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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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BOUSE OF LORDS . —Mosday Mat ? ch 13 . 5 je XGBD GHXSCEliOB drew attention to the jstate j the law relating to persons committing crimes under { Lisflaence ofinsanity . He reviewed the proceedings in S eise of M'lfaugbten , and said that it -was impossible j * 3 i 8 Jury tolMTe cometoany otber verdict , though he 5 * 513 . have preferred that the trial lad net been ab-I ~ 3 y iersiin&ted . Ab to thB law itself , it -sras the ^ s which bad alirays prevailed , not only in Eagl&ad ^ Scotland , but in France , Germany , and other-coonwhich based the law of
^ , sni " "was on humanity . JjjTdici noi think th 3 t aay alteration in the law -was fgessary , and all he considered requisite was & more *| ctiT 6 measure of precaution . A bill of this nature £ * b 5 be ready in a fewdaya ; thongh looking at toe giare anS latent character of the disease , he did not jjSdpate ihat it wonM prove absolutely effectual . ^^ occnrrenKS occasionally happened , not only in * j » but in other countries , and , he feared , would occur j ^ esfcer , in spite of all precaution , though he hoped ^ forthcoming bill would prove aome check upon their ^ gitJon in this country .
iard BsorGHAM argnsd that all that was reqnired jjj-irbfcther the individual knew that he was doing . posi ^ © r , in other words , "violating the law . Jndges ^ jajfi direct juries to ascertain whether or not persons rtj M * y * ugbsen knew that they were committing a Meh of the Isw ; ana if they -were capable of com-L jseuSiig tS » t fact , an < 2 c * gnizint of it at the time jfsMBi nittTns the crime , tliat then they shonld ba liable j pna ^ HiKJt . ^ jtersome observations from Lords CotiexbaM and tjgLoKD Chascehos remarked , that the
consig&ion of the GoTemmtnt had been directed to the j-jjosi ol the prevention of such individuals as Oxford , jaaos , kc ^ from being made public spectacles ; bnt * gs was no necessity for legislating on it , as her jijssty already lad the power of placing them under ^ saint He would take the earliest opportunity , if Agj Xsnlships desired it , of summoning the judges ^ jits their opinions of the whole question . Ibe House then adjourned .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Mosdat , Mabch 13 . In server to Mr . Mackixno ^ , Lord Stanley said $ st the GjTerument lad not yet received any other <^ a imperfect accounts from Antigna ; bnt lie feared gil fee details in the newspapers , as to the ertent of « j dsmafe from the earthquake , were not exaggerated . $ Blight , hereafter , be the duty of the Government to g 3 « jtfce House to aid the colony with a loan , the gfy shape in which they conld afford relief . Oiths motion for going into a Committee of Ways rf Heac .
Dr . BotraisG entered into an explanation of some jysments wlich lad been made during tha diEcnssion i the Ordnance estimates on the subject of retaining -wsgaand establishing barracks in the town of Bolton . jskuEy tb&t many indiTidnals in ihat town approved 4 the presence of the troops and the erection of bar-^ jdb , bat the principal ratepayers laving been called fcgEjher , joined in a resolution which he ^ would read to gsHcnsa . The resolution referred to the patient and pse ^ d demeanour of tha population of the town and ^ gibourhood under the unexampled privations and g&nsgs which they lad undergone ; it stated that the 2-eang ssw in the present movement of thB Executive
itb 7 alarming indication of mn intention to bring tire g-actry under a system of military despotism , and it expassed the opinion of the meeting that it was not dejablfi , under rriBtTng circumstances , to assist in any snngemsntB laving for their object the establishsat of a military station at Boiton . This resolution us signed fry the gentleman who , at the period of its liqpiion , was the Mayor of Boiton . He ( Dr . Bowasg ! considered , then , that the statement he lad made m felly warranted , —that the feeling of the people of Biton was unfavourable to the creation of barracks , s to the establishment of a military station in tkat bTL .
Mr . P . AiSSwaaiH thought it right to inform the Ixset&at the meeting to which Mb Hon . CoUeame Ud referred was attended ly only nineteen individuals jsl theil&joi of Boiton , in forwarding the resolution jsCoi Wemyss , stated that he and his brother Magis-Sstesdid noteoncnr in tie opinion * wlich it expressed , fctihey concaved it necessary , under the then existing Stamst&nces , that tie military should be retained in Setown . In April the Mayor addressed a commnnica Sao to the Bight Hon . Baronet , tie Secretary of State ir lie Home Department , in which he Stated tfiat Hie rHtKtamts liad agreed to proriae temporary accommob £ cm for the troops , and he also expressed his convic 6 a that the military ought not then to be removed . i * ; Mr . Ainsworth ) legged to inform his Hon . Colisgns that Qie inhabitants of Boiton raised a snbscrip-Seb , amounfing to ^ 128 , for the purpose of providing
Haporsry accommodation for the military . He wished Spot it to the House whether Hey did not think that the Igor and Magistrates of Boiton lad evinced prudence « dcaution in the course they had adopted ? In the sxsrn of last year that town was visited by a lawless sib from a distance , who took possession of the town , jEXQ&ered tie provision slops , tamed » ut the artisans , ad stopped tie mills ; and , without the aid of the EEsyand of the yeomanry cavalry , it would lave lea impossible to drive the mob from the place . He Bttoldfcd , then , th » t tt > p M&gistz&tea \ nft acted -sritb l » &Hft difcrefion . He might be allowed to state that Mid the persons wlo attended the meeting to which laBcm . Colleague lad Blinded , was one of the first to £$ dre the assistance cf the military for the protection JMimm property—( hear , hear ) . JtBowBiso explained .
