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Jmpm'al JarJiamrnL
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^ld at Somkbs Toww. —On Sunday erening Jast a full
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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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meeting of the members of this locality •*» jir . DuddrMge ' s , To nbritke Street . New Road , Mr . Charles Attrce in tlie chair . Tlie Secretary bavin ? jcadMr . O'Connor ' s letter addressed to tbe Soraer s Town Chartists , and aiso the rep .. rt of the Mavvle feme meeting alluded to therein , Mr . George Uum . phries moved , seconded by Mr . Win . bird , that Afr . O'Connor ' s letter be received as sat . sf . ictory . Mr . Jobn Arnott moved as an amendment , That a respectful explanatory letter be written te Mr . O'Connor in « ply to Ms letter in yesler ^ jter , which w seconded by Mr . Henry Child . After a long and friendly discussion , in which Messrs-Page , Hornby , Petiit , Harris and nail took part ,
the amendment tow carried t > t a great naj » r . ty . Messrs . Ck ' ild , Arnott , Hornby and Harris were appointed a committee to draw up the said 1 . tter , and the meeting separated . At a meeting of the members on Tuesday evening , the letter drawn up by the committee having been read , was , on the motion of Messrs . Humphries and Bird , unanimously adopted .
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TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . S , Miduleses-placc , Somers-town . Slay 13 th ISiG . Dear Sis , —We can with the greatest sincerity assert that we hare for you the highest esteem and respect j your noble exertions , yonr unceasing and unflinching advocacy , your great services and sacrifices for and in oar behalf we duly appreciate . TFe may havobeen precipitate , we maybave been rash , we may have rather nicely scanned your every act and
word , and "we may have rather too forcibly express ? d onr " opinions thereon , but that we were actuated by any invidious feelins or improper motive , that we had any idea of forcing you into an unprofitable coutrovcrsv . or attaching to yonr acts or words a meaning which They did not convey , or that we had the least intention of making marked thrnsfs at yoar policy , of castinscensureon or attacking you in an unprovoked orusmanly manner , we most emphatically deny ; aud thai any proceeding or expression ef ours should lead to suVh conclusions wecxtreinelv regret .
Ti e will now briefly explain why we were induced to pass the resolutions of which you complain . Seeing , in the Star , the report of the meeting at the FwitJiera Tavern , ( to which we were desirous of callins : yen- attention ) and also in yonr letter ( inserted in the same paper ) the following passage and tbe ( not cx . 'ranr < 5 inary or national , but ) CHARTIST Convention , wliicii wi l shortly be held iu LONDON , it appeared to ns that an understanding existed to hold
the Cpnvention in London , contrary to the 3 rd rule ofliieasociation , and without the mrmbeis having given any decision on the subjeet ; with this impression on our minds , and being the firm and uncompromising advocates of free expression of opinion on all taatters of policy , we thought it onr duty toadnpt the said resolutions , but being now convinced that ws were acting under a wrong impression , we most cheerfully retract any expression that we may have used , calculated to give the least ofience .
With yonr remarks on the prominence shown to the Report of the Marylebone Meeting , we fully agree , but that we were no party thereto , yon are aware ; tfeatyos have jnst causs to complain ofihatrepori , we readily admit ; we also consider that we are justified in protesting against it , as being the subject matter of your complaint against ns ; that that report is partial and in many of its statements alto " gether ineorrect , we can substantiate ; and we are of opinion , that it is purposely so reported , in accordance with the reporter ' s private opinion . Your manly aad straightforward conduct , iu thoroughly sifting this matter , lias given us every satisfaction , for which -we return you our sincere thanks .
We hare not that undue or stubborn predilection for Leeds , nor have we-so learned demorraey , but that we would most cordially submit to be guided by extreme circumstances op urgent events , and would with pleasure bow to the decision of the majority . In the wise discretion of the Executive Committee ¦ we Ijave full and entire confidence , and we can with great satisfaction ( although not boastingly ) state that to every pecuniary appeal made by them , we have invariably responded . With premature and undefined policy we disagree . The nasty and mean feeling to Trniea you allude , as being manifested at the Turnacain Lane meeting , we have no cognizance ofpersonalities and vituperation we deprecate—a vindictive , dominant , and dictatorial spirit , we repudiateand pstty jealousies , bickerings , and disunion , with their wltheriB f and hanefal tendencies , we deplore .
In conclusion , Sir , we trust that the above explanation will afford the desired satisfaction , that al ! unpleasantness will be buried in oblivion ; and that ere loa-g , united in one common bond of brotherhood , the oppressed , degraded , and toiling slaves to capital , will rise , shake off their chains , and resolve to be free , Is the sincere desire of , dear Sir , your brother Cliartisis , the members of the Somers Town localitr , ( Signed on their l > ehalf , } Jons Asxoii , Sub . Sec .
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TO THE SOMERS' TOWN CHARTISTS . Mv vert Dear Friends , —Aecept my best thanks fj your kind letter . It furnishes another proof that al ] who are sincerely devoted to a good cause will find little- difficnlty In allaying Irritation , and , In your own words , burying all past differences iu oblivion . For the last few weeks my mind has been diverted from a pursuit , to the success of which 2 look for the thorough and complete emancipation of ths working classes . My mind has very naturally been distracted by tbe attempts of the old corrnptienists to seduce some of onr leaders to the advocacy of their cause . Too will agree with me that wlienerer a more of this nature Is contemplated , the guilty party ever make
a WRANGLING IN THE CHARTIST RANKS ttepretext for abandoning the Chartist cause ; while In my opinion , those differences , if they did exiit , which I utterly deny , should only induce the real friends of the cause to stick more pertinaciously to its advocacy . This fact , together with the fact that my whole time and energy is iiow required for tbe practical < Je-Telopement of our Laud Plan , made me feel nervous , and perhaps snappish , upon incidents which before I anight have looked more lightly upon . For these
reasons , together with the fact that your locality can boast of as good Ckanists as are to be found in England , I derived . intense pleasure from the perusal of your letter . As to the share of blame that you would fix upon the reporter , it is rather strange , bHt is nevertheless the fact , that I used to Mm the very same language , when I discovered the impropriety , that you have used in your letter . Like you , I had Ions observed a leaning t 6 wards tbe policy advocated by liim and I saw that a kind of colouring favourable to it was given to all the reported proceedings ; nevertheless , 2 did not complain , for two
reasons : — Firstly , from reject to ths liberty of the press , and Secondly , because I felt assured that that correction which you fcsve now Tery properly administered , -pouM be the most efieetu&l mode of stopping this improper course of conduct , without imposing uncu me the necessity of having recourse to the exercise of my own authority—an authority which , had the evil continued , I should Lave been bound to apply to its correction .
