Star.
London, England, 1818-02-03 00:00:00

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HABEAS CORPUS ACT SUSPENSION.
ETING TO OPEN A SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE'
MESSRS. EVANS AND OTHERS.
Cbq aluumerous Meeting took place at fhe
Crown and Anchor Tavern, for the purpose of fowls-
log a Subscription for those i dividuaia who had beta
imprisoned during the late Suspension Act. Long
before the Chair was taken, •she large room and gal-
lery, with the avenues leading to it, were crowded to
an excess seldom if evwwitnessed in that place. -A few
o'
minutes before one clock Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, ac-
companied by his brother, and Lord COCHRANE, came
into the room, amidst loud and repeated cheering'.
Sir FRANCIS liIIRDLTT having tajmn the Chair,
said, that having had the honour of being called
upon to preside at so numerous and respectable a
Meeting, it became his duty to explain to them what
its object was. He would not at present take up
their time by entering into the topics connected with
it, as he understood there were many who were desi-
rous to address them, and particularly such as had
suffered by long continuance in prison. He could
not but congratulate them and the public on the
Meeting being so numerous. It could not, however,
be otherwise, unless Englishmen were dead to all
those generous feelings by which they ought to be ac-
tuated. He would now merely beg their attention
to whatever might be offered by any Gentleman
who was disposed to offer his sentiments. The
Resolutions were prepared and would be submitted
Immediately to their consideration.
Lord COCHRANE said, that upon coming into the
Crown and Anchor, various Resolutions had been
put into his hand, hich indicated the important ob-
ject of the Meeting. It was a pleasure to him to ate
that the spirit of the people was thus awake to the
conduct of Government, and that a Meeting so nu-
merous and so respectable had been assembled. Had
the same spirit prevailed in France under its ancient
Government, the despotism which oppressed the
ion
would not have continued so long, nor those
horrors been witnessed which attended the Revolu-
tion. It was lamentable to see that now, after a war
of twenty years duration, after expending the trea-
sures of the country, and loading the people with an
intolerable burthen of taxes, under pretence of main-
taining the liberties of Europe, that they were at last
reduced to live under a tyranny, while Frenchmen
were comparatively free (Loud applause), even though
living under a Military Government That Govern-
'Dent was imposed upon them, and supported, by
Ragland., Oppressive, however, as it might be, even
a military despotism was not more ruinous to the
liberties .itf the pedple than was the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus—(Loud cheering.) France, by the aid
of British troops, joined to those of the other
despots
of Europe, was kept in a state of degradings -
gation. .What necessity was 'there for this? If the
French Government was a good one, why did n.
Frenchmen themselves support it?—(Applaase.)—
The same system of military tyranny prevailed in
this country. They could not walk through a single
street without meeting soldier's in every direction.
What was the use of those Janissaries that were now
to be met with every where—at the theatres, at ex-.
hibitions, at every place of public business or public
amusement? Was this the state in which English-
men should be placed ?—How different was the situa-
tion of Artaerica, as represented in the last speech of
the President I There the people were completely
tree from taxes—they had no military establishment,
or at least a very small one. Justice was impartially
and readily administered in their Courts of Law.
They were allowed to be their own protectors, and,
in place of oppressing them with a large standing
army, 100,000 muskets were placed in the hands of
the citizens—(App/awes). They were also told in
the memorable address of their President, that the
war having ceased, they woukl of coutse be delivered
from internal taxation ; and when such was the case,
what a striking contrast did it form with the miser-
able state in which Englishmen were now placed!—
No poiver was exercised in that country but by the
people themselves. There a person was in no danger
of being oppressed under the forms of law and jus-
tice. The iniquities practised in our Courts were not
to-be met with. Here there was no justice to be had
under any circumstances in which the Government
was concerned—(Load chafing.) Formerly, Juries
were packed ; but until lately this packing was not
evenly avowed. But now, even the Judges on the
Bench attempted to justify it! While the list in the
Crown Office continued upon the former.plan,' the
names of such persons were selected toile tire upon
Juries as were known to be-disposed to a‘ompliance
with Government. This was done under an appear-
ance of fairness anti indifference. Until lately it did
not become necessary to avow it. Thanks, however,
to Mr. Wooler, Mr.essar Hope, and Mr. Pearson, the sys-
tem was abolished, and must draw down the indig-
nation of the country upon any person who should
attempt to revive it !—He did not wish to delay the
Meeting long ; but he could not, under such circunar
stances, avoid making some allusion to this subject.
The partiality of the Courts to the packing of Juries
was notorious. He had himself, in his own case,
made various efforts to have justice done hint but all
. .

to no purpose--(Applause). It was this which per-
baps induced him to express himself with so much
warmth upon a matter of this nature. He hoped the
Resolutions adopted that day, by so numerous and
so respectable a Meeting, would prove that the people
•
of England would not be put down by tyranny, but
that their spirit would rise in proportion to the despo-
tic eiforts that titre made agaanst. it.—The Noble
Lord having concluded,
.amidst kind applause, pro-
coeded to read the following Resolutions:
I. That exparhaate has lamentably proved, that the frequent
nispenslops, dean' the last 24 years, of the gist of Charles the
&mind, commonly denominated the e Habeas Corpus Act,"
have not only' deprived the people eff the valuable benefits of
that statute, but under the colour isd pretext of merely sue-
pending that law, power, have been vested in his Majesty s Mi-
nisters, by these eets of auspendina, wholly incompatible with
`a free costutiOlacing every many person at their disposal ;
.whiCh is a titallobversion of the common law of the land, and
.first priaciplise society ; thereby -creating a despotism worse
'dials that of tasters; because its injuries are indicted under the
mask of law. ,c
g. That $1 Meeting views with indignation the indecent and
'dangerous Prielpitation with which laws affecting the dearest
-interests Other country have been carried through Parliament;
became sub precipitancy has deprived the people of the exercise
of their boasted right of petition; and this Meeting particularly
laments that thibrecent Repeal of the Habeas Corpus Suspen-
vies Act abituld have:been so hastily carried, as it may hereafter
remrted 10
_as precedent to justify the pawing of injurious
la.'wilt *Alta pracJetetion.