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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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--- . - ~~ . . .. ...., JfOBTHEHN CIRCtriT—DlTBHAM , £ eb . ZL Btfort Ur . Jasttce Wighfaa ** James Wfllams , ChartMbootoeller , was indicted for kq assault on Christopher Thomas Potts , on the 4 th of October last , at Sunderland . Sir . Otter conducted the prosecution , and Mr . Qnnget tbe defence . Mr- Oxtee . stated the case to the jury . The defendant tos irell known in this part of tbe country as a leader of the party called Chartists . The prosecutor-was an attorney at Sunderland . On the 4 th of October , the dsy on which this occurrence toek place , a pnblic meeting bad fceen ca led in the Amphitheatre for the purpose of memorializing the Queen on the subject of the distress now existing in the country . At this meeting Mr .
Binns as well as Mr . Potts attended , and both took their places on the platform , which was situate at the lower part of the room , with tiers of benches rising np from each side . Mr . Potts was opposed injhis political principles to Mr . Williams , being a Conservative . Mr . Williams addressed the meeting and made use of some Tery strong language , in which he reflected upon the psfrty to which Mr . Potts belonged as being guilty of the blood of the people . When Mr . Williams had concluded , Mr . Potts endeaToured t © get a hearing , but for some time in Tain . After several attempts , he called ont " Where is Mr . Williams to get OB a hearing , " when the latter repeated in a jesting tone , " Oh , give Mr , Potts a hearing , " Silence being Tery partially restored , Mr . Potts endeavoured to
jddress the meeting , but the interruption was so great that he spoke only in broken sentences . Baring this time some one in the crowd banded up to him a pamphlet , published by Mr . Williams , entitled " The Englishman's Birthright , * ' desiring him to read it Mr . potts immediately retorted , with reference to tbe terms of sale appearing on the title-page— " Oh the Englishloan ' s birthright I They are selling your birthright at fonrpence per dozen . " Mr . Williams immediately struck at M-. Pctts , and , but for the interference of the persons around , would probably have given him a BeTere blow ; as it was , it touched his cheek . The great mass of the meeting was precipitated from the benches towards the pZatform ; and bat for the facilities cf exit afforded i > v two doors in the rear , the supporters
of Potts . s opinions would probably have baen serious sufferers . This was the assault complained of , and though the bodily injury to Mr . Potts was alight , it was 2 gross outrage upon his person , and one which , in the eye-of the law , was utterly unjustifiable . Mr . Potts had used no expressions which went beyond the license of a pnblic meeting , and even if be had , Mr . Williams , shove all others , should be the last man in the world to take offence at a freedom of speech , which he advoc ated so strongly in theory and illustrated bo well in p ractice- Personal violence of this kind could not be tolerated without the most serious results to society , snd it was necessary to deter 31 r . Williams from offering , for the future , to his fdlow citizens , such an jnsnlting violence as that ¦ which , he had offered to Mr . Potts .
Mr . Petts was eaUed , and gave an aceount of the transaction corresponding to tbe opening of the learned counsel . On his cross-examination , Mr . Potts stated thai he had been a Conservative for eight or ten years , ever since he had got discretion . Was a member of the Political "Union . Was inveigled into the association . Hada speeches there occasionally , and was received with" great applause . There was as election in Sunderland shortly before this meeting . Was not aware that any Chartists had votes- Was agant of the Conservative candidate . The meeting was called to address her Majesty , and pray her not to prorogue Parliament until the present distress was considered . The requisitioniits were principally Whigs . His object in
attendiig the meeting was to prevent misrepresentation . A charge was brought against the Conservatives of having hired working men to disturb the meeting . A person , who was present , a sawyer , cams forward to offer proof of the charge- His master was present , and said he tm a drunken reprobate . Witness did not call him so . Bid ssy he was a discarded servant . Did not know of any men being hired to disturb the meeting . Williams spoke first He made a violent speech , it was very violent in its tenor , though he might not ipeak so loud , or so fluently , as the witness . Witness was much interrupted . Was determined Messrs . Williams and Binns should not have the last word They had alleged that the Conservatives had the blood of tie country npon them . Witness called ont
tauntingly , where is Mr . Williams to get me a heating ? having perceived thst at these meetings a certain movement of his hands was immediately followed by a total sflence . Williams said , apparently half in jest and half in earnest , " Oh , give Mr . Potta a bearing . * ' There was not silence enough to enable th « meeting to hearthe reperters might . Does not know who handed up the pamphlet . Thinks it was a Chartist . Witness was interrupted in crackiag his joke afcout the Englishman ' s birthright . Does not know whether he charged Mr . Wiiliams with having sold the people to the Whigs . Cannot sweax what was «» i < f . Did not put his hand on Mr . Williams * shoulder and say " This i s the man who sold your birthright" Had his hat in his right hand , and Mr . Williams was on that side . The blow made an
impression on his cheek . There was then a rush towards the platform . Did not know that this was caused ly tbe supposition that the witness had assaulted Mr . Williams . lAd not say he TronJd be torn limb from limb , but he would be heard . Understands that Mr . Williams has been convicted of sedition , and i s under recognisances to keep the peace . He repeatedly declared he had no wish they should be estreated , "but the contrary . Does not know what his future instructions ssy be now that he has been forced into court Has instructed Ms counsel to move to estreat the recog insects in case of a conviction , Three other witnesses were called to prove the assault AD B ? Williams apparently in the act of striking at the prosecutor , but one only could say that the blow reached him .
Mr . GBA 5 GEB , for the defence , addressed the Jury it some length , submitting , that however tolerant Mr . Wfflisms should be of violent language , no one ought to be more bo fh » Ti the quondam political unionist and orator . He complained of the spirrt with which the prosecution was conducted , and which was so strongly daplsj-ed in the evidence of Mr . Potts , whose object * ai not justice , but the gratification of his malignant feeling in cmehiag a political opponent . He should hsve thought that a person cf generous mind ireaH hare disclaimed with indignation all intention of tsiing advantage of the position in which Mr . TTDIiaiEs - sras placed , by calling down on his head , besides say punishment which might be inflicted on
tim for th iS cSence in ease of a conviction , a far hea"risp punishment in the estreating of his recognisancesrecognisances imposed on * "T" for an efience of a different clas , and totally unconnected with the present . He thought the Jury would require better evidence &sa they had of any assault having been committed . The meeting was a disturbed and noisy one , there was peat et-nfusioB , all tbe witnesses agreed that the blow ™ i at all events , an exceedingly slight one ; two RS £ & 4 to doubt whether there any was given at all , a ^ d it was quite possible that no assault whatever bafi feeu committed . He trusted the Jury would give the feftsdant the benefit of any doubt , and retnrn a verdict tf ac quittal
His LosDSHir , in ramming np , said a great Seal of irrelevant matter had been introduced into the case , "Kith -which they had nothing to do . The state of psrfes in Sunderlaad—the . political " opinions of Mr . "Wilurss and Mr . Potts , bad no bearing upon the mstte- The simple question they had to try was , "whttier a-. y blow had been struck . They would look 3 * . the tTidence as to this fact alone . If they were a&Sid thai Mr . Williams struck the prosecutor , or ~« k st Mm at a Qijtar ;^ from -which he would pro-^' " 7 i - *< reached him , it would be their duty to NuTUi \ i _ defendant , ¦ without any regard to the csa-Kq ^ tcrrs of their ytrdict . If , on the other hand , they thoBEht he i . l < l Eoi so strike , or had anyreasonable doubt ? a the matter , it -would be equally their duty to acquit GIE . . J ^ z Jary retired for np-srsrrU cf an hour , and returned ato Ci-srt with a verdict of >* t ; t Guilty .