To-morrow ( Friday ) we take possession of the people ' s first estate , and I assure you , that your senaiL ' letter , and the assurance that divisions shall not Ik created in our ranks , will enable me to prosecute Hsy new undertaking with more vigour and satisi ' actwit than I siisuld have been master of under different feelings . It w ^ s my iuiei-tioii to Lave written a rather ieagtliy Idi-jr upon ihe laud question this wuek , b : it ilic vast ueuiand upon our coluiuiia , arising from the glorious struggle now behj-j ruiiuc bv the
Uiiilding Trades , Slucmakers , and tthi-r branches of tiie labouring clas s preclude the possibility of eniei-Li" upon ilia sul-jtet this ut-t-k . Iu my neat , 1 ir . 35 to be able to announce that a vigorous commencement has besa made which may bs followed by a happy future hr your order . Ym will a ^ rce with me tiiiU tliccaas- - '«> f the trades , however they Lave shrunk from ihe ruhee&cy of our prljieij >]* =, i . s acrcrtlx-k&s one in wlildi every friend of the working classes must take a
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the medium between the people and the trades on strike ' or the collection of funds for their support , the columns of the Star for next week will prove that my humble advocacy of their cause has not been devoid of a beneficial result . I sincerely wish that the trades of London , in good employment , would take the Crown and Anchor , and invite their president , Mr . Duncombe , to take the chair at a meeting on behalf of their gallant brethren who are so nobly struggling for their own and their fellows rights . It ' really a melancholy and a pitiable thing when we
reflect , that the brave , the generous , and the devoted , who are ever in front of Jabonrs bastlo , are allowed to struggle ob without that sympathy and support necess . irv to sustain them in the conflict . I would cheerfully live upon a meal a day of the coarsest food for scvenyears to come , if by so doing I could Inspire the working classes with the importance of the pre-.-cnt juncture . They see an unnatural combination of vecnlth , pon-er , law , and authority organized a-ajnst them , while they look listlessly on , heedless of tbe consequence to their own order .
We find the co-fcyrants for whom the Master Builders have contracted to do work , ready to relieve them from their engagements , and to submit to any inconvenience to strengthen Use hands of the oppressors of labour . Is it not then criminal , nay sinful , upon the part of the Trades of London to withhold their powerful co-operation from their struggling fellow countrymen . Is it not further contrary to their own best interests , inasmuch as they may rest assured , that , when the battle is over , ar . d should tiie masters succeed , they too will feel the effects of then triumph .
I must now conclnde by again tendering you ny thanks , nnd subscribing myself , Tour ever faithful and affectionate friend , Feakgus O'Connor .
Jmpm'al Jarjiamrnl
Jmpm ' al JarJiamrnL
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HOUSE OF LORDS—Thursday , Mat 7 On the motion of Lord Lttieltox , the Western Australian Bill was read a second time . On the motion of L « rd Moxteacle , the Railway Deposits . BiUwns read a third time and passed . 1 'lic Demand ' s Abolition Bill , and the Death by Accidents Compensation UiJl were read a third . time and passed . TheirLurdsbips then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS—TnvnsoAr , JVLu- 1 . Mr . Watsox moved for a select committee to inquire into the nature and extent of the taxation of sui'ors by the collection of fees in tbe Courts of Law and Equity , and the application of such fees < fes . After a lengthy discussion the motion was negatived . The other notices on the paper were postponed , and after some unimportant Bills were advanced a stage , the Uouseadjourned before eleven o ' clock .
nOUSE OF LORDS , Fioday , May S . The Burgh ( ScotlaEd ) Bill was read a third time and passed . The Western Australia Bill went through committee . Several Railway Bills were forwarded , and their Lordships adjourned to Monday .
HOUSE OF COMMONS—Fiudat , May 8 . CORN IMPORTATION BILL . The Report of the Committee on the Corn Laportation Bill was brought up , on the motion of the Cdaxceixor of the ExcnE « r £ B . On the motion that it bs received , Snt Charles Borrell moved that It be received that d « y six mouths . Col . Verxeu seconded the amendment . A long debate followed , In which the arguments on both sides , which have already been repeated a tlionsajid times , were again reiterated . The d ullness of mos t-. f the speeches was , however , relieved b ? a " set to" between the honourable members for Bath anrt Shrewsbury , of which the fbilowiug is an outline : —
Mr . Rokbcck insisted that the real principle at work throughout the whole discussion was self-interest j all the patriotic talk , he maintained , resolved itself hit o the fears of reduction of rents . ' 1 ' honourable and learned member then made an attack upon Mr . Disraeli , whom he accused of having once come iisio his ( Mr . Roebuck ' s ) camp and afterwards deserted to the Tory side of the house . Mr . Roebuck benraised the Minister as one who had sacrified party feelings , and old friendships , and long-professed principle ? , to the public good , and who , therefore , could treat with scorn the " impotent insolence " of his late followers .
3 Ir . D'IsbaiiU replied that the lion , and learned member knew nothing of Ike Subject upon which ho spoke , but that he had heard some stories which were without foundation , and which had nothing to do with tke question before the house , and that he could not resist the temptation of repeating them in 14 an arranged impromptu . " I never have been , said Mr . D'Israeli , a follower of any of the two great aristocratic parties in this House ; I have no hereditary opinions , my sympathies are and ever have been with the people froin whom I am sprung , and I bave joined that party with which I thought the sympathies of the people went . As to the Honourable and Learned Member ' s camp—I never heard of / tweamp : this solitary sentinel to talk of his camp !
"Wbsympathises with him ? He , the leader of a party ' But I have ever found that there is no greater opponent to democracy than your modern liberalism ; and as to popular principles , I believe , they are never more in dan « er than when they are professed by political economists . ( Loud Cheers . ) Three months' meditation of an attack on my political consistency— five days' ccncoction of an assaultuponmy literary criticism I Could any conception be greater —could any conclusion be more bam-n ? Never was a senator stricken v'ith more remarkable paralysisnever was a"more malignant charge—never was there a more futile result . The Lon . member was vehemently cheered throughout I 1 I 3 terrible retort upon Ms assailant .
Eventually the amendment was withdrawn , the report rcedved , and the bill ordered to be read a third time on Momlay next . Sir James Giuham moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to arson . Leave having been given to bring iu the bili , the llouse adjourned .
HOUSE OF LORDS—Mosdat , Mat 11 . The Lord Chaxcellok took his seat on the wool sack at five o ' clock .
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS RELIEF BILL . The Bishop of Exeter proposed the questions of which he had given notice , with respect to this bill , should be put to the Judges . Afier entering at great length into the dangers which he apprehended from the passing of the measure , lie concluded by saying that , believing the measure to be equally mischievous and unconstitutional , he felt it is duty to appeal to the Lord Chancellor as the head of the law , and to the other leavned judges , for their opinion on the subject , and he would now co / icJmle by reading the'iuostioKsofwkieh hehsdniven notice .
" 1 . Whether , independently of so much of tlic Act passed in the first year of tiie reign of Queen Elizabeth , intituled ' An act restoring to the Crown the ancient jurisdiction over the Estate Ecclesiastical and Spiritual , and abolihhinjr all foreign powers repuqnant to the same . as makes it punishable to affirm , hold , stand with , set forth , maintain , or defend , a 3 therein is mentioned , the authority , preeminence , power , or jurisdiction , spiritual or ecclesiastical , of any foreign prince , prelate , person , state , or potentate , theretofore claimed , used , or usurpe j within this realm , or to put in use or execute anything for the extollinjr , advancement , setting forth .