mi . Ajssvo ' sxr said an application lad been made i the Bight Hon . Gentleman , the Secretary for the las Department * to permit tbfr section of new barais in Boiton , in stead of repairing the old ones . To Ea request the Bight Hon . Baronet declined to accede ; Mfce stated that , in consequence of tie opinion wlich fed been expressed in tie borough , with respect to the station of tie troop * , the eld tarrackB should be
HE CHABUST TBIALS AT LANCASTER . Mr . H . Gibsos said , le wished to put a question to & Right Hon . Baronet opposite ( Sir J . G-raham ) with speet to certain proceedings 'which had taken place at fa ncent GnBrtiEt trials at Lincastei . Any one wlo bdread the evidence adduced on those , trials must bm perceived that numerous attempts were , made to taj in the names of parties who lad taken an active fst in opposition to the com laws , and who lad supjtned the Anti-Corn Law League . Endeavours were siit to excite an impremen that these parties were 5 * originators of Hose disturbances which took place a Isi months since in tie TnaTrnfurt ^ r -ng districts ; but &s * t £ « Epts failed most completely and signally . Tbe faapts to Tridch fce xeferred were of such a
remari-Xa rhsrftcta , that they elicited as obserratioD from Sb learned Judge , who said , *• 1 hare Dot bt « n able Isindastand what tie introduction , which las been J * 5 s aeveial times , of the names of parties connected ¦> 2 i the AnS-Corn law League , and of other parties , aslssTe to ^ o with the prese nt question . " A similar fe £ n | was entertained by a great number of persons *» * se present during the trial ; they felt that an feacpi was made to inculpate parties who , not being wraths court , did not possess the ttpbtib of refuting fc aeeosaSon . One of the witnesses wlo gave evidence i 2 ai isabrre -was s person named James WUccx , who Called for the prosecution by tie Attorney-General , aduponlia mas-examination ly 2 dr . P . O'Conner an * apt was made to draw statements from him
Jit B . Escott -wished to know whether the Hon . feiber for Manchester was in order in tins introfcasg » question ariEing upon a trial which took Jha in a distant part * f the country ! iCries of * « &t- ) Ett Spsakzs said the Hon . Member for Manchester * a in ordfci , there being now a question before the ilggjg , Ik M . Giesos continued . —The Attorney-General f&A as a -witness iai the prosecution a person named ? &es "KTleox . who stated , aB it appeared to him 43 Ir . I ™*** fiosi a perusal of the trial , some very unim-J * SEt facts , bat in the cross-examination of this wit-^ kj itt Peaisas O'Connsr , an attempt was made « I » Wfn « n Mm Biatementa calculated to inculpate
« iab-Coia Law League . Ibis witness stated in the ™» & Ms exaainafion , that previously to tie trial | - * m been in eorrespendence with the Bight Hon ;~»* tthe Stcretary of State for the Home Departf *« . « adhe ( Sx . Gibsoni trished to ask that Bight ^ eatleman whether be would object to lay on the ?* of the House any letters or correspondence which TT Passea betwees hiHiself an * Mr . JamesT ^ ilcox ^^ S 1 b lad no doubt that all the proceedings con-^" " ¦ iai the recent trials lad been perfectly regu-^ fe aust co nfess he legarded it as extrao rdinary , _ tflg Bizht Hnti . " PlamTia +. iSrr 7 « ttkw RrahimJ who by
2 ^ F < Baed Mr . Peargus O'Connor as a witness K * fleftEce , Ehould lave been allowed to leave Lan-?? « condition that Mr . James Wilcox , & witness It ** Prosecution , slould be called in his stead . He jgw it strange that one of the defendants should fr'SJte a witness for tie prosecution for one wfeon be 2 ?* Dreaed in his own defence . He had derived the ^^ fem which le possessed on this snlgeet fr om f !™*! ni » reports of the trial in tbe BCWfipspers , W » d j ^™ = u » -Et ^ ed sny feet le loped that some Hon . r ^ j ~ would correct him . He ladio deubt the vtow ^ P Taa been quite regular ; "but he willed to £ »» Whether tie Bight Hon . Baronet would object to ^ j ^^ wfion of ths -whole eorrespondenee on this
^ teUHAX wouia endeavour to answer Ibe b ^^ . e Son . Member as far as the drenmstances ^^« i le lad referred ome within Us own inowg ^_ Hslad been informed just Before Is came down l _>« Hon . Member for Manchester intended to put ^^^ toiimas tolis eorrespendence with aperfeawt !/ " 2 cot He { Sir J Graham ) did not rememjj 3 ^? S ieard the name of ftat person until 1 b was fcta ^ u e Conrt House , at Lancaster , upon a tub-^ ie ^ ^ I 6 CeiTed from eoe of He defendants in fcW & ^ l ?^ "trbea ^^ Attom ^ - General informed Vu ^ f" ™ 8 PTese = ce was no longer necessary , as an rf ^ uT *^^ Deen niada tb « » a peison of the name X ^^* Ebuad be caHet intis place . HiB Hon . and ^^ Pasaa tbe Attomsy-Gencral ) -ffonld state the -wastes which le ^ i to th&i arrBBgement . Uniil
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the name of James Wilcox was mentioned on that occasion , he ( Sir J . Graham ) was not aware that he had ever heard of that person , but it was now stated that in the course of the last autumn this individual address « d a letter to him . H » | Sir J . Graham ) had searched tie public records of lia office , as well as his private correspondence , and he could discover no trace of the receipt of any euch letter , or of any answer having been returned . He could assure the Hon . Member that , not only could he find no traee of such correspondence , but that he had » ot the slightest
recollection Of Hlfi receipt of any letter from a person of the name of Wflcox . At the time ef tha outbreak he received very numerous communications by letter from the disturbed districts , but he was in the habit of sending all letters bearing upon the transactions to the solicitor who was employed by the Government to institute prosecutions . He had not had an opportunity of communicating with that officer sines the . Hon . Member for MarcJisster intimated his intention of proposing this question ; but he would apply to him , and perhaps he might possess some knowledge of the letter referred to .
The Attokset-Gekesai said , as the Hon . Member opposite had expressed surprise that a witness for the prosecution should have been accepted by ene or the defendants in the place of the Bight Hon . Gentleman , it might be satisfactory for him to state to the House the circumstances nnder which the arrangement was made . The Klgbt Hon . Baronst ( Sir J . Graham ) was subi omed by one of the defendants to aWtnd at L&ncasxrr , anti he accordingly proceeded there , although his absence from town was attended with great inconvenience to the public service . Some communication took place between him { the Attorney-General ) and tLe Hon . Member for Sutberlandshire ( Mr . D . Dundas ) , who appeared for one of the prisoners ; and he was informed that as the presence of the Rieht Hon . Baronet was
required m London , it was intended by the defendant to call in his place a person named Wilcox , who , it was supposed , was in attendance as a witness for the prosecution . A communication was made to him ( the Attorney-Gsneral } that if it was intended to call Wilcox , Mr . Feargus O'Connor was willing that the Bight Hon . Baronet ( Sir J . Graham ) should return to London , as he expected to get from Wilcox all the information he wished to obtain from th * Right Hon . Bajonet His ( the Attorney-General ' s ) intention was , from a regard to the interests of the country , to have examined Wlicox , irrespective of any such arrangement as that to which he had alluded . The Hon . and . Learned Member for SaiherlandBMre bIbo coneevved that the further attendance of the Bight Hon . Baronet would be
unnecessary ; and he { the Attorney-General ) , therefore , publicly informed the Learned Judge of the arrange ment . He could not recollect , at this moment , for what precise object Wilcox was called on behalf of the pTOBeration ; but he did remember that his evidence was necessary for the identification of some of the defendants with certain transactions wlich ocenrred during the outbreak in Lancashire . Wilcox was examined for tbo prosecution , and he was then cross-examined by Mr . O'Connor with n-ference altogether to certain communications made by him to the Home Department He ithe Attorney-General > objected to this line of examination , stating that althongh he did not wish to place Mr , O'Connor in a worse position than le would have been in lad his Bight Hon . Friend ( Sir J . Graham ) been examined , be must put it to the court whether , if that Bight Hon . Gentleman lad been under px ^ minv tion , be conld have been called upon to produce the comnmnicatiooB to which reference was made : and the
Learned Judge decided that if those communications were made to the Kight Hon . Gentleman in his official capacity , le could not be required to prodnce them . He ( the Attorney- General ) could assure the House that , throughout the proceedings , he had objected to all questions which could tend to inculpate parties who were not befere the court ( Hear , hear . ) He was snre that if any Hon . Member lad read the proceedings attentively , be must have observed that he { the Attorney-General ) lad , while he endeavoured to bring distinctly before the court the procedings of the defendants of which he complained , cautiously and religiously prevented , as far as le could , the utterance of any-reflection npon absent persons , and the moment an attempt was made to elicit evidence reflecting on absent persons , wiHTegard to whom such evidence would have been a calumny , he interposed all the authority which be possessed in order to confine the investigation to the single judicial purpoBa for which it was instituted . tEear , tear )
Mr . M . GlBSOls had not imputed to the Hen . and Learned Attorney-General , as the prosecutor in the case to which he had alluded , any desire to inculpate absent parties . Having read the evidence throughout he was -srilling to ndmit tbat the Hon . and Learned Member did , on maoy occasions , prevent witnesses from making statements which would have tended to criminate persons who were not present ; but he adhered to bis former statement , that in the course of the trial attempts were made of so marked a character tlond ciies of " order ** ) to drag in the names of absent individuals ( renewed shouts of " order ''; , that the Learned Jndge—The Speaseb said , the Hon . Member must be aware that he could not again address tie House on tie subject on which le lad before spoken .
