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tFt^ MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST COOPERATIVE1 LAND SOCIETY.
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^Mf. DiabYwssds , Oor first e^>eriment, ...
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VOL. X. NO. 459 - londoii|b^hdm^^ "Tr ^3...
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PROGRESS OF FREE TRADE. (from a Corrtspo...
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BLixDFoao.—At the Assembly Rooms, on Wed-
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nesday evening, August wtti, a ruouc was...
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imperial parliament
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HOUSE OF LORDS.—Saturday, August 22. The...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Tft^ Members Of The Chartist Cooperative1 Land Society.
tFt ^ MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST COOPERATIVE 1 LAND SOCIETY .
^Mf. Diabywssds , Oor First E^>Eriment, ...
^ Mf . DiabYwssds , Oor first e ^> eriment , as scep tics call It , is now hasteninglbn " to natality , and as I traverse labour ' s estate , fej night and by clay , exalting in the success of ^ confidence in myself , I am sometimes driven almost to madness by the thought that nothing but
labour ' s indifference to its own interest stands in the tray of its complete emancipation- By our rules we irere bound not to commence operations till £ 5 , 000 tad been subscribed , but reliance upon your judgment induced as to commence long before that sum had been realized , in violation of the prescription . "The society could not be said to be in a working Older until the first £ 5 , 000 had been paid up , and smce that time to the present is not jet fire months . I shall now quote for you a passage from a letter just received from your talented and excellent friend and mine , O'Higgins . He
says—I should T 3 gs to set O'Connorville—the poor placehunters are mad about it . In mj opinion it it one of the sublimestplan * that ever wat adopted for the comp Utt emancipation of the working classes . For God's soke get the dopes to withdraw their THIRTY MILLIONS out of the savings hanks ; let them buy land with tab money—they have lent it to their enemies to help ftem to crash and oppress themselves . Do all yon can to get the lri » h in Bngland to join you—achieve this and jour triumph is complete . If they hold back they are the greatest fools and asses .
My friends , the above short , pithy passage is from the heart and pen of one of the best men and deepest thinkers of the age ; from a man who never deals in folly , or requires the performance of impassible things . It is the severest censure upon your order , for wise men to ha able to point out the many of all those simple plans by which the emancipation of labour may bo secured , while their rejection by those who profess a love for liberty , encourages , nay justifies , the oppressor is his tyranny . I only wish that all the sons of labour could see the magic spot that has been secured as a retreat for those who
will their freedom , and I lor one should never again repine at the degradation of the willing slaves . I know , my friends , that the great difficulty I have to contend with is the impossibility of convincing an oft-decsived and betrayed people of the purity of individual motives , and this is the only argument upon which I can for a moment justify the national apathy . I call it apathy , for although tha progress of our plan threatens tbe destruction of monopoly and despotism , yet instead of hundreds a week ,
thousands , yea , tens of thousands a day should pour into the national coffers—into Labour ' s Emancipation Exchequer . The means of supporting tyranny are wrung "from you at the point of the bayonet , while priests and old women , who fatten npon the spoil , denounce the means by which it is extracted , forgetting that the censure is upon the tyranny which coerces by physics ] force , although intended as a crusher for the slaves who neither talk or think about it .
Ton , my Chartist friends , must have progressed rapidly in meral philosophy , when the tyrants who would trample upon you are left no other source of abuse than the mere denunciation of a phantom . It -would not do for the modern Nero ( Daniel O'Connell ) to revile the land plan , after having promised Ireland to the Irish , but you know the old juggler always plays at cross purposes with difficult games . He and his Whig coadjutors having no positive merits of their own to recommend them to the industrious
-classes , would attach to you a character for propensities that you are not chargeable with . This unclean beast has been , above all men of the age . the greatest inculcator of physical force , as long as he was seeking power ; bnt now that he has achieved it , tyrant like , he would compel the oppressed to shudder at the very thought of self-defence . He has charged Smith O'Brien and the Young Ireland party aa traitors , and has declared that they might have been tried and executed for high treason . Pardon me ,
my friends , for wasting so much of your time m cri--Gchwg the conduct of a miserable old Whig place * hunter ; but it is fessential , in these days of Whig -dominion , that you should be made acquainted with the reasons for every move upon the political chesshoard , and I write to caution yon against falling into the trap that the old rat-catcher has so cunningly baited for yon . Don't gratify him or his new allies by even mentioning the term " physical force . " Let him go out in his own stink , and he consumed in the Tapour of his own fog . He made me a present to the English people ; he made his son a present to the Irish ; and I will take care that neither the one -nor the other shall sell you to the Whigs .
T o go back from this disgusting subject to that of the land . I have to state , that , in complete violation « f the decision of the directors , one of the occupants "with a wife and two children arrived at the farm last week , to our great mortification and to his disappointment , inasmuch as we have decided and proclaimed that the success of a great national project should not be jeopardised by the over anxiety of individuals . Of course onrown fe lings prompted us
to soften the disappointment as much as possible , and to make him as comfortable aa possible under the circumstances ; while I now inform the other allottees of the farm , that , in the event of their coming before the prescribed time , the directors will not hold themselves responsible for any hardships to which they may be subjected , nor will they give possessi on to > ne until all are admitted on one and the same day .
