§ Mr. Huntrose to present a Petition from Huddersfield, praying that the House would interfere to prevent prosecutions for the expression of opinion, and complaining of the imprisonment of the Rev. Robert Taylor, and of Messrs. Carpenter and Carlile. The petitioners also complained of the frequent and improper interference of a self-constituted tribunal, called the Society for the Suppression of Vice.
§ Mr. Wilbraham,in reference to the imprisonment of Taylor and the others, said, that, some time since, a petition had been presented from Macclesfield, and he had since then received a letter, stating that neither the Mayor nor any of the principal inhabitants, knew any thing about the matter, and that their sentiments were very different from those of the petitioners.
Mr. Humedid not conceive that the petitioners were under any obligation to consult the Mayor upon such an occasion, nor did it follow that the petition might not express the opinion of a considerable number of respectable persons, in a town which contained many thousand inhabitants. He believed that to have been the case; he supported that petition, and he should also support the prayer of this.
§ Mr. Stricklandstated, that many of the petitioners were exceedingly moral and religious people to his knowledge, and decidedly opposed to religious persecution. He concurred with them in opinion, that it was advisable such prosecutions ought not to be permitted.
§ Mr. Hunt,in moving that the petition be printed, said, he had also presented the petition which had been alluded to as coming from Macclesfield, and he had not presented it as the petition of the inhabitants of the town, but of the Political Union Club there established.
§ Petition to be printed.