; maintenance , or defence , of any such pretended oi I usurped jurisdiction , power , pre-eminence , aixi ; aut ' iior iiv ,, or any part thereof ; and of an Act passci ! : In thu fifth yaar of the aiid Queen , IntiiuL-d ' An j Act for the Assurance of the Queen ' s Royal l ' owei over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions . ' it is nil offence against the k \ v of England , and pun 1 islixtdc by the same , by writitig , printing , teaching . praicliiijjr . express words , dood , ov act , advised ! . ' awl maliciously ! o deny the Queen ' s supremacy , o ; to affirm , maintain , and defend any saeh prete :: d < M o / usurped power , juriid ' ciioii , or authority of tl : t I \ j « e , or any other i < : i ~ i = fn prince , prelate , person , sta £ j > , mv DoU-iiiate withiu this realm 1
" 2 . Whtthsr , indepcniU-atl y of so much of tbt s . i : < i Act of the firetyiarof theYcigii of Queen Eliz . i-U-tn as is above recited , and a ! sn o { the said Ad passed m the filth year » f the said Queen ' s ieki ! , said alsaof an Act passed in the lOlll Vttir Of U-C s ; iid Queen ' s rei » n , iuiitulcd 'An Act against tin : bringing in and putting in cxeeuiion of Hulls . Writings , or Instruments , or other superet ' uious Things , from the sec of Koine , ' it is an offence a « aimt the law oi . Lngiand , and punishable as such to faring iu
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or put in execution any such bulls , writings , or instruinents from the see of Rome V The Lord Chancellor said he should have no objection to ' submit tbe questions to the Learned Judges , but he did not consider it necessary to do so , because it was dear that by the common law any bull or writing which had- a tendency to excite sedition , or any act or word which would interfere with the supremacy of the Crown , in spiritual as well as temporal matters , would be punishable . It was a matter of notoriety that bulls arid writings were continually passing between Rome and this country . It was necessary to the Roman Catholic worship * and discipline that such communication should take place , and in spite of its being considered high treason , in
spite of all their penalties , these communications were constantly goinu ; on . They were bound to tolerate it—they must suffer it , in consistency even with their own legislation they ought not to sanction it . They ouslit n « t to say that the law should be a dead letter . ¦( He ar , hear . ) He could only repeat , that-in his opinion the common law of the land was sufficient to meet any danger ' that could be possibly apprehended from such a source . But the words of tin ' s act made the most innocent communication criminal , and therefore it was necessary to repeal or modify it ., though , . believing that any " modification would be liable to obscurity , he had come to the conclusion , that it vrould : be ' better to repeal it entirely , and to lvly on the vigour of the common law for our security . ( Cheers . ) :
After sonie observations from Lord Dkxman , -Lord Brougham , Lord Cjuimeu ; , arid-Lord Bkaumokt , -all of wham doubted the policy , of referring the question to the Judges , the Bishop of Exuteu withdrew his motion . The House then adjourned . HOUSE OF-COMMONS , Monday , MavII . The Speaker took the chair at four o ' clock . Mil . S . O'BRIEN IN THE TOWER . Mr . T . Ddncombe presented a petition from Hull , praying for the release of Mr . William Smith O'Jiiien from the Tower . ( Great laughter . ) THE CORN LAWS . Sir J . Graham moved the order of the cay for the third reading of the Corn Bill . The Marquis of Guashy , in an effective maiden speech , moved lhat the Bill be read a third time that day six months . Mr . Gaseell seconded the amendment . After speeches froniiMr . R . B . Shkuidax , Mr . Flotkh , Mr . Miles , and Mr . Cayiey , against the Bill , and fi-iau SirJ . Eastdope . and Sir J . Guauam in its support , in which ail the worn-out arguments were repealed on both sides , the debate was adjourned .
HOUSE OF-LORDS . —Tuesday ,-May-12 .-After transacting some routine business , and receiving petitions on several subjects , their lordships adjourned before 6 o ' clock . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Tuesday , Mat 12 . TJieearJy part of the evening was occupied by a quarrel between Mr . IIiluyard and Lord Lincoln , as to some charges made by the former lion , member against the latter . It 3 s useless'to trouble our readers with this " dispute between the pot and kettle . " Everybody knows that both factions bribe whenever it suits tlieir purpose . The adjourned debate on the Corn Bill was then resumed . The speakeis against it were Messrs . New . leg&te , Palmer , Bennett , l'lump : re , Scott , Scymer , Capt . Polhill , Sir John Walsh , Lord Brooke , and Capt . Vyse . The only
. speakers in its favour were Mr . Hastie and Mr . Sh arm an Crawford , so that the Protectionists had it all their own way , so far as the oratory was 'concerned , The whole subject , however , is worn so thread baro , that it is useless occupying our columns with the thousand times told tale . The Protectionists , upon counting noses in the early part of the evening , finding they had a majority in a very thin house , raised a loud cry for a division . Shortly after they attempted to count the house out ; there were not more than 30 members present when the motion was made , but a rush took plate from the lobbies , and exactly 40 having been found in the house , the debate proceeded . It was adjourned on tbe motion ol Mr . Coiquhoun , on the understanding that it was to finish on Thursday ni ^ ht . HOUSE OF COMMONS . — Wednesday , Mat 13 The Speaker took the chair at twelve o ' clock .
THE FACTORIES BILL . On the order of the day for the adjourned debate on tbe second reading of this Bill being read , Mr . Colquho'jh said , he would first take that opp ortunity to advert to a statement which had been made on a former occasion by his friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department , who said that the house had not at any time expressed a decision in favour of t ' -c Ten Hours' Bill ; whereas the house did oa a former occasion , whether ri ght or wrong , lie would not say , express its deliberate opinion that the hours of labour ought to be abridged . The right lion , baronet also stated that the Ten Hours' Bill would inflict a very serious grievance on the great bulk of the manufacturers of tue country . If he ( Mr . Colaulioiin ) thought that the measure would , at an afteci
their interests , he would not give his consent to the bill ; on the contrary , he was convinced that so far from the manufacturers suffering anj injury by tiie proposed restriction of labour , they would rather derive great advantages . He was sure that those honest men , those benevolent men , who would faithfully discharge their duties towards the operatives in their employ , would be benefited rather than injured . ( Hear , hear . ) Who , he would ask ; were those wli . i sought for the continuance of extreme hours of labour ? The dishonest manufacturer—the hard , unfeeling , and inconsiderate manufacturer . Tbe secretary of state for the home department , on the last occasion the subject was under discussion , stated that he apprehended great injury would be inflicted imthe cotton and other manufacturers , ns the Bill
would place tiiem in a position less advantageous than was enjoyed on the continent , where the hours of labour where much longer than they would be under the proposed measure in tkis country . It was quite correct ; to state that the hours of labour in France and in Austria were longer than in England , where , instead of the operatives being employed sixtynine hours in the week as in England , their hours of employment ran from seventy-eight to eighty-five . ( ilear , hear . ) But while , he ( Mr . Coiquhoun ) admitted this difference in time , and whiuA presented an apparant advantage to the cotton manufacturers in Austria and in France , yet lie would place before che bouse tbe real facts of the case as ascertained a few weeks ago from Mr . Waddington , a gentleman
