The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-03-10 00:00:00

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end that it became necessary to take strong steps.—
The cases then stood on testimony not to be doubted.
The explosion occurred in Derbyshire, but it was
evidently also attempted at. Nottingham. But these
were only branches of an extensive confederacy,
which was prevented in some other places by the sp.
prehension of individuals. Ile had heard it had
been said, that tine criminals at Derby had been in.
Migited by Spies and informers ; . hut he one satisfied
that such was not the fact. The plot would have
gone on without Spies and Informers• and. kid to
ctiminatezplosion, instead of breakkug out partially.
Something of the kind- occurred• but a day before at
31tudderefield, -Nothing in the Derby trials had hap.
Paned toshow that the manw he was so often named
occasioned the offences. Oliver had been brought
to•Derhy, not as a witness, hut to be exhibited, that
it' might be seen whether any of toe parties concern-
ed could reoeguite Orb man as an instgator, or any-
ways eonnected with the events which took place ;
bet they all disclaimed having any knowledge of him.
• This Vag the first opportUnity he had of stating the
fact ; and he found it necessary to make this state.
smut to meet theiejarious cslumnies which had been
eirceteted respecting this italiaidual. it had been
eald.that there Mere no ,ground e fur the mealtimes
which had been adopted, because it had not been ao
much as alleged= that any individuals in the higher
tanks of life bad given any countenance to the svirit
of disaffection which prevailed. But whether such a
"kit prevailed *moil the higher or lower ranks of
society, it was equally the duty of his Majesty's
Ministers to cheek its progress, and they would have
been equally culpable, had they overlooked its ten.
elency. That great ,pains had been taken to destroy
Ind undermine the principles of religion and virtue
among the lower orders, he was persuaded no think.
log man would deny. The obvious tendency of the
blasphemous productions which had . been hawked
about with so much industry, was to demoralize
the lower classes of the People; and to eradicate
every principle of religion from their minds.
it had been alleged that these publications had been
subsequently suppressed so effectually, that a copy
could not tie bad for any consideration ; but this was
so far from being the case, thut they were seen in
every shop-window ; they were hawked about with
trench industry and perseverance; and when, at last,
they stopped from selling them, from apprehension of
the comer; uetives, they were handed about, not by the
way of sale, but gift. When it appeared, therefore,
that such great pains bad been take() to demoralise
the lower orders, end to incite them to insurrection;
when it appeared that a conspiracy had been ((awed ft r
this purpose, was it nut the bounden duly of the
Secretary of State, as guardian of the public peace,
to endeavour to detect the plans of the disaffected ;
trey, would he not have been guilty of a great dere-
liction of duty had he failed to do so? The seizing
of the papers of those who were suspected of such
de,-igns was right and proper, in order to prevent
conspiracy and to procure information. Another
seizure which, took place was the seizure of arms. If
it shoold appear that those who were possessed of
them had no intention athatr.ver to use them for trai.
tarot's panllises, then the measures taken were all
wrong ; but if otherwise, they were bound to seize
4h' arms •as a measure of prevention. There was a
-Petition laid on their table by au individual of the
name of Francis %Yard. This. Petition stated among
• ether things, drat Police-ollicers entered his
house to search for arms. But the House would do
well to recollect that rills took place on the 10th of
June, at break or day; *hen the conspirators, who
bail assembled at D.,rity on the night of the fish of J one,
were supposed to be on their march to Nottingham.
At that critical moment, when many had assembled
in a body in the neighbous hood of the town, fur the
purpose of meeting the Derby conspirator., was it not
the duty of the Magisttetes to search the houses If
-those who were suspected of coospiritig, lest they
should have presided mean. for arming themselves
and those that joined them ? Without taking such
steps; under such circumstances, it is evident that.
the Magistrates would not huaerhsee their duty. In
ordering that the leaders' houses should be searched,
to see if any arms could be discovered, they did no-
thing, more then was neer:gory for the preservation of
the politic peace; anrt basing acted (Oily and con-
seentiously, they 'horrid be indemnified. For acting
thus for the public good, though the seizure of arms
. .

end papers.might not be strictly legal, yet they were
as well entitled, to protection es if their actions were
justified by ',Another ground that rendered the
Bill necessary was, that it wes extremely proper that
Ministers should not disclose the mean, of kl{ilw ledge
which they had gained., Though he should, therefore,
denrecete Rey encouragement to information which
might proceed from malice,.yet, unless such protection
should he given to prevent the sources taint/moo-
tion from being disclosed, treasonable conspiracies
might proceed to the most dangerous length with
angrily, for men would not give evidence at the
-listard of exposure with all its . couseqoences :
there would thus be no means .to prevent future
conspiracy, or to provide • for the public safety.—
In consequence of the measures which had been
adopted, and the gradual improvement in the circum-
stauces of the country, men's minds were recovering
from the fate into which they bad been thrown, but
it would still require all the vigilatuts and activity of
the Magistracy to prevent attempts which at that
moment appeared to be going on. .Largs bodies of
men were bestirring themselves in every direction to
petition for Reform,. when they intended to procure
revolution. He would aritalt that honourable men
might think otherwise of these matters, and consider
itoiorm as necessary. But .let them beware, let
them consider what may be the object of men who
come forward as it were witha Petition in one hand,

and a sword in the other.—(Grier of 40, no! from the
Opposition.)—They insisted wpm% Reform as their
constitutional right; bet there could be no doubt
that Reform extending to Universal Suffrage and
Annual
,Parliarnents was, bet another name for recto_
, lotion. By the meant vehicb ball been adopted the

spirit of disaffection theft been retmesied fora time;
but if the meatia should be diacloaed by ,which in-
formation had heels {merited, we.roold have, oo se-
- twity ihstwer against the return of sach,scenes and
';transactions as had lately occurred at Dorby, to-
, Loather with every thief; dangtmotts 4o society, and ,
tevoitiog to human nature. In dispersing such meet.
Jogs as those of the illanketeers, the Magistrates
acted aid/ prrprr discretion; such meetiptss -aeces-