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NORTHERN CIRCUIT—Durham , Feb . 24 . Be / on Mr . Justice Wightmasu James Williams , Chartist bookseller , was indicted for sa asatnlt on Christopher Thomas Potto , on the 4 th of October list , at SunderUud .-Mr . Otter conducted the prosecution , and Mr . Grander the defence . Mr . Oxtekstated the ease to the jury . The dtfendmt ¦ was veil known in this part of the country as & leader of the party called ChartiBU . The prosecutor was an attorney at Sunderland- On the 4 th of October , the day on which this occurrence toek place , s public meeting had been c * led in the Amphitheatre for the purpose of memorializ ing the Queen on the subject of the distress now existing in the country . At this meeting Mr .
BLnns as-well as Mr . Potts attended , a » d both took their p laces on the platform , -which -was situate at the lover part of the room , -with tisxs of benches rising up from each side . Mr . Potts was opposed injhis political principles to Mr . Williams , being a Conservative . Mr . ¦ RUlfcnis addressed the meeting and made use of some rerj strong language , in -which he reflected npon the party to -which Mr . Potts belonged as being guilty of tie blood of the people . When Mr . Williams had concluded , Mr . Potts endeavoured to get a hearing , bnt far some time in Tain . After several attempts , he called ont " Where is Mr . Williams to get me a bearing , " when the latter repeated in a jesting tone , "Oh , giTe Mr , Potts a hearing , " Silence being very partially restored , Mr . Potts endeavoured to
address the meeting , out the interruption -was so great that he sptke only ia broken sentences . Soring this time some one in tbe crowd handed op to ii ^™ a pamphlet , published by Mr . Williims , entitled " The Englishman's Birthright , ' desiring him to read it Mr . ; Potss immediately retorted , -with reference to the terms of sale appearing on the title-page—•• Oh' theEnglish- ; man's birtfcrigkt ! They are selling yonr birtlffight at j fcrBrpaioe per dozsn . " M * . Williams Immediately struck atM--. Potts , and , but for the interference of ttxa persons around , would probably have given him a severe blow ; as it -was , it touched his cheek . The great thb-o of tie meeting was precipitated from the benches femarss the platform ; and but for the facilitiei of exit afforded by tvo doors in the rear , the supporters
of PottsjB opinions xsonld probably have been tenons sufferers . Tms -was the asssuH complained of , and though the bodily injury to Mr . Potts was slight , it waa a gross outrage upon his person , and one -which , in the eye of the law , -was utterly unjustifiable . Mr . Potts had used no expressions which vent beyond the license of a pnbuc mseting , and even if he had , Mr . Williams , ibove all others , should be the last man in the -world to take ofiecce at a freedom of speech , -which be adveeated so strongly in theory and illnstrated so -well in practice . Personal violence of this kind could not be tolerated -without the most serious results to society , and it "was necessary to deter Mr . Williams from offering , for tbe future , to his fellow e "! t ?» ns , sneb . an insnlting -violence as that "which he had offered to Mr . Potts .
Mr . Potts was called , and gave an account cf the transaction , corresponding to the opening of the learned COUcseL On his cross-examination , Mr . Potts stated that he had been a Corsarrative fer eight or ten years , ever since he had got discretion . TVa 3 a member of the Political Union . Was inveigled into the association . Hade speeches there occasionally , and was received with great applause . There was an election in Sunderfrnfl shortly before this meeting . Was not aware that any Ciiartists had Totes Was agent of the Conserva tive candidate . The meeting was called to address her Majesty , and pray her nor to prorogue Parliament until the present distress was considered . The requisitioniits -wets principally Whirs . His object in
atlend-Jig the methng was to prevent misrepresentation . A charge was brought cutest the Conservatives of ha-fing hired working men to disturb tbe meeting . A person , who was present , a sawyer , came forward to efftr proof of the charge . His master was present , and said he iras a drunken reprobate . Witness did not call him so . 3 > id sy he "was a discarded servant . Did not know of any men being hired to disturb the meeting . fPilIism 3 spoke first . - He uiade a -violent speech , it was -rerr violent in its tenor , tfcough he val ^ ht not ipeak so load , or so aaentiy , as the witness . Witness was much interrupted Was determined Messrs . Williams and Binns should not have the last word They had alleged that the Conservatives had the Hood of the country npon them . Witness called out
tauntingly , where is Mr . Willisnis to get me a hearing ? f&fitg perceived that at these meetings a certain movement of his hands was immediately followed by a total sfknea TVffliams said , apparently half in jsrt and half in esraest . " © h , gire Mr . Potts a hearing . " There was not silence enough to enable th « meeting to hearthe reporters might Does not kc-ow who handed up tha pamphitt Thinks it was a Chartist Witness was interrupted in cr&cliEg his joke aWmt the Englishman ' s bir&ngbt . Does not know whether he charged Mr . TFilcains -sTith baring sold the psople to the Whigs . Cannot swear what was said . Did not put his hand on Mr . Williams * shonloerand eay " This is the man who
sold your birthright" Had his hat in his right iand , sad iir . Williams was en that tile . The blow made an impression on his cheek- There "was then a rush towards the plsvrcrm . Did not know that this was caused by the supposition that the-witneishad assaulted Mr . Williama Did not say he wwiid be , torn limb from linsb , t-st he "sronld be heard . "Understands that Mr . Williams has been convicted of sedition , and is under recozursaccts to keep the peace . He repeatedly declared he had no -with they should be estrested , but the contrary . Does not know -what his future instructions cay ba now that he has been forced into court . Has instructed his counsel to move to estreat the recogsisnefca in case of a conviction ,
Three other witnesses were called to prove the assault AD aw "R"illiam 3 apparently in the act of striking at the prosecutor , but one only eculd say that the blow reached him . Hi . SRasger , for the defence , addressed the Jury si Kate length , submitting , that however tolerant Mr . Wiilianu should be of violent language , no oae ought to be more so than the quondam political unionist and oxatcr . He complained of the spirit with which the jaoaeenfion -was conducted , sad -winch was so strongly daplsjed in the evidence of Mr . Potts , whose object TTai cot justice , ¥ ni the gratification of Ms malignant feeling in crushing a political opponent He should hsve thought that a person cf generous mind " » wld hsve disclaimed with indignation all intention cf taking advantage of the position in which Mr . "Williams was placed , by calling down on his head , besioes ray punishment which might be inflicted on him for thiB offence in case of a conviction , a far
hea-Tisi punishment in the estreating of his recognisancesreeogniRneeB imposed on him for an efil-cce of a different class , and totally unconnected -with the present . He thought the Jury would require better ef idenee tha they had of any assault having been comiaitted .-The m&ttoag was a disturbed and noisy one , there "was great cenfusion , all the witnesses agreed that the blow * as , at all events , an . exceedingly slight one ; two Seemed to doubt whether there any was given at all . ssdij-irsa qaite possible that no assault whatever hai been committed . He trusted the Jury would give the defendant She benefit of any doubt , and retnxn a verdict of acquittal .
Bis Loedship , in summing up , said a great sZeal of irreltTant matter had been introduced into tee case , * iih which they bad nothing to da The state of psrdes inSuaderland—the political opinions of -Mr Wlliiami and Mr . Petts , had no bearing npon tbe msfeer . The simple qnestion they had to try -was . "whether a ij blow had been Etrnck . They would lo ? k a * , the evict-nee as to this fact alone . If they were sstisatd that Mr . Williams struck the prosecutor , or siniek ir . hi ™ at a distance from which he wcnld prokairiy kaTe reached him , it -would be tbeir duty to COBvict ibfe defendant , witfcont acy regard to the cot-KiaciiCts of thtir verdict If , ca the other hand , they thotgbt he « : id not so strike , or hud any reasonable dcu > t on tte mtier , it -would be equaliy their duty to srquit him . _ Ine Jury retired for up-wtrds cf an hour , snd leturned ttio court -ffith a verdict of Net Guilty .