who was himself engaged m business in France for A period of twenty years , and who had at present a large cotton factory at Rouen . Mr . Waddington declared that the result of his experience was , that although the French operative worked for fourteen hours a day , yet thai he would not in that time accomplish the same amount of labour which the English operative would who wrought but ten hours a day . ( ilear , hear . ) Upon that point Mr . Waddingicn ' s experience was decisive , and it was the experience of years , ( tlcar , hear , ) He could not conceive then , that injury would result to trade from competition with foreign countries , because the hours of labour were diminished at home . It' advantages had been given to the manufactures which were
more than equivalent to any tax that you ^ v <^ l'c going to impose , ought not , ho would ask , that to be a reason why some alteration in the hours of labour should , take place ? Great competition on the pan of capital and labour tended to reduce the wages of labour . It was therefore the duty of Government to interfere , and restore the equilibrium whichshould exist between the employer and the employed . The present system was , in fact , calculated to raise bad leelings in the breasts of the manufacturing labourcr 3 . They saw their employers making enormous fortunes , and it was but right that , they should do so , for they had immense sums ot" money vested in the various manufacturing enterprises with which they were connected ; but then , notwithstanding
i hat , wbiic the operatives saw their employer * making so much money , and at the same time en dcavouring to keep them down by increased himrs ol labour and diminished rate ol' wages , it raised sentiments and feelings in their bosoms towards thi-ii employers which it was not right they should entertain ; and it was in order t <> give no grounds ' or the entertaining of such feelings—to do away , with s « r --jiicion on the part of the manufacturing " operativL-s , that he < : ave his support to ibc present ijicaimo . J h vantefi the manufacturers to give t heir labourer ;; tinu to cultivate tlieir minds— la cultivate their iiuoiiectual and moral feelings . Did they du so ? A" ' i ; could bw doae in a great dcurcc by mlucinu tlieir
lalimn-, liicy wouid find all these bad I ' cclir . g * , '" which the present st . ' ite of matters was so < "ij ; r to give rise done away with , and their ivnrkint'n bet ?« i - iii all respects . Jjut then tlic niiiiiulacturi'i- wH , why , a reduction <> f the hours of l .-ibuur would eatisua reduction in our profits , ; md a cunsequoiii reduction in the wage : ; of our workmen , and it was sfnir . i in ju- <; of of that , that a reduction of oipj hour ' s labour would cause a loss to the labourer uf 75 I' -w cent , on the amount of his w ; i :: <* . This hari tows stated by . Messrs . Huldswm-th ' and Gichj . ' , Ju : t h > . ( Mr . Caq'shoun ) would pr ater ihe evi « ioiil * c » 1 -VIf-Leonnrd lionier , the Facim-y Commissioner , which was uiioii a wider basis , Accurdint' to ills evidence
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the weekly-wages = w »« -lls . 7 d . ; so that on the yearly CiWlingS «> f £ 31 , - the reduction would bo £ 3 43 ,, leaving him £ 28 16 s . No doubt the raanufao " tnnrS ' said they must protect their labourers from suffering from any such reduction , but he would ask what was tiie loss those manufacturing operatives had sustained in consequence of competition ? Why ; according to Mr . Ilorner , from the year 1828 to 1841 , the fall of wages in consequence of competition , was not 7 or Xi per cent ., but was 17 percent . ( Hear , hear . ) And the lowest ¦ reduction known was 11 per cent . In one mill in Manchester alone wages fell between the-yeara . 1828 and 1829 , 13 per cent . ( Ilear . ) That aW-u-as stated in the report of the evidence taken -. beforo the l ^ tor-y Commission . But there seemed no such aojjietyfclicu on the . part of the manufacturers for the + loss their
opeva-1 . vs were --ust unmg as they appeared now to show , when the trine of a- loss they would sustain in a pecuniary point of view , if they sustained any at all . would bo made , up for hi the ^ opportunity which would be afforded them of improving themcslvcs in an intellectual and moral point of view . lie believed that were the present measure carried , 'it would tend to promote the interests both ' of-the miinufaoturcr and the labourer . Moderate labour and moderate wages he , considered the best systenv ( llesil , | ieni | . ) It promoted " tiie greatest happiiiessj giving rts it did time . for improvement and inculcating . 1 system of economy to be observed in the households of " those , engaged in manufacturing labour . lie . would therefore " most .. cordially giye his support to tlic ; -soc « :: d fca . lin / r of tfia'Blll / considbrihg it to be ' for tlic benefit of tliat . large poition of the community to whom it was intended to apply . ( Hear , hear . )
Mr . Labocciikue considered the measure a most important one , and could not allow it to pass a stage without expressing his decided opposition against it . It was nothing more or less , in his opinion , 'than aproposal to diminish , by one-. sixt !! , the productive powers of the manufactures of this country —( hear)—and lie believed that , if such a measure passcd . it would inflict a most serious injury , not only on the njannfncturers . but on those classes for whoso benefit it was intended . He a-trced with the lion , member for Montrose . that it . was daiicerous to interfere in any way in restricting the labour market , and although he had given his support to . Lord Ashley ' s Bill , he thought that lie had introduced a bad principle—be lneant . that of interference with labmir , and he could £ ro no farther in that direction . I'TIic
hon . gr-ntlemnn then-read several memorials-and documents which-he had received , relating to'the honr . 3 of wovkititr in factories , and stated the reasons which would induce him to oppose any further restrictions upon tbe hours of labour . ] - Uubeliovoil if'ilic working classes thought that the effect of this Mil would be to reduce the amount of wa'jjcs ,- ; tliey would as one man protest against it . ( Hear , hoar . ) There was no sueh thlnjr on rec > rd a-t a . workman leaving a miH which wns working twelve hours a day , to s ™ t o a mill-which was working only eleven hours , altlioudi lin believed there were instances of those wh » were working in mills under the eleven-hours system , leaving them and going to those who worked twelve hours . Wore the Bill to pas ? , the ' cons ; - qnunces might not immediately ensue , as the foreign
/ n / inufacinrer migMnfi be able to take immediate advantage of the position in which it wnuld place the manufacturers of this country ; but they might depanH upon it the strusgle would one day come . ( Hear , hear . ) That Sniggle would then be between the manufacturer , whose capital was at stake , and the working classes , whose wages he must necessarily reduce , and those clas-sos must in that struggle be the gi-ontcst sufferers . It would not be safe or wise to aifopt the iron rule , and say that no operative in this country under any circumstances shall bcnilowed fo work more than ten houra a day . lie ciirl notbc-licvc the operatives would thank them for pa-sinir anysuch measure as that before the honsp . They have often heard of strikes for higher wages , but lie had never heard of strikes for shorter hours of Iabnuv , and consequentiy . hs did not believe that tlic operatives were in any way interested , in the measure . ' The hon . member then referred to the experiment of
workinsr eleven hours a day , tried by the Messrs . Mftrghrtll , f . f Leeds , who . however , only did so on condition that their workmen should bestow additional attention and expertness in their work , and argued that , although the workmen emulo ' ye ' d by the Messrs . Marshall might give such additional attention , yet workmen generally ' could not be expected t <> do it if bound down to do so by Act of Pflrliumont . In no country did the niamifacturincr operatives work less than twelve hours . In the United States the cotton manufactuers , up to the present titno , worked rather more than twelve hours a day , and legislating on the subject of a restriction of the hours of labour was adanacrous experiment , and lie for one wou'd be no party to it . lie had equal objections to an Eleven Hours' Bill as he had to a Ten Hours' Bill : he thought the Legislature had already gone far enough , and lie should therefore givehis voteagninst the second reading of the bill .
