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HOUSE OP LORDS-Frictay , July 29 . Tee Earl of Badsor presented a petition fromDanfermlme in favour cf a total repeal of the Corn Laws . The Noble Earl said , in order , to show his support -oi tie prays ? of the petition , be begged leave to lay on tbe table of tire House a Bill for the repeal of tbe duties en the importation of Guru , ¦ which be moved should be read a first time and printed , and read a second time oa Thursday . —A ? reed to . The Marquis of Glakbicabde moved that the order of the day for the second reading of the Sadbury Disfracchiseicent Bill , and the hearing of Witnesses at the Bar , ba discharged , inasmuch as . r . ftcr a careful consideration of ths -s-iiole mat * -- ? , ins -was persuaded fb -t their Lorihhips would no . Lu iibia to discuss tiie B v tiering tbs present session .
Alter a few -words from Lord Bboughah , the motion """ ¦ as &CTesd to . The report of several hills -scere then received / after ¦ wh ich tasir Lordships adjourned .
Saturday , July 30 . Their Lordships met to day at twelve o ' clock . Ssver&l bnis were brought up from the Commons , aad lead a 2 rsi time . The private bilh on tha table -were forwarded a stage , and their Lordships adjourned until Monday . Monday , Aug . 1 . The House met at the usual hour and advanced ths several Bills before them a staae in their pro £ re 3 B .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS , Friday , July 29 . Mr . T . S- DCS combe presented a petition from Dr- ii'Douall and certain inhabitants of D ^ ptford , compiainiEg of the Isterference of the constabulary -with tbs " public meeting there ; and gave notice that , on "Monday , he should move that the petition of J > t UDiuall and the inhabitants of Deptford be referred to a select committee , -with directions to report the evidence to tbe House , On the order of Use day being read for going into eoHnnittee of supply ,
Mr . Em rosa and brought forward the following motion , of ¦ whick be had given notice : —" That an humble address be presented to her Majesty , praying that her Msjssty -will fcs pleased to give directions tka * there b 2 Ma btfore this House &n estimate of the amount of money "which 'will be required to satisfy the award made by the commissioners to whom it was referred to examina and adjudicate the claims of certsi-British subjects , for Irises aust ^ ned by the confiscation cf their shipa cad cargoes by the GrOTenaniJit of Denmark , in the year 1 S 07 . ' After some , observations on the subject , the Hon . Member said at this period of the StSaion he would not press his motion , and The Chancellor , of the Exchequer said the subject wocl . l not i > e lost sight of , bat ev = ry attention paid to it ty t-er Maj--ity " s G jvernmtnt ..
Afirr terns observations from Mr . Williams , the House Trent into comsiitiss of supply , ilr . Greece in ths chair . The Sis * vote w > 3 £ 70 00 0 for civil contingencies . - Mr . WiLLiA j : s slruagly objected to some of its items ic ^ ride 3 ia tfiis Tcte . Afier s few -srorcs from C-jlcnel 5 r 3 Tnon ? and 31 . F . ilACLE , 7 sl * . Eums , hi reference to seise remarks from Col Sibthcrpe , dilated nprm the fcxtravs ^ sice of the GoTETLHiem riiPt-ttiag their ailowaDCcS to ambassadors in foreiiTi courts , and ths £ 6 ; C 0 O to t ' ne Gtovtinoi cf JTarlh Araerici . Sir G . CLAtHE S ' JA that tbe £ G COO ? ra 3 caused by the late L " -rd S ; dc-ELAm during ths two rears he -wzs in f See . The arringtmenrs for the residing Govemor-Cretersi - Kcrebast-d Gn a nv-ra . economic footing . After £ few trard 3 from Mr . S-s ^ art .
Lord PaLME £ STi 3 >\ is a long speech , defended the appointment of ihe diplomatic arrangements at tba miccr courts of Europe ; he was , however , Tcxy Millinc ; tD abo . iih ar . y th « ^ -ere found to be useless . He had greut ' y reducei tie salaries vbsa he was in cfice . and they -were quite as } o ^ r * a thoss of Fra r . ee , Pins-Ms , acd oiit ? countries . There ^ ras no government in _ tha ¦ world -which ^ aa better gcv £ ii : s . d in this rt sptcr th ^ ours . D * . Bob * ki . vg rerretHd that th 9 ambassador z . 1 Ccsstinrinoplc 'was obliged to employ dragouisns in CGmmruiication vrith th * Ports .- ; otlt diploiiiit : ; t&Iztic-ns T ? ere not on a propi-r fuoiing tiere ; for p-rs- us ought to I-s attached ta i ' ne embassy c ^ pabie cl fc . 'IdLnj couTerse idth the Turks . After a short conversation between Sir B . Pstl rrr-. * . Dr . Sovrinc ,
Ir ? ra PiL 2 IEEST 0 S Slid te hid suggested to the TJni ? er £ . ii-s tbs propriety of educating £ ome youths is orieatil iit = ratuie-In reply to a qnastion from Sir C . Napier , relative to the Spsniih and Portuguiss clsimacts , Sir Robert Peel said thty T * ere in progress cf EettlemtEt . Captain PiTriniiDGS condeiniiea the extravagsucs 01 BOme of liia itciaa . - A long dfesuiiory conversation took placa betwa n several H 02 . iitinbers , ¦ 7 > ber . tho vote for £ 70 . 000 Wis Ujt " : iuitiJy carried . Upoa s . grant of £ 10 000 for educational purposes being picpossd , Dr . Bawriag and Mr . E&me supported it . After seme febserrations from Mr . Co'wpek and Mr . BOTTAIJT )
jut . O COSKELL rose . He complained of the unjust exclciian cf Catholics from schools ; a great portion of the children o £ the Irish in this country "were Catholics , "whose parents had emigrated ; they were vcry poor , and stoed in Eced of gratuitous education . He adverted to the admirable system which existed in New York , which pnt ali Christians spon an equal foeniig . He ohj-cted to the grant because he thought it proper that tbe Catholic child should &e educated in the principles cf his own region . Tote azreed to . £ 59 930 far the payment of bills in South Australia Tras then prupossd . Sir . Huxe oVgected to this grant , on the ground of its txtniTagance , and the absence of all information respecting it . The mocey wculd be better bestowed if it had bten applied to the relief of the starving manufacturer . Hi .- hoped the House -would not agree to this Tote .
Tha Chancellor of the EXCHEQUER defended the graiit on the ground that it "was necessary to protect the emigrants . ilr . B . Wood condemned , and Lord Sianlet defended the vote . ^ ir . EcaiE thoegtt that cou-rerting the loan inlo a jift Was aa ia- ' n& 3 na : t : the Bum EhoUlfl be CliaTged upon the Lind of the colony . Mr . WiSD would remind tha Hon . Gentleman who spoke last that the land would be of little ¦ worth if H were encambired in this manner . No one -would buy in snch a Cise . Government would not' be able to supply ths TtqaiEite quantity of labourers , vto -were sent cu : to % ha c-Iony , and for which , tb . 9 Eilea of lauda paid , if thesd liscfi were in Ench a manner entumbered . The sum of £ 59 , 936 was then voted , after a division of 73 to 13 .
