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Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 4 by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay
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persons who petition for or against a law in which they have no
other interest than that which is common between them and the
whole nation. Of the many who petitioned against slavery,
against the Roman Catholic claims, against the corn laws, none
was suffered to harangue us at the bar in support of his views.
If in the present case we depart from a general rule which
everybody must admit to be a very wholesome one, what inference
can reasonably be drawn from our conduct, except this, that we
think the petition which we are now considering entitled to
extraordinary respect, and that we have not fully made up our
minds to refuse what the petitioners ask? Now, Sir, I have fully
made up my mind to resist to the last the change which they urge
us to make in the constitution of the kingdom. I therefore think
that I should act disingenuously if I gave my voice for calling
in orators whose eloquence, I am certain, will make no alteration
in my opinion. I think too that if, after voting for hearing the
petitioners, I should then vote against granting their prayer, I
should give them just ground for accusing me of having first
encouraged and then deserted them. That accusation, at least,
they shall never bring against me.

The honourable Member for Westminster (Mr Leader.) has expressed
a hope that the language of the petition will not be subjected to
severe criticism. If he means literary criticism, I entirely
agree with him. The style of this composition is safe from any
censure of mine; but the substance it is absolutely necessary
that we should closely examine. What the petitioners demand is
this, that we do forthwith pass what is called the People's
Charter into a law without alteration, diminution, or addition.
This is the prayer in support of which the honourable Member for
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