Mr . Coavpbr supported the second reading of the bill . With respect to the opinion of the operatives themselves regarding it , they almost unanimously desired that it should be carried , and cared more about it than any measure at present before the house , tf they looked tO thC IHimbers of petitions which hai ^ been presented to the house during the present se-smn 111 favour of the measure , they would sec that such' was the case . In favour of the measure there had 'buen presented SSO petitions , aJl uumeroiisiy signed , while only tour had been presented- against it , and these four were signed by 03 individuals in nil . ( Cheers . ) That certainl y showed the state of feeling in the . reanufacturing districts on the subject of the measure . Throughout the whole of those districts only 03 individuals could be got to oppose it , and that lieing tin :
ease lie thought the . house should have little hesitation in pa « sinjr it . ( LIcar , . hear . ) ' To find out the state of public feeling in regard to this measure , as compared with other measures of apub'ic natuiy , and which had caused great noise ; uid excitrment iii the country , he had taken the trouble to look into how many petitions had been presented to the house in favour of the repeal of the Corn Laws , and he found that while in favour of this measure 880 petitions had been presented , only 572 had been prcscntoil in favom -of that measure , popular as it was . ( Hear , hear . ) So . far , then , asfchc number of petitions went to show , public opinion was more in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill than in favour of the Cora Laws—and it must be recollected , in making ft comparison , that while the former was only confined to one department of tlic industry of thf country , the latter . extended over the wbole . As to the plan of voluntary agreement between mas tor and operative , it c . iiuld never be carried out , the
system was too com plicated , and 'denendeu too much upon the wltim . fl . ud passion of tlicindividtmls . Several meetings had been held on the subject , but nothing ' practical resulted . It was generally admitted thntthe vnhntary system would not d '» . The ground formerly titkt-n by some of the opponents of the short lion ) 1 Bill was , that it could not be carried inlo fft ' -. ct so long a 3 the restrictions upon the iiaimrtatiim ol corn existc l . ' ' This was the opinion of Mr . Ilenrv Ashwortb , in May 184-1 , and of Mr . Marshall . . What would the factory operatives think of thosuinun . who formerly eroumlod their opposition to the Tun Hours ' Bill on " the existence of the Corn Ln . ws , nml who " these laws ' were repealed , oppose it Still ? ( Hear , hear . ) Surely tbe opposition of such h"i ) . members could not he considered either as straighlfii : ward or sincere , He thought one of the great advantages attending the repeal of the Corn Laws would be , that it wnuld enable manufactures t « restrict the hours ol labour ; for surely it would be illiberal and * oriiid iii t . lifi extreme that the manufacturers should rewiw
all the benefit . , tiie operatives none , ( lirar , hcarO jlle was not prepared to admit that a dimimii'on of produce would he the result of the Bi 1 , 'taking into nccount how often ihe mills were at present cltsc ! from "lutted markets—how often hands woo disetn' p ioyed from . excessive produce . It must , bo clear to every one that leisure wnsnu indispensable com !! 'i <>!> of improvement —social , mental , and moral—and that if men , like machines , were kept at wos-k i ' mui day today , they could not have any timei ' r thoit improvement . lie believed , however , thai , all niidwstood that this measure did not deal H-ifh .-. b ' e-lx . ' I ' 1 . men as a matter of principle . 11 certainly indii'i'utiv had some effect on the men , but , iw a principle , tht bill had no reference to them . The princiiile was that which had been always acknowledged _ by tbicountry , —the protection of ilie wu .-iic sijy . iiu . si thtabiisf-s ' of power . Tho lit ' - -t sti'i'' » lo « iislntit » ii ¦ nt his subject was 1 I 10 i-rsteetion oi' tlio n ; pi- « ntici- ? . 'l ' . sis
i .-ill 1 nforcud the pvoUetion of the cla ' ilvai wlw w « i \ not free if" nts able intake eare ol ih ' .-Miselves » . bin oii .-ht tube vrotceted bytiies ^ te . ulicii it was said , as Jim hV . ll . member lor Moniv . vn : ( Mr . I limn- ) said that , it would i-f ¦ ' "' luterl ' crcisce with thiv tree-\\ oni el ' trade io yr . fii tlli . H Jln-i ' -SU !' . , il ' ( Mr . CiAV | -er ) wciild ask the hon . ir . emlnr what he wou'd V . avo said sdina jesirs iign wlien : i et-rtaiti treat Imr ^ Wi ' . nuonuer ! i . si : t d " Am ] not i ' svj to tk .-is" I ! " 1 ' »< wi :. hmy own V Or i- ' a Vvcsi i ! nl ! r .- > plautw h ; ul ;> - ! : > ( I , ' Am 1 not free- to buy s !? , vi ! . « ? " Or how tie li » - n'Oiiibcr would liuve m b \ vi red the Ajiuritii'i in * Iu-sl-. ry , who asked ii' ! i is c-iild be a hiii > i of Hlcriy whery a man niij ; ht ii it w . i ' iitipliisowinr . yi . 'or ? llf ( Mi \ Cowjiurjcnntcnded ! . ! ,: t Hi .-si was ' . !¦ : . ; fniswKi- to l ! ie jii' ^ iiiiiwii . oflhi ' linM . liirnil ) ¦> > l ' ov MoiH-ro-e . He ( Mr . Cow ^ c ' r ) ( - ( . ntevulvd ! h-it the milldwns-rs ought 1 oi 10 have the power it- » : < ikc young poison- ! work a ii reatEr minibtfr oi hoiua tlum ' , consistently with healthj they were able
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to accomplish , for they were not free agents ; at Iqnst they wei-e not considered to be sso in any other walk of life . Even tho man in those mills was not a free agent in the sense that he was called so in other walks of life , for the moment they placed , men in conjunction with a steam engine they became like soldiers in a regiment—they must work the time tlmt the steam engine worked . The-Legislature Jiad Already undertaken to declare that 12 hours was the longest term which factory workers ought to be employed . Now they contended that 10 hours was a bettor time than 12 ; and why . did they say so ? First of all , there was most authority in favour of 10 hours . The persons who bad distinguished . themselves by being the originators of factory legislation had all maintained 10 hours . It would now be admitted , ha
supposed , by the right hon . baronet ; ( Sir J . Graham ) that the late Sir It . Peel was anxious to introduce 1 U hours' labour , a measure which he laboured several years ' to accomplish . Mr . Sadler was also { or' 10 hours ; and he . need scarcely add the name ' of Lord Ashley , by whom the present measure wasiutt'otlucert . 'they had not been able to ' accomplish what they desired in this mnt . teiy but they or their friends wei-e determined to persevere , and he ' hoped , the'dny-was not far distant when their object would be fulfilled ; ( Iloar . ) Uno reason for 10 hours was . Hint that period seemed to be pointed out by the phenomena , of nttnro as the natural time for a ilnyVwork . '' If they looked , at tho occupation of nil mechanics , carpenters and others , ' it would be found that they almost- constantly adopted 10 hours as the time for . work .
( Ilvai ;) If they went into a factory , and inquired now Jong tho mechanics employed there in the maleiii ! , ' and repair of tho machinery were employed , they would find that they never consented to work more than 10 'lioura a-day . ( Hear . ) Jle had been informed that one of the causes of tho strike of the biihliiisr trades , which , they so much deplored in Lancashire , was that ; several masters wished to compel til ! builders to work 10 hours anil . a-iialf , a ' c-hanyo t > wliich tiie men refused to suk'Hit . . ( Flour , hear . ) The principal argument use ! a ^ itiiisi tiie bill had been an apDcal to tiieii faavs— a vain apprehension that could nut . be acciir , alely defined , —sonn'tliiujj in th' - distance that could not be distinet . ly ' seen . ( . Hear , heat ; , ) Those who indued in ikrour ' oi ' the biil iiail eai ' oi ' ully avoided makinic any app .-al to tiie fears f
the house ; but it seemed to him ih . it , if thev . chess to dcp ' irt from the . iy . ure direct itttcmiit ro iniliiu-siiv 'he judgment and feelings of tln \ poi > . 'S !) nsnt ! di iws « i ) , they might have drawn S'Miie piuluru thnt ^ r ould it least have produced great alarm in ihcir iiii ' mls , — they might bave drawn rather jjloomy pictures ofiAm vast mass of persons ' in nnv » reat biyos of indusiry iliscohtcntod at not obtaining thai wiiiu ' u it liiul sm Ioiik been their ai ; siov « s oivl earnest d' -siru to seucn- , —they mii'lit have drawn scims jiiistiifes ci . x \ w alarm thatHuist always follow wltuii a hivjio proportion of ouv population wore cliseontentc'd at liotahtaining an object of desire ; " pai-ticula : ! y wlicn tindemanding of that object was , in rheir eves , justified by the sanction of three voles of the Jlnusa cl" Commons . ( Hear . ) But , perhaps , after all , the mo-t .