The first allottees have been particularly successful , and they should rest satisfied with their success . When they come to take possesion , they will find no labour before them , save what the most feeble may perfonn ; but we are not going to condemn persons unacquainted with the operations of agriculture to the performance of labour , to which , in the outset , they are unsuited ; thus inflicting a deadly blow npon the whole project . Once for all , o'hers must not be sacrificed by tbe over-anxiety of those who are amply and cheaply provided for , for the remainder of their lives , and their families after them . The work
is now approaching towards completion . The allotm nts are all marked out , and will shortly be divided . The greater portion of the land has been ploughed and harrowed , and will be well trenched up for early use , when every occupant will find a dung-bill of good London stable dung upon his allotmtnt , a comfortable house to inhabit , and the requisite implements for his new trade . Care will be taken to be prepared with plants and seeds of the very best description at the wholesale price , and I will be on the spot instructing the new apprentices in their new trade ;
and from which , by moderate industry , each may live a life of comfort , happiness , and independence . At the same time , we shall be prepared for the recep " tion of those who drew prizes at the second ballot , and also for the reception of those who shall draw prizes at the next . It is only the long winter that we dread , as the scarecrow of the hot-house plants , taken from the heated atmosphere of the rattle-box . Their interest , and the security of the plan , is much aafer in the keeping of our prudence , than their anxiety .
The directors have met , and had a long and anxious discussion upon the subject of the establishment of a Sank of Deposit . The arrangements will , I feel convinced , give the most perfect security and satisfaction , and will be shortly published . And all who have monies in the savings' banks , in tbe banks , or lent on other security , should bear in mind that labour is the source of all wealth—that labour makes capital , and pays the interest upon it ; and that in addition to the landed security , each depositor will be doubly secured by the improvements by labour . Kow , let me explain this as critically as is necessary for the instruction of those who have earned their money hardly and prudently , and properly look to its safe ji vestment .
Suppose , then , an Estate of twenty cottagespay in £ 5 a year each , or £ 100 . The directors , npon that £ 100 a year , would raise £ 2 , 000 at four per cent , or £ 30 a year as the interest , leaving a surplus of rent of £ 20 a year . This would be the first security , and
^Mf. Diabywssds , Oor First E^>Eriment, ...
the only charge upon the property , ? We may presume that many occupants vrill pay a portion of the purchase money , thereby reducing the rent at four per cent ., thus being allowed a reduction of £ 1 » year in his rent for every £ 25 he pays . In the coarse of two years , the Estate held by the occupants for £ 100 a year , would be worth nearly double that money ; and the improved value would , of course , tend to improve the security . That is , £ 2 , 000 would be better secured upon a property worth £ 200 a year , than upon a property worth £ 100 a year ; although the occupants would only be liable to £ 5 a year rent , nevertheless , £ 10 a year , the improved value of the farm , would be better security for £ 4 a year , the amount raised upon it , than £ 5 a year would be .
This mode of proceedure would be much better than selling , and would put us > n more immediate possession of the required funds for going on . And from many applications that I have already had upon the subject , I feel not the least doubt that the Directors will be able to prove its efficiency to the next Conference ; by which time , I trust , that the society will have experienced extensive benefit from the plan . After a whole week ' s cogitation I have heard of nothing but the most unbounded satisfaction from
LABOUR'S JUBILEE ! I am , my Friends , Your faithful Friend and Bailiff , Feakgus O'Coskok . P . S . —I cannot forego the pleasure of publishing the following passage in a letter received from Glasgow;—" Permit me to congratulate you , as the father and founder of the primeval settlement which
bears your name , and upon ifo success—one of the first movements of the greatest revolution of modern times . I can conceive with what delightful feelings you must have addressed that gigantic assemblage of the people on the 17 th . That you may live many years to see the maturity of this grand scheme for the amelioration of your fellow-creatures , I remain , Tour most obedient Servant , R . Colviuk . "
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Vol. X. No. 459 - Londoii|B^Hdm^^ "Tr ^3...
VOL . X . NO . 459 - londoii | b ^ hdm ^^ " Tr ^ 3 ^ E f , wence . ; — - Ivapfr- ' ^ t . ^ - ¦ - - -. ¦ ¦ , ¦ * give BfcHHMga and Sixpence pel- Quarter
Progress Of Free Trade. (From A Corrtspo...
PROGRESS OF FREE TRADE . ( from a Corrtspondent . ) Fhee Trade is rapidly spreading its promised blessings in Bradford . "Plenty of work" in tl . e shape of " very slack trade "— " High Wages " to be found in the " weekly turnouts of power- ' ooni weavers and wool combers , against reductions of wages , amounting from Is . to 2 s . 6 J . per week ;' " Cheap food , " above all thin » s , we were to have ; flour would not be sold at a higher price than If . Gd . per stone—'' flour has advanced in price , within the last fortnight , M . per stone , it is now 2- - . CJ-, nnd we are assured it will still advance in price . " In the Tailoring department , ready-made clothe . * an selling , of German and French mamifactuiv , considerably less than the Tailor here can possibly make them up for ; Boots are selling , of German manufacture , " Is . 6 d . per pair less than the Journeyman ' s wages before the passing of the Tariff Bill !"
Blixdfoao.—At The Assembly Rooms, On Wed-
BLixDFoao . —At the Assembly Rooms , on Wed-
Nesday Evening, August Wtti, A Ruouc Was...
nesday evening , August wtti , a ruouc was delivered , on "The Advantages to be derived by Persons becoming Members of tbe United Patriots ' Benefit Society . " The Lecture was delivered by Mr .-Ruffy , the General Secretary , from London , and founder of this Benevolent Institution ? " The Lecturer , for an hour and half , addressed the meeting ( which was numerously attended ) in a strain of fervid eloquence , and solid reasoning , which was enthusiastically applauded by the audience generally . The Lecturer ^ in the course of his address , was interrupted by a member of the Odd Fellows , who disgraced his order , not by argument , but by riotous behaviour , which drew from the Lecturer a severe
though weU-mferited eastigation . After the lecture the members adjourned to their society room to partake of a Supper , which was got up in the first style by Brother Stickland , and reflected great credit on him . The chair was taken by Mr . Huffy , General Secretary , and Mr . Saunders , jun ., Sub-Secretary in the Vice-Chair . After the cloth was removed the following toasts were given , and responded to ably by the " chair , " «' vice , " and othere— "The United Patriots' and Patriarchs' Benefit Societies , and prosperity to the same . " "T . S . Duncombe , Esq ., M . P . for the Borough of Finsbury , Patron of the Society . " " Mr . Ruffy , General Secretary , and long may he enjoy the confidence of the members . " "The Sub-Seaetary , Mr . Saunders , all the Sub-Secretaries , and all other Officers of the Institution . " " The Liberal Press . "
Imperial Parliament
imperial parliament
House Of Lords.—Saturday, August 22. The...
