Star.
London, England, 1819-09-10 00:00:00

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i .-. the discharge of the same sacred trusts they give
a verdict contrary to *hat was called, or attempted ,
to be made a popular feeling, they are then held upl
to the country as biassed by partial motives (Hear.)
The worthy Gertleman then contended that it would
be unjust to pass any opinion which might prejudice
the public Mind against Men Whose conduct might
soon becorrie the subject of legal inquiry.
Mr. Parres, as one of those who had segued the
Requisition addressed to the Lord Mayor, felt it his
- duty to express surprise at the Royal Approbation,
conveyed through his Majesty's Ministers, to the
Magistrates and Yeomanry engaged in the late un-
fortunate transactions. They had been told that suf-
ficient evidence was not before them ; and much bad
been said as to the different accounts published in the
Newspapers. He thought, however, that this differ-
ence was confirmatory of their general truth, inas-
much as it proved that their intelligence had been
obtained from various sources. In several instances,
those who furnished the reports had been eye-wit-
nesses of the scenes and condutt they described.--
After all, too, the variance in these accounts was
quite inconsiderable, and left no ground for doubting
the correctness with which the circumstances as they
actually occurred had been represented to the Public.
The Meeting at Manchester had been called after
due notice,.and the Magistrates must have been pre-
viously well acquainted with the intention o: holding
it. If, therefore, it was an illegal Meeting, they had
it in their power either to prevent it, or disperse it is'
a less violent and forcible manner. They, might have
cautioned the people not to assemble; but every re-
solution to which they came appeared to flow rather
from their fears than from the exercise of a deliberate
judgment. The professed object of the Meeting was
the consideration of grievances, and the best means
of obtaining redress. He for one could not but ex-
press horror and regret at the mode in which this
Meeting was dissolved, although the sensation it ex-
cited was but trifling when compared to the feelings
with which he regarded the commendation subse-
quently bestowed upon it by the Highest Authority
—( Much cheering). It appeared tohim, that more
respect would have been shewn to the Laws of the
Land, if the Secretary of State had not so prema-
turely advised his Royal Highness to pass that com-
mendation. Why should his Majesty's Government
have been so eager to make up their opinions on re-
presentations furnished only by one side ? If a band.
of merciless tigers had been let loose on a defenceless
and scattered people, time at Mast should have been
allowed for a calm and patient consideration of the
case—(Loud cheers). He trusted that that Court
would not skew itself insensible to the value and im-
portance of popular rights, or forgetful that by the
free Constitution of England all classes of Citizens
were entitled to meet and proclaim their grievances.
If he on this. occasion made Use of strong language,
it was because strong feelings suggested rt. He felt
that it was their duty to rouse themselves,. and that
. to be sabot v)as in some measure to acquiesce in the
guilty course which had been pursued. He trusted
that the quibbling and sophistical arguments brought
forward on this occasion onthe other side would have
little influence ; and that the Resolutions proposed
by the Worthy Alderman would be carried by a
large majority. The stuff of which they were made
was, he also trusted, too English, to allow them to
restrain or qualify the expression of their sentiments
on a subject, with regard to which the dictates of
humanity and justice were equally imperative—
(Greet applause).
