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Empmal Sfarltamrnt _
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THIS WEEK'S STAR. «?¦
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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1843.
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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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HOUSE OF LORDS . —Tcesdat , Mat 2 . A'tr ? the presentation of a petition by toe Date of A . SG- ; ll . praying for a se : tlement of the differences of the S . . tch Church , . Th-Marquis of Bbeadalbase decked his conviction or tfce iDcaiculab ' -e mischief which -would ensue , if some measure -were not passed to settle the question . Eighty per cent- of the population * -ould secede from tb" Cinrch along with their ministers . Tt- Evl of Aberdeen said that the Government had .. ffered all that could be conceded , and that there ¦ w as c .- > intention of introducing any measure on the SDbjrCt . TL = second reading of the Townahend Peerage Bill raise 1 3 discussion on the peculiar nature of the case and the remedy proposed . Lor . * Cottenham opposed the Bill , as contrary to preccJrnt , and -srithont necessity , a legal remedy being open t ¦ ' the parties
L : r ? -s BKOrGEAH , DeshaS , and CaKPBXLL supported the Bill , as a rerne-: ? for a ¦ wrong whieh could not te other-wise rectified , and the Earls of Devon and Wickutw opposed it , as being at once unprecedented and extreme . The Loud ChasCellob supported the second reading . The case -was a sinsti ' . aT and extreme one , and if the facts were true , cosstitnted a scandalous ¦ w rong , not only agaisst individuals , but the peerage , and the privileges o ! the House of Lords , for ¦ which no adequate remedy was afforded in the courts below .
Lcrd Cottenham declired to press his opposition ; the Bill was read a second time ; and counsel were called in , and an arrangement made for bearing evi-• denca .
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HaUSE OF COMMONS . —TtTESDAY , Mat 2 . Sir Robert Peel , in rep !? to Captain Pechell . ¦ said that he expected in a few dsya the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty between France and Esglind for regulating the fishsries , and that he -would then apply to Parliament to give it efftct , ; Mr . HrMK brought on bis motion for a vote of i thax . k 3 to Lord Aahburtcn , for his management of the negotiations which ended in the conclusion of-the treaty : of VTashirgton . He went over the history of the nego- i tiatJons between Lord Aih&urton and Mr . Webster and ¦ : the nttnr * of those mutual boundary arrangements I which have been already so ample and frequently dis- j cussed , contending that the treaty was conducive to '¦ the interest of the two nations , and honourable to the : negotiator .
Dr BowBl ^ Gseconded the motion , remarking on the yioilssee and injustice with which the treaty had been assailed , and Ercuing that Lord Ashburton had Berved the interests of this country . Sir Chabxes XiHiE was surprised that Mr . Hume , a plain honest Scotch can , should have followed the eccentric movements of Lord Brougham . The Governm * nt had not originated any motion for a vote ot thanks to Lord Ashburton , and the conclusion -was that they did not think that he deserved it . _ The question 0 / the right of visit trss left unsettled ; a suspected American ve * s ? l was warranted , by the expressed opinions of the Prtsivifent ol 'he "United States , in refusing te submit to the search of a British cruise ; and at this very mement we were exposed to all the risks of
collision . Nor was the settlement of the boundary line between the two countries satisfactory . He moved , as : an amendment on Mr . Hume ' s motion , that the house do now adjourn . j Captain Bbbkelet seconded the amendment , dis- ' claiming and wish to east censure on Lord A&hburton , j bat not considering him entitled to thautn . ! Mt . EscoTT taunted th 9 gallant officers with evading t it .- ; stion . instead of boldly meeting the motion with i a u .:- : r-. --. tive . Impartial history wim ' . d hereafter . ; record its .. . - - > bation of the conduct of Lord Ashbur-1 