The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-02-18

multitude, and not nicely Distinguishing be-
tween the perjured accuser and the innocent
magistrate, had taken revenge of which The
history of persecuted sects furnishes but too
many examples. II this were so, the sssas-
sin must have afterwards bitterly execrated
his own wickedpess and folly. The capital
and the whole nation went mad with hatred
and fear The penal laws, which had begun
TO lose something Of their edge, were shar-
pened anew. Everywhere Justices were bu-
sled in searching houses and seizing papers.
All the iails were filed with papisis. Lon
don had the aspect of city in a slate of
siege. The train-bands were under arms all
night. Preparations were made for barrica-
ding the great thoroughfares. Patrols march
ed up and down the streets. Cannon were
planted round Whitehall. No citizen thought
himself safe unless he carried under his coat
small fail loaded with lead 10 brain the
popish assassins. The corpse of The muir
dered magistrate was exhibited during seve-
raj days 10 the gaze Of great multtudes, ard
was then committed 10 the grave with strange
and terrible ceremonies, which indicated
rather fear and the thirst of vengeance than
sorrow or religious hopes. The houses in
sisted that guard should be placed in the
vaults over which they sat, in order 10 Sc
cure Them against second gunpowder plot.
All their proceedings were of piece with
this demand. Ever since the reign Of Eliza
beth the Oath of Supremacy had been ex-
acted from members OF the House of c ON.
mons. Some Roman Catholics, however,
bad copIrived so 10 Interpret that oath that
they could take i, without scruple. A more
stringent test was now added, and the Ro-
man Catholic lords were for the first time
time excluded from their seats IN Parliament.
The Duke of York was driven from the Privy
Council. Suong resolutions were adopted
agslnst the Queen. The Commons threw
one Of the secretaries Of state into prison for
having courtersigned commissions directed
TO gentlemen who were not good Proteslants.
They impeached the lord treasurer of high
treason nay, they so far forgot the doctrine
which, while The memory of the civil war
was still recent, they had loudly professed,
that they even attempted TO wrest The COM
maud OF the militia osi OF The Kings hands
To such a temper had eighteen years Of mis-
government brough, the most loyal Pariia-
meni tina, had ever met in England.
Yet ii may aeem strange that, even in that
ovtreu,i,v tho Einc eboplJ haze ,ar,nrad 10
appeal 10 the PEOPLE, for the people were
more excited than their representatives. The
Lower House, discontented as twas, contained
larger number Of Cavaliers than were likely
TO find seats again. Bot il was thought that
dissolution would put stop TO the prose-
cution of the lord treasurer; prosecution
which might probably bring TO light all the
guilty mysteries of the French alliance, and
might thus cause extreme personal annoy
ance and embarrassment 10 Charles. Ac-
cordingIy, in January, 1879, the Parliament,
which had been in existence ever since the
beginning Of the year 1861, was dissolved,
aad writs were issued for general elec.
lion.
During some weeks the contention over
the whole country was fierce and obstinate
beyond example. Unprecedented sums were
expended. New tactics were employed. II
was remarked BY the pamphleteers of that
lime as something extraordinary, that horses
were hirec at great charge for the convey.
auce of electors. The practice of splitting
freehoIds for the purpose of multiplying votes
dates from this memorable struggle. Dis
senting preachers, WHO had .ong hidden
themselves in quiet hooks from persecution
now emerged from their retreats, and rode
from village TO village for the purpose of re.
kindlins the zeal Of the scattered people o.
God. The tide ran strong against the gov.
eminent. Most Of the new members came
up 10 Westminster in a mood little differing
from that OF their predecessors who had sen
Sirafnrd and Land tn The Tnussr-
Meanwhile the courts of justice, which
ought to be, in the midst OF political commo
tions, sure places Of refuge for the innocen
of every party, were disgraced by wilde
passions and fouler corruptions than were Il
be found even on the husiings. The tale o
Oates, though il had sufficed TO convulse tbs
whole realm, would not, until confirmed By
other evidence, suffice 10 destroy the hum
blest of those whom he had accused for
by The old law Of England, two witnesse,
are necessary 10 establish a charge Of trea
| son. But the success Of the first impos,el
produced Its nstural consequences. In few
weeks he had been raised from peuury and
obscuriiy 10 oppulence, 10 power which
made him the dread Of princes and mobiles
and to notoriety such as has for low and bad
minds oil the attractions of glory. He was
not long without coadjutors and rivals
A wretch named Carstairs, who had earned
living in Scotland by going disguised 10
conveniicles and then Informing against the
preachers, led the way. Bedloe, noted
swindler, followed; aud soon, from all the
brotheIs, gambling houses, and sponging.
houses of London, false Witnesses poured
forth 70 swear away the lives Of Roman
Catholics. One came with q story about an
army Of thirty thousand men who were TO
muster IN the di,guise of pilgrims a, Cor
rnnra, and TO sail thence to Wales. Another
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