uto,er! surely it could not be thought that the. accuser
414 Su as a judge in his own case. Could it then. be
thst r, In fairness that the Hon. Member should. sit on.
rtakt:cinaniittee ? Had he no personal interest in this
own sr?----(llear, hear.) They had the Hon. Member's
in th"rds when introducinythe•subject, that he stood
4113 t at
reasonable a double accuser,
allow was it right, or
aPpecst o that he should be ed, then, to
**too; on this Committee ? The thing was piepos-
havin:Viea.r, hear.) He. bad had an opportunity of
41)10 "'3 witnesses examined under the most favour-
Asettsconistances, and he had not availed himself of it.
that w He would tell them why. He complained
"IlAr?•„1.en be attended before the Committee to make his
Witas• and when he told the Committee that he had
&rst-4eB to call, they wished to hear his own evidence
'on t 1) he Ron. Member then said, " No, I won't tell
wotst", grounds on which I advance these char..ges ; I
the 11,6's_v$ you the date of the letters ; I won't give you
Wishe-iim'es of the parties." The House naturally enough
feest to know why he wished to be present at the
Wf3il;4ll.l77thit•tit°lilatot,fhtehlle eO-44ence and the reason given V 6 as,
:21 Geoslenian wished to protect his
'As,:3es•-•-(Clieers and counter' cheers.) If these wit-
the Were indeed to, be examined at Vaster sessions, or
tee • courts of
81bisthe Old Bailey, by perhaps riCit the most
ilght,p fro sensitive of counsel—(Laughter)--amid loud
Alamo, the listening galleries, then, indeed, the
a‘tit er might eak of protecting his witnesses.
Ctißht 11}, a Private Committee of that House, they
4114.01.) a„ve been examined with perfect safety.—(A
ts'use t "fl what principle, then, did the Hon. Member
sic 1 ko°,, Permit the examination of his witnesses ? They
0,17 that when they wished to appeal to the pas-
:lllre; "9f doors, or in the jury-box, they made the not
on Wttnesses a pretext for such a course—(Cheers)
tlli3neuelly so had the Hon. Gentleman acted his part
letilthes )easi"— (Continued cheering from the Tory.
ter s• The Hon. Gentleman complained that his
after Had
17!,siles. been broken open, and he called this a breach
es'e' A breach of privilege ! Why the act of
e 1, -pres.l
VI,. Secretary—(Cheers
excepted the - warrant.; granted by. ,
k•leh oecretary—(Cheers and counter-cheers, in
exittee prre'vl),llllcOMbe heartil3 joined.) The Secret Cores
reisi ?u that warrants had been granted before
_ eis: teat
0 1 , - power.
I/11'esit• s`COMBE—Name, name.—(Cheers from the
It, Plea
ast hare, • WORTLEY--The
ths ~.,,uIITLEY—The Hon. Member's name is
,-,otitinued cheering from the Liberal side of
ti s necks) Ana to understand that the Hon. Mem-
ALwarsanfa.,"on is that his letters were opened without
that ar--(Opposition cheers.) The Honourable
tiW the ',ea not answer. Has it been proved
1q at ,141ellourable Member's letters have been
btx•----(Tory cheers.)
Wes:. wie„oußE—l have no doubt of it.—(Cheers.)
to a` wasts `,tTLEY—The charge was, that his letters
closet had opened. If so, then the Right Hon. Ba-
-4cheeraio°,ll„cd the trust reposed in hini—(Tremen-
Let t i s)—and the Hon. Member for Finsbury
f01.„441 rZik,*ach him for the offence. The Hon. Mem-
teft,;:srd `4° so- And why ? Because, if he came
'ztl3 pf
tahi3 ehould be obliged to state in detail the
h
: erge. He shrunk from that ordeal, yet
, 7
f.:1,161.C1.; t 3
l:illts:L(:). certain matters, and that letters were • in
te that that inquiry opened and read. Was it not '
4 of these might have been addressed
skseul'eLliod"':atember for Finstairy? And were his letters 1
tlof
ihtio:4eeer,,Llufeiroect7teedd, because the Hon. Gentleman was a
tj very ~nat House? He (,Mr. Wortlay) was in
and A.sa_utstricts in 1842, and he was well aware
feeling prevailing among the classes,
rnal "3111011 with the country felt himself under
ken debt of
eatle gratitude and obligation to the Right
the ug' period. rnan for the firmness he exhibited at that
1p
ricPas:.
41id
eerie
Ale House contrast the measures of
eh51,.839 tahneyti the
present under similar circumstances.
‘4Qter had a conspiracy of. the most dangerous
44%. )4Bere happened to be in a court. of justice in
Does ember__ sin Chartists, the persons with whom the.
At
tehssio_
were tried for having in their
that at 11•1 1 fernal
h time a . machines.—(Shouts of laughter.)
ceeiewasem ,PY in the witness-box confessed to him
testt:c'd aos. l'l°Yed by Government from whom he had
lotiels-hwas press,_4__ 1842 they had no spies employed, and
l''hish 'cent 47ed without bloodshed and without the
e"tlfirst w"eath being once inflicted. A tumult,
tietaPished , as so general and so well organised, was
11Strat. amiost without military reaaistance or any
satea .1011 of
Vthieh this j, .Puysical power. He felt that if they
ebild- had Etlr galry it would be censuring the Committee
seLaiug Zady reported on the subject, and be se-
krrlced h; tchusrges which had been so pertinaciously
W e Hon
wa 411/1) • Member.—(llear, hear.)
rras was of s, • • 44eu, sited, ap.,_ punon that that House would not
taitt,;4enther f ".„r the speech he had heard from the
the nga• °r l'lnsbury, in refusing him the Cora-
h°4_,Mtt eor,r): be called for, with view to elucidating
't4e the
°Perlinof 'll. 1 a (Hear, hear.)
lark Comesid that those is etters'—
,potid_ letters were opened be
irwould ,s/ 'nee with Chartists ; but he (Mr.
serf, were not all public men, and particu.
Nicarea°lllber
sssois ce artiarnent, subject to such corre-
PosCur, hea n 8 the Hon. Member for Finsbury ?
then.
~.I°4 1104%)
,Was not every man holding a public
ae L-v°Ple ° brought •
re of she du_into a correspondence with
at are a ver,, . stes that those men had to discharge
'Whe ito 1111Portant character ; not, perhaps, of a
scewere ante) ttent as the lion. Gentlemen. opposite,.
, bat,usted with
47 re 'jail still a the conservation of the public
ape.,nstotii(lnlarlevlieietn duty ; and, therefore, those men
'era addressed to them from per-
:ate(' C'unlitt ht create suspicion.—(Hear,
ing allathrnig
old no llbat Opposite,hatruernenuer
%"1111:Pirle,t}le. painful facts that had been
as to the bloody
discovered at York, yet why
41i°_11 c.uftlifel3r_re,t,Pondenc be had with men in humble
11444.4 View a!tuagh
te isiou. engeged in those bad practices,
Port or' actss___,T•Sulog them from those erroneous and
the sti:ear, hear.) But to return to the
'sultkitlitteep he (Mr. Ward) did not tneall