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iTHE TBADES' COMBINATION COte-JfflTTEE TO THE TTOBKING CLAi—iiS . Tsliav-Wobxxex , —It -would seem that every " 3 irfie cessation from the daily toil , to -which corrupt . ^ and partial institutions have doomed us , is . required io be-occupied in viKgan * watchfulness j-lest ^ we fall ^ gfi ] l lover the scale of poverty , and lose-those few . infling advantages our "united energies have justly preserved , despite of cupidity , avarice , and exdusvepower . We have , through , all past times , "been a persecuted and calumniated class ; our oppressors have bowed "us to the earth , and scorned us because we ¦ were 'down ^ -they hare iept knowledge from our Teach ,, and taunted us -with our ignorance—they iave goaded some to violence by their injustice , and sweepingly condemned all as "participators in the « nilt .-
Within these few months , the corrupt pens of the ^ privileged , and aspesious tongues of the idle and the wealthy , have been industriously engaged in vfflify--jng an 5 . condemning the sons of labour ; they have Tooagniiied isolated acts of violence into crimes of the Slackest atrocity ; theyhave sought to prevent justice , ¦?> y slander ; and what they , failed to substantiate by facts , they have depicted in words of deadly -meaning . They have not hesitated to condemn all our unions , because guilty individuals have been ¦ detected instr nie—zs reasonablymight the nobility -of England be generally condemned as criminals , tecaus ? the most dishonourable crimes have been Iroueht home to individual members .
But , fellow-countrymen , while we solemnly condemn all acts of violence , we greatly question whether ^ the violent proceedings of unionists were the originating -motives for this parliamentary-investigation . We rather suspect them to be the anxious desire for -cheapened labour , and for- disunithig' the people duons of the people are the weakness of their oppressors , and the cheap labour of the industrious is the gain of the privileged orders of society—do we ¦ want anv ether reason to account for the enquiry ? TTe havebecti told that Trades * Unions are mischievous monopolies . TTell , so are the exclusive nionopolies of law-making berween peers and tenpounders—so are the Trades' Unions amone lawyers —the chartered monopolies of the East and Westthe agricultural monopoly is also highlvmischisvons — -so are guzzling and useless corporations , and a multitude of others that might be named . There--fore , whv begin by condemning , us ? "Simply , fiends , because otir combinations mar endanger die existence of all the rest .
"We are gravely condemned for charring larje srnns for admission into our unions ; thocsT who make the charge forget , we presume , their own union fees . Thry also forget that the capital wehave honestly accumulated for the purpose of supporting-ou ? members when out of employment ; whtn sick , acci--dentaTIy wounded , or unfortunate ; or for bnrying xhem when dead 4 cannot h ? justly shared "with those ¦ who ke ** p irom us at their pleasure * or join tis at sheir convenience . ,- ' ¦¦ ' Our , so called , * insolent" dictation to employers lias been denounced in the strongest terms ; " The
j > resumption that wording men shouitl dare refuse to bow submission to their master ' s terms , or work ¦ uiih those who will , is indeed intolerable to men of ¦ wealth and power . They choose not to remember cur toilsome condition from youth to age- ; the threats and taunts to wliich we are daily sabjver ; the proscriptions and persecutions we meet with in -our eflforts to sustsin our wages ; the documentary tennsof base servility often "proposed as the" alternative of i ; work or starve ; " -and , \ rith all our care and irugaiiry , the end of our industrious career too often "the union workhouse .
"We have been recently assured b y certain news--paper writers , that all our combinations are ineffectual and mischievous , as we cannot raise our vrages ¦ above the natural level . Let us hear what professors of political economy say on this subject . The naiurclrcfe of wages , according to Dr . Snma . "is "not only f / je commodities that are indispensably ne-. cessary f'jr the support of life , but whatever if : c < msiom of the couniru raiders it indecent fur credli-* i& [ e people of the lotcest order io he trititoitt" You -sriH perceive , therefore , if the . working classes of -England are contentafch low diet , bad clothing , and mud cabins , they will continue to compete ¦ with one another , till the natural rale of wages is so reduced as only to procure such miserable
subsistence , instead of those superior comforts which their increasing knowledge and industrial powers have established as the " custom" of their country . But , then , weshallbe told that the amount bfVaees must be governed by the supply of labourers with the demand for their labour , and , " therefore , it is a folly to combine to endeavour to force the price of labour in opposition to tins law . We reply , that trade unions do , to a great extent , regulate the enmber of labourers in the labour markets : If , fox instance ^ the present demand for labour is onry equal to 100 labourers , and if there be 120 competing for this -demand , without any union or understanding among them , thfiy will -continue to -tuideraell one another till their wages are brought down to the lowest point of subsistence . Bnt , if they mure in a trade-society , and , by subscribing their means , agree to take the twenty surplus hands out of the market ( by paying them so much weekly . ) they cut off the competition ,
keep up their wages ^ and are in a situation to take advantage of any increased demand , and to get employment for their twenty surplus labourers . " Kow . Ais is no fanciful theory—it is the mode adopted hf many trade societies in town and country . We will iere . pass over other advantages , such as support in -sickness and old age , and aiding their surplus numhers to emigrate , which many societies embrace , and « onfine ourselves more immediately to the question . But we shall be told that there ii a point beyond 'which , we cannot force our wages ; granted—but ' tiiat is no reason why Tve should not" try to keep our present position , and maintain , as far ' aswe-are able , a . respectable class of workmen in the country , as ¦ yell as shopkeepers and tradesmen who depend on them , who -will contend for comfortable subsistence , and , ralherihan be content tcith less , will . take refuge in . other countries , if they cannot improve the condition of their own .
"But then it will be said , " that if we insist en high "wages we cannotmeet foreign competition . " In reply , Tfe would urge them not to forget the superior advantage of a profitable home consumption . For if wages ace to be continually reduced to meet foreign competition , there will be a gradual lessening of our home trade ; the respectable class of shopkeepers and tradesmen , who are somewhat prosparouiiy reasons of the present wages of the , working classes—if these jrages were reduced down , or any ways approximating , to those of onr unfortunate Irish brethren—would
« oon be driven from the country , or sink into the same degraded class we should all be reduced tothe mere starring conductors of the splendid machinery of England ; manufacturing to clothe the naked of tie world and be in rags ourselvts . In ay , as low ¦ wages tend to perpetuate ignorance , and " degrade and brutalize a people , it is questionable whether the capital now employed in our extensive mannfaciores tctnUd have any security for its existence ? for as Similar causes have prevented capital from taking Toot in Ireland , so might the boast of England be -driven to other climes .
