Lord Liverpool and his Tory
government responded to the Peterloo Massace
by introducing the Six Acts. When Parliament reassembled on 23rd November,
1819, Lord Sidmouth, the government 's
Home Secretary, announced details of what later became known as the
Six Acts. By the 30th December, 1819, Parliament had debated and passed
six measures that it hoped would suppress radical newspapers and meetings
as well as reducing the possibility of an armed uprising.
(1) Training Prevention Act A measure which made any person attending
a gathering for the purpose of training or drilling liable to arrest.
People found guilty of this offence could be transportated for seven
years.
(2) Seizure of Arms Act A measure that gave power to local magistrates
to search any property or person for arms.
(3) Seditious Meetings Prevention Act A measure which prohibited the
holding of public meetings of more than fifty people without the consent
of a sheriff or magistrate.
(4) The Misdemeanours Act A measure that attempted to reduce the delay
in the administration of justice.
(5) The Basphemous and Seditious Libels Act A measure which provided
much stronger punishments, including banishment for publications judged
to be blaspemous or sedtious.
(6) Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act A measure which subjected certain
radical publications which had previously avoided stamp duty by publishing
opinion and not news, to such duty.
These measures were opposed by the Whigs
as being a suppression of popular rights and liberties. They warned
that it was unreasonable to pass national laws to deal with problems
that only existed in certain areas. The Whigs also warned that these
measures would encourage radicals to become even more rebellious.
(1)
Lord
Sidmouth, letter to Lord
Liverpool about the introduction of the proposed Six Acts (1st
October, 1819).
It is with deep regret that the determination to assemble Parliament
has been so long delayed. The existing means of stopping the progress,
not merely insurrection but rebellion, have long since proved to be
utterly insufficient, but hitherto my colleagues have remained unconvinced
of the imperious and urgent necessity of advising the adoption of
the only measure, which would of itself, animate the loyal and awe
the disaffected, and by which alone effectual means can be provided
to meet and overcome a danger greater, as I am firmly and deliberately
convinced, than any to which the country has been exposed since the
accession of the present Royal Family to the throne.
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