The commons have the deepest interest in the purity and integrity of the
peerage. The peers dispose of all the property in the kingdom, in the
last resort; and they dispose of it on their honour and not on their
oaths, as all the members of every other tribunal in the kingdom must
do; though in them the proceeding is not conclusive. We have, therefore,
a right to demand that no application shall be made to peers of such a
nature as may give room to call in question, much less to attaint, our
sole security for all that we possess. This corrupt proceeding appeared
to the House of Commons, who are the natural guardians of the purity
of parliament, and of the purity of every branch of judicature, a
most reprehensible and dangerous practice, tending to shake the very
foundation of the authority of the House of Peers: and they branded it
as such by their resolution.