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EXPLOSION OF A FIKEWOHES FACTORY LOSS OF FOUR LITES , IN LOXDON . Oae ^ tf the moit appslling and fatally calamitous explosions that has occun-ed in or Dear the metio-!» KMook place on Mosday , at Mr . B'Ercst ' s fireworks manuiactory , Lambeih-butis , by -which the pjemiits have been destrojed , and four lives hare wen sacriSccd . + ££ followirg is an accurate statement of the facts coiltcttd on the spot , up to a late hour last evening ~ At cbeu » tweiity minntes to twelve o ' clock , the lntabitiTiTs r-f LacV . th , Kennington , Yaushall , aad ke f urrciiEding rcijihbourhood , -were alarmed by a iond irpon ? ucli as is usually pi * odneed by the ignitioa oj gunpowder in iarge quantities , or perhaps
reietoling sere strictly the explosion of gas . This * £ = K . pidly fnlJowed fay reports of less violence of soend , tui j-niEcitntly loud to create serious appreaenszc-n fven to persons xeciding some hundred yards aistSDi . Tee first fcpre-sion was that the Vaaxhall w-KorH had exploocd , and that the successive QJschar ^ i-s -trere created br the bursting of the retons . in a vcry fcw j E | - £ rCSj however , ths nature of th » calamity " and its situation -were made manifest by a ders body of saioke which ascended above the ionsesoaibc ionh ride of . LaniDelh--walk , behind which the fv ' ory kid been erected some few years back by Mr . D' £ tesj , when Le was engaged as pyrotechnict at Yauxhsll-gardeEs . It was a detached building , ataato in a piece of waste ground , bnt foi which circuir- ancc i % is impoEJible to speculate on taehavoc thit rarsi i :: m- ecsced .
Ine akna having cr . c ; gons abroad , thoufands of Persons hurried to . toe spef . A large body of the ttetropolitsLn poLee baittocd from the station-house a Hi gh-street . a- ; d * xorctses were sent off to the tanon 3 fire-enfiii . e r > at oof , as several of which the brigade men were alrcadv prepared for actioo by tte load reports vfir . cn they had just heard . The ^ stance n- E . 3 prom pi aid ample , but ssch was the « m > r inspired in all tLosu sssembied by a report « aring spread that there vrere £ on-e hundreds weight
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of gunpowder under grennd , f hat t > j e most resolute menrof the fire brigade hesitated to approach eufiicJeatlj near to the faled premies , to render , their efforts for its preservation effective . An abundant Eupplj of-reater was speedily obtained from the main pipef , and seven er eight 2 aree engines were brought to bear on the soaih-west ande of the building , which was easiest of access , there being at the other extremisy enclosed ground , attached to small cottages , the inmates of which fled oat in the most * , pitiable consternation , conceiving that the whole place must bo blown np . In le > s than half an hour , the factory itself was reduced to complete ruin , and the dwellir . ghouse , in frrnt , a Flight building , two stories high , shared ihe tame fate soon
after . The discharge of fire works having created saf&cient apertures , the firemen directed all their attention to the cellarage , with the view of preventing the expected explosion of gunpowder , it having been ascertained , beyond all doubt , that there were on the premises at least six barrels of that terrible combustible . By grtat exertion , they were enabled to throw in some thousand tons of water directly overjihe cellars , eo that the ground was covered to the depth of two inches , and ihe rockets and fragments of burning timber , were quenched as they fell . The firemen , perceiving that there was no further danger of the gunpowder exploding , proceeded cautiously to the interior , and , with the hose of
several engines ,. deluged the smouldering wood that lay scattered , about . Their nzxt duty , and it was one of some peril , was to search among the rains for the remains of whoever mi ^ ht have mff'i-ed . In a few luinntes the charred body of a lad , about 17 or 18 years old , wa 3 dag out ; the next was that of a man of muscular frame , supposed to be Wright , the foreman of the factory ; the next was that of a full-grown man , believed to be the unfortunate proprietor , Mr , D . Ernst ; and a fourth , which so horribly burned as to present scarcely any traces of humanity , was the last victim found . Tie latter was pronounced to be a woman ^ and ihe sister-inlaw of Mr . D'Erost , who had charge of the premises . The lad was one of ihe appreBtices .
The remains of the unhappy female -were placed in a shell , and the bodies of tbe male suSVrers , having been secured on broad planks , vrere removed immediately from tbe spot , and deposited in the dead hsuse of Lambeth Union workhouse , to a . wait the coroner's inquest , -which vrill probably be holden to-day , notice of the dreadful occurrence having been sent iff to Mr . Carter , the coroner for Surrey . It was supposed at first that both the msle adults were workmen employed in the factory , but the iileatitity of the body of tbe ill-fated proprietor was subsequently ascertained by very convincing , though rather curious circumstantial , evidence Mr . D Ernst , -whose prlrrte residence is at Laurk-terracu , a cyw range t-f houses near ikthlem Hospital , was seen to enter the factory about a ojiirter of an hcut before the explosion took place He was not observed to come out , ncr could any tidings of him be obtained no to two o'clock .
A messenger was sent to his residence to procure the attendance of seme of his family , in constquence of -which a female domestic came to the wui khuuae , ana being shcrwn thB bedies , declared her inability to identify that of her master . All -were destitute of apparel ; the features were either -wholly destroyed , or rendered undistirtguishable . . adhering , however , to one of the bodies , was & fragment of 3 lisen shirt of fine texture , and near the throat -was discovered a fillet of flannel . Upon these being pointed ouc , tbe girl said at once , " Oh , God , that is my poor master I" aud she described that he invariably wore shirts of the finest linen , and owing to his having lateiy suffered frcm sore taroat , he h&d been ia the habit of wearing a piecs of flannel under hia shirt collar . The body of the other man -was net so fully identified , but it is supposed to be that of the f-jreican . No doubt -whatever exists as to those cf the lad and the female .
The fire , "which was net considerable , "was -wholly got under in less than an hour , but immense crowds of idlers of both sexes eontiomd fucking to the spot until a lats hour last evining . It was stated that there ¦ was a rerj large stock of fireworks on the premises , which had been made up for exportation .
A New Theoht . — " A new and startling theory as regards the natural duration of Lamsa life , appears in a little book , called u The Extraordinary Life and Times of Thomas Parr , " generally callea Old Parr : this little work , besides ihe said theory , contains much that is iastrucdve and profitable , as regards the means of ensuring t ^ ood heaiih , and all may be obtained gratuitously of any agc-at for Parr ' s Life PiJs—a meaiciae which is rapidly superseding all . others , as it has never yet failed to co :. quer the most inveterate disorders . "
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HOUSE OF LOBDS . —Mosdat , Mabch 2 . Lord Brocgham introduced his measure f jt the establishment of local ctnnty courts to which the trial of all personal actions in which the damages soucht to be recovered did not exceed £ 50 should be confined ; the judges to be appointed under the proposed bill would also have a -voluntary jurisaktiou in actions to any aaipuat , if the parties should signify their consent in -writing to abide by their decision . This m---a 3 ure ha / i been already favourably entertained by tLeir Lordships , aud he hoped that neither the lapse of time , nor the change of circumstances , -would be foand to have altered their opinion en it . The Lord Cha > cellor announced his intention of laying before the House in the curse of a few days , a bill -with the same object as that which Lord Brougham bad introduced . Including that brought in by Lord Cottenham , therefore , there -woald then bs three bills upon the-subject at once before tttir Lordships .
Lord Campbell briefly expresses h- ; s hop * tbat the country wonld not be left much longer -without local courts for the adminstration of cfatap justice ; and the House then adjourned .