HOUSE OF LORDS . —Saturday , August 22 . The Bouse met at two o ' clock , and sat for about an hour in order to forward bills . Lord Lvsdsurst took that , the earliest possible opportunity , to reply to Lord George Bentinck ' s statement of the previous evening . The Noble and Learned Lord began by assuring their Lordships that he had , npon the dissolution of tbe late government , resolved on account of his age and infirmity , to retire from public life , and to hold office no longer . But , he said , desiring to see the Conservative party reconstructed , and to put an end to personal
differences , he communicated a design he had formed with that intent , to Sir Robert Peel , Sir J . Graham , and several other friends . His design had nothing to do with the Sugar Bill , and could not have anything to do with his own acceptance of office ; it simply pointed to the reconstruction of the Conservative party . Lord Stanley having been out of town , it occurred to him ( Lord Lyndhurst ) to open a communication with Lord G . Bentinck , the leader of the Protection party in the House of Commons . So far from any factious opposition to the Sugar Duties Bill having been proposed in that message , no allusion to the sugar question was even made on the occasion .
HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Satordat August 22 . The Speaker took the Chair at Twelve o ' clock . CONSTABULARY ( IRELAND ) BILL . On the motion for the third reading of this Bill . Mr . Hume said , that he thought it was a bad thing to enact one set of laws for Ireland with respect to the police and another for England . He did not wish to impede the progress of the Bill , but he would just point out , that if they paid the police from the Consolidated Fund , the profit would go into the pockets of the landed gentry . He would warn the Government that next session they would have to bring in another Bill to amend it .
Sir R . Ferguson , and Mr . Escott also opposed the bill Mr . Escott said he could not sec why the landed gentry of Ireland should be relieved from the expense of the constabulary force—a force which was rendered necessary by the conduct of these gentry themselves . He had listened with approbation for five vears to the cry of those who now occupied the Treasury Benches for equal law between England and Ireland ; but was this equal law ? Certainly not ; it was neither more nor Jess than relieving the gentry of Ireland , not the people of Ireland , at the expense of the people of this country . Nr . Suiel defended the Bill .
Mr . T . Dcscombe had objected to this bill in its previous steps , on account of its unconstitutional character , as giving , in fact , the command of a standing army to the Lord Lieutenant- He did hope , however , that there would be no necessity for the use of these extraordinary powers , but that her Majesty ' s Ministers would now take an altogether new course . He believed that they would do so , and that they should hear no more of Coercion bills , and the exasperation arising from them , and he saw an earnest of that new line of conduct in the restoration of those gentleman to the commission of the peace who had been deprived of that office by the late Lord Chancellor . He trusted also that in Ireland , where thi s measure was duly appreciated , that the landed gentry would be induced so to act as to render those on their estates an honour and an advantage , instead of , as they too often were , a mischief and a disgrace . Mr . Laboocheiie admitted the objections to the measure , but justified its being brought forward , be-
House Of Lords.—Saturday, August 22. The...
cause the present had prageU-itself ' tothe late Go ^ vernment to do so . ' * & £ ' . . " - " ¦* .- ~*" : i ~ 'l The bill was then , after some further discussion , read a third time and passed . " ' ^ POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS . Mr . Wakklbt presented ? al petition from a gentle : man who had been chairman of the Quarter Sessions , and the oldest magistrate , in . Berkshire , praying the house to dismiss thetP ^ r ; Law 7 Cdmmis 8 ioners , '~ and to impeach them for their conduct with respect to the Aadover Union .
GENERAL POST OFFICE . Mr . T . Dukcoube wished to call the attention of the house to the petition of Thomas Mitchell . late sub-sorter in the General Post Office , complaining that his dismissal was occasioned by proving in evidence certain malversations and corruptions on behalf of his superior officers . He had pointed out a great many previous abuses in this large establishment , and had been told that all his complaints were ineffectual , and that nothing could be done respecting them . An inquiry was , however , instituted before the solicitor to the Post Office , who certainly was a person qualified to inquire into the matter , although his appointment did not give general satisfaction . Manv of the abuses had been remedied .
and in the course of the inquiries Thomas Mitchell was , called before Mr . Peacock . He asked for protection ' if he should speak the truth , and on an assurance that he should be protected , he made certain statements with reference to the mal-practicesof Mr . Kelly . Copies of those statements were furnished te Mr . Kelly , and shortly afterwards it was whispered that Mitchell was a marked man . On another inquiry being instituted Mitchell was again called , and on a fresh assurance that he should be protected , he gave information that 70 , 000 of the circulars of Mr . Kelly had been sent through the Post Office free , thereby defrauding the revenue . He had become a marked man before , without any complaint being made against him . Mitchell , who was not in
good health , was so fatigued after giving his evidence , that he was compelled t » go home , and on his reaching his home he was so ill that he was compelled to send to the office to state that he should be unable to attend to his duties . That was strictly within the rules of the establishment , but he received his dismissal very shortly after , the letter stating that the dismissal was in consequence of his having absented himself from his duty without leave . Another ground had since been taken up , and it was stated the man was dismissed in consequence of insolent conduct . These subterfuges were proofs of the weakness of the case of the Post Office authorities , and since this dismissal Mitchell had received an appointment as a general letter carrier , stating that it was in mitigation of his punishment . If the man neglected his duty , he was quite unfit to be engaged at all —( Hear , hear , hear , )—and if he had not , he
ought to be reinstated in his original position , and not be degraded to the rank of a letter carrier . Otker sub-sorters had since been culled before Mr . Peacock , and they bad declined to give any evidence a » ainst Mr . Kelly from fear of being treated as Mr . Mitchell was . He had with him a petition from 200 employed in the establishment , complaining of the treatment Mitchell had received , and expressing a fear of the like treatment for themselves . The case was ' lie which certainly called fur the severest investigation of the house , and he therefore moved that an humble address b « presented to her Majesty , praying her to appoint a commission of inquiry into the ma uagement of the General Post Office , the particulars of the dismissal of Thomas Mitchell , and also with reeard to a certain private speculation in that office , and whether it ou » bt to be continued or not . Mr . I'rutukrok seconded the motion .
