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HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Tuesday , May 3 . UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE . Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from foe Provisional Council of the National Ccmplere Suffrage Union , ca-. ed the lota of April , prating for Universal Sufrags , Annual Parliaments , Vote by Ballot , and No Propert ? Qualification . Tiie body from which the present petition emanated-Vas" CDni * - posed of between ninety and one hundred delegates from different parts of " England , "Wales , and Scotland . They mtt at Binmnsharn , -were they held several deiiberaie assemblies for the space of several days , and they cams to certain Teiolui-on ? . Tfiev
afterwards convened a public meeting , which was attended by many thousands of their iellow cuizaus ; that meeting consisted of persons of all descriptions , amongst whom tae . greatest -ananimny preraiied . The middle classes showed the greatest anxiety " that their fellow citizens should bo " brought -svhhin " pale of the constitution . As the psiirion ? po ) ie sot only tke sentiments of the individua ] that bad surged it on behalf of ths meet-in ? , but also rhbs , ¦ of 3 . 3 < 0 , 00 ' , and as its object was Uairc-r ^ a ! Soifrags , ' Ansuai Parliaments , Yo : e by Ballot , and No Property Qaa liScation , he trusted iheir Lordships vrould n-jt think he vras asking too much when he reque-ct-od that the petition should be read at length . The petitiun was then read at length at the table . -
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HOUSE OF COMMONS , Tuesday , May 3 . Mr . WAKL-EY presented a petition from-480 letterpress primers in Lender , setting forth th- j sufferings to which that clas 3 of persons was now exposed in consequence of the application of steam power instead of manual labour to the process oj printing . The petitioners respectfully cuilc-d -the attention of the Hjuse , and especially of the Speaker , to the fact tha-t the Parliamentary papers were printed bv steam , by which they believed liide was
gained to the public , whilst great loss wa 3 " certainly imposed upok them . They alleged that their s-ui * - fering 3 Wfcre enormous in consequence of tho deprivation of work which the introduction of steam power entailed upon them , and begged that jhe Ho'osa would take the subject into its tcfiras con " Eideration with the view of affording them tha rei : e ?" for which they prayed . Mr . HUilE gave notice that in Committee on the Railway Reflation Bill , ha should move the insertion of a clause to prevent Sunday traviHin ? I !!
THE TTNTVEBSAI . SUPFILS . GB PETITION . Mr . T . DrNCQilBB saia , that in rising for the purpose of submitting to the Houjs the motion of which he had given notice , he Eh . eu . id not do justice to his own feelings , or discharge the duty he owed to the House , or to the causa of those whom he had been c ^ mmiBdoned to advocate , if he did cot . at th " . t stage of- the proceedings , express on their bchslf their sense vi the kind and respectful manner ia ¦ which Use House had received the petition which he yestr-rdsy had the honour of presenting to it He Hiu : t now call -up- ? n the Houss to increase that obligation by giving a patient hearing to one who was now selected to aavo ^ ie , to tbe best of his abiliiy , the interests of a lares portion of
the industrious classes of the cons'ry . The petition Jo ¦ which it "was his wish to direct the parpen : rr :. tu-ri tioD of Hon . Members tras signed by zcztIj 3 503 , 000 of the industrious classes oi the coun ' -ry . Two millions of the signatures were thos ? cf mils adults alone . in addition to this , fhe petition ~ is signed by a iru-gc Dumber of the wives of the in insurious classes ; a iarte portion of the youth—the industrious yenth of this country , had also subscribed tfctirnsmes to the petition . He was prepared to prove that 1 5 " 0 , C-. * 0 of tfc ? fnnilies of the industrious classes of the community ha-1 given their sanction to the doc ' rjnus advocated in ihs petition by attaching their nasea t > it . They had s = en many petitions emanating fro si the working cl-issea presented to tha Eoa-e on f ^ -rrn-r c < c ? . 'A 'i \ 3 . Twa had
been lately laid npoathe tVbl- ef the House by" lion . Gentlemen on the other -the Minister ] - ' ! si-ie in favour of the financial measures of her Msjer ^ r ' s G j vernmsnt- One petition had come from Man-bestir , and ¦ was presented by the ! Xob " e Lord tbe Srcretary f-r the Colonies ; that p = tition was sl ^ rjsd by 2 i v £ Q persons connected with the operative and mercantile classes of that towr . The other petition Wis presented by the ilight Hon . Baioset the Sscretary far the Hyine Department , and - ^ as laid upon tee table with grtat solemnity ; thst petition cauie iiom Carlisle , and was signed by 3 , 000 ( .-peratives , and was in favour of the financial rnessar 3 of the Government . 1 : Tras not hU wish to say anything -with the -view of datracdn ^ from Vhe imp di Lance or character of tLesa Petitions , hut , if
they "were tntili&d to any rotice . surely the petition- ; signed by more than 3 , 000 , 000 of the industriyuj classes , which was yest-erday brougat down to the Hous = by so ikrge a iciss of persans , cDBd-QetVsg thsms-lTcs in a resssctfil , peacfcable , zn . & urderiy manner , was deserving of their attentive consideration—ih .-ar :. It ¦ was Ms Eiccere and ferTent hope that tbe Houss would give a patient bssring ts tbe case of these petitiiutr . ? , a-nrl those whom tbey represented . He aslctd this not on his e'vm acccuat , bnt on behalf of those -whose in - terests he had been cornTniaioned to ad 7 ccat « . He thought thst it was ppssiDie to arrixt ; zi Fv : se- knovrledge of the argumeaa whicb were likely to be urged a ^ sinst the petition by insans of priiTire cc'Tiversatioiis With members of tha ^ Honss Ha found , by coaTersiiig with several Hin . Members , tbat one great o ^ j . ctio :: to the proposal which he was about to submit for the approval of tbe House was , that there txifted no precedent for hearing the petitioners at the bar in
sunport of the alienations contati :--d m the petition . Ha affirmed that there did exist pieced erts for hearing parties complaining of " grievtusc-es at the bar of th 9 House of Commons . He ¦ wished that w ^ s the only objection to his m&tion . and that he only hid to e&tablish that there wtre j . recv- ' t-nU for the ccnr ? e -srhich he intended tj propose f >* the adoption of the House . He would caU tts attertV-n cf Hon . Members to what occurred in 17 ? 5 . In Ir . bi year a petition was presented by the clergy , landowners , and manufacturers a § sinst tbs duty on o :: on stuffs , "Which it was said liroull ciminii ' a the public livesua and increase the tax upon labr-ur . Thu p-r&jns yti . o signed that petition prayed to be he-ird at thsbar oi ihW House . It should be remembered that this was a tax , not under consideration , bu ; actually in being The prayer of that petition was complied , with , a :: d the House ordered that the petitioners Ehoulil b .-h « - ; T . d at the bar . Tha Housa lesoWsd itself into z . c ^ muittee
of the wholi House , acd the claims of tr .= pititioners ¦ were urged at the bar . Arnin , he would r . ir = ct the attention cf Hon . Members to -whit hs .. I occurred in I 7 S 9 . In that year ilr . Wilbtiforsa presented a retidon from a numerous class on th = subjsct oi the slave trade . Agreeably to the prayer of the petiucntrs , they were teard at the bar . In 1812 a pcrition vrzs T'rescntea from Iancaihiie r . gainst . tba orders in CjU ^ ciI . -Lord Stanley moved that this Xfetition he heard ct the c-rj of the House . He -sronld refer to the opinions of Esveral Hon . Members who tcok a part 5 a the discussi-sn ¦ wLith took place on that occ ^ sIdiu Srr G Rose s ^ id . thi * . i % w . is cue to the wish of the rstitknira that tbrir pi"yer should be tahen inta cosi ' lcratiou . Mr . ± iiri 22
