The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-05-25
Gurnpe
CONTINUATION IF Foreign News from late
London Prints.
PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
LONDON, Feb. 10.


Mr.. Yorke rose to call the attention of the
House to what he thought gross violation of
their privileges. Either those privileges
existed, or they did not Ii they did exist,
twas the bounded duty of that House to de
fend them from those gross and wanton at
tacks, that went in great degree to ouesti-
on, whether they had such privileges or not
The attack, of which he now complained,
was not mere newspaper paragraph it was
a placard stuck upon the walls of the metro.
polls, challenging the eye of the passengers,
and openly defying all consequences. If
that House had privileges to maintain, Ne
thought in his heart, that it was high time
to assert them Hear hear For the
liberty that had been taken with his name
by those persons, he fe,t nothing but the most
profound contemplate placard to which
he alluded, was headed with the names of
the Right Honorable Gentleman opposite
(Mr. Windham) and OF himself. This same
placard which announced itself as the Jour
nal of sort OF speaking club, called &" The
British Forum" stated to the public, that
g last Monday. after an interesting discussi-
on, it was unanimously decided that the en-
iorcement of the standing orders, by shut.
ting out strangers from tue Gallery of the
House of Commons, ought to be censured as
an insidious and i'll timed attack upon the
liberty ofthe press, as tending to aggravate
the dlscontents OF the people, and to render
their Representatives OBJ of jealous sus
piciou." Here they had their most valuable
privileges attacked, their standing orders
were censured, and they themselves were
menaced /; for the question upon the proprie-
ty of enforcing those orders had been recently
before the house, and the prepriety of that
proceeding was conhriaed by very conside-
labe majority. He had been bred up in
those habits of veneraton for the CONSTITUTE
on, that he must of necessity revere the lib
erty ofthe press as one of the most efficient
guardians of that constitutions he tho t
that the liberty of the press has no more
formidable enemy than the RIGHTEOUSNESS
Of the press, and, as sincere and Jealous
advocate for the former, he trusted he should
never be wanting in his efforts TO punish and
restrain the latter.-I1is first proposition
would be TO deliver the paper at the table !;
the next that it should be read by the clerk,
and that the clause of the bill of rights rel
alive to privilege Of the debate, should be
also read and lastly, ne should move that
tire printer shoold be required to attend at
the bar of the House to morrow. Mr.. Yorke
then delivered III the paper, which was
read by the clerk, and was in substance as
follows -
"BRITIsH FoRuM-MR. YoRKE g. Mr..
WINDHAM"
Then followed the question for the eve
ming, Monday, February the 10Th" Which
was the most deserving the censure of the
public---Mr. Yofke's enforcement of the
Standing Orders of the House to exclude
strangers from the enquiry into the Walche
rem expedition, or Mr.. Windham's late at
tack on the liberty Of the press %
Then followed a statement of the manner
in which the question on the preceding night
had been determined which conveyed a
strong censurc Oh the proceedings OF the
House
The printers name was ]. Deane, War
dour street.
Mr.. Yorke next moved, that the clause of
the bill of rights, affecting the privilege OF
speech in that House, be now read. 1t was
read accordingly, stating, IN substance, chat
the speeches or debates OF members i'm chat
House, ought not 20 be impeached or ques
toned by any authority cut of that House.
Mr.. Yorke then moved that J. Deane,
printer, 81. Wardour street, do attend at
the bar of that House to morrow. Ordered
ION the 2Oth, Mr.. Deane was called to
the bar, owned that he had printed the hand
bill, which was written by MIR. John Gale
Jones i; taat X was usual for him to print sim
liar papers--and he had no intention to VIC
late the privileges of Parliament He wa,
on motion Of Mar. Xorkc after some discussi-
on, Committed To- the custody of the ser
jeant at aims, 70 DC broJghtup next day.]
JosDoN, Feb. CT.
Mr.. Yorke moved the order OF the day, foi
brlugits W.. yJaD G,as- I0.eS 20 the BAG