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rdkvFin % 4 * % > e fcept tri ^ oitody a week on a nSmcMHe o ^ % las |> n ^ y , it i ^ Uoves aH that the crime should be ^ l ^ J ^ ifcfiiu *! , aS V fcra ^ eilei taa f \ id att ; ^ £ tfertted mo-Xifentrtifter ' # » expression oftenslve to his n ^ gfib ^ ar ; which * # iU ptft ^ tW fortmer entirely at the ' m ^ tey of the latter , and idashpit litne ^ England may be converted into a similar state ' with that of Spain on
tire formation of the Inquisition . Let it be recollected , that within a year from the formation of this horrible tribunal , about twenty thousand persons were taken up and subjected to various penalties of fine , imprisonment and death itself . There was no want of spies and informers . By degrees the higher classes enrolled
themselves as familiars of the Inquisition , and the best security a man bad for his own personal liberty was to turn informer against bis neighbour . It is in vain to say that the manners of the English are alien to Such a practice . It is true our ancestors held such practices in the utmost horror , and the name of spy and
informer was most disgraceful : but that hi ^ h spirit has been greatly weakened within , the last twenty-five years , and a very small thing may turn the scale . If popular odium can be excited against certain opinions , as we know from the p ^ Lges of history , it has frequently been tue case , the disgrace of espionage is lost , and tfofc spy becomes a meritorious character . ^ Our master was called seditious and
blasptienier : the apostles were saluted with ttye same epithets : the early Christians Were committed to prison , suffered tfie ^ p s ^ of goods , and ^ even death upon tlie same chargers . A ^ *' k ad Dcen dune by Fa ^ ans against Christiaiis , has been acted over andf over again by CUri 9 tians
against each other . The time is perhaps approaching . for a trial of the same kind , and it is our duty and our wisdom to be prepared . ^ Tfte case of Mr . Wright was of such , a nature , that ^ it was not likely to be passed ter without notice . It was alluded to
by juord Holland in the House of Lords , when tfye Bishop o £ Chester stated in his p&c . e , that Mr . Wright was not obliged to give ? bail for avowing Unitarian opinions , I > ut for contradicting the doctrine of a future state ; and one o / the public papers lias Stated , " ta ^ t a , person , holding such an oplnjop ougjbt npt to be tolerated . Now we cannot beliere for a moment
that , tylfr "Vyri g ht professed the opinion la ] d . tb Jiis c ^ ar ^ ge ; but on this point we shall jp pf . afj present epter into u / iy discu ^^ Ayn , ' as " # W , ca , se will . be properly tried it ^ ji qpim . ' of ) aw . '^ ut'We must . demur to th $ * 49 | Ctrine of intolerance respecting tfie denser * of i * jfathre state , bein ^ i \ illy pir--&uaded tha £ we have notb ' ing' to fear from their arguments , and that the only
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way to , glvc th ^ env any success ; to . pr /^ r . vent them from shewing tbeir cause , in the , most favourable colours . Antfther case wholly civil nis excited general ground of suspicion . A * society of very long standing thought it uec ^ s ^ fafy under tlve new acts ^ to apjlly for a licehke . The application was made to a Cburt <> f
Magistirates , consisting of the t ^ fnVwl ^ o t and three Aldermen . The society wa * declared to be founded for the inve * rigaM tion and discussion of philosophical , lite * rary , historical and political subjects . The Lord Mayor and one Alderman taw no objection to granting ; the licence ,, but the two other Aldermeii dissented , and on ^ of them declared that the intention of tbe
late act was to put down all political debate whatever . In Consequence of this difference of opinion the licence could not be granted , and the applican t * retired , and what coufsc they will takfe tiore must shew . The Edgli ^ h have bee iT sa to ng accustomed to make political subjects -the tlienie of their disctisssion * , that it
will not be easy to bring them to an acquiescence with these new restrain ^ , and perhaps it is not for the advantage . u £ . any government , that the subject » hou }< J be debarred of this advantage . ; fpfjii- " suredly a government is much \ V yin pr ^ secure when the pcoj > le speak their sen ^ ji ^ ments freely , than when they are obUtedii . ments freely , than when they are oblige 4 .
to conceal tliem , and each iuan tpoks upon his neighbour as a dangero-us cen .-sor : arid indeed one great advantage of England over other nations has arisen from this freedom . V \ hen it is renioveoV there is a danger that the energy bo jgmarkable in the £ nglisb character wilj be destroyed .
The descendants of Englishmen in nnje » - ther part t > f the world are in a very < Jiriic < , * 8 tt situation ; and the sptech of the President . of the United States , on taking possession of hjs new dignity , will be read with . M ^ small degree of abliorrt * nce by the favourers of the new system . It was natural in him to praise the constitution of his country ; . and the questions he asks deserve to he
recorded . Speaking of the ^ ituatJoi } ot individuals under their £ ov * . * rm / jent he u ^ rt these words : ¦ ' * On whom ha . s oppress ^ xan . fallen in any quarter of oui union ? Who has been deprived of any ri ^ ht of person
or of property ? Who restrained Aoin ' oiTeriug his vows in the mode which he , prefers to the Divine . Author of his Ueing ? , It is well known that all these Llessuigtj hav « been enjoyed " th . t'ir fullest ex ^ itiiif . } and I add with oarticiiiar sati&fiiction .
that there has been no exanvplt- of a capM ^ l punishment being inflicted on anv one for . high treason / ' In another place \\ & says » 4 < Such is tbe bappy governineut und > cu which we live—a governnienf adequate to every purpose for vyhuh the socitil <; urxi
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State bf Ptiftic Affairs . 2 zY *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1817, page 255, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2463/page/63/
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