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MB . F 23 B £ in > 'S SPEECH . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Thursday , Feb . -24 . In our lasfc week's third eih ion we ^ axe a very condensed report of the proce < d ; u ^ r = in the Honse of Commons on Thursday week ; \ hv excellent speech of Mr . Ferrand , however , ctmpels us to reprint it at length . After the House had been assessed by seTeral Hononrable Member .-, Mr . FERRAND rose , and waB greeted with ircmei ; dous cheering . He said—It -would be great tolly and ingratitude in me -were I to take advantaf e 11 the kind indulgence which has always been sho-wn me by tte Htmss , aud inflict a long speech upon you at this late stage cf the debate ; but I trust you -will give ma a bearing for a few moments , -when you recollect that for tae last fe-w
days I have been the object ut which nearly all the Hon . Gentlemen opposite have burled their pointless darts—( cheer ? . ) I am happy to Bay that , clt-iii&d in the mantle cf truth , I have come throngh the onesided -w ' ar unscathed and unharmed—( cbeerM It is true the Hon . BaroneS the Member for the Tower Hamlets came down the night after 1 had addressed the Houee , and said , — " Even had I the ability to reply to the speech of the Membar for Knaresborongh , 1 do not thick I shonld have the inclination , for though his speeches may amnse the House , they are more calculated to damage the Right Hor . Baronet 2 nd the party behind him . I , therefore , make a present of him to t ' le Right Hod . Baronet . I will leave him in the hands of the Right Hor . Barcuet , and wish him joy of
him . " ( Laughter . ) Sir , I will support the Itight Ror . Ht . BiTocet -when I can conscientiously do so , and tliJ sapport will to gm-D without any hope of regard cj txpectation of an hem ur as liigh a 3 that bfeit- >~ cd upon a gallanx uffictr beio-R- me ( Sir H . HardiBct ] for many yta . rs rf toil in the Eeivice of hia corn-try" — ! chter ? . )—and for tke loss of limb -v ? fcich be has sostained—( cheersj—ua houour ¦ which was . bestowed npon ilit ; Hor . ilembcr for tbe Tower Hatsiiti , fur what services J know not , by theUte eel £ -uenying no-P 3 ironage Government . ( Chisfcis . ) Then , Sir , next camttbe r . ttack cf the Hop . Member for Sheffield ( Mr . Ward ) . Withtbct blushing modesty—( loud i-ughterjfor -which he is conspicuous—^ ilh ibat positive authority by -which he has b > . come notorious— ( roais of laughter )—
Jie declared tbat my speech "was one t f scandslom levity . Then fallo-wed the Hon . Member for VTvcombe iMr . Bemal ) , and he told the Honse tfcat my speech -was one of bombastic declamation . ( LauEhttr . ) Now , I quarrel with neither of the Hon . Members . I fcball ! cave them to ' fettle tbe dbpete as best tbey may . contenting xuysfelf -with offeriug up a fervent prayer that it may be settlcil amicably . ( Laughter . / ? 3 y next assailant was tbe Hon . Member fur Solford ( Mr . Brotherton ) . I aik tha indulgence of the heuse fur a moment , trbile I d'jfeud nii'self fiom &nd ixpcee a most despicable qaibble— { efcetra . ) The Hen . Member , speaking of ity speech , E 3 ' . < i , " If I am to judee of tha correctness ot his speech by what I kr-ow t .- > be uctrue , I shall not ta 1 u 9 it verv liigoiy . 1 kno"w that there are some
statements that are entirely deittute cf foundation . " It will be remembered that I stated in a former speech , that the Hon . Memtsr for Stoekport ( Mr . Cobden ) -worked his mills rjgbt and day . The Hon . Member for Salford Eaid , 'bespoke from his own knowledge when he said , the Hon . Member for Stoekport never had a miJl in ids life "—[ cheers . ) 1 iufctantly gave my authority up to the House—( cries of "No , no . "; Iplaced my kuthority in the hands of tbe Hon » , and said if the name were demanded I wou : d instantly give is , but I ¦ was met -with a genera ) cry of "No , " from this side of the Housed -which was most generously responded to from yours . In a f « w minutes after the Hoir . Member for Salford left tha House J foliowtd him , and offered
him the name cf rr : j authority , to shew him the letter , and tc give him the date &nd tbe name of tbe place from -which it came . The Hor . Member laughed in his xjuifet -way , and Eaid , " But we call them print--works in Lancashire , not mills " —tioud cries of " Oh , oh ! " ) But , in juetico to n » y authority , I trust the He use will indulge me by allowing me to read four lines from a letter I have received from my correspondent iirce . He Eays— " I notice in the papeT thiB evening that tho Kev . Mr . Brother ton— Uoud laughter)—has contradicted your btatement of Cobden ¦ working his raiils nigtt and . day ; but I know they wiU not deny -working his printw « rks near Chorley m ' ght and
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the present" Sir , I now come to -what fell from tho Hon . Member for Westminster ( Mr . Leadar ); ha latd I made an incendiary speech . What , that fr ^ iu thu Hon . Member for Westminster , the champion for Ibe liberties of the people ?—( laughter . )—That from the Hon . Member , -who asserted that tuere isas nothing but class legislation in this House , and that the vforkint classes are not represented at alL Is it to be bornathat I may not here assert as I am instructed by them to do—that I may not assert that the -work'ng classes ar > : convinced that the Corn Lairs are not the cause of the distress under -which they labour , fcut that it is tho persecution which thej saffe ? from their masters . But , said tho Hon . Member for Westminster , if what 1 asserted vrere true , then it -was my dnty to move for s
Committee . Sir , I say that the House has been in Committee m 3 ny days—( a laugb)—and I distinctly bring the charge against those manufacturers before those gentlemen , calling themselves of the anti-Corn Law League . Who denies my assertion ? It is true the Hon . Member for Salford did bo ; but who else ? He stands alone . Those gentlemen out of doors say they will treat me -with contempt ; but have not my statements caused a sensation throughout the length and breadth of the land ?—( cheers and laughter . )—Yes , I will tell the Hon . Member for Wycombe that that is true . They have destroyed tho acti-Corn Law League—( laughter . } You may laugh , but m 7 statementa have destroyed yon . I have forced you to join with the Chartists— ( cheers )—it was tho only -way left you
by -which you could continue the unholy and selfiVn agitation you have carried on for years . ( Cheers . ) You have coalesced with those who hate you in their heaifcs . ( Cheers . ) I can prove that ; and if * ycu urge them on to rebellion , as you have been trying to do —( cheers , laughter , and uproar )—I warn you that their first outburst will be to plunge tbe knife in the bosems of their oppressors . ( Cheers . ) Let me assure you that if you goad them on , there is tumclent force and strength in tbe country to make you quail before it ' ( Cheers . ) Wow , Sir , I would call the attentien of the Hon . Member . f « Westminster to a letter I have received from a poor working man ; and perhaps the House will oblige me by allowing me to read a few lines from it . ( " Read all . ' ) I shall do so with pleasure . My
correspondent says— " Sir , —I hope when you have read this you -will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing it to you . The speech which yon delivered on Monday has caused more sensation than any that waa made during the -whole debate ; because wo all have witnessed similar transactions to those you then related , and many working men have experienced worse treatment than you have described . Nobody has ventured hereto deny your assertions . The rooms cf the Leeds Operative Conservative Society -were besieged by strangers anxieus to hare a peep at Tke Times of Tuesday , all of whom confirmed your statements . The " Ltaguers" are raging at their exposure . But I should not have troubled you had not Mr . Bernal doubted vour statements respecting the Anti-Corn Law
petitions . Why , in L « eds , on several occasions , the Leaguers have been defeated by the Chartists at public meetings . The very number of signatures to the petitions proves them to be forgeries . In the township of Leeds , which oontains abaut S 7 . 000 inhabitants , it is said that no less than 43 , 000 signatures have been obtained , and in the whole borough , ( including the women's petition , 23 , 000 ) no less than 66 , 000 signatures , or nearly the half of the population of all ages Besides this fact ( I have a rather extended circle of acquaintance ) I meet with numbers who are indifferbrt to , numbers-who are positively opposed to , the Whig scheme—r . umbers who are favourable to the Tepeal , "who will not sign any petition whatever . The petitions have been hawked round the machine shops
and factories . They have been placed in al ! parts of the town ; men have been engaged to go from house to house with cbeap-bread petitions . Oca young man , by name B >> bt . Whitenead , -who came to work in the same room as myself the day after the petitions were closed , informed me that from Monday . morning to Tuesday noon he procured 850 names , for which he -was paid 8 s . 6 d ., at the rate of Is . a 100 . In one yard ,-which the printed statistics of tke borough states to contain thirtyfonr houses , this man says he obtained near 300 names . This man is a repealer , aud a pretty fair informed man , and no doubt could tell how hundreds of sham signatures -were obtained . I could ail sheets with incident * which have been related to me , but I forbear , merely assuring these are facts which I can prove . '' Sir , i
