Star.
London, England, 1819-10-26 00:00:00

WESTMORXLAND COUNTY MEETING.

KENDAL, OCTOBER in:
The Westmoreland County Meeting, which was
held here to-day, was most numerously and respect-
ably attended. A hundred and sixty of the Free-
holders had signed the Requisition, including some
of the most respected Gentlemen in the County, Mr.
STR WIELAND, of Sizergh, Messrs. BROUGH A 51, W HA R-
TON, and Cuitwasi, (M; P:s) Messrs. Wynzacia,
CRACILIINTHORPR, SHRPHIRD, KING' MICK LER,
HAMMOND, and many others ; the Rev. Messrs. WAL-
LER, Rirrox, Sanoawrca, &c. &c. The utmost ef-
forts bad been used by the Lowther party to prevent
attendance, among which may be mentioned the ab-
surd report, industriously spread, that a battle had
just taken place at Manchester, in which the Mili-
tary were overpowered, and the mob marching to-
wards Kendal, to join the Meeting there. Notwith-
standing these, and other artifices, such as reviving
the snail, of Mr. BROUGHAM being ill and unable to
attend, asserting that two troops of Cavalry were or-
dered to be present, &c. &c. above five thOusand per-
sons were assembled at one o'clock, when the Deputy
Sheriff (in Lord THA NET'S absence) proceeded to the
hustings, accompanied by a number of the principal
Requisitioniits.
Thomas BRIGGS, Esq. the Under Sheriff, took the
Chair about one o'clock, and opened the proceedings
by reading the Requisition. He stated the happi-
ness which the Hereditary Sheriff felt in complying
with it, and his desire of attending the Meeting in
person, but that his Lordship had been under the ne-
cessity of proceeding to London from the Meeting at
York—that he (the Under Sheriff) had no doubt but
that every Gentleman, of whatever political senti-
ments, would be heard with attention and respect.
Mr. WYBERGH—" The Noble Earl, Hereditary
High Sheriff of this County, having readily complied
with the Requisition which I and other Gentlemen
bad the honour to present, it is my duty now to sub-
mit to your consideration, Resolutions which are, in
effect and substance, precisely the same as those
moved and carried in the sister County of Cumber-
land, at the late Count.), Meeting. This Meeting is
called to express our sentiments on the disgraceful
transactions of the 16th of August, at Manchester,
and of the necessity of strictly inquiring into them. ,
Those transactions have been so ably and amply dis-
cussed in the Counties of Cumberland, Yorkshire,
and almost every other County in England, that we
are prevented from the necessity of entering fully
into them ; and I shall have very little to say of the
fatal and disgraceful proceedings of that day. They
have been represented in the public papers in two
very different ways, I mean in The Courier and ano-
ther Ministerial Paper, on the part of the Magistrates .
and Yeomanry, and in most of the Independent
Papers in the Empire, against such Magistrates and
Yeomanry. In the first place, The Courier tells you,
that the Manchester Meeting was illegally assem-
bled, disorderly conducted, and the only speech there
made had a tendency to excite tumult, riot, and se-
dition. That the Civil Power were prevented from
exercising the due process of the law by several acts
of violence and riot, on thepart of the people. That
the Magistrates bad previously declared the Meeting
an illegal assembly. That one of them (without
naming him, observe) had read the Riot Act. That
proclamation was thereupon made to disperse, with
a loud and audible voice (observe, Gentlemen, these
are the very words of the Act). That after the read-
ing of the Act, awl making such proclamation, the
people refused to disperse. That the Magistrates
then thought it advisable to call in the assistance of
the Military to enforce the due execution of the law.
Pardon me, Gentlemen, I have made a sad mistake
here, when I said the Military, I meant the cele-
brated Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry—(Laughter).
But you will observe, Gentlemen, I was and am,
only quoting The Courier—That the Yeomanry Ca-
valry conducted themselves with great forbearance
and humanity—(Hear, hear, and laughter). On the
part of the sufferers, the Public Press, throughout
the kingdom, with the exception of this Courier, and
another fabulous Ministerial Paper, publishes the very
reverse to this statement, which has been circulated,
and which the people at large believe—(Hear). If
the Riot Act had been read, and if the people re-
fused to disperse, and prevented the authority of the
law, " it was a grievous fault, and grievously and
fatally has it been answered." But, Gentlemen, as I
said before, there is another way of telling this story.
The Meeting was legal, the object of it was legiti-
mate, and this object has been allowed to be legiti-
mate ever since the illustrious House of Brunswick
sat on the Throne of these realms—(Cheers). No.
act of violence was committed on the part of the
People, and instead of speeches of an inflammatory
and seditious nature, the only one delivered was a
strong exhortation to continue peaceable, and that
the process of the law was not even attempted to be
enforced—(Near). That the military, I beg their
pardon, I mean the gallant Yeomanry Cavalry, in-
stead of forbearance, instead of humanity, without
any notice, wantonly sabred and rode over the peo-
ple, and that an unoffending peace-officer became
the first victim to their courage—(Shame). Gentle-
men, can both these accounts be true ?—(No, no,
from the. audience.) You know it is impossible that
the Yeomanry Cavalry could act with humanity, and
at the same time with the ferocity of wild beasts:—
(T.owd cheers). Notwithstanding the solitary contra-
dicting accounts of The Courier and another Minis-
terial Paper, there are facts admitted on both sides :
Ist, That the Meeting was dispersed, at the point of
the sword ; and 2d, That in such dispersion, several
of his Majesty's subjects lost their lives. Gentlemen,
does not each of these admitted facts alone, call for
investigation and inquiry with regard to the due pre-
servation of our Liberties and the Constitution of
England ?—( Yes, and cheers.) Gentlemen, after the,
loss of many lives—after the grievous wounds given,
not only to the People, but to the Constitution, ought
not these transactions, in the first place, to have i
called forth deep regret from the Sovereign, and kb-,
mediate and effectual inquiry from the Laws or from
Parliament? Gentlemen, his Majesty's present btn
sisters do not think so. They have not thought fit
to put in the mouth of their Sovereign one sentiment
of sorrow—they have advised (with haste and an
awful responsibility) his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, without any inquiry, to thank these Magis-
trates andteomanry Cavalry; and instead ofdeclanng
his regret, they have heaped expressions of appro.