Etated that hs vrz 3 gratiS ? d tb't the G ^ vernL ;;^ .-: kid consented to the inquiry asked for by z ' ^ petitioners . Lord Czst !? rfcagh sa : 5 , th " : t althv-ura against his own private opiiicn , hi should YDt- in o > -adiencs to the ^ iihia of the c ouniry . In sur-pa" t ^ ' tbe pstition witnesses were summoned from B : rni : n ? , hsn , Sljffnsld , and ^ lanchcst ^ r j aci Trere ordered to ^ ' z-:: d with a vis-s ? of giving evidence h&fore tha HvUis < A Commons . He niaiiitained that he h-. d prove : ! ri : < .: there wets precedents for hearing tba el .: ni of r = titioners at tea bar . The petition whicii he fa . vl pr ? -
sentsd had proceeded from evc-Tj part of th <_ - cotmzry and wa 3 entt ' . led to the attentive co ^ sldeiitioa cf the House . He did not ask the House to decide open the merits oi the petition ; he ssted them to listiu to v , hzi the j-etiiioners had to state at the bar . Thi petitioiitrs would be aVie satisiictcriiy to establish the existence of great distress in the country ; that abu = es j-rrT ^ iied in the state of iepresentaiL--n . They would rIso su ^ lsI what they coiisidercd -Were the proper r-m&di ; ii foi tho 33 abtues and distresses . That subject :, hoTri-T-:-, wou'd nc / t legitimately cc-ms uiider the nc ' . ice of tho House that evening . He thought that it -wr-uV . l ve
cunous , but at tha same time necessary , to tnu-e the progress of the different measures cf reform whiiii had been brought forward in this country vitLIs the last £ fcj years ; and although the doctrines promuIgat-.-il and supported by the Chartists might be des : r . jtid is mid , Utopian , and visionary , still he vrss rr-r ^ red to prove that a numbei of persons ~ in . b .,: ' u Houses of Parliament had stood forvmrd ia the support of princip " 53 Eimilai to tho ; e eow advanced by the Chaiu ? t > In the year ^ 1777 tie question or radical r < . f 3 rm was for the Srst tine stri ^ ng . ly taken up ; M&jor Cartwright was at that per ; i > -i the champion of those princip l es ; radical principles wer ; then repudiated , and those "who entfcitelned Uitm were
exposed to all kinds of odium and contumely . So the question remained until ths Whigs embraced th ' s principles of Radicalism , and called thesHelves B-. fonjisrs , and this name they retained until tbe IUform Bill was introduced into P ^ rliamEiit . Ths men who -were called Radicals in those days entertained views similar to those now entertained by the Chartists , ai though they ¦ Were not so termed . It was in 1777 thst Major Cart-¦ wrignt made the first move in favonr of these prisciplet In 1780 the Westminster Reform Committee held % meeting in London in farour of radical reform . What where tlie principles of the Westminstsr Association ? What did they resolve upon ? They 3 zreed
to support the six paints of tbi Charter . The next society -which ¦ was established ¦ was called the Constitutional Information Society , at ihe hesd of which was the Dais of Richmond , and connected with -which were Lords Effingham , Derby , and Kinnaird , and other noblemen , and n members of this House , and 166 highly respectable individuals besides . This Associii Uon , liie the one -which preceded it , advocated the sis points cf tee Charter . In the ye ^ r 1 T-SS great enthusiasm wzs manifett 3 d in favour of the principles of radieal refvrm , but -what happened during that year : ' A coalition unbapoily -was fotmed l ^ tTreen Lord 3 ? crth aad Mr . Fcx- In
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consequence of that coalition a'l confidence in the honesty and character of public men vra ^ lost . A serious blow -was given to the progress of Radical principles , and ail active proceedings in their bsb . ilf were suspended from that time until the year 1792 . The question -svas then taken up by a society which called itsalf the Corresponding Society , at tho head of -which "ffas Lord Grey . This society was , however , fcusd inconvenient and troublesome , and the Government had recours- to measures with a view of putting it down . In 1793 this society s « nt two delegates into Scotland . By the erder of the Government these delegat-es were arrestedj tried , and transported for a period of fourteen years , Tha GoTernmtnt having beea successful in it 3 proceedings asainst the Scotch delegates , directed its
auentien to tbe Corresponding Society in England . The result cf this was that eleven members of tbe sreic-ty were arrested : four were brought to trial , but fortunately a Loudou jury was not found so disposed as tbe Scotch jury to pby into the hands of the Government , aud the prisoners were acquiUed . A number of prosecutions were then abandoned . This circunistanco conduced groatly to give an additional z .-al to toe causa of Radical priccipieB . These principles k ? pt steadily advancing u- 'til they became 30 formldat- ' . e to tbe conupt , and borcughni-jngering HouHe of C-jmmons that Government was compelled to suspend tht ; Eabta 3 C . rpus Ac . Lord Grey , in his place ia the House of Commons , stated that if seme Reform waa not conceded , he waa prepared to vote for Universal
Suffrage . In 1317 the Habeas Co-pus Act was again suspended . In l SI 9 the Manchester miissncre took place . In 1 S 29 the Right Hon . Barontt conceded to the Roman Catholics their long-advocated and jast claiui 3 . This was dons , to be sure , at tbe expense of the 40 s . freeholders . This concession on the part if the Right Hon . Brroi :: t was the first step towards a change in ths c-nstitntion of tb . 9 House of Commons . In 1830 tha Tories abandoned the Government of tbe country in corsequence of the declaration if the Duia of Wellington against all reform . Sncb . was the state of the public mind at that time , that the King was recomuiended not to visit the city , in oru ^ r to dine with the chief magistrate , as it was spprehsnded that serious results would eusae if he did so . The Whigs then
cams into power , and in the following year they introduced the Reform BiU . It waa his belief that the Whig Government was perfectly honest and sincere in bringing forvrard that measure . He believed thoy fully intended to improve the system of the representation of the people . But in tie Rif- > rm BiU taa people had been grossly disappoiatoo " , he would not say deceived , but they had been disappointed to the greatest extent . All who heard him would remember tbe enthusiasm which then existed amongst the entire population ; they would reeolkct the occurrences of t ' uat period ; none wonld fail to rcinsniber the black fiie at Glasgow , the riots at Nottingham , and tbe fires at Bristol , and oihtr things cf tha sa : ua nature . They obtained the b l ! , but in it thev had befn greatly disappointed .
At the first election aiterwards , in the year 1 S 3-1 , the people fouud great u ;( ucu ' . ties thrown in thtir way in the txerdEe of thtir fru'uehise . They were intimidated and brjwb-:. t n . Everything w ^ 3 iifrne towards i-rtVci ; lirg thrm from regir tiring th-2 rr . Ei . ives , : ind that-system vrr . s carried on down even to the present h-.-nr . Tha Cjr . ssrvative parry hid f . urJ-. fuUy followetl the aivice givin thera by the Right Hon . Baror-ot . TLey s-duLj-ji ' iy tUcadt-d . the registration courts , where they did r . ll in their power to obstruct the enfranchisement of the people ; and what were the consequences ? Why , a general dissntisfaciion amongst tiid p ^ iop'e with the Rtform Bill—no thanks were felt to be due for it : on : he contrary , the people now l > r » ii ~ ^ & thit House to bo more corrupt , m- > re disbenest .