Mr. SOUTHGATE observed, that the proceedings of
the Manchester Magistrates subsequent to the fatal
16th, indicated that they felt conscious of having
committed a disgraceful action. It was impossible
not to feel astonishment at the unprecedented man-
ner in which they had conducted themselves. What
a contrast did it present to that of the Surrey Magis-
trates in the year 1768, when much more alarming
riots took place, and the watch-word was " Wilkes
and Liberty !" In the month of May of that year,
an immense assemblage was held, and it unquestion-
ably had every character of riot, tumult, and dis-
turbance about it. The Lord Mayor (Gwillan) sheav-
ed the most exemplary patience ; he waited an hour
after reading the Riot Act ; he was struck with a
stone ; but hearing somebody exclaim, " The Riot
Act has not been read," he gave an assurance that it
had been read ; but as it appeared that the reading
was not generally known, he would repeat it—(Much
Cheering). He retired for some time ; and it was not
till after his return, and after he had seen a soldier
receive a violent blow, that he directed the military
to fire, saying, .‘ If you do not, we may all be mur-
dered." The measures adopted at Manchester were
of a different complexion, and demonstrated a very
different temper. Every one must regret the want
of prudence and forbearance manifested on this oc-
casion; whilst many could not resist the conclusion,
that the Magistrates had grossly violated the law,
and ought to be brought to condign punishment.—
He could not divest his mind of the persuasion that
they were already suffering deeply in their own con-
sciences, and that the manes of the slain did not fail
to visit their terrified imaginations. Their conduct
would be marked by the abhorrence of the major
portion of the country, their names enrolled in re-
cords that would not perish, and never be uttered
without execrations. Two of the greatest Lawyers
this country ever produced—he meant Mr. Dunning I
and Sir William Blackstone—had both held, that the
right of meeting to petition upon public grievances
was a clear fundamental law-. lf, then, the right to
petition was one of the ordinary rights of English
Citizens, Of course the right to assemble was equally
indubitable. Mr. Justice Blackstone, in his excellent
Cbinmentaries on the Laws of England, described
this as a clear right, provided no disturbance took
place in the exercise of it. Judging from all the in-
tiirination which had been received, or laid before
the Public, the Meeting at Manchester was conduct-
ed in a peaceable and orderly manner. He was no
advocate either of Mr. Hunt or of the principles
which he maintained. Whilst he cherished a warm
zeal for the cause of Reform, he could not, indeed,
avoid looking with a n.isture of jealOusy and suspi-
cion at the conduct and plokets el
_pose who de-
signated themselves as Radical Reformers—(id: ma
cheering). The present question, however, rested on
its own separate and.incicpcndent merits, and ought
to be vic*ed apart from op such ccaisiderations.
Mr. Jacas was silt to ilfsiervs that althoubthe
worthy Alderrrittis (V, artlurtaii) had, at the hegnming

of
hisa
t e s speech,
and e tioLry
of Manchesteredthatthecon
oductug
of
the
not tlieM
stobe
prejudged, as it was hereafter to be decided ; yet, by
his Resolutions, they were condemned in the strongest
terms. He (Mr. Jacks) had only arrived in town
udgment of the
yesterday, after an absence of five weeks, and, there-
fore, had not been able to form any j
from the public Journals; and so contradictory were
foots of the proceedings other than what he bad gained
the statements on several points, that he was not able
to judge satisfactorily the whole merits of the case;
he, therefore, did expect some new lights to be thrown
upon the subject, but that not being done, he thought
it would be highly indecorous for public men to
charge with such high crimes and misdemeanours
other public men, as respectable and honourable as
.themselves, without the fullest and completest evi-
dence of their misconduct : as the subject is, he under-
stood, sub judice, he did not think it fair to prejudge
the question; audi alteram partem being a fixed rule
of English jurisprudence; and, it is plain, that the
statement on the side of the Manchester Magistrates
and Yeomanry is not fully before the Public. As,
however, the worthy Alderman had touched on seve-
ntl subjects connected with these proceedings, he
should shortly
notice some of them, still reserving his
final opinion until the case is fully known. It was
assumed, that the Meeting had been legally convened,
and was peaceably conducted. Now, the accounts
given upon oath on Hunt's committal, stated im-
mense numbers of persons, from all parts of thy
country, had marched in military array, with
bludgeons and colours of a very alarming description,
on one of which " Equal Representation or Death"
was inscribed, and that the persons surrounding tfie
hustings had their arms so linked within each other,
as to prevent the possibility of any approach. It also
appeared, that the original Meeting was convened
for an illegal purpose, viz. to elect a Member for that
town, but which was changed, not to consider griev-
ance*, but for the avowed purpose of overturning the
House of Commons, as now by law established; at
least, Universal Suffrage was the declared object of
the intended Reform ; this, if effected, would inevi-
tably lead to such destruction, inasmuch as in this
and all other countries, the labouring classes form the
basis of the population, having no fixed property,
and exceeding four or five to one those who do pos-
sess it ; therefore, there could be no security to the
latter if the choice of Members of Parliament and
Legislation were to be possessed by the former and
their Representatives. The Election by Ballot is also
unknown to the Constitution as now established, and
would have a strong tendency to make men hypo-
crites and scoundrels, by inducing them to promise,
and perform very differently. The worthy Alder-.
man had reasoned as if there were no precedents for
the Military to be employed in cases of riots. He
had surely forgotten the year 1780, when the coun-
try had been ruined, unless they acted, and when also,
many innocent persons had been killed in the diffe-
rent tumults which took place. In the Spa-fields
riots, they had been called in by the Lord Mayor,
who was called a friend to liberty; and every citizen
felt assured of safety when the Waterloo heroes were
seen in the streets. The worthy Alderman had com-
mented on the Prince Regent's approval of the con•
duct of the Manchester Magistrates and Yeomanry.