On the vote for the army , mvy ^ and ordnancs service for China bting put , a "» try animated and amusing disenssien took place between ilr . Hume and Sir C . ITapier , relative to promotions in the mvy . Tee former objected to tha numb-er of ofiicers in the navy ; Ve had four thousand whea ens thousand -would be Bnffirient , the mass cf them were pensioner 3 . When there frere bo rasDy old efiicra wxio were doing ccthing in the service , L . & < M& not think that young ones should be continually pushed on . Sir G . . Napier could see no other way of getting rid
cf the old pensioners but by introducing some prussic acid among them . The gallant Commodore then alluded to some of ilr . Hume ' s nonsensieu . 1 calls for reports , "which rather ruffled Mr . Hume , who , to the infinite amusement of tha Hcuss , read nonsensical to niean foolish-, from which , in true Dogberry Btyle , hexaid the House must " writs ne doini an ass . " Roara of laughter followed the Hon . Member ' s rather touching speech . The other estimates were then voted . The CHAiRJiAS reported progress , and the Houss
lenuEtd . ilr . Shariiax CKA ^ F 0 E . D rose to move , in pursuance of a petition frc-m a large number of electors , and inhabitants cf the town of Nottingham , that a new writ be issued for that borough . The Hon . Gentleman said that the people of ths borough of Nottingham had complained of their grievances , and he had beea rtquasted to move / or a new writ f jt tha borough . In a very argumentative speech , the Hon . Member contended i * or tbe expediency of providing remedial measurts and i ; ot for GisTrancbisiag the borough . Dr . Bovtri > -g seconded tbe motion . Mr . Hdiz txpressed his regret that at this adranced part of the Session nothiag had been dcae tG remedy the evil complained of .
Sir B Peel Eaid ba had assented to the BTispsnEicn of the wrii in the firEt instance , in order that inquiry might be made as to how the committee had brought is their repcrt . It would be unconstitutional , therefore . to snspsnd the wrlt 3 , for any ^ tSnife time . He hoped E . me claoses weald t > s ictroduced into thfe Bribery Ufa to effect this object He believed that if the Hon . Gentleman had the power he ¦ would be a great tyrant Mr . SxniE replied . Sir R . Peel said tha Hon , Gentleman had accusea Mm Gf being the originator of all sorts of abominations ilr . EcsiE reiterated his assertioBs . - Mr . Ward said the Right Hon . Baronet , en Thnrsday night , had consider = d it expedient that the Bribery Bill should have the support of the Houm of Commons , and they would stultify themselves if ii did not pass . It wonld have & vary salutary effect ; for it would strike at the root of the evil He supported the moUsxL
Lord Palmebsios said , he had hoped that the writ would cot have been issued until the Bribery at Elections Bill had passed into law . Tee writ was t&en issued . On the motion that the report of th 9 Canada Loan Bill be brought up , Mr . Hatpes coaplainsd of tlie want of information respecting it .
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer said , the bill w * s adopted in consequence o £ a pledge given , by the government to the CiD&diana . After a few words from Mr . "French the report was received . On the question that the House agree to the resolu tion , Mr . Bcme expressed his objections to the grant ; and said he should divide the Honse upon it . The House then divided—For the resolutions , 89 j against them , 9 : msjority , 80 . ¦ The orders of tbe day were th « n disposed of , and the Heuse adjourned at one o ' clock .
Saturday , July 30 , The Speaker took tbe chair at twelve o ' clock . The report of tho committee of Supply was brought up , and the different votes agreed to . The 55 . aKipa . and Bacgor Preferments Bill -was read a third time . The report on the Lunacy Bill was received . The Militia * Supply Bill weiit through commmittee . The ortlfcr ( . f the day being moved for going into Committe on the Newfoundland Bill , Ilr . O'Connell rose to move tha following amendment : that the committee ba postponed far three months , to enable a communication to be had from the parties interested . His sole objsctin postponing the measure was to have an opportunity of enquiring more minutely
into 'he state *> f that colony , and the grievances cf which th-y justly complained . The constitution of that colony had been annihilated , sot because the inhabitants had betn guilty of a breach of the peace , bnt solely because the majority of them were of the Roman Catholic faith ! 1 N 0 , no ! from tbe Chancellor of tke Exchequer . ) He wished for a postponement , in order to enable the House to investigate the whole subject This bill would ha ^ e tha injurious effect of abolishing the two houses of legislature in that island ; and this was , no doubt , tbe intention of the Noble Lord . A deserving and loyal portion of her "Majesty ' s subjects ought not to be oppressed . The Hon . Member , in a long and eloquent Bpeech , contended that the constitution of Newfoundland had worked well , and that the till ought not to be passed .
Lord Siaxlet opposed the motion of the Hon . and Learned Member , principally upon the ground of expediency ! The Noble Lord ' s speech throughout afforded a good illustration of the old Tory rule— " to make the worse appear the better reason !" After some discussion the motion was negatived , and fee Hw&se adjourned .
Monday , Aug . 1 . The House met at the usual hour . New . writs for Souioarapton and Belfast were ordti « d to be issusJ .
THE LATE DISTURBANCE AT DEPTFORD . Mr . T . Dun combe said , that in pursuance of the arrangement of the R'ght Hon . Baronet , the Home St cretary . he begged now to call the attention of the Eocsc to tbe two petit- ' ons he presented on Thursday fcus . containing a v < ry serious and graTe complaint that the " liberty of the snbject and the rights of tho poople of this country had been violated at D » ptford on Tuts r . y last , pud he thought fca could sLow that the po "; ie 2 cf ihis Metropolis , sanctioned by the magistrates had Tiulatfed the law , and thai tbe doctrine ] a : d down by th = R'gLt Hon . Giiitloman with respect to the power of « oue ' . abies to prevent public mz-atir ^ s "was contrary to the . Liw of this country , Ha thou ^ M he could also prove that , in asking the Heu ^ e to agree to this motion
to raer those pttitions to a select committee cf this IIouss . ho hiA sufficient precedent for such a proceeding Tfle fallowing was the account given by Dr MD . uall in his petition : — " That he was invited by severs ! houseboidcrs of the town of Deptford to attend a public ratting on tka evening of Tuesday , the 26 th Oay of July , 1542 . for tha purpose of taking into considcration the txisricg distress of tbe country ; that he complivd wi ' . h ths invitation , &nd on arriving at the place of meeting , in a chapel in the High-street , ascertaiEid that the rueeung was not constituted j that he rcC = riTed information that public discussion -was invited ~ nd his presence r- , quired ; that on reaching ! he c ' aapelcoor cjasidurab ! e confusion prevailed ; that he entered , and ui proc * &du : g to the platfonn requtiied leave to 5 DSra ' -r , p ~ j : ;! i £ ixig to us * his is flaeivco , as a paWic mm . in
lo qvr-li tt& c ¦ .. "timotion j th ^ t lie suceoe-itd doing so , ana finally idi the misHng-h-jusc-, in corjpany with s-: ver ^ l of tLb trntltajen en ths pisiform , and under th « imprt-jjion th-t ^ . n nojcnrtmtnt was carried ; that ilndir . g ths people as 50 n 1 r . iv . -d withlu a space in tho Brbsd-srsy , jsaiEsj out by snnk pjsts , ScparaLn ? it from privat-5 property ard tiepavlii ; vr .-iy , he inquired irLc- . bci- raeetitigs had bten held there , or if it was public property cr us-. d as a marketplace ; and on t « r ;» a ^ s—er ed in the afnrmatrve , he then , on bting in- ? ii , ed , pr -ceed »! l to siciress tbe assembly . Your petitioner u .- ^ = d upon , the -people the importltise fcf aiio-sririg ali p lrties in or out of doors , a fair opportunity of rXT-r& > 5 irg their sentiments . He demanded a hearing for an archbishop or a chimnij-swecu , ' a 3 l