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EXPL OSION OF A FIREWORKS FACToBY . LOSS OF FuUR LIVES , IX LONDON . Oae cf tbe EO : t appalling and fatally calamitous explosions that ba =: occurred In or near the metro-P ° us , took place on Monday , at Mr . B'Ernst's fire-Trss manuia . ciory , La-mbisli-tratis , by which the premises hare been destroyed , and four lives hare ^¦ sacrificed : Ta& foiiovr ; ng is au accurate statement of the facts eouected on the spot , up to a late hour last evening : - , * about twenrv miuutes to twelve o ' clock , the ^ abitants of Lan ! b * th , Xennington , Yauxhall , and 7 / crronn ding rdphbourhpoa , were alarmed by a Joaa report -ucn as Ls usual ! * produced by the igninoa of EuiiDovrder in larg ^ ' ouantities , or perhaps
resembling more strictly the explosion of gas . This "" ^ s ra pidly followed I y reports cf less violence of Kmnd , but suScienily lend to create serions apprejjpsioa even to persons iesiding some hundred yards « J 3 tani . The first Impre * sir n was that the Yauxhall kas-works bad exploded , and that the mcccssive ^ c harges were created by the bursting of the rewrts . In & -very few ciicntes , however , the nature of ihe calamity and its situation wtie made manifest oy a dens-r body of smoke which ascended above the houses on the north side of Lambeth-walk , behind which the factory had been erected some few years *>* & . by Mr . D'Erast , when > e w = s engaged aa pyr-Wecnnist at Yauxhali-gardeD-- . It was a detached bmlding , situate in & piece of waste jn-ound , but for w inch circumstance it is unpe-sibie to speculate on taehavoc that must have ensued .
-Che alarm having once gone abroad , thousands of Persons hurried to tbe spot . A Jar ^ e body of the rSfropolitan police hastened from the station-house « High-street , and expresses were sent off to lfce £ T 3 ous fire-engine stations , at several of which the Bgade men were already prepared for action by * e iond reports which they bad just heard . The r ^ stance was prom pt and ample , trat snch was the ?* ror inspired in all those assembled by a report ^ Tmg spread that there were some huEdreds weight
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0 gnn'QQwdfi ? under ground , that the most resolute men * f the 5 re ^ sa de hesitated to approach snffieieEtly near to the " fated prefixes to render their efforts for its preservation effective . All abundant supply of w » tex was speedily obtained from the main pipes * and eevea ° ? € ^ s "' 2 e engines were brought to bear on the south-west angle of the building , whieh was easiest of access , there being at tbe other extremity enclosed ground , attached to small cottages , the inmates of which fled ont in the most pitiable consternation , conceiving that the whole place must be blown np . In less than half an hour , the factory itself was . reduced to complete ruin , and . ine dwelling-house , in front , a s li ght buildin ? , two stories high , shared the same fate soon
after . The discharge of fire works having created sufficient apertures , the firemen directed all their attention to the cellarage , with the view of preventing the expected explosion of gunpowder , it having been ascertained , beyond all doubt , that there were on the premises at least six barrels of that terrible combustible . By great exertion they were enabled to throw in some thousand tons of water directly overfthe cellars , bo that the ground was covered to the depth of two inches , and the rockets and fragments of burning timber , were quenched as they fell . The firemen , perceiving that there was no further danger of the gunpowder exploding , proceeded cautiously . to the interior , and , with the hose of
several engines , deluged the smouldering wood that lay scattered about . Their next duty , and it was one of some peril , was to search among the ruins for the remains of whoever might have suffered . In a few minutes the charred body of a lad , about 17 or 18 years old , was dug out ; the next was that of a man of muscular frame , supposed to be Wright , the foreman of the factory ; the next was that of a full-grown man , believed to be the unfortunate proprietor , Mr , D . Ernst ; and a fourth , which so horribly burned as to present scarcely any traces of humanity , was the last victim found . The latter was pronounced to be a woman , and the sister-inlaw of Mr . D'Erast , who had charge of the premises . The lad was one of the apprentices .
The remains of the unhappy female were placed in a shell , and the bodies of the male sufferers , having been secured on broad planks , were removed immediately from tbe spot , and deposited in the dead heuse of Larabetli Union -workhouse , to await the coroner ' s in-< jue * t , which will probably be holden to-day , notice of the dreadful occurrence having been sent off to Mr . Carter , the coroner for Surrey . It was supposed at first that both the male adults were workmen employed in the factory , but the identitity of the body of the ill-fat « d proprietor was subsequently ascertained by very convincing , though rather curious ¦ circumstantial , evidence . Mr . D"Ernst , whose privrte residence is at Laurie-terrace , a new range c f houses near Bethlem Hospital , was seen to enter the factory about a quarter of an hour btfore the explosion took place . He was not observed to come ont , nor conld any tidings of him be obtained np to two o ' clock .
A messenger was sent to his residence to procure the attendance ' of -some of his family , in consequence cf which a female domestic came to the workhouse , and being shown the bodies , declared her inability to identify that of her master . All were destitute of apparel ; the features were either wholly destroyed , or rendered undistinguishable . Adhering , however , to one of the bodies , was a fragment of a linen shirt of fine texture , and near the throat was discovered a fillet of flannel . Upon these being pointed out , the girl said at once , " Oh , God , that is my peor master ! " and she described that he invariably wore shirts o . f the finest linen , and owing to his having lately suffered from son . throat , he had been in the habit of wearing a piece of flannel under Mb shirt collar . The body of the other man -was not so fully identified , but it is supposed to be that of the foreman . No doubt whatever exists as to those of tbe lad and the female .
The fire , which was not considerable , was wholly got under in less than an hour , but immense crowds of idlers of both sexes continued nocking to the spot until a late hour last evening . It was stated that there was a very large stock of fireworks on the premises , which had been made up for exportation .
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HOUSE OF LORDS . —Monday , Maech 2 . j Lord Brougham introduced his measure for the : establishment of local county courts to which the trial ; of all personal actions in which the damages sought to ! be recovered did not excted £ 50 should be confined ; \ the judges to be appointed under the proposed bill ' , would also have a voluntary jurisdiction in actions to I any amount , if the parties should signify their consent ! in writing to abide by their decision . The measure bad I been already favourably entertained by their Lordships , ' , and he hoped that neither the lapse of time , nor the ¦ change of circumstances , would be found to have j altered their opinion on it . - ! The Lord Cha ^ cellob . announced his intention of j Living before the House in the course of a few days , a bill with the same object as that which Lord Brougham had introduced . Including that brought in by Lord J Cott&nhain , therefore , there woald then be three bills ! upon the subject at once before their Lordships . j
Lord Cajtpbell briefly expressed his hope that the country would not be left much longer without local courts fer the adminctration of cheap justice ; and the ' House then adjourned .