Mr . T . D 0 K combe thought it right to state that he had received several communications with reference to the trials to which allusion lad been made , and he was boond to say that the conduct of the Attorney-General lad given universal satisfaction to men of sU parties . — ( Hear , hear . )
THE HALIFAX BOABD OF GUARDIANS . On the question that the Speaker do leave the chair preparatory to the House resolving itself into committee of ways and means , Mr . Feeka ^ d rose to move , as an amendment , for a list cf the guardians of the Halifax Union whs assembled at the Board on Wednesday , the 1 st of March instant , specifying the ex ojjicio guardians from the elected guardians ; also a list of the guardians who were SDt present , specifying the ex qjficio guardians from the elected guardians ; also tie name of the Assistant Poor L * w Commissioner who attended the board ; also a copy of their minutes and proceedings as well as of the resolutions adopted by the board ; alBO a copy of all notices ' given at any preceding meeting of
the board relating to any proceeding or resolution adopted by the board on the 1 st day ot March , fie felt that in bringing forward this motion be owed some apology to tne House and to the Bight Hon . Gentleman , the Chancellor of the Exchtquer . He had , a lew days ago , requested the production of certain papers relative to the proceedings of the Halifax Board of Guardians , and if the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir Junes Graham ) had acceded to that request it would sot nave been necessary for him to adopt bis present course . In the discharge of his parliamentary duties he ( Mr . Ferrand ) had deemed it necessary to allude to the conduct of Mr . Clements , an assistant Poor Law f ' nTT . ^ ignipnoT He stated that , from information be had received from private sowces , and from
pnblic papers , he considered that Hi . Clements had conducted himself in an insolent and overbearing manner in attempting to enforce the Poor Law in all its rigour . Mr . Clements , while acting at the Halifax Board of Guardians , had thought proper to assist in passing a vote of censure npon his { Mr . Perrandi ) conduct fer having alluded to him in this House . He nndtrstoed that there was reason to believe that that meeting , at which eighteen guardians attended , was not coirrened &y a proper notice issued by the clerk lo the ¦ who e body of gnardisns . At that meeting the Board of Guardians resolved tkat a strong athletic man should be appointed , at a weekly salary , to act in the capacity of taskmaster , for the purpose of applying a more severe test to the ont-door labourers . It would be
found that tie Board of Guardians having , with the sanction of Mr . Clements , decided upon adopting a more B&vere test in lespest of ont-door labour , had also decided upon adopting a more severe test within the workhouse . The question was brought before tie board how that test could be most advantageously enforced , and different plans having been proposed , that of a treadwheel was discussed , and bow many men it would employ . This treadwheel the Board of guardians directed to be erected , and a member of the board undertook to see it erected . He had stated this some time ago , when he last addressed the bouse on this BnbJMt The Bight Hon . Barontt { Sir J . Orahsmj stated that it was not so , and that , instead of a treadwheel to be applied to a rack machine , there was only
to be erected a hand-mill for corn . He ( Mr . Ferrandj next day received more information from another person . The Right Hon . Baronet , however , again said that the mill was only a corn-mill , and that he was told that by the Poor Law Commissioners . Tie board of guardians of the Halifax Union lad passed a reselution reflecting on words used by him in the discharge of his duty to hn constituents and to the country—a resolution which >»>/> been brought to the board from his own house by one of tbe-ea- ojfhtio guardians , and this was passed by the Board of Guardians , Mr . Clements , the Assistant Poor Law Commissioner , assisting at the meeting . The same day an order was passed , with the sanction and approbation of Mr . Clements , far excluding the reporters of the public press fiom the "board-room during the
meetings of the board . But what sort cf a corn-mill had been erected , did the House think ? Why , none at all ; but , instead , a rag machine lad been erected , for tie purpose of grinding rags obtained from the poor of thB towns on the continent , snd impregnated -with all tthititibt of contagion and filth , and le was lold that the stench was so great , and the dust arising from the grinding so oppressing , that they had the greatest difficulty in part * of Yorkshire , where rags of this kind were ground for the purpose of defrauding by the cloth manufacturers , to get persona to nndertak& the work . But , in order to make this more of an infliction on tie poor pauper , the wheel "was to be worked by capstans , wMch were to be turned by
the poor like , hones . These capstans were to be worked at not only by the feet , but by tie hands and breasts . According to the opinion of a medical gentleman whom le lad seen , it was highly injurious to tha health to labour in this way , and was likely lo end in apoplexy . This was what was about te be erected in the Halifax union workhouse for the employmemt of the poor there , either with oi ¦ without the knowledge of tie Poor Law Commissioners ; if tley know of it , then they lad deceived the House in the statement which they had authorized the Bight Hon . Baronet to make inlis place ; if they aid not know of it , then they lau neglected tleir dnfcy . Bnt he wonld call the attenuoB of ths House to a corn mill within a stone ' a
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throw of the place where they were sitting . In the Lambeth union workhouse a corn-mill had been erected for the purpose of more severely testing the labour of the poor ; and he asked the House to decide ., that night , whether such things were to be suffered in this country or not At this corn mill , in the Lambeth union workhouse , he found it was intended that sixty-four persona were to work at once ; sixteen at indoor labour , and forty-eight at outdoor . The mill was worked by one crank , which was so larga that every time these poor wretches worked they must bend with the « hands to the ground . The mill was under a shed . And wKat was the object of this contrivance ? Why , whenever a poor person came to the workhonse to ask for a loaf of bread , he was to be shown those poor -wretches working at the crank under a shed—( hear , hear , hear ) . But another exposure had taken
piace that day . In a leading article in The Times newspaper of that day it was stated , that within the last seven years 9 315 persons had been committed to prison in England and Wales for offences against the rules and re ? niations of union workhouses , and that in the year 1 Sri 2 no fewer than 2 . 299 persons had been imprisoned in her Majesty ' s gaols for breaches of thosa rules and regulations . He would not detain the House further ; he would only say that the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir J . Graham ) had insinuated that he ( Mr . Ferrand ) bad stated in the House what was not true , and the Right Hon . Baronet called on tbe Honaa not to place too much coDadence in what he said , Now , Whatever he might think of the Right Hon . BaronefB conduct to him , a supporter of her Majesty ' s Government , as be had been , whenever he conscientiously could be , he had to tell the R ' ght Hon . Baronet that the question was between the Right Hon . Baronet and himself which of their
statements coincided with truth . If the Right Hon . Bart could induce the House to agree to refuse these resolutions , still he ( Mr . Ferrand ) , it must be remembered , was courting every inquiry . He desired nothing more than that the matter should be sifted fully , and that the Right Hon . Baronet and himself should be placed fairly before the country . If the Right Hon . Baronet suceeeded in refusing the papers , the country would conclude that he was convinced that the production of the papers weuld Blow not only so much cruelty , and such ill-treatment of the poor that it would not be expedient to produce them , but also that if the poor did not like to enter an union workhouse , they had nothing left to look forward to but the Right Hon . Baronet ' s corn-mill . Mr . Walter seconded the motion .