have another letter from another correspondent ( Cries of " name , nama"j No , I will not give the name new , but I will give it to any Hon . Member who will apply tome -when the House is up . He sr . ya , "In all the pa ? t 3 of the manufacturing districts in which I have been . I have heard the workies" declare that It is truth you have told them in the House , and that if you ¦ wanted any to corroborate what you have said , you might have hundreds of thousands to affirm it . I -will no-sv put you in possession of a fact in the -way and manner in -which the Corn Law League manufacture their petitions . The other day I called upon one Hiunufac ' urer to ask him to sign the petition in favour of tho Ten Hours' Bill . Ho was in a room filled with power-looms , anri be heard me say '
petition ; 'he instantly said Ye 3 , ' and went across the yard into his counting-house , and lifted up tho lid of his desk , took out a petition , and Baid , ' Now , you see , I think I have done it pretty well . I have varied my hand as much as possible , and I havo put them all doTtn , for I have taken them out of the wage-book . '" Now what think you of the manner in which your pet . tioDs stc got up ? Sir , in detailiufj the misery , the plunder , and the robber ? that is committed upon the poor -working man by the manufacturers belonging to the Anti-Corn Law League , I am prepared to prove that they used the truck system as one of the engines of their destruction . I wi ! l now read to tbe house a ststameut that -will make you stand aghast . ( Laughter . )
Yes . it will have that effect upon any Hiw . Member ¦ rrho has a heart to feel for the sufferings of the poor . 1 Tsiah tbe House to remember that I never did charge these crimes upon the -whole manufacturers of the country , but I distinctly charge them upon those nianufi : cturtra who ate members of tbe Anti-Corn Law Ltaenr . I know many manufacturers in my own neighbourhood -who are men ef the kindest natures , but they tell me that they cauiic-t compete -withthose manufacturers tvhtt are connected with the League , because they paid their labourers in money , -while the Leaguers paid theirs upon the truck system . I -will tell the Hou Member for Manchester , who defended the nianufao * turers
Mr . M . PHILIPS rose , amidst loud uproar and cries of " Order . " He eaid ( acroes the table , ) that he had not denied that some manufacturers were cu ' . pable ; they -were like other classes , and there were bad ones amoDgst them . Mr . Ferrand—I am obliged to the Hon . Gentleman , for it justifies what I was going to say . I will now give him a broad sketch of no isolated cases , but of many of tha most flagitious nature whJeh . are now occurring throughout Lancashire . " Messrs . blank and S ? n "—( loud cries of " Name" ) I again tell Hop . Members tbat 1 am prepared to prove everything which 1 aster .. If any Hon . Member -will move fur a Committee , I pledge mystif to summon witnesses to prove every vrord of what I am going to read ; but I trust that , under present circnm 3 tances , the House will agree ¦ with me , tbat it will not be fair to givo to tho world the mints of the parties . iCheers . ) " Messrs ——and Son . - — , three mills . Tbere la a shop in the
immtdiate vicinity of each of these mills , and each shop is kept by -a son-iii-la-w for bis own advantage . The ¦ workpeople are also supplied with coals by the same firm . Mr . -, two mills . Tbe workpeople are obliged to procure both food and clothing at a shop in tte neighbourhood of the wills , which ia kept by his brother for his owu'benefit . Mr . —^ -, one mill , close to -which is a shop , over the door of which his son ' s name is placed , -who is a minor residing ^ vith his father . Messrs . and Co ., one mill . They have a fcbop -which is kept for their own bent fit . Mr . —— -, one mill , near which a shop is kept by 2 ixb son-ia-law , for his own i > ene 5 c , ¦ wko is rJso manager of the JiiiU . There aro fivo more niUls in this very neighbowhocd which have cottages attached ta them , and bek-nging to the owners , and-which are occupied by their workpeople . " ( TLe reading of thiB document "was intemnted throughout with lonrt cries of " nsine , naaie . " In order to make members aware of the manner in which these manufacturers
ovaded the penalties of the law , I -will atale how they arrange matters . On the Saturday night the working people go into the countiug-house , vthere thoy are paid their wages in money , but inRtead of being allowed to come cut the saae vfay , they are obliged to go through a reom , in which is sittiDg the person wbo keeps tbe books at the truck shop belonaiuc to the mill , and there they have to pay every farthing oi the food find clothing -which they bad required during the previous week , and if it could bfa proved tbat one man had spent even ono halfpenny on any sort of goods out of tbat shop , he -wo-j ^ d be instantly , find -without one word of expjr . nation , discharged from hia employmeHt —( cheers ) . Now I call that a tax upen food—( cheers ) —that I call & tax tipon provisions . That is your free
sTttem —( cneers ) . It is notorious that tho masters obtain 25 per cect upon the -whole of tho goods they sell , and U'at they make 10 per cent , upon the ct-ttages they obtige their workmen to reside lu A hey is placed in the htnds of any -workman -who aj . plies for and obtains ¦ work at any of these mills , and it is ' -well underEtJod that that is the key of a cottage built by his waster , wha will not let it to him under 10 per cent , for the outlay of his money , nor give him employment unless he takes it . There was r class system—there was a system c-t free trade under vrhinh tbo large manufacturers were making fortunes , yet they come forward and say the landed interest must yield I now come to the Bight Hon . Member for Edinburgh ( laughter ) , who has stated that the members ef the
anti-Corn Law League had not used such violent language out cf doors as I have used in this House . The Hon . Member will perhaps permit me to call his attention ta the lanjnigo nttered by an individual at a meeting ef tho anti-Com Law delegates , in allusion to the Right Hon . Baronet at the head of her Majesty ' s Government I am convinced that , however Hon . Members opposite may differ from the Right Hon . Baronet in political opinions , they will bear record with a generous and manly spirit that he does not deserve he slander I am about to read to the House—( bear ; Mr . G . Thompson says , alluding to tae Corn Law : — " Cursed law , doubling the primeval curse , turning the ¦ warm sweat of industry into the chill damp of starvation— ( tremendous cheers . ) " ( Loua laughter frem all parts of the House . ) " He denounced tbat law—
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( cheers . ) It was an / impious Ia ^ v—( ch ee rs . ) But this wicked man- ( Sir R . Peel ) the Iaw-maktr , the landed aristocrat ,- -. had Vis tually monopolised the universal Wur . ty of CM , aud we biaris in consequence of it . " Colonel Thompson says , " He ehould hfmself couscien . tlousiy , and -with integrity , advocate the taking a large rulnbutioa . -on the landlords ; how- many would follow Lira depended on tuein , not ^ on himisalf . " My opinion is , tfcat . it the people wait till the Hon . and Ctellaui Colonel attempts to " take" this retribution , they wiL have to ¦ vrait j a -. considerable' time . ( Great laughter . ) I will now read to the House a speech delivered at a meeting of the anti-Corn Law League by the Hoa . Member -who has j iiat sat ( Jo vm , and I wish the Right Hon ; GantletDan , the Member for
Edinburgh ( Mr . Macaulay ) , hail been present ; that he misdit hoar this -language . When / iOO . OOO men-threatened t j come down frc : a Birmingham to this metropolis—for which they rectlvod the thanka of tho Noble Lord the Member for Londou ( Lord J . Russell )—Lord Greys . iiid to the House of Lords , " Sit your house hi oruo-r , for the people are coming down upon yon . " I tluQfc I may also say to the Hon . Members »> f tbisHouse , " Set your Louso in order , for tha Hod- Member is coming down upon you . " . - ( Laughter . ) Tlie Hod . Member for Stoekport ( Mr . Cobden ) thua appeals to tho passions of the people .- — " Their metal would be tried in afortmghtor three weejrp . He Lad toli them th « the avtatocracy must b& frightened . Were they prepared to miike sacrifices and to uud&rgo suffering to carry this question . ? -.-- ( Cheurs . arid loud criea of " Yes , yes . ") The t ' me was nob far off when they mJuhti be called tJ make
upon sacrifices and to undergo Bufferings . The time might soon como when theymight be called upon to inquire as Christian men whetheran oligarcy whiyh has usurped the governhn-nt ( cheers ) , placed itsrfoot on the crown—( imuienso cheering , -whkh contihueil ' aoim mmixtea )—and trampled down the people—( continued cheering)—bow far such an eligaichial usurpation was desevviug of ihiir moia \ iiud rsligioua su ^ poi-fc . ( Immense cheering . ) If they were prepared for suffering they . .. would soon have an opportunity of suffering , ( Cheers . ) When the prbper time should come , he would be prcpareci to set tbeui an example of suffering , to suffer with them—( loud cheers . ) " ( Laughter . ) When I read that speach I trembled from head to foot—i Great LiUghter ) I will now tell the Hoaee how tne mem-? crs of the anti-Corn Liw League contrive to enhance tiid prica of corn . Are Hor ; Menibers opposite avrara' that , according to a calculation whieh han been