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MB . " FEBBANirS SPEECH . ; HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Tuesday , Fjeb . 24 . In our last week ' s third edition we gave a very condensed report of the proceedings in the House of ' Commons on Thursday week ; the excellent speech J of Mr . Ferrand , however , compels us to reprint it i at length . After the House had been addressed by ; several Honbnrable Members , Mr . FERRAKD i rose , and was greeted with tremendous cheering , j He said—It yould be great folly and ingratitude ! in me were I to take advantage of tie kind indulgence-j which has always been shown me by the Honse , and j inflict a long speech upon you at this late stage ef the j debate ; bnt 1 trust you vrill give me a heariug for a few moments , when you recollect thst for tbe last few , days I have been the object at which nearly all the j Hon . Gentlemen opposite have hurled their pointless : darts—( cheerf . ) ' I am happy to say that , clothed in ' the mantle ef truth , I have come through the o :: e- ' ¦ sid > d war unscathed and unharmed—( cheer ? . ! It is !
true the Hoc . Baronet the Member for the Tower Hamlets cams down tbe night after I had addressed the House , and said , — " Even had I the ability to reply to the speech of the Membar for Knaresborough , 1 do not think I should have the inclination , for though his speeches may amuse the House , they are more calculated to damage the liiffht Hod . Baronet and the pariy behind him . I , therefore , make a present of him tof : e Right Hon . Baronet . I will leave him in the hands of the Right Hup . Baronet , and wish him joy of him . "' ' . Langbter . ) Sir , I will support the Right Hor- Hoe . Baronet -when I can conscientiously do so , and my support will be given without any hope of rewr . rd or expectation of an honour as high as that bestowed upon a eallsnt iflici-r below me ( Sir H .
Hardinge ] , for rnany years cf toil in the Eervice of his country— ' thfeerf . i—and fur the loss of limb -which be has sustairt-d —; ehefcTS' —an honour which"srasbestowed upon the Hor . 3 Jembcr for the Tower Hamlets , for what services I knew not , by the late self-denying nopatronage Government . ( Cheers . ) Then , Sir , next came the attack cf tbe Hor . Member for Sheffield ( Mr . Ward ) . With that blushing modesty—iloud laughter )—for which he is conspiccous—wi ; b that positive authoiity by which he has brcome notorious —( roars of laughter )—be declared that rnyspeech was o :: e efseandaloua levity . Then fellowed the Hon . ^ Member for Wycombe ( Mr . Bernal ) , and he told the House that my speech was one of bombastic derivation . ( Laughter . ) Now , I quarrel with neither of the Hon . . Members . I shall . eave them
to settle tbe dispute as best they may , contenting myself with offering np a fervent prayer tbat li may be settled amicably . ( Laughter . ; My next assailant was the Hon . Mesiber for Salford ( Mr . Brotherton ) . I aik the indulgence cf the heme for a moment , while I defend - myself from and txpese a most despicable quibble— ( cheers . ) The Hon . Member , speaking of my speech , said , " If I am to judee of the correctness of his speech by what I know t * be untrue , I shall not value it very highly . I know that there are some statements that are entirely destitute if foundation . " It will be remembered that I slated in a former speech , that the Hon . Member fur Stockport ( Mr . Cobden ) worked his mills night and day . The Hon . Member for Salford said , he spoke from his own knowledge when he said , the Hon . Member for Stockport never had a mill in hi life "—( cheers . ) I instantly gave my authority up to the House—( cries of "No , no . ") I placed my authority in the hands of the House , and said if the
name were demanded I wou . d instantly give it , bnt I was met with a general cry of ' No , " from this side of the House , which was most generously responded to from yours .. In a few minutes after the Hod . Member for Salford" left the House I followed him , and offered him the name cf my authority , to shew him the letter , and to give him the date ard the name of the place from which it came . The Hor . Member laughed in his quiet way , and said , " Put we call them printworks in Lancashire , not mills "—( loud cries of " Oh , oh I" ) Bat , in justice to my authority , I trust the House will indulge me by allowing sne to read four lines from a letter I have received from my covrespondent since . He Bays— " I notice in the paper this evening that the Rev . Mr . Brotherton—tloud laugbtt-r;—has contradicted your statement of Cobden working his mills night and ^ 'day ; but I know they will not deny working his printwerks near Chorley night and day , ud I have no doubt he is doing so at
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the present . " Sir , I nq ^ come what fell from the Hoo . Member for We 8 tminster ( Air ; Leader ); he said 7 made an ince ^ ry BpM « h , ; What jw £ ~ - ^ Hofl . Member for Westminster , the champion for the liberties of the people ?—( laughter . )—That from the Hon . Member , who asserted that there was nothing but class legislation in this House , and that tho working classes are not represented at alt Isit " to be bomethat I may not here assert as I am instructed by them to do—that I may not assert that the working classes are convinced that the Com Laws are not the cause of the distress under which they labour , but that it is the persecution which they suffer from their masters . But , said the Hon . Member for Westminster , if -what 1 asserted were true , then it was my duty to move for a
Committee . Sir , I Bay that tbe Honse has been in Committee msny days—( a laugh)—and I distinctly bring the charge against those manufacturers before those gentlemen , calling themselves of the anti-Corn Law League . Who denies my assertion ? It is true the Hon . Member for Salford did so ; but who else ? He stands alona Those gentlemen out of doors say they will treat me with contempt ; but have not my statements caused a sensation throughout tbe length and breadth of the land ?—( cheers and laughter . }—Yes , I will tell the Hon . Member for Wycombe that that is true . They have destroyed the anti-Corn Law League—( laughter . ) You may laugh , but my statements have destroyed yon . I have forced you to join with the Chartists—( cheers)—it was the only way left yon
by which yon could continue the unholy and selfish agitation you have earned on for years . ( CheerB . ) You have coalesced with those who hate you in their hearts . ( Cheers . ) I can prove that ; aad if you urge them on to rebellion , as you have been trying to do —( cheers , laughter , and uproar )—I warn you that their first outbunt will be to plunge tbe knife in tbe bosems of their oppressors . ( Cheers . ) Let me assure you that if you goad them on , there is sufficient force and strength in the country to make you quail before it ( Cheers . ) Now , Sir , I would call the attentten of the Hon . Member fer Westminster to a letter I have received from a poor working man ; and perhaps the House will oblige me by allowing me to read a few lines from it (" Read all . '') I shall do so with pleasure . My
correspondent says— " Sir , —I hope when you have read this you will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing it to yon . Thespaeeh which you delirered on Monday has caused more sensation than any that was made during the whole debate ; because we all have witnessed similar transactions to those you then related , and many working men have experienced worse treatment than you have described . Nobody has ventured here to deny your assertions . The rooms of the Leeds Operative Conservative Society were besieged by strangers anxious to have a peep at The Times of Tuesday , all of whom confirmed your statements . The " Leaguers" are raging at their exposure . But I should not have troubled you had not Mr . Bernal doubted your statements respecting the Anti-Corn Law
petitions . Why , m Leeds , on several occasions , the Leaguers have been defeated by the Chartists at pnblio meetings . The very number of signatures to the petitions proves them to be forgeries . In the township of Leeds , which contains ab « ut 87 , 000 inhabitants , it is said that no less than 43 , 000 signatures have been obtained , and in the whole borough , ( including the women ' s petition , 23 , 000 ) no less than 66 , 00 * signatures , or nearly the half of the population of all ages . Besides this fact il have a rather extended circle of acquaintance ) I meet with numbers -who are indifferent to , numbers who are positively opposed to , the Whig scheme—cumbers who are favourable to the repeal , who will not sign any petition whatever . The petitions have been hawked round the machine shops and factories . They have been placed in all parts of tbe town ; men have been engaged to go from house to house with cheap-bread petitions . One young man , by
name Robt Whitebead , who came to work in the same room as myself tho day after the petitions were closed , informed me that from Monday morning to Tuesday noon he procured 850 names , for which he was paid 8 s . 6 d ., at the rate of Is . a 100 . In one yard , which the printed statistics of the borough states to contain thirtyfour houses , this man says he obtained near 300 names . Thisman ia a repealer , and a pretty fair informed man , and no donbt could tell how hundreds of sham signatures were obtained . I could fill sheets with incident * which have been related tome , but I forbear , merely assuring these are facts which I can prove , '' Sir , i have another letter from another correspondent ( Cries of " name , name . " ) No , I will not give the name new , but I will give it to any Hon . Member who will apply to me when the House is np . He says , " In all the parts of the manufacturing districts in which I have been , 1 have heard the workies' declare that it is truth
you have told them in tfee House , and that if you wanted any to corroborate what you have said , you might have hundreds of thousands to affirm it . I will now put you in possession of a fact in tbe way and manner in which the Corn Law League manufacture their petitions . The other day I called upon one manufacturer to ask him to sign the petition in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill . He was in a room filled with power-looms , and he heard me say ' petition ; ' he instantly said ' Yes , ' and went across the yard into his counting-house , and lifted up the lid of bis desk , took out a petition , and said , ' Now , you see , I think I have done it pretty well . I have varied my hand as much as possible , and I have put them all down , for I have taken them out of the wage-book . Now what think you of the manner in which your petitions are got up ? Sir , in detailing tbe misery , tho plunder , and the robbery that is committed upon tho
poor working man by the manufacturers belonging to the Anti-Corn Law League , I am prepared to prove that they used the truck system as one of the engines of their destruction . I will now read to the house a statement tbat will make you stand aghast ( Laughter . ) Yes . it will have that effect upon any Hon . Member who has a heart to feel for the sufferingi of the poor . I wish tbe House to remember that I never did charge these crimes upon the whole manufacturers of the country , but I distinctly charge them upon those manufacturers who are members of the Anti-Corn Law League . I know many manufacturers in my own neighbourhood who are men ef the kindest natures , but they tell me that they caiinot compete with those manufacturers -whe are connected with th « League , because they paid their labourers in money , while the Leaguers paid theirs upon the truck system . I will teJl the Hon Member for Manchester , who defended the manufgo * turt-ra vurcra .