more given to ciass legislation than even the um-e ' omed UouhB of Cou ; mons —; Cbecrs . i When thry saw tho evidence given before their election committees , they could E-t h ^ lp couiicg to the concision , that corxuptiun , inti ^ -i ^ ati-o , and bribery were more r ! fd at the ' . ast gc-acr-. e .--ction tUr . n ev « . n in the worst , times—( hear , hear —wLetfcer they were rlclit or not was best known to Hon . Members themselves . Howevc-r , they were now in lSi 2 , and he did rot believe tliat either tha House or the Government were fully aws . re of tha state of thu couniry , of the state if the paHic mind at tlis present icoment , and it would cs hia duty , acd a painful duty it was , to ' inurm the H ^ use and tue Kight Hon . Baronet v . bat was really the &VxU of the public mind on the
question oi iurthtr reform , and Wr . st were the distresses which the p = jp ; e were now sufferinf . It would be said that some of the statements made to him bad been exxegerited , bnt tha House was ignorant of tbe strong 1 'ieling " -vhich exists-. ! in the puV . ic mind of the state ( f lbs po-itical l ^ udage wLicn tha people thought they were siifieviisg undtrr—it was his duty then to tniigiiten thiiu . Tiie House was perhaps not aware that the petition whicb he had had the honour cf presenting to tbe House yesterday h ^ i b . en , to use a common t « m , in tha course cf signature during the last four or five months , and that the persons interesting themselves in it had formed themselves into national associations for the purposes cf giving to tbe working classes those rkhti wLich undoubtedly bilouaed to them . There
wcrs aoove 600 cf those associations throughout all piits of the couatiy , a-. id nearly 100 , 000 adul-j of the woiking portion of the community bad deUjrnvinv . fi to lay aside one penny ptr week fr ^ m tbeir miserable wiges for the i-urposs of carrying out the a ^ . tiUun : n which they Lad eD ^ agec " . Out of that cumber between 50 , C 00 and GO , GOO had taken what w ;> . s called a . eard , by whicb they pledged themselves , thr . t $ o long . 3 they receive 1 Is . as wages , they would set ap .. rt one peiEj cf it I . i that purpose , apd would not d-sist nntil th&ir voice was huml within those walls through - reprcsenfative in the choice of whom tbey were allowed to take port . If Hon . Members thought that ths sisnilcrcs to the petition were fictitious in any great degree—if they thought tho working classes were not determined , by every con . 'titational means in their poTr = r , to possess the franchise , tbey were mujh in error , and at that moment be ( Mr . Duncoinbfc ) fu ! iy beli-vcd that tbey would not long ba abie to prevent them
from irtrely lifting up thei voices within those walls , The ^ iutrers which unfortunately so prevailed throughout tbe country augmented the cry at this met . ient , and it was mo ^ t natural that it should , for wh ^ n their cry reached the Legislature tfcey obtained nothing but a few words recommendatory of the " exemplary patience " with which they bore their raff-erin js . When they were met in such a way , what was to be expected bat that they would attempt to do something for themselves ? He bad docu :: ifcsts showing the progress of tb . 8 qn-stio : ! in the m-naufactuiing districts . When the Convention of the working classes was suticg in London , he bid asked some r . f them for information , and statemtnts had btenmal-i to him thit appeared almost incredible , but tbey were well authoiiticatid . He b ;' . d reeciv-d upwards of 500 communications from all parts cf tue country , from which he )~ zi selected a fe-. v , which he trusted the Hou-i would allow him to read . Tha first v » os from SlicSjid , and was in the following teriiij : —
" ShtSeld , May 1 , 18-42 . " Tho total cumber of signatures sent from Sh > .-ffieM will number ' ZT ., 200 . Sa-. Si rid is in a d-iplo / sb ;*; ttate . The r . um ' rtr of i . mitt-sLi SUefiield poprhousa alone up to the 23 rd yf Aprii , numbered b'i . The relief to the regular ticktt x > our in tnoiiey ami brerid for the Week ending April 231 , amounted to £ 92 10 s . For the Jast five we-- £ . s thj number of new applicants for rtlitf h ^ ve iV ' _ raittd 200 wetkly . Tot ; wet-k ! y paym-nts to th-j caiuil poor in th ^ five \« -tks t-nding yesterday wetl Wcrs as follows : Micch 24 , £ 2 \ il ; Ai > ril 1 . £ 22 ' . ; ; April S . £ ' 2-i 3 ; April 15 . £ 274 ; and April 22 , i' 2 f ^
One BivKtii inc . eiisea £ 1 ) 7 , although ti . e season is i ; : iprovir . g . T ^' j fvri .-guiiiL- wiil give ycu t 5 mo i . ' . ea of V : < i state of tins orc < : prosuercus to'wn : i ; is said th * t tue trades socittics '^ i abo ut to break up , unable lcn ^ e ; - -: o keep up th . ir furids ; if tLis should be the case , Lunirods , petbaps tL-- -csands , will be addtd to tbe T-uks of IL ? pauperised and dtsatute . Satfil-Id is tranquil at present ; that it will remain so for a ; . ; --length of tirr . e , with starvation and misery increasing daily , is very doubtful . " Ice next p ^ cj of evidence -was from Wolverhampton , an ! it was tills : —
" Wolverhampton , April 2 : i . 1 S 42 . " Th 9 collars , n ? ilor 3 , mechanics , and labourers , are in a state of poverty . The supply cf all kind 3 ef labour being grsatir tb ; vn the demand , the operatiTes havs no po % ver to proven ; thtir wages being continually ifcduciii . The miners r . nd nailers are now out of werk , in con .-eq-iiDCL r . f their masters having at .-mi / ted to mnic a J ;~ = "triu-act : on in their already too scanty w .-. r / .-a . Ihu r . encral imprsssiozi of the working int-n in t > sr ; 9 ; -a :: s is , thnt tl :-ir c ^ ~ usb of complaint caa nevtr b ; tff-clualiy r .-rjoved unless they possess the p ^ wer cf tlioosiiig their own representatives . The whole of this district is in an alirmirjg state of agitation . Cbaitism is rapidly vrcgrtzizmz . Tuwns and villages , whtre cren the name of Chartism a short time at , o was unknown , now h ^ . ve their Cnartisi Association ; a : ; d , nnk-. ?« ssoms tffvetive measures are spsredily adopted for tho rriTiov . il cf the present alarnsir . g diftre ^ es « . f the t-. iiing sous of inausUy , the consequences are like ' iy to be rao :. t serious . "
The foilo-K-ing was L'om cnother part of tb& country : — l ; Barnley , April IS , Ib 42 . "ill dear Sib , —In ans » 7 er to youra of the lutu instant , 1 can oaly say that it would ba useless to cttempt to send you a stateuitnt of "sages , &c ., as you desire , for if I uid so , before it reached your lianas it io likely that there won ' . d be a material reduction . I , therefore , deem it sufficient to state to you , in a general way , the Btate of the town and neighbourhood ; and after you have read the statement , you amy , if you have an opportunity , read it to Sir Robeit Peel and the Government . " The working classes are in an awful state of destitution ; thsre ate hundreds out of employment , and those that are employed , cr partially so , cannot by their eaiuings procure a sufficiency of food .
" I can assure you , Sir , that all are in a feverish state of excitement . I never , in the course cf my life , saw this psrt of Lancashire in such a state ; acd I aa one of these who have watched well the motions of the people .
• Coming eveiit 3 cast their shadows before . ' Meetings—large meetings—consisting of theusands , ar . j Isrlng held almost daily , to take into considerstic-n what shall be dose to prevent the multitude' from stirviru ; to death ; S'ud , ; . f :. r rniture and deliberr . te consideration , tbsy come to tbe conclusion that they have but one a " : tsrnative—namely , to taie it rather than starve .
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" Sunday week there was a numerous meeting on Whitesaoor , on the confines of Yorkshire aad Lancashire . Thousands assembled from places -within twelve or fonrteen miles distant . Yesterday , on Marsdenheight , there was another , of at least 7 , 000 . To-day 10 , 000 have met in Colne , and at each of these meetings there is but one opinion , and that is , that the Charter must becorna the law of this land before any permanent good can be effected for the working classes . " A portion of the mills in Burnley are shut up , and the remainder are running short . There will bo meetings held every Sunday during the sitting of the Convention ; next Sunday on Enfield , the Sunday following on Dsrply , and so on throughout tho district . "I can assure you , Sir , that when news arrives in Burnley of a bad market in Manchester , it jb received with joy , and a good market the contrary . The cry is , it ia hastening the crisis .
" This is 3 fearful stite of things . A people must be bordering on despair when what was formerly considered as disasters are hailed with ganeial joy . It would be well for tbs Government to look to theso things , ere it is too late . Th 8 people cannot suffar starvation much longer—hope is fUd ; and God ouiy tnowa where thisstate cf things will end . " The baud-loom weavers—poor f \ -llow £ —tbey are compelled , against their very nature , to turn out into the streets aud beg . On Siturday last they were begging from door to d jor , driven to it by sheer want . The police made an attempt to take them into custody , bnt the brave but starved fellows resisted , and the police made a virtue of necessity and left them alone .
