154 
felony, without benefit of clergy, 
if any twelve remain together an 
kour after proclamation, even 
though they should not proceed on 
prohibited business. Nay, if any 
one justice should think fit to arrest 
any person holding any discourse 
to’ the above effect, to se dealt 
with according to law, and shall 
meet with obstru€tion, whether 
the orator and obstructor be su- 
borned or not, the whole assembly 
ts liable to be treated in this harsh 
and unprecedented manner. 
Now the case to which these 
terrible consequences -are attach- 
ed, .is unavoidable, being a ne- 
cessary incident to the exercise of 
the right; for no grievance can 
be made the subjeét of deliberation, 
much less of complaint and remon- 
strance, without drawing down up- 
on it that odium, which its injuri- 
ous tendency, or that contempt 
which its absurd incongruity may 
seem to merit; that is, without 
representing it as a grievance. So 
that an occasion, even without 
straining, can never be wanting to 
suppress the exercise of this fran. 
chise. ; 
edly, Because ‘the severe provis 
sions of this bill not only apply 
to all assemblies convened by the 
exertions of private subjects, in the 
manner expressly clainted for Eng- 
lishmen by the bill of rights, but ” 
to all the other assemblies mention- 
ed in the a@, as appears from a 
consideration of the following 
words—‘* Such meeting or assem- 
bly, as is herein before mentioned, 
to which every justice of the peace 
is authorized and empowered to re- - 
sort with any number of constables, 
or other officers of thepeace, and to 
do, or-order to be done, all such 
aéts, matters, and things, as the case 
may fequire.’? Now although it 
ANNUAL REGISTER, '1795. 
be not expressly provided, that de- 
liberating on any grievance in 
church or state shall be deemed a 
crime, except in assemblies con- 
vened by private subjeéts, yet the 
above-mentioned authority, to ar- 
rest men holding discourse to such 
effect, to be dealt with according 
to law, do so flagrantly imply it, 
that the zeal of any justice of the 
peace, who should so understand the 
phrase, may regard this as afford- 
Ing ample countenance to his ef- 
forts. Happily, in the class of ma- 
gistrates in this country, are men 
whose worth and honour render 
them respectable; but we cannot 
forget that many are not only ap- 
pointed by the minister during his 
pleasure, but are in a state of appa- 
rent subjection to his caprice, and 
some even paid by him for the ex- 
ercise of their office, have their de- 
pendence on that caprice for their 
daily bread. It is therefore but 
too easy to foresee how such an oc. 
casion will be applied. 
3dly, Because the provisions in 
the conclusion of this bill form a 
worthy sequel to the foregoing 
measures, differing not in  prin.- 
ciple, but only in extent and appli. 
cation. ‘The prohibition of unlicenss 
ed discoursing upon-law, constitu- 
tion, government, and policy, at 
meetings not sanCtioned by the sa- 
cred occasions of a free people ap- 
plying to their legislature, inter- 
rupts private instruction, and the 
freedom of private‘discourse. The 
perusal of books, recommended by 
universal esteem, and the authority 
of names the most venerable, is an 
indulgence, however, that still re- 
mains. We are only forbidden to 
talk of what they contain. 
We therefore think it our boun. 
den duty, thus solemnly to mark the 
ignominious difference between 
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