Bnt it has been said that we should retain the ¦ same amonnt of wages if we had no combination * . ** Ao , " says Mr .. M * Culloch . ( no bad judge by the ¦ way )— ' •^ o master , " says he , " ever willingly consents to raife wages ; and the claim either of one , or ¦ cf a few individuals , for an advance of wages , is likely to be disregarded as long as then- fellows continue to work at the old rates . It is only when the Trhole or the greater part of the workmen combine , or act m a simultaneous manner ( which is equivalent to a combination ) , and refuse to work without « eemng an increase of wages , that it becomes the interest of the master to comply with their demand . " ¦ Onrownexperience proves the truth of this . With--oat combination , -we shonld rapidly be reduced to
* ae scarvaoon point ; ano , even wi . th the advantages ¦ of union , « are _ o ^ tinually being called upon to « t an theipfensive against our employers , individually or «> Ilestiyely , who cannot resist the temptation ¦ of redoeing onr wages in order to add to their profits . j But , even when they are most successful in their -object , their benefits are fleeting , as the competition -Tjetween themselves soon brings down their profits to iheir former leveL -tS ™ amens e sacrifice of capital , occasioned by stakes has been greatly lamented by some persons , amd eloqueudy enlarged upon to our prejudice . But , * e would ask , do strikes always origm&te with tis ? —or are ours only remembered , wMe those of our © mployers are justified or forgotten ? We -at once ^ mit the evils of the sacrifice , and have generally Ihestomgestreaseiis for . lamenting it : we see and j £ el the result m our persous ^ d o ^ r homes . 113
-mSS ^ aStS * * P ^ ^ culated the sacrifice , and considered the result of our submission to an ? ^ cbon our employ ^ might propose without a **** %$ ? \ F « specthHy snbnut ouTown experi--eaeMiiat the immediate loss isfot ^ g ^ f ^ on ^ r to ns , but to society at large , in preserving the ¦ workingclassasfrompovsrty and ignorance ! the anentaSerestatoflow wages—clearly demonstrated jn every copntry -where men are badly paid for their labour . If no combiaation existed among us , and employers could freely select the over-bur thened and tiaM portion of their workmen to propose ^ their own ^ selfish or servile tenns , flje ; . consequences would be «^ iappaxe ^ amonj ; Tis--li )? pocrii 7 , . craimng , and « me , servility would be generated—and -a hundred iasa . vo . one employ woufl afford a' hundred instru-^^ f ^ fCJeducuigall to &fi same degraded leveL _ -A : * 6 qncBoii of only 6 d . a day RTnctrrg tha labour-3 Bg populaiion of Great Britain , " eainare of their snah ^ 8 , amotmtto £ 54 , 750 , 000 praiammm . This
» wm < Hi 8 ana , at present drcaktedin srages among aogk ^ ri and tradesmen , might atSrs ^ be ^ addec -Jf -i ! - mif ! lfscfeeB ; Jbut competitioa * - - !?^ ^ * tIiei * to tta old gtandasL » ad ^ Wj ** pereons who are : now employed in Wy ^ W oj exdiangiBg those few comfort * the vorlon ^ man as enabled to purchase with the extra ^ pawe , voold , ! , the reduction took place , be soon
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forced to compete with him for a subsistence . Jtfe presume , therefore , that the loss occasioned by strikes 15 trifling ; when contrasted with the greater evil . But we shall be told that the amount of capital will not be lost . True : neither is the capital produced by the half-starvedpeasantryof Ireland ; but it might as well be lost , as tar as their comforts are concerned , as it leaves their hearths and homes in desolation , and goes where greater security is found for its employment . We are charged with ^ drunken , dissipated habits the consequence of receiving too high wages . We deny the charge so sweepingly made , especially against the members of eur unions ; and . more so do we deny that high wages promote the evil . With few exceptions , our unions are composed of
men vrho willingly make present sacrifices to secure distant benefit * , habits seldom blen Jed with dissipation . Bnt . admitting that the rice of drunkenness is still tod prevalent among working men , what wholesome mean 3 have been tsken to check its progress ? B as any consideration of the protracted hours of labour in unwholesome atmospheres , devised any rational enjoyments in which they could share , apart from intoxication ? Have any means been taken to raise up those whom poverty has prostrated , or to prevent others from falling ? Has wholesome knowledge been freely circulated among them , to supersede vicious excitement ? Has any encouragement ( or even legal security ) been giveu them to build their own places of meeting , and share in those advantages other clashes enjoy ? 2 \ o ; on the contrary , they have been treated like mere , machines ; to toil in youth , and starve in age .
Fellow-workmen , we have deemed it advisable thus to notice the charges that have been recently re-echoed against our unions . We do not contend that they are the most " perfect arrangements that could be " devi « ed ; but we feel confident that without them we should soon be reduced to a state of misery of which we can form little conception . At present those who are not in union have their wages protected by those who are . But if any new enactment is to result from , the forthcoming inquiry which will endanger the existence of our unions , we may as veil cast to the winds our hopes of progressive improvement and brighter prospects ; for , with the poverty and detTa'l"t " : on-that ' will inevitably ensue , will return the ignorance and brutality of the people , and the riotings and burning which characterized former davs .
Brethren , if we have in any way succeeded in convincing you of the great importance of union , and the necessity of bringing" all your powers asd energies together to resist any new infringement on your most sacred rights , we shall not deem our labour altogether vain . We remain , iu the cause of union , your Pellow ^ workmen , the Loudon Trades' Committee . Signed on . their behalf . W . LOVETT , Secretary . Committee Rooms * March \§ ih , 4 , Bridge-street . Westminster .
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— w MEETING OF BEER SELLETtS . On -Monday evening last , a meeting of the Beer Sellers in Leeds and the surroondinjr towns , was coiivened in the Music Hall , pursuant to advertise ment . Shortly after the time ( for our Leeds friends are never very punctual , ) there was a full attendance of Beer Sellers , who seemed to feel a deep interest in the proceedings about to be taken . Mr . xtoysTONE was unanimously called to fill the c ! i ; : ir . He int . oduced the business of the meeting by reading the advertisement , which , he stated , was an invitation to all who felt an intere 5 tiii the success
of the trade . He hoped there would be no opposition to their proceedings , as it certainly was not their intention to eutertaiuany question except such as relateu to the furtherance of the object of their meeting . He hoped , therefore , it would be unnecessary for him to say anything by way of exhorting them to keep order . They would " feel the importance of tins without any advice , seeing it was their own interest which was immediately at strike . Having made these observations , he should not further trespass upou their time ; but would call upon Mr . JjtTssEy to move the . first resolution . Mr . Bursey said it was well known among the Beer SeHars , whether it was known among other classes or not , that their only object in thus meeting together was for the protection of their own immediate interests . They wished to be distinctly understood as having no ill-feeling towards anv other
class of tradesmen ; on the contrary , they desired that all night be blessed with the greatest prosperity . All that the Be ^ r Sellers desired was a fair opportunity of retailing the article in wliich they deal upon the same footing as others who sell the same commodity . They were BOt met to disenss the propriety of others enjoying greater privileges than thenise ! ves They were " met for the immediate protection of , their own interests against monopoly of the worse , the most oppressive , and most vexations kind . ( Hear , hear . ) All they desired was an equality of competition , and he saw no reason why tlie Beer Seller , wno paid for all Ms privileges as well as the Publican , and frequently at a Tate much higher , should be deprived of the same legal protection . ( Applause . ) With these seiitiniento he most cordialyr moved the resolution , which he had no doubt would merit their approbation .