" To-day s . case has been brought before the magistrates of a youDg man from Padiham who , driven to desperation by starvation , broke two panes of glass , in a shopkeeper's window , in ordtr to get sent to prison , so that he could get something to eat . His mother is ; i widow , with six children , and all of them out of work . They had four shillings weekly allowed by the board cf guardians to maintain six children and the mother ( who was sick ); tbe young man took tho children before tiie guardians , and solicited further allowance .- It was refused ; and he stated before the magistrates to-t ? ay , thit when he asked the overseer what he was to do , he told him ke must go and steal ; but the young man preferred breaking windows to stsaiing , and the humane magistrate committed him to Preston Houso of Correction for one month , tho young man thanking him kindly for the boon . That heart , indeed , must be i-teeled against tbe fctiings of humanity th ? . t can contemplate such a state of things aa this without eudenvouring to remtdy it
The above , Sir , I will vouch to be correct . I have not in the least exaggerated ; indeed , Sir , I fear it is far abort of tke real picture . " Yours , &c . " He had similar accou-: t 3 from some of the midland districts , from Leicester , Lcvighborough , Mountsorreli , Sbeepshead , and Hinkley , respecting the ( stocking and other trat ! e 3 carried on in that part of the kingdom ; bni with these perh-ips it was unnecessary for him to trouble the House . Distrtss of the severest kind also prevailed in tha metropolitan counties ; all trades were in a most depressed condition , and let him tell the Right Hon . Baronet , that his tariff would only make that condition worse . But he would go to Scotland , and read to the House most heart-breaking accounts
from the Vale of L ^ Vcn . appeared that wages th « re vary from " $ . to 04 i . per day , aud scores of families naver tasted animal food for various peiiods—some , not for twenty-ei ; ht wet-ks ; or . tmeal boiled in water and sweetened with a little sugar being the principal teitt of the unfortunate operatives . The following j . = j one of the communications he hud received from thence : — " At your request I present you with an account of the situation of the people I represent in the Convention . The syot from which I was sent is known by the name of ' Thu Vale of Leven , ' one of tho most beautiful spota in Scotland ; on tho banks oi the- Bi \ veTy stream that iuns through it are a great iuany printworks . Its population , in 1341 , was aa follows ,
cumprisiDg three -villages : " Bonhill , 2 , 115 persons ; Alfxau-iria , 3 . 060 ; Kenton , 2 32 G ; making a totol of 7 : uUl . The following eb ' . imate , tho rasult of a cartful investigation , will give you some idt ; a of tho extent of destitution ; it includes only Bonhill and Alexandria , and titkt s up a period of twenty-fiight weeks : — There were , en an average during that time , 4 persons at TJK per day ; ' 2 at 7 d ; 6 at Gj { ' ! . ; 11 at G . V 1- ; 5 at GJ * ; 21 at 5 . H ; 11 at a ] - ! . ; 13 at 5 d . ; 14 at ijd . ; 10 at 4 . VU if at 4 ^ d . ; 31 at 4-1 . ; 28 at a 3 d .. yo'atli . H ; 10 " at :- « j'l . ; 89 at 3 d . ; 31 at 2 jJ 1 . ; 151 at 2 ^ -i ; 05 at at 2 } -l . ; 1 . 35 at 2 d . ; 120 ; it Ijj l , ; 128 at 1 . J . L ; lj at ljd . ; 55 at in ., 31 at ' { A .: 28 at Ad .-, 9 at ct i 1 . per day ,- and 6 ' 5 in tbat period uith nothing at aU . This staU-mcnt uumbcrd in all 1 211 p « rsens . I knoT 7 scores of families who bad never tasted auitiial
food in tint time ; oatmeal boiled in water , sweUned with a little sugar , is their principal diet . Notices of ij .-ctni&nt are 1 eing served by landlords to thtir tenants , and proprietors of houst 3 are refusing to let their houses unless the applicant can find a surety ft ; r tao payinent of rent—a U ^ k , being uneniployeJ , they liud it cliiricuit to cccompMsh . Dumbarton is suffering a vast amount of destitution ; the carpenters arc nearly out cf work . Kirkiutilloch contains many wtavuis . and , after toiling twelve or fourteen hours daily , c : m go hosae with about five sbilliiiga Wctkly . Campsie in ?* irlinashiro , with a popula'ion cf 5 000 , is suffering ; Touch froir . destitution ; mar . y ¦ f the ; men are out of work , and plenty uiirs avo ouiy on hilftimi-.
Tho greiit body of thft peojile look to universal -suSVago as the only hope left them , believing that no H » , u-, d of Commons , but one representing tlio whole I'eoplu . ^ iil permanently reiiiedy t ' : e abuses of which the woikHt ; clnsses complr . in . Tiiesc are a f « . w i . icts conuec ' . eu with ray district ; you are -. t ! ib * -rty V . use them as you think proper in the Houso wben presenting 'he ve . tition Hoping that you may lor-g live to erj-iy tho-cr-nBdcr . ee and esteem of that people of whose liberties you Lave stood the uncoi : . 'promiaiiig advocate , " I remain , dear sir , " Yours in the caiuo of publio justice , " William Tjiomasox , " IVitrn ' OL-r of Convention .
" I do not know whether I a : ii balloted for to sipi ? sk at tho bar of the Hou <; if y -jur motion ia acceded to ; I should be most happy , if called upon , to an ! sv .-er way questions it is in my powi ; r to rtply to , calculated to thow tbe condition of-the f eop ' " The Hon . Member nest read a document from HJiururgh , aho ^ ring that in ail quarters t ' : « ro exists the attongest determinatior ., ry e'jnslifational meiuis , to change the composition of the House : — "STATEMENT OF THE DEF . LGATE KJtOM EDI . MlURGH DISTRICT .
"Iii every part of tbe east of Fifeshire the popnlation are si . ff . rinz from txtrcnie P'Veity , mure espLcialiyEist ^ Vfn : yss , 3 I :. rL'ii ) c . li , Kutl - , and tht' -r surrouudicg nei ^ hbeurhoo ' s . Tk-i people arachi-. il / en .-plojbil in linen weaving -of various kind *; many ol t ?; eni cirinot taia u . bove 6 .- -. p . r v . c ^ k . by long tu . it 3 ( f ialnnir wiiilo at ' . Lc i-i ' -ce , :: nd fyr the last fuur i ! io :. Un hir ^ e r . r . U ' . bers of tlitin hrivt Lad to wait one , two , il-re ' - \ shd s ; rue four wteka before tl ; ey got another piece cf web out . V > * tre it not that , being in : m agricultural district , tbey hre cnablL-u t ' j plant and pr . ; ourc potatoes tLcap , thf-y cculd not live—their dwellings are g- nfr . illy iil-furiiiishcd , antl Were it net that th ? y struue ' s 0 : 1 in tLiirfcufftfriugs , beina buoyt . i up with the Lope that Ipciflative sill coiito thtir reli ^ they
caangos - ; s > - r . would i / lnl ; into recklessness and detpou'Uncy , f ^ r iiow they ccr . trivo to sub sist they sc . irc . ly Snow themselves , txc : pt from tliu fact thr . t u-. t haviujc died they nr . ist l . avo ^ iiiansge . ' . to keep a ; e in . Trade oil all kir . da is vtvy . dall , ann of course tbe lab : uing cliitsts f « . f : l the pressure very :, iuoh- In and around E'liubur ^ h tLsre ar ^ very Jar . je numbers of men out of employment , so much so tint it is only working men , or r . uch such as I -1 : 1 in communication with , ihat can know it In Biikeitb there is also great distress from want of emp ! cyn ; er . t . In the currying trade there is a coniplete stand ; aisa pome others that are afraid they will be iiCVcted by the tariff : where they formarly had large numbers ui men employed , they now have only one or two . "
In a psper recently established , called the British Siutciimui , it wag lately rt-porrcd that in a cert . iin part of the country a cow -. rLich had died of di-ease had been buried , but so t . reat was the d ' . stitution of the peopledhat it ban be :-n sVisinterr ^ d for the p-arpose of bting niado huuia !! food . Th ^ rase wss so revolting that a gentleman known to some members of tbe House , a banker ?;; ime ; 1 Livesi-y—XL COBDEN . —I know him , and am acquainted with all ths ciTCuvastcuces . ilr . DU-n'COMI 3 j 3 . —That gentleman wrote a letter to tba editor of thu newspaper afttr he had ascertained the fact , and it was in these terms : —
" I received a letter from Master Brown , of Burnley , March 1 st ., containing a statunent that such w * s tht distress of tlie poor in P ^ mile Forest , near Burnley , ihat a dead tow t" -. l baeu disinterrod aiid etitin for food . The statement was so r&vclting t : > my feelings , though req'ie . stL-d 10 pullisk it . I could not help susp ^ ctir . rj that it was either a fabrication , or much exaggtrnted . I therefore wrote to Mr . Brown to get a ccitincat « of the fact signed by f ; x respectable poisons , nn ; l I received the answer inclosing the certificate cf the Ljrxiblo fact given below .