Mr . M . Philips rose , amidst loud nproar and cries of "Order . " He said ( across the . table , ) that ho had not denied that some manufacturers were culpable ; they were like other classes , and there were bad ones amongst them . Mr . Ferraxd—I am obliged to the Hon . Gentleman , for it justifies what I was going to 83 y . I will now give Mm a broad sketch of no isolated cases , but of many of the most flagitious nature -which are now occurring throughout Lancashire . " Messrs . blank and Son "—( loud cries tf "Name" ) I again tell Hen . Members that 1 am prepared to prove everything which I assert . If any Hon . Member will mova for a Committee , I pledge myself to summon witnesses to prove every -word of what I am going to read ; but I trust that , under present circumstances , the Honse -will a ^ ree with me , that it will not V > e fair to give to the world the names of the parties . ( Cheers . ) " Messrs and Son , , three millB . There is a shop in the
immediate vicisity of each of these mills , and each shop ia kept by a son-in-law for his ovrn advantage . - The workpeople are also supplied with coals by the same firm . Mr . , two mills . The workpeople are obliged to procure both food and clothing at a shop in the neighbourhood of the mills , which is kept hy his brother ftr his own benefit . Mr . , one mill , close to which is a shop , over the doer of which his sou ' s name is placet :, -who ia a minor residing -with his father . Mefesr ? . and Co ., one miil . They have a shop which is kept f- > r their own b ^ ntCE . Mr . — : , one mill , near ¦ which a ihop is kept by his son-in-law , for his o-vra benefit , -who is also manager of the mil . ' . There are five wore mills in this very neighbourhood which have cottages attached to them , acd belonging to the owners , and -which are occupied by their workpeople . " : The reading of this document was -inttrrujted throughout with loud crits of "name , naaie . " In order to make members aware of the in-inner in which these Biara-facinrers
evaded the penalties of the law , I will state how they arniLge matters . On the Saturday night the -working people go into the cuiaiting-house , where they are paid their-wages in money . I ut instead of being allowed to come out the sau-. e way , they are obliged to go through a room , in which is sitting tho person who keeps tho books at the truck shop belonging to tbe mi . 'J , and there they have to pay evary farthing of the food and clothing which they bad required during the previous week , and if it could bt proved that one man had spent even one haifprtiny on any sort of goods out of that shop , he -would t . « instantly , and without one -word cf explanation . iii > cbarged from his employment —( cheers ) . Now I cali that a tax upan food—( cheevs ) —that I call a tax np : wi provisions . That is your free
syiteni — teheers ) . It is notorious that the masters obtain 25 per cent , upon the whole of the goods they sell , and that they make 10 per ctnt upon the cottages tfcey obtige their workmen to reside in . A key is placed in the hands of any workman who applieB for and obtains work at any of these mills , and it is well understood that that is the key of a c ( ttage built by his master , wha will not let it to Mm under 10 per cent , for the outlay of his money , nor give him employment unless he takes it There was a class system—thera was a system of free trade , under which the large manufacturers were making fortunes , yet they come forward and say tbe landed interest must yield I now come to the Right Hon . Mtmber for Edinburgh ( laughter ) , who has stated that the members of the
anti-Corn Law Leagu « had not used such violent language out of doors as I have used in this Honse . The Hon . Member will perhaps permit me to call his attention t » the language uttered by an individual at a meeting ef the anti-Cora Law delegates , in allusion to the Right Hon . Baronet at the bead of her Majesty ' s Government I am convinced that , however Hon . Members opposite may diffar from the Right Hon . Baronet in political opinions , they will boar record with a generous and manly spirit that he does not deserve he slander lam about to read to the House—( hear . ) Mr . Gt . Thompson Bays , alluding to the Corn Law : — " Cursed law , doubling the primeval curse , turning tbe warm sweat of industry into the chill damp of starvation —( tremendous cheers . ) ' ( Loud langhter frem all parts of the House . ) " He denounced that law—
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( cheers . ) It was an iinpioua law —( cheers . ) But thia wicKed man ( Sir R . Peel ) the law-niafctr , the landed kristocrilt ; D . afl virtually monopolised the universal bounty of God , and we starve , jjj : consequence of it . " Colonel Thompson says , "He should himself cobsclentlously , and with integrity , advocate the taking a large retribution on the landlords ; how many would follow him depended on them , not on himself , " My opinion is , tbat if the people wait till the Hon . and Gallanl Colonel attempts to " take" thfa retribution , they will have to wait a considerable time . ( Great laughter . ) I will now read to the House a speech delivered at a meeting of the anti-Corn Law League by the Hon . Member who has just sat down , and I wish the Right Hon . Gentleman the Member for
Edin-, burgh ( Mr . Macaulay ) , had been present , that he might hear this language . When 106 , 000 men threatened to come down from Birmingham t > this metropolis—for which they received the thanks of the Noble Lord the Member for London ( Lord J . Russell)—Lord Grey said to the House of Lords , " Set your house in order , for the people are coming down upon you . " I think I may also say to theHon . Members " ofthis House " Set your house in order , for the Hon . Member is coining down upon you . " ( Laughter . ) The Hod . Member for Stockport ( Mr . Cobden ) thus appeals to the passinns of the people : — " Their nietal would be tried in a fortnight or three weeks . He had told them that the aristocracy must be fri ghtened . Were they prepared to make sacrifices and to nndergo suffering to carry this
question ? ( Cheers , and loud cries of " Yea , yes . " ) The time was not far off when they might be called upon to make sacrifices " and to undergo sufferings . The time might soon come when they might be called upon to inquire as Christian men whether an oligarcy -which bas usurped the government ( cheers ) , placed its foot on the crown—( immense cheering , which continued some minutes )—and trampled down the people —/ continued cheering )—how far such an oligarchial usurpation was deserving of their moral and religious support . ( Immense cheering . ) If they were prepared for suffering they would soon have an opportunity of suffering . ( Cneers . ) When the proper time should come , ha would be prepared to set them an example of suffering , to suffer with them—| loud cheers . ) " ( Laughter . ) When I
read that speech I trembled from head to foot—( Great Laughter . ) I -will now tell the House how the members of the anti-Corn Law League contrive to ' enhance the pr ice of corn . Are Hod . Menvbers opposite aware that , according to a calculation which has been male , 100 , 000 quarters of wheat are annually con-6 umed by the men of the Anti Corn Law League , to enable them to defraud the public by daubing their calicoes with flour paste ?—( great laughter , ¦ which continued for some moments . ) Some Hon . Gentlemen opposite do not laugh ; they see the mnrder Is out—( renewed laughter . ) I can prove what I have just asserted by the evidence of manufacturers of the highest standing in the country , who arc prepared to come forward and bear out my statements , and expose this
system of robbery and plunder— ( hear . ) It was only the other day that a poor . tnan was transported for seven years for selling to the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies ( Lord Staaleyi a few bricks for a chandelier—( loud laughter . ) I have received the following statement from an individual who , as well as others , is ready to give evidence on the subject before a committee of this House , if required to do bo . — - " Immense quantities of flour are used in the cotton trade to giva a false appearance to thi- , calico "—( laughter , and cries of " Oh ! " ) I assure the House it is true—( hear . ) I assert the fact , and- I ask Hon . Gentlemen opposite , -who are acquainted -with the cotton trade , ¦ whether it is not true ? —( hear , bear . ) My informant proeeeds—« ' Sonie manufacturers use from 2 , 6 oo to 3 , 000 packs per aunum .
