Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1817

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Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
Long title An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain such Persons as His Majesty shall suspect are conspiring against His Person and Government.
Citation 57 Geo. 3. c. 3
Territorial extent  Great Britain
Dates
Royal assent 4 March 1817
Commencement 4 March 1817
Expired1 July 1817
Repealed5 August 1873
Other legislation
Amended by
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension (No. 2) Act 1817 57 Geo. 3. c. 55
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1818 58 Geo. 3. c. 1
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1873
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
Long title An Act to continue an Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain such Persons as His Majesty shall suspect are conspiring against His Person and Government.
Citation 57 Geo. 3. c. 55
Territorial extent Great Britain
Dates
Royal assent 30 June 1817
Expired1 March 1818
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1817 57 Geo. 3. c. 3
Repealed by Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1818 58 Geo. 3. c. 1
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
Long title An Act to repeal an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled An Act to continue an Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain such Persons as His Majesty shall suspect are conspiring against His Person and Government.
Citation 58 Geo. 3. c. 1
Dates
Royal assent 31 January 1818
Commencement 31 January 1818
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1817 57 Geo. 3. c. 3
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension (No. 2) Act 1817 57 Geo. 3. c. 55
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1873
Status: Repealed

The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1817 (57 Geo. 3. c. 3) was an Act passed by the British Parliament.

Contents

The Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth, introduced the second reading of the bill on 24 February 1817. In his speech he said there was "a traitorous conspiracy...for the purpose of overthrowing...the established government" and referred to "a malignant spirit which had brought such disgrace upon the domestic character of the people" and "had long prevailed in the country, but especially since the commencement of the French Revolution". This spirit belittled Britain's victories and exalted the prowess of her enemies and after the war had fomented discontent and encouraged violence: "An organised system has been established in every quarter, under the semblance of demanding parliamentary reform, but many of them, I am convinced, have that specious pretext in their mouths only, but revolution and rebellion in their hearts". [1]

The act was renewed later in the parliamentary session by the Habeas Corpus Suspension (No. 2) Act 1817 (57 Geo. 3. c. 55). [2] In autumn 1817 Sidmouth went through the list of all those detained under the Act and released as many as possible, personally interviewing most of the prisoners. He also tried to alleviate some of their conditions: "Solitary confinement will not be continued except under special circumstances". [2] The act was repealed in February 1818 by the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1818 (58 Geo. 3. c. 1). [3]

See also

Notes

  1. Ziegler 1965, pp. 348–349.
  2. 1 2 Ziegler 1965, p. 356.
  3. Ziegler 1965, p. 357.

References