The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-06-05
MrscnLnANnoUs.
From the Boston Patriot.

or Parliamentary license Of SPEECH.
Public opinion has severely condemn I'd
the unbridicd license Of speech ~ the pre-
sent session Of Congress ; and IN no State
more than in this, where the decorum ol
debate in the General Court, is very sell
dom OF ever transeressed. After all, our
Congress rarely exceeds the severity oil
snr.ch IN the British iIonse of Commons.
Whep the famous WILLIAM PITT, after.
ward Earl Of CH.THAM. was under thirt,
years of agr, he INDUCED hllnsclf in u ST.
verify of speech which called up Horace
WGtpoie IN reply, who IN the course OF II
SAID - formidable sounds and furious
de, lamstion, confident assertions, and lof-
" periods, may affect the Joung and IN
experienced and perhaps the honorable
gentleman may have contracted his habits
oforatory by conversln9 more with those of
his own age, than with such as have | all
moe opportunities of acquiring know
ledge, aud moe successful methods of
Communicating their sentmentso-
made use # some expressions, such a
+" pshemeace Of geSt,re-theatticaL emo
tom 81. &c. applying then to Pitts man.
nsr of speaking when Mr.. Pitt got up
bud said
The atr0cions crime of being young
inau. which the honorabI. gentleman has,
vi II such spirit aud dccrncy charged up
on M, | shall neither attempt To pallaie
nor deny, but content myself with wish
my that may b. one # those whose fol.
Irs may cease with their youth. aud not
of lhst n.mber Uho are ignorant IN sp,te Of
erperaencr.'
Whether youth can be imputed to any
mau Az reproach, will not assume the
province of determining But surely age
may become justly contemplate, if thr
opportunities which il bri e. have passed
away without hnprnt ement, and vice APP
pears To prevail when the passions have
subsidized. The wretch that, after having
seen the consequences ia thousand er
rors, continues still to blnndrr, ard whose
age has only added obsilnacy to stupidity
is surely the object oi either ahhorfence on
contempt, aud deserves not that his gre,
head should secnrr him from insults
TUoipote udS then an old man
Much NOR. IL he IL be ahhorred, who
as nv has advanced IN age, has rtCeded
from virtue, and become more wicked
with less temptation who prostitutes
himself for money w'Ieh he cannot en-.
,ov, and spends thu Remains of life m III,
ruin of his country"
But youth Is not my only crime I'll
have been accused Of acting a theatrical
par, Theatrical part may either impI,
some ptculiatllies of gesture, or a disslm
ula,ion nf my real sentiments, and an a.
dop,ian of the opinions aud language of an.
oihrr man."
" In the first sense the charge is too ri
fling to BIZ rrtnted, and deserves only to be
mentioned, that it may be dcspised.
am at liberty, like every other man, to ust
my own language ; and though | may
perhaps, have some ambition, vet, /,
please this gentleman, shall not lay my
ptlf under any restraint, nor very solicit.
ously cupy his diction, nr his mem, how.
ever maiur"d by age, ol modelled BY eX
perlenee II any nan shall by chargiu,
with theatrical behaviour, imply that
utter any sentiment but my own, shal
treat him as - c0lUmnintor and riilian
nor shall any protection shelter him from
Che treatment which ht deserves. shal
on sbch an otcasion. without scrnplC
trample upon all those forms with nhic
wealth and dignity enlrench Themselves
nor shall any thing hut age restrain my re
sentiment AGE, which always blmgs on
privilege, thai IT being iasoIeHt and super
cilious wiHhom punishment"
Bot with regard To those whom hay
offended. am ot op.nion, that if ha
acted a borrowed part, should have y
vuidrd their censure /; the heat that often
ded them IS the ardnnr If conviction, an
that zral for the service cf my countr
which neither hope nor fear shallinduene
M Ia suppress. Twill not sit unconcern
ed while my liberty is invaded, nor loo
in silence upon public robbery. will e,
ert my endea, ours, at whate, err hazard I
repel the sggressor, and drag the thief
justice mhoevey may project them in The
piHainy, and nhoerer may pdrtnhe ofhe
pi,tnder ii the Hon. gentleman''-
Here Mi. Pitt was catied to order b
Nj. Huntington. 1.-THE Secretary at Wa
vino rrprehcnded him in very lllber
terms. AID WAS proceeding in the san
strain when Pit, IN ST upon him. say ing:
"f this be Ia preserve order, there
no danger ofiodrcency from the most
ceptious tongue for what calunnl On
be- more atrnclous, or what r~pruach MOI
severe. than that Of speaking without an
ragafd TO truth Order may somctini,
8 he broken by passion or inadverteocy. b,
will hardly he re-esablished by monte
like this, Who cannot govern his own pa,