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beheading, were the constant lot of those who had virtue enough to speak, write or act in defiance of constitutional Liberty. And so far was the House of Commons from relieving the people under this dreadful distress, that they contributed all in their power to prevent even their cries and prayers from either approaching the throne or themselves. They passed a Law, by which no man durst ask his neighbour to join him in a petition for relief to the King or either House of Parliament. It was a melancholy consideration to see the people refused the benefit of prayers and tears for relief against their own infamous Deputies. Hist. Ess. Engl. Const. 120.
But we will take a nearer view of the subject. These Bills are levelled against all who excite hatred or contempt of the Constitution and Government: that is, all who endeavour to prove the Constitution and Government defective, corrupt, or fraudulent. (For it has been before observed, that all detection of weakness, imposture, or abuse, necessarily tend to excite hatred or contempt.) Now the Constitution and Government are defective and corrupt, or they are not. If the former, the Bills are iniquitous, since they would kill off all who promulge truths necessary to the progressionof