ina . e , 100 , 000 quarters of wheat aro annually consumed by the men of the Anti-Corn Lvw League , to eiiablo them to defrauil the public by da , ubiajj their calicoes with flour psiste?—( great laughter , which continued for some raoriients . ) Some Hon . Gentlemen opposite 6 < t not laugh r tboy eee the ranrder is out—( renewed laughter . ) / I can prove-what I have just asseitad by tbe evidence of maiiu ' faciurer ' i < of the higbest standing in the country , who are prepared to coma forward aud bear out my statements , and expose this system of robbery and plunder— ( hear . ) It was only tho other day that a poor"iaa . ii was tranaportedfor saveii years for selling to the Noble Lord the Secretary for t&e C . lonies ( Lord Staaley ) a few bricks for a cnandeiier—(! oud laughter . ) I have received the following
statenusut from an ladiviaual who , as well as others , is ready to give evidence on the subject before a committee of this House , if required to do so : —* ' ImminKe quantitie 3 of flour are used iu tlie cotton trauo tt > give a f-ilse appearance to tho calico" —( laughter , uml cries ' t . t ' " ) I assure the House it ia truo—( hear ;) I assert the fact , and J ask Hon . Guatlemtjn opposite ,. who are acquainted with the cottun tr < ule , whether it is net tru a ? —( hear , hear . ) My informini !; proceeds—" Some manufacturers uso from 2 000 to 3 , 000 packs pot annum . Tho ca ! icoes are passed through a , machine , in vrlifch they are atrstcbed in length Kpd breadth . Tiie iutsrstl-OM occasioned by Btretchwg are nlled « p by paste , which is ajjplied by a brush-. Afterwards the calico is passed between two rollers , which
prtss or calender it . . It then comes out apparently a beautiful , fine , stout piece of calico , Its real quality is discovered in washing , after both the purch : i 3 Q money and the expense of making it into wearing apparel had proved it to bo a deud ibs ' s ' -to the confiding purchaser . " I will now , with the pfirmhaion of the House , road an ' extract from a letterwilted by an Enstlish rae . chaut , exposing a prf ! CfS 3 which la adapted I . y certain manufMtureTs of bujini , ' up all the o ! a rags they can obtain , which are torn up into pieces by a machine , and converted into a kind of (^ uat an'J are then mixed with wool , which Is eventually manufactured into cloth . th ! s diirt , from its nawssous nature , and from its engendering numerous diseases , has bean christened by the workpsople of Yorkshire the "Do vil ' s duaf —( great laughter ) Tho z « ntli ; in : vn to whom I refer writes : —" Thlnes are worss tuvd
game begins . Mr . —¦—— inforius me thaV 3—— - S— : — has E ' .-iit out a large .. "' quantity '¦ -. *¦ « « lossklnV ohargod Sa . 9 ( 1 . per- yiird , wUich Itave ' . t , ~ . v S to be not worth on ^ fcttiirig—not wortli tuilo : ' \;\ i :. 3 . They will all be sent back from America to ' : " v uuic ;< i ? facturer , with ar charge of 5 a . 8 d . a . yar < f u { j > iu \ li .- ' -ift . Cor duty , carriage , freight , commission , &o . ;»¦• ' ¦ thin , of course , besides the loss of tbo goods , tii << y b ? : ; : ^ Hoytliless . If this won't cure hihi , I cannot t * i 1 \ r ' :.. -.-UL Mr . ——has been on the continent recentiv . j . u ! th ^ ro
he saw a small manufactory of ' floeokinSi' " -V , V :. ^ ;' r of wool , no devil ' s dust iri t ' jem . The -uiiiii-. h . ; rV .- this season , he beli&ves , had never made eiiiliu- ; i : ;¦ ' > : •<<• , -of goods in one year . He Lad tben in harid . ii ¦ , '•' , for 1 , 800 pieceB , considerably below the 'price . ¦ " i ' .: ; ^ sh devil's dust goods , pretendins to beof th . '• ' <;¦ ¦ - ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ n" ^ lity . ¦ Tbus the nvanufactuto is le « "vvins iu ; is . J W " , l \ S it can—thanks to the knavery of our » VRr ^ c-ioi ? ' < , covetous , cheating , canting solves . Nothing ch » sh <<> i ' ' VniKness aud deceit more . than this , 'i'heso ; h : ;?" ' vruve
clearly , that our ruin is desw'veUly bTvAi ^ it .. ; ..- : s by our own villainy . It is well known tii . t :. ; . oHS . m leers passed cast-iron , cutlery upon tho ? ;? vigiv . rs f > r steel , until they would not hsve it giv >; vi ; rh :-- ti- ^ y have had to find new couuuiea to avtxii ; t t ; . aud their former customers have been obliged tt > v ; ., v \ i ' . £ \ t . t < - \« for themselves . Thus cur canting , profe-iiig < Juciatiiu 1 s , are ruining their own country , and ci > eftting the poor pagans , and all the while blubbering . ( tout ' . trusting in Piovidence , ' and arotryins to malo ; Parliamyiit believe that they care for the poor ! " [ V / hil . 5 Mr . Ferrand was reading thefabisve extract , Coiou' : ! tiibthorp , who
had been conspicuous in cheering tlio lion . Member in the course of tia speech , was obserred to leave the House , and soon afterwards rttnriied with a large orsnse , which he presented , to Mr . Ftviand amidst roars of laughter . ] I will only deta / n the House a few moinenti longer ( the Honourable Gentleman continued ) , while I call their attention to a meeting of manufacturers which -was heM somo years ago in New York . An account or it appeared in nit the American papers , and the account ! will , with the permission of the House , read , 1 b from an oye-riiliifiSP . He eays , — " It was my goodluckt ) HftentV '¦» meeting of merchants and manufacturers cttnvt :. * - ! in the Town
Hall , for the riurpose ( if ' considering tL . ; best means of protecting the iuauufacturer 3 of the United states ; ' 'Che nuctiug ^ as composed o £ liiar-uTdctuvers of all giadtH ) an'l very numerously attended ; aud a spirit of unanimity peivaded the assembly . Specimens o £ cl'itb of Joha Bull ' s manufacture were h ' . ild up to ' -the i ?' z ? h : the meeting , all in tatters , and mptheatyu by -. tlia paste . These were compared , with tiieivoyiiz honest domestic manufacture , and the following rrsjitt ' . 'on was agreed to : — " That it is the opinion of this n . 'rttiDg that ii is the duty bfCongress to protect tbe tnr . uufactures of the Uniied States by aa augmentMtioa of the prestiit t ' arff ,. to prohibit , as far as posfcible , tuc importation oi foteign mannfacVurea '"— ( hear , fetar)—\ mil just Ciil tho attention of tho Right Hon . Baronet
the Fifet Lord of the Treatury : to a fact which h .-ts ri-j' . . been brought before the novice of the House , yet a most importai t fact . It is , that if th « CovnLaws were to be repealed there would be an immense body of industrious labourers ia the Nylt ' i ot England net or ^ y thrown out of employ , but ruined for over . That ruin would result from this cav . se :- ^ It has been for many years tbe custdui of thq chief laiided proprietors in tho North to let ' - " pieces of waste land tu working men en leases of fourteen , tweuty-one , or fourtueii jesrs , at a smuli rent , on condition tbat they shall break up that laud , and repay themsuivas by tte sala of tha corn which they m ; iy produce from it . Now , if the Corn Laws Were to be repeaied , all ' . tht . se liren mufct bo 'mined' . ; yet they have as niuch rlgb fc to protection from thu country as Hon ; iaeinbtrs opjjpsite have , and thfcy look to the Governffie » t to protect them , in or « Jer that
they may reap some slight reward for their labour . They nevar dream tbat they can possess such wealth as those gentlemen ; they say , '' Live and let live , " that is all they aspire to . Then why refuse them such on offer ? They say " We have let you jive—we would scorn to rob you of your own , aud it ia unjust .,, ciuel > umiianiy , r . ay , dishonourable , and beneath the name cJ Eoglishmen , to come forward and advocate a meaaure , the object cf which is to plunder tbei poor <; — ( hear hear . ) The Ron . Member for Manchester , who spoke the night bsfwrelast , cff . jred Ws advice to the farmers of Eaglaadi If the firmeraof England looR : to tne political consistency of the Hoa Member for Manchester ( Mr . Gibsor . h they will not , perhaps , think much of him—( a , laugk ) but this I will say , the farmers of England look to the laws of their country for protection : aiid when they lose that protection , dependon it , if they fall , you will fall with them!—( cheers . )
Mr . Brothertos rose to explain . He felt assured that any one who knew him vfould be satisfied that he never could use any expression whicli he iiitende'J Bbonid bear ia different meaning from that which he attsched to it . When he stated tbat he believed that the Hon . Member for Stoekport htd neve - had a mill in his life , he faily believed that such was the fact , especially as he used the word " m-Il" in its common acceptation among manufacturers . ( "Ohl" ) Ho bad
worse in HuddersfleW , and it seema that all 5 s ovaS without any hope . TJ .-o trade : la leaving this country most rapidly . S——; is payiDg off uoarly 200 of his weavers , because the foreignera are sending the eaine sorts of goods over * t very littia more than h . Wtlic price that he has be ^ n selling them at . I \ wlsU you could get- ' a full account of this shoddy trai ' . a ; it w monstrous , They now put scarcely any wool into tlieir yarn , only ju 3 t a ^ muc ' n a » will keep the devil' 3 dust toother . The rags , as yau know , are collected from the most filthy holes in London and Dublin , and av > e brought from tlie moat unhealthy regions , infected by tho plague and i . overy epidemic , and of course they are full of d < d ' . liy poison . B— - S—— hw had a boat-load of this rubbish , and also buys a gooa deftl of the Dawsbury people . Wben liis gods aro maae up , tbe first tinie they are worn : ' th «; y split up , and then tho