^ A ^^ J ^ . . . «^ . ^ * 1 . - . «— 0 m 1 « . V ^ * -. »* *«~~ ^ m J W ** —I . ^^^ Vk *^ -Si n . ^* l ^ b ^ - « ka ^ _ _ & i _ ^_ ^> k ^ ^_ _ . % landlord or a labourer , a shopkeeper or a scavenger . " He explained that he came there from no factious motives ; thit he was as much opposed to aristocratic g * jverEBient a 3 tha Cum L-a .-a ' Conferencs ; itathewas au enemy to niocopsly , and considered * tha corn laws to be cna of the many gigantic tvils which oppressed tha poor ;* and after haTlng advised legal and psacsful asititation , he was abect to explain the principles of the People ' s Charter , when Superintendent Midlalien and a party of police rushed iuto tbe meeting , and up to the place ¦ where Le stood , and that the superintendent commaadet ! your petitioner to coma down or be knocked rio-Kii . " Tfaa . ; he demanded the autliority of the superintendent : and received for answer that ho acted on
£ 13 OTn Til&mmibhty . Ha titn tequc&ted leave to dlsperab the multitude , and this he was the more likeiy to do as he was under the recognisance in iJoCO ., for something that ini occurred elsewhere . Dr . M Douall wished to co home , but the policeman would not allow him to go in tae direction of his house , and he was immediately arrested . The persons aooat remonstrated with the poiiceman ; and ha was then car-Tied tff to the police cniea . & 00 A bail tras offered , bnt refused ; and , when hi 3 friends said they would take him some distance from the town , bo as to prevent any disturbacce . the inspect ^ said that , if they would lay down £ 1 , 000 , be wculd not accept it as bail . Nothing would satisfy the inspector but that this political offender , as he called him , should be retained in the station house , and there was he locked up , and left to rtmain all night and until eleven o ' clock on Wednesday , in a small cell , having an offensive privy jn it and
UEg ! sz ; d window and crawling vermin . No common felon , jio miscreatit could be worse treated tbanwas this individual for merely attending a meeting legally constituted . The ntxt day he was taken up before a magistrate ; but , in the meantime , he had asked for mirans of commaniciitiisg with Lia friends . That waa refassd him , escv-pt in the pesence of the police . He could not prepare evidenc 3 without allowing his witnesses and line of evidence to be known to tbe police witnesses against him , and under that heavy disadvantage-was he hurried into Court . He asked what was tbe charge ar . iinst him ? On the police sheet it was entered tens : — For attending an unlawful meeting , and using seditious lansnsee ; " bus the magistrate called upon him to give bail , himself in £ 50 , and two sureties in £ 25 , for having created a distmbance in the c ' aapel—nothing abiat an unlawful meeting or using seditiouslansuiae . D ? . M'D juall said he had summoned
some respectable persons living at Deptford to show that there was no riot , but the magistrate , Mr . Jeremy , said hs might call 2 , 000 persons if he pleased , but that wtuld not irflaence him ( Air . Jeremy . ) He tben askud tfce inspector for a copy of the charge , but that being refused , he appealed to the magistrate , and * the magistrate said te should Lave it , but oa TrDcati " ¦ g his app ! ic 3 tion to the policeman "Mallalisn , tbe answer was , "• ' I shall not give it you . " On the next day about 4 . 000 of the inhabitants of Dsptford assembled and got up the other petition vh " ch he presented last Thursday , compIauiEg that the constitution had beenviolated by the police &t the time in question . He ( Mr . Dnncombe ) maiutained that since the days of Castlereagh and the passing of tha Six Acts
. there had never be = n so flagrant » violation of the libertits of the subject as this proceeding at Deptfoad . He then referred to tha opinion of ilr . Justice Bayley in the case of Hunt at the York assa ^ , in which he quoted Mr . Serjeant Hswkins to show that unless there ¦ was reason to believe that a meeting would give rise to a breach of the peace it wes not an illegal meeting . He wished to know if there was anything illegal in the inhabitants of Dsptford Hiecting to discuss their grievances ? The Right Hon . Baronet -would find some u ; fn JiHy ia establishing ths . t the meeting L \ question was of an illegal character . He would ask what was the use of the S : x Acts , which were brought forward for the purpose of putting down the seditious meetings of lS 19 andlS 20 ? If tbe constables had this po ^ er , whai w& 3
the use of the Seditious Meeting Bill , which was oppesid by ' the Bight Hon . Baronet opposit ? ? Tae meeting -vtc 3 le ^ al and peaceable . Was it right that any policeman and constable skcnld have the power-of goist to s . meeting aud ba comptt-tnt to decide whether tiis language used by the sptakers was or was not seditious ? Was it right that constables should ba allowed to declare that they would be supported in the fcserciic of thtir authority by the magistrates and by tbe Secretajy for the Home department ? Were the peonle thus to bs exposed to the caprica of any constable who might think prop&r to interfere - « ritii tbe progress of a public meeting ? Ha had it in hiB power to show that there were precedents for the irquiry he asked for . He could not suppose that the Government weald refuse its sanction to so reasonable an inquiry . Oa the 11 th
of July , 1 S 3 S , a meeting took place in Coldbath-fields . A public intimation was made that the meeting could not take place—ihat ii was illegal ; a notice was given that any person ^ ho attended the meeting did so at Ma peril . Notwithstanding these public intimations tiie meeting took placa . The police interfered , confusion ens&ed , and several lives were lost . It was said that the disturbance was altogether attributable to the unjust interference of the police fcrce . When this subject was brought before the notice of tbe honse , what did Lord Althorp say ? That Noble Lord himself movedfor a committee to inquire into the conduct of the . police on that occasion . The Right Hon . Baronet opposite ( Sir J . Graham ) was a member of the then Grovernment , and conssnted to the inquiry , and the only Hon . Member of the House who demurred to the committee was the member for Kent . What did Lord AUhorp say in reply u > the Right H 03 , Baronet the
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member for Kent ? The Noble Lord said that since the formation ** the polioefores their conduct had been most praiseworthy ; bat that everybody under tae control of the Government cught to be closely watched ; and that it was necessary , in order to satisfy the public , to grant a committee of inquiry . On another occasion Mr . Cobbett moved far two committees of the House to inquire into the conduct ef the police , who bad been employed as they bad recently been employed in Ireland , as spies . These motions were carried , and that too daring the existence of a Whig administration . Ha thought that the petitioners had great reason to complain of the
conduct of the police . Their complaint had been made in most respectful language . That complaint could bo substantiated by the evidence of a number of respectable inhabitants of Deptford . They were 'willing . ' to come forward to piove that the police acted in a most disgraceful manner , and tbit the demeanour Of those Who attended that meeting was most peaceable . He did not think thatithe law could support the police insnch unjust exercise of authority . He hoped that he had made out a prima facie case for a committee of inquiry . He begged to move that the petition which he presented to the House on Thursday last be referred to a select committee of the House .