Mr . Richard Senior seconded the resolution , wlr ' ch chiefly adverted to the injustice of the distinction made by law between the Beer Seller and the Licensed Victualler . It was carried unanimously . Mr . Bluxt rose to move the second resolution After reading it , he said it was in itself so expressive , and so highly calculated to gain the approval of every good man , that he wonld not attempt to say anything more in its favour than that it contained his sentiments , that he fully
concurred iu every clause , and that it did meet with his most cordial and unqualified approbation . ( Locd applause . ) The resolution chiefly related to the inconvenience of the widows of Beer Sellers , in not being allowed to continue in the business after the death of" their husbands , except upon very «» exatious conditions ; and also to the inducement which was ' held out to common informers to press every little fault against them , inasmuch as the law directed that one-half of all penalties should be given to the informer .
Mr . Stextox -seconded the resolution , which was also carried unanimously . ¦ Mr . Bluxt , from Sheffield , then rose and said , that before presenting the third resolution to their notice , he wished , in a few words , to present to them the peculiar predicament in which , in many respects , they stood as Beer Sellers . " ( Hear , hear . ) He considered , then , that they were outlaws in the strictest sense of the word , for &e law enacted that they should suffer their houses to be entered by whoever may demand admittance in the name of a policeman . This class of men were invested with almost unlimited power agoinst them ; they could not only demand admittance at any hour of the night , but they could proceed to break down their
doors if they did not open them when they ( the policemen ) thought sufficient time had been given . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) It was the glory of an Englishmen that his house was his castle , —( hear)—into which no man darel enter except under very peculiar circumstances . It was not so with Beer Sellers . Robbers might come in the name of policemen and they would be obliged to admit them . ( Hear , hear . ) Besides he saw no reason why every man should not have equal rights . ( Hear , hear . ) The law was sufficiently powerful- and .-Tuf ficientlystrlnsentto compel every one u > pay taxes ( uproarious cheers ) ; in this there was no respect of
persons ( cheers ) , all must pay ; the Beer Seller as well as any others ; and he * demanded , therefore , that upon that principle they shonld have equal justice and equal protection . Besides it was worthy of remark that "since the beer act came into operation , that articlehad decreased Is . 3 d . in value , which was certainly an advantage to the publiiflf it was moderately used . He was a Beer Seller ; but still he never wished men to make fools of themselves by abusing beer ; it was like every thing else , good in its place , and bad if out of its place . ( Hear , hear . ) With these feelings , then , he begged leave to move the third resoltrticvn .
Mr . Duce , from Bradford , seconded the resolution . He said it was unnecessary for bim to say any thing to the meeting to impress its importance npon their minds , that they already iek . He could very conscientiousl y second this resolution , which commended the principle of Mr . Warburton ' s bill now in the House of Commons , being aware that they deserved nothing fromGovernment .. except that they shonld enjoy the same privileges which were already enjoyed by others -who had no greater interest in the trade . More than this they . did not ask , and with less they -would never be * content . ( Loud cheers . ) The resolution was carried unanimously .
Mt . Thob . Tayw > r moved , and Mr . Hughes seconded the fourth resolution which related chiefly to the importance and necessity of enjoying equal lights . Mr . P . O'CpsxoBthen rose and was received with loud cheers . He said that before potting that resolution perhaps he might say a few words to the meeting . Perhaps by some it might be considered requisite that he should make an apology for being there .. This , however , he thought would be admitted to be nnnecessary when he stated that he "was not a voluntary witness of their proceedings , but that he had been nressinrfv invited to attend their
meeting . ( Hear , hear . ) He had been : much astonished at several-circumstances that had taken place in attempting to pass their resolutions . It appeared that upon introducing himself to the meeting , the Chairman expected something like opposition to their proceedings . He knew not how any person could have the hardihood , to come there to oppose them when they-had met for the sole purpose of asking Government for those rights which had already been extended to others who were certainly no more worthy . ( Hear , heas , hear . ) Upon taking the stow of hands for the last motion , there appeared to be a few at the other end of the room w ^ io ha d entirely lost sight of their own interest ,
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for the question , embodied in thafcrpsphttidn was not whether beer-was more wholesome than water ; but whether a man should ! be protected / in ; the sale of an article for / wHcTv hi paid . license and taxes . ^ ( Loud chpers . ) He came not there to advocate the interests of the Beer sellers * exclusively ; but merely to show that he wished a niOTersal extension and adoption of the valuable principle , " That men should do others as they wished others should do to them . " ( Loud applause . ) He could not help saving , however , that in some respects the Beersellers deserved the insonveniences to which-they were siibjected by the law , when thev * o far forgot the diguity that was due , to themselves and ' their fellovr-traderiirien as to laugh at the misfortunes of their brethren in the trade . He had heard one poor fellow , since he came into the
room , state that he had been fined 40 s . and coststnat very day , and he was sony to see that the only enect this statement had " upon them was to excite thpir laughter . ( Hear , hear . ) - That , however , was not the way to gain respect for their cause ; for until they respected themselves and Aiewed their own interests in a proper light ; in short , until they were cpnibined to preserve their own interests from the grasp of oppression , neither he nor any other man , nor the legist lature itself would ever respect them . ( Hear , hear . ) If , then , tb * y wished their interests to be respected , they must learn to respect themselves . He fully concurred in . nil the resolutions that had been proposed : he thought they did credit to their committee , and he would support them because he thought they sought for nothing more than equal justice . If theliccnsed victuallers were to meetto seek aredress
of their grievances , he should be equally ready to lend them every aid in his power to obtain tueir redrew . They . laboured under tyco distinct grievances—the one the responsibility of the landlord or host for goods left in the care of his servants ; and the other , that he could not sue for more thau a certain amount , if any debt is contracted with him by any of his customers . These he thought hard laws , and he would endeayoui to obtain their repivil so far as his influence went . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor Sweeded to address the meeting at great length , e adduced a great variety of argument to shew the
Beer sellers the importance of organization amongst themselves , and ot establishing a society for the mutual protection of their interests . His address was listened to with the " greatest attention , frequently calling forth the loudest applause . Ai ' terhe had finished , a resolution vrfis passed to petition Parliament for a redress of their grievances . A vote of thanks Tras then given to Mn O'Connor for his able and his kind services , which was passed with acclamation . A vote of thanks was also given to the gentlemen who attended from Sheffield and Bradford ; after which the meeting dispersed .
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u ^ ui ; . .. . MEETING OE THE WORKIN G MEN / S ASSOCIATION AT BIRSTAL . * , On Tuesday evening last , the usual weekly meeting of the Working Men of Birstnl and its neighbourhood , was held at the Greyhound Inn , for the purpose of discussing political questions , involving the interests of the working classes . Mr . O'Connor was particularly requested to attend and address the audience . At the time appoiiited for 'the commencement of the proceedings , the large room , which is computed to hold several hundred persons , was crowded almost to suffocation ; and shortly afterwards several hundred persons surrounded the house , anxious to hear what was going on , but without thu possibility of gaining admission .