Mr , J , Paukgr observed , that there could be no doubt that the Vott-Offixt-Directory , and the transactions connected with it , had led to the disagreeable feelings which at present existed in that establishment ; bat it was the fixed determination of the present Postmaster-General ( Lord Clanricarde ) to inquire into the matter , and to put the establishment upon a better footing . Lord Clanricarde , in dismissing Mitchell , had acted upon & report regularly sent to him , and not deprived him of his situation in consequence of the evidence which he had given . If it should turn out that Mitchell had not been guilty of the conduct imputed to him , he would of course be reinstated in his situation . Under these circumstances he recommended Mr . Duncombe to withdraw his motion .
. Mr , Hume advocated the claims of Mitchell , who had , in his opinion , been most unfairly treated , lie also complained that Mr . Rowland Hill had not been employed by the post-office to carry outhis own plan . Lord . J . B , usseli . observed , that the motion proposed so wide a range of inquiry that it was impossible to accede to it . A plan was in course of arrangement by which the ground of complaint respecting the Pott-Office Directory would be removed . He thought that Mr . Rowland Ilill ' s plan had not been carried out sufficiently , and that there was still room for further improvement . After assuring Mr . Duncombe that the attention of the Government would continue to be directed to this subject , he expressed a hope that it would be left at present to the hands of Government . After a few observations from Mr . Watto-urion ,
Mr . Waklet would ask what , after all that was aaid , was to be done with Mitchell ? For ten years that man held a situation in tbe Post-Office , with credit to himself , and advantage to the public ; anU because he g ave evidence not very agreeable to certain parties , he must be dismissed . If there was one thing more than another which should excite the jealousy of the house , it was in affording protection to persons who held subordinate situa tions , when they had the honesty and courage to expose official mal-practices —( hear , hear . ) Instead , of throwing obstacles in their way , every proper means should be adopted to promote inquiry —( hear , hear . ) He ( said the Hon . Member emphatically ) would show the heads of departments , that there was an authority to
which they were accountable , and that if the persons under them were subject to their vig ilance , they should remember they would be made to know there was an authority above them which could make them also vigilant—( hear , hear . ) When an investigation was to be held , an individual should be appointed totally independent of the department which was the subject of inquiry—an individual who could neither be damaged nor injured by the discovery of the whole truth . In the Post-Office investigation , while the inferior officers were giving their testimony , the superior officers were present . Why , under such circumstances , the whole was a mockery . Could it be supposed that these men would state all they knew , standing in the presence of those who might on the
following day dismiss them —( hear , hear . ) No good could come from such an investigation—( hear , hear . ) But what was to be done with poor Mitchell , was the question which still recurred ?—( hear , hear . ) Here was a man dismissed from his situation because he gave an honest testimony—was there any _ effort made to get him a situation elsewhere ? Was it just , after ten years * faithful service , te turn him on the world —to reduce him to beggary ?—( hear , hear . ) To permit SUC ^ conduct would be unworthy of the heads of the Post-Office . If before the next session of Parliament a situation was not provided for Mitchell , his conviction was , that there was very little justice to be expected either from the Government or from the heads of the Post-Office —( hear , hear . ) Some further discussion having ensued ,
Mr . Duncombe withdrew his motion , on the understanding that the case should undergo a revision by the Postmaster General . It could not possibly rest in its present state . The motion was then withdrawn . Several bills were then advanced a stage , and the house rose at 4 o ' clock .
HOUSE OF LORDS , Monday , August 24 . The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the wo olsack at 5 o clock . Lord Holland took the oaths and his seat . Lord Lyndhurst read a letter which he had received from Sir R . Peel , confirmatory of the explanation which he made on Saturday , as to the purport of the message sent to Lord G . Bentinck , and expressed his regret at being forced into personal controversies of this kind . Some bills were then forwarded a stage , and the house adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Monday , August 2 L The house met soon after 12 o'clock .
EDUCATION IN WALES . In reply to a question by Mr . Williams , Sir G . Grey stated that his attention had been directed to this subject , which had also been under the consideration of the late Secretary of State . lit ( Sir G . Grey ) brought the matter before the Education Committee of the Privy Council last week , and directions were given for taking immediate steps towards inquiry . Instructions had accordingly been issued to gentlemen to proceed to Wales to make the strictest inquiries , the result of which would b . - brought forward at the earliest possible opportunity .