" Jos . Liveset , 28 , Church-street , Preston . " Higham , March . 3 , 1842 . " ' This is to certify , that Thomas Home , of this place , had a cow died on Wednesday , the 23 rd . cuy of February last , which ha buried , and that it was afterwards taken up to use far food . —Aa witness car hands , " ' Thomas Loud , " ' Joseph Wood , gro . •'' Tnos . Kok . ne , owner of cer . cow . «" J . Aspden , farmer . " ' Tjiojias At ; ty , weaver . '" John Lokp , weaver . '
In the same paper it also appeared that the Rev . Mr . Herbert , the Daan of Manchester , had read from the . pulp 1 only a week ago a statement of tho extreme dis-! tress prevailing in tbat town , calculated to excite the . rUavitable faelings -. f thosa who Uad anything to spare . ¦ He cited two from many cases , wherein the families ' h :-i no t .-. d , no chair , no fire , little clothing , and scarcely ; any food . That waa stated from the puipit to be the : c > : i : i : tion of the labouring population of Manchester so i l :: te as the 26 lh of April , tot oue Wcc-k ago . In the ' pi-it : on which he ( Mr . Dancombe } had prcaentel to the I Honsu there wag a strong statement of thtsa facts—1 of the desperate condition of the people , ¦ which con-
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dition they attributed to tho misrepresentation of the people in that House . They said that without bad Government it was impossible that any civilised countiy could possibly have falloa into such a stale as they were ready to prove we were now in . He had alluded to a proclamatiou made by the Dean bf jVIanchester ; he would now shortly allude to ene issued by the magistrates of Burnley . It was dated the 25 th of April , and was noi niore than a week old . It was as follows :- — :
" PUBLIC NOTICE . "Whereas a practice has recently prevailed in Bomley and the ueighbouihood , of large numbers of persons going together to private houses , and also of parading the streets , highways , and other public places , to beg and gather aims , which conduct is illegal , and . ' subjects such parties to the punishment provided by the Vagrant Act ; and whereas such practice is also calculated to create terror and alarm to the peaceful inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood ; notice is therefore hereby given , that with a view to check' such illegal practices , and . to preserve the peace and tranquility of the neighbourhood , it ib thought advisable to issue this public notice aud proclamation , that the law will be put iu force against any parties so assembling in the manner and for the purposes aforesaid . :
" By order o £ the magistrates . " Burnley , April 25 . " The House would see that it was not private begging which was spoken of , but begging by the people collected in large masses . The ahav / er which the people of Burnley made to the proclamation was as follows : ^ - "V . R . —TO THE MAGISTRATES OF THIS TOWN . " The unemployed and starving operatives of this town feel disposed to put a plain question or two to
the above authorities , as they find themselves placed in rather a curious position . Now , we wish to know how long it is possible that a town like Burnley , under the preaent circumstances , can bo rendered- peaceful and tranquil , while hundreds , yea thousands , are ; by oppression and misrule , thrown upon the once lovely and pleasant , but noTr , alas ! miserable , degraded streets and lanes of this town and neighbourhood 1 Under these circumstances they feel themselves bound , by the nearest and dearest ties of nature , to make the inquiry : —
" Whut , as humau beings , are we to do , aftsr having been deprived of every comfort , and almost every neesssary o £ life , aCter having appUetl to omi- several parishes , without anything like : refiEonabie success , and when nowjby starvation we are compelled to expose ourselves aud families to public inspection , in order to cravo a portion of bread for our miserable stavviiig wives and childi-en , we are even denied this right by those persons from whom wo ought to have expected better things ? And we say that to close tho scene of
misery the law is consulted , and about to-be introduced , and simply for the purposo of smothering tho cries of the widow and the fatherless ; but even thosa who have tho law to back their proceedings , must at the pnwent crisis-be . very cautious how and to what purpi . be they apply its restrictions , because wo , though out of work , cannot live without ( at least ) some of the ntc- ssaries of life , aud we must have tliem from somewhere . We wish not to dp injury neither to persons nor property , but at the same time we cannot lay ourselves dowrn and die .
' ¦ What saith tho scriptures in support of thesa allegations ? Doth it not ; say that , ilo that will not provide for his family is worsa than an infidel ?' " Ami also , ' They that be slaia with tho sword arc better than they that be slain with hunger ? ' — . Lamentations , iv . 9 . "By order of the Starving and Unemployed Operatives of Burnley . ' " Burnley , April 25 th , 1842 . " He would ask was that a state of things which could be allowed to exist in England ? All he wished was , that tho House would hear the parties at- the bar , bccW' 8 they said they could not detail one-tenth of their orU-. vnncesrin the petition , long as it was . That was the ht . ite of the people , and he would like to ask the Right Honourable Baronet what he meant to propose
in order to render . it more conifortable ? Surely tho Kight Hon . Baronc-t did not suppose his income tax and his tariff would cure the evils of which the petitioners complained' ! Why , the tendency of the income tax bill would be to reduce 1 the middle classes to a level with tho lower orders ; and the effect of the tariff would be to drive into , the wekrhouses many of those who now had employment . Surely the Right Hon . Baronet did not intend to have recourse tor tlie suppression of Chartism to the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act ? Did the Right Hpm B ; tronet mean to put down C ' inrtisin by force ? He hoped tho Right Hon . Baronet would not tove recourse to such means for effecting that object , but that he would endeavour to accomplish it by reason and conciliation . He was
convinced there waa no disposition on the part of the House to-treat the pbtition with disrespect , though a majority of Hou . Myiubors might slrongly disapprove of many paragraphs which it contained . He ( Mr . Dancombe ) wouid not say that he subscribed to all the requests of the petitioners . Ha regretted that a portion of tho public press—tho organs of that politfcal party . to . which Hon . Gentlemen opposite were attached , had attempted to ridicule the mode iu which sisimture-s had been obtained to this petition . He was glad , boweverj that one of the Ministerial organs of to-day had treated the petition at least with snnie degree of respect . The 1 /[ anting Herald stated , " The petition was si « ned by 3 , 315 . 752 persons described as belonging to various sections of the industrious classes
of tbe country . Allow a vast deduction for signatures uot gtnunio , sigBaturt-a repented even iii dupiicato and triplicate , atd perhaps wo ought still to assume that this is the petition of a vaat body of the peopl-s who are urging on their growing demand for the fatal—the destroying boon , of universal suffrage—in tern » 3 ; in its tfltct , universal anarchy ' .- Are there in the long catalogue of political grievances and evils to which these )' . ott 9 of petitioners ascribe so much of the positive suft ^ ripg of iMiormoiu conimnnitifcs of tneir couutryliittn—ave there any the destructive tendencies of which aru at once uuQoubi'Kl and-snacoptible of remedy 1 Are there any to whicb the Legislature and tho Government , without compromise of their . '' constitutional functions aii ' t f-tite resposisiBility , tan apply a healing and a
