Star.
London, England, 1819-11-30 00:00:00

Meetings were frequently assembled. In order to
counteract such a practice, it was hie intention to
propose to the House, that a notice of six days, pre-
vious to any Meeting, should be given to a Magis-
trate, who, within two days from the notice, might
alter the tune and place of the Meeting, provided the
time did not exceed the period originally fixed, by
more than four days. It was also intended to strip
these Meetings of their warlike appearance; and that
none should be allowed to go in military array, so as
to intimidate the peaceful subjects of the King. It
was proposed to introduce a clause of that nature
into the Bill to be brought into the House, which
would be only declaratory of the existing Law. Such
a Clause was also to be made applicable to County
Meetings, some of which had assumed all the ap-
pearance of Radical Reform. It was also proposed
to introduce a Clause against the appearance of Fe-
males at those Meetings—a practice unheard of till
the French Revolution, when they were poured in
from the mar kets and the brothels. All who should
'come armed to any such Meeting, would be liable
'to a misdemeanour, by the Bill proposed to he
'brought in; and power would be given to the Ma-
gistrates to apprehend those who should so offend.
In the case of strangers crowding to the -Meeting,
the Magistrate might be allowed to order them to
withdraw ; and ill the event of the order not being
obeyed, he might proclaim the Meeting Illegal.—
Such disobedience, however, was not to be made a
capital but a clergyable felony—(Load cries of Hear,
hear,, from the Opposition Benches). A quarter of an
kpur was to be allowed for strangers to withdraw, and
hitlf an hour for the Meeing to disperse. On the sub..;
ject of training in the night, such a practice was ob-
Viously contrary to all the principles of the Consti-
tution. But it was proposed to make a distinction
betwixt the party drilling and the party drilled ;
the former it was proposed tomake a transportable
offence, and the latter to be subject to fine and im-
prisonment. Such an enactment was to be confined at
present to the disturbed districts, and to be extended
to the others, if necessary. It had been noticed as, an
anomaly in the law, that a party charged with a
minor offence might traverse the indictment, which
was not allowed in the higher class of offences ; and
it was proposed to assimilate the law in the case of
the minor, to the higher description of offences, and
to shorten the time of trial in cases of misdemeanour.
It was also contemplated to make an alteration in
the law with respect to the travelling Judges, as the
interval was too long between the Circuits ; and to
have sent down a Special Commission would have
had the appearance of an en post facto law.—
He now came to the measure which ke had kept for
the last, because he considered it, in.every constitu-
tional point of view, the most important. Great
danger arose to the Country from the seditious and
treasonable Press, at which he intended to point the
present measure. As the law now stood, it was
incredible what a mass of crime, political and reli-
gious, was committed. It was impossible to arrest
the torrent of perverse reasoning addressed to the
lower orders, *unless a system of counteraction was
speedily adopted. Without that, not only would the
other measures proposed prove inadequate, but the
mind of the Country would never settle down in con-
tentment and peace. On the other hand, he could
not conceive that the Country could be great, happy,
and flourishing, unless it posse.sed a Tree Press.--
(Hear, hear, hear). But if it could not render a
free Press compatible with peace, morality, and reli-
gion, it would be swept away by a storm most ter
rible and destructive. He would ask nothing that
could shake the two great pillars of a free Press—
er, hear, hear). No man should be prevented
publishing his own sentiments to the world, on
.his own responsibility, by a previous CensorshiPe—
(Hoar, hear, hear,freat the Opposigeo)—and nothing
should be dope to affect the Trial by Jury, or the
Law of the Land—(Hear, hear, hair, frons the Op-
pasition).--as applied to libel. Julies should continue
to decide what was libel--(Hier, hear, hear). The
Resolutions would only apply a salutary remedy to
the abuses of the Press. They would render it a real
service, for nothing tended more to degrade its dig-
nity, than the use to which it had lately been put.