Mr . Geo . Crowthek was unanimously called -to the chair . He said he was exceedingly happy to inee » t snch nn assembly as was then convened , arid for such a good purpose ; and he . was still more happy at being able to state , that there was a gentleman " there , of whose patriotism they had often heard , aud who would then tell them las sentiments " . on varions political questions which immediately affected the interests of all working men , aud wbipli it was equally the advantage and the duty of all fully to comprehend . . They were already acquainted with Ms sentiments , and it would be urmecfssary therefore , for him to reiterate them on the present occasion . The subject which it was their intejition more particularly to discuss was the Poof Law
Amendment Act , and he was exceedingly glad that he should have no occasion to say much upon the subject , as there was a gentleman present , who would say a great deal more on the question thun he was able to say , and , he doubted not , would say it to much better purpose . That gentleman had come there especially as the advocate of the rights of the people . It was true their acquaintance with him thus far was but very short ; he hoped , however , that they wonld be better known to each other in future . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) There was nothing more conducive to the enlightenment of the people than that they should hear a great variety of opinions , and though much had not . yet been dom > in the way of instructing the inhabitants of that village , he could assux « Mr . O'Connor
that he would that evening address an-audience that wnnW und « rttand him , and that ieli earnest and hearty in the cause which they were met to advocate ( Hear , hear , hear . ) They might be told that the men of Birstal were sluggish andsleepy , and ' 'indifferent to the progress of Radicalism ; perhaps such a charge six months ngo might have been true ; but now they had arisen from their drowsiness ; now they were awake ; now they tnew what was their duty , and they wen ? determined to perform it independent of every consideration less important th ; m the sense of imperative duty . ( Loud cheers . ) Having said so much he would not longer trespuis upon the patience of the meeting , but would at once introduce to them the gentleman whom he was sure they were all anxious to hear . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . )
Mr . O'Connor then rose amid loud cheers and said , that after the character that had been given of the inhabitants of that sweet little village , in the simple and unaffected language of the Chainnaii , he had not the slightest doubt tha t rfny person ad vocu dug the same principles which he had advocated through life , and which ne was still determined to advocate , would be received amongst them with the heartiest welcome . ( Several voices welcome ! welcome !) He was proud that the question selected for discussion on that occasion was one on which he bad bestowed mnch attention bothin the I loune of Commons ( where he represented thelargest . constituency in the United Kingdom , at the same tirne considering himself a citizen of the world equally devoted to the
permanent interests of every class of the community ) , and out of that house ; and he was equally proud to state that , though he had represented an Irish constituency he had never lost sight of the interests of Englishmen which were likely to be fearfully compromised by that bill : and that lie hud in consequence voted against every clause of it wbi ] passing through the Huuse of Commons . ( Loud cheers . ) He doubted not that there were many old men amongst them who had iu part travelled the path of the immortal Cobbett ; and who would perhaps recollect the letter of that renowed patriot to him , compunienting him on the support which he had given him in his staunch opposition to that disgraceful measure , and stating thathad every Irish Member
given it tlie same opposition which he ( Mr . O'C . ) had done , that bill . would never have passed into a law . ( Hear , hear . ) He was glad , thep , that they had selected thL ; question , which he had attempted to nipin its very bud , before it had been possible that it should blast the hopes of the working men of this countay ,- ^ -deprive them of their last miserable and ouly recourse , and compel them when subjected to iiaisformnes -which no human foresight could perceive nor any human skill avert , either to enter a bastiltf to be deprived of their liberty and every comfort which could render ' life worth enjoying , or starvin g to death amidst abundance . ( H&ur , hear , and loud cheers . ) Now he ventured to assert that the legislature had no more right topa * w thatbill than he had
to go upon the highway , and commit a robbery . ( Hear , hear . ) Nay he was sure that the conduct of ajw open highwayman , who went at once to the traveller , and demanded his money without any mask , was in its degree much more commendable than the conduct which the legislature had pursued in passing this measure under the guise of being { he representatives " of the people . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) That bill was passed as a mortgage upon the labour of the people ; it interfered at once with every settlement that had been made for the provision of the poor , and consigned them and their whole nghtand property to the sole dominion of th 3 threetyrants who git in Somerset House . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Those who were acquainted with
the history 01 the country would well enough remember the general Rtate of the laws which , at the time of Henry VIII ., related to the poor . They would remember that ample provision was made for them , until that infernal fiend divided the property amongst the pimps , slanderers , and mock representatives oFMs day . ( Hear ,, hear . ) In the first place , he tried a lew convents ( as it was never the policy of a Government to aim , in the most direct manner , at plunder ); and having succeeded with these , like murdering the sentinels around a camp while the body of the army is sleeping , the remainder fell an eafiy prey to the greedy grasp of that insatiable usurper . Henry the . Eighth sent his commissioners , who , of coursevmade mariyinquiries ,
and , like the Whig commissioners under the JPoor Law Amendment Act , reported a grei ^ t deal about the " abuses" of the oil system , and thus the monasteries and . their , revenues , which belonged to the people , were seized by ^ that grasping fiend , and applied to his own purposes , and the purposes of those whom he favoured about his infamous court . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Bnt leaving the old history of the poor laws , he Should be sorry to base taeir rignts upon anyprindple acknowled ged so far back as the time of Henry VII I . ; itwas his opinion that the rights of the people should be annuauy based upon the annual prosperity of the country ; and that as luxury ad ceJinjprogress through the , renuement and extension of 8 CieHce , "the comforts of the industrious classes of the community should at least share an equal , if not a" greater , progress ^ ( Uproarious applause , ) He was not one of those who considered
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thai the peopleought to . be Hhetf ers oF , wood and drawers of water , " for the comfort and cprivenienc of the luxurious , while they tliemselyes could neither wann themselves withthat \ rbod when cold , nor slake their thirst with that water when almost parched to death . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) He was not one of those who would advpqate the doctrine of passive obedience and : noh-resistaiice , aHd of abiding b j ^ --. the sjtiict : ^^ letter of ^^ the law , while improvements in , legislation were ¦ going on for the protection of the Aristocracy , and there was nothing done for the advancement of the comfort of the poor ; . but he asked that the science of legislatioh , ; inallits branches , should bin . rapidly , hurried on to the- goal of perfection ; ( Hear , and loud
cheers . ) ' , He" need no t tell 'the men . of Birstal that when ^/ this ;; law was introduced into . the House of Commons ^ it was don ^ at the instance of . the capitalists , who said that-the poor rates were eating up the land . ( Hear , hear ^); They had not the honesty to toll the Goveranient that it was not . the poor rates that was eating up the country ,.- ' - 'but ttw » taxes . ( Continued cheering : ) When Lord Brougham introduced this bill into the . House , he left the debt of £ 800 , 000 , 000 untouched ; he left the army ,: the , navy , tlie church , and- the privy councillors uiimeutibued , he saw riot the great beam iii the eye of those drones who fatten upon the people's : industry ; but . he saw tlie mote that was iu the eye of the poorj and he , forsooth , must pluck it out .
