The National Register. — 1819-10-03 (London, England)

XII.]  Volitirat lArtroiSpect.  IT is a painful, though necessary, duty which the aTect and eireumaances of the times impose, that we have week after week to pursue the same melancholy details of violated Late, of persecuted Justice, of Individual Suffering, and of spreading discontent. The theme of the Manchester Magistrates, and their doings from the memorable I 6th of August dowuwards seems to be inexhaustible and eternal. We cannot quit it because it involves the dearest interests of our country, because no man is safe if limit proceedings arc suffered to puss away unnoticed, and because it is through the medium of a free and unfettered discussion in the public Journals that we must especially hope to have the atom unties which have been committed properly understood, and the paramount necessity of resisting the establishment of such precedents generally felt and duly valued. To the strenuous effects of the press to enlighten the public mind, and to set before it the character of the events to which we allude may be mainly attributed the march of sound patriotic feeling which is now making in every part of the kingdom.— Meetings, rising both in the number of their attendants, the rank and weight of Ouse who preside over them, and in the firmness and constitutional tone of their deliberations are becoming almost universal. In addition to those of London, Southwark, York, Leeds, Birmingham, and Norwich, we have now to add that of Liverpool, a place peculiarly important because immediately connected with the memorable scene of action, and of course fully able to judge with unquestionable accuracy of what has been the nature and stamp of the whole stun of these extraordinary transactions. On the other hand the Magistrates of Manchester seem determined to proceed in their own extraordinary career of unsubdued passion and undisciplined intolerance. Alike regardless both of the letter and spirit of English law, they appear to think that their own authority is alone supreme, and that the kiugdoin of Great 13ri. tain is only made fir these Lords of Judgment to think and act and move in. What should we think in other parts where too we have Magistrates sufficiently stupid, and sufficiently disposed to an arbitrary exercise of power; but what I say should we think of a Magistrate who should be gravely sitting to dispense impartial justice thus addressing an individual brought before hint under the charge, of having assaulted a constable, in the thllowing words, and this too b,-(iire the guilt or criminality of the accused had been ut all proved—" I believe that you are a downright blackguard Retinmer.— :ome of you Reformers ought to be hanged ; and soma of you arc sure to be hanged—the rope is already round 'out necks ; the law hes been a great deal too lenient with you. I will have no bail for this ruffianly crew, unless they have some money." What may be the deservings of those who arc wretched and therefore complain, who sec rottenness and corruption overspread the land, and therefore prevumero think that some remedy is wanted, and to :play that it may speedily be applied, we do not fed',. It necessary to determine, but we seriously and gravely believe that to hang up one or two of that august but worthless Body who have been the cause and origin of so much mischief, would boa cheap and wholesome sacrifice to the manes of the murdered, and their bones a very fit appendage to Sir C. Wage