Sawyer's conduct might have been, to a certain extent, culpable: but, if an Act of Indemnity was to be passed at all, it was to be passed for the benefit of persons whose conduct had been culpable.

The question was not whether he was guiltless, but whether his guilt was of so peculiarly black a dye that he ought, notwithstanding all his sacrifices and services, to be excluded by name from the mercy which was to be granted to many thousands of offenders.

This question calm and impartial judges would probably have decided in his favour.

It was, however, resolved that he should be excepted from the Indemnity, and expelled from the House, [560] On the morrow the Bill of Indemnity, now transformed into a Bill of Pains and Penalties, was again discussed.

The Whigs consented to refer it to a Committee of the whole House, but proposed to instruct the Committee to begin its labours by making out a list of the offenders who were to be proscribed.