The calicoes are passed- through a machine-, in which they are stretched in length and breadth . The iuter&tioes occasioned ky stretching are tilled up by paste , which is applied by a brush- Afterwards the calico is passed between two rollers , -which press or calender ft . It tjien conies out apparently a beautiful , fine , stout piece ef calico , Its real quality is discovered in washing , after both the purchase money and the expense of making it into wearing apparel had proved it to be a dead loss to the confiding purchaser . " I will now , with the permlssioa of the House , read an extract from a letter written by an English merchant , exposing a process which is adopted by certain lnanufactnre ' rB of buying up all the old rags they can obtain , which are torn up into pieces
by a machine , anil converted into a kind of dust , and are then mixed with wool , which is eventually manufactured into cloth . This du * t , from its nauseous nature , and from its engendering numerous diseases , has been . christened' by the workpeople of Yorkshire tho " Ddvil's dust "—( great laughter . ) The ?« nU <) man to whom I refei writes : — " Things are worse and worse in Hmld >> rafield , and it seems that all is over without any hope . The trade is leaving this-country most rapidly . S—— ia paying off nearly 200 of his weavers , because the foreigners are senrfing tke same sorts of goods over nt very little more than hurt' the
price that he haa bean selling them at . I wish you could get a full account of this shoddy trade ; it is monstrous , They now put scarcely any Wool into their jam . only just an much as will keep the devil ' s < tust together . The raga , as you know , are collected from the most filthy boles in London ami Dublin , and » Te brought from the most unhealthy regions , infected bj the plague and oveTy epi iemic , and of course tht ' y are full cf d . adly poison . B—— - S— - — - baa had a boat-load of ' . uia rubbish , and also buys a Rood iK-al of the Dewsbui-y people . When bw ko 9 < Js are ruario up , tho first timu they are worn they sj'Iit up , and thv . ? the caiuu b . ains . Mr . informs me tha * - B—
s has sent out a large quantity or ' dogskins , ' charged 5 s . 9 < 1 . i-r-r yard , which have i > v < vvm ! to be not worth one fartb ntr—not worth tailor * w .-ujes They will all b « sent kick frorri America to tho manufacturer , with ; i ch / irs- - of 5 s . 8 d . a yard upon iUpm for duty , carriajzi . freight , commission . &c . ;; ' and . this , of course , besidea the lo- - - * < a the goods , they b > : sj worthless . If this -won ' t . i .- 'in > him , I canuot tell v > but ¦ will . Mr . ¦ has 5 ' -. « . n < : ¦ : ¦ >!¦ . * continent recently . an > . l there he saw a smaii inan ; --iJi : tdfv of ' doeskins , ' nil madi ; of
wool , no devi' s < i > u in them . The . ritnn , --f < oforo this season , he hei : » . " ¦ ' ¦ , ;' , ; ul never made . eigbtee ! ' Mit-os of goods in oneye . i * . Ho . bad then in hand an or-ili .-. - for 1 , 800 pH-ceH . t ;/ . ; s . iil « rr ; ii » i . y below the price t f Knj > lish devil ' s dust tj . swi" , ¦ I'tf-viling to be of the ¦ ¦ ' * : > ,.:, > > quality . Tim .- , ti ' ...- in ; ' -: nfiwtiire i 3 leaving us as -fVt us it can—thank * ' : V \ --. k . ' ; . mry of our . rtvaricioa .-. covetous , cheating , n-n-tir . „ ' st ! vi : s . Nothing can shov /¦ , , u- -.- Kjs £ - ness ami •' . otit h-ots U-sui this . These . things prove clearly , tiwi cir ruin i : < < . l < s > . rvedly brought .. up-- - , i v .-. i by our own vil : \; t ; -. ! t is w .-n known'that
the'Shtdn-Mlders pas . xu « .. ¦ ¦¦ '" rvn c : ' ,-ry upon the fii ' mi / iuT * -for steel , wii . il ib-. ' -v wouM- nut have it given ; ami they have / hud to th .- ! m-w countries to send it to . and their former customer .- isa-vo been obliged to rnanuldcture for thomselv « - . « . T >;< o i uv canting , profsssing Christians , are ruinine th-ii own country , and cheating the poor pagans , a ' ii « ah ~! w while blubbering about l trusting in Providence , ' un > - ara trying to make Parliament believe that they c a'' f" ? tho poor ! " [ While Mr . Penand was reading tL ? ftbuve extract , Colonel Sibthorp , -who had been conr . icuous in cheering the Hon . Member in tho course of l-. iss ftpt ? ech , was observed to leave the House , and . ^ -i afterwards returned with a large orange , whic " . hv presented to Mr ; Ferrand amidst roar 3 of laughter . ] I will only detain the House a few
inomenti lom ;) r ( the Honourable Gentleman continued ) , whil .-. I call their attention to a meeting of manufacturers * which was held sbmo years ago in New Yoik . ' An account of it appeared in all the American yaprrs , and the account I will , with the permission of the House , TeaM , is from an eye-witness . Ht- tajs , —• 'It vii . < my good lucktn attend a meeting of merchant * ar . < l inanufactutess convents ! in the Town Hall , for the pui-i-f-sf of considering the best means of protecting the ¦ mnnu'Vaoturers " of the United states . * The meeting vab composed of manufacturers of all grades , and very nuiwroualy attended ; and a spirit of unanimity pervnaecl the- i assembly . Specimens of cloth of John Uuiri manufacture were htli ! up to the gsze of the metsUiiL ! . ail iii tatters , anti motheaten , by the
paste . Thtse were compared with their own honest domestic luanufcicturp , and tho following resolution was .-igre . it ti ' : —" 'Flint it is the opinion of thfa meeting that it is the duty of . Congress to . protect- the manufactures of the United States hy aa augmentation of tho present tar . ff , to prohibit , as far as possible , the importation of foreign mannfactures "'—( hear , hear . )— -I ¦ w ill just caU the attention of tho Right Hon . Baronefc tbe Firft Lord of the Treatuty to a fact which ' . has not beta Lionuht bt fore the notice of the House , yofc a mobt important fact . It is . that if the Corn Laws were to be repealed there would be an immense body of industrious labourers in the Noith 6 t England mt only thrown out <> f employ , but ruined for ever . That ruin would ltsnlt from this cause : —It has been for
many yeurs the custom of the chief landed proprietors in tho NortL : ¦> Set pieces of -w . vte land to working men nn K-ases vf fourteen ^ twenty-one , or fourteen years , at a -mall rent ,- ' on condition that they shall break up th it land , and repay themselves by the sale of tho com which they may produce from it . Now , if the Com Laws * were to ba repeuled , all these men muit be mined ; vet they have as much right to protection from the country as Hon . Memberg opposite have , and they look to tbe Government to protect them , in order that they may reap some alight reward for their labour . They nevar ut ^ amthut they can possess such -wealth as those gentlemen ; they say , " Live and let live , " that is all t hpy aspire to- Then why refuse theui such an offer ?