The motion having been seconded and put from the chair , . Sir J . Graham expressed his regret that he felt it his duty to detain the House by resisting the motion of the Honourable Member for Finsbury . In the first place , he would direct the attention of the House to some facts which had been made known by Mr . Jeremy the magistrate . The most important fact which could be brought under the consideration of the House , and one upon which the whole of the question rested , was that which related to the character of the meeting at which this disturbince took place . The Honourable Member for Finsbury had termed it a peaceable meeting . He ( Sir J . Graham ) would state the facts of the case . The meeting , which had taken place in the open air . was
only a continuance of that which had baen held , in the chapel . The meeting was called for the purpose of hearing a lecture , which was to be delivered 6 y one of the Anti-Corn-Law delegates . The trustees and the clergyman had invited Mr . Thompson to deliver a lecture on the subject of the Corn Laws . It was an unfortunate circumstance that tho chapel should have been selected for that purpose , but he did not lay any particular stress on that fact . Directly the meeting was convened a large influx of people took place , and the meeting , which * wa 8 originally for the purpose of discussing the operation of the Corn Laws , became very different in its character . A large number of strangers , Chartists , rushed into the cbapal . The greatest confusion immediately ensued . A msh was
made by tbe Chartists towards the pl . itform , where tbe trustees a ; d the clersyman of tbe cbapsl were situated , and it was proposed that the chairman should give way and a labouring man ba nominated in his place to preside over the meeting . The confusiou was increasbd when the attempt was made to displace the chairman . Tie . M Djuall took part with the Chartists . The tuniuU which followed baffled all detcription . Wcmvn fainted . One of the trustees made bis escape , and brought in the assistance cf the police . When they maae their appearance a shout was made by cbe rival party to cuack ths police , and In order to excite attTO . :: g teelinkj asainst that body , allusions were made to a disturbance which bad taken piacain Kentish-town , when a severe struggle twk placb bet-ween the populace and the police , and which terminated in the loss of human life . At this a SOVCre
struggle ensued , and the chapel was chared . When Dr . M'Douail found that it was the intention of the trustees and the po-ice to have the chapel cleared , he declared that it was his intention to hold the meeting in tbe opeu air . Upon this announcement . bciug nwJe , multitudes followed him in a state of great exdtcreent . Dr . M'Dcu . ll then addiessed the multitude . Tbe greatest alarm was excited in the neighbourhood . A great crowd of persons occupied the whole of the turnpiks-road , causing a complete obstruction of the * , highway . At this time evening advanced , and the meeting became more tumultuous . The language of Dr . M'Douall was exceedingly violent . The superintendent of the police Eusrsested that the ^ meeting sh ouiddivperee , and recommended Dr . M'Douall to ' address the " meeting to that effect . He refused to do so . The superintendent of tbe police said , that if Dr .. M Douall would
disperse the meeting , he ( the superintendent ) would procure him a saf-j passage through tha crowd . He refused compliance , and it was not until then that the police attempted to arrest him . When this was effected , a violent attempt was maiie to capture him from tha police . Blows were exchanged , other individuals were arrested , and Dr . M'Douall was carried to tha staik > nr hon ^ e . It was trn e , as statsd by the Hon . Member for Finsbury , that the friends of Dr . M-Douall offered bail with the view of obtaining his release . With resp 3 cfc to the complaint which bad been made of the situation in which . Dr . M-Dcmll had been p ' . aced afc the stationhouse , he ( Sir J . Graham 1 was able to state , that an offer was made to Dr . M'Dunall to obtain atiiiitiena ! cccommodation for him , but their offers ho declined . Now with regard to the examination before the magistrate . The Hon . Member for Finsbury had said that no ouo but tbe police were examined .
Mr . f . duscombe—I said that no jnhabitants of Diptford were examined . Sir J . Graham , in continuation , said , that he would rtad the substance of the chargo as made before the mi ^ istrat * with reference to the part which Dr / M-Douall had taken in the transaction . The Doctor was charged with having caused a number of persons to assemble , and with addressing to them exciting language calculated to disturb the public peace . *'* The Hon . Member for Finsbury said , thaS the testimony of the police was not to be ralied upon . The right Hoa . . Baronet referred to the evidence of the police , wbich clearly established the violent character of the crowd . As the Hon . Member for Finsbnry fead stated that the evidence ought not to be taken , he ( Sir J . Graham ) would direct
the attention of the House to tha evidence of a very respectable person , a Mr . Hugh , a watchmaker . His evidence was to the effect that if the police had not interfered a great disturbance of tho public peace-would have ensued . That was the opinion of a respectable wtnesa . He ( the witness ) declared that the riot and alarm were excessive .. The police , finding that the crowd completely obstructed the highway , that night was coming on , atd that there was little or no chance of tbe multitude dispeisicg , Interfered . Under these circumstances , he did not consider that the police had exercised an unwise discrttion . The Hon . Member for Finsbury had alluded to the character of Dr . M'Douall . This was not the first time that Dr . M'Dcuall had been engaged at a riotcus meeting . After tho magistrbte had
heard the evidence ac&inst the prisoner , and before he eutsred upon his defence , the magistrate said , instead of committing him for trial , he would only bind him O-ver to keep the peace . Dr . M-Douaft then willingly acquiesced that the case should close , expressed himse'f perfectly sstiBfied with the decision of the Bench , and even thanked Mr . Jeremy , the magistrate , for his leniency . When Dr . M-Douall was informed that it was not the intention cf the magistrate to commit him for trial he expressed bimself satisfied . The Doctor immediately entered into recognizances , himself in £ 50 , and two others in £ 25 each , to keep the paaci . It wonld appear from the observations of the Hon . Member for Finsbury that a novel course had been taken in this matter . He ( Sir J . Graham ) most distinctly stated
tnat no new or additional powers had been invested in the constables ; no change nad been mado on the putt of the Government with reference to the authority exercised by the constabulary force . If a constable was guilty of an illegal act , the law was sufficiently strong to punish the off-nce . It was not the part of that House to interfere in snch cases . In the case of the riot which took placa in ColdbaAU-fields , ~ as ' well aa in What Was termed the " ilanchestennassacre , " several lives were lost , several wound 3 were also inflicted ; but compare those cases with the one then under the consideration of the House . In the case to which the Hon . Member for Finsbary referred no lives were lost and no person had been seriously hutt . ; This then wa 3 not a case which would justify the
interference of Parliament The Hon . Member for Finsbury said that the police ought to be closely watchad . He ( Sir J . Graham ) did . not deny that it -was necessary to exercise such vigilance . The discussion which was then going on with regard to the conduct of the police force clearly proved that the actions ef the executive Government were scrutinizsd with a jealous eye . He was prepared to admit that the actions of the constables should be influenced by time and circumstances . It was difficult to lay down general rules for the conduct of constables in particular cases . The right of constables to interfere at public meetings was an ' extreme right , -which ought to be exercised with the utmost caution . Previous to the holding of public meetings it was the
undoubted duty of thoso who were charged with the maintenance of the public peaca to do all in their power by the adoption of every possible precaution , to prevent any species of distutbancs ; but if their precautions proved ineffectual , or that time did not allow of any precautions whatever being taken , then he did not conceive that it was the duty of a constable to take snmmary measures . . Of this at all events he felt satisfied , than there wern no grounds for instituting any such inquiry as that which formed the subject of the present motion , and he hoped that tho Hones would concur with him in thinking that on the present occasion the complainants had mat , not only with justice , but with leniency .
