Star.
London, England, 1819-11-24 00:00:00

able to arrest those .against who's he had Oa iitar:
mill without a military force: But when the arrest
was Made, wily then conntiit any acts against the
Multitude?—(Hear, hear). The next question was,•
did or did not the Magistrates approve of this? If
they did not, it was very easy for them to have-put
a stop to it, for they must have seen the affair from theii
windows, and might have drawn off the military, when
they were no longer necessary. But now to turn to their
diseretihn t—When an armed foi-ce becartie necessary,
why employ the Yeomanry Cavalry ?.,(Hear, hear).
Why bring Intel the field, men who had ltical.antipa-
thies and animosities, in preference to the regular
troops, who would h:.te no such temptltions to out-
stretch their duty, and whose presence, as they could
be removed, would not serve to keep up party feel-
hits ? He had no doubt, if regular troops had been
employed, the lamentable consequences which fol-
lowed would never have taken place. The subject
was altogether one fit for inquiry, and the llonse,
without at all countenancing illegal Meetings, was
bound to set it on foot. It was the surest way of in-
spiring confidence, by shewirtg the People that Par;
liament were not indifferent to the violation of their
rights.. If it was true that inquiry was in process
before the Law Tribunals, it would be certainly un-
just, by giving an opinion here, to prejudge the
question. But he doubted much whether it would
come in such a shape as to open the door to the dis=
cussion of the real merits of the case ? The prosecu
tion of Mr. Hunt could not throw any light upon
what took place before the Meeting, it could only
refer to what passed regarding him individually.—
As Legislators, they need not fear a collision with
these tribunals, for it was their duty to see and in.;
quire how so many persons came by their deaths ?
Redress, in the ordinary way, Was said to be open to
them. But was the fact so. or not ? He would ask,
could a multitude, composed of the poor,. and the
many, obtain redress froth a Bench of Magistrates? •
John Thompson might strike George Jackson, and
for this George Jackson will obtain redress. But
when a poor multitude was opposed by a few rich and
powerful men, and these too supported by Minister,
who, it should never be forgotten, had taken all
pains to crush inquiry, it was idle to talk of redress
(Hear, hear 1)--Nor was it enough that Ministers
abetted the Magistrates; they had also been. thanked
by the Prince Regent, which was worse than all—
(Hear, hear!).—He had never met any man, whether
a friend or foe to Ministers, who did not say he was
sorry for this measure, and that of all the unadvised
measures they had ever adVentrired upon, this was
the worst. Ministers had no other means of get-
ting information but from those who were con-
cerned, and whose interest it was to misreprcient
facts—(Hear, hear .1).—This Was all the evidence
upon which these thanks were given ! Thus lightly
did they act, in an affair in which so many. lives were
lost. The, Manchester Magistrates now stood in the
situation of men in office, and the Noble Lord (Cattle
reagh) would excuse him, if he gave the House.to
understand, that he would :mach no credit to any
statement he would make that night—(A
It was said, that in this inquiry all party feelings
should be laid aside, and the question of the riot
viewed only with reference to itself. This was cer-
tainly the true way of examining it ;.but how far had
the other side carried this candour? Did it appear
from their acts, that they were actuated by au asten-
dein to the ends of public justice alone? They have
dismissed from his office of Lord Lieutenant, for no
other offence than differing in opinion from them. on
this occasion, a most respectable Nobleman, and yet;
Ministeers persevere in saying they have no• other
object bUt the general good—(Hear, hair, ;:ear).—
Had it been the object of Ministers to give general
dissatisfaction by any measure, they could not have
chosen a Nobleman more generally sympathized
with—(hear, hear). A Nobleman who was As touch
respected as he was extensively known—Wear, hea;..
For twenty years he had discharged the duties of that -
high office, with honour to himself and benefit to his
country, yet he found no security in all this, from the
degradation of being removed from his ()fine. lie
(Mr. Tierney) had. differed with that Noble Lord on
the remedies which ought to be applied for some for.
mer disturbances, but still he believed him a man

of the best heart, and in that County which he go-
verned, to his (Mr. Tierney's) certain knowledge, he
was the great stay for the tranquillity of the country.
By his exertions he tranquillized. Yorkshire, and the
return he met with was to be dismissed: In that
County there was a great share of disaffection, but so
great was the influence of Earl Fitzwilliaiii, that the
People offered themselves to be enrolled for the pre-
servation of the peace. He had used the phrase de•
gradations—and, he repeated, he considered it a de-
gradation to be removed at the present moments
the Noble Lord (Lord Castlereagh here smiled)
might smile; but it was not unusual for the Noble
Cord to smile, when, at the same time, he felt sore—
(A laugh). It might, perhaps, be true, that the Noble
Lord had little feeling for Lord Fitzwilliain ; but
could he bring any charge against him ? Could' he
adduce one instance, in which he had refused to go
Where his presence was necessary to suppress riot or
disorder ? No—he did not pretead to that, but the•
argument he used was, ,s that we must have no one
who does not confide in usi and we in him."—
This may be good policy, but ft was against good
faith—for the Ministers now argue, that' they had
nothing in view but the public interest !—( Hear).—
Some have undertaken to commend this act of the
Government, which they call well-timed vigour, and
say, that the Ministers have shewn a firmness, necm• •
sary in such times. This affectation of vigour seemed.
not to be confined to this transaction. alone. At Man-
chester, the injudicious arrest of Mr. Hunt, at the
hustings, in the misist of the multitude, as it it could
not he better done elsewhere, may as well be deemed
an exertion of vigour—(Hear, hear), The sane •
observation would apply to the arrest of a person of .
the name of Harrison, at the Meeting. in Smhhfield
—(Hear). Why subjea the Metropolis to the danger
of a tumult, the consequences of which no one could
calculate upon, only to take a man at twelve o'clock.
on one day, who might as well. have been taken at
twelve the nest day ? Such were the reasons for in=
quiry, and such are the rhotives which prevented hint
from putting confidence in Ministers, who, on the
grounds furnished them, thanked the Manchester. .
Magistrates in the way they had done. Ile was at a.
'loss to know how they could ask for it, until. they
had explained what use was made of the share wish-
which they were entrusted. it Was. wineaqulitry