CARRIED WITHOUT OPPOSITION. the House to institute such an inquiry. It was carried without opposition. A third motion, declaratory of the duty of the House to provide immediate and effectual redress for the grievances complained of in the petitions, was likewise affirmed. These several resolutions, which had been adopted in Committee, were, on the motion of Mr. Fox, immediately reported. 451 Ch. 24. 1780 Parliamentary strength. Proceedings so vigorous as these, could be Want of sustained only by strength and unity of pur- union and pose within the walls of Parliament, or by that irresistible pressure from without, which in recent times has sometimes determined the action of Parliament. But the Commons, so far from being actuated by any sudden and unnatural impulse of public spirit, had voted Dunning's resolutions under the terror of the impending election; and the majority, faithful to their old instincts, .and, indeed, to their personal interests, were only seeking for a fair opportunity to evade the consequences of their vote, and frustrate the hopes of the Opposition. Nor had the people that organized and concerted action which would have enabled them to control their backsliding representatives. Many of the petitioners were hesitating in their demands, and refused te join the corresponding societies. Others were alarmed at the spirit which had been evoked. Under these influences, the majorities which had supported Burke and Dunning began to decline. A resolution for incapacitating certain officers of 452 Ch. 24. 1780 WANT OF PARTY UNION. An the household to sit in Parliament, one of a series which Dunning had moved in connection with the main question which the House had affirmed, was carried by a majority of only two. On a subsequent day, when Dunning moved that this resolution, together with the other resolutions of a similar kind, which had been adopted by the Committee should be reported, the motion was negatived by a majority of forty-three. Address to the Crown, praying that Parliament might neither be dissolved nor prorogued until measures had been taken to remedy the evils complained of in the petitions, and to diminish the influence of the Crown, was rejected by a still larger majority. Fox, and other leading members of the Opposition expressed themselves in terms of bitter disappointment and indignation at the result of a movement which had commenced under auspices so promising. Nor were they sparing in insinuations as to the means by · which such a result had been obtained. That corrupt influence was used is highly probable, but the defection of many who had supported Dunning in his general resolution, was caused by alarm at the extremities to which the opponents of the Crown were prepared to carry their measures. The consequence was a partial reaction, and thus for the time, that very influence was increased, which a vote of the House had declared to be excessive. At this moment, when it was desired by some 'NO POPERY' RIOTS. 6 453 Ch. 24. 1780 riots in of the most eminent persons in the kingdom, to make the expression of public opinion respectable and respected by the Legislature and the No Popery' Government, there occurred one of the most Scotland. shameful exhibitions of popular feeling that has ever disgraced this country. The partial relaxation of the cruel and ridiculous penalties upon the profession of the Romish creed, effected by the act of the last session, had created far more discontent than any encroachment of the Crown upon the independence of Parliament. The apprehension lest the representative system should decay and fall to pieces through corrupt influence, was confined chiefly to the wealthy and educated classes; but the alarm of imminent danger to the constitution, from allowing Papists to enjoy landed property and the instructions of their spiritual teachers for to this extent only had the late remedial enactment gone- - pervaded the whole bulk of the people, and was shared in a considerable degree by the educated classes. The Scotch Catholics had been excluded from the benefit of Lord Nugent's Act, but the General Assembly had rejected a motion to petition Parliament against the bill. The spirit of fanaticism and intolerance was not, however, to be baulked. The pulpit and the press were both eager to inflame the illiberal prejudices of the people. The provincial synods, for the most part, declared against any relief whatever to the Roman Catholics. A corresponding committee was 454 1780 LORD GEORGE GORDON'S INTEMPERATE Ch 24. opened at Edinburgh, for the purpose of persecuting a class of people who followed the religion of their fathers in the most unobtrusive manner, and who had never been clamorous in complaining of the wrongs which had been inflicted upon them. Even now, when the prospect of obtaining some relief, however inadequate, had induced this respectable body to come forward from their retirement, they desired to withdraw their pretensions at the first appearance of opposition. But the cruel and revengeful spirit which had been excited was not to be appeased. The populace of Edinburgh and Glasgow rose, and destroyed the houses and property of the priests and other persons belonging to the hated sect. Even the lives of the Roman Catholics were threatened; nor could these unhappy people appear in public without being insulted and terrified. The magistrates of Edinburgh, either from supineness or connivance, took no measures to suppress these outrages, until alarm for the safety of their own lives and property forced them at length to call in military aid. The English people were eager to emulate the fanatical spirit of the North. Numerous corresponding societies for the protection of the Protestant religion were formed South of the Tweed; and at the head of the central association was placed, not inappropriately, a man who ought to have been the inmate of a lunatic Lord George asylum. Lord George Gordon had sat in Parlia Gordon. SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE. ment for some years, but the extravagance of his 455 Ch. 24. 1780 |