The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-01

where now. (Lond cries QfRear. When
| che greatest authority and experience eXis-
ted. in the time Of Lord North, the rights
OF Parliament were never doubted such
contumacy was left to these times. At that
| time there was not one word heard abont
the privileges of the House. 1t was the
more extraordinary, because an acrimonious
discussion took place, and the most eminent
| characters OF the country, Fox, Thurlow,
Loughborough, &c. took part in the debate;
but it never occurred to them that the House
OF Commons did not possess the power to
commit either Mr.. Woodfali or Mr. Horne
1t was left for the times in which we live TO
dispute such power and privilege, and he III.
| most considered it 4 waste OF TING to refer
to any other precedent. The Resolutions of
1701, after the Kentish Petition, the division
OF so extraordinary nature which followed
the events OF that period downto 1874 form
a ground of argument from which it is i'm
possible to be dis'odged. The case of Ash
ley ana White was put an end to by dis
| solution or parliament !; and this, as the ne
cessity OF supreme intervening power was
evident, was wise resolution Crosby was
! refused hadeas cort,ue =; and in the wear
1882 one Murray was brought before the
House, who applied TO the Kings Bench for
hd6eQs cor7tuS, This was refused by Jus
tice Wright. an upright Judge, & of unblem
ishet! character, who declared that in so doing
he felt perfectly easy in his conscience, mas.
much, as he. conceived such refusal con
sonant to the feelings of the House He
quoted the authority Of the Lord Chief Jus.
tice Hale, from the manuscript in the ms
session OF Mr., Hargrave (page 224 chap III
which states that the power of conmi,tal
belongs to the House by long and unquestion.
aoie usage, but it had not the power of civ
ing damages.
Ibis is farther corroboratcd in Mr.. Har
graves discourse on the History of Parlia
mentary JudiCatGre. The next authority
he should quote, would be that of one who
he might say was educated in Parliament.
ana OF whom he never could speak without
the feelings ct ardent veneration and affec
ton. Mr. Fox being asked, how far the
power OF the House extended in conmittaIp
ne ansW cred, it could commit for contemnt
OF misaemcanor, which amounted to con |
tempt. IN letter which succeeded, he
says. this power extended to punishment for
WIRING contumaciously therefore he consi
ders not merely common obstruction. but !
IcontumaCIous writing can be punished as |
contempt In writing the contumely of ex |
preston may be done away or confirmed NV
the context: and he desired the House would
consider the whole, when il could not but he
acknowledged, that much might be conveyed
| IN the torn OF argument, which is a proos
insult on inspection He then read the pas-
sage from the argument, p. 441-.. Yet Inn
l'ed ana clrcumscribed, &c. il calls upon the
accused to eliminate himself'' This &C.
sertlon he would positively deny, not only in
the present case, but i'm that of Mr.. Horne
VINO was called on TO defend himself. and an
opportunity given iosummon witnesses aLi,t,r-
~. AS tothe observations on the warrant
ne considered them gross libel, and tending
to cutup the very roots of the Con.titptiore
lie begged the House to attend to this nag
sage" Does it not evidently appear that
this piece ct unsealed paper, signed by the
oPaeker, by which an untried subject has
Deen oullawed bears TO feature of legality -,
hank god. said the Hon. Member Caddres-
sing himself to the Speaker) we never had
q seal OF Thce your name and authority.
pr, IS our stamp. Hear, hear!) Does
that warrant want a seal which orders q
writ from the Great Seal Sir, this House
oy its privileges, tore that seal from the
Shanceilor salisbury, and "made it speak. "
Ch THIS subject he would speak out. and saw |
the greatest punishment was merited: Int |
atpreSent it was not the best mode. tho re
solution, he trusted, would not extend far |
ther than rep"imand. He alluded to the |
case OF MAJOR Scott, where the House bay-
ing pronoanced the publication libellous. vet |
thought proper to pass only reprimand. !
MI. Pitt, on the occasion he alluded to. took |
particular part in the discussion, and de-
sired the House TO take it up with great mod |
GRAFTON. reprimand would come with ne |
culiar weight and dignity from the person |
who filled the chair, and to the feelings of |
gentleman he conceived it to be the severest !
punishment. The author of the pamphlet |
had totally mistaken the case of Sir !
steele, and with ingenious falacv had quoted
every part ofmy Lord Coke's Institutes ey
cept the last, which expressly treats ON the |
nature of courts of Parliament: and of the lat |
ter It should be recolected, that it possesses |
not the inferior, but its fair and just place in
the Constitution. 4 Hear, hear
BosToN, May %.
a letter from Halifax, Nav 16. saws |
vessels are already up for different parts |
OF the States, and have no doubt conside
rable trade will be carried on to mutual con |
veaience and advantage"
ne Chevalier ONIs, (he Spanish Am. |
oassador and Lady, and Don GoNsALEz |
late Governor of a Province in th-.1me-
''cG, contemplate visiting Boston.
we ind the following advertisement in |
Paris paper of Feb. 90:
)" Sale ETA Prize al CaIais-On Monday, |
March $, will be sold at public vendue. the |