Sir J . Graham hoped the House wonld agree with him that on the present occaBien it would not be expedient that he should follow the Hod . Member for Knaresborough ( Mr . Ferrand ) into any of the new matter that he had adduced . The Hon . Member had raised the question for the first time of the Lambeth Union workhouse . He ( Sir JatneB Graham ) did not intend to follow the Hon . Member into that subject He had had no opportunity to enable him to test the accuracy of the Hon . Member ' s information . Much less did he inteud to follow the Hob . Member to the leading articls of the Times newspaper , or into anything which might have been stated there that morning . ' It would be much better , in his opinion , to confine himself to the motion before the house . The Hon . Member
had charged him with saying that he ( Mr . Ferrand ) had made an untrue statement to the house . His ( Sir Jas . Graham's ) respect for the Houbb—he had almost said for limself—would have prevented him , he trusted , from doing any such thing ; but ; be did say , that from the zsal of the Eon . Member he received such exaggerated statements , that without the Hon . Gentleman ' s meaning it , if the House were to affix any credit to those statements they would infallibly be mistaken . —{ Hear , bear . ) The real question upon the present eccasion was , not as to the intended erection of a ragmill in the Halifax Union Workhouse ; it was not whether the mill was to be turced by a capstan or any other power ; but the House would remember that the statement of the Hon . Member was that a treadmill was erected Here .
Mr . Febka . nd . —I said a treadwbeel . Sir J . Graham resumed , by observing , that he understood it to be a treadmill , according to tbe Hon . Member ' s statement , and the Hon . Gentleman went so far as to say that the workhouses were to be made prisons of ; and he ( fir J . Graham ) , taking the usual acceptance of the term " treadmill , " positively denied , as far as he was informed , that any treadmill was to be erected iu the workhouse in question . The Hon . Gentleman had that evening wandered away to a ragmill ; but this was notmnch to the purpose , because be ( Sir J . Graham ) did not say that no mill had been erected ; ha did say that t fie mill in question -was to be worked by hand . He believed that it -was to be applied to the grinding of corn . He was mistaken . The mill was not to be applied to grind corn , but rags ; with that exception he was satisfied that his first statement to the House was not in the least incorrect . Tbe Right Hon .
Gentleman then proceeded to read a letter from Mr . Clements , in which he stated that the guardians of the Halifax Umo . had taken steps for the erection of a hand-mill for the purpose of giving work to the idle paupers who had no objection to rtmain in the woikhouse . The Right Hon . Gentleman then went on to say that he was glad to see the Hen . Member fer Halifax ( Mr . C Wood ) in his place , becauaa , he ( Sir J . Graham ) had received a letter from a gentleman who appeared to be a member of the Halifax Board of Guardians , and who referred him to tbt > Member for Halifax for his respectability . The gentleman's namu was Coulston , and be said , that having observed it etated that the Board of Guardians of the Halifax Union proposed to erect a treadwheel in the workhouse , and that Mr . Clements had not prevented it , he could only say that no aucb thing had taken place , and that , if there had , every member of tha board would have scouted it . It was
true a rag mill hid been erected . With the exception , therefore , that the mill was intended for grinding rags instead of corn , be I Sir J . Graham ) appealed to tbe House whether the original statement was not correct , and whether the Hon . Gentleman had not failed In making out his case ? In fact , he ( Sir J . Graham ) considered that this motion was tbe Bame substantially as that which the Hon . Gentleman brought forward the other day , and which tbe House rejected by so large a majority ; and although , strictly speaking , tuexe might bavu been some breach of privilege involved in the conduct of the Board of Guardians of the Halifsx Union , lie could not think that it would be advisable for the House to embark on a question of breach of privilege under the guidance of the Hon . Member for Knaresborough . It would not be prudent—it would
not be discreet With respect to Mr . Clements be could only say , that he was present merely when tbe resolution was passed ; he was no party to it whatever . Tbe Hon . Member bad stated , that Mr . Clements had conducted himself in an insolent and overbearing manner at a meeting of the board of guardians towards those who , as guardians and relieving-omcers , bad been a great many years in the service of the public , and that charge of the Hon . Member's being both unjust and inaccurate , he ( Sir J . ftrabanj ) could not see any great objection , beyond the technical one relative to privilege , in their coming to a resolution that tbe conduct ef Mr . Clements was not such as had been described , and not deserving the censure that the Hon . Member had passed upon it , and that the Hon . Member s statement was incorrect . With reference to tbe
course be should propose to th . fr House to adopt on this occasion , it seemed to be most convenient that be should merely ask for their support of the original motion , and so avoid the difficulty of the breach of privilege which tbe Hon . Gentleman seemed to have intended to raise . By so doing , they would be adhering to tbe course to which they had given their sanction the other night Mr . C . Wood said that , being called upon by the Right Hon . Baronet , he had pleasure in stating that Mr . Coulsten was ene of the most respectable persons in Halifax , and that his assertions might be perfectly lelied on . The board of guardians had been expressly of opinion that Mr . Clements had not been at all deserving of the charges brought against -him by tbe Hon . Member for Knaresborough for any part of his conduct to them .