saving hand , ? If there be , we trust that nothing in the well known characters and scbeuiea of a few artful iirinagogucs , wh' > prey on the ' unsuspecting credulity of ihcir deluded followers—tbat nothing , even in the untori'ius trickery and choating which are resorted to in order to swell the voluma and multiply the £ ubsci-ipttsus of tiit-se huge petitions—may be parrriitted to ii-. t rfere w ' uh duties of an importance so . paramount . " He denied , on tlie pf » rt oif the petitioners , that any triekyry had been resorted t « , in order to swell the volume and multiply the subscriptions of thesa husjc petitions . He liopcd the House would not refuse nt least'to givo a hearing to the petitioners , and , if possible , to provide some remedy for the grievances of which they c"rup ! ai : ied . He would appeal to those Hon . Members
who witnessed tbe asttuibltigo of persons by whom tliia petition h . vl b ^ cn tiriiiii-ht to the House , wbsti ' . er their demeanour was not characterised by the utmost order aud propriety ; indeed , tiie \ r pvocsedings had throughout been marked by peace , order , ami respect . Tnere wjis tio jiliusion to anytijing like physical force in tho 1 > -ti : ; on he ( Vir . Duucoinbe ) pvcstiiitod yesUr ' r . y . yome obj ; 0 , ' . i :. » ns urgr ;< l against the petition wuic grounded on its rtquiring n vepeal of tlio union between thi 9 country and Ireland . Ho was authorised to s : iy , thr . t it was 11 t the intention of 'the-i petitioners to prefir such a vequesu Tc . ey Hitveiy tieairtH . to express the sentiments avowed by tha preset Earl Sponcer , who stnted , when the question of the repeal oi the uiiisu was brought btfore that Hous : > . that if tho vast lulgority of the people
of Ireland required auch . a nwa ' -: uro thay were entitled to hiive it conced d , but ' that "he would oppose such stf-ji . s to the utnioBt . The petitioners did not themselves pray for u repeal of the union , but they stated their opinion that if a raajc . rhy of . the . people of Ireland were in favour of tiu : h ; v muasure it ought to ba gr . in . te * . ! . Ho ( Mr . Dur . combe ) th ; -u : ; ht i )\ a people of Ireland were ¦ mistaken , in ankine- fur ivpe : ii ; but he considered that the circu : i ; stav ; t ; o cV the petitioners having exprossed an opinion 031 this question nft ' orded no reason f > r refusing their r : quest to be pp-iuiEt-jil to s ^ ato their-grievance ' s at -the-bar . Th « ' N .-iiiojial 'Convention bad , previously to the presentation of tho petition , isilvj'l an addi-ssp to thu industrious classes vf tho country , which ho begged permission to read to tho Huuso . [ The Hon . Member then i ' ca-1 tie follon'isir addres 3 : —
" The National Convention of the Industrious Classes , to Lho Safi'oring and Staryint-. " Fcilow-countrjmcn , — -We have received many important conimuMicatioba from various districts , de-£ cnbij . 'g tho WKcituineni anil"dJ 83 ati * f .. wtion whicJi prevail in tot ; -iiunvis of thono who havo been driven iut& poverty and starvation by political causes , whicli tbey have no pow ^ r to destroy , and scarcely any liberty to describa in Parliamentary petitions . Wu Lave decided on portioning ParliamenVon Monday , tha 2 nd of May , to B 3 hojrd at tho Bar of tho House cf Commons , to lay before thu world a fail and honest . stalomeht-of the causes of your gnevauces , the extent o £ your sufferings , and the { , 'tand remedies to be proposed for the immediate and perrnnntsnt removal of all na-tiiinal fiuffering
and social wrong . We wait with patience and subdued fealjng the result of our mutual prayer . We are fully scjiisible that it is otmoBV a luccltery of justice to asfe the starving to bo submissive , and the injured to bow ihsir famished bodies to the footstool of oppression ; ttill the sacredness of our cauie , and the hopelessness of all attempts at violence , are sufficient to guide us in now calliug ucon you to abstain from any act lifely- to bring our principles into disrepute , mid dye deeper the red banners of despctisnvwith the blood of aur brethren . We deeply sympathisa with you . We have expressed our hostility to the sy . steui which has
Gripped you , misied you , repressed " your murmurs by force , subdued your complaints br a demonstration of steel , and . ' . threatened butchery . You a- * us f jz advice . Wo counsel you to watch tho decisive answer of the Governmout . ' The mouth 6 t May will fcviu ' g the intelligence to you . ' You ast us .-how you aro to aiit . Await the decision of tiio Niitiouul Convention . Your delegates will carry - ' with them the results-, of our delibera-Uoks ; and , rest assured tu . it wo ai-o toq . mttch alive to the dawger Jf-ccUision with-an ainittl Gov ' ernnisnt ever to advise it , and we possess too much experience ever to recovnniond violettca as the coursa to be adopted in eur struggio for justice . Fcllow-countrjmen , we ha , v 9
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heartily , yet decidedly , adapted this course , out of regard for you as well a 3 out of respect for those principles which have progressed by the aid of reason alone , and need no other argument , greater than present necessity , to enforce them on the Legislature . We have placed it in the power of the Gcnrernment to appease the rising indignation of millions by granting their advocates a hearing . We now await the result , and all we desire from you is , to sacrifice feeling for a time , and imitate us in the practice of rational patience , at the same time that we prepare to advise you on th& future course to be pursued the moment the Legislature have given their negative or affirmative to a . nation ' s dem&rid . .
" Abr ' am Duncan , Chairman . " John Campbell , Secretary . " What he ( Mr . Dnncomfee ) asked , on the part of the petitioners , was that they might ba allowed a hearing at the bar of the House . That hearing would not occupy much of the time of the House . The number of persona whom it was propoeed to bring before the House , in order to state fusts bearing on the subject / did not exceed six . The statements of these persons could not occupy more than two days- ; .. ' but if they occupied ten days , the time would be well spent . Ib might be well said the petition was absurd , and that many of the propositions of the petitioners were wild and visionary . Suppose it were so , that afforded no : justification to the House for passing over the petition without hearing the statements cf persons in its support . It was , ho thought , unnecessary for hiiu to occupy the time of the House further , for though be might mention othei facts illustrative of the distress prevalent
in the country , they would ba in effect a mere repetition of his previous statements . He considered he had proved that the cause of Parliamentary Reform , Radical Reform , or Chartism ,: was progressing at a most rapid rate tliroughoat the country . If the House doubted any of his statements as to the determihation of the people to obtain redress , and to require an alteration in the constitution of that assembly , he called upon tho House to hear the petitioners at the bar . If the petitioners failed to convince the House of the justice of their demands , that would be their fault ; but , at all events , by agreeing to such a course , thit House would prove that it had once more identified itself , as it ought te do , with the people , and would secure their confidence , their affection , and their gratitude —( hear , hear . ) He begged to move thatthe National Petition be now taken into consideration , and the petitioners heard at the bar of this House , by themselves , their counsel , or agents , in iupporfc of the allegations of that petition .