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read in a newspaper an account of the H 6 n . Member , in which it waa stated that he had had » mill , but , as he found it was not profitable , he had sold it He . ( Mr . Brotherton ) did not ; know where tue mills of ihe Hon . Gentlemaa were , ar . d he thought he waa perfectly undefstoo ^ , when speaking of ¦; " mills , " as i meanfng cotton , ' woollen , ; er silk mills , where children were employed . ; p Oh J" ) The Hon . Gentleman , the Memi ber for Iinaresborough , himself perfectly well knew tha meaning that was generally attached to the word " mUla . " ( " ; ph ! " ) He ( Mr . Brotherton ) had entertained no wish to deceive the House , and if he had made uso of any expression calculated to convey a wrong idea , he would havo no hisitation in nfr once Ktractlnst it—( hear , and a laugh . ) He believed at tho
time what he said , and tbiuigh the Hon . Member harl used expressions towards himself which ought not to have been lightly used , he bad no doubt whatever , that if the name of his correspondept , whose communication he had reiifl to them , were given , he would tnm out to . bf > . one . of his own political opponents—one , of those who , he would say , were the meanest and the most TrwVigrinnt psrty . ; that ever man had opposed to him . He dicl not wish to return railing for railing or he could hive sriid tbat ha had seen many letters as to the Hob . 1 VTember , and the cnaracter he had in his own neigbbiurhood , and the value that was puithere upon his expressions ; and he would , theTefbri ? . Content himself by merely repeating , that in what bad fallen from him on a former evaning ha had had no iutention to deceive theHonse . :
Mr . Cobden also rose to exp ' ain . Ho said , orico for all , he considered his position in tbnt House to b > anytbinR but one wuicU cilled on him , or aUowed him , to indulge in sross personalities . And he could assure the Hon . Member opposita , that however he might inger niousJy devise partisazi warfare of this very clever kind , he ( Mr . C . ) would never enter into personal alternation in that Huuse . He held auch . a caura ^ to be rtisrespectful to the country which Bent them there , and in two words he would say , that he did tremble for the dignity of that House whon sneh language as they had heard t'jat hfght could be listened to with complacency ( "Ob , oh / " " Eypjafn ! " . « ' Order I" ) He repeated teat he dhl consider the dignity of that House in daflgoi when ho found such languago and such demeanour &s thsy nad witnestlii during the last half-hour , received as it had teen-- ( " oh ! " ) - ^ received as it had been , with such complacency by the Right Hon . Gsntlemea on the Treasury bench , and so cheered by Hon . Members behind tbem —( hear , and laughter )
Mr . Hindl&y , Mr . Gill , and Mr . Fielden , shortly addressed the House . : ¦ ; ; ¦ . ' .: ¦ Mr . ViLtiERSthen replied , denyinst the Imputatioiis which had been thrown upon the manufacturers by the Hon . Member for Knaresborough ( Mr . Ferrand ) .: The speech which the Hon . Member made ha 4 been received with a glee sad satisfaction which he had never before witnessed in that honse , aud tbis circumstance gave a decided character to the question before the House ; for the division would not know turn on the motion before
the committee , but it would be a divisiin between those who entertained the same views of the manufactuicra of this country as the Hon Member , and these who held different opinions—( hear . ) Aa no disseutieat had been expressed on the opposite side to tbe ttitements of the Hon . Member , he conceivod that those Wb . f > constitu t ed the majority against his motion would identify ttieras ? lve 3 with the views of the Hon . Member—( cheers and laughter . ) The Hod . Member had ( -aid that every petition presented against the Corn Laws had been paid for— ( " No , lid . '')
Mr . Febbaxd denied that he had made such a statement . Mr . Villiers cohtincd . As the Hon . Member denied he Ue had ever used tbose words , he ( iSIr . Villiers ) acltnowlcdged , or at least the Hon . Member acknowledged , that he had not employed such language , but he rep « atsd again that tbe Hon . Member said , that all the petitions against the Corn Laws hafl been paid for—( hear , hear , and cries " no . " ) The Hon . Member made another statemont which he ( Mr . ViHiers ) denied , viz ., —that the working classes were not against the Corn Laws . This was a vile calumny on th ^ working classes ; and he ( Mr ^ yilliers ) should not fcave mooted this question year after year with * ut having ascertained that the worfcing closses felt intensely on the aubject—r ( hear , hear . ) He presumad the Hon . Member was prepared to prove those charges of plunder , ' robbery and fraud be had made against the manufactarcrs . Mr ; Feek AND- ^ -Decidedly >
Mr . Villiers understood that the Hon . Member was prepared to proro these charges against the manuracturora of Eflgland— - (• ' No , no" )—at least against riuiso who lial subscribed to the association against -the . Corn Laws— ( hear , hear ) These charges could not ro 8 > They were made against certain persons engaged i « manufactures whoBe names and circumetances wete known , nndit waB tho duty . of . those who cheered the Hoa . Member to insist on the Hon ; Member establishing hia charts —( cheers . ) He ( Mr . Tilllors )
ieonsldcred theniselveB jaktlfled in bringing : for-waid the present motion by the concession which the Right Hon . BaronetOpposite .. 'hart made on the subject , and he felt convinceii that if the people continued to discuss ar . d agitate thti question the ' y would eventnally 6 ucoeed iu carryinir it . iJ «» felt himaolt further justified in proposing the motion jny tho course pursued on the other side . . No new thing had been stated j no original idea stai-fed —( irenicnl cheers . ) Nothing but the old stale arguments had been used ~( renewe « l cheers . ) The gentldmen on the othifr side could not conceive that n . n
abundance of food would be a benefit Anotfjor argument against avy otter . . 'pt to lower the price of , food waa that , it . Would bo highly inexpedient to be dependt nt 6 a otlitr countries .. H = > scarcely believed that any charity boy in tho coua'ry ' canlrt be found to venture on such an argunieut . : He was charged , in consequence of , the motion lie had made . witkdisregardiDg vested interests . He was not ao dijhonesi ; as to disregard tha rights of property . But when would this charge cease to ba made ? When were they to begin to ' . chansr ' e the lav / ? The charge , moreover , was just as npplicab >« agaiust a moderate fired duty , and even , against the prpuosition of . the'Right HonL Baronet , for tho .. Right J 7 <; n .. Baronet profesaed to lower lha duty ; nnd if " sot ' :-. ; of tho present broteotion werewithdrawn
from the Jaritcsd interest , ' it might be argued that some of the w < rt ; t lands would bs withdrawn . froni cultivation . ( Uvar , bear .. ; ' The argiiment cf the Noble Dufea wan liart left tlio Go ^ ercihsnt was the only holiest OD'j which he had heard from those who opposed iiii inotioii . lit ) ( the Duke of Buckingham ) said that the psopb had either a right-to a total repeal , or the farniera hufi a r 5 « ht to their protectioiJ *; That was a manly and traigUtforward course , and / however much in error , he -. couid not but reBpect the stern consistency with which the Noble Dnke maict-iinert his opinion . He ( Mr . ViHieisV could understand their sayings " We will coiupensate every mavi injured by taking- away protection , " but be could net understand lowering tho protection mat enough' tu injure a few ^ aud leaving
others uninjured . He contended the people had a right to repeal , and no ground hud been shown for ; protection . (• 'Divide" and " Order . " ) He . could not understand the arguments of thoso on hia side tbe House , who wore not going to vote with him , but who r ^ reed with his views . They began their speeches by the most violent tirades asaiust the Corn Laws , and all of a sudden stopped shoi-t and said , " Monstrous as this Jaw is , and unjust , nnd injurious as it is , yet I cannot vote with you . I caunot agrco to auiv ' . den stoppage ; of thia injustice . " ( Hear , htar , hear . ) He ( Air . Villiers ) proposed a resolution declaratoiy of the injurious effect of the Corn Law , and that the ciriu-nstaijces of the tjouotry now no longer warranted its continuance . If that resolution were carried , a bill wouhl be founded upon it , ami that did not exclude the claims of particular interests to compensation that might be itjjured by a total repeal . He was extremely eoTTV : that the Noble Lord below him ( Lord J . Kussell )
¦ was going to vote against him ; bi't ho could untierstand t ! . o poaition of tbat Noble Lord : ho had come fur-wavd to act as atbitT ^ tov between the p'iop ^ e and those . who maii . tiined this law . But ho believed bia N . > . 'ble . Friend would find himself completely mistaken , aad before another year waa out would see more el&ivly nnii distinctly thanat present the justice of the c ' aims of tha people that the law should be totally repealed . lie contended that the motion he had made was neither Violent ner unreasonable , and ho justified it by the course which had been pursued on other measures . Thbee vested interests which had been urged as an avgamenfc now , might with tqu . il reason have been . started on other occasions . Wheu -the trade with- Ireland was Opened the people then had vested interests , but tho general good of the empire demanded that measure . When the restriction of tbe currency took place iix 1819 , the same argument of vestsd interests waa raised .