Mr . Ross said , he rose to explain and apologize to tbe House for having been perfectly wrong in what he said about Mr . Clements the other night There was another apology which he wished to make . When the Hon . Member for Knareaborongh moved to call Mr . Clements to the bu of the House , he ( Mr . Ross ) was bo convinced that Mr . Clements was quite ready to meet any charges that might be brought against him , that he said if tbe Hon . Member for Nottingham did not second the motion he i-Mr . Robs ) would ; but when the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir J . Graham ) spoke , be ( Mr . Ross ) saw that be was wrong , and it turned out that be was the means of leading Borne Hon . Members to vote with tbe Hon . Member for KnareBborough who would not otherwise have done so—( " Hear , " and laughter . ) But he had
only to propose to the Hon . Member for Knaresborough with respect to this subject , as far as Mr . Clements was concerned , teat he should be happy to be the weans of introducing Mr . Clements , who was now in town , to tbe Hon . Member —( A lanfch . ) \ Mr . R . Yobke said he did not 2 nd that there had been any positive contradiction given to what the Hon . Member for Knaresborough had asserted . It seemed there had been a meeting—a packed meeting , as be called it , from not having been regularly summoned , of the board of guardians , at which was passed the resolution in question , which , the Hon . Member said had been brought ready cat and dried from bis own bouse by one of the ex oficio gaardians . Now this looked , be
must Bay , very much as if tbe resolution . had been preconcerted , and if preconcerted , it was not impossible that it might proceed from personal motives ; and that possibility appeared tie more striking when they found that the board of guardians had since refused the reporters of the public pr . ess admittance to their proceedings . Consequently , though en the last occasion on which this subject was before the House he ( Mr . B . Yorke ) had voted against the Hon Member fer Knaresborough , and though it was not Ms wish to give a wild vote , yet , acting independently , and seeing no inconvenience likely to arise from the production of these papers , he should vote for the amendment of the Hon . Member .
Mr . C . Wood was understood to say , that he considered the Hon . Member for Koaresborough waa mistaken as to the resolution . Mr . B . Escotx thoaght the Hon . Member for Kuaresborough could answer himself , and overturn his own argument , for , as related to the use of the treadwheel , the motion of the Hon , Gentleman could not be sus-
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tained npon any substantial ground . As to the exclusion of reporters , the board of guardians were authosired to adopt that course by the powers vested in them by Parliament ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Mr . Escott ) could not therefore vote for the motion of the Hon . Member for Knaresborough after the substantial ground of the motion was taken away . Mr . Wallace considered it a matter of great importance that there should be no concealment in matters relating ts tbe manner in which the poor were treated in the Union workhouses— ( hear , hear ) . If , as it was calculated , 1 . , 000 persons were subjected to tbe regulations by which the Union workhouaea were regulated , it was the imperative duty of English gentlemen to look to the regulations to which they were
subjected—( hear , hear ) . He was sorry ' that the question of privilege should be in any way mixed up with the present motion , and he would therefore not address himself to that point , but with respect to the use of a mill—whether the motion was upward or downward , or backward , or forward , it did not signify—if labour in that shape was imposed , the matter ought to be inquired into —( hear , hear ) . If it were a mill for grinding rags , or for making what the Hon Member for Kuares borough called last year " the devil ' s dust . " to be used as manure , or for otber pnrpoaea , nothing could be more unwholesome or destructive to the human frame—( bear , hear ) . The question was of additional
importance , inasmnch as it waa in contemplation to introduce poor laws into Scotland , and it was desirable that tbe people who were likely to be subjact to its operation should know the manner in which it was intended to employ them—( hear . hear ) . He hoped the Noble Lord the Member for Dorsetshire , who had rendered such service to his country—( cheers )—by taking up the questions of factories and mines , would take care to see that tbe poor people of this country should not be engaged in such an unwholesome employment as grinding rags into dust—( hear , hear ) With thia view of ihe case , he would support the motion of the Hon . Member for Knaresborongb .
Mr . J . WoftTLEv objected to the motion . If the House wished to obtain information respecting the machinery used for tbe purposes of labour in the Halifax Union , tbe proper mode would be to move for Bny communication on the subject between the Poor Liw Commissioners and the board of guardians of Halifax—( hear , hear ) , ff sneh a motion were made he was sure the Right Hon . Baronet at tbe Head of tbe Home Department would not object to it , and be ( Mr . Wortley ) would make su « sh a motion—( hear , hear . ) Mr . Feurand ' s only object was to let the House and the country know what | bad taken place . He fonnd that there was a treaJHieel ordered for the Halifax Union , which was to DoTd from four to forty persons . He did not know wha ^ tad since occurred , and be would take no steps to bring Mr . Clements to tbe bar of the House if the papers were produced .
Mr . S . Crawford felt himself bound to vote for the motion , with a view to obtain information as respected the manner in ¦ which the poor were treated in tbe workhouse ; but in voting for the motion it was not his wish to go into the privilege question . Mr . Hi"MB would support the motion of the Hon . Member for Knaresborough , on tbe ground that wben there were any complaints as to abuses with respect to the labour done in workhouses no attempt at secrecy should be made by excluding the press . Under such circumstances , inquiry became incumbent , and therefore the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir James Graham ) Ought not to object lo the production of tbe papers asked for by the Hon . Member for Kaareaborough—( bear , hear ) .
Sir J . Graham would admit that if abuses were alleged to exist in the practice of any Union workhouse it was fit and proper that the House should inquire into the subject ; and if the Hon . Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire ( Mr . Wortley ) wished to move for papers relating to the nature of the wbeel used and tbe work done in the Halifax workhouse , there would be no objection to their production ; but the motion of the Hon . Member for Kuoresborough referred to the production of tbe resolution of the board of guardians , which he before alleged to be a breach of privilege , and to such a motioD he would atrenuous . y object—( Hear , hear . ) Tae gallery was then cleared for a division , but none took place . On our return we fonnd
Sir . R . Peel arguing that the motion of the Hon . Member for Knaresbprougb pointed to no distinct object He ( Sir R . Peel ) understood it as a renewal of tbe question of privilege , auu that it was the intention of the Hob . Gentleman to enforce the charge against Mr . Clements . Into that question the House , in his opinion , bad better not enter . —( Hear , bear . ) No person had more at heart tbe privileges of the House tban he , but it was because of his regard for them that be would not wish to enforce a debate on them in tbe present instance . It was very natural if a man ' s personal character was injured by an erroneous imputation in that House , that he should endeavour to free himself from it , and it would be very hard if he were not at liberty to do so —( bear , bear ) Tbe House did not enforce its privileges with respect te tbe publication of the debates , and it was natural if a man were injured by those publications that be should try and set himself right —( bear , bear ) .
Mr . T . Duncombe said , be understood tbe motion to be . that if tbe House were pat in possession of certain official papers tbe Hon . Member for Kuaresborough would exculpate Mr . Clements from an ; charge of breach ef privilege . As the House waa about to alter tbe New Poor Law , it was desirable that it should be put in possession of the character and working of one of tbe union workhouses , which was looked upon as a pattern one —( hear , hear ) . The Hon . Member for Knaresborough only asked for tbe proceedings and minutes relating to a particular day , and those minutes were refused , on tbe ground tbat tbe motion was mixed
up with the question of privilege . These questions had nothing to do with privilege , and it was proper that the House should know what was done by Mr . Clements or by the board of guardians under his influence —( near , bear ) . Why , be should like to know , were copies of tbe proceedings refused ? Tbe resolution did not reflect on Mr . Clements , it merely asked for certain papers , tbat tbe House might be put in possession of what occurred on a particular day —( hear , bear ) . They could not legislate fairly on tbe amendments proposed to be made in the Poor Law if the papera were refused —( hear , bear ) .