( Continued ; ' . cheers . ) , ; : . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) never dreamed of the poor rates being detrimental to the Aristocracy , for had it-hot "b een for the Act of Elizabeth , by which a provision was . made" for the poor , of which they had been deprived"by Henrythfe Eighth , the Aristocracy \ vpuld at this time hav , e had no more title to their l ; ni'i ] s than the title of tyrants : arid . it was therefore a favour to tlip Aristocracy , to pass the 43 d of Elizabeth , it' merely for the means of preventing _ those aggressions which poverty must auid ever will comihit . ( Loud cheers . ); No uct . hjul ever been passed with the sole view Of benefitting the poor ;^ - ( lbud cri »? s of hear , liear , )^ -and it might be said with the' strictest regard for truth , that wherever such was proft'ssed to be ( he case , that profession was iiiatte the mere cloak : to hidev . 'its hideous defonnities . ( Loud and continued applause . )
Mr . O'Connor proceuded to address the meetiug at great length , in which , lie ndyerted to a great variety ' of grievances of Nvhich the peoplo h : \ d to complain " ; auapr ' oyed . to the entire satisfaction of aHpresent , that Universal Suffrage wiis the omly real , cure that could ever bo adopted with certainty : and / safety to tlie intcsrestd of every class of the coniinuiiity . There was , perhaps , never in any village Uisulayeq so much intelligence and c > nthnsia ; - ; ni amongst , the people as at Birstal . They stienieA-. Io appreciitte every sentiment . to its full value , and . to have their eye alone on the one ^ reatoyect- ^ -Uuiversal Suffrage , as that which can alone prevent the enactment of bad laws , arid procure a due arid proportionare respect to the comtorts and well-being of the industrious classes of the : community . Aftei' the address- was finished , a vote of thanks \ vas given to Mr . O'Connor ,: accompanied with three hearty cheers , and u one cheer
more . .: Mr . ' . Heat-ky , ' one of our agents for Devrshury closed tlie -meeting in a sWor ^ address , in . which lie announced the dinner and meeting at Dewsbury , on Mondayithe l ( 3 th of April . On Mr . O '( Ji ) rinor ' s } i > a \ ijig the pl ; ic « , a great body of the audienceretiiiestod to accompany lum a short distance on the road ; Avhicli , 'however , ' Mr ., O ' Counor ( liicliiled . :
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THE EEPRESENTATIXE OF ALj \ IONPBURY AND HIS CONSTITUENTS . , John Buckley , Esq ., M . P . and G . G ., begs leave to ' announce , through yo . ur periodical , to his constituents and tiie public in general , that he has not been able to take his . seat ainong thtf Ymocli- representatives of his injured , country , in coiiserjuence of a seyere fit of sickness ! , iit a time when he ought to have been . preparing for his Parliamentary duties , but he hopes to be able to do as much good , ( being ijo \ y partially restored to health , ) iu these districts , wliich are now so much disturbed by the agitation which tlie Poor Law Ameiidiacnt : Xct occasions , until a future session sliall give him the opportunity of being associated with more honourable and more '
disinterested men ; men who are : anxious for the happiness aud well-boing of all classes- ; men who are not mot to bestow patronage on their relatives and dependents , but nieri who are met to assist in the great work , of niitipualregeniratioii . - I do assure my wprthycbn . stituents that no good will ever be done in the Common ' s House of Parliament until all men ; l » iive . an erjiial power to elect reprfseiitatiyes' such ns will fearlessly and hoii . estly legislate , npt only for . themselves , but for every portion of the community . The enemies of liberty nave ever urged , 11 s a powerful nrguTnent against an
equality of political nghts , t . lu ? ignorarice of the mass , and at the samii time have unremittingly obstructed the cultivation of their thinking faculties . This may appear paradoxical ; it •« ,. '¦ lieyerthelesa , iii strict accordnuce with tl » K spirit of . despotism ^ for the strength of bad gdyerninent rests in the depravity of their subjects .: 1 proiiiise my worthy constituents ' that iny eugrgios shall be . directed to the vital question of national instruction , which ^ to ; be useful , must be widely ditterait' from any mode that has hitherto been pursued , it will then be found that knowledge is ; xwc ;\ " :
I am now decidedly " 111 ¦ ¦ f avour of Univero'al Suffrage , as I can see no reason why any one should uo't . 'have a voice iu electing whouitioever he may think best qualified io be his representative . . I am happythat this principle is . getting , exclusively diffused throughout the productive classes . It gives ine no small degree of pleasure to hear that the ancient boroiig ^ i for which 1 have the honoui *' , to be a Member , will no longer coiih ' iie itself to " 'Household Suffrage . Until the Suffrage , shall become generally universal , it will be futile to declaim against the corroding monopolies "whicl ) . liave been erected : by a spurious currency . —Believe mo to be your devoted sen ant , . \ JOHN BUCKLEY , M . P . ¦ jlmoiidbiwu March 22 . 1838 .
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; POOR LAW COMMITTEE . Our readers have not forgotten that , during the elections , when their '' sweet voices" were matter of some consideration to the rival robber chieftains , the "Whi g and Tory candidates were alike rife with protestations of a desire to reform the Poor Law , sp far as its np . plicabili . ty-. tp'the Northern and inanufacturing districts was .. concerned . They will recollect Mr . Baines ' s , promise , being a nreinber of the Poor La \ v Coininittee , to take care that persons from Leeds should be examined before that Committee , with a view to the exhibition of the excellence of the
Poor Relief system practised in Leeds . Well , the Thirteenth Report of the Poor Law-Committee has been published , and we find some very important evidence from Matthew Johnson , Esq . Our space is . this week so fully occupied , that' we can only direct the . attention of our readers to the portion of this gentleman ' s evidence , which we have selected ; premising that the examining member , when not otherwise , stated ,, is aVlr . Baines .: Next week ,: if it - j - . . ¦ i- . ,- ... ... .. . . .. ¦ . , , j please God , we shall return to the subjecry : and have some little talk with Messrs . Baines , Johnson , Power , and Gulson , on this interesting topic of
discussion . ¦ . '¦•¦ '¦ : . ; ' - . ¦ ¦ '¦ : ¦ ¦ . ¦•¦ ¦ - . ¦ . - ' '¦ : 4046 . You have , of course ^ a workhouse " at Leeds ? —Wehave ., " :. ¦ ' / . . '¦ ' ¦ : ' . ' / _; ' / ' . ;¦ ¦ ¦¦ .:. ¦¦ . ¦ -- ¦ 49 ^ 7 . That it is managed , I believe , under the qld system ' ?—It . isv ' -. ; . ' - ¦ '" - . - .. ¦ "' . ¦ ¦" ' ¦' -. ;¦¦ - ; '¦ . ' .: ¦ ¦'¦'¦ * 40481 Is the workhouse generally cprisidered as Ayell conducted uiider that system ?— -It iswell cpnducted , ^^ so far as the providing-. of food and clothing are concerned ; and I may add also , with respect to the instructiori of the children iu reading , aiid writing , aud accounts ; so far . I think s iu reference to those matters , the workhouse may be" said to
be well conducted , that is , there is a very uberal provision , of those things . .. . ; ¦ . •' - 4056 . Is there ; any classificntion of the inmates of the workhouse ? There is a . classiiicatioh to the extent that , the nature of the premises vrill allow ; for instance the feinales live in orie part of the building ,: the men in another part ^ the children also are separate , and : the sick part of the establishment have wards for their accommodation ¦;¦ ' but there is no separation , in point of fact , for -the ; yard is common to all , arid the access to the privies is the same . ' :. - ¦ ¦ ¦• V : v . . ' '; /¦ ¦ " ¦ " ;¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦[ ' :: ¦¦/ " ¦'¦ _ " " / ¦ .
