GENERAL HISTORY. 



[43 



eluded with the following ani- 

 mated apostrophe : " That this 

 example may appear in the 

 greater force to future times, our 

 Journals will preserve that long 

 detail of multiplied sufferings 

 which are enumerated in the 

 various petitions that have been 

 presented to us, and with them 

 the record of our having twice 

 refused to institute any inquiry 

 into the truth of them. When 

 those who are to come after us 

 shall suffer under the evils we are 

 now inflicting upon them ; when 

 their liberties shall be violated 

 after the example which we are 

 establishing, and they shall reflect 

 with bitterness on the memories 

 of those who have been the 

 authors of all their wrongs ; it is 

 at least some consolation to us to 

 reflect that it will be remembered 

 that there was a small number of 

 members of this House who en- 

 deavoured to avert this evil, who, 

 though overpowered by numbers, 

 and discouraged by the triumph 

 of a confident majority, yet made 

 the best stand they could in 

 defence of the constitution, the 

 laws, and the liberties, which had 

 been transmitted to them by their 

 ancestors, and Avho feel more 

 satisfaction in having thus dis- 

 charged their duty, though with- 

 out success, than their opponents 

 can derive from the victory they 

 have gained." 



The Solicitor General, who rose 

 next, exerted himself with all his 

 powers to confute his adversary. 

 He seriously called upon the 

 House to consider what had 

 taken place in the last year ; and 

 urged that it would be dealing 

 unfairly both by ministers and 

 magistrates, to refuse them the 



protection required. The state of 

 the country was such as to induce 

 parliament to suspend a part of 

 the liberties of the people. The 

 papers laid before the committee 

 last year, clearly proved that 

 there existed a treasonable con- 

 spiracy in the country, and the 

 report of that committee recom- 

 mended to parliament to arm 

 ministers with a power sufficient 

 for the preservation of the public 

 tranquillity. Ministers applied 

 for such power, and obtained it. 

 When this power was about to 

 expire, another committee was 

 appointed, in consequence of the 

 report of which, ministers were 

 allowed to retain the power vested 

 in them for a further period. As 

 soon as the public disturbances 

 were quelled, and that such power 

 was no longer necessary, ministers 

 voluntarily resigned it, although 

 the period for which it had been 

 entrusted to them had not expired. 

 Another question which pre- 

 sented itself was, whether an in- 

 demnity ought to be granted as 

 an act of justice to those to whom 

 the execution of the trust con- 

 templated by the acts of suspen- 

 sion had been confided. Here he 

 must at the outset deny the pro- 

 position of the hon. and learned 

 gentleman, that no indemnity 

 could be desired, except for the 

 purpose of guarding his majesty's 

 ministers against the consequences 

 of their unjust or illegal acts. He 

 denied that the present measure 

 had ever been introduced or sup» 

 ported on the presumption that 

 ministers had been guilty of the 

 least irregularity. The reports 

 of committees appointed by the 

 House had led to the two acts of 

 Suspension, and, together with 



the 



