Commons Sitting of 26 March 1817

SEDITIOUS MEETINGS BILL.
A message from the Lords announced their lordships assent to the Seditious Meetings bill, with certain amendments. The messengers having withdrawn,
The Chancellor of the Exchequer The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the amendments be taken into consideration to-morrow.
Mr. Broughamtook it to be clear, that the amendments might occasion considerable discussion in that House, and therefore he hoped the right hon. gentleman would not press the consideration of them before the holidays.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that nothing could be more inconvenient than to delay the discussion on a bill of this nature. The preservation of the peace of the country rendered it absolutely necessary that no time should be lost in passing the bill into a law. He should certainly persevere in his motion, that the amendments be taken into consideration to-morrow.
Mr. Curwenwas certain, that no measure of greater importance could be brought under the consideration of the House, and therefore, full time should be allowed for the discussion. This bill went to annihilate the best liberties of the subject; and he trusted that it would never pass that House. Nothing could tend more effectually to extinguish all public liberty than to enact, that there should be a complete gagging of the people within a certain distance. Every day went to prove that this odious measure was altogether unnecessary; and, as the right hon. gentleman in the chair was labouring under severe indisposition, and, consequently, a late debate might be very injurious to him, it was highly important that the discussion should be deferred. To him there appeared no necessity whatever for this bill; and he could not but observe, that, highly as he might think of the integrity of hon.

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members, he knew not what that House would come to, if their connexion with the people was cut off.
Sir James Grahamdiffered in every point from his hon. colleague, and decidedly thought the only way to save the country was by such provisions as the present, He knew this bill was anxiously expected by every good, and loyal, and sober minded subject in the kingdom.
Mr. Broughamwished to ask the right hon. gentleman if he had any objection to the bill and its amendments being printed.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, the bill was already printed, but he would not object to the amendments being printed.
Mr. Broughamasked, whether the right hon. gentleman did not think to-morrow too early to take the amendments into consideration? The House could not receive the printed copies till a late hour; and the right hon. gentleman would, perhaps, bring forward the discussion almost as soon as the House met.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerhad no doubt that the amendments would be printed in time.
They were then ordered to be printed.

PRINTED VOTES OF THE HOUSE.
The Speakerstated, that with the leave of the House, he should submit to its consideration the adoption, as he had last night noticed, of some more convenient and expeditious mode of publishing and delivering to the members the printed votes. Since the reign of Charles 2nd, when in the year 1680, the printing of its votes was first established, the duty of superintending their publication was vested in the Speaker for the time being. He, however, should not feel himself warranted in any deviation from the established usage, without having the previous sanction of the House. Since the accession of his present majesty, until the period of the Union, the business of that House had increased threefold. From the Union to the present time that increase was fivefold. From this consideration he had directed his attention to ascertain whether or not the publication of the votes and of the journals might not be effected in some more compressed form, so as to have their delivery take place at a much earlier period than was possible under the present system, and at a reduced expense in the charge of printing, which now amounted to some thousands. He was now satisfied that the
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printed votes under the new arrangement, could be delivered the morning after the decision, and that they might also contain the orders of the day, the notices, and the second readings of private bills. The consequence of the arrangement in the votes would give such an accession of assistance in the preparation of the printed journals, that in their new form they would be also ready for delivery a week after the termination of the session, and not, as at present, continue so long delayed. If the proposition should meet the sanction of the select committee, to which it might be deemed adviseable to refer it, he should submit the propriety of a speedy decision, in order that such exertions might be made during the recess, as would allow the new arrangement to be tried as an experiment during the residue of the session [Hear, hear!].
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that after the clear statement of the Chair, he should merely move, "That a select committee be appointed to consider of a more convenient and expeditious method of preparing and distributing the printed votes of this House."
The motion was agreed to, and a committee apointed.