403 " . Mr . Ho ^ ges ,- ^ The sleeping apartmer its only are separate ?—Their day-rooms are separate . t 4058 .. Mr . Lister . —Db they take their meals together?— Yes . ; . '' ¦ ¦ ¦ : '¦ . ; : ;' : ' :- . ¦ ¦ . : ' :- ¦ . - ' - . : , ¦ ¦' ¦ ' '¦ _ ¦¦¦ 4059 . Mr ; Baines . —Do you think a better classih ' cation desirable f—Very desirable iudeed . 40 G 0 *^ Chairman . —What are the . iucouveuiencea which you ; have observed or heard of as resulting frorathe 1 iiresent ^^ imperfect . ' classification ? - —The inconveniences relate to almost every dass of persons in the estabhshmerit ; for instance , the aged people
are frequently annoyed xnore than they ought tolie by the intrusion of youriger persons ; -they are ^ not so detache ' d : and separaW as / is requisite for . their epinfort ; but the greatest ^^ iricbriveniehce arising froriithe statepf thiu ^ iu that estabh ' shment is the immorality that ; prevails , ! ! fear to a very alarmirig extent , from a , variety of facts and circumstances which have 1 com ^ to mf "knowledge ; I hate reason to fear that the adult initiates of that hpnse , are in the constant habit of Bexual intercourse ; but the greatest evil-is .-in reference to'thfe children ; theaf imorals . I am afraid , nre greatly corrupted br that .
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4061 ^ Mr ^ Baines . " --Then , is tlie Comfliittee ! to cQllec « Ppin your ^ sfriswef , that a ^^ better classification would be advantajeeous to the old , to ike young , j » articularly to the children , and to the inmates of the workhouse generally ?—Ye *; I think that I shpuld not do jtifstic 0 to this subjecry if I d ? d not state that the immorality which prevails " among thegirls , for instance , is such as to lead oniei to believe that the inunorality is greater than could generally be . supposed . From , information which has been brought before the ¦ woTkhouse bqatd from time to Mme , and which the inembers individually haye obtained from their connection with the workhouse , I am of bpiniou that a cousiderable number of girls , even , are so far depraved as I have referred to iu , referetice , to the adnlts . ' ¦ . ¦ . '¦ ' - : -. - '¦' :: ¦ ' - ¦ ' :-: ¦¦ ' ¦ ¦ . '¦'' ¦
4062 . Do you mean the girls that have been brought into the workhouse as paupers , or those that have grown up in the house r—I inean those who have grown , up in the housiBi . ¦ ;'• 4063 . Then do you tbiuk that .. the classification accordinsr tp the systenl of the union workhouses would be an essential improvement Upon the system tliat exists in tlie workhouse iu Leeds ? . - ¦ ¦ . I do indeed . ¦ ' . " :: ¦ ¦ ¦' :. - . ¦ - ¦ . . ¦ ¦¦' . ' . - ¦ ' /¦¦ ¦ . '• ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦'¦ ' - . 40 p" 4 . Have you a dietary there ?^ -Yes , I have a copy of what the inmates have . every day . 4065 . Will you state it ? On the Sunday , at breakfast , there is a pint and a half of milk porridge and eight ounces of bread ; for dinner on that day
there are six ounces of boiled mutton , six ounces of potatoes , four ounces of bread and a pint of beer ; for the snpper of that day , a pint and a half of ; milk porridge arid eight ounces of bread . Now thebreakfast and supper are the same pri every day of the week , the dinners only varying . On the Monday there is a piut and a half of soup , ekhtwmces of bread and a pint of beer . On the Tuesdaj * , six ounces of beef and pork , six ounces of potatoes , four ounces of bread and a pint of beer . Wednesday the dinner is the same as on Monday . Thursday the same as Tuesday . Friday the same as Monday , and on Saturday there are six ounces of puddingi , with treacle , eight ounces of bread , two ounces of cheese , and a pintof beer . ' : ..-. .:. ¦ - . -.. ¦ , . ¦ , -.. - . ¦ "¦* :
, 4 ' Xii . Is the lodging as good nnd this food as plentiful in , that workhouse as iu the . families of the . lribouriug poor generally , who support themselves by indepeuQent iab 6 ur ? -7--l should say much better . 40 . & 7 i -Do you think it dHsirable tliat perapris in . the workhouse should be supported better than an independent labourer subsisting by his own industry out of the workhouse ?—Certjiiuiy not . 4178 . Then , on the whole ,.. . is- it your opinion , having had a great deal of experience , iu parpchijil matters , that it would be desirable to introduce the New Poor Law into the manufacturing districts , of the north?—It is my decided opinion that that would be the case . ;
4179 . Will you state why you think it would be an improvement upon the present system ?—In the first place , I think that there would be a considerablereduction in the amount . .: of poor rate ; but : I should riot thiiik thatail .. advantage ., if itwas attained at the expense of the coiriforts of the really necessitous poor . ' ; but the system which is connected with the Poor Law 'Amendment Act . is that which I think would really be beneficial to . the deserving ' poor ; there would be a better arid closer , and more correct knowleilge of their state aud " circumstances , and their etudes would be met more justly and adequately ; and , on the other hand , a consiileiable liumber ol p . ersonS f who are ' " . paupers , from generation to generatiorij would be brought under such a system as -must , I think , inevitably lead to the introduction of better habits , industrious , sober , and proper habits ; ¦ ¦ . .- .. . ' ¦
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TO THE WORKING MEN OF THENORTH . Comm illee Room , ' Turk ' s Head , King Street , Holdohi , London , March 21 , 1838 . You are no doubt aware , tl j at hi June , 1837 , George Loveless ( one of the ill-used Dorchester Labourers ) returned to this country . I am now happy to inform-you , that four niore of these persecuted men arrived in England on the 17 th instant ; and that the sixth is expected to follow in a few vreeks . You are also awarej that a Committee of Working Men has existed for three years iu London , who were appointed by the working classes , for the purpose of raising subscriptions to support the families during the exile of their natural protectors ; and to form a fund ^ from which the men themselves , on their . retuni , might receive some pecuniary compensation for their sufferings in the cause of industry .
