The loyal English town of Liverpool pays a heavy penalty
for being the principal English port in the Irish traffic, by being also the foremost place to receive bad importations from that unhappy land—now shoals of pauperism, then death-laden clouds of fever, and again a heavy consignment of rebellion. The Irish enrolled as members of Rebellion Clubs in Liverpool number 8,000. The loyal citizens have naturally taken alarm, and have petitioned Parliament for the special extension of the Habeas Corpus Sus- pension Act to their town. Very just objections are made to the adoption of any such zneasuxe for England, as implying a declaration of dangers that do not exist on this side of St. George's Channel. But when Liverpool is somewhat contemptuously told to help itself, and referred to the example of London on the 10th of April, the justice is not so obvious. In preserving order, the citizens of London had to deal mainly with the turbulent of their own town ; the Irish being but a small proportion. Liverpool, however, is subject to a direct invasion of the alien rebels. Even in London the civil power derived vast moral strength from the powerful support of a large military force ; and we notice that the Execu- tive Government is, very properly, concentrating a large array of soldiers on Liverpool. In lieu of any exceptional measure to sus- pend the Habeas Corpus, therefore, an active exercise of the ordi- nary police authority, with the ready support of efficient military bodies, will amply provide for the public safety.
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