Now, whatever opinion the Court entertained on that
subject, it was obvious that the whole case must haysi
been before him, and the-Prince Regent would not
,have signified in direct terms his approval, unless the
great Law Officers of die Crown had made out to his
satisfaction the legality of the proceedings. The
Coroner's Inquest on the five cases of death which
had taken place, together with the Bills having been
found by two Grand Juries on their oaths, strongly
tend to favour the idea of the legality of the proceed-
ings. The Grand Juries being men of high. charac-
ter, a Member of one of them, Lord Belgrave, it is to
be recollected, is an opposition Member of Parlia-
ment, and from some opportunities he (Mr. Jacks)
had had, he formed a strong opinion of his "Isood
sense and discernment. Some ill-judged observations
had been thrown on the Manchester Justices, as not
being independent men, but stipendiaries; he could
only recollect this to be the case with bite Gentleman.
Nov, he would ask, whether the Judges of the land,
together with the Recorder and Common Serjeant of
London, might not in the same sense be called Stipen-
diary Magistrates? They all received salaries for
their public services, and he knew not why it was to
be expected, that a Barrister should be expected to
give up all his time gratis for so large and populous
a town as Manchester? But one Gentleman had
quoted Mr. 'Pearson's letter, alluding in the strongest
terms to the rejection of Mr. Hunt's Bills against die
Yeomanry Cavalry, and stating a sad case of a wo-
man being sabred. Now it was difficult to discover
how the Grand Jury, having found the Bills against
Bunt and his associates upon the principle of the le-•
gality of their captures, could possibly find Bills for
the Yeomanry having acted criminally in the execu-
tion of their duty, although it had been attended with
disastrous circumstances in a few cases, the irnagni-
tude, however, of which, as stated, required better
proof to make him believe it. Upon the whole, he
(Mr. Jacks) strongly deprecated the interference O •
the Court upon the slender evidence in its possession,
in a case which reflected severely on Magistrates, as
respectable and honourable as the Magistrates of
London ; and on a body of Volunteer Cavalry; com-
posed of Gentletnen fully as respectable as them-
selves. He feared, also, that this measure, if carried,
would have a powerful tendency still further to en-
courage insubordination and sedition.
Mr. Cooox observed, that the remarks which he
had to offer would be but few, after the able and
elaborate discussion which this subject had ender-
gone. He was sorry that the busmesa of the day
should have been opened by so decided an opinion oo
the part of the Lord Mayor. That opinion, however,
would have no influence on his vote ; nor should he
abstain from declaring, that its expression at such a
moment, appeared tolsirn to be highly improper and
indecorous. Every man of feeling, every man who
valued constituticual liberty, must agree in repro:
bating as disgraceful, the conduct
_pursued by the
Magistrates at Manchester. The rightuf the people
to meet and discuss their grievances was indisputa-
ble, and the assembling at Manchester was therefore
strictly legal. It was of no importance whether that
Meeting was attended by sixty thousand or sixty
millions of individuals. The Meeting in Smithfield
was likewise most numerona ; but . notwithstanding
the impolitic step of -arresting I%fr. Harrison, a Inca.