Sir-V . Peel . —That was not a sudden change in the law . - . ' .. ,.:- . ' -. . - • . .:. ' - .. ¦ ¦ ¦ - . ' ¦ .. ¦ Mr .. 'ViLLiEiiS could only say , whether sad den or not , tlie people were not prepared for it—( " Q 7 iestiov . " ) Tiwy hat ' ntver thought of veated interests tlieu . Tho Ktjfomv BUI ' -. . luight have bet ^ n reaiated on the same grounds , for under tSe old syatsms boroughs . were made tae subject of settiouienr . Tho . New Poor Law had been fcucldenly passed ; the discussion on Jhat law did not last three months , and he ventured to say that that laW had : rtiaite a greater alteration in tho condition of the poor since it hai been passed than the repeal of the Coni Law vrould in tire same time . The fact was the Poor Law dirl mora harm than good , and some reform
of feat law must take rtaco- He urged those charges again 3 b Vested interests in favour of bis motion . The great wass cf tha community desired this law to be repealed-- ( " ncyno , ") - —and he was sorry tbat the division of that nigbt would force this reflection on inen ' e minds —that what the mass of the conimunity desired the House of Coinraoiis refuaed . He was willing to compensate classes that ihigbi *' . be injured if his propoBition should meet with the accord of the House , aad declare that the time bad come when the Cora Laws should cease ; tho declaration he had to propose "waz , that the people wished for a total repeal of the Corn La WS .: ' ¦' . •'¦ ' .: ¦ - ¦ . ¦' ¦ . ¦ ¦ . ¦ ' . ' ' ¦ '• . ¦ . ; '¦ ' .- ' ' . ' - ¦ - ' ¦ ' .. - ' " ' ' . V ' - ' Shortly after one o ' clock , the Committee divided , and abont two o ' clock the numbers were declared as
follows : —^ For Mr . Yilller ' s motion ......... 90 Agairtetit ........................... 323
Majority .................. 303 On the motion of Sit R . Peel , Tbo Chairman reported progress . The House then adjourned , immediately after two o ' oloolr .
Untitled Article
" " ¦¦ " ' : " ; :,. ; ¦ , ¦ Jloriddyi && 2 ' 8 . : . ;;¦ : /• H . ¦• ; . :: / : : > . " After going into Conimitte © . on the P / esbyterian Marriages ( Ireiann ) Bill , the House resolved itself again into Committee on ^ the ; : Com . importation « icasure ^ . - . - ' / - ' ' . ¦ . ¦ : :,. - ' - ' ¦;¦ ¦ . /¦ : ¦ '¦ ''• , • . ' ¦ ¦ .. •¦ .- ; ¦ "" :- "¦ - ' .:. Mr . WoDEiiotSE , fepregenUng the county of Norfelk , a district extensively producing barley , contended for the continuance of the exisrting protection on that grain i and . desked , therefore , that so much of the proposed resolutions as related to barley should !? e expunged from the plan of the Government . - Sir R . Peisl mairit « iined that part of the Government measure which respecta barley , aa bearing a due proportion to that part vwhlch respects wheat . Ha bad not expected so extreme an pppositfon , froic tbe notice given from Mr : Wodehouse , in which that H on . Member proposed to -vary the Government measare only by exacting , « uder 26 s . per quarter , a du ^ r of J 3 s . initeatl of a dutv of llSi
Mr . WODEitousE , after Home discussion as to . : tbe form which ^ his motion ought to assume for tho purpose of taking a vote on tha question he sought to ra < se , acquiesced ia the Chairman's suggestion of moving tiiat ; tbe : resoJutfons already passed should be reported to" the House : which vronld have tho effect of closing the : deliberatioiis of the CommitUe . '¦ . ¦ without the inclusion of any alteration in the duties on barley ; •• . ' , > ' ; . "' - . . . ' ; .. - ' - ' : ¦ ;¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ . . ¦¦¦ . ' ; . ' ¦! . " ¦ : ' - ; ; ¦ ' . - ' ¦ ¦ ' - ' " ; : ' Mr . Cpmming BRueE contended that the propofad protection on barley would be too low . He
apcrebeaded that at this duty : foreign barler would be rmpo ; ted to an injurious extent He wished tbat Government wpu'd reconsider tbia part of the subject , but had no hope of forcing them by adverse movementa , being well aware that they were not made of those squeezabla materials of which the late Ministry had been sold by one of its own supporters to be compesad . Indeed , ¦ hiwi even a greater sacrifice bsea required , he shouia have had the consolation to know that at feil events it was aakod : with honest yie ws an J byanhonest CtoverhnieBfc
Colonel RusHBRooKE , -who spoke in a yejy low tone , waa understood to deslrb a larger protsctipn for barley . . ' " / . ' ; .. ¦ - ¦ ' _ . . , ' - . ¦'¦'¦ ¦ - . ; , ¦ . " ] . . '• ¦ ¦ ¦ : . ¦ ¦ : ' ' ; LoW WORSI-KY thought the existing duty by no means larger than was requisite for the due protection of tho grower . The iahivers&l opinion of hia county was , that theeffectof theprptJosed reduction would be to r . dd agricultural to manufacturing distress . . Mr . CHRISTMAS feared that tke intended reduction of duty on oats would be injnrious to the agriculturo of Ireland , and argued that it was ont of pro portion to the rednction proposed resperting whsat He did not wish , however ,, to interpose any practical obstruction .
Mr . Christopher said , that if he csuld hope , by a vote on tbia motion , to obtain a greater protection for the barley-growers , fie would support Mr Wodehouse ; but be did not conceive that such a result conld be accovypiiabedby tb&t courso : ani waa therefore cf opinion that the sooner the question could now be brought to a settlement , the better . : /¦'• Mr . Suaw apprehended tbat foreign Oats could be imported at or under fifteen shillings , and tbat therefore the Government duty would be too low to protect the oate cf Ireland . The great mass of the Irish labourers were wholly dependent on agriculture , and of late bad been particularly employed in the cultivation of oats , , '¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - ..: ''¦ '¦ . ¦ - ¦ ¦ "' ¦ '" " . v ¦ ' . '•¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ - ' . ' ¦ : After v few words from Sir D . Roche ,
Mr . C . Bull ER ridiculed the , country gentlemen for not venturing to vote according to their opinions lest they should find themselves in a minority . He exhorted tbem to follov / the ccuTsgsoiia example of their great idol , the Duke of Buckingham . - '¦ . ^ Mr . Wodehouse declared that iiis object was onlj to obtain a recohsideration of the subjoet from Government , and that be did not intend pressing his motion to a'd ivision . ;• ,. - , ' '¦ "¦ - '' ¦ ¦ ¦ : ., ' ¦ .. - . " ¦ . ' ' ¦ '' ¦ ' ''' "' : " - ¦ ' - .. ' ' . ¦ . " ¦ ¦ . '" . ' ' Mr . Palmer ( Essex ) considered Jhe proposed ditty on oats as inadequate to tlia protection of the grower . ; '¦ ' : . ¦¦¦ . : " : ¦ : ¦;; ¦ , v ¦ .:. ' ;;¦ '¦ " -. - . ; . , - \ : ' y- ' :- ¦¦ -. "¦ The motion being then withdrawn , the resolution of Governmenfe as to the duty on barley was carried without a division . ' .. ' ¦¦ - ; : \ The Government resolution as to the duty on oats being next put . : ;
Mr . Smith O'Brien expressed his apprehension tba 6 foreign oats might at the proposed . duty be . imported in quantities ^ very hurlfnl ,-to Irish agriculture .-Sir D . Roche eanteEded for further protection to Irish Oafs ; , . : ¦ •; ¦" ' - : - : . ' . : ; - : ¦ ; .. ; . '¦ .: ' , ; . ' / •; ¦ : , " ¦ -. ¦ , ' . : ; r And Sir R ; Bateson and some other Members said each a , few word * to the game effect . Mr . Redington diverged at some length into the general question . between the sliding scale and a fixed duty . . ' - . ¦ ¦; . - . ' ¦ ; ¦ . - ¦¦ "' - ¦ ¦ - ; ' ¦; : > ¦ ¦ ' . :-. / ' . .. - / - / - " ; : . - '¦ Mr . Gladstone contended , that iri the new modification of tyie sliding scale , the ' - . Government had preserved the old proportions between wheat , ^ barley , and oats , at each point of the scaley as nearly as was consistent with the exclusion of fractional sums ; tb .