rational ground of alarm was tue prospect of thai ; Sfid moral , physical ,, and mental . deterioration to which considerable portions of our fell'W-countrymen might tall . ( Hear . ) It was indeed a subjtct of seriou- * alarm , that such a number of young persons should be-daily launched into manhood and womanhood without any of that education which > vas fitted to prepare them for the duties of life , -without having undergtno ' socinl training , but weakened in body and demoralized in mind , without respect for their superiors , without tlie love of goodness , without that knowledge of and reverence for the divine law , which was the surest guarantee for tbe security nf our present social state , and which mainly conduced to the prosperity of this empire . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Dksmstovs opposed tho Bill on tbe ground that it niiif-t inevitably lead to a reduction in the wases of the operatives , as wtil as to a loss in the profits of the master . The hon . member related
some experiments ,-where bv the consent of-the operatives the short hour systmn was adopted with a dimi / iut ' mn of wages , but tlic operatives soon abandoned the system , and aske-4 for a restoration of the old plan , with Ions : hours and full wages . It was computed that 309 , 000 , 0 " 0 lbs . of cotton were wroimht in th ' s country , of which 3-11 , 000 , 000 lbs . wero exported , leaving the homi ; consumption 58 , 000 , 000 10 * ., about-one-cinhtli- of the whole . The effect of tlie present measure would be to lessen tk « production onc-eiiditli on tiie whole of the home consumption , ile might add that during the last five years the home consumption of this article had increased only 50 percent , in tl-jis country , whilst in France it had increased 1-31 per cent ., and in the United States of America 200 pur cent . . The hon . member concluded by sayin « -tbiit lie thought the measure wouid not be nvnv ' injurioiw to the masters than it would be to the operatives , and for these reasons he wou'd oppose the further progress of the Bill .
Lord J . Manners said—A gentleman , who virtually srnidua the destinies , if i" < t of the empire , at least of the Cabinet , assured tiia House of Commons , a few days ago , that any farther deliberation by Parliament on a <; reat question with which bis name will henceforth be connected , was useless and offensive , inasmuch as that question bad boen settled out of doora . l . know nr . i > hoSv tlmt may be ; but if efforts the moat pcrsevvriiit :, conducted not only without the assistance o , but a ; . ai : i- < t the opposition of enormous wealth—if tlie repealed and unanimous prayers of a toilin- ; population—ii t ! ie ' niai ked . ab . « : ence of anything Approaching to a diiFcrencc of opinion among the hundreds of thous ' . uids whose hopes are to be fulfilled or disappointed by us to-day—if-till these are symptoms of il question sttiled out of doors , then , Sir , I
think the Ten Hours Factory Bill may lay claim to the ii'in . member for Stockport ' s definition , and , as a consequent !? , his support . It is then to a question , already seule .-l out of doors , on the side of which the reason and intellect of the working men of the North nf Eutjlaml , no less than their sympathies and affections , are enlisted—a question that has already received the sanction of the Whig and Tory and Radical parties—it is to the consideration of such a question that t ! so obstinacy of the Ministers compels us to come . The analogies and dictates of nature , if not the direct voice of Revelation , the experience of man , the prnyers of the people , the mlmissions oi opponents , the appeals to reason , the pathetic accents of manly eloquence , and woman ' s tears , all fail to-iROVc those whose master is Mammon ,
whose cause is competition ; and instead of a House of Gonr . iKins responding to the just and moderate request of a population on whom we affect- to rely , with ready acclamation , we are compelled to listen and reply to speeches such as tliat . delivered by tlie viaht honour ;! lile gentleman . But , Sir , in av-iuing this Qucs-tinn , I am wet at the « mt ? et wit ' . i a uiiik-. slt , " ; it i * I ' roU-us we hsive to oncouuter . Is it * yvenl pri ' . ieipl" ! or " tuvnt aeai-. Icnt , j > temporary diffiuuity oriin . euv .-iiai Uiuli , that . e-. unes lietween these pour labourers and tlieir wishi-s . 1 cannot collect which Ynr . u tho sjiucches of the iriumrinit . ; rh . it s {«> ko tbo oihai * tl ; iy . 'J'ho honourable £ f /? ii ! . ] enien the ijujinber Ibr MuliWfise , indeed , sjioke aallainly of ' - pnnciple , but his ' m ' ost serviceable ally , tl'p Secivtarv ol'St-nlc . defeiulud all past violntiiin ? of
tliat , sacred | iriiici ]>! c ,-tnlUe < l of compromise's , hiiiU-u at , llii ) ino |» p «» rt < il » : ! ittss of the present moment , and p lunucd dos-ply , ,-ih no man wiio vindicates a prineiplej need da , into eaiculations and figures . Well tlii'ii , Sir , jb Pjirliainent from time immemorial !> as oniy ta ! cc : i notice of the bonuurablc member ' s lii'iueinlc of liou-iatertevence beUvucn cnpiUl i « ul k \ - l'oui \ in ovd < r t-. » disregavd it , 1 trust he will not be oiffiidcd if I eombiit ' in thb first , instance the right hniKKinbh : ^ . 'Ht / eHjan ' s . 'acfe , iiguivs ami iuii'ivjjces . Iii liie cotuniencemeiit of his speech the right hon . iiiiiitloinan vested his case ou the iiicxueiiicuey of any c < ir . cewi ; ni- ; he had found out , that -although the workiiis viien would accept a-compromise' of eleven hMiiis , they would not pledge themselves for ever to j hat in-riad of labour . If ihov hsd given that pledge , to
L utiderstotul tlw ri ^ ht hon . ( jeui-lcinaii say , their request niiglit have buen fjivoumbly outisidered . Well , then , with him it is only a question of expediency . Lot me ask him , and the lioi ^ o , if on this low "i- 'jiiiid alone , many eon . siderations are not to be i ' miud in favour of this bill ? What is the picture ' . iie short-time movement presents ? Tlie working men . sanctioned and encouraged by the Clergy , the Dissenting Ministry , and by tiie medical jiroif . ision , range on one Mile : in opposition to them standwho ? Their employers . They whose wraith they make , whose power ' they create , whose importance iliey Hiibsfryc , to whiwu luxuries tluy iniiii . sU- ! , suu ! the Executive . Government of the day ; which juM now is remarkable for nothing so miiei-i as iis varinui'shin with those vinplcyors . Every j-far , as the