OUR RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL . Mr . Hume begged to call the attention of the noble lord the Secretary for the Foreign Department to the present unsatisfactory state of our relations with Brazil . Persons residing in Brazil , and those who were in the habit of trading with that country , were
House Of Lords.—Saturday, August 22. The...
in great doubtas to the safety of their property trailer exulting : circumstances . Lord Palmbkston said it was quite true that th * commercial relations between this country and Brazil weremaLveiy unsatisfactory state , but , although that situation was unsatisfactory as regarded many points affecting British residents in Brazil , still he was not aware that as yet any practical grievance had been experienced in resp » ct to the commercial intercourse between the two countries . He had no rest son to . beheve that the Brazilian Government was acting m any way but what was fair and just towards our merchants in that country . The house mi ght rest assured Her Majesty ' s government looked upon the que 11 as one oi rery great importance , and that it would be their business to direct attention to the subject with the view of placing the two countries upon a more satisfactory footing than was now the case with reference to the interests of the commercial community . ( Hear . )
MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES . Lord G . Bentinck called the attention of the house to the present state of affairs- between the United States and . Mexico . Tbiacountry had a great interest in Mexico , inasmuch as our annual exports to it amounted to £ 600 , 000 a-yenr , as tbe British capital invested : - in its mines amounted to at least £ lO , < m , 000 , and as the public debt of Mexico to this country amounted to nearly , as much more . War , therefore , between the United States and Mexico must be extremely injurious to British commercial interests ; and if it should end in the conquest of Mexico by the United States , he feared that the British debt in Mexico would follow the fate of the debts owing by the United States themselves to tlm
country . Besides , if the United States becamemasters of Mexico , they , would , in consequence of their having already annexed Texas to themselves , stand at oncein front and rear of our West Indian colonies . After several remarks on the unjustifiable character of the means by which the United . States were working out their schemes of territorial aggrandizement , he asked Lord Palmerston to explain the existing state of our relations with Mexico , and pressed upon him , at the same time , the expediency of our taking some immediate steps to prevent the annexation of Mexico to the United States , and to put an end to the hostilities now prevailing between those two countries . He concluded by asking Lord Palmerston what was the true state of the case with respect Co this offer of mediation .
Lord Palmerston declined , as a Minister of tbe Crown , to follow Lord G . Bentinck through his various observations on the transactions relative to the annexation of Texas , -which had passed between this country , Mexico , and the United States . He admitted that in the present state of the international relations between the states of the civilized « orld , it was impossible that any war could arise between two independent nations without causing injury to the interests of other countries which might happen to have relations of commerce with them ; and he therefore believed that , just in proportion as trade was free from all those restrictions which circumscribed its extent , would it be the interest of all nations to promote peace throughout the world . He thought that Lord G . Bentinck had
exaggerated the probabilities of the United States establishing their dominion over Mexico . Mexico had 8 , 000 , 000 or 10 , 000 , 000 of inhabitants , differing in race , language , and religion from those of th « United States , and extending over a vast apace very difficult for military operations . He declined , however , to enter further into such topic ? , as he wished to say nothing which would affect our character for impartiality as a mediating state , lie assured Lord G . Bentinck that an offer had been made by his ( Lord Palmcrston ' s ) predecessor in office to mediate on the part of Great Britain between Mexico and the United States . He then explained the circumstances under which that offer had been made , and which resolved themselves simply into this—that if the Government of the United States were disposed to seek our mediation , we should be ready to offer and accord it in a formal manner . The United States had not thought it expedient to express any opinion in answer to our communication , and we had
no right to take umbrage at their omission to answer our note . Having stated what passed at an interview which t « ok place on this subject between himself and Mr . M'Lane , the American minister , whose desire to maintain peaceable relations between this country and his own was beyond all praise , he added that j he had since given instructjoiis ^ to . Mr . ; Pakeii : han ™> i : eriew the offer of mediation on ' the' part oi this country to the Government of the United States in such a * hape as would require an answer . A corresponding Jc ommunication had been made to the Government of Mexieo , and it depended upon the answers to be received how far we could entertain hopes of bringing this question to an amicable settlement . He concluded by calling Lord G . Bentinck's attention to this singular fact , that'in order to raise their revenue to such an amount as would meet the expenses of the war , the American Government had lowered the high protective duties of their recent tariff .
Mr . D'lsnAELi considered the reply of Lord Palmerston to be anything but satisfactory . It would have been some consolation to the merchants of England to have learned that our offer of mediation had been accepted by the two belligerent parties . He could not find that consolation in Lord Palmerston ' s vague statement , that in the development of the principles of free-trade we should find the best means of stopping foreign war . Indeed , one reason why he could not accept that theory as true , was , that Lord Palmerston had laid down the very contrary proposition before the close of his speech ; namely , that the United States had reduced their commercial duties in order to find increased means for prosecuting war . The British merchants connected with Mexico were of opinion that at this moment the political existence of that country was at stake , and that was the justification of Lord G . Bentinck in bringing the subject
forward at this period of the session . He then pro ceeded to enforce , at considerable length , the arguments previously emp loyed b y JLord G . Bentinck . As there was no power of self-government in Mexico , lie recommended that , in common with the great powers of Europe , we should act towards it as we had acted towards another revolted colony—Greece . < A protectorate should be established , which would give Mexico a chance of ten years' tranquillity , of which the benefit would be incalculable . He concluded by insisting on the necessity of our arresting in a determined spirit the system on which the United Sta'es were acting—a system which menaced at once our North American and our West Indian colonies , and evinced a disgraceful desire for universalempire . Mv . Bsrnal expressed his satisfaction at the speech of Lord Palmerston , and contended that v : e ought to wait and see what answer would be returned by the United States to his last
communication . After a few words from Mr . P . Howard , Mr . VVakley said he considered the speech of Lord Palmerston to be the speech of a peaceful Minister . He was delighted to hear that tbe noble lord was anxious for the restoration of peace between the United States and Mexico , and he hoped that he would not change his policy . gHere the discussion dropped . Several bills were then advanced a stage , and the house adjourned , HOUSE OF LORDS , Tubsdav , August 23 . The house met at five o ' clock . Messengers from the Commons brought up severa Bills , and prayed their Lordships' concurrence .