Lord J RUSSELL did not understand the question in the way in which it appeared to be understood by tbe Hon . Member for Finsbury , and he would therefore vote the other way . After what bad fallen from tbo Right Hon . Gentleman the Secretary for tbe Home Department , he understood that there was noobj ^ ction to furnish every information respecting tbe nature of the work done or the manner of employment in the Halifax Union workhouse—< hear ,. hear ) . He could not infer from the course adopted by Government any intention of withholding information either as to tbat or any other workhouse ; but the Hon . Member for Knaresborough , amongst otber grievances , complained of a breach of privilege on tbe part of Mr . Ciementa , an Assistant
Poor Law Commissioner , and grounded tbe complaint on a resolution adopted by the Brturd of Guardians at Halifax—( hear , hear ) . The House did not shut out the reporters from tbe press , and wben it was stated in the paptirB in the report of a speech that certain things which were done by the Poor Law Guardians , they came to some resolution to the contrary . He objected , then , to that part of the resolution which would bring tbe House into a contest with tbe guardians for honestly denying what bad been attributed to them . He could not see the use of such contests ; but as regarded the otber port—namely , the manner in which tbe union was conducted and the work performed , he thought that every information should be given—( hear ) ,
Mr . G . Knight Baid , he had an account of the matter yesterday from Mr . Clement ' s own lips , and thai gentleman assured him that he had used no influence with the Board of Guardians to induce them to pass tbe resolution , nor bad he any band at all in it Mr . Clements was present when it passed , but he did not wish it to pass , nor bad it bis concurrence . Mr . Clements also told him tkat there was neither a treadmill nor a treadwheel in tbe union , but there was a handmill , which bad not then been introduced for the first time , but had been there for several years . Tbe labour was bj no means severe , and' it was found to be the best mode of employing able-bodied paupers , more especially as it was difficult to find labour for ( hem which would not interfere with out-door employment . Mr . Ferrand then obtained leave to withdraw his motion .
The House then went into a committee of Ways and Means , and a formal vote was taken ; after which , on tbe motion for going into committee on the Registration of Voters BUI , r Sir Jambs Graham , in reply to Mr . Liddell , intimated that clauses had been prepared in order to provide against the fraudulent personation of voters , which would be added to the bill . Mr . Hume did not anticipate mnch good from the bill , unless more ample protection were given to tbe voters . The House then went into committee on the bill . On tbe fifth clause a division took place , on an addition moved by Mr . T . Duncombe , that the grounds of objections to voters should be added , instead of the simple words , " objected to ;" , but this was rejected by 57 to
47-Mr . Tufneli . proposed , tbat when an overseer objected to a vote , he should be compelled to give notice of the objection to the voter . This amendment was resisted by Sir James Graham , and rejected by 91 to 38 . , At the 11 th clause , Mr . Elphinstonb objected to the tsx-paying clauses of the Reform Act , as being unnecessary to the qualification of a voter ; and moved their omission . He considered that tbe payment of taxes should have nothing to de with the exercise of tbe franchise . : ; Sir James Graham said tbat , at the time the Reform Bill passed , it was understood that , had it not been for the tax and rate paying qualification , a higher basis for tbe franchise would have been demanded . Tbe clause under discussion in the present bill was an amelioration of tbo existing law . After some discussion , the amendment was rejected , by 118 to 58 .
The amount of tbe penalty to be inflicted on the raisers of frivolous objections raised considerable debate , the amounts suggested varying from 20 s . to £ 5 .
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Coionol Sibthorp proposed £ 3 instead of 20 s , which was resisted by 154 to 34 . Having arrived at clause 48 , the further progress of tbe bill was adjourned , and the otber orders were disposed of .
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HARMONY HALL . LETTER II TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STaH , Sir—My last letter , in treating of what la contemplated by the Socialists , or rather the Rationalists , a term which they prefer , took a review of the course pursued by Robert Owen , the founder of the Rational System , and claimed for him the consistent and undeviatinj ? pursuit of tbe object with which ! he set out in 1817 , namely the introduction at tbe ] earliest period possible of an entirely new system of society , based on demonstrable facts , which system should provide for the well-being and happiness of the whole of the human
race . ' I took this course , not with the view ; of indulging in personal remarks respecting Mr . Owen , I whose conduct as a disciple of his principles , I believe to have been necessitated , and therefore no more praiseworthy than tbat of any otber individual ; but because I hold tbe opinion that the period has arrived , when unity of operation must pervade all who desire to effect the change which is now so imperiously required ; and I know no person whose knowledge , either of tbe great wants of tbe people , or ef the readiest mode of obtaining
those wants , is equal to Mr . Owen ' s , and I wished the Chartl 8 t body te have before them a general review of his career , that if at any future period , ' the question of a national organisation for the purpose of effecting the change may be necessary , we may know where to look for one whom , whatever differences ] may exist with regard to practical measures , all will acknowledge to be best acquainted with tbe principles on which the change should be conducted ; and a calm investigation will , I think , place bim as tbe centre from which tbe union should radiate . i
I had also another object In view , ] namely , that of plaoing my subject on a broad national or ratber universal basis , above all sectional and party ; considerations ; for whilst such subjects as those I shall h ive to treat of are looked to for mere personal safejty , it is impossible that we can secure the object I we desire ; n « r w * uld it be just tbat we should do so , j if we are prepared to leave any portion of our fellowfbeings to suffer the pain and misery which all must soon feel , if . redress be not obtained . i Tfae position in which all classes are . now placed in this country , dlfiers most essentially from anything of which we have record in human history . Individual wealth , and general poverty , were never bo atroDgly marked before ; and tbe distinction is daily being made wider and broader , and must continue ! to be so , until a great and irresistible demand shall ; be made for a change , and tbe knowledge of tbe manner in which tbat change can be made , for tbe benefit of all , shall be clearly pointed out \
From the desire for happiness which pervades all tbat have life , there can be no doubt but tbat in proportion as all become convinced of a change being for their benefit , they will be made to advocate it ; and such a change as is contemplated by the founder of the Rational System , will equally benefit the highest with tbe lowest individual in tbe state- ¦ Tbe problem which the Rationalists have taken upon ibenifKlvea to eolve is , tbat men can ( live together in unity , producing for themselves all the necessaries of life ; distributing what they produce ' , equally and justly , in accordance to the wants of ] all ; educating their children to the highest possible extent , physically , mentally , and morally , and governing ] their affairs for the benefit of all , on terms of strict and equal justice , without force or fraud of any kind . ;
They first undertook this task in the year 1835 , when a society was formed , called " The Association of all Classes of all Nations " , under tbe advice of Mr . Owen , who has more or less superintended the general affairs of the society since its formation . In 1837 , a portion of this society began to subscribe capital for the purpose of procuring land whereon te commence an experiment , tbat should developa to the world more practically tbe course they wished to pursue , and in 1839 this estate was taken , and the laud operations commenced , i You justly remarked , in an article which appeared in your paper some time since , respecting j the land , Ihat no body of men bad ever encountered one-tenth part of tbe opposition that tbe Socialists' bedy { bad met with ; and the wbole of this opposition has been overcome , without jeopardising for one moment , the life or liberty of any member of the body . '
Tbe manner in which this has been done , has not been the result of chance ; but of certain clearly defined principles , which whenever they shall be generally acted upon , will overcome every obstacle that shall be opposed to them , however formidable it may at first sight appear . The principles of the Rational System , when they shall have been placed in the hands of men used to combined business-like operations , will soon place it above all competition ; and it must go forward at a moat rapid pace , carrying before jit all opposing iuflu ; nces . ' These principles , and the practical details resulting from them , will lead to the combination in scientific proportions , of the four elements of wealth ; name ' y , land , labour , skill , and capital ; and these when thus combined , and wisely and judiciously directed , will open a path for tbe future progress ef man , to the highest ; happiness that bis nature is capable of enjoying , i
Tae progress hitherto made in this establishment , imperfect aB it necessarily 1 b , and subjected to all the errors arising from bringing together men whose previous habits had not prepared them for such a work , is a sufficient guarantee of what can be done , when all the necessary circumstances are provided ; for we may even now challenge the world to produce tbe same number of persons associated together who have an equal amount of happiness , as those carrying on this experiment ) This happiness arises in a great measure from tbe contemplation of what ia in store for humanity , wben our fellowmen shall have looked seriously at tbe difficulties witti Which they are surrounded ; for whenever this shall be done , and personal feeling ' shall give way to the contemplation of the great change required , then may tbe wbole of tbe population , not only of thia country , but ol the world , be placed inj the condition permanently to enjoy all tbat they can desire .