; same course had been adopted more prcanpu,
,military on some other occasions, mach la,
calculatedhuieti quietly
self was present at that Meeting, and could
sere
itsttalticincime, it efeet!ispersectr. illir hPile"m-
gfre his , have been saved. He believed that this
solemn testimony that it was conducted hi .peace and i never have been brought before the Court, 11
' ndt been intended to eta -
good order. He had
,no dotibt that the Meeting at •1 , tack Ministers; the a)
Manchester might have terminated in the sane man- to Magistrates would have been left alone,
ner, had it been allowed to do so. Having the ho- ! not been thought that the Administration na.'
nour to be a London trooper, there was nothing very ' attacked through them. There wit! no.'
terrific to him in the inscription of " Death or Li- 1 worthy of consideratica : Bills had been tau.
berty ;" for without liberty, he did not think that a number of persons, and there was no dcw
life was worth preserving. Let them turn their at- thesethe Resolutions, if carried, might have _
' tention to the case of the poor woman and child, to in exciting prejudice on the subject; and ttaa,
the circumstance of her breast being cut off, in the hoped Court would not support than. il i
midst of an unavailing supplication for mercy.--a gether, as they were proposed to be Pat, he
( Cries of " Prove, prove," mired with considerable certainly oppose them ; and though he naz
cheering.)--He had conversed with seven different have his opinion supported by those on his i
persons, each of wham had been a spectator of the was sure tohavetheapprobation °this manta%
barbarous and atrocious act; he had seen a hundred Mr. EICKET thought the question Was situp]
different letters confirming die authenticity of the namely, Whether or not the acts of the avert;
statement, Had it even been impossible to disperse of Manchester might be considered as an atti
the multitude except by force of arms, had their take away one of the first rights of the p,
proceedings been riotous and disorderly in an ex- (Hear, hear.) For his part, he was pew,
trerne degree, they could not have been treated with these Gentlemen acted merely upon a print,
greater cruelty or violence. It even appeared that servility. If it was asked upon what glaur
so eager were the Yeomanry to shed innocent blood, acted ? he only desired that the warrant upon
that they even wounded and killed their own parti- they sent in the Yeomen might be referred to:
sans. Such was the impetuosity of their attack, that that
warrant, it was as manifest as lanr
hundreds fell under the weight of their saares. As make it, that they acted only on the opinion ,
to prejudging this question, he conceived that it had party making oath that the town of alanchesta
been already prejudged on the other side, and that likely to be destroyed. Even in the Riots a
top without any positive denial of the facts. The thepriaciple was not disturbed, that the Ps
whole of what had been urged in opposition to the a right to meet for a legal object. lle •-,,,
present motion, did not appear to him to weigh a that on no account had the Magistrates a ti
single feather in mitigating the outrage committed call in the military—(Murmurs.) It had k
both upon public liberty and private humanity, by that the doctrines held at these Meetings
the Manchester Magistrates. them illegal. The best answer to this was,
Mr. S. DIXON said, he had Leen reproached as People, generally speaking, were averse to the
having treated with levity a case involving the lives trines of Radical Reform. And as to the
And personal safety of his fellow-subjects. He de- it was perfectly evident that the inscription
fled any Member of that Court to prove that he was them were calculated to produce order. Re
not as full as others of the milk of human kindness cluded by giving his support to the Resolutions.
—(A laugh).—The smile upon his countenance was Sir WILLIAM CORTIS.—.-‘ My Lord May
produced not by the subject, but by the worthy Al- have read the statements upon this businetsfrr
derman connecting it with a story relating to him- sides; and I am persuaded that no man can ,
self. He had probably the means of knowing the it as proved, that the Magistrates were wisng.
circumstances which occurred that day at Manches- Magistrates are men of character and respect
ter and its neighbourhood, better than any one now and I give them credit for what they have don
present. What business, he should like to know, had my Lord, the•question of their conduct is to,
Mr. Hunt there ? lie was not connected, in any fore a competent Tribunal ; and 1 now a,k,
manner, with the people of Manchester, although the Court come forward to express an opinion soh,,
discontented in that quarter had been long prepared doubtedly is calculated to bias the judgment of
for the course which he was pursuing. lie hoped Jury? With regard to the Yeomanry,
the Court would take into consideration the sug- ought to be admitted that their own reeling!
gestion which had been thrown out, respecting the farther than they would have otherwise gone;
propriety of its not interfering in this question.— they did so, it certainly was on the principle
Knowing, as he did, the respectable part of the corn- Will it be fair in us now to come forward at;
munity of Manchester, he would take it upon him to stigma on those whose object evidently was t
say to those who applied the term " cowards," and servation of the Laws and the Constitution?
other terms equally degrading, to the Yeomanry and stated in these Resolutions that the Magiar?