My object is solely to secure, and hand down to our
children, the British Constitution, unimpaired either
by military violence, Ministerial or Magisterial op-
pression, or the efforts of Infidels or Atheists—(Ap-
plause). Regarding, as I do, the right of petition 2s
the imprescriptible birth riglit of Englishmen, handed
down to us by our ancestors, secured by Magna
Charta and the Bill of Rights, and confirmed by the
!Act of Settlement, I feel, that the invasion of this
right affects us all, whether Whigs or Tories; and,
as an Englishman, as a Freeholder of this County, I
stand here totally independent of all party feeling for
its support. Should it be restricted •at the will of
Ministers, much less of Magistrates, He who lives
and is not weary of such a burthen, is not worthy of
the honest name of an Englishman, but deserves to
die a slave r—(Great applause). It is admitted on all
hands, that the• Meeting at Manchester was dispersed
by Military force, and that lives were lost. Ought•
not some inquiry, then, to take place? I think you
will agree with me that it ought. Have the Man-
chester Magistrates and Cavalry acted in a legal and'
humane manner ? Let it not be understood that I
now condemn them ; GOD forbid that I should con-
demn any man unheard—(Applause)—or that I should
judge one roan, or any set of men, without hearing
both parties. Have the Ministers done this? As they
have avowedly sanctioned and applauded the con-
duct of persons in taking away the lives of his Ma-
jesty's subjects, those Ministers, those men, I de-
cidedly condemn—(Great applause). Knowing the•
generous character of his Royal Highness, I have no
hesitation in saying he has been imposed upon ; and
the subsequent conduct of his Ministers confirm me
in that opinion. Their Answer to the Address of the
Corporation of the first City in his Majesty's do-
minions, shews a deliberate determination on the part
of. Ministers to encroach on the remaining liberties of
the People, and of their wish to insinuate, that the
Public neither know, nor ought to know, the circum-
stances which attended that Meeting. Instead of re.
gret, they express thanks, and condemn the People
unheard, and the Corporation for their ignorance I
When I consider that these Ministers are the same
weak, imbecile set of men, who cannot govern ac-1
cording to law, who, only a short time since, enacted,
the Gagging Bill, then the Seditious Meetings Bill,
and, last of all, to complete the breach they had made
in the Constitution, suspended the Habeas Corpus
Act, the great bulwark of our liberties, I am not ago-
nished they have my pity and contempt--(Applause).
When 1 consider these things, I confess I see an incli-
nation on the part of his Majesty's Ministers to en,
gross the power, and suppress the rights of the Bri,
tish I'eople. Whilst I condemn the conduct of his
Majesty's Ministers, you will allow me, at the same
time, to make a few observations on the nature of the
Meeting at Manchester. It may, perhaps, be lawful
for the People peaceably to assemble from different