Mr . O CONNEIX observed , that Hoiu Members were quite mistaken in supposing tbat the petition was directed against the magistrate ; on the contrary , it was so shaped as not to implicate any person except the constable . Now , that being the case , he thought it only right to remind the House tbat the poiice were the paid servants of the public , and it was the duty of the House of Commons to see that they did their duty , and especially to take care that they did nod violate that law which they were entployed to maintain and enforce . If the offences complaint of in the present petition had been perpetrated against a member of Parliament ,
the House of Commons wodd denounce it as a gross outrage , and surely it was as' ranch an outrage when committed against Dr . M'Doualt But the affilr assumed a still more serious aspect when it was viewed in eonnexion with the right of petition . Two revolutions had been brought about in this country iy the denial of that right ; & irabliadeclftiation by a public averting was but another mode of giving expression to ths feelings and opinions of the people . The form might be slightly different , but the substance was the same ; and therefore , he held that nothing could be more clear * Jian the illegality of- " the arrest . On these grounds ho . 'Qjould
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support the motion , for he conceived that ft vrould be satisfactory to the public to have an inquiry instituted by the House of Commons . Wr . ' . H-Awis was surprised that no" law officer of the Crown "had thought proper to express any opinion , on the subject beforo the House . Th « Bight Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department had , on a fprm 9 T occasion , said , that a constable did possess : the right to disperse any meeting which he conceived to be seditious , and that the parties so injured ; had their remedy by action / Surely the Right ; Hon . Baronet must know that to the public that Was no remedy whatever— such doctrines , if assented to by Parliament , would goat once to tho establishment of arbitrary power in this country . It was said , that the meeting to which the present : petition referred was an assemblage that obstructed the highway . Possibly the meeting , having commenced in an enclosed space ,
might have overflowed into a highway ; in such a case the constable ought quietly to have requested the parties bo assembled not to obstruct the public thoroughfare ; that would probably have been successful , and that , at all events , was as much as the constable had any right t * do . It was well known that / the : majority of the great public meetings held in ; the . . . metropolis ' - were held on , or very near , highways , tkoa ^ , for example , > n Palace-yard , the Regent's-park , Kensington-common , Covent-garden , outside the Town-h ill , In Saathwark , "all these were in public thoroughfares ; but they had not yet been dispersed by the police . It might be very convenient for a high-flying Tory Government to put down such meetings on Bonie such pretext as the present ; but if such things were to he tolerated .-the next thing would be a revlval . otthe Six Acts .. He thought this waa a case Which called for inquiry , and one on which the House should express an opinion-. *
The Attornet-Geneival said , that the inquiry which the Hon . Mover sought to institute was unnecessary . There ; had been no loss of life , no unusuul excitement , nothing in short , td call for the extraordinary inquisitorial powers of the House of Commoris . Those powera ought to be reserved for extraordinary occasions , when such proceedings were thought necessary in order to calm the public mind . Ha did not object io the attention of the House being drawn to such a subject , for the purpose of making grievances known ; but ho thought inquiry into mattera already public was unnecegsaiy , and might be disadvantageous , the more especially as it did not appear that the meeting had been in any respect legally : copstitateil . It waa not a meeting to petUlon PftrHaraent . The Honourable
Member for Lambeth had contended that a person stopping up the public way in the manner described wis not thereby guilty of an offence to justify the proceedingstahen . Asa dry question of law , the obstruction ef the , public way by a meeting must be an illegal act , and such a one as to justify the police in interfering , so as to remove or prevent the obstruction . But snppose Dr . M * Don 3 ll had been aggrieved by any act of the police , the law was open to him for a remedy . If the object of thii . pttitiou were ta obtain an expyession of opinion from the House , that wo « ld be to anticipate the verdict of a jury , and therefore it ought not to be comp ' . ied with . The Hon . GQntleinan had wished that the House should not separate until the Government had given some exprt : s 8 ion of opinion upon this case .
Such a course would hot be proper ; it would b 3 undrrtaking an undue responsibility . Already proceedings fflight havo been commenced against th < 3 police / or , tho cpnrso they had pursued , and large dafliafies prohably were calculated upon , for nothing was more likely to meet with a realty ear from a jury than the etabements affecting the libei-ty of the subject and although , for the proppr preservation of the public peace , there was an authority fstabHshed , every extreme exercise of that authority , . t ' : ' ou . gh legal , would not probably be justified by the circutnstancea . But it would be scarcely coaT Btitiitional-if ' -thia * House were to interfere iua case of tiiis kind . There had been no widely spread alarm , no tumultuous violence , no less ' of life ; ami he trusted that thelaw ' weuld f'O allowed to take ita coursein this case as V 7 « ll as in ot'iars .
Mr , Sheil thought the Right Hon . and Learned Gentleman was mistaken in assuming that Governinent hud given no opinion upon this isubj- 'ct ; for the Eight fiosi . GentU man who "was the head of the police in that H , US 9 bad declared that the police had acted undor proper instructions in this infltance , and that , under all the ctrcunibtances , they had exercised a wise dlsc ' re ' tibn , The - G * overtiini .-nt , therefore , sanctioned the conduct cf tho poUce , and expressed their approbation in the Houso of Commons of that conduct ; and from that approbation what but the most formidable mischiefs were likely to follow ? ( Hear , hear > Ho ( Mr Sheil ) had baen mnch struck with "' a reniarfe made the other day by the Hon . Member for Reading , " What is innovation ; to-day t' -lnorrow may become precedent ;
and tbat whicb is made precedent to-mpn'OW Will be mads law the ntxt day . " ( Hear , hear . ) So it might bo obaervod with regard to what the Ri £ ht Hon . Baronet bad said of the conduct of tho police in this case . ( Hear , htar . ) It was of the greatest importance then , that an inquiry should be instituted into this case , Recollect , it waa not a case between Dr . M'Douall and Mr . Jeremy , or the police inspector ; but 5 , 000 people had petitioned the House for an itjquiry—( hear ) . It was not-the C 3 . se t . fPnv M'Douall ; if ; was the case of a public meeting held in the town or Daptford for a legitinidte purpose , which wa ^ interrupted nn ^ i :.. dispersed by a superintend ant of polica —( hear ,. - hear ) . Now , the House would renietnber tbat in the Staffordshire case , recently before tha House , they were told that neither
Government nor the House ou ?; ht ta interfere , because the case had been before a jury at a quaster £ <; ssion , and that it had been the subject Of a charge from an abio judge , to whoso impartiality everybody paid a ready tribute , and , moreover , thst the case bad been adjudicated and dccuUd , and the verdict of a jury could not be disturbed . An inquiry coald not be granted in that case , because it would be a rtflection upon tho jury and thejurigo who tried it—( hear ,- hoar . ) Bat the same refusal was giv « n here , where there had been no jury , no decision of a Chairmn ;* ' of quarter sessiaiis , no verdict under whicti the refusal could be sheltered , Oa the cdiitrary , a magiati-ate , before whom the party accused was taken , had declared tbat there was no evidence to show that ihe meeting was an
unlawful one . Mr . Jeremy 'declanid that there was not sufficient evidence to sead -Dr . M'Douall to trial —( hear ) . That was the decision of the magiatrate against the constable ; but , although that was the decision of Mr . Jer « ny , the auptrior of the police iii that House , the Right Hon . Baronet approved of the conduct of the constable , and said ho had used a wise * discretion . If policeman Mallalieu did not use a wise discretion , he must say that his example had not been followed by the Right Hon . Baronet —|< Vbear , hear , " and alaugb ) . It was coDfussed tliatDr . M'Douall was taken to the station-house , and that bail was tendered , which was refused , one of bis sureties toeing a . trustee of the chapel , whfl was said to have called in the police . ( A . voice"It . was not the same trustee . " ) He did not say it was
the same . But what of that ? If they relied upon one trustee for turning the assembly out of the chapel , he would rely upon the other trustee for having tendered bail for Dr . H'Douail , ( Hear . ) Was it an act of wise discretion to refuse that bail ? ( Hear . } Was not the man detained in'tho teeth of the tendering of good and fiuffijient bail ? ( Hear ) But upon what charge ? He had to ascertain that . He , th ^) refore , hpplied for a copy of the charge made against him , and ho applied te the magistrate . Tho magistrate said he was entitled to have it ; . "but did the policeman give it ? No . When Superintendent Mallalieu was applied to for it ho refused it , and said he did not care for the magistrate . lLoud cries of V H « ar , hear . " ) Was that a wise discretion exercised by a policeman ? Were not these
circumstances which demanded inquiry ? ( Hear . ) There was no riot at the first meeting ; and the opinion-of Lord Eii 6 nboroug"ti with regard , to meetings held for a diatincc purpose , and a disturbance ensuing , as in this cast , did not justify tho course which was pursued . A disturbaoco did tiko place , the people werocalled upon to disperse , i aud , thiy .. ' dispersed , accordingly . Dr . M'DjUall went out aim in arm with one of the trustees of the chapel , who had stated that he saw hiin oil the platform , but did not observe anything improper in his conduct . The olgac'ion was to the holding of the mestjng in the chapel , and there * according to the evidence no riot toot placo ., . ' ¦ ¦ : Another nieeting took place . Waa there any riot there ? ^ o . Was there any obstruction of the public way ? No . ¦ ' There was no