boon bus been withheld , they have licoii guiniujr . yon have boen losing ground ; their ranks swell sis ' yoiirs decrease ; and 1 now ask you , is if , |! oltf . i < . —is it expedient' for the executive Government any hivr r < : v U > place itself . siilo by side with ea ^ ital am ! wedl ';! , aa ; iiiisL the uni > uiii ! ou > wi .-lics i . f ths ; wm-kisig . s .-ieii , anilltho delibcrnU ; jtttigii-icufc n ; d cniin Ci'iivioUo : > of the oh'i'uy and i > . n : dii-al proft-aiiou ; : u . d liuii IkjIi ! up capital to . lim iiativd aiul conU-ii-. pt -A iJio ^ c v . ho toil to . fve : ile it . ? The Ri . nht lloaoui'aMe GeiUloiuvm thi'ii went on io ari'iie , time although tho li ' t rai wevk-\ n « of the Bill aifcotud only yi'iiiis j-er aims and teiiiiiles , to u'linm . were it lu'iictii'iiily i-ctiiincd , 1 {{ iitlu-red the Right Iloiionraiik-Gentleman W :.: uldiiot oppose , that in elleut it would o-i-Tat ^ upon adult male labour , and the very working onnjiehiiiory itsuK
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and he warned , the House against entertaining an " measure which even incidentally mfght inU-rfer ® with jiflult male kbonr . Why , Sir , what an argumen t is this ? Ihrc is a measure which proposes to lim ' i " tlieiiours wbifh . females androuu ^ -persunssliail w ork » . to that period of time beyond which all medical ex * "' penunce asserts labour to be prejudicial to them , a limit -whiolr the liight Honourable Gentleman by ' lmDlication adinib , t 0 be right and just in itstlf , -but ¦¦ 7 t ii 1 ' ? i ca - upntt " to rejecr ; Jest in its operatioc- ' ' it should bo lound to extend its blessings to oth . T and older dnidgeH ; andsohelpleas ' woini-n' and unroflect-- ' ing youth are to be sawificed , lest wearv manhood in v tbe factories should only work as Ion- ns his feJk-w- V countrymen woi-k -i '» . other " . cl ^ ca oH , ib < , i . r . Any one . who l istened to the Ri » lit Honourable Gentle- ¦ man ' s . arguments on-this part of his ease—to ^ ri *^
iHdignant protest against the tyran y ^ tliat would ? S prevent the adult -labourer from working hi . i tWlvftOs hours a day , would . imn ^ iiie he was list ^ iint *^^ io accredited advoeate ^' . ' oi ' ftygrctit body of iaefc y V . ' vrorkers . l who felt ¦ that out of a mi .-takett ^** regard for their wivea aiid cfiifdren , the flouw ofS * Commons was about to deprive tluMn of tlie iieneiUa ; of their dearest riaht » aml privileges . -But . u-ii . i t isthe fact ? . Dnen the rij ^ ht lion . < jci ; tli : man , -, ! i ; id fur . - ' - . - the iniijnrity of adult males in the f < iciorit- »? Dues ; he plej >( l for even , i thyuwind , a liUisi-lieil , twenty , or ao ? Not so . A ' encly , a qjwrter of < i million of ! nim ; in k beinus have nsked for t \ m incaaure , « M . the righfc .. honourable gentieman has not one solitary petition
from a solitary unit of that great class , jn wlioso . » name he appealed to us , to justify his position , or -r certify his fears . I now eome , Sir ,-to . that portion of-the right hon . gcntienif . n ' K . case which most-as- ' ¦ : tourulfd me . I mean where he urt-er ! tbe present posi- , tionof thcpurn Laws us- an argument ami ins t this , , bill . Tb-i riaht hon . gentleman would ..-ip ' j . em- t" iive in a merry-iro-roimd ., On the 10 tii ; oi ; Miij , KS 14 . ho sauf— " IVas it common seuKp . nr . jusuee ,-. the Corn ¦ » Laws beiBsrmaint aiiied / to restrict the iiour . s of the -. i labourers by one-sixth ? : ' ; Well , ihiwo .-. wti-ds ,- jind . " , \ others , inore . decisive ; spoken i > . i |> rivate . vv . tc ^ ui-eess- - Iul . am ! tiiij .-l / en { lours' ] iiii . w : us . roj . ecU-cl . in oi- ioi- to . ' . ' . ' revain in oiiico a I ' rottc . tioii uovernuieui : it k nnw tu i lie rejected , because th « ssjimejvovufiim ..-iibisnrt («« ,. ^/»
. J- rotoetivo ,.. bnt , Fr ^ trading .... . ^ Lo rk , " cnt-s the ¦ , Home . bsorowy , ; ' - at . the i . njii . s . tice you are eci-uiH- , tint :,. you have apt yet ' rcpeal < - ( l , tlie ( . ' m-ii-La-vs " ...- " , — ( aitiioii ^ h . ilus-riohie - - nwinljer : fp r = ij ' aikii- !; ,. by . ' .- ' ¦ Ue iv ; iy ,- » m ^ i ih i ^ u , assured his latl- . t-onsiitiien ' ts " i tliat Uicy ire ; e , in f ' : itD , . ' •¦ : [) ,. • •! . » ed , : (; . u ( allJlOi . ^ ii Cfiiit ; is" \ t . Jifl iinives'sul' iiinau . 'iue ' f-fi « if ! Jit ! . n ^ hA ¦ Jum " . -viitfe- '"" • ¦ mnii ' -A allies . )^ We ! i , " " You have-ni ; i . vofVi-.-iTotix ' iic " > ( j-tru l , ; iiV 3 , themiiieiiinni i « m .-t , fxn-eqneiit ' r , com . mcncril ; hul you have retired rio i , ir ; Uvt ; ' : / iij . in niiiiitiiiio ' iiiY-s , ami eai : von , with i : ; . i : iiiuni f : iii's « I-ss imini ; thus pxn-wid m \ v maiuii ^ . tu-cM t- > i ' . Mvi ii
cmiipentmii . t : i : ;«>; vwav tho .-uivasii -c of . v ,,-v ; i-.. \ , ^< t llOlirs ? " . ; i \ , ) . . v , Sir . j h ,-ivi- - .. nc ,. r {«•/ , rruu > vks £ 0 niaku updii lliisiippoii cut miteri-cnU-m ., , ';; t- ' u- iiv-t place . Sir , wim-e J ' : ui : £ was it tii-t ii ; - Jiii . ^ OM Cii'ciirii iii ; : iiii ! ji (; tti ; es wyrc ! utii ; i : w ; ? DU } i . i , « tiju-j-itives of M : inclii » ter-t > r ' 1 , «;(!> ,-i .-k v is ; -iri , j .,. i . ' ri ? 3 ^ dtl . ieauTiei !; tiir . ! liiitm-.-it ( f . I ,..-. s ; , jV -,-..,. ^ .. ^ not have H-Ueiied tu it if , t \ vm ) , i .- ^ t -iiii : h- -- "rri ^ . l . tm'iil isit-rest msk . yiiii t .. reiim .: s : ii-.-in ¦ ; So ; " tiVa 1 ' rt-tt-ti- jule iiiHS ! f ! - . ! iinsii : ? i !< -t .. ivi . s i- - ,, r .. v | mv- « ¦ •¦ . ! . ; erc was t ! u ' " u- i ' e ; to : ati » i st : iteiiu-M . tii .-U Ktj-ii ^ . ' in-«« stvy w . < -ik , \ ho pi-Dloutmii ; i .: ni ) :. « t i ' i « v ! - ; i iVmi .-. trv , 'i-lccd you 10 re u . ii thn-e pmtveti •;• iK : tlo , : ¦ * , ¦ -m ^ tuay . \ vcr-- nt no nss- to tiit-u at ail . l '; -, it , : ijv w ,. . v '
t' iiiidt-r * tin < l thi . t ail ih-su uio . n . i ., w ^ ,,, out imvu * n \\\* , nml fast tiii . snthuVi .. « fnpirk not ' ivrit-nl , but n : iiiietinn ) o f pi-oteuii-ii h : u liil « . \ Ui ? -m w ";¦ l '< - - - --r as to tho L . itb ; 't of ioiui . ii ci - i : « iiai ; t .::-ii ? Vu-il . if this by so , I must <> bs rv . in tiie sew ' d / J ; : i « . V , ti « lf . ; i . ^ I ; MY \\ V 1 V llw only pi'i'Ve iii t \;( 1 kii ; , r . tlom whw askci ) fm-thst recfuttis ' in ' , ti . ey inu-t pay r or it'i'ioiiiselvos , oreJsc submit , to be i- 'g .-iireii as the cin-jtifsi of Ijnasiei-s , thu tucst iiypocritfealnf patr / ofo Amliet . mrt , in th . ) thini j . lace , 'diraet ihuatteritinii » t l-io a .-i : w am ! iut <; llyenr . > v , ( rk--nj ; paonje out of ( lows to iliis renmrlval'le plea of their Free .-tr sdiannslera . It umonnts in hrki' to this—that tho mice the operatives in the north of En-land will have to pay for . Free Trade is two additional hours of
labour every day . Now , mind , it is not 1 who say so ; it is the Right lion . Gentleman who states it broadly . The master manufacturers denotiricG all protection : protection is about to be taken away altogether from agriculture , partially from manufactures , and this partial withdrawal is held to be ' so serious a weakening of this mighty interest , that unless women and children arc worked two hours a day longer than all . medical experience asserts they ¦ ought . to work , the commerce of En » laud is ruined and her manufactures destroyed . This , Sir , is tiie protection , then , with which the master manuf acturers will not part—this the protection they s ) tanaciously clih ^ to—this the one thina in Church and State