THE LATE GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE . The Earl of Ripos begged to occupy their Lordships' attention for a few minutes while he alluded to a subject which had lately been referred to iii their Lordships' House . He greatly regretted that he had not been in the house , when it was under consideration , or it would not have been necessary for liim now to allude to it ; but feeling that it personally concerned himself , he felt it to be his duty to request their lordships' attention while he briefly explained the circumstances of the matter so far as he himself was concerned , lie had come to town today for the purpose of entering into a full explanation of the whole of the circumstances connected with the subject ; but the situation in which the matter now stood , and what was said by his noble and learned friend ( Lord Lyndhurst ) the othernight , in vindication of himself and him ( Lord Ripon . ) he did not know that it was necessary for him to trouble their
Lordships by pursuing thai course , and ho would willingly abstain from saying anything to their Lordships ff be could reconcile it to a sense of what he owed p ersonally to their Lordships . _ But this he would say , that he did then upon his honour of a gentleman , and if that was the last word he should utter on that side of the grave , ho did absolutely deny , in the most unequivocal manner , that there etcher is or was the slightest foundation for the imputation that was cast upon him —( Hear , hear . ) After some further observations delivered with much vehemence of manner , and under the influence of considerable excitement , his Lordship concluded by saying he felt it necessary to enter into any detail as to those , charges ; but , conscious as he was of his own innocence—conscious as he was of the injustice of the aspersions which had been attempted to be cast upon him—conscious ot the total want of the truth of those asoevsions from the beginning to
House Of Lords.—Saturday, August 22. The...
the end , he repudiated them . His character had K ?« uu . 7-if * * E"Mtf «* " 1 « J been inflicted on £ & SL « .- ^ *>! , Lordshi P 3 that he would rather be- the victim of that person ' s accusations-« n / Sw Sf" ? — h h m t 0 $ «&«««> the sense aloS ^ afc ^^
POOR EMPLOYMENT ( IRELAND ) BILL . The Marquis of Lansoownk proceeded to describe the provisions of this bill . He referred to the distress which had existed in Ireland from the deficiency of crops , and the efforts which had been made to re medy that distress . The fruitlessneus of those snorts had rendered it perfectly raamiest to the late government as well as to the present , that it would be im possible for parliament to separate without taking measure to prevent , if practicable , the recurrence of such extreme distress and misery . The ffovernmejit bad endeavoured , in this measure , to avoid the evil of interfering with the supply of food . They would not become importers of meal or of grain , and this had specially been announced io order to prevent apprehension in the trade . At the same time , they did not preclude themselves from assist ;™ in tho
distribution ot the supply . Their principal object , however , was to take care that the people had employment , and fair remuneration for their labour they provided that in cases of distress due occupation should not be wanting . Great powers were given for that purpose to the lord-lieutennnt ; powers , however , of only a temporary nature . The bill , as their lordships knew , was not unaccompanied by other measures . They had for their ( objects thr encouragement of public works , for which the government would be responsible , and which would all be of a permanent character . Whilst he deplored the necessity for such measures , he trusted that the tendency of the evil to be met would be -eventually to improve the internal condition of the country . He now moved that the house do go into committee on the bill .
Lord Monibaglb wished he could see his way clearly to the accomplishment of the good which was anticipated from the present measure . Whilst he concurred with his noble friend in many of the points he had laid down , he must say that he anticipated failure , or at least disappointment , from the working of these measures for the employment of the poor . The evil , they must recollect , was of much greater magnitude than last year . Now , what was to be the system of relief ? Loans from the governraent ot three and a half per cent , for public works , and a grant of £ 50 . 000 . The grant was utterly and entirely inadequate to the necessity . It was intended that this grant should be apportioned according t * local contributions . The smallness . of the grant only showed how little local contributions was of
anticipated , In the ^ unty Clare a former grant of £ 30 , 000 had led to the expenditure of £ 123 , 010 in the making of roads . A still more fatal objection to the bill was that it involved , practically / the introduction of the princi ple of out-door relief into Ireland . ( Hflar , hear , hear . ) The application of that principle might be right or wrong ; but at all events its adoption in Ireland would be the greatest social change ever made in any country , and fatal as it would be in any case to the best interests of a people , would be peculiarly injurious to those of the Irish nation . While , however , the bill was not likely to do any good , there was a great probability of its inflicting considerable injury . Mr . Griffith stated that the resident landlords had , in almost every instance , doubled their usual number of labourers , and that many had commenced the improvement of their estates by draining , and subscribed to the relief fund in detached portions of their property . The operation of the tax which they
were goii . 'g to raise would bo to discourage the expenditure of private capital . If the bill were passed he did not know how they were to extricate themselves from the principle of out-door relief ; and he hoped her Majesty ' s government would say whether they did not feel the necessity of guarding against the extension of that principle . The Earl of Wicklow said he entirely concurred in all that had fallen from the noble marquis , in reference to the supply of food , and he thought the government had displayed sound judgement in their mode of dealing with that subject . The Duke of Grafton said the object was to find food for the people , and he doubted whether the employment of the people in making bridges and roads was the best means of arriving at that end . He thought the present . = £ vil was owing to , bad cultivation of the lahd ^ anl that " the people would be more appropriately employed , by affording them means to cultivate it better . He thought that a clause ought to be introduced having this object .
The Marquis oFLansdowne said that no alteration could be made in the bill in the present session , without endangering it altogether . The bill then passed through committee , and was ordered to be read a second time on Wednesday . A great number of bills were passed , forwarded through committee , and read a second time , and the House then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Tuesday , August 25 .