. .
l'ation an I aclenirition on such Conduct. I Must say, 1, places, in large multitudes, to petition Parliament ott
that the apathy of hie Majesey's Ministers (to make the Crown, though I cannot help declaring that the
use of no harsher terni, or at least the mildest term) meeting of so large a number of persons, collected to-
is astonishing and reprehensible: Gentlemen, I will gether from differ,:nt towns, is highly impolitic—
not follow the example' of his Majesty's Ministers, such large numbers never can be considered what
nor of the Yeomanry Cavalry, who have acted as they are constitutiona;iy presumed to be, a delibera-
executioners on the People, without warning and tive Ast,embly. But though 1 cannot approve of such
without trial—(Cheers). The conduct of these immense masses meeting together, I must decidedly
" would-be military" is disgraceful to them as Men , condemn their illegal dispersion, at the point of the
and as Christians, and contrary even to the spirit of bayonet .or sabre—(G twit applause). Gentlemen,
British soldiers ! Notwithstanding which, I would though I disapprove of the illegal dispersion of the
not follow their example ; they should not be con- Manche:ter Meeting, let me not be considered for a
demned and executed without a fair trial. I wish moment as approving of the conduct of those persons
not to be premature in prejudging them : I wish for who support what is called Radical Reform, which,
inquiry. For myself and you, I demand a strict, if carried into effect, will be subversive of the first
legal, and rigorous inquiry into those lamentable principles of our envied Constitution—will increase
'transactions. Can any one say, after reading the the evils which are at present endured more than ten-
late public Papers, that due inquiry has been made? fold—will benefit neither the poor nor the rich, but
Can any one deny that inquiry is necessary ? (Shouts a few despicable individuals, who, under this pre-
ef " No, no.") Gentlemen, there has been one open tence, seek to aggrandise themselves at the expense
Court, called a Coroner's Court, which has been con- of the community; men who go about propagating
ducted in a most extraordinary manner; day after .iloctrines full of blasphemy -to their CREATOR, and
day have disgraceful proceedings taken place, and sedition to the real Constitution a the. Country. At
finally, it has, after some strohg expressions from the the same time that I depricate whet is called a Ra-
Jury, been most unaccountably (and perhapsillegally) dical Reform, I wish to see, and I am as anxious as
adjourned for the space of ten weeks ;—most probe- any man to obtain a firm, temperate, and practical
bly till a Bill of Indemnity can be obtained to cover Reform in Parliament. The chATess which at pre-
these disgraceful and (thereby acknowledged) illegal sent prevails is mainly to be attributed to ruinous
transactions—(Loud and continued applause). Gen. councils, and to the profuse squandering of the Na-
.tlemen, we care not for a Coroners Court, we de- tional resources, in supporting despotic Governments,
mend, as a last resource, a Parliamentary Inquiry— and rendering this a Military one—(Cheers).—Can
(Cheers). If, on this investigation, it should appear you doubt but that the present loyal Addresses (as
that the Constitution has been wounded, neither a they improperly call them) are got up as a counter-
Government prosecution against Mr. Hunt, for a poise to gloss over and support this weak Martini-
misdemeanour, nor a Radical prosecution against stration and Ultra-loyal Magistrates ; that is, men
Mr. Owen for perjury, can be of any service. if our who act beyond the law, and are therefore entitled
State Physicians have no other remedy they are mere to.a Bill of Indemnity ? Who is there that does not
Quacks—(Laughter, and loud applause). Gentlemen, know that the National
.Debt of 800 millions is the
if no further investigation takes place—if the Minis- bane of this country? Who dies not know that.with-
ters prevent this inquiry—if no further proceedings out economy, the-interest thereof cannot be paid ?
take place in our Courts of Justice—mark what will I hope and trust that the present distress is only TEM..
follow. Any wicked Minister may in future, at his porary ; but am fully convinced, that, without real
pleasure, retrenchment in the expenditure of the country, it
" Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!" cannot bear up against its present difficulties. Ano-
(Continued applause). The Minister, or even the Ma- ther supposition in the loyal Declarations or Addresses
gistrates, will then have nothing to do but quote the is, that the present distresses and discontent in the
precedents of " 16th August, 1819, le Manchester," country is solely attributable to the licentiousness of
and that will be a complete defence. What a mockery the Press. Gentlemen, that some trifling part of the
•it will then be to say, that the ears of the Prince will Press circulates the moct dangerous blasphemy, and
be open to the cries of the People. If, on the con- the most seditious political doctrines, is not to be de-
trary, Parliament exerts its omnipotence, and, not- nied ; it is what I lament, in common with all good
withstanding the late proceedings in the Courts of and Constitutional men ; but this is only a secondary
Justice, enters into.this investigation with solemnity, cause—the roots lie much deeper. What does that
with caution, with temperance, without prejudice,
.celebrated man, Lord Bacon, say on the subject ?
without party feeling (which I now deprecate), and, His words arc—that " poverty, discontent, and op;
above all, without having prejudged the question, pressive and unecpial taxation are the sole causes and
then I congratulate you on the invaluable right of' foundation of sedition."—This great man, has well
• petitioning being firmly established, and the wrongs explained it ; and, it appears to me, that his rules
of the People redressed--(Cheers). Economy and real are very applicable to the present state of the coun-
retrenchment will then become the order of the day— try. The question is, what remedy is to be applied?
then, and not till then, Corruption will receive a mor- In the first place, I say, by reductions of the 'faxes,
tai blow. Then, Gentlemen, all ranks of society will the Military Force, the Civil List, and the Expendi-
be united in links of confidence. The nobility, the tore of the Country ; in the second place, by the
rich, and the poor, will meet together under the safe- well-balancing of Trade, and the improvement of
guard of the British Constitution—confidence will be Agriculture and Commerce.
_I would ask, is there
restored—trade and agriculture will flourish—and, a single Commercial Treaty existing with any of the
above all, every one will be compelled to admit, that Powers for whom Great -Britain has lavished her
The safety of the People is the supreme law of the blood and treasure? - Have Ministers reduced the
State." [Mr. Wybergh concluded by moving five Taxes or Expenditure, as they ought to have done,
Resolutions, similar to those of the late Cumberland in the time of Peace ? Have they not, on the cone
Meeting .j trary, in the last Session, laid on three millions of new
' Mr. CRACICENTIIORPE, in seconding the Resolu- Taxes, which arc as unnecessary as they are unjust—
tions, said-4, I trust, that in addressing the Inhabi- as impolitic as they arc and will be unproductive?—
tants of the independent County of Westmoreland, I (Great applause)-L-These, Gentlemen, are some of
shall not be accused of any desi'e to promote the views the principal causes of those distresses ; but, note
of a party calling themselves Radical Reformers, or withstanding the present critical situation, I have no
of any other party of men, whether Blues or Yellows. doubt you will rot deviate from the true principles
_ of the Brir'is Constitution—(Cheers).