object ia each case having been to impose that duty , and no more than that duty , which would prevent an injurious amount 9 ! competition from foreign growers . With a few exceptions , both the barley and the oats , of the continent were inferior to those of our own country , and of consequence did not compete with our own produce , even when the prices wore nominally the same . He entered into calculations , showing'tbo impracticabiiity of obtaining any ccnsiderablo quantities of either grain , except at prices too large to afifect the home marJcet . He felt the iropossibiiity of allaying erery fear ; but the aafeat evidence to rely upon was that which Government had had ths opportunities of collecting frcm all qaartera ; aart tbia evidence waa such as cpnTiRced him that the proposed duties were an ample protection . ' :: . " .. .- ¦ "
Mr . M . Q'CONNELL urged that the proportions had not been preserved at the extreme points of the scale . He called for a greater protection on oats , though he would admit fcbat he had voted for repealing all protection on all sorts of groin . ' :. ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' .. ; . ' --- : Sir R . Peei , animadverteai on this inconsistency ; maivelliug how a member could have voted a fewr nights ago against all protoctlon to Irish in common with all other . produce , who was now ao critical about a fractional disprppbrtion at the « tremo end of a ccale . Member j opposite were load enoagh about that iustilb to tha wuntryiwhich they alleged to be involved in tha continuation of any protection at all ; but they ^ sta epually loud oii Uie other aide of the question , as mm as any protection of their own constituents was affected . The longer these debates lasted , the more waa be convinced that the ; measure he had framed was the safe and the just as well as the moderate course .
Mr . O . Gore was anxious that Government ehould reconsider their proposal with respect to oats . Dr . BoWring thought that oata required protecJicn still less than wheat . :. Mr . Baring maintained it to be quite consistent ; tfeat members favourable to the piinciple :. of complete freer dom of import should , when the House bad rejecteo that' prineiple , endeavour to procure protection particular interests . ; ; . . ; Mr , Habeoud said a few words ; and then the House , dividing , affirmed the Ministerial resolution by amajority of 256 against 53 . ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ - Upon the resolution respecting the duty on fionr , lord Sandon , in behalf of the millers , pleaded for an ampler protection . ; : ; ' ^ \
Sir R ; Peel announced , that attar giving the fullest consideration to this subject ^ he could not consent to alter the proposed rate of duty . If the piotsction of flour were increased , the foreign groweis who would be . the most * prejudiced would be precisely those , whom every man must admit that it would be most our interest toi favour—namely , / those of the IJnited States . He proceeded to show that the existing proteotion was substantially sufiicient . Mr . I , abouchere expressed his satisfection at the ( letermlriatiortof Sir R . Peel . The resolution then passed . ; Mr . Smith O'Brien moved tbat all colonial grain shonld be admitted , duty free , for one year , or for some other period , to be limited by Parliament . He urgeii the claims ; of our emigrating population upon the mother country ; and expressedVhis opinion that the colonies ought to be represented in the British Parliament . -- : ¦'¦ " '¦ \ -- ; ' - ¦ " .. ' ¦¦'¦ ' : ' - ¦ : . : j : •¦ . : " - •¦ ¦
Iiord Si anlet , desirous as ho was , in common with hia colleagues ; to encourage the intercourse of the coloniesvw Lth the mother country , could not consent to this propoaal . The agricultural interests , lie believed vfouW feel little jealousy at the introduction of wheat or flour from the Cauadas , if it were really Canadian prbdnce { but , In fact , it would bo chiefly the prodoce of the IJnited Stiles , conveyed through the Canadas If the Canadian law as tbVimportatibn from the Fhited States should be so altered as to prevent that kind of trauait ; , then indeed the question might take a different nspect . .. : ; . ; : ¦ . ..-. ' '¦ - //¦" - ¦ . : ¦ : , ' ¦ - ' Mr . Xabouchbre coneeiTcd Lord Stsnley to overestimate the { Hoportian cf wheat imported into the Canadas . Ho requested from Government some explanation of their intantious as to the Cuty upon auch impertstions . v .. " . ; ¦] ' . ¦ ¦ - . ¦' . - ' , \ ¦"¦ .. : \ : ' ¦ ¦" ¦; .. .
Mr . Gladstone quoted ofilcial returns showing the very large quantities of American corn imported into , and ground within , the Canadas . The same thing was trne as to Novc Siotla . With respect to the question about the object of tbe duty of 2 i per barrel , intended ' to be proposad on flour imported from the United States into Caiiaila , he would say that it was neither a British nor a Canadian object Simply , but an intercolonial one . The duty in every other colony was 2 a , and it ought far be of the same amdnntte ttie Canadas . : ¦ ¦ ¦ - ' ¦¦ ¦• ' .: - ¦ ¦ . : .. ¦ ¦ ¦' . ' . ' .. - ? ; -.. ' ¦ ¦ "" ¦ ' ¦ - . ' . ' " ' ¦ ' . -. - :. ¦ ;¦ - ' , '¦ ¦ Mr . Labouchere professedhimself at a loss to underitand this pelic > % which he regarded as a mere needlea and wanton innovatior . ' ^ . ¦ Mr . Gladstoj ( E referred to a simi ! ar arrangement made last year by Mr . Labouchero himself as to East India ram . '¦ - " . /• - ¦ ; . . '¦ '¦ -: ¦ '¦ ¦ '¦''¦'' , ' >¦ ¦ - .. ' . - ¦¦ . ¦ ' •" - ¦¦
Mr . CBuLLER ridiculed the attempt at equalising different colonies among each other by additional duties , likening it ts the object of the beadle , WOO , being ordered to put one boy in the ttocka at oai | MU of the church , put a second boy into another tjff&L stocks at the other end " for the satce of fi&n tnity , " He recommended that Mr . O'Brien ( ^ HW of pressing the subject to a division tJnflEBMM take tbe sense of the HouEe npon it in CjnMnHL'M tneBiii . ^ ;¦ ¦ ••¦ ¦ >^ ; :- - =. ^ = ' ¦'' - ¦ : - : )> ' --Wmgm ifo Mr . STUart WORT ^ EY suppcrUl ¦ 1 'lBMMyji Government . ' ¦ :: ¦ '¦< ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ : '" - ' '¦ - ;>* w 5 Pi » 5 ^ rffe
in nti 1111 1 j . r 111 Tiij 1 Tiii iiiniin Hii nnif TMlmiri defeated by a majority of Ig 5 » g 4 in » t 38 . A ^^^*
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THE 'F ' O ^ B ' T ^ HE R ; N : ¦ BTJin . ~ - ^~ - . ¦ : . ' ¦ ' : : ¦ ¦ ¦ . - : ¦ ¦ " ¦ ¦ ¦ - - ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ - - ¦ ¦ ' ; : ¦'''; - : - - ¦ ¦ : , \; ¦ - ¦ . ¦¦ ¦ -- i ¦ ¦ ¦^¦^¦ ¦ x ^ . ¦ : ' vp-O :
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 5, 1842, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1151/page/3/
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