Magistrates, that these persons deserved no such epi- wrong. I do not say that they acted right
thetas. With regard to the Grand Jury of Lancashire,' hear! and laughter); but certainly they ac:,
they were composed of men, some of whom be- the Vest motives. What did these people
longed to families as respectable as any in the king- They tell us, for Universal Surirage and
dom ; and they were too honourable to have winked tary Reform; but, in reality, it was for the .
at any impropriety of conduct, or to have slurred of a Member of Parliament for Manchester (.i
over any evidence laid before them. It had been and disapprobation.) They were actuated by a
said, that testimony had been produced to them on rebellious, sanguinary, abominable, and rear
oath, of the most shocking outrages committed by spirit. I would recommend the Court to
individuals, and that they had, nevertheless, refused expressing their opinion for a while, until mot
to find Bills against •the parties accused. For his better authenticated information is had. her
own part, he did not believe one word of it ; because any thing more true, than that
' edg
he could not suppose that there was any man in the A little knoti4 e is a dangerous nurc:
kingdom who would act •so brutally as to hew down You know nothing as yet of the ccnductof
a woman, and cut offer breast, as was asserted to ing at Manchester; you have not a true act
have been done' in tics instance. if Gentlemen knew the proceedings of those who
.brought together
the frame of mind which the people in that quarter Meeting to put in practice their wicked and,
had evinced, and the language they had • openly hie purposei—(Much disapprobation.) Were I
used for many months before this affair, they might; gistrate; I Would take care and put a stop ta a
perhaps, find some justification for the adoption of chinations bf those wretches. I would soon i i
strong measures. Nothing was more common than of them. And why not ?—lf I saw a man a
to see them insulting every well-dressed person whom ihto my house, 1 would shoot him without'
they met in the streets, saying—" We have been and the law would justify me for it (Heat
long oppressed ; it it your turn now to suffer r •In ter.) It has been Said that the Riot Act wit
short, there was no doubt that not Reform, but Re- All I have to say upon that part of the stir
volution, with all its attendant horrors, was their ob- hat if a Public Meeting is disorderly, and if
ject. The people were in a distressed state for want gistrates read the Riot Act, and give proper
.of employment, occasioned by transition from war to. the People to disperse, then they are justai.
peace, by which the trade of the whole world, which ing in die aid of the military—(Near, hear.)
this country bad almost exclusively enjoyed, was vote against the Resolutions, and I think the
thrown open to other countries; and the emploY- owes it to its own honour and dignity to leis
meat which the Army and Navy afforded to those matter to the proper Tribunal."
who could not support themselves at home was cut • Mr. PEARSALL contended, that ample
off. It was said that the Military had cut down' been . allowed—twenty days had ci tp,ed,
men, women, and children ; but, pray, what business which, every day brought to light fresh eri
had women there ?—(General trimmers ofdisapproba- illustrate the melancholy and alarming
Lion) —One Gentleman, who had addressed the Court, the Manchester proceedings. Ile disliked alai
had said, that he had seen a hundred letters, all con- tested as much as any man the principles '
firming the accounts of these cruelties ; but he (Mr. Reformers, and their absurd and dartgerees
Dixon) had also seen many letters, and the accounts ceedings ; but the question was, whether the
they gave were as different as possible from those of England had the right to meet witlwat
which'had been stated. A worthy Gentleman oppo- ference of a military force ? It was said that
site, to whom he gave credit for his candour, said, were no facts before them. He (Mr. Pe:mar
that he wished for Reform, but did not desire to see facts from a Gentleman of high honour, who
it brought about by these men. He himself wished eye-witness of the scenes at Manchester, who'
abuses, wherever they existed, to be reformed ; but Cavalry press upon the unoffending Pew
when he saw that the people could not agree how witnessed that day the conduct of the 1111
far they wished to carry their plans of Reform, he and the Military, and on that respectable ;
'could not help dreading any innovation whatever.— he (Mr. Pearsall) relied. On that day the r
,After again ou
asserting, witht the fear of being con- were cut .down, and women and claldrea
tradicted, that the Grand Jury of Lancashire were put to the swords and trampled over in at
men of the strictest honour he said he did not fear The question was, whether 'the Meeting
.aal''
the result of a division on the present question • and arid next, was the Riot Act read ? and aaa
if he should only be one of six on the negative' side, read in the heating of the people ; and was s''
~,;
he should not fail to express his opinion. time given to allow the people to aispera •
Mr. JAMES complained of the terms which had as. to the legality of the Meeting, it csaaot '
been applied to the Local Authorities of Manchester; —As to the reading of the Riot Act, it
and expressed his conviction that those who made read in the hearing of the people, and wl
use of them, if they believed them to be justly appli- was gone through by the Magictrate, it • ,
Cable, would remain alone in that opinion. He should in fifteen minutes after, the mar wat
have liked 'the Court to have been in possession of amongst the pe.aple. I
_ t was s%ited by nirai
some facts, which it was material to know before it Riot Act was never read—and certalik..:
the
could come to any cot reet decision ; because although read in the presence of the peoph..