They say " We have let you live— -we would scorn to rob yon oi your own , and it is unjust , cruel , unmanly , nay , dishonourable , and beneath the name of Englishmen , to come " -. forward and advocate ameasure , the object of which is to plunder the ' poor " r —( 'hear hear . ) The Hon . Member for Manchester , who epoke the night before last , offered his advice to the farmers of England . If the firmers of England look to the political consiatency of the Hon . Member for Manchester ( Mr . Gibson ) , they will net , perhaps , think much of him—( a laugh ); but this I wiil snyi the farmers of England look to the laws of their country for protection : and when they lose that protection ; depend on it , if they fall , you will fall with them— ( cheers ) ? " ; : /¦ ¦ .. ¦ .
Mr . BrtOTHEBTON roan to explain . He felt assured that any one who know him would bo satisfied that he never could use any expression which he intended should bear a different meaning from that which he attached to iv . When he stated that he believed that the Hon . W ember for Stockport had neyev bad a iniij in his life , ht > fuily believed that such Was the fsefc , especially as he u .-ed the word " mill" in its common acceptation among manufacturers . (" Okl" ) He had
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read in a newspaper an account of the Hoa Member , in which it was etated that he had had a mill , but , as he found it was not profitable , he had sold it He ( Mr . Brotberton ) did not know where the mills of the Hon . Cfanileman Were , and he thought he was perfectly understood , when speaking of " milla , " as meaning cotton , woollen , er silk mills , where children were employed . ' («' Oh ! " ) The Hon . Gentleman , the Member for Knaresborough , himself perfectly well knew tho meaning that was generally attached to the word " mills . " " ¦ ' : . ( " Oh . '" ) He ( Mr . Brotherton ) bad enter ' tained no wish to deceive the- Honse , and if he had made use of any expression calculated to convey a wrong idea , he would have no hesitation in at once retracting it—( hear , and a laugh . ) He believed at the
time what he said , and though the Hon . Member had used expressions towards himself which ought not to have been lightly used ; he had no doubt whatever , tbat if the name of his correspondent , whose communication he had read to them , were given , he would turn out to be one of hia own political opponenta— -one of those who , he would say , were the meanest and the most malignant party thskt ever man had opposed to him . He did not wish to return railing for railing , or he could have said that he had seen many letters as to the Hon . Member , and the character he had in bis own neighbourhood , and the value that was put there upon his expressions ; and he would , therefore , content himself by merely repeating , that in what had fallen from him on a former evening he had had no intention to deceive the House .
Mr . Cobi > en also rose to explain . He said , once for all , he considered his position in that House to be anything but one which called on him , or allowed him , to . indulge in gross personalities . And he could assure the Hon . Member oppositei that however he might inge ^ niously devise partiaaii warfare , of tblB very clevei kind , he / Mr . C . ) would never enterlnto personal alternation in that Hous ^ He held snch a coarse to be disrespectful to the country which sent them there , and in two words he would say * that he did tremble for the dignity of that House when such language as they had heard that nfght could be listened to with complacency ( "Oh . ohl" "Explain ! " "OrderI" ) He repeate ' d that he diil consider the dignity of that House in da gger when be found such language and auch demeanour as th « y had "wltnessd daring the las ?; half-hour , receive d as it had beeh ^ - («* ob ! " )—received as it hat ! been , with such complacency by the Right Hon . Gentlemen on the Treasury bench , and so cheered by Hon . MemberB behind them —( hear , and laughter . )
Mr . Hindley , Mr . Gill , and Mr . Fielden , shortly addreseed tho Honse . Mr . ViliAers then replied , denying the imputations which had been thrown upon the ^ manufacttirers " by the Hon . Member for Knaresborough ( Mr . Ferrand ) . Tho speech which the Hob . Member made had been received with a glee and satisfaction which he had never before witnessed in that house , aud this circumstance gave a decided character to the question before the House ; for the division would not know turn on the motion before
the committee , butit would be a division between those who entertained the same views of the manufacturers of this country as the Hon Member , and these who held different opiriions ^ -fhear , ) Aano dissentient had been expressed on the opposite side to the statements of the Hon . Member , he conceived that those wh © constituted the majority against h ' i 8 motion would identify themselves with the views of the Hon . Member—( cheers arid Jaughter . ) The Hod . Member had said that every petition presented against the Corn Laws had baen paid Cot —( "No , no . " )
Mr . Perkand denied that he had made such a statement . Mr . Villiers contincd . As the Hon . Member denied he he had ever used those words , he ( Mr . Villiers ) acknowledged , or at least the Hon . Member acknowledged , that he had not employed auch language , but he repeatad again that the Hon . Member said , that all the petitions against the Corn Laws had been paid for—( hear , hear , and ; cries " no . " ) The Hon . Member made another etitement which he ( Mr . Villiers ) denied , viz ., —that the working classes were nob against the Corn Laws ; This was a vile calumny on the working classes ; and he ( Mr . Villiers ) should not have mooted this question year after year without having ascertained that the working classes felt intensely on the subject—( hear , hear . ) He presumed the Hon . Member was prepared to prove those charges of plunder , robbery and fraud he had made against the manufacturers . Mr . Ferrand . —Decidedly .