Mr . LEADER said , he had great pleasure in seconding the motion . The whole question might be brought in to a very narrow compass . I s was acknowledgeA that the people were in a state of deep suffering , and that they had borne their grievances with exemplary patience . A vast number of the woTking- ^ -the suffering classes now came before the House , stating their grievances , and suggesting certain remedies j and the question was , would the House hear the statements of these parties , er would it refuse to listen to them ¦¦? He entertained no doubt of the sincerity of the petitioners . He had seen , in one of the most extensively circulated newspapers in this country , some sneering observations on the proceedings of yesterday , in which it was stated that the procession consisted of not more
than 15 , 000 or 20 , 000 persona , and that the affair was considered rather as a May-day show than as a serious manifestation of the political sentiments of the people . It was also intimated , in tile same publication , that the signatures to the petition were not real and genuine —that it was impossible the petition could have been signed ^ by 3 , 500 , 000 of adult males in England—and that the proceeding was merely intended to afford an impression of the power of the comipitteeof theConventioii . Now , ho might state , in repl y to this insinuation , that it was not pretended that all the signatures to the petition were those of adult males . He would , however , ask those who doubted the sincerity of the petitioners , or the numbers of persons interested in this question , whether it was not notorious that at every
public meeting which had baan held in this country during the last two or three years , and especially during the last year , on any subject ,, the topic which ' had mo&t powerfully attracted the a * . tention and elicited the enthusiasm of tha people was any allusion to what was called ' the Charter ? " ( Hear . ) It was mere folly to pretend that the working classes were not sincere in petitioning the Hpii 3 e on this subject ; or to attempt to deny that the number of persons interested in this question was daily increasiug . He thought it was most desiveable that the House should hear the petitioners or their representatives ai the bar , tbat they might be convinced of the .. intelligence ; -the ability , the evident integrity of the men who wure now excluded by our laws from exercising the franchise . ( Hear , hear . ) Hia Hon . Friend had alluded to several precedent ? in support of the proposition . for hearing
the petitioners at the bar . Numerous precedents might be cited in support of the practice ; and he might mention that of the celebrated orders in Council , when Lord Broujham was heard at the bar . Many Hon . Members present would also remember that his Hon . Frien < l tlw Member foi Bath ( Mr . Roebuck ) was heard at the bar of the House as the representative of the Canadians . That was a case iu polac , for the Canadians were not represented in that House . The petioners iu this instance were , however , in a still worse position ; thsy were Englishmen , living in the country ^ contributing to fae taxes , rendering obedience to the laws , and yet having ne voice in the election of the persons by whom those laws were framed . He remembered tbat tho late Attorney-General , now Lord Campheil , after having been engaged in the prosecution of sonio Ckartists . for their ' conduct at
public meetings , told him with great exultation that Chartism was entirely put down . ( Heir , hear ) His ( Mr . Leader ' s ) reply was , that it was true the violence of Cba-vtism had passed away ; but ho told the learned Attorney-General that the real-principle of Ch ;> rtism never could be put down till tho grievances of the peopla were redressed , and till those were admitted within the pale of the constitution who were now excluded from a voice in the representation . He ( Mr . Leader ) had seen last night some of the le . iders of that paity from whom the petition now btfore the House had emanated , and those individuals had totally disclaimed any idea of resorting to physical force for the accomplishment of their objects , and had expressed their determination to confine themselves to the
exertion of moral force . With regard to the petition itself , there were doubtless many unwise expressions contained in it ; but he hoped tho House would not refnse a hearing to the petitioners , or th ^ ir delegates , in order that it micht be kuown what their demands really were . He believed those demands might be embodied in very few words ; they asked i-. u ' islantially for the adoption of the principles comprised in what was termed " the People's Charter , "—Universal Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , the abolition of the Property Qualification for Members of Parliament , the Payment of Members , and the division of the country into electoral districts . These points had on several occasions been brought under the consideration of that House . The question" of the ballot had been brought
forward by Mr Grote ., the subject cf the abolition of tiie property qualiBcation for members of Parliament had bsen moeted by Mr . War ' mrtpn , the adoption of the electoral districts bad bc-en proposed by Sir W . Molts worth , ami tha extension of the suffni ^ e had been advocated by othrr hon . members . The question for the house now to decide was , however , whether they would hear the petitioners at the bar , or whether they woul-. L refuse their request . If it waa the wish cf tha house , to © . btain the ' affection and ennfldence of the greut body of the people , they would not refuse so reasonable a demand . Ho appealed to the sympathy iicd to the sense cf justice of . the house to grant the pr . ayar of tJio petitioners , and to permit them in person , or by their dtlegatesy to be heard at tUe bar .
Dr . BO WRING supported the motion of tha Hon . Member for Finsbury . He called on the House to consider that this was the prayer of 3 , 000 , 000 of men , who were opprt-faed and humbled by the legislation which denied them "' a voice in the representation . Those persons were called upon to contribute to the expenses of the state and the support of the Government , and yet they saw the power of the state centrad in tho hands ;( f a privileged "few , who exercised their authority for the promotion of their own Interests . The'language , of the petition was respectful , though he did not profess taut all its allegations could bo borne out by evidence at the bar . He asked how that House , whose special duty it was to protect the rights and to redress the grievanceo .-of the neopio , could refuse to grant this
inquivy ? If their aucestora deemed it a , duty to straggle for the acquirement of the rights and liberties they now enjoyed , surely they ought to support these who were now striving to acquire similar privileges and immunities . At one time few persona in this cou itry eujryedthe privileges of citizens , but the bounds of citizenship were gradually extended . They were impelled by a patriotic wish to obtain the rights th&y s ^ w possosaed by their neighbours ; and why" were these rights so desired ? Because thatHousehad not redressed tho evils of which the in . my had to complain . There was no one point put forward by the pLtitioufcrs which was not advocated by wise , piuclent , and consciontious men . He thought it wiss to -listen"to the petitioners and hear what they had to say , as it would lead to
conciliation . The safest Government innst be thas which had the gfsatest mass of public opinion to support it The -petitionera had a right to complain of the length or Parliament ; they might remain unrepresented for years , and tbey asked that members might D 9 more frequently eiected . And was it proper that some of our smallest towns should possess au equal amount of representation with our largest cities ? Ought ' 100 men in one place to be aa Hittch represented as 1 , 000 men elsewhere ? It was said that property only ought to be represented ; could property feel ? Was there any man , however mean ,
who had not Ms pains and pleasures , for which , that House and the Legislature was bound to interest itself . ? Was he to Ceriy to a man , b : cause he waa poor , the rights possessed by tbo iadividual who was mighty ? Was such a man , because of his poverty , to be excluded fiom those rights . ? ' When Pi'ovideiice denied to him the enjoyments ppsiecje'd by tliase who were supposed , to bo fcis superiors , dkl it t&bo away from him the sympathies of lutman nature ? Tho petitioners complained , tnd thoy had a right to do so , of- the i : a . pediments thi ^ own in their way by th 9 propj-rty qualification , which implied i ! ist a . certain amuunt of wealth waa neceasary to enable a maa to Bit in that House aud
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make laws for his Tell ow-citizsns . Thia property qualification was merely a security for the predoml nance of the landed interest in that House . Scotland had been wise enough to do away with this requirement , and did any man mean to . contend that tbe representatives of Scotland were Isas intelligent , less aietive , or less trustworthy than the other representatives of this country 7 The petition demanded that the- petitionera should be heird at the Bar of the House ; it was signed by millioiB of the people , * nd if the Hoase should consent ta listen to them it vfould be the fifab
step towards popular satisfaction and content . At all events the petitioners would be bound to say that that House was willing to listen to them . If their reasons were absurd they would be the more easily answered ; if their reasons were judicious , then their claim to be heard wai the 'greater . He joined with his frienda who bad preceded him in thinfeins ; that iB wonld be most nswise in the present state of the public mind , agitated as it was from one end to the otaer , and in which social misery was mingled with so much political discontent , to say to 3 . 000 , 009 petitioners , " Return to yonr homes unheard . ' ' - ¦' - . . ' . ¦/¦ , - - ¦ ...