he fully agreed with the first of the Resolutions, yet valry employed upon that di,gracelnl
' the following ones were founded on reports in News- shameful and cruel as their conduct had
papers, which were contradicted b I ll not so much against theni, as agaiitst those
7ot iers eq" y- 40114
entitled to credit. How had the Gentlemen come ployed them, that public indignation a
to the conclusion, that the troops had been sent out rected. A great attack had been malel
lby the Magistrates to use their own discretion ? Such Constitution;recedent bad
an alarming p
sa
'a thing could not be supposed. If he were to ex- tempted, and the Cotporatroit of lavabo„
press his own opinion, he should say, that the troops do it duty, if it did not -approach the. ila
had acted in retaliation; drat the people,. if they ori- request an investigation-4/ kar.l i fla.
ginally intended to conduct themselves peaceahl- •
y Baronet had talked of another tribunal
had deviated from that intention, and had offered lit' banal? No steps had been taken to insert.
sults and provocation to the military. He then pro-. quill ; but his ILoyal Highness the Prltel
feecied to argue, that the troops led -it right to cede- duce da) s after this affair conk OW, 0,
fcnd themselves, and stated his couvis:tion that • • th, ed die Magistrates • d the Ye" 1411 fir'
All
II / 1

4
`f

Calptl74
blood
Matt; I'm,
Ise% if i/ ,
the 3
lone, if t
ion rhigt
another
I found • •
no cloak
ITC sort
nd tlree4,o
1,1 pit
pktt, ne
.1
he migite
on his side
iwn carat, ,
:as simply
:he lat,,iA;
s an yee.7
the Peope?
pets4ld.:l
a prinknie
it gt aural
,it:t upon
irted to: , ►
language
opituon of
klanehester
Riots t;:• 17
the l'e-,a;
•-„Lild
ates a
t had been
,!ezings lead.
is wstis that
tlirse to the
to the b.
secriptiotts
order. Re
IL.solutions.
Lord Mayor
asiness from
2/11 can coati
ere wicing. I
rd respectahi-
r have dace:'
act is to come
ow ask,
pinioa which
udgment of
14nry, perhaps
lielings leo •
vise gone;
principle of.
rward and •
ally was the
lstitution? k
Magistrates
ed right—(ll
they ace,: f
people Meet
; and Parii
s for the F.• •
nchcster
Lucca by nw•
and revolutst.
Conic to lot
e, until mote
had. Neva
s Mire
nduct of the
a true accost
oht together
icked :and da
c.) Were!
a stop la ;:le
)ulti soon i ty
,v a man bit
Nithoui Lesi. it
t (Ilearanill•
Act was not
of the subject
.Iy, and if the
ye proper time
re justiti:d in
'or, hear.) I
1 think the
gnity to leave,
ample time .
ei tpsed,
t fresh evidence
min: g accounts
e disliked and
nciples of R. 4.
dangerous
:better the P.e'
without Ebel'
ras said that
‘rearall)
:meta, who wo
iester, who say
ling Penle:
of the Ma.
peCtable 311.'
t day the f°
tad children
over is cold
feeting was
► and it so, "1"
; and wjs Sis
o viisper), • • „
t cialtot be •
Act, it never
and wh:ttover
run, it "i'l%.l_ll„
Orris we,e
a by maay that
!ertaittly it
e. As to the.
:raceful
act had 'well, tt
isist those
anon should "`
.11 made ura
dent bad be:
[,radon nett
h the 11'3".
riser
ttibunal—sebP,
to
institute
thePPrice
ace, uh, !
uatalq
im