That the Comimttee , through the support afforded by their fellow-workmen , has been : enabled to allow the famines a weekly siim sufficient for their decent maintenance during the above period ; and have now about £ 600 in hand . This sum , however , is not , in their opinion , and that of the working men of Londou , sufficient to place them in that situation by which they would be romoved from the power of their oppressors . It is proposed ( though nothing definite wilt be . decided upon , withoutthe consent of the subscribers to' tneluircff f » ud . cotroulKiig the : feel 5 ings of the men fliemselves , ) to place them in small farni 3 ; which would at once serve as monuments to perpetuate the infamy of their Whig oppressors , and the sympathy and respect of their feuow-workmeri To assist in at once raising a sum sufficient for fhe above , or a similarjiurpose , the London Central DpnoHESTER CpjiMiTTiEE , have adopted the followiug Resolution : : ;¦ ..- ¦ ' . ""•/ . -
"That we enraestly recommend to pur fellow * - wprkinen in every town ^ ullage y and hamlet , throughout the United Kingdom , the propriety of their immediately entering into a Penny Subscriptidn , to be called The Dorchester Tribute ^ ' for ; the purpose of testifying to the six Dorchester ^ Labourers our sympathy with their sufferings , and d > etestation of their persecutors . " The Committee , therefore , respectfully suggest to you , the propriety of gettirig this Resolution acted upon in your district , in whatever manner you may deeni most suitable ; and to forward the money sb collected , either to . the Honorary Secretary , at the Comiuittee Room , or to the Treasurer , W . D . Saul , Esq .. 15 , Aldersgate-stfeet , City . '
It is desirable that not a moment should be lost , as the Central Committee are anxious to close the business at the earliest possible period . Any communication requesting infomation or othenvise , will be immediately attended to , by ¦ ¦' ,- ' Youra , respectfully , ROBERT HAIITWELL , Hon . Secretary . COMMITTEE . W . D . SAUL , Treasurer . Mr . G . ToMEV , Smith . J . Gardiner , Smith . .. G . Lake , Carpenter . J . BiRKiNGYOUNu , Coppersm . J . I 3 AhNES , Bricklayer . " J . Woo'rTON , Carpenter . W . Isaacs , Typefounder . J . pAy ,: Ropemaker . ¦ J . Bush , Carpenter .. W . WAtKEn , \ Vh ^ elwright . T . Wijfjf , Shipwright . ' J . Pbice , Cprawaiiier . ' .- ¦ ¦ . J . Passmore , Carpenter . " J . JonesV Smith . : J . Simpson , Cooper . C R . Loveless mid W . AV ' enioce , Agents for families . R . HARTWELiij Coropositorj Honorary Secretary .: In furtherance of the ; above object , ' Penny Subscriptions will be received at the Northern SfdrOSicei Leeds . ' " - ¦ ' . - ¦ ^ . " \ ¦ '¦' . ' : ' :- : : ¦¦ : ¦' : ' " - ''' .: ' .
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CHARACTER OF 6 » c 6 nnELL . % \ We give the follpiving true character of ^^ D * O'Con ? nell from the pjetop hlet entitled u Letters from F . O'Connor to \ D ^| CpririelU V - v " : Yaa are * the : gfyfa , ^ politi cal Leviathan of the d » y , and many an honest , : but unsuspecting man has been wrecked against your vnles and sdphistriep . I shall first give what I corisider a fair character of you . You have , by attending public meetings , ana conversing with men , ( well versed in subjects to which your attention ; has been 4 ra-wn , ) amassed a wonderful store of informatibri uppri passing events . You have become so coriaplete a political mechanic that your inind is the index , of yourwords father than your feelings : your passions
are only strong when accused \ personally for- persorialities , and then jdu defend . yourself bybeing scurriloris , in ordfer to prove that you act under excitement . Erom these practices you -have , acquired so complete acdmmiand of countenance , that the noviceLwould suppose ^ your feelings ¦ wounded , while y ou 'vere literally calculating upon the profit arid loss of even the most rash expressibn . Ypuhave the advantage over most men , or hastily abandoning a weak or unpalatable : a rguinentj and flying at once to : arioflier ; Your speeches are more iemarkable for their boldpess of assertion , than for their arrangement , their point , or connection with the question in debate . vYou are a good historian , aud principally deal in those cabals , both civil and religious , by which different courts haye been occasionally distracted . . You bring your historical facts , in gerieraL to War well upon your subiect . When
complaining , your voice is well calculated to inspire your hearers with pity . ' When inveighing ; your sole object is to intimidate others from attacjeing you , and instead of defending yourself , you heap reproach upon ypur opponents . In addressirig" an assemblyv your first object is to feel the pulse of your audience , aqd then , with amazing tact , and the rapidityybf lightning , you suit the speech to your : hearers . You have a happy knack of finding : out the soft part of your audience , arid then you ; laugh or cry as the case requires . In matters of'detail yoa are sadly , deficient , and eren . ^ ifli your own party become tiresome ; yon-reqHir « more backin ^ up , as a speaker , than : any public man ; yoii are timid to 9 , degree when your audience ; is not completely With you j but your pliancy of principle' soon iubuldii you to their shape , ^ and thus you ^^^ generally cpritrivaip ensure a fevourable heanngi Your wice is of a most peculiar kind , for altHougli rough ^ yet U is
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sometimes harmonious , and ¦ calculated ' ' to ple as * ( e ven the most refinedear . Your words are geaeraHV 'well chosen , but your sentences 1 are almost in ^ J ? ably mconiplete . Your memory is astonishing lift under : exceflent control . Your attitude , when fon think yon have a good case , is bold and commanding , when you stand upon doubtful grouod « , itis cripplS ' crouching , and even supplicating . Your dre ad ^ of * bold antagomat is indescribable . The' nae ^ . which youmake of a triumphover a weak and mere Bar tizan opponent , is masterly , and followed up mo ^ with a view to deter ' others , than to de fend yourself Your principal object through life has : been to a ^ bnmnlate power , arid not man has ever fostered ^ bia resources , fdr that purpose ^ with more cunning hii ? lessvirrue . ' : : : ¦ : ¦ N 6 ut
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Convicts ane- their Lab 6 tih .-. _ J ! j ^ reports of Mr . Capper , the superiritendeat of stipi and vessels : employed-for the confiriement ofof . fenders under sentence of transportation , relating to the convict establisbments at Portsmputh , Chathaja arid Woolwich , and at Bermuda ; we find that there are six hulks at the stations in'JEnglaud , vii . - . —t ^ at Charham , two at iWoolwieh , one at Pbrtsrhdutb and ; one at Gbsport ; and three convict hulkg j | Bermuda , viz . : ^ wo at Ireland Island and one at St George's . The expense of the hulks in this cou * . try for the half year ending 30 th June , 1837 wm
£ 19 , 808 ; and for that ending 31 st December , lS 3 f il 9 , 327 ; total ; for 183 ? , £ 39 , 13 o \ The ttrtaj value of labour performed in the first Haif-year ^ if 1837 , was £ 12 . 088 , arid ; in the latter half of that year £ 9 , 461 total ,::: £ 21 , 549 . ' This would ; reduce the cost of the year of theJEuglish hulks to £ 17 , 586 . Of the hulks at Berriiuda the expense for the fit « i half year was £ 8 , 336 ; for the latter , £ 8 , 046-together £ 16 , 382 for the year . The value of tJi * labour performed was £ 14 , 619 during the first , and £ I 3 , q 81 during the second half yew , making £ 28 , 200 " for the yearj or a surplus of £ 11 , 818 oya the expenses . The latter report , dated February 1
