Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-05-25

1 guilty of gross violation of the pri
tviieges of that house.
: The question was carried mem. con.
y Mr. Yorke then rose & said, that after
tire vote just passed he thought it i'm
possible the house should not follow
lIsuP by some further resolution, which
| should mark its own. sense of the in /.
Id'gnity offered to its high authority,
10y the person now at the bar, and by
making proper example, warn such
'jpersons from taking upon them to COM
ment IN such way upon the proceed
ings OF that house, and the parliament
tary conduct Of its members. He
therefore moved, that John Gale Tones.
FOR his offence, be committed to his
malssty's goal of Newgase.
! Shortly afterwards, Mr. Yorke an
peared prepared to offer Mr. Deans
Pstitiop, ard presented it to the house,
| Inc petition having been read,
!. Mr Dean, the printer, was then CAL
led TO the bar, and the speaker having
recapitulsted to him the nature and
circumstances of his offence, told him,
that In consideration of his demea
nor yesterday, and the peculiar Cir
lcumstarces of his case, it was the
pleasure of the house that he should
be discharged withou: fees; aud he was
dis charged accordingly.
ron the 18th March, Sir Francis
Bufdetr, after denying the right tn
house or commons had to commit
Mr. ones, moved that he be discharg-
cd--but his motion was negatived, by
a majority Of 1891
From Coo6stt's Register of March IA.
Sir Francis Burdett to his constitu.
ents: Denying the power Of the
house OF Commons to impri-
son the people os En-
gland.
GENTLEMEN,
The house of commons having
passed vote, which amounts TO a de-
ciaration, that an order of theirs is &C.
be OF more weight than magma caafts
and the lave Of the land, think it m,
duty TO lay my sentiments thereon be-
fore my constituents, whose character
as freemen, and even whose persona,
safety, depend in so great degree
upon the decision OF this question:
Question of no less importance thai,
this whether our liberty be still ts be
secured by the laws of our fore fathers
Tor be to lie at the absolute mercy of a
part OF our fellow subjects collected
together by means which it is not ne
cessasary for me to describe.
| In order to give to this subject all
the attention to which IL is entitled. &
TO avoid the danger to be apprehended
from partial views and personal ceiling
1t will be advisable to argue the ques
ton on its own merits, putting the in
diyidual however we may deplore his
present sutferings) cut of view; though.
at the same time, every man ought to
consider this case his ow because !,
should the principle on which the gen
tlemen ofthc house of Commons nave
thought proper to act in this instance,
be once admitted, it is imp ossible Tor
any one to conjecture how soon he
himself may be summoned from his
dwelling, and be hurried, without tri-
al, and without oath made against him
from the bosom of his family into the
clutches OF jailor. 1t is, therefore,
now the time to resist the doctrine up
on which Mr Jones has been sent 10
Newgate; or, 1t is high time to cease
all Pretensions TO these liberties, which
were acquired by our forefathers, af-
ter SO many struggles, and SO many
sacrifices.
Either the house Of commons is au-
thorised to dispense with the laws of
the land, or il IS not. If tie constitu-
ton be of so delicate texture, SO
weak frame, so fragile substance,
that 1t is to be only spoken of in terms
OF admiration, and 10 bo viewed mere.
~ as piece Of curious but unproGta.
bic Workmanship; if magma char,a and
all the wholesome laws of England. be
dead letter; in that case, the afir.
NATIVE Of the proportions may be adj
mltted bus ii the constitution lives.
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