Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-02

| that House could, for one moment, be-
| heve that danger was 10 be apprehended
| bv any witness IN this country whether
| such was the state of the country, as that
witnesses could not give evidence with
! safety The Report said nothing of such
| a danger. There we're trials for treason
| in Loadon, in Derby, in York. Did any
Of the witnesses show reluctance to come
forward, or desire protection for their
persons He would say word about
spies and informcrs. There could exist
no circumstances III which spies could
be employed as Oliver had been. lnlor-
! nation might he received from bad char
acters, bui that WAS a very different thing
frsm employing them as spies. Am hon
orable gentleman had said, that the per-
sons whom Oliver addressed al Derby,
were III disposed. Was h aware that he
was taking ,he same ground with men
who were the eXecra,,om of mankind F!
This WAS the very defence of Vaughau's
tonduct. Vaughan had eniiccd persons
10 comni, a'burglary, and ihen gol them
unprecedented IN the act.-i'he defence
WAS, that their characters were sS bad,
that they required Cnly an opportunity
10 act, III order 10 be guilty of theft and
burglary. The defence for imstigaiing
the starving men liz Derby TO rebellion
Was, HAT they were not unwilling 10 com.
nit state offences Between those two
cases he could not see the slightest dis
iinciion. The Bill then Was framed 10
project those who were the agents in
such eases, in order 10 continue the sIs-
tenn. This Act would now become a
precedent for all others, which Ministers
might choose Ia demand. His only con
ISOLATION WAS, that when these arbitrary
and crue! proceedings, and these pre-
cedents against the people of England
should be read by p0Sterily-and when
all the venerable institutions for The atl-
mlnistraiion Of justice should become
the instruments of OppressiOn-tha pos
terliy woiid al the sane time see that
few Individuals, small in number compar-
ed with those who willingly surrendered
their liberties and Cheered the advance
OF u system that overwhelmed law, ins-
ice, aud liberty that these tru indi,i-
dua,s continued 10 exert all ther power
IT, preserve ita1 happy constitution of
civil society which formed the boast of
this country, and the envy of other ma
tons, ill they were born down by ire
sistible force. He would not say tia,
this bill was The desiructinn of our libcr-
ties, but II led directly 10 il. and formed
part of y system which would end IN lhe
triumph OF arbitrary power: when the
language OF our immortal poet would be
fatally true" Thai England, Which WINS
wont 10 conquer other nations, has gam
Ell a shameful conquest oyer.herseit.''-
Tie Hon. and Learned GeH,leinau sat
dorm, Gnlid the mast animated and erpressire
cheers
The Solicitor General distinctly denied
that the present measure had ever been
introduced or supported on the pres imp
ton thai Ministers had been guilty OF the
least irreguiariy. The reports OF Con-
mlitees appointed by the House had led
To The two aCjs Of suspension, and, toge-
Their with the report recently received
from 4 third Secret Committee, could he.
yer be laid aside in the consideration OF
this measure. The indemnity claimed
for Ministers, did not rest upon any sup
posed inability 0H ihe part of Ministers
TIA defend themselves in a court Of Justice,
but on the reasonable apprehension that
disclosure OF the names OF those who
Had supplied information to GoVernElent
az to the designs and proceedings Of the
dIsaHected, might be preIudicia 10 tie
future security of the slate. As 10
there being little difference be.Weea The
cases ofOliver and Vaughan, he really
could not conceive any cases more dissi-
Hlilar. 1t was not even pretended that
Vaughan had ever been employ Ell by
GihtrS 10 entrap unwary men. Did the
learned Gentleman mean TO accuse his
haiesty's Ministers of employing Oliver
for the express purpose ofdOiag mischief?
Every fact which cane out in evidence
al Derby showed the strong probability
that similar Instructions would have ia
ken placer otherparlS fihe country, had
not very strenuous eXertions been made
by the Magistrates 10 prevent them. II
was on his ground that indemnity was
now asked for that valuable class Of The
community, who might in some Instances
have exceeded their legal powers in their
anxiety 10 secure the public welfare The
Whole question might be safely referred
10 the general principle, ihat in cxiraor-
binary cases private interests must WELD
TO The public safety.
Sir F. Burdeii avowed il as his fixed
opinion, that the disturbances were excl
ted purp0seiy by Ministers, and ihev we're
directed solely against persons no wish
ed TO obtain d Reform IN ihat House. Ii
was absurd 10 suppose that Tie Belormers
could have sanctioned or encouraged any
breach of the peace ii was important TO
them that the public tranquility should
be preserved. Ii appeared To- him that
no person could derive any advantage
from II but the Ministers themselves and
when he considered that the present adj
miTis,ratiou were Tie remnant of tic adj
minls'rallon who formerly praciiseda de
fusion on their country, by pretending
that great and serious dangers existed, he
could come TO no ether conclusion than
that they were live persons WHO had in
Stigaled all the acts Of riot and treason
CT they were treasoB) which had been
committed. Ministers, he conjended,
had violated the Kings coronation oath
HEY had denied and refused Justice; they