riot , " said one of the witnesssa , " no confusion . " And was a man to be seized by a policeman because he thought him guilty of obstructing the public way , and tbat before calling upon him to clear the way , no pre-¦ rions tfi ^ rts heing made by the polise to clear the way ? But tUen it was aaid that aeditipua language was used . That was the evidence of the policeman who took upon himself to exercise his judgment upon the nature of the languags which was' usert , and upon that wise discretion of the policeman Dr . M'Douall , Chartist though he might be , was unceremqnieusly taken to prison . Would not the Government '¦ " . confess that this was a violatitm of justice ? The Legislature had exercised tha greatest caution in directing procefidings to be taken
in cases of public disturbance . A Justice of the Peace was required to read tfe Riot ; Act , and until that preliminary was grine through , the constables were not authorised to disperse and apprehend persons in that wiiy . The powers given under the 60 th of George III . and tho Vagrant Act wete of a different description , If a thousand persons were to . assenibie with ; ariai there could be no doubt about the authority of the constable to disperse such a meeting ; but who would compare such a case a 3 that with the presant ? -r ( hear . ) Under all the circumstances he could not but feel surprised that the Right Hon . Baronet should approve of the conduct of the poiica ; but for that there might have been no difficulty in appealing to the laws—( hear , hear , hear . ) If this had been an
ordinary case—if it xvere a case between M'Dduair and Mallalieu , he should not care so much about * the consequences ; butifc was a case of importance , rendered still more important by a doctrine which bad been broached in the Home Office ! * whicb . ^ doctrine might lead to the most mischievous and dangerous results—( hear , hear . ) . . - . " . ¦'¦ ¦ ¦ "' : ¦' . '¦ /' ¦ ¦¦;¦ - ¦ ¦'• ' : '¦ ¦ ¦ - : - ..- - ; . ' . . ; ¦ .:- '¦" : ¦ : The Solicitor-Gbnerai . explained that the reading of tbe Riot Act was a preliminary proceeding in cases of tumult and disorder to the dispersion of an oniawful assemblage by the constabalary and the milltaary . But the ca 8 e ot an obstruction i > t the pnbi ? c way was somewhat different . If , however , a constable arrested a person who had been guilty of no offenee to justify that arrest , he would of course be liable to ah action . It was unnecessary ^ however , to enter into a diewseion of those points . The question before the
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House was whether the facts of this case famished any grounds for an inquiry . From the statements made by the Hon . Genilemau opposite , it woa quite Impossible to nnderstand the facts ; tut two concessions had been made . The Hon . Member for Lambeth had said , that what took place in the chapel was sufficient te authorise tho police in clearing the chapeh irery Hon ; Gentleman on the other side of the House had said that no blame attached to Mr . Jeremy , the magistrate ; but Mr . Jeremy . did net discharge the party , he did not say to the police , «• You hate made a false accusation . " He ( the Solicitor-General ) presumed that Mr . Jeremy told the accused he had been guilty of a breach of the peace ; because , though the offence was not of that speciea ¦ that he saw fit to cotninit him for trial , he desired him ; to enter into recogaizinces to keep > Ihe peace . The evidence showed that the second maetipg . was a continuance of the first , and if the accused had consented not
to return to the meeting afcer being taken to the statien house , if he had consented to be seen away from the neighbourhood by a pbHce-mani be would not have been detained by iSuperintendent Mallali 8 U , who deemed his detentipn necessary under the circumstances for the jpre « ervation of the public peace . The Hon . Moftber opposite admitted the magistrate to have been right who had decided everything to have been legal in respect to the arrest , aad had ordered the prifloners to find reedgnizinces . Here then were two parties acting oonajWc , and in the discharge of their duty , under the ^ uperintendance of an officer who declared that during the eleven years of his service he had never known a mob more mischievously inclined . ' -It was iinpoBsibto , under such circumstances , to grant the committee -without casting a censure on the ofiper who had taken upon himself to disperse a mob , the character , the time , and the manner of -whose assembling Were clearly indicative of riotous disposition . Oa these considerations he trusted the motion would be
decisively rejected ( cheers . ) tord Palmebsxon said * those who had objected to the motion seemed to him to have give * a some reasons why it should be agreed to , for the Attorney-Ganeral hW said , that he did not deny that matters of this sort might fairly come before the House , though he wished there to be no inquiry . Why , here were statements on the one side agalnat the police as having beea guilty of improper conduct .. and on the otherside , in their behalf , to the effect that thetr proceedings had baen wise and discreet . Could there be a case in which au inquiry could be more conducive to the public intersst '?' : ' . There appeared , moreovsr , grounds fer believing that the conduct of the constables had nofe been perfectly wise and discreet . It was by no means stated by the law
offiwra of the Crown that the second meeting was illegal . The Attorney-General had , indeed , said that he could not lay it down how far an obstruction to the thorpughfare might npthave been illegal . But on that ground fairs might be objected to . On what ground was this person apprehended ? Not , it should seenij in consequence of anything he bad said that was illegal , for tfie magistrates had taken recognfziiices , not for illegal conduct , but for the preservation of the peace . At . id perhaps , if there had been nothingunla > fulin the conduct of JDr . M'Diuall , it might be a question how far the magistrates were justified in taking bail . It seemed , then , to him ( Lord Palmerstbnj that a question was here inyolyed of rip common magnitude—namely , how far the constabulary were justified in disturbing
and diflper-ging public , nieetlnfi ' s ,- He thought that in this case they had exceeded their duty , and especially at this moment , when Parliament was going to be prorogued for a long recess , during which it was iikely that meetings of this sort —( "Oh , oh . ' ")— -might beheld— - ( " Oh , oh !")—and at which constables , if they actfed under mistiitten ideas of their duty , might , by attempting to ihterrere , cause serious inconveriiences . He considered this a strong case for inquiry , not with any vfewofcensuro , but siniply to ascertain the facts , which now were to be gleaned only froni exparie statements , aud to settle the question whether there were or were not any real grounds ; of complaint ; in ordar that , should the former appear to be tho truth' the Government might take steps to
provont tho reciirrenc-3 of similar mischief—vhear ); Sir R . Peel—Sir . my Right Hon . Friend the Secretary for tho Homo Department , under whose superintendence the lnetr-poiifcm police generally act , ha , s intimated to the Houso his opinion that there ia not in this case Euffioient ground for any interference on his part . Now , supposing the House wero dissatisfied with that judgment , and supposing that there were no means of settling the question except by appealing to this Howse , there might be some plausible ground for acceding to the coinmittee . But are there no other means of ascertaining whether the constable acted legally ?—( hear , hear ) Is my Right Hon . Friend's decision final and conclusive ? Not . at all —( hear , heav ) . At a vory moderate cost you may enable and compel the
legal tribunals of the land to inquire and declare whether he was justified or not . You may commence in action for false imprisonment or for refusal of bail ^ - * - ( hear , hear)—in either of which ways you may obtain a judicial decision , which v / ill be infinitely more satisfactory than any this House could arrive at—^( hear , hear ) . Suppose the House should ; on tha report of a comnrittee ( not hearing evidence , mark , on oath ) , be of opinion that the constable acted illegally ,, and that a court of law should decide the reveraa —! hear , hsar )—which of these decisions would be received as the rule of law in the country ? Why , of course , that of the court of law ^ - ( hear , hear ) . Why not , then , appeal to the ordinary tribunals of the land , in . ¦ which the judgment of the highest legal authorities , upon the evidence
taken on oath , may be easily obtained ?—( hear , hear ) . — What pretence is there for iha appointment of a committee ? -- ( hear , hear . ) I deprecnto earnestly a precedent of the House exercising jmiicial functions save on the strongest and most serious grounds—( hear )—I think that jf , in a case of this , sort , the House should declare an opinion adverse to that pronounced by- a court of law , prior to itsa ' catinn by tb'j ordinary tribunals , the authorityof . ' . Commons- ' v ,:, uVd be mvich weakened— ( hear ) .- I havo-iiad f . v . jer : c ( fc « c-noi . 'giii ir .- such matters to know tuui , constables cug ' Uu i ; ou 10 be encouraged either to exceed the law , or even by an annoying and indi 8 creet inforcoment of it , even where the law is on their side , to throw discredit on tha law , or create needless danger and disturbance— ( hear , hear ) . But , then , on the other hand , you should remember the peculiar position in which these constables are placed— - intrusted with the execution of tha law ^ f they are
visited by unnecessary inquiries , and so , by tacit indications of censure , constantly discouraged and deterred from the free execution of their duty ^ - ( hear , hear ) . They ought certainly to be supported when acting faithfully and honestly—( hear ) . And let me put this case , tkat there had been , iu consequence of the non-interference of this constable , who isnowW be condemnerl— ' , a cry of : " . No / 'J ^ -or to be visited with » decided indication of censure by the taking of the case out of the ordinary course of judicature- ^ - ( hear , hear , )—suppose , by his neglect , there had occurred a riot , and property or life had been lost or endangered— : ( hear , hear , )—would not all the circumstances of the night have been put together—the disturbances in tbe chapel , ' the threats , the violence , and the subsequent disturbances in the open air , and would it not have been > aid that ha had incurred the responsibility of the public injury sustained ? ( Hear , hear . ) Was it mere commotion ? W ; is it mere excitement ?