that the Government will not alter—the leyalincd overwork of women and children . But , before 1 quit this part of the subject , let me say , to the leaders of this timid , puling , bragsjailocio interest—let me say to them , who come whining about the difficulties they encounter from -a diminution -in protective dutiesthat the-agricultural interest will give them back ' their 20 pur cent .-, and ' submit to the injustice aucl inequality thereby occasioned , in order to give the ' : working men of tbe North this Ten Hours' Bill . ' ¦ Mean and contemptible , therefore , as was the position assumed by the -right hon . ; gentleman , it is absolutely no longer tenable . Then the right hon . gentleman , : following in the wake of the hon . member for ' Montrose . hazarded the bold assertion that tlie
advocates of the 'len Hours' Bill , had entirely overlooked thc-stress of foreign competition . Why at least one- ' hull of Lord Ashley ' s great speech in ISi-i was given up to a most minute and accurate analysis of the hours and system of factory labour in other countries . There was no country from Russia to America where . cotton or wool is lu . iiuiiiictureif , that escaped Lord Ashley ' s attention ; therefore the charge was unfounded ; out even had it oeen otherwise , how strango a charge to come iivmi our philosophic Free Trade Government—through what different spectacles they must view themselves and other people . With the most perfect indifference tkey can submit tlie
agricuitural incluatry of this country to a wholly free competition with forcignm , but are horrified at the idea of shortening the -hours of labour in our factories unless other countries will do the same . Why , how many days ago was ifc that the Premier derulcd thu idea ' of reciprocity , Mid conjured us'to give up waiting for other countries : fiat justltia mat ccelvm was then his motto . Had they not been hearing day after day , ami nigiit after niiiht , the ceaseless ridicule of tho bugbear of
loreign competition ? Had tiie right hon . gentleman not been the foremost to call upon-the agriciiliural interest oi'Ermland to disregard the idea of dreading foreign competition ? " What mattered it , " lie said , '' the sayings of M . Guiznt , or the doings of the Zollvereiii ? Let England set a graiid esaiiiple , and gloriously succeed or greatly fail . " But the riiht hon . jjentlcman , whowns so bold in March , who Mien so strongly ridiculed all idea of foreign competition . - became as timid as a hare in May . Uu , who advisetl the Enclish asrioniturisU not to shrink from
competition with the whole world , could not endure to hear « f t > e seventy-two hours a week which the French and the Austrians were required to work . ( Hear , hear . ) Whence , Sir , this startling difference ? Why is the right lion , " otitbman ' s mind "All see-snir between that and this Now Siigli , now low , now master , now miss , And hu himself one struuge hypothesis . " Alas , Sir , there is but one answer , ho am ! liis Government sire but the vassals of a section nf lllO ' master inaniif-. ' rt-. HMvs , But ;!> wr . rd . s l ! i > : -A-- - - * -. » f isis sjjwcli tin ; ii ( i-::. 'M ; : i !; ie ( . ientlon ' iii : ! * i \>'' . \ h . K woik . wa * ihc iui . o ! mail , am ! ' Aim i ! ysm . liiiuA-ii ! wish . , hi . slabour , you iurcrfcred ¦ > i ^ ii I , ; .- ; . vrt-. e : . : > iv . \ t ' ' :: ^ the adoption of a Ten ¦ ll <> nr&'JJiii > ¦ ¦ . ! . :, i ^ ;• :. !*< £
16 per cent on ) ii ? wuy , va . Wi . ! tho iii . i . hl Jliui . GonUeiii . 'in allinv mo ro nsk him a ; how jnueii he rates the tax he hiraseinielpud to ini'ir . se , when tho liiuira of Ijihour wore ro . 'imrcd to' 12 ? Did w ; s ; : es i : i ! l 20 , 15 , 10 or 5 per cent , in ' conss ijuriiec •¦ ' lhafc reduction ? Have the wurkiou iiifii ptJiir-ioaed to ' >? . restored to the happy sfato of unlimited toil , and t ' . unseqiici ) tly imlirjiifed - wa ^ es ? Will be tell me by how much the wages . of the work-people in all the arsenals and docks of France have been re ;! u . ed , in . c&i > so ., ut : » eii o ! ' iifty-two Suiuluys being sju- vti'iictcd from their period of wt-vk ? Has oiie-sisvenih of thoiv wa « ns been cut eft " , with one-seventh of their wwl ? ?¦ Hut tlie Riuht lfotiouvaole Gentleman relied on facts , :: (! il quiitci ! the failure of Mr . Donock ' s .
exfM-riiwMit . N « w thatpavlialfiiiluve-wfts-uxphiineil away at i hi time ; ' . ml even admitting it to be in ^ oine sense a failure , there is the successful expermirut i « f Mr . Gardiner to set against it , and I adduce an ana- ' lo ! rmiscxjierinie .: i on a fur larger scale . In the year 18211 , thu masters and the men in the Nottingham tradea « vet't ! to work only twelve hours in the dajv anilsigmtd * deed to tlmt effect . Well , what was ihe result ? Did wages fall ? No . they rose . Tho wa ;; es of the men rose , the prtifits of thivraasUvs rose , and the ' stocks on hand diminished . So tiiintswent on lor a year , at the expiration of which , ' some few l ' . sr . sters , allured by the temptation of tl-. e short stock on hand , held out , disregarded the agreement ; retiirnetl to the old unrestricted system , and » f-souree , compelled others to do ihe sanui . Weil , ' what was the result then ? Did \ y ; h t ? vi ? c ? Js-. tf- «
btt , of it : in nine lunr . ths wanes foil imu Cd . in ' M . per hack , and the Profits of the masters d < clincd Uveuty-five \ mv cent . Ami ] appeal to any one connected with Nottinjrhamshire . to te ^ -tiiy to tho miserable condition of those ivho arc . mw tiUsscd with unrestricted hours of labour . >] o , tho oilVeb would be . to equalise iho nmwir . t of InLoiirovfr tho . pour . Dul this disposes of suolV . er pb . i of \\\* \\\^ --t Hon . Gentlemau—i fc proves tlv . it you enrmot ! - avc this question of factory labour to be sc-tlcil l > y Ciijiiti ' il , on one sii'o and toll mi the other . llore , in a limited field of tr tie , the attempt was made ; tho cupidity or ii ' l ] uness of iitilf-a-di-Kon capitalists Lroke " in " I " . til 9 ongii-emini in : v short thise . Wimt hope , t \ i- <\ , i- ' ive you that in tho . lav hn ^ oi * licld of inaiiiilhttiiri' ^ ' mvlustvy . wh . ; rc the makers are counted l » y Hlhis-ii "'* instead of by hundreds , yon can arrive tit uimuiiun . < » [ Continued to thlMig htfage ]
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VOL . X . NO . 444 LONDON , SATUMMY , MAY 16 , 1846 ^ ' «^" , P ^ " ^"« - f "¦ - : ' - - . - - : ,. . . ,,... . . . Vive Shillmget aiul Sixpence p « r Quarter
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AND MtlOML ^ 3 M ^ it : : MtME .: " ' -
^Ld At Somkbs Toww. —On Sunday Erening Jast A Full
^ ld at Somkbs Toww . —On Sunday erening Jast a full
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 16, 1846, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1366/page/1/
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