Mr. Wynnbrought up the Report of the Committee of privilege, appointed to inquire into the interference of the military at the late election of Carlisle. The report was read as follows:—
"That it appears to this committee, that a body of armed soldiers did, on the 24th of May last, in pursuance of a requisition addressed to the commanding officer, and signed by Thomas Lowry, D. D. John Heysham, M. D. and James Foster, esq. justices of peace for the county of Cumberland, come in a military manner, and post themselves near the Town Hall, where the poll for the election of a citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the city of Carlisle was taken, before the freemen there assembled for the said election had quitted the said hall, and before that the said election was finally closed:—That it appears to this committee, that there is no reason whatever to impute to the magistrates, collectively or individually, any corrupt or criminal motive, or any design to overawe or influence the said election, as stated in the petition of the freemen of Carlisle:—That it appears that the civil power in the city of Carlisle is extremely inefficient; but that your committee are of opinion, that the magistrates did not make use of all those powers with which the law has invested them for the preservation of the public peace:—That it does not appear to this committee, that there was any riot or tumult of that dangerous and uncontrollable magnitude, which alone can excuse the introduction of an armed force during the period of an election, without a previous resort to the utmost exertion of the civil power:—That under all these circumstances, considering the difficulty of the situation in which the magistrates were placed, the committee are not pre-prepared to recommend any further proceedings in this case."
Mr. Wynnsaid, that he had never sat in a committee in which more impartiality was manifested, or more, anxiety 5 to get at the whole facts upon which the merits of the inquiry depended. It was impossible not lo disapprove of the introduction of the military; but it was proved, that, at the particular time when that took place, the civil power was placed upon a very inadequate footing. The committee was not, under all the circum., stances of the case, desirous to recommend any ulterior measure; but they were anxious to mark their sense of the impropriety of the proceeding. The introduction of the military was at all times to be avoided, but especially during an election.—He then moved, that the resolution of the House of the 22nd of December 1741, be read, prohibiting the interference of the military at elections. The said resolution being read, he next moved. "That this House will always maintain, with the most jealous attention, the freedom of election, and resent any violation of the same; but that, under the circumstances stated in the report of the committee of privileges, they are content to proceed no further on the matter of the complaint of the freemen of Carlisle."
Mr. Bennetwould venture to say, that, although at most elections political feeling was necessarily excited, yet there never was an election at which it was less observable than at the election for Carlisle. Certainly, nothing had occurred there which could justify the introduction of the military. He did not know in whose hands the regulation and employment of the civil power of Carlisle were placed; but, in his opinion, something ought to be done for the effectual revision of the system.
§ Mr. Jamessaid, he had felt it necessary to bring this subject before the House; but, after the decision of the committee, he was not inclined to press it further.
§ The resolution was agreed to.