Page:Conciones ad populum. Or, Addresses to the people (IA concionesadpopul00cole).pdf/62

 to the protection of our Laws. It is an insult to tell us that we cannot suffer Death at the pleasure of a Minister, as is the case under arbitrary Governments—Suffer death! we can be torn from the bleeding breast of domestic affection—we can be thrown into foul and damp dungeons—we can hear of the death of a dearly loved Wife, heartbroken by our Imprisonment—till overpowered by disease and wounded sensibilities we sink into the Grave; or if we live, live only to wish in bitterness of Soul, that th' "Almighty had not placed his Canon 'gainst Self-murder." And what if the Habeas Corpus act be restored?—O degenerate People, and bloated with the emptiness of recollected Liberty! may resign the Dictatorship—but alas! he will have given a tempting proof to, how much ye can endure.

Who is this Minister, to whom we have thus implicitly trusted every blessing? Are his Qualities commensurate with the giant evils, which he has occasioned? My mind may be jaundiced by my abhorrence of the man's actions—but whether Truth or Prejudice be the source of my failure I must acknowledge that having investigated attentively the Speeches and Measures of William Pitt.