Let anything at all approaching to a onion , even of the working classes , new take place ; and let them be guided by that experience in business matters , which as a body they do not possess , and they may soon < dictate to all otber classes , the terms ion which the ; business of the country shall be in future conducted . Let these terms be just and fair , towards all other ! classes , an * they will not only not oppose them , bus the good and the wise of all classes will heartily desire ! immediately te co-operate for their introduction ; for it would be a groBS libel on human nature to sup- ; pose , that anything but ignorance of their own welfare and the fear of losing their relative position , could induce the main body of the upper classes to stand aloof , and witness the misery and devastation which is now going on around them . !
Tbe reflective among the upper classes , mnst see tbe precariousness of their own positions , and tbat they do so , is strongly evidenced by the debates that have already taken place In Parliament , since its meeting . The Government acknowledge freely , the extent of the distress , and the ] also admit that they are unprepared with an adequate remedy , and it will therefore be necessary that those who believe they ] possess one , should take care to be prepared to urge it upon the attention of their fellowmen , foe in such ajatateof mind , they will all soon listen with breathless anxiety .
That such a remedy Is at hand I unhesitatingly affirm , and provided I can , in tbe coarse of the series of letten which you have given me the permission to insert in your paper , excite thereader ' s attention to an examination of tbe subject in all its details , I shall have little fear but they will be prepared to join in a course which shall in far less time than they could imagine possible , place them in the position to be heard and listened t 9 attentively by the Government ; and the ! redress which they seek shall be given them without let or
hindrance , f The times are in every way propitious for such a course being adopted ; we have a rtirong powerful Government , centered almost entirely in ; an individual , for no one v ill deny that u ^ ot Sir Robert Peel alone depends the coarse which the present Government
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must take : this individual is by no means urwqaa-uttd with the principles and details of th « syst « : n I e- 'iall have to call your attention to , and his TeacUpes * to bend to the powerful i . fiuence of circmnstiuvc ^ i » become quite proverbial . Let ns then put away all u- > nor party and personal considerations in approncbiot this great and godlike work ; the misery of our f « llon"nen calls aloud upon as to use flvery ^ x rtion to flnd them redress , and if this appeal be ioo imiistinct to i-e b ? ard by any amoni ? . , we caa- add to tbe fact tbat raisnry exist 3 to a greater extent than was ever beforeknr ,. vn ; the-additional one , tbat there is not one among as vho is safe even for a flay or an hour , from being overwhelmed in the same general misery .
No , my friends , depend on it there is not one among us who is safe ^ nor is it neat there should be ; w * are all members of a great universal family , and the wellbei . 7 g of every individual ot that family must be sought equally by each of us . The times now require srreat , noble , and daring tff > rta to he made , to overpower « ucb a weight of misery as presses upon us ; am ! an appeal to the ri ^ ht sympathies of human nature bas never yet been made in vain , nor will it be so in tbe present instance . > I am Sir , Your obedient servant , William Gaipiw .
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —Tfloagh belonging ostensibly to no movement , I hail , and , in my own way , to tbe utmost of my power , aid every movement for the juat rights of the working classes with a readiness proportioned to the hope I may have of such movement contributing to the desired end . Of all classes of society I consider the working classes to be tbe moat useful , the most at the mercy of the other classes , the most cruelly uaud , and tbe most infamously deprived of their just rights in tbe constitution of their country . In the guilt of thus depriving them of tfeeir just rights , I look upon all other orders of men amongst us as wilfol participators ; such as persons ,
lawyers , judges , rich jurors , manufacturers , agriculturists , squires , senators , and lords ; as far king ox quean , Blackstone has shewn us tbat the greatest lawyers in the world have settled it folly , that aa they never die , bub possess ubiquity , omniscience and omnipotence , so they never do wrong . It is only within the hour that I baye seen in your paper of March 4 th , tbe first part of Sir Frederick Pollock ' s address to tbe Jury at Lancaster . March 1 st , and I most say that by one particular in tbat address I have been more grieved than I couW readily express . Sir Frederick says that the object of the defendants was to produce a change in 8 ume of the fundamental parts of the constitution !
Now , this is a modified and guarded statement of the vulgar error so prevalentt among tbat class of men composing Juries , and so much more likey than any ether to bias and corrupt their judgments . I have heard it affirmed by such men continually , " those base wretches , the Chartists , want t- ? overturn all things—they want to destroy our glorious constitution of Churcb and ' State , and to Bfct up some new-fangled government of their own . '' Now , Mr . Editor , though a clergyman , I am a Chartist myself , and I know great multitudes of Chartists , and although I know nothing but nonsense
of " our glorious Constitution of Church and State , " I know a great deal ( and I love all I iinow ) of " onr glorious Constitution 6 f King , Lords , and Commons . " I also know that it is tbe sole object of the Pecple ' s Charter to complete and purify tbe Commoas , and by law to obtain for , and to secure to us all , our just rightB in tbat " glorious Constitution" out of which the great bulk of tbe people bare been hitherto most UDJustly and injuriously , however legally kept ; and farther , I know no Chartists of a contrary opinion from myself , however misrepresented , and however reviled .
