her discussion should give way to the important
question appointed for discussion. The petition was
then withdrawn, though the precedent of 1798 bore on
the present question. *(Hear, hear)*.—In 1813, on a
division, the rule of 1656 was made operative—but
who would contend that such a decision bound Par-
liament—that such a temporary resolve could con-
travene the Bill of Rights?—*(Hear, hear)*—So much
for precedents. What said the reason of the thing?
Why the reason took the very contrary direction of
the course now proposed. There were objections to
written petitions that could not apply to printed ones.
The great mass of the people by having their peti-
tions printed, were enabled fully to consider and un-
derstand what they were about to subscribe;—and
they had the further guarantee that what they had
determined upon as their petition, once being printed,