POOR-LAW COMMISSIONERS . Mr . Hume said that he had placed nine resolutions on the motion-paper , respecting the Poor-Law Commissoners , with the view of getting the hou * e to pass some opinion on them before the session was closed . It was not his intention to proceed with the first eight of them at present . With respect , however , to the last , which referred to charges of a very grave nature against the proceedings of those Commissioners , it was too important to be passed over without some remark . He did not intend to refer , at present , to the transactions before the Andover Committee , but should limit his observations to the results of the evidence brought before the District Asylums' Committee , which proved , to his conviction , that the Poor Law had not been carried out in the way in which it
ought to have been . Parliament had resolved that every thing done by the Poor Law Commissioners should be done by them as a board . Now the evidence proved saiisfiictorily that the law in this respect had been completely annulled by the Commissioners ; for it was made out , beyond the possibility of contradiction , that they were in the habit of sitting in their private rooms , and of acting without consulting each other , and without keeping any regular minutes of their proceedings as a board . The lax proceedings of the Poor Law ^ Commissioncrs in this respect had given rise to the District Asylums' Committee ; for , in consequence of the deceit pvactisedon Parliament and the government by the Commissioners , a bill had been brought in to establish district asylums . Had the Poor Law Commissioners made inquir / into the condition of the workhouses in the metropolitan parishes ( al » 'ays excepting chose of the city of London ) , and into theaccomodatlon which they were capable of affording to the casual
poor , tkey could not recommend the establishment of such asylums . That inquiry they had not made ; but that inquiry it was their duty to have instituted . Such wore his complaints against the Poor Law Commissioners . He had come to the conclusion that those officers had violated the trust reposed in them by Parliament ; and , in saying so , he did not exc . pt from censure either the first commissioners or Sir- F Lewis himseltl It « as , therefore absolutely necessary that tlie executive government should interfere , if they meant to allow the law to be properly carried out . If they did not , it would be much better to repeal the law at once . He then concluded by moving an address to her Majesty , praying , that she would be graciously pleased to cause a special public inquiry to be made into the legality of certain recent proceedings of the Poor Law Commissioners , and to order their dismissal , if they should be fouud to have infringed the law laid down for theii guidance .
Sir G . Grey observed that , when ho represented to-Mr . Hume that it would not he practicable , at this period of the season , and before the evidence taken by the Andover Committee , to go into the subject of his resolutions , Mr . Hume had distinctly assured him , in private , that he would not move them during the present session . As such was the case , he would not enter at all into the subject at present' but would merely assure the house that during the recess her Majesty ' s government would give it their best consideration . Mr . Huue replied that he had proposed his resolutions to obtain an opportunity of expressing his opinion upon them ; but he had no intention to press them upon the house at present . The motion was then by leave withdrawn , Mr . Etwall then gave notice that it was his intention to take an early opportunity next session of bringing the report of the Andover Union Committee under the consideration of the house .
Mr . D . Browse then called the attention of the house to the state of distress in the country of Mayo . Mayo was tho poorest county in Ireland , and had the greatest number of non-resident proprietors ; and , as tranquillit y was in great danger , owing to the famine with which its peasantry were menaced , in consequence of the total disappearance of the potato crop , he called upon English members to urge upon the Government to take more immediate steps than could be taken under its own plan to relieve the imminent distress of the county of Mayo . lie knew that the priesthood would do all in their power to preserve the public peace ; but there were circumstances under which the blind impulses of nature became stronger than all human obligations .
The O'Comror'-Doir ' Ohserred, That Tbe ...
The O'ComroR ' -Doir ' ohserred , that tbe Govern * ment : Was fully alive totheextent of the diatress , aad " ?& ' Wl ^ n ' g means to enable . the people tfget 9 ver j ™ jW ed !» topressure > and toi ^ mfuture . : " : " . ¦ ¦ ¦•¦¦ ; " - " * " :: **^ ' ry ^^ t ^ Mp-LABoucHnM ^ admilte'd thaitbefaimrelfthji potato crop was this year much more extensive tha * a ^ tn ^ i yea /' and ,. tkftt Ireland was , therefor ^ i * T &^ S £ ^ iT ^^ ' ^ iiar ^ Mi' ^ - regard na » 7 . ' ' s , t , Jlh # be « e ™ d that the statement * Sated g H „ fi 18 tre f . T some degree , exaj . corn meal were e . i , - tated that P otatoes » nd In <«« S 3 aX . "J ™* - at cheap price withi * he had eiven ' JSS T ated * K ««««> e » " •» ' <* iid nau given upon a former occasion that th « R « - vernmenthad been , . aud www'SBiXgj § £ IreEd * ° 8 Ute of ^ P ^ P le S mentwasfnllvnlivntn fhoovlsnf of fho itUtraac ... t
f . The Small Debts Bill and several other bills wers i then read a third time and passed . On Mr . JBorthwick ' s moving for a copy ofther © . port of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the salubrity of Buckingham Palace , some rem ' arkg were again made on the absurdity of placing tha equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington foe three weeks on the arch at Hyde-park corner . Lord Morpeth was sorry that no member of thft sub-committee was present to fight the battle of tho statue . He was not very anxious to become tho champion of it himself ; but as it was resolved that the statue should be put up experimentally , he did not wish to say anything that would derogate from the experiment . The house then adjourned . HOUSE OF LORDS , Wednesday , August 26 . Their lordshi ps met at two o ' clock , when th 9 royal assent was given , by commission , to fifty-one
lhe Lords Commissieners were the Lord ChanceJlor , the EarlofMinto , and the Earl of Shaftesbury , r Messengers from the House of Commons brought up the amendments to the Small Debts Bill , and several other Bills . ¦ . The Poor Employment Bill was read a'third time aad passed . ; The Consolidated Fund Bill was read a third tima and passed . The other Bills on the table having been forwarded a stage , their lordshi ps adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Wmwbsday , Avoust 2 ( 5 . The Speaker took the chair about half-past two o clock , and soon afterwards proceeded to the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent given by commission to several public and private Bills .