Were there not blows struck—benches torn up—violence actually committed ? iHear , hear ) It would hava been , of coiirse , far different had there been merely expressions of dissent from rival bodies of Chartists and anti-corn law agitators- ^( loud cries * of hear > hear , )—or anything of that sort . ( Laughter . ) That takes place in the House of Commons , . where t htre occur very of ten scenes of ? ' considerable exeiteihent "—( laughter ^)— -but If Members began to Ievtil blows at each other , and pull up the benches , would it not strongly ressmble a riot ? ( Hear , and laughter . ) To be sure , some Member called the disturbance a squabfele , ( Mr . OGonnell— " A sctffle . " ) Why ; some people have been known to speak of the rebeliibn of . 1798 as a " hurry . " ( Laughter . ) Ideas differ as to rioting , and I will hot take upon myself to declare definitiyely 'whether , -when this pfficer ' . had Jiesird o £ tUe former proceedings in thei chapel—when he had ^ heard
that the religious character of the building had not restrained vth ( Bps > puldcei and that there was much less chance , of course , of any restraint out of doors— -when he heard cries of " Kill the police ! " and other violent outcries , and observed all theindlcationa of approaching riot—l ¦ Will not , even on all this , take on mysalf definitively to declare whether he was fully justified iii the course he adopted , under the heavy responsibility wbich necessarily attends all the acts of com tabular ? ofiicers , ( Hear . ) These are cases unavoidably for tho discretion of thei police under ^ i-lhe patticular circumstances in each instahce-7- ( hear , ) --and what I say is this , — -that if , When the Some Secretary has decided in favour of the course pursued by the police , any parties are dis 3 attefled with the decision , there is no reason whataver for disturbing tho ordinary course of j ustice , and for removing tithia House au adjudication naturally and properly belonging to the courts of law . ( Cheers ) .., '" .
Mi ; Thqmas Duncojibe replied—The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home D 3 partment had quoted reports in opposition to the facts of the case . \ ' ; -. ' " ¦ . . '¦ . ' " ; . . ; '¦' ¦ '* ¦ '' . : - . - ¦' ..- * 3 Sir James Q-raham said that tlia : report he quoted from Was taken oh bath before the magistrate . Mr . T . Duncombe—There were several reports ^ There were reports published by the newspapers ( oh , oh ! fromthe ministerial benches . ) He ( Mr . Dancouibe ) should like to ask from what soqrce Mr . Jeremyderived his report ? Did he keep a reporter ? The Right Hon . Baronet at the head rf her Majeaty ' s government also appeared to rely Upon Mr . Jeremy's report : hut he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) would maintain that the greater portion of what Mr . Jeremy bad stated' - - ( ft course he
derived it from others ) was a gross misrepresentation of the fecta ( oh , oh , from the ministerial side of the House . ) It was no use their saying oh , oh , Grant him a committee and he would undertake to prove it . The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir R . Peel ) had adopted the View of hia Right Hon . colleague , that the meeting in the chapel and the nieeting in the Broadway partook of Uie same meeting , and thatj as a disturbance had occurred in the chapel , where seats were torn up , and pews broken down , the meeting in the Broadway partook of the same character . Now , grant him ( Mr . Duncombe ) a committee , and he would prove that no Sv ^ ats Wer e torn up , jer any ipewa broken down . Theire Wa « the evideno of Mr , John Wade , who waa called agaV * 3 t Dr ; JVI'DoualL What did he say ? He said—
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" I am a builder and shopkeeper , living at I > 8 ptford . I am trustee of the Independent Chapel . I drew np the haudi-bili ; produced , and itwas published bytay direction , in concurrenc 3 with the R « v . J . Pollen , the minister . It was not for any discussion that meeting was called . Ita purpose was to ex sits sympathy for the distressed , but not for an immediate subseriptlon . A subscription had been forwarded before the Qneen'a letter came out It was to hear a lectora oix the distress of the country . The chapel was ¦ pretty fall at seven o'clock , when I entered it . There was a little disturbance at the commencement of the meeting . Some persona , who w ; era at : angelrs , wished to speak and enter into a discussion , which was contrary to the object of the meeting . The person
announced as lecturer did not come , but another person Was asked to supply this vacancy . The disturbance passed off , aud Mr . Taylor proeaeded with his lecture , and having concluded it sat down . There -was a little disturbance , and the minister of the chapel dissolved the meeting . There were about one thousand persons present" The Honourable and Learned Gsntleman ( tha Attorney-General ) seemed to think that tho police cleared the chapeL No auch thins . The minister and -Mr . Taylor dissolved the meeting , bacauae the object for Which the meeting bad been called had been fulfilled . Mr . Wade went on to say —• " Aft « r the minlHter had difiaoJved the meeting , the place was cleared . The people walked out without any disturbance . The meeting separated peaceably . There were police there .