Mr . J . FIELDEN next rose . He was for some time quite inaudible in the gallery . We understood him to say that tie had heard a letter read stating , that ia Barnley , in Lancashire , tha sum paid weefcly for the relief of the poor amounted to £ 500 , and that the poor were prowling about in large numbers , begging aims from door to door . The state of destitution was such that unless something were done he could not tell what would be the consequence . He had heard similar statements made from other places , and , in fact , the whole of the manufacturing counties were in such a state of poverty , that unless something were dono to alleviate the distress whieh prevailed , it would very soon lead to disasters which they would alllamentto hear—( hear , hear ) . Last October he had . suggested to tbe ; House
that some person should be appointed in each parish to assist the relieving officer in assisting tbe poor . If that proposal had been adopted , he was confident that so many real and substantial complaints wou ' . d not have been made . But something more now required to be done . By their neglect of legislation , that House had turned this starving population into politicians —( hear , £ ear ); and they had got this impression into their ¦ minds—and it wa 3 extending to their employers , who were becomuig as poor as themselves—that nothing but a radical alteration in the constitntion of that House ¦ would ever give the reforms which they desired . He had been doing all he could for the last two years , at a tremendous sacrifice , to give employment ; to the poor ; but this could , not last long . There was an old saying in Lancashire , *' Tbat continually taking out of the meal-tub , and not putting any in , must soon come to the bottom . " The poor were in-a most destitute Bituation , and they said , " What are we to
do ? " He implored the Right Hon . Baronet , if he had any -regard for his fellow-countrymen , and for the peace of tho country , that he would allow the peti « tipners to be heard at the bar ; it would give them , some eacouragemenS . He did not see that mischief could arise from it ; but he did say , that if they were so far to hold out the /' olive branch" to this suffering peopled they would make statemants to them which would shew that something was'absolutely necessary to be done i'i alleviate their condition , and at any rate they would suggest things to the House which might be worthy of itsattention . ' He therefore trusted that tho Government would not refuse to hear the petitioners ; forif they did , it might lead to disappointment and reflections amangst those millions whom these delegates represented which might be productive of injurious consequences . He thought that they had much better consume two or three days in hearing what they had to say , than run thia risfe —( hear , bear . ) : ; .
Sir . J . EASTHOPE said , that on a recent occasion , when a similar petition had been presented to that house , he had felt that he should be . compromising himselfby expressing any approbation of its principlea , and bad no hesitation in resisting it by his vote ; and if he were to convey by his vota in favour of the motion of his Hon . Friend , the slightest opinion in favour of those principles to which ho had then objected , er the slightest approbation of much of the reasoning by which those principles were propounded in the petition tbe day before presented to tha House , h ^ should not hesitate for one moment to adhere to the same course . Bat he conceived tbat the proposition of his Han . Friend in the present case was widely different from th « proposition of the Hon . Member for Rochdale , to
which'he had been opposed . In the present case the petitioners came forward in . numbers beyond comparison , under distress . which could not be described , and which he himself knew to an extent ' -that it was impossible he eould be indifferent to ; He " . '; did not believe that house to be indifferent to it ; he did net believe any of the members of that House to feel indifforenfe towards is ; and who that was anxioua about is was not anxious to find out a remedy ? tHear . ) These petitioners came forward under feelings of distress and discontsnt—the very natural companion of their distress ; and they complained of principles of gbvernment wherein be thought they were injudicious , with reasoning which he thought was inapplicable , and asked for remedies ¦ which he believed would aeeravate the distress which
novpexisted .- ' ' They proposed to themselves plans and laid down schemes than which he thought no greater evils could be inflicted upon them than by applying them as remedies to their case . His sincere conviction was , that if he were to devisa any thing to aggravate and augment the distress which he lamented , he could not do so more successfully than by granting 1 all the prayer of the petitioners who had . come before them ( Hear , hear . ) Bnt whilst he felt this most strongly , and stated it without the ' slightest , hesitation , he . durst not say to three andLa half millions of people that he would refuse to hear their piidtion . He was bound to believe that a very large ni . ijority of the petitioners were most honest and sincere ; a very large number improperly engaged in misrepresenting the
causes of distress , and in trying to produce mischiefs , rather than to fiud out remedies . But he had nothing to do with all this ; the distress existed—( hear , hear )—it existed to an extent to which it bid never existed bt fore , not only in the opinion of Members Of that side of the House , but it had been described ia terms , by Members on the other side of tha House , which tumt have harrowed up the feelings of the coldest breast * In this distress , conld they say to three and a half millions of people suffering , under ail these privations , "We will not hear you ? " He believed that when they had represented what they conceived to bo the ca * se of that distress , and when ' they bad stated what they supposed to be its remedy , that they would themselves discover that they had not made out their case . He believed that a very large number of the petitioners would fepl that if the House entered on a
conciliatory , and kir . d , aud : patient - hearing : ' of - theix tale , and investigation of the causeB of thxiir distress , that they had pity for them . He was convinced that if this were done , tlie good would countervail the dis » advantage - of the other-course . It Cduid not be said that he was convinced by any of the reasons of the petition , or of the reasonings on which they were founded . He declared that to many , of its principles he was most distinctly opposed , for the reasons'he had stated . But acknowledging the distress which pre » vailed , and anxiously'desirous as they all were to convince those who petitioned that they felt for them , he did think'that : tbe conciliatory and the wise and the politic ; course was rather to err on th ^ side of hearing the petitioners than on tha other . Ha should most cordially vota for the motion of the Hon . Member for Finsbury .
Sir J . GRAHAM said , if thia were a mow matter of considering in what n : anner the feeling * of tha Housa would ba bebt consulted , perhaps he might have agreed with . the arguments of the Hon . Gentleman who had just aat down ; but lie coulii ' noi rogitd it in any such light . The Hon . . Member for W-e&tinm&ter ' had appeared to anticipate what would probably t » the course pursu&d by some ; Hon . Members on that occasion—U ' -iiuely , to ci'iticiso the various paragraphs of the petition now btf ire them , a-. d to comment on them with severity . Nothing eould ba further from thoir intention —( loud cries of hear , hear ) . Unfortunately , the facts in this case were but too generally admitted . Thu distress was great ; the number of tba petitioners was Vtry lar ^ e ; their statements in maay
particulars were founded , in fact . It was not a question , therefore , of'faob to beinye ' stigatod—it was-a great question of policy . It was not a question of fact to ba ascertained—it was a question of poiitioai remedy to ba decided on by the House . He could conceive no course more disastrous , in the midst of excitud'feeling . ' and aggregate suffering ; than for that House to adopt any course which might | excite hopes which wers certain to be ' disappointed , and ' . hold out expecta ^ ious which thsy who held them out were aware rnu ^ c be fallacious , the Hon . Member for Leicester , who bad just sat down , had on a'former eveuiag strenuously resisted the main points of the prayer on whioii this pstition was founded . Ha said he still retained his opinion , The Hon . Member would allow him ( Sir J . Graham ) to
ask what circuiristahces bad occurred in ' the interval which sh'juid have so induced him ' -. to change' ? " { fL&t' ) Tuero was no adil t '" . cn to the number of pstitioneWi the euff-iring of the people had not been aggravated within tiie last eight days , everything remained un * changed , so far as he ( Sir J .. Graham ) was a wars , within the short interval since the Hon . Membsr had oa a former occasion joined- with him in reast . anc-3 . iothe motion of the Hon . Member for 'Rochdale . Taat iligfct the Hon . Membsr was prepared to vote for tte motioaof the Hon . Member fpr Finsbury , yet be ( Sir J . Graham ) coutd not devlss what wa 3 the altered circumsUncc 33 which had produced this change . As the Hon . Member put it , it was a mere question of inquiry —inquiry , aa he said , that might produce somewhat of a heaUng effect on the wounded feeliaKs .. of . -the
petitionera . If they were to arrive at afora ? , ouo concluflioH Avith respect to the remedies to be applied—if toy were bound on questions of high state policy to refuse What thess people required , wiiit possible effect could the inquiry produce of a healing ' uaturo ?' .. On the contrary , ho was decidedly of opinion that no course cou'd be more aggravating th&n to cail oh the : petitioners to prove a case of distress by evidence at the bar 0 * the House , with . their minds made up beforufland that a remedy was utterly inadmissible , and having heaid their statemfutau ^ evidence , to beT ' rcsolye ' d to resist their deihiud—( hear . ) He could not asrae' in tbe motion . ¦ "He ' a ' Bre . ed ' . with ' the Hon . Mtmber . for Leicester that it was highly inexpedient tha : the demands of thes «' pfit . itioi \ ova should be granted on mavrj svruada , aa aif .. pting tha forms . of Xi jye . rnment under which we iivod , o « r instituiiofls , nnd the happuieta of Viiaoom-
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4 THE NORTHERN STAR , •; ¦ ¦"¦" ¦" - . ¦¦ ' - . .. : - : - : " - ^ fS ^^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 7, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct753/page/4/
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