Mr . ViLLitRs understood that the Hon . Member was prepared to prove these charges against the manufacturers of England —(" No , no" )—at least against tlioso who had subscribed to the association against the Com Laws—( bear , hear . ) These charges could not rest . They were made against certain persons engaged in manufactures whose names and circumstances were known , and it was the duty of those who chnered the Hon . Member to insist on the Hon . Member establishing his chargas- ^ -fcheers . ) He ( Mr . Villiers ) considered themselvea justified in bringing forward the present motion by theiconcessipn which the Right Hon . Baronet opposite had made on the subject , and he felt convinced that if the people continued te discuss and agitate the question they would eventually succeed in
carrying it . Ho felt himself further justified in proposing the motion by the course pursued on the other side . No new thing had been stated ; no original idea started —( ironical cheers . ) Nothing but the old stale arguments had been used—( renewed cheers . ) The gentlemen on the other side could not conceive that an abundance of food would be a benefit . Another argument against any attempt to lower the price of food was th ' r . t it would ; be highly inexpedient to be dependent on other countries . He scarcely belioved that , any charity boy in the country could be found to venture on such an argument . He was charged , in consequence of the motion he had made , with disregarding vested interests . He wns not ao dishonest as to disregard the rights of property . But when would this charge
ceai-e to be made ? When were they to > begin to change t ' jo law 7 The charge , moreover , was just as iipplicabitt against a moderate fixed duty , and even agaiost the proposition of the Right Hon . Baronet , for the Hight Hon . Baronet professed to lower the duty ; and if some of the present protection were withdrawn from the landed interest , it might be . irguad that , some of the worst lands would be withdrawn from cultivation . ( Hear , hear . ) The argument of the Noble Duke who h ; id left the Government was the only honest one which he had heard from those who opposed his motion . He ( the Duke of Buckingham ) said that the people had either a right to a total repeal , or the fanners had a right to their protection . That was a manly and itraightforward course , and , however much
in error , be could not but respect the stern consistency with which the Noble Duke maintained his opinion . He ( Mr . Viiiiera ) could understand tueir saying , " We will compensate every man injured by taking away protection , " but he could not understand lowering the protection just enough to injure a few , and leaving others uninjured . He contended the people had a right to repeal , and uo ground bad been shown for protection . (•' Divide" and " Order . " ) He could not understand the arguments of those on bis side the House , who were not going to vote with him , but who agreed with liia views . They began their speeches by the most violent tirades against the Com Laws , and all of a sudden stopped short and said , " Monstrous , as this law is , and uDJast , and injurious as it . is , yet I
cannot vote with you . I cannot agree to a f-ciden stoppage of this injustice . " ( Hear , hear , hear . ) - He ( Mr . Villiers ) proposed a resolution declaratory of the injurious effect of the Corn Law , and that the circumstances of the country now no longer Warranted its continuance . If that resolution were carried , a biil would be founded upon it , and that did not exclude tne claims of particular interests to compensation that might be injured by si total repeal . He was extremely sorry that the Noble Lord below him ( Lord J . Russell ) was going to vote against him ; but ha could understand the position of that Nobto Lord : he had come forward to set as nrbiUvttor between the people and those who maintained this Ja-vr . But be believed his
Noble Friei'd would find himself completely mistaken , and before another year was out would see moie clearly and distinctly than at present the justice of the claims of tiie people that the law should be totally repealed . He contended that the motion tie had made was neither violent not unreasonable , and he justified it by the course which had been pursued on other measures . Those vested interests which had been urged as an -argument now , might with eqaal reason have been started on other occasions . When the trade with Ireland was opeued the people then had vested interests , but the general good of the empire demanded that measure . When the restriction of the currency took place in 1819 , the same argument of vested interests was raised .
Sir R . Peel . —That was not a sudden change in the law . Mr . ViLLIEPS copld only say , whether sudden or not , the people weTe not prepared for it—( " Queatior . " ) They had never thought of vested interests then . The Reform Bill might have been resisted on tae samo grounds , for under the old systems boroughs were made the subject of settlement . Tiia New Poor Law had been suddenly passed ; the discussion on that law did not last three months , and he ventured to say that that law had made a greater alteration in the condition of the poor since it had been passed than the repeal of the Corn Law would in the same time . The fact was the
Poor Law did more harm than good , and some rxforni of that law must tike place . He urged those charges against vested interests in favour of his motion . The great mass of the community de 3 ired this law to be repealed —( " no , no , ' )—^ andhe was sorry that the division of that night would force this reflection oa men'sminds —that what the mass of , the community desired the Housa of Commons refused . He was wiping to compensate classes that might be injured if hw proposition should meet with the accord of the House , and declare that the time had come when the Cora Laws should cease ; the declaration he bad to propose was , that the people wished for a total repeal of the Corn Laws . ¦ ' .. ' - . ' ; ' V . . ¦ ¦ - ' . - . ¦' ' -.. . - . . - .. ' .-, Shortly after one o'clock , the Committee divided , and about two o ' clock the numbers were declared as follows :- — For Mr . Villier's motion ......... 90 AgmiiBtit ,.. 323 Majority .. . 393 Ott the motion of Sir R . Peel , The Chairman reported progress . The House then adjourned , immediately after two o ' clock .
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¦ -.- . . ' - . ' ; - : ' Monday , Feb . 28 . ' ¦' - ¦" -. After going into Committee on iShe Presbyteriaa Marriages ( Ireland ) Bill , the . House resolved itself again into Committee on the Com importation measure . ' : . - . ' . ' ¦ - ¦ ' ¦"¦' : ¦ . ,:.. . ¦ ' :: . ¦ V " .-.. ; - ; - ' . ¦ : . ¦ :- . - ; - - Mr . Wodehocse , representing the county of Norfolk , a . djatricfi extensively producing barley , contended for the continuance of the existing protection on that grain , and desired , therefore , that so innch of the proposed resolutions as related to barley snould be expunged from the plan of the Government . Sir R . Peel maintained that part of the Government measure which respects barley , as bearing a dn © proportion to that part which respects wheat . He had not expected so extreme an opposition , from the notice given froni Mr . Wodehouse , in which that Hon . Member proposed to vary the Government measure only by enacting , under 26 s . per quarter , a duty of 138 . instead of a duty of 11 . o .
Mr . WODEiiousE i after some discussion aa to the form which his motion ought to assume for the purpose of taking a vote on the question be Bought to raiae , acquiesced in the Chairinan ' s suggestion of moving that the resolutions already , passed should be reported to the Honse : which would have the effect of closing the deliberationa of the Committee Tri £ hout the inclusion of any alteration in the duties on barley . : Mr . Cumjung Bruce cont 9 nded that the piorosad protection on barley -would be too low . He
apprehended tbat at this tin ty foreign barley would hi impoited to an injurious extent He wished thab Govomment would reconsider this part of the sutject , but had no hope of forcing them by adverse movements ,.-being' -well aware that they were not ma-Je ef those squeezable materials cf which tho late Ministry had been soid by one of its own supporters to be composed . Indeed ,: bad even a greater sacrifice ^ ean required , he should have bad the consolation to know that at ell events it was asked with honest views . adi by an honest Goyernment .
Colonel RusHBROOKE , who spoke in a veiy low tone , was understood to deBire a larger protection for barley . - . ' . _ ' . . . - . : ¦¦ . . '• : ' . , ; . ¦ ' : Lord Woesley thongbt tha . existing duty frf no meana larger than was requisite for the due- pro ^ ecioir ofthe grower . The universal opinion of hiscountv - ^ asr , that the effect of tbe proposed reduction would be to add agricultural to manufacturing distress . Mr , Christmas feared that tke intended reduction of duty on oats would be injurions to the agrioal--ture of Ireland , and argued that it was out of proportion to the reduction proposed resperting ¦ vrf ' . uat . He did riot wish . -howeverj to interpose any prjiotical obstruction .
