The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-07-11 00:00:00

THE ST4

Mr. A sanction me declared, that if an opinion were►
to be formed of the talents, judgment, and discretion
of the Administration from the speech of the Right
lloti. Gentleman, those who opposed the Administra-
tion could not wish that question should he put on a
better issue. It appeared to him that his Hon. and
Learned Friend's proposition deserved the nsost serious
considerat. . That House might know that the
power entrusted by the Bill to Government would not
be abused ; but how could that knowledge be conveyed
to foreigners ? On the recent landing of some foreign-
ers the people of the place where they landed, with a
feeling which he trusted was only local, took a course
with respect to those persons that was in defiance of
all law. Low was it possible that those persons'
could find out that there were powers in the hands of
the Government which might justify them in discharg-
ing all apprehension of further outrage ? If ever
there was a circumstance which rendered necessary
some additional legislative protection for Aliens, it was
the occurrence to which he alluded—an occurrence
which he was persuaded uo individual in that House or
iu the country, of a right way of thinking, could view
otherwise than with detestation and horror. Of that

occurrence no man with feelings of en Englishman
bat must wish that all trace could be blotted out.
While he was speaking on this subject, he begged
leave to observe, that it was a pity that such persons
es those of whom he had been speaking were left ex-
posed to popular indignation ; and that he conceived a
letter a, rangement ought to be made with respect to
them, than to allow them to be driving about the
streets at midnight, seeking a place of shelter.
(Hear, hear!) 1
Mr. R. Msastm delared, that the Noble Lord mast'
have established himself in the good opinion of the
House and the country by his declaration on a recent
evening, that Government would use every means in
their power to bring forward, from every part of the
globe, whatever persons her Majesty might think pee-1
net to summon for her defence. Government mishit
forfeit the opinion of the House and of the empire, if
they did not do what they had thus solemnly pledged
themselves to perform; and he could by no means,
therefore, put an inoperative clause, like that per
posed by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, in comp,
Whin with such a pledge.
Sir J. M•CIIINTOSIS said, that he would not attempt
to follow the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite through
the various points of his speech—a speech distinguished
by so much moderation, so strict an adherence to order,
so complete in absence of unnecessary digression, so
thorough a self-command, so abundant a portion of
temper and discretion.—(Hear!)—As to the character
of the present Adsninistranon which had been given by
his Hon. and Learned Friend, of this be (Sir J. Meek-
' intosh) waseertain, that if any man out of that House
were asked that character, lie u otild reply, that it was
1 a weak, vacillating, and disjointed Administration.
What else could be said of an Administration that
' adopted an accusation against a high and distinguished
`individual one moment and disc's:toed it the next—that
one day evinced a spirit of decided and unalterable hos-
' tility to that individual, and on the next willingly laid
the majesty of Parliament at her feet, in the bops. by
. . .
«methanol'', of effeetiog a tromp 'se.—(H 111111 r !)
—What else could be mid of as Adudnist ear
ttri as-
sembled the when% isms of the House of
.',
..4.., tv
sanction a preceeding eoprecolented and d
proceeding which was as great an infraction it...viti.
ciplee as it was a degradation of its dignity—a proceed-
tag which exposed R to the risk of a greater *strap
thati It bad been mooed to during the six annersee
which hid elapsed since he institution ?—{Hear, hear I)
. —Under those circumstances there was no man, in the
capital at least, who could describe his Majesty's present
Government in other terms than those to which be had,
alluded, without subjecting himself to int.* Mel
hearty laughter ; and he could assure the NAM Lord‘
I that such was the bellow out of doors, no lees df
who sincerely supported the general measesseelhimiheZ
and his colleagues, than of those who were their deter-
mined opponents. The Noble Lord sad the Right Hon.
' 1 Gentleman had altogether passed unnoticed the main
' argument which he (Sir J. Mackintosh) bad urged It
I favour of the proposed clause, namely, the necessity of
removing from the aliens, who were summoned as wit-
nemes on the approaching solemn proceeding, all ap
prehension that the powers vested by the Bill in his Ma
jesty's tioveruniest would be exercised to their nicotine
Dicey or disadvantage. The Noble Lord had charged
him with not having alluded to the late conduct of the
mob at Dover—conduct which, unquestionably, wasmost
infamous and disgraceful. But that conduct was nn-1
I nishable by the law as it stood. It was punishable by,
preferring a Bill before a Grand Jury The Attorney.'
I 1 General had sairicieat means of prosecuting the peeps.,
trators of that outrage. The interposition of the Legl-
slaters was wholly sneecessarn._ If he (Sir J. M.) wets
I to meddle with the ordinary adedaistration of the law in
that ease, he might be justly aneetasd of enwileis. If nue
mischievous interference. /tad */ whom ilolll he 111“1010
theless been called upon to interfere ? By thane who. I* 1
the last Session, prevented Parliament from legeiriee
into the most serious and important translations, on the'
ground that it was inexpedient to interfere with the or-
' dinary course of the law,—(Hear, hear!)—He denied
that the clauses which be proposed involved any reflec-
tion or insult towards Government. Was there a single
prerogative in the whole of our Vosatitseiele against
which our ancestors bad not provided materities ? It
was • false pride which, instead of taking that wise
course, blustered and talked big of pledges to the public,
and of insults sustained by the adoption Si "
calculated to prevent the *raiment., of abose:"4Z:
only sure way in Witch a Oevetnnient could show that
it was determined not to Outwits power was, to submit
to have that power restrained by the law. All other
policy—all intimation of apprehended insult from the
1 moieties of power, was hypocrisy when it proceeded ,
from tyrants, and weakness when it came from those who
entertained no bad intentions.—(Hear, hear!)
Mr. CANNISG wished to make a few observation IS
what had fallen front his Hon. and Learned Primed.*
, he were sot precluded from doing so by the well
I which his Honourable and Learned Friend bed jute
made bans considered in she mime of a reply. As his
Honourable and Learned Friend's propoeyon was in the
I shape of an amendment, and not of an omega% modes.
' It to him (Mr. Canning) that what his Hos:
Fneed had Just mild could not be deemed'
a reply.
A short convereatims ensiled Wawa the Stiteeneai
Sir J. Ksentwomin and Mr. Leaman*, on the point of
order. &venially I
Mt: Geneses proceeded, stating it to be his intention
Ito limit his remarks within a very small compass. To
the segmental that all power was by oar Constitution at-
tended with securities whist its abut, the mew was.
that against ordinary abases may gened ought to be
established, bet that 'Weber, whksilhfopropoied am",
cooMmplesed was of so &bitable a mime that so Le-
gislature in a civilised mammy qught for 4 Emsesso•
auticipatt its =mike. but she* Ipok n' '
same point sis slat in which Ile sfe

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