loiis , states that : the public works carrying on ^ Bermuda , are so far drawing to a close as to admit in the course of the year , of a reduction in the cbu ^ viet labour . ; On the .: 1 st of January , 1837 , there were l , 935 prisoners on board the hulks in- England since which time 3 ^ 970 convicts have : been received ! During the year , 3 , 662 have been trarisported to the AustraUari settlements ; 226 have been discharged •¦' and 103 transferred to the general Penitentiary ; 5 have escaped ; 120 have died ; and 1 789 convicts remained on board the hulks on the 1 st Januarj last . Of . the nuraber reeeiyed during the year l , 366 are known tp have been previously convicted '
742 have beenln prison before ; and the remaining 1 , 862 cases are ; supposed to be first-ofiences ; : Of the whole number , 836 were above 30 years of age-1 J 897 were between 20 and : 30 years ; 1 , 130 between 15 and 20 years ; 116 between 10 arid 15 years ; and one prisoher has beeri received under 1 Q years of age . Of HO military prisoners , 77 w ^ re received from British colonies , arid 33 from regi . mental depots in England ; 69 prisoners . were also receiyed under sentence of the civil authorities in the English colonies . Of the total number received 3 , 341 were natives of England ; 59 natives of Wales ; 2 / 1 were Scotch ; 214 Irish ; : 54 natives ol British coloriieSj and 31 were foreigners . :
The Amendment AeTV—Oh Wednesday w ^ l the Overseers of Fixby were samrnoned to appeaj before John Bhodes Eafph , and Wm . Briggs , Esqn , to show cause why that Toyrnship refused to obey sb ordermade by the Board of Guardians for the pay merit of £ 9 . lSs ^ d . as the first instalment due from the Township orFixby , for the general expenses $ the Halifax Union . The Overseer , Mr , SchoMeH , alleged that he had no funds wherewith to pay
having laid no rate during the year , the poor ol Fixby being paid by a vbluntary cbntributiM amongst the inhabitants ,, and that the Board of Craar dians for . the Union could riot make such an order , as the same was not legally constitoted . Mr . Scholfr field was convicted in the penalty : of 10 s . and 8 s . costsj and the Magistrates gave hirii till Saturday to pay the same , but Mr . S . would make no ' promise ai to its then being paid . ^
" Counterfeit HAi , F-SorEREiGNs .--The pnV lie would do well to be . on their guard in giving change for half-sovereigns , : as a set of persons ate going about to shops and public-houses for thepnrpose of putting off a spurious coin , purporting to le a half-spvereign of the date of ' 1817 , little moretliffl half j the weight of a good one ; they are of a pai yello ^ r , and when rubbed ^ show ; white . V One of & gang ^ i med John / Cape ' , : ^ ioeinaker , of Leeds , hit been apprehended , in Bradford , on y arious charges ^ putting off the said coin ^ andiiully committed for & offence . - :-::: - ¦' ¦'¦ . ;¦¦¦ „ . '¦¦ . v-vv . - .- ' .- - ' v . -
Important to Constables and Policemen . —^ During the " ' tri al ¦"¦ of the action " Lumh r Walker ^ " at the Yorkshire Azzizes , last wetkyMri Justice Patteson , in summing up the case , mai some obseryationson the duties of constables , whicS we have omitted in the report of the trial in order is insert them here .: His Lordshi p observed that there appeared to be some misconception in this county as to the . duties ; of eonatables "' : ' and' policemen , and therefore he would say a few words on the subject A , pdlipe-officer who turns a man out of another's premises , where he has no right to be , ; or froia whi « h he has been desired to retire , kas no official
right to do that of any kind or sort whatever , If ? man is intruding in my / house and I desire him to go out , if he will not go out ^ I have a right to pji him out , using no more force than maybe neeessarj to attain thdt object ; and J have a right to astanp body hear me to assist me . ; No man Irijay askis bound to assist rile ; but if he thinks proper he maj dp so . In putting a person out of my house at mj request , he acts- as my servant , and in doing so * policeman is not different from any of the Queen ' s subjects ; but if a breach of the peace is committed in thepresence of the constable ^ then he may appre * heriil the party : causing it . It seems to mefromtius case and from ; what occurred the other day (
alluding to a former action against a constable for excess of authority ) that the policemen in this county H » f « taken it into their heads that , they have a rightip interferei when they ' - 'thirik % t . ^ Th at , however , b * great mistake and a great misappreherision of thar duty . The law is this —when a policeman fe' jfc formed , by any person that a felony has been cm ? mitted , and his informant charged auy person wi having conimitted that felony , and desires the poliw man to take him into custpdy- on that charge , ; if & ppliceman . belifep ^ r : ' it « i'i bona fide charge it ' * duty to a ^ fc upon the infdrimationj and to apprehend the j ) arhp . ohargaii biit ifXthe charge ; doesw
araount ^ :. tq ^ felonjr ^ if ^ it'ijsionly ^^ assault , or any ptw misdemeanour wbica tlie person says has been w ** mittedj . the ; poliqemen [ have , no right to interfere , jin'd they ought to knbvr it No constable has a ^ f right to -interfere , iri . any < pase of an affray , unless J » himsgjf pres « Bntt , and sees that affray with his ownej ^ i or has the warfantof a ] mag ||[ trate . They seas : *" fancy that if a man comes an ^ ¦ eajB " I bare , W assaulted ^ ' thex have : ;^ , r ^ tt ^/ take ^ into « & the person nientioued as &e as 3 ail *^ t . It » : W *? by law ; they have no s 8 eh' right ^ Snd they a 0 not tftMqp , for if they p fiould . attemptit , and ^ shprfSfe ^ ny resistance , and life should : te , ;» ¦ wie ainereus irou
consequences . wouicrrneTery » " , "r they would be , if they had that right : ; It is > $# clear that any person hals a right totufri any off ? person off his premises who is making a disturbjai ^ and whoril he may have desired ife go away ,. « f who did riot go ; but even then , if there be a P * turbance on the premises , arid the p oliceman j # s it , though thereis a desire to go and the parr /** not go , he : has , nevertheless , no right to Mgn& as a pph ' cenian in' such a case , and totake savl , person to' prison . ¦ There was , a ; . case a ^ J ^ ago , pf this very sort , where ; a man came int ° house of another in order to demand a debt , ;^ some very angry words having passed betffe « v ^ and the owner of the " house , he . desired him to g ^ Ws premisesand the would not upon . ¦¦
, person , ^^ - — Jf ¦ " * ' ****« Vyj - UUU VUb . UgiSUU VrUUlU « wvj —X" -w the party whose house itwas sent for a policeim . put him off his prenaiseSj and take him P ^^ He did so , and an action was 1 bronght j and » ^ held that though 4 t might be very justifiab le VW the party off the premises , not by reason of p ^^ constable , but as assisting the party whose pre ^ Were invaded , still there was no justification » offered with regard to the taking to prison . ^ 5 isnot to be takeii to prison unless there \> ^ u rant of a magistratej or the policeman or P °° ^ sees a breach of the peace committed . Jj ^ wje this because I wish it to be fully understoo *^; , jj distinction i ? very easy for . constables * ° ^ einformation is given of a disturharice , the p ^ officers haye a right to go to the place and see ^ . ^ .
13 going on , and iT a breach of the peace ^ - ^ the ppresence of a constaDle , then : he maty * £ . - party into 9 ustpdy | but he has no righttomT % that whicH ^ hedoea not himself see , r inless jt ^ charge of felony . I 8 aj -ihi 8 because V # > W ^ 0 seem to understand it If ^ fie law , af ^ v jjjt down ^ were acted on- a little more tyf $ ~ fa has been for some time ; a good deal tf-WT foi of : thft public vrould * e : 8 a * ed in the g ^ of petty charges before ^ the i *® si ^> *? ffli $ > n « t come ; regularly befc-t tnem . —Leeds J » V i * ncer . ¦¦¦ - ' ¦¦ : ¦'¦ " ¦'•¦ . ' .: ' ¦ ¦'" ¦; - ^¦¦ ¦¦ •; . ¦¦ : ' ¦
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Untitled Article
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 31, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct344/page/6/
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