Now , that Sir Frederick Pollock sboald havn laid hold of such a contemptible and pernicious error , which he mast know to be so prevalent amongst our squires , magistrates , and other rich ( thongh not necessarily intelligent , judicious , and -worthy for being riebi men , and tbat he should have made us © of it for the express purpose of criminating and bringing t » heavy punishment thcs « who have already endured so much from tile operation of such error in our squirts and magistrates , and other rich men , —is to me " a lamentation , and shall be for a lamentation . " 1 pray G * t the Jury may ha / e been aware of tbe unsonndness of tb > s main part of the foundation of tbe Attorney-General ' s speech , and that the defendants may have had all such benefit ol such discovery aa tbey may bare been honestly entitled to . I have been led tq ^ druire , and
oven love , Sir Frederick Pollock ' s private character greatly , and it ia very painful to think that any unworthy public professional act shou d emanate from auy such worthy private character } but , alas ! not only on what is catted religion , but on political traVgeets of a great exciting interest , too much is taken upon trust , and class prejudices are engendered , to the grievous injury of individuals , aye , and of even whole communities . Hence , when an Attorney-Gcnerul , or even a Judge , eayB " We know nothing of Chartists here , " we find it necessary to weigh tbe pleadings of the one , and the Sentence of tbe otber , before we believe either . Even a worthy Attorney- General , and a worthy Judge , may not have the knowledge they ought to have of themselves , and innocent persons may suffer grievously therefrom . May God defend the upright , even in this world 1 H . Price , Minister of Christ's Church , In Needwood , Staffordshire . March 6 , 1843 .
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NEWCASTUE . —The Chartists of Newcastle and Gateshead held their weekly meeting on Monday evening , Mr . Fleming in the Chair . Ttie minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . A letter was also read from Mr Arrau , of Hull , stating that Mr . Robert Peddio would favour tbe people of Newcastle with a visit , on bis Way to Edinburgh , in a few days . After entering into arrangements for the reception of Mr . Peddie , and disposing of some ¦ jther local business , tke meeting adjourned .
south SHIELDS . —League Consistency . —A . public meeting of tbe South Shields section of the anti-Corn Law League was held on the evening ol Thursday last in the Union School Boom . Soon aftat eight o ' clock , the doors were thrown open to the public , and a Mr . Brown was proposed to the chair . Mr . Kidd , a journeyman shoemaker , proposed that Mr . Gilfillan , an honest working man , take tbe chair . Mr . Mather ( the person who proposed Mr . Brown ) said tbey did not want an honest man in tbe ehair , bat wished to commence the proceedings with Mr . Brown in the chair , without submitting either of the gentlemen proposed to the decision of the meeting ; assigning as his ireasons for so doing that the meeting was got up by the League , and although the public were invited
to the meeting , they were not expected to take any part ; and if any gentleman felt dissatisfied at tbeir mode of proceeding , and in any way interrupted them in this course , they would be immediately given in charge to tbe police . Mr . Kidd , in a very polite manuer , attempted to expostulate with Mr . Mather on tbe unfairness of this line of conduct , stating , that it < "ould appear to any impartial observer tbat they bad no faith in the line of policy they advocated , or else , if tbey believed it to be true , tbey would not be afraid to bave it investigated , for truth could lose nothing b / investigation . Mr . Mather here sent for a policeman , and gave Mr . Kidd into custody . Mr . Kidd was tak n to the station , but the brutal proceedings ot the League induced some of the honest inhabitants to sympathise
with Mr . K ., and bail was given thit he should appear before the Bench of Magistrates in tbe morning ; upon which be was liberated , and returned to tbe meeting . After listening patiently to the harangue of tbe League until they bad tired themselves , and said tbey were done , Mr . Kidd handed them a written challenge , stating that be would discuss the subject with any gentleman present , or with a J gentleman in England upon equal terms , and undertake to prove that a repeal of $ he Corn and Provision Laws in the present unprotected state of labour , wouid not benefit tbe indnstriouB classes of these realms . They wou ' . d not accept the challenge . They were willing to make assertions , but were not prepared to prove them . Tbe meeting then broke up after announcing that a petition ( which
they durst not * Bubmit to tbe public meeting ) would lay for signatures at certain places which were mentioned . Mr . Kidd appeared before the B-nch of Magistrates on Friday morning . Tbe League bad a solicitor employed , but Mr . K made hia caae so clearly appear before the Magistrates tbat they felt it tbeir duty to acquit bim , and gave a severe reprimand to the League for publishing bills without knowing the meaning of them ; that if they invited the public to their meetings , tbey mast be prepared to allow the public to take a part in such meetings ; that neither Mr . Kidd or the public did more oa that occasion than they were entitled to ; nor had tt" > y exceeded the conduct of Mr . Mather on former occi sio < prior to his going to the League . SOWERBY . —Mr . Benjamin Ruahton , of Overden , preached here ' on Sunday afternoon and evening .
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John and Mary Ann Corby , of Nortbamptor , bad a daughter registered last week in the name of Mary Ann M'Douall Corby . Lately , at Morley Churcb , Feargua O'Connor Squire Wood , Bon of Joan and Rachel Wood , of Churlwell . Christened at Christ Church . NewMilljOU Sunday , Allen West CutteU , the son of William and Harriet Cuttell , Underbank , Holmfirth . , Registered on . Sunday , at Si ; . John ' s Wood , London , Robert Emmeti Frost , intant sou of Ttiooms and Mary Beaden , 35 , Cochrane Torrace , St . John ' s Wood . '
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***^***>*^ ++- * 0 *^ 4 ^^ p *^*>***^ r * ******** Democratic Conservatism . —The S . andard of Monday 8 av 8 : — " As a class , the Irish ar . sioori > e ? are uot trust-worthy ; and , until tbe Conservative democracy in the sister island tree thexast » W « -B- fiom arutocratical guidance , they will utver know , ttill less will they be able to exorcise , their Intimate power in tht oammuuicy . "
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^^ » ^ ^ » ^ ^ v m w w v ^^ n ^^^ B ^^^^ K ^^^^ H ^ nrv ^^ vv ^ w ^ w TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . My dear Hill , —My caae is not likely to come on this week , since it stands No . 33 , iniVhe N ' . si Prius list . Cartledge , the arch-traitor , has been 8 ubpo ? aed to stand in the witness-box against me ! He is now at Lane End , in the Potteiies , ready to coma lo Stufford when wanted . I suppose he will { swear after the vile fashion be did at Lancaster . Never mind . I do not believe tbat my foes will be permitted to bave all their will . I
I passed a delightful day , yesterday , at Wedneabury . Ground bas been purchased by Mr . Dinks , and presented for building thereon a People ' s Ball . Collections were made at tne close of my discourses for thia purpose . Prospects look solidly promising at Wednesbury . Chartism bas been sorely shattered at Bilston and the adjoining towns , by the late accursed " btrike ;" but the erection of a People ' s Hall at Wedneabury , the central town of this immense mining j district , must have a healthful and restorative influence on Bilston and th « other towns . ' ¦
I passed Saturday afternoon with WUlte &ad Mason , in Birmingnam . I cannot help recording rny regret that John Mason—one of tbe most intellectual men in eur movement , and surpassed by none in sincerityhas returned to hia humble trade of a shoemaker . And yet , all honour to him I—he says be feels himself bound , as an independent man , to do this , in preference to perambulatiug the land , and becoming a burthen to the people in the present poverty-stricken condition of Chartism . This is noble , and yet the loss of such a man's exercise of talent , from day to day , is much to be lamented . I am , dear Hill , Your's truly , Thomas cooper . Stafford , Monday , March 13 th .
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^ ^_ THE NORTHERN STAR . ?
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 18, 1843, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct473/page/7/
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