tance without any form or
precedent for their proceedings.

There seems also to be at this time, sir, an uncommon necessity for
tenaciousness of our privileges, when, as some whispers, which have been
wafted from the other house, inform us, a motion has been made in terms
which might imply the subordination of this assembly, an assertion
without foundation either in reason or justice, and which I shall always
oppose as destructive to our rights, and dangerous to our constitution.

Let us, therefore, sir, retain in our hands the cognizance of this
affair, and let the criminal either suffer his punishment from _our_
sentence, or owe his pardon to _our_ mercy.

[It was agreed that the printer of the daily paper should attend next
day, when, being called in, it was proposed that he should be asked,
whether he printed the paper complained of. It was objected to, for the
same reason as the question about the author's being in the gallery,
because the answer might tend to accuse himself; and he being withdrawn,
a debate of the same nature ensued, and the question being put whether
he should be asked, if he be the person that printed the daily paper
shown to him, which paper the house the day before resolved to contain a
malicious and scandalous libel, etc. it was, on a division, carried in
the affirmative, by two hundred and twenty-two against one hundred and
sixty-three: accordingly he was called in again, and being asked the
question, he owned that he printed the said paper from a printed copy
which was left for him with one of his servants; and being asked what he
had to allege in his justification or excuse for printing the said
libel, he said that as he had before printed several other things which
he had received from the said person, which had not given offence, he
inserted part of the paper in his news, and which he should not have
inserted, if he had thought it would have given offence to the house,
and that he forbore to print the remainder, having heard that it had
given offence. Upon which he withdrew, and the house, after some debate,
on a division, one hundred and eighty-eight to one hundred and
forty-five, not only ordered him into the custody of the serjeant, but
resolved to present an address to his majesty, that he would be pleased
to give directions to his attorney general to prosecute him at law.

The first printer of the libel was also ordered into custody. This was
on the 3d of December, but the next d