Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-17

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the actual state of things in it. The real
state Of the public mind, he said, on the
question of reform, wasperhaps, the mostim-
porant one that was ever connected with
the government Of this kingdom. lie had
long felt il to be so he had long taken every
means in his power to ascertain how the
fact actually stood the result was firm
persuasion, that this principle was neither 10
cal nor temporary-that no measures, that
no ministers, could extinguish it--and, that
continuation of that mode Of opposing it
which the ministers had for some years a.
dopted. would deluge the nation in blood,
and overturn every existing establishment
A whole people were not to be prosecuted,
insulted, overawed; nation could neither
be arrested or imprisoned, nor tried, ror ex-
ecuted."
From the prevalence o! high church doc
trines in the ruling party at Manchester, we
are not astonisbed at the prediction of its
magistrates for those laws which were pass
ed under the Stuarts. But we confess,
Notwithstanding these magistrates to the
surprise of the whole country did ayear or
two ago arrest several individuals on the act
Of Charles IL, (enacting that "no person or
persons shall procure the getting of hands,
or other consent, of any persons above the
number OF twenty or more, to any petition,
complaint, remonstrance, &c. for alterations
of matters established by law, unless the
matter thereof have been first consented unto
by three or more justices Of that county, or
by the major part of the county or division
of the county where the same matter shall a
rise or if arising in London by the Lord
Mayor, aldermen and commons in common
council assembled;'',j and for doing which
they ought to have been called TO severe
account, we were astonished that even the
Courier should have the hardihood TO adduce
this statute as law in force, auhorising the
dispersion OF the meetings at Manchester,
Smith6eld, Leeds, &c. as illegal. In the first
place, this most abominable act, worthy Of
the rein under which it passed, does not ap-
ply to meetings, but 10 the procuring fsub-
scriptions 10 petiions-and in the next place
it is well known to have been repealed by
the act Of settlement, in wbichit is expressly
declared, I" that it is the right of the sub,
jects to petition the king, and all commit
ments and prosecutions for such petitioning
are Illegal" Never did it enter the head Of
the most devoted tool OF power, from the
passing of the act of settlement down to the
arrests ordered by the Manchester magisE
trates, that the procuring of more than twenty
signatures to petitions was illegal and we
are not exaggerating when we say that nine
teen out OF every twenty petitions presented
to the legislature since the revolution, have
not received the consent pointed out by the
act of Charles. Shame on the writer OF the
present day who can become the advocate of
such law
SOUTHWARK RESOLUTIONS.
I" |. That it is the imprescriptible right
OF ireemen to meet and discuss their grew
ances, and that it is their duty to maintain
these rights, TO avoid becoming slaves, and
thus render themselves unworthy of the pri-
vileges derived from their ancestors.
"2. That it appears to this meeting that
a criminal, cruel and cowardly outrage has
been committed by the magistrates and yeo-
many cavalry of Manchester, on the 10th of
August, against an unofendiug multitude,
constjtutionaly and legally assembled.
-. That this outrage seems 10 have
been premeditated by the magistrates, and
ty clandestine arrangements so conducted,
as to prevent the unfortunate victims from a.
voidng the ferocious malice and unmanly
cruelty Of the yeomanry cavalry, charged
with the execution of an.unlawful order.
a. That the blood shed upon this occa-
sion demands that justice which trial by jury
affords, and those who oppose such justice
render themselves confederates of tie origi-
nal guilty parties.
"5. That this meeting sees with indig-
nation the advisers Of the crown have, with
out investigation, approved these criminal
proceedings, and that they have moreover
insiduously opposed impediments to the pros
secution Of the offenders, by refusal TO
grant " immediate and sfectual inquiry into
the outrages that have been committed, and
to cause the guilty perpetrators thereof to be
brought to signal and condign punishment I"