I think they were sent for by my brother ^ I understood from him that some persons had attempted to get possession of the platform at the beginning of the meeting , add that they had been seat for ia consequence . I saw tbe police remonstrate with some persons who Were disturbing the meeting , and endeavouring to get upon the platform . I saw J > r . M ^ Dauall there . He was hot invited . He was one of the audience . I saw nothing improper in his conduct . The Roy . Mr . Pallen dissolved the meeting by saying , " I dissolve this meet * ing . " This witness was cross-examined by Mr . M'Dooall , and he stated this— " I stood beside you on the platform , I saw nothing : improper in your conduct what * ever . I heard you say that- a discussion should take place out of doors . I did not hear the chairman
pfopose riny adjournment There was no right to adjourn the meeting . The meeting had not the power tc > elect a chairman , Np resolution was proposed . It was . an invitation for the minister and trustees to come and hear a lecture . I know nothing about the meeting on the Broadway . I could ; not gather from your gestures that you were likely to create a breach ef the peace . Mr . Taylor was invited by me . Mr . M'iDouall , Mr TayloTj and myself walked away arm-inarm , " This was the evidence of oaa of the witnesses brought by the police against Mr . M'Douall , and yet the Right Hon . Baronet waa , endeavouring to prove that Mr . M'Douall had Created a ; breach of the peace in the chftpet . Tho Right Hon . Baronet ( Sur James Qrahamy had so mixed up the meeting in the chaDel and at the
Broadway that nobody could tell What part of the proceedings he was talking about Grant him ( Mr . Dancombe ) a committee , and he would prove that the statements cf MaMaiieu were false . When he came to Mr . ftl'Douall that gentleman said , ^ If you 6 ay that this is an illegal meeting , and if you will allow me to say so to the people , I will immediately disperse them . " The answer was , " No , come down , " Mr . M'Douall caine down from tho pump , and he waa then desired to go home , and waa directed towards IJsptfori ¦ . '' ¦ Mr . M'Douall said ' « No , that is not my way , I want to go to London . " What followed ? He was immediately taken into custody , and conducted ta the station-house . What tpoft place at the statiori-house had already been stated * Mr . Jeremy's report said that Mr . M'Douall
had every accommodation in the station-house . Waa that true ? No . Mr . M'Douan asked for a pillow and some covering , butit was refused , and he remained in tha ceil on the br , re boards . That was not the way in which Mr . k'Douall should have been treated for such an offence . He woald cot say that the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir Robert Peel ) was inconsistent in refusing this inquiry ; but certainly hedid tbink that the Right Hon . Btrt the Secretary for the Home Department ( Si ? Jame , 3 Graham ) , and the Noble Lord sitting near him ( Lord Stanley ) j both of whom were once the ; colleagues of tbe authors of the Reform Bill , were acting in op ^ position to the principJe Ts ^ hich thair former alliaccea espoused . It was the prinoiple o £ Torjism to refuse all inquiry ; therefore the Right Honourable Baronet at the
head of Hor Majeaty ' s government wa 3 perfectly consistent in doing so on this occasion . But he knew , and ' hta- Right Honourable and Noble colleagues knew , that they had a bad case , and what had been reported to them , and which had been stated by the Right Hon . Baronet . tUe Secretary of State for the Home Dapartmeilt . to the House , he jNIr . Duncombe ) would ; if they would grant him a committee , prove to be false . The polite was , as Lord Althorp had once said , a formidable power to b > placed at the disposal of the Government . They were armed and trained , and were , in fact , equal to soldiers . It was said that if those things were not prevented , blood would be shed- Heiold them that blood would not be shed . If these things were
done the people would not consent Let Hon . Members read the petition . " Your petitioners arc all of opinion that , cs the meeting was : peacefally assembled , bo ifc would have peacefully dispersed , had it not been for the nnjustiflable violence of tho police , to which , if your Honourable House affords no remedy , yonr petitioners do not feel bound to subaiit , " Ho t 9 ld them plainly that these doings woiid some day tend to create a disturbance , and if blood should be shed , every drop would be upon the heads of those who held the doctrines that nieht broached , and who came down to support this gross Tiblation of the people ' s righte ^ "** '¦ - ¦ ¦ ' " ¦¦ ; *' ¦ . ' . ' , ; . •" .. '" .... ' ;¦ ,-.-The Hou 39 divided , ' ¦
. - * For going intoOmmittee .... „„ . 89 For Mr . DuncoTabc * nmendHient ,.. 30 Majority against Mr . Duncorabe-- ^ 59 * The House then went into a Committee of Ways and Means ; and vote 3 for Exchequer Bills , &c , were agreed to . . ' .- .., ¦' . ; - ' ; . "' ' ;¦ . - ¦ : ¦¦' - , '¦ . - ¦ ; .. - . - .. - - ' ; ' .. ¦ : The Tobacco Regulations Bill created some debate . Mr . Thomas Duncombe oppoeed its re-committalj on the ground of its vexatioaa character and oneroug provisions . ... . ' , " . ¦¦ ' . ' ¦* . ' ¦ " •¦ : '¦ ¦ ¦ , / ' ¦ . ¦¦ . ¦ .: " '¦' . ¦ ' ¦¦ ¦ •• ¦ ¦ ; ' ¦"¦¦ : '¦' Ths Chancellor of thefixcHEqirBE , in supporting the Bill , made some statenients as to the very general and txtensive adulterations of tobacco which was practised . To meet the objection to the Bill , he intended to introduce a clause , giving further time to the dealers for disposing of the stock which they might have on hand of adulterated tobacco , and a more ' extended time for snuff .
Aftera discusaion , Mr . Thomas Dcncombe ' s amendment for recsmmittiug the Bill this day three months was lost by 53 to 9 , V ; " ' .- " : .. The Souse . then went into Committee on the Bill , which was considered , amended , iand ordered to be reported on WednescTay , ; ; The other orders of the day were then disposed of , and the House adjourned . . ; : ¦
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TnE WoiiKiNCr Classes at Oldham . —Pro 8 pectU 8 es are bi-in ^ issaed For the erection of a Working Maa's Hallj in 300 shares , at £ 1 each , payable by instalm ? iits of threepence per week , or upwards ^ The edifice , which is to accommodate five hundred persons , is for the holding of -. public meeiinsff , delivery of lectures , discussions on local and national grievances , tea-parties , balls , concerts , & . C .: ¦ : Wilson , the Steeple Climber .--Our readers will recolleot that aprue months ago a paragraph went theroundof the newspapers in refererice to the novel land daring feats performed by George Wilson , tha pereon who in so extraordinary a manner repaired' Carriokfergus steeple ^ and a large stalk belonginisfj-jf we mistake Bot , tp tho firm of Maifcland ,
Cbuper , and Go . i of Glasgow . The ingenious personage , it appears , still continues to follow his fearless occupation , aud is ready , without shrinking , to make repairs oven ia the most dangerous positions , without incurring thegreat expence usual in the erecting of scaffolding . During the fair week he repaired the large stalk at ilessrs . Muir , Brown , and Go . ' e works , Anderston . The height of the stalk was 150 feet , and during the late storm it was cracked to the extent of 25 feet from the top ; Wilson mounted the stalk in his usual way . by inserting pins of iron , or wbafc ho calls '' needles , " in the inside of the bnildinff ,
ana UBing them as a ladder ; He then took off fifteen feet , to ; . 'lighten the top of the erection , a measure which , it appears , was deemed essentially necessary , dropping "himself down ; as occasion required , by means of a block and tackle * being balanced in his descent by heavy weights . Tho work , we understand , has completed to the company ' s entire satisfaction . JFrom Wilson ' s own statement he does net seem to entertain any fear in accomplishing hi 3 labours . Ha says there is little danger of falling , as the heedleai are driven ., firmly in , and he attaches himself to one of them at every step by means of a ^ belt .-1—Glasgow Araus . . ... ' ' . ' . - '¦ ¦ "' . ; -, /;¦ ' V '"'¦ * . ; --:-: \ . ¦ ¦ ' -.. .
PEPKSTHiANiSM . r- ^ Lasi week a persoa named Mullen circulated placards through this town , announcing his intention of walking ona hundred miles in twenty-four hours . The ground was measured , and he was to start from a place called " Wateringdam" to the first turnpike on the Belfast road , half a mile distance , and then retura ; the iourney out and in being thereforo one mile . Proper persons Were appointed , who were to givo the pedestrian check tickets on his finishing each mile , so that there skould ba no question that he performed his yoluntary task to the letter . At four o'clock ho staftedj and kept a very brisk pace till ten , when ha seemed to be somewhat flushed ; but at eleven ( when the crowd had somewhat thinned , it' being durinff
the etrening very large ) he seemed as fresh as at starting . Throughout the night a great number " of persons remained oa the line of walk ; Tqe 3 day morning-he was rather fatigued , his feet being somewhat pained , five blisters were cut off bat , notwithstanding , hia pace was very rapid . At two o ' clock he said ; hejwta all Baft . " When he came to the last trip the -pace Was astounding—the mile was perfected in eight Winutes and a half . He was loudly cheered on coming in . We should here add , that four or five times during the day he stopped for some minutes at the " stands , " quite confident of his powers . ; ant * before going out " on his last trip , he delayed fully six minutes . During the evening he walked through tho town , apparently cot much fatigued . —Newry ExamiTter , --.-. "
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B THE NORTHEEN STAR . . ; . . " ¦ ,,,..-:...:.: ,. ¦ ;; :.:. ; : ^; : N-:: ^ : ^ : ^ .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 6, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct442/page/6/
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