the Britisn
The Resolutions being seconded by Mr. CRACKEN
TIIORPI, Mr. Bniccs,tbe rider. Sheriff, put the ques
'ion, and the Resolutions mere carried unanimously.
lIENRY CURWrS, Eq. said, he would 1/4ie no opi.
nion on the conduct of the Manchester Magistrates
on the 16th of Aug,ust, but 'that he was of opinion
that the matter ought to be inquired into, and that
they ought to be heard in tbeir defence. There had
been an attempt at inquiry in a Coroner's Court, but
that inquiry being at present put. an end to, it was
the duty of every man to do his utmost to bring the
matter before a proper tribunal, for if the accounts
which he had read of the transactions of the 16th of
August, at Manchester, were true, the Magistrates
have much to atone for ; and he hoped they would
be made to atone for it, or he should consider the
law a dead letter. He proposed a Petition to Par-
liament, which was read by the Under-Sheriff, and
received with loud and continued applause.
Mr. CHRISTIAN, a Magistrate, of Ewanrigg-hall,
Cumberland—" Gentlemen—l am proud to say that
I am a Freeholder of the Independent County of
Westmoreland, and being so, I felt it my duty to
attend this Meeting, and I am glad I have done so,
as I find it conducted with the greatest decorum and
order. lam proud to say that this County still re-
tains its principles of Independence, without in the
least bordering on licentiousness or riot. As to the
late proceedings at Manchester, I cannot at present
give a decided opinion, either as to the legality of
dre Meeting, or the conduct of the different parties
concerned ; but I have no doubt that an inquiry. upon
that subject is indispensably necessary—(Applause).
I have conversed with many Gentlemen in the County
of Lancaster, whose sentiments in politics ale the
reverse of my own ; men who are impartial in the
highest degree, who all pronounce this opinion, and
wish his Majesty's Ministers had ,"
they and I do, a most unfortunat
lamented affair.' Mr. Christian secs
Which WAS agreed to without a di
Mr. THOMSON moved that the
rented by the County. Members,
Brougham, which was seconded,
unbounded applause, as was also
instructing the County Members,
Brougham to support
,the pray(
proaching Session of )<arliament
HENRY BROUGHAM, Esq. M..
amidst loud applause, which lasted
and ia was with difficulty he coat'
don nand obtain a hearing.
highly honoured by these marks
tion, and especially by the hononi
me in associating my name
worthy Members for the County
tion to the Commons House of
men, you have lately heard it

4
14.

d denominated it, as ~ .'"
,1 • .
ate and much-to-be-
;econded the Petition, 1 • )
dissentient voice. . • ;
the Petition be pre- 1 . '
. ,
ers, assisted by Mr.
3, and received with
, 1,1!
Llso a Resobition for , .
rs, and desiring Mr. .
.yer of it, in the ap-
it. I
M. P. came forwai d
' t
.sted several minutes,
,uld prevent a repeti- ,if I
"Gentlemen, I feel
ks of your approba- ! i •1
onour you have done r t
with those of your
y, to present this Yeti-
Parliament. Gentle- P
asserted in the public