Mr . CHRrsTOPHER said , that if he ceuld hope , by a vote on this motion , to obtain a greater protection tor the barley-growers , he would support Mr . Wodebcu ^ e ; but he did not conceive that such a result could be accomplished by that course : and was therefore \ f opinion that the sooner the question could now be biouglic to a settlement , the better . Mr . Shaw apprehended tbat foreign oats csr ^ uT be imported at or undei fifteen shillings , and that chorefore the Government duty would be too low to ptotecfc the oats of Ireland . The great mass of the Irish labourers werewholly dependent on agriculturi ' , : ; ndl of lute had been particularly employed iu the cultivv . ioa of oats . After c few words from Sir D . Roche ,
Mr . C . BuiXKit ridiculed the cbnntry geritlemsn for not venturing to -vote according to their opinions Ieafc they should find themselves in a minority . He exhorted them to follow tbe courageous example of their great idol , the Duke of Buckingham . Mr . WoDEHQUSE declared that his object was only to obtain a reconsideration of the subject from Government , an > l that he did not intend pressing his motion to a division . ; Mr . Palmek ( Essex ) considered the propo ? ed duty on oats as inadequate to the protection c : the grower . ¦ ' . ¦ : ¦ ¦¦ . ¦ ; . ' . ' : . -. ' ' ¦ ' ¦'¦ - - . -: ¦ The motion Being then withdrawn , ihe resoluticii of Government as to tbe dnty on barley was carried without a division . The Government resolution as to the duty od ,, at » being next put , ¦
Mr . Sjuxh O'Brien expressed his apprehension that foreign oats ' might at the proposed duty be imported is quantities very hurtful to Irish agriculture . Sir D . Roche oontended for further - . protection to Irish Oata ; \ And Sir R . BA teson and some other Members 3 aid each a few words to the same effect . Mr . Redingion diverged at some length into : the general question between the sliding scale and a feed duty .: •• ' / . ' _ ¦ . : ' . ¦ . . .. . '¦ '•• . . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ;?; ' . -. ; - - . ; Mr . Gladstone contended ^ that in the new ruodification of the sliding scale , the Government ! had preserved the old proportions between wheat , barley , ; . ad oats , at each point of the scale , as nearly as was consistent with the exclusion of fractional sums ; Jhe
object in each case having been to impose thatrtniy , and no more than that duty , which would prevent aa injurious amount of competition from foreign growers . With a few exceptions , both the barley and t&s oat ^ of the continent were inferior to those of pur own country , and of consequence did not compete with our own produce , even when the prices were nominally the same . He entered iuto calculations , ahowin g t he impracticability of obtaining any considerable . quantities . of either grain , except at prices too large to affect the home market . He ' . felt the . impossibility of allaying ; every fear ; but the safest evidence to rely upon was that which Government had had the opportnnitie ; of coliecting from all quarters ; aad this evidence- vraii such as convinced him that the proposed duties were an ample protection . ;
Mr . M . P'CONNELL urged that the proportions tad nob been preserved a 6 the extreme point .- ? of the . scale . He called for a greater protection dn oats , tbciisra he would admit that he bad voted for repealing a ) i protection on all sorts of groin . Sir R . Peel animadverted on this incoasistene ?; marvelling how a , member could have votea a few nights ago against all protection to Irish in' common with all other produce , who was now st > critical s-hoafc a fractional disproportion at the extreme end of a srala . Members opposite were loud enough about : that insult to the country which they alleged to be involved in th 9 continuatidn of any protection at ail ; bK * they were epually loud on the other side of the questioa , us & ;¦ , & as any protection , of their own constituents -was affected . The longer these debates lasted , the more was he convinced that the measure he bad framed was the . safe and the just as well as the moderate coute ^ .
Mr . O . Gore was anxious that Government shutld reconsider their proposal with respect to i » au . Dr . Bowring thought that oats required jirorcet ' oa still less than wheat . Mr . Barimg maintaineci it to be quite consistent tbat members . ' favourable to the principle of complete freedom of import should , when the House had rejectea that principle , endeavour to procure protection particular interesta ; Mr . HaeI'ORD said a few words ; and therc the House , dividing , affirmed the Ministerial resolution by a majority of 256 against 53 . Upon the resolution respecting the duty on fiour , Lord SaNdou , in behali' of the millers , pleaded for an ampler protection . :
Sir R , Peel announced , that after giving the fallesc consideration to this subject , he conld not consent to alter the proposed rate of duty . If the-prbtoction . of flour were increased , too foreign groweis who would be the most prejudiced would be precisely those , Whom every man must admit tbat it would be n ; ost our interest to favour—namely , those of the United States . He proceeded to show that the existing protection was '' substantially sufficient . Mr . Labouchere expressed hia satisfaction at the determination of Sir R . Peel . The resolution then passed . Mr . Smith Q-Brjen moved that all colonial grain should be admitted , f ! u » y free , for one year , or for auiiie other period , to be limited by Parliament . He Urged the claims of our emigrating population upon the mother country , and expressed hia opinion thnfc the colonies ought to be represented ia the British ; Parliamebt . . :
Lord Starlet , desirous as he was , in common with his colleagues , to ercourage the . intercourse of the colonies with the mothir : country , could not consent to thia proposal . The agricultural interests , he bglieved , would feel little j alonsy at the introduction of wheat or flour from the Canadas , if it were really Canadian produce ; but . in fact , it would be chiefly the produce of the United States , conveyed through the Canadas . If the Canadian law as to Importation from the United States should be eo altered as to prevent that kind of transit , then indeed tho question might take a different aspect . ¦' . ¦ ¦ ¦¦' - ¦ ' . . - : '" . ¦ ¦ : ' -:. ¦ ¦ •' . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦' . ' '¦ : ¦ ' . . " Mr . LaboucheRe conceived Lord Stanley to overefitimate the pioportian of wheat imported into the Canadas . He requests . 1 from Government some explanation of their intentious A 3 to the duty upon such impertations . ' \ ¦ - ' . > .
_ . . . .. .. Mr . Gladstone quoted official returns showing the very large quantities of American corn imported into , and ground within , the Canadas . The same thing waff truoasto Nov&ScoUa . With respect to the qnestiba about the object of the duty of 2 i . per barrel , intended to be proposed on flour imported from the United States into Canada , he would say that it was neither a Britiah , nor a Canadian object simply , but an intercolonial one . The duty in every other colony was 2 & , arid it ought to be of the same amount in the Canadas . ' ,.- ¦ - . . ' ¦''¦ ' ¦"¦ - ' - .. ¦ ¦ ¦ : " ' . '¦ ¦¦ ¦'¦' ; '' . ' . ' . " - . - ¦ ' '¦ ' Mr . L a Boccn ere professed himself at a loss to under-Btand thi » policy i which he regarded as a merei needleaa and wanton innovation . ; : , > Mr . GtADsroNE referred to a eimi ' sr arrangement made last year by Mr . Labouchere himself as to East India tnm . ¦'¦ ¦' .. : - : - '" .- ¦ ' - '¦ : ¦¦[ : . ' .. ' - - .. ¦¦ ¦' \ ' /'
Mr . C . BULiiBB ' ridiculed the attempt at equalising different colonies among each other by additional dutiea , likening it t » the object of the beadle , who , being ordered to put one boy in the stocks at brie end of the church / put a second boy into another pair of stocks at the other end " for the sake of uniformity . " He recommended that Mr ^ O'Brien , Instead of pressing the subject to a division then , should take '' the sense of the House upon it in Committee on theBUL / - , ¦ ' . ¦ ¦ ' -.: v :. ¦• - ¦ L ¦ ¦ . . ; . ;¦ ¦ : /¦ ¦> ¦;' ;/ : . ' ' : ¦' , :- . : Mt .: '' Stuart . Wovltiey supporJed the views of . Govemment .::. . ' .- , . . ¦ . ' ¦ ' ¦ . - ¦ ' ¦ •'; : '; - ; - ' .. : ; " : '; :- // : l :- ' :- ' - '''¦' ¦ :- ' .- "¦ - ' ¦ Mr . O'Brien persisted In dividing the House , find wafl defeated by a majority 6 t 13 ^ ftgainst 38 .
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Untitled Article
A New Theory . — " A new and startling theory aa regards tbe natural duration of human life , appears in a little book , called " The Extraordinary Life and Times of Thomas Parr , " generally called Old Parr : ibis little work , besides the said theory , contains much that is instructive and profitable , as regards the " means of ensuring good health , and all may be obtained gratuitously of any agent for Parr ' s Life PiJs—& medicine which is rapidly superseding all others , a 3 it has never yet failed to conquer the most inveterate disorders . "
Untitled Article
to THE NORTHERN STAit , ?
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 5, 1842, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct420/page/3/
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