THE LEVANT , AND THE RIVER PLATA . In reply to questions from Dr . Bowrihg and Sir H * Dou gl as , Lord Pal merston informed the Louw that tho Russian Government , acting on a wise and generous policy hail consented to forego the superior advantages which its merchants trading to Turkey enjoyed over British subjects in the Levant , and tin Turkish Government had in consequence placed British on an equal footing with Russian subjects , lie likewise stated , that the late Government had sentout Mr . Hood , the late consul at Rio Janeiro , with instructions similar to those which had been sent out by the French Government to its representative in the River Plate , to bring about , if he could , a cessation of hostilities between Buenos Ayres and Monte v » deo . Though sufficient time had not elapsed to enable the Government to become acquainted with the result of the negociationa with Butnos Ayrea , he was not without hope that those negociationa would be brought to a satisfactory issuo .
HAYDOCK LODGE LUNATIC ASYLUM . MivWaxley then called the attention of thehousa to various facts connected with the mismanagement of the lunatic asylum at Hay dock-lodge , in a speech which occupied nearly three hours in the delivery . He then referred to the returns connected with that asylum , contending that they reflected more disgrace upon the system than anything that occurred in the Andover Uiiion . The assistant-secretary was owner , and the auditor of the district was superintendent of the asylum . It contained 60 private and 400 pauper lunatic patients . These patients were collected from 20 different counties of England and Wales , and were taken away from the places where they were known , and were sent to a distance where
the churchwardens , and overseers , and medical officers of the districts to which the . y belonged , could not watch over them , or show them the slightest sympathy . Haydqck-Iodge was licensed as an asylum in 1 S 44 . He had no account of the mortality in it during the first year ; but in the second year , out of 450 patients , 112 died . He then read a frightful , catalogue of the deaths which subsequently took place , and complained in terms of great indignation that this astounding mortality had not attracted the attention of the Commissioners in Lunacy . Numbers had died of insufficiency of diet , bad ventilation , and bad clothing . Was it not monsb ous that such things should be going on in a civilized country , where so much was expended in charity ? Was it endurable
that we should have a Poor Law which could give rise to such . ' unprecedented enormities ? Every thing about such a law was stamped with the character of cruelty . It steeled . tbe " hearts of men and converted- . tliem into granite . He then entered into a severe condemnation of the Poor . Law dietaries , which iu many cases were not more than half of those allowed in our houses . of correction . Reverting , however , to Uaydock-lodge , he showed , from medical authority , that a liberal and nutritious diet , and an excellent m system of ventilation , were of the greatest importance in recovering the insane ; and then proved , by various returns , that at this asylum the diet had been insufficient , the ventilation defective , the drainage bad , the beds damp , and the accommodation for 43 i
patients not more than ought to-have provided for S & T . He contended , that when a complaint was made of such a public establishment , the commissioners ap * pointed to control it ought not to be allowed to investigate into its justice . There was no looking at this case without feeling a strong conviction that there had been gross and culpable negligence somewhere , and that it was the bounden duty of Government to institute a most searching inquiry into it . Looking at the conduct of all concerned in this asylum , at the conduct of the Poor Law Commissioners , of the Board of Guardians , of the Lunacy
Commissioners , of the people employed in the establishment , there was a case which demanded a thorough and complete investigation , The only inquiry into it which could be effectual was by a commission . He therefore hoped that Sir G-. Grey would not oppose [ lis motion , but , by allowing it to pass , would adopt a mode of discovering the truth on this subject , which was alike demanded by the justice of tbe cas iai \ d the feeling of the house and the country . He conclued by moving for an addiess to Her . Majesty , praying for the appointment of a commission to inquire into the management of the Haydoik-lodge Asylum .
Mr . FieloeiY seconded the motion ; but stated that his feelings were so harrowed by the speech of Mr . Wnkley , that he dare not trust himself to speak upon the subject . Sir G . Grey was not in the least degree anxious to throw any concealment over the facts of this case ; on the contrary , he thought that Mr . Roberts had done a public service in bringing them before the public . He only regretted that this subject , had been brought forward , in so long a speech , in a house of literally not a dozen members . He thought , however , thai Mr . WaUlty had introduced into the discussion allegations not necessarily connected with it , as for instance the general conduct of the Poor Law Commissioners . He regretted the absence of Lord Seymour
as he believed that his lordship would have been able to give a fulll explanation of . the charges brought against the Lunacy Commissioners . The knowledge of the facts , which lie ( Sir G . Grey ) possessed , was derived from the papers laid on the table of the house , and from documents transmitted . to the ilome-onice , of which he intended to move the printing for public information , lie could not see ( that object could be gained by further inquiry , since the very motion of Mr . Waklcy was based upon the result s of an investigation already made . He was afraid that the state , not only ot * llaydocklodge , but also of all our pauper lunatic asylums , was most discreditable , although two acts had been passed
last year for the purpose of improving their condition . He believed that the Lunacy Commissioners were most desirous to give every protection to pauper lunatics ; and he therefore could not agree to supersede thorn by a Royal commission , as he should do if he were to agree ' to the present motion . Though their first inquiry into the condition of Uaydock-lodge Asylum had not been so stringent as it ought to have been , their second had been full and complete . Ha concurred with Mr . AVakley in thinking that nothing could ho more improper than for any person connect ' ed with the Poor Law Commission to be also connected with the management of a pauper lunatic asylum .
After a few words from Mr . R . Yorke , and Mr . P . Borthwick , Mr . Wakley observed that the speech of Sir G . Grey had given him some satisfaction but not much . An inquiry was due . to the public service , and if it were not i ' nlly instituted before the next session o £ Parliament , he should feci it to be his-duty to move for a committee on the subject . As ho could not divide the house on his motion , ho should ask leave to withdraw it , Tho motion was then withdraw / a , and the house adjourned . HOUSE OF LORDS , T / huhsdat , Aug . 37 . The Lord Ciiasckllou ioo > ; his seat on the wool-SPck to-day at half-past thrie o'clock . The District Luna tie A . svluins Bill the Railway Commissioners Bill , and . the severally read a third tim e and 'DISTRESS IN
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 29, 1846, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_29081846/page/1/
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