Neither did he expect any serious opposition to his
measure, for he should not open a new principle to
Parliament. He only proposed to sustain the exist-
ing Laws of the Land, and to punish and repress a
fraud, which had been long in operation, though he
knew not how it was introduced, and which had in-
jured the respectable and regular Newspapers, and
thrown the circulation in the hands of those who had
no character, and no tespectability ; but whose aim
was to diffuse poison among the People—(•Hear).
He alluded to the law which imposed a stamp on
Newspapers, and to its evasion by the minor publi-
cations. 13y the Stamp Laws, advertisements paid a
certain and separate duty. The stamp on the paper
itself applied to the rest of its contents. Some pam-
phlets of a smaller kind were also subject to a trdfing
duty, and were printed on stamped paper. Thus
Cobbett had for many years used stamp paper, and
sold his Register at 10d. or Is. but he afterwards
gave up stamps, and reduced the price of his paper
to U. He should propose to follow the legitimate
conclusion of the law as it now stood, and to coun-
teract the fraud committed on the Revenue, and to-
wards other Newspapers, by considering all publica-
tions and pamphlets not exceeding two sheets, and
containing news, intelligence, or political strictures,
in the fight of Newspapers, and coming within the
meaning of the Stamp /set, which they had hitherto
evaded. This, he conceived, would restore the public
circulation to the respectable Newspapers, or force the
minor publications to pay what was due to the cwt.
try. Tile second regulation, which he should pro-
pose, would be also on a principle alreadT esta-
blished and recognised by the law of the land, which
declared that eatery publication must contain the
name of its Fainter or publisher, in order that he
may be aroepable to justice. He wished for nothing
more than to prevent that disposition of the law from
proving nugatory. The mischief Awes, that as mat-
ters now stood, the real author sheltered bimscif by
putting forward some wretched vagaud, wbos.rfir
a misetable hire, took upon himself all the responst-
, bility and the chances of proseco
whilst u tien.
heard of an individual who,
der e
t ahe'nsen -,
He bd nc
tence of the law, laughed at the idea of its being an
impediment to the continuance of his imProPgr av°-
cations, and said, how can it prcyes me when I can.
find an individual for -f•artroWts ,*".47..4°-101
put his name to pow heati 4016:

it instance, to Save the time of the Home, he
allowed to assume that these were admitted.
id assume, then, that great danger menaced
ratty, and that, in consequence, extraordinary
7ere necessary on the part of Parliament.—
would assume from the statement which ap-
n one pait of the Speech of his Royal High-
Prince Regent, that it had been seen that a
,iisaffection was in activity, which was in-
ihle with the Constitution, and which, in fact,
menace all the rights of society, and even the
on w:lich property was secured, and, con-
iy, the very existence of society itself. This
he considered to be fortified even by the
tge of the Amendment which a Right Hon.
had moved to the Address, in which that
ion. Gentleman called on the House to give a
pledge (pledging himself to no particular
of course), that they would maintain the
Moo against all the machinations of the dis-
. fie was, moreover, fortified in it by the
ions come to by large bodies of the Magis-
-1 Lancashire and Cheshire, and by those of
Ind Jury of Lancaster. If further support
necessary to maintain his assumption, it would
1,1 in the language of a Lord Lieutenant of a
as large, as populous, and as wealthy, as
the Kingdom, . who had described things,
part of the country, in which he found him-
bordering on riot and rebellion... 4 Hear, hear).
mourable Member for Taunton N(lt. Raring)
stated, that a state of things now existed in
mtry which must be put down, or if suffered
inue, it would overtprn the prosperity of the
1, and pull down the deluded People with it.
hie Lord then alluded to the situation of Ire-
rhich, he said, with a few local exceptions, was
ate of tranquillity and prosperity beyond what
been for some time past. So in this Country,
iced the agricultural interests were reviving;
!though some discontents might preiail in cer-
manufacturing districts, he was persuaded there
laity enough even in these districts, aided by
ring arm of the law, to put down treason and
,a even there. It was not for the State he
led, but for the deluded People, who resided in
districts. With respect to the trade of this
ry, he had no reason to consider that our
sets were narrowed, either in America or else-
Having said thus much, by way of intro-
in, he should now preceed to state the mei'.
be had to propose. The first would relate
imultuons Meetings. The second related to
ing and Exercising. The third measure was
iye extraordinary Powers of Seizing Arms.
fourth was to give speedy Means of prosecuting
!meanotirs ; and the fifth would relate to the
to restrain as far as possible the publication
isonable and blasphemous writings. With re
co the first measure, that of turbulent Meet-
:.—These Meetings he could only contemplate
Wing to a sanguinary rebellion, and ending in
try despotism. The principle of these Meetings
defined by Thistiewood in his resolution : he
that 100, 1,000, or 100,000, meeting with flags
ithout, with arms or without, was equally a legal
till some blow was struck. Such a posi-
:as most absurd, it was making a mockery of
and regular government ; and he would be bold
y, that, under our present system, it was utterly
.sihle that any Government could long exist.
it to be borne, that we were to live in our pre-
. state of alarm ; that whenever any of those
itators chose to call a Meeting of the deluded
iple, that the Magistracy, the military, and all
loyal part of the community should be called
the shops shut up, and industry suspended to
:ertain extent ? and, under existing circumstances,
:aid any Government have acted otherwise than
cre,ent Government had done—(Hear, hear).—
ae,c Deluded people called' out for an abolition of
hosioss and Sinecures, and were told such a mea-
sure would put an end to all their miseries. Why,
thli formidable list were abolished, it would not in
ten years amount to a saving sufficient to repay the
Manchester Manufacturer the ss. for the day's earning
sacrificed to attend this Meeting. The people alsc
the National Debt an imposition and a cheat,
demanded its abolition. If so base and
cl;ihonourable a measure could be adopted, it would
rt fail to bring ruin on the poor and industrious,
although it might relieve the designing from the pay-
ment of a certain portion of taxes. The Noble Lord
.then adverted to the opinion given by the several
Lawyers who had spoken in the House since the
l•leeting of Parliament, all of whom had declared the
:looting to be an illegal one; except one Learned
Gentleman, who was to delivei• his opinion for con-
sidering it a legal one in the debate of to-morrow
tight. For the present, he would take that Learned
Gentleman's opinion to be right, and it would tell in
his favour ; for if such Meetings were legal, it was
desirable to prevent their being so any longer.—
lte wished to hold sacred the tight of the subject to
neet and deliberate ; but it must be seen that to
render these Meetings consistent with the public peace
and tranquillity, the numbers muse be limited. This
ch;ect might be effected without any invasion of the
ancient right of the People to meet under the proper
Constituted Authorities ; but, unless our liberties
could be secured consistently with a regard to the
existing laws, and the safety of individuals, they
mist soon be lost. With respect to the first measure
he had to propose, the object must be the limitation
of numbers and restrictionalf extent. He did not
intend to interfere with the usual course of County
and Corporation Meetings, but all others could oaly
sleet on notice to a Magistrate, and within the Parish
'here the Requisitionists reside. The Noble. Lord
here read the opinion of Lord Erskine upon the sub-
ject of these Meetings; which was, that the holding
to such Meetings tended much to Aggravate the Pc"
verty of the lower classes, by the interruption of
their employment. He -proposed that it should NI
micle a misdemeanout for an individual not within
the Parish to call a Meeting of the Inhabitants.
lii
Parishes the population exceeded the number. of
V.10)0, and it was intended in such cases to divide
tie population, so that no Meeting should take
place where the population exceeded 10,000 persons.
Ry such regulation two objects would be gained:—
toe Meeting would be really deliberative ; and nume-
roas Meetings would be prevented. Those men, also,
who made a trade of travelling about the country
proclaiming grievances, would be stopped
in
"s'r calla. AL rment a cumber of simultaneoui

karat, i
arat, therefore, neceesary to Mato thf regiategua apdr-,aslant. that -ere were .altogelber in I most
publisher really responsible:to the couitry.' News-flourishing condition! It was vet, extraordinary,
west in themselves, from the extent and nes then, that at a time-when the Nation Hhti all the re-
cure of their establishmend, sufficient evidence of the , simnel of happiness, that its character Should he so
responsibility of their owners and publishers. But changed, that its old laws should not be sufficikit tes . .
the Act would require all persons setting up mime ' govern it P--(Hod, hear)—but that a series of en-
publications, to deposit a previous pecuniary seen- croachments should be made noon the Constitu-
.
nty and equal sums from those who should go secu• ; Union, is order to preserve the public peace!—(Hear).
;hies for them, to abide the result of any judgment I That, besides, the Army should receive an additional
which the law might afterwards pass upon them, force of 10,000 men ; and that Yeomanry Cots .
either for libel or blasphemy. This would bring out should be raised and armed to keep down disaffection
the real person, and the responsibility would lie where throughout the kingdom. The Noble Lord took., a. .
it ought. The third regulation was one which he strange way to prove by facts his position of a flow-
conceived necessary to give effect to the others.— risking country. He (Mr. Tierney) was aware that .
It tended to impose a moderate penalty on- all per opinions, not to be reconciled with the true spirt of
sons selling or hawking about those publications British liberty, were entertained by some portion of
which were not duly stamped, or the poblisheis of the community. In supporting his Amendment, he
which had not fulfilled the conditions required. The had acknowledged it ;.but he never saw the dangerous
penalty, it was intended, should be recoverable be- tendency of those opinions so strongly as now. If
fore a Magistrate. Besides the dispositions which he the unfortunate men (said Mr. Tierney) who have
had already explained in the new law, which, it was been deluded by them, the followers of such a leader
hoped would counteract those evils, a clause would as Hunt, and others, could now look into this House, .
be introduced to inflict a more severe punishment on and see to what a pass they have brought the liberties
the repetition of an offence. He meant on its repeti- of their country, they could have no reason to rejoice
tiop after a first conviction. By a former Bill, the that they had acted as they had dpne, -abusing the
punishment affixed to this particular kind of offence Whigs, and decrying all but the wildest notions r. and
was transportation for seven years. This he should for what?—to be given over, bound hand and foot, to a
not now propose to make compulsory, but he should state of law differing almost nothing from an Inquisis
leave ft at the option of the Judges, in cases of tion I The Whigs had been taunted with the reproach
libel, sedition, treason, and blasphemy, to transport of having been excluded from office during fifty year",
for seven years, or to banish for any period they It was true—and such were the results I—(Hear It—s .-*
might think proper. For if individuals sinned with The end of that fifty years was the enactment of .
open eyes, after having received the sentence of the laws unknown to the Constitution, to put down sea
law, it was just to visit them with an increase of dition and tumult I There were measures proposed
punishment. lie bad now stated the outline of the to prevent drilling—to take away the possession of
ire measures which were deemed necessary by his arms—the right of traverse, and the Liberty of the •
Majesty's Government to meet the existing perils. It Press :he ivould take them in order—he had not had
hisk also been found expedient to augment the Mai- time maturely to consider them, but his mind.was
tart' force of the Country, in order to give effect to open to conviction. As to the right of traverse, he
the measures which should be adopted. He trusted could not speak on it as a lawyer—he did not know
the statements which he had laid before the House but it might be sometimes productive of inconveni- . .
would shew that this augmentation of force had been ence, but it was right to pause before a change was
effected in the mode most consonant with the public made in the ancient pi inciple of law, rendered sacred
interest, and -theleast expensive to the State. Beyond by immemorial usage—(Hear, hear!)—As to the
what had been done and proposed, it was gratifying Bill to authorise searching for arms, before he would
to find, that the restoration of tranquillity would ten- agree to any measures which went to deprive Eng-
der further defence unnecessary. But much would lishmen of the right of carrying arms for their des.
depend on the firm resolution of Government, and of fence, a very strong case indeed should be made
the property of the Country, to maintain the audio- out. As to the assembling of large bodies of armed
rity of the laws, and to shew the disaffected, that, in men, if that were not provided against by law,
proportion as they increased their efforts against the he had no objection to a new law on the sub.
Constitution of the Country, the friendi of that Con- had
; but he could not agree, that because there
stitution augmented their efforts in its defence. No. had been some indications of disaffection in Lan-
thing now remained for him to do, but to explain the cashire, Cheshire, and a part of Scotland, that
views of Government with respect to the duration of the whole people of England should be deprlied
the measures which they now proposed. When the Le- of the right of carrying arms for their own
sidecars called upon the subjects to submit to a certain protection. Here Lord Castlereagh said across
abridgement of their rights to meet a particular emer- the table that this law was intended to be of a local
cy, it only required a temporary sacrifice of those and temporary nature, like the Watch and Ward
yin
Ins. It was on this ground that, when his Majesty's Act2.---The Right Hon. Gentleman observed, that
istershad feltthemselves compelled to proposethe Act was not perfectly in his recollection; but, how-
Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, it had only ever, as to drilling, he would at once allow, that what-
been for a time. He was happy to say, that such a ever the law had left imperfect with tegard to that
measure was not at present in contemplation, Those point ought to be Supplied. . He then animadverted
which were recommended did not tend to the sus- upon the measure regarding tumultuous Meetings—
pension of any right, but to prevent the abuse of a every case should rest upon its own circumstances,
right ; it was therefore evident that the case required and Magistrates would be blameable if they did not
a different policy to be adopted, and that,.instead of, take precaution when there had been previous inc -
temporary palliatives, the remedies should be per- cations of disturbance. Yea, why had military force
manent in their nature. With respect to the third, been resorted to when it was obvious that the eiv4
measure, founded on the Act of nig, and giving force was sufficient ? He then remarked upon the
extraordinary power to the Magistrates to search for peaceable managen,ent and dispersion of large fifeet. •
arms, it would be only local and temporary. But if ings similar to that at Manchester—such as the
he distinctly under stood the nature of the test, and Meetings at York and Hunslet Moor, when there
in particular of that intended to repress Seditious were banners and military array—but no military
Meetings. it appeared to him that they should be force and no tumult. The Honourable Gendemao
made permanent. He was not aware that they in- then deprecated strongly the intended plan for lie
fringed on any ovular right. He believed them not regulation of Public Meetings, and said jt would es
to touch the Liberties of the Press, but, on the con• stroy all that remained of the old English spirit--t-
-wary, to protect them. He should therefore not pro- (Hear, heer)—which had been productive of more
pose that they should be limited in point of time. If prosperity to the Nation, than the Administration of
Parliament affixed limitations, what agitation would the Noble Lord, if it were to continue for 100 years.
they not prepare in future for the country? Let there- Mr. Burke
had calledhem the safety-valve Of die
fore no limitation be enacted, but let it be left to the Constitution, through which the foul air evaporated
Iwisdom and prudence of the country, when these and cleared the political atmosphere ! An Admit*,
Illaws should be found useless, to repeal them. At tration that proposed such measures must be viewed
present, he believed they would: prove its safeguard. with suspicion. He would reserve his more parti-
He regretted that he should have been compelled to calar objections until the discussion on the Bill, when
trouble the House at such length--(Hear, hear, from he hoped it would be met page by page, and line ln
all sides)—and '
should conclude by requesting leave line. The system of the Noble Lord was not a new
to bring in a Bill, first, for more effectually prevent- one. It was the system that relied upon the efficacy
lug Seditious Meetings and Assemblies, and after- of coercion, and never attempted to conciliate. which
wards one for the better Regulation of the Press.— had been long acted upon—(Hear). By puttiag
The others should be intToduced into another place. down Meetings--inen who now moueal effect, wpted on scaffold);
The question having been read from the Chair, and talked nonsense, that had no reold
Mr. TIERNEY rose and said, that notwithstand- be turned into dangerous deliberate conspiratera-r-
-ing the denunciations of the Noble Lord, he could (Hear, hear). The Honourable Member then res-
not help rising to express his dissent from many of marked upon the injurious tendency of laws to put new
the principles which:be had laid down. He rose restrictions on the Press, and while he expressed his .
errth reluctance, because he could not then go into abhorrence of works of impiety and seditiop, was
all the variety of matter, which upon great Consti- convinced that the existing laws were sufficient to put
tutional subjects had been laid before the Heise. He them down ; but the Press was in good hands, and it
(Mr Tierney) had come down to that House with a would throw Such light upon its own case, as the
determination to give the most calm and dispassionate Noble Lord could not .extinguish—(Hear, hear).--r
attention to the propositions of the Noble Lord. He if' the Noble Lord thinks that the new laws will be
had no previous knowledge of these measures, and effectual, where is the occasion for the 10,000 men?
lie was more prepared to Concur, with than too ppose -4,,Cheers). clear that the Noble Lord, feels, that
any regulations which it could he shewn were neces- hik new laws are more likely to exasperate than to
Sat) for the public tranquillity; he, at all events, en- conciliate, and the best comment upon all the Noble
tertaincii pq prejudice • his judgment was altogether Lord has advanced in favour of his new projects, is
unbiassed by any consideration. He deprecated the his declaration, " I want 10,000 men into the bar-
assertion of the Noble Lord, that he (Mr. Tierney) gainsr —Wear, hear). My sincere belief is, that he
hid pledged himself to support his measures, by will want many more than 10;000 men, and what a
having agreed ao the Address—he had done no such melancholy peospect does this hold out to the Corm.
thing. It was ancandid to impute it to him. He try. It may be said that I use violent language. I
thought he had treacle it distinctly understood, that Admit it,-; and all I can say in answer is, that I do
his concurrence ip the Address bound him to .. .t. utter a single syllable. that Ido not, on my ho-
subsequent Measures any further than the neces- nour, belikve—(Cheery). I am an alarmist. I feel
city of them shoold 'be proved—that necessity, in alarm, because lam compelled to trust to men who
the present instance, had not been proved. He de- will rely on nothing against the People but brute
nied that any case had been made out to justify the force—Wear, hear). lam alarmed because an at-
measures proposed by the Noble Lard-(Hear, hear). tempt is to be made, under false pretences, to destroy
As to the Papers which; by the gracious command all that is valuable in the Constitution, unless it be
of his Royal 'Highness, had been laid before the defended by the free spirit of a yet free Nation.
House, a more garbled and mutilated statement of Therefore it is thati indelge a hope,
,that while the
..
evidence, he had never beheld—( Hear). The Noble right ofd ng remaius, the People will meet, and
Lard had stated that the greeter part• of the Nation will expresseir opinions with such effect' that the
was soupd—sthat the agricultural interests were threats and measures of. coercion maybe abandoned
loyal-and even in then, distressed districts, aprag —(ffear), I had hoped that a more Moderate course
themanufacturing classes, that the great mass of the would have been punned, because, with. the exam.
I population was well disposed. The Noble Lord hid tion of the Disturbed Districts, as theY are caDA.-
'alio stated, to his astonishment, that the internal there ie •sto part. of _Great Britain where AeseMblies
trade was good.; that foreign trade suffered iso marmot be beldrevenhrthe adMission of IC
further than at wakaffected by the.sisstreassain Ames without the -eli6 errab -.. . to.the public
.passte. -
*.a ; that.the .accustomed sent for *9 prfliectio of tr4st *lkt. the. faek9FW ly
a ..149gr 41S
.a -
h iuttunrY was Steal open on the Continent ;—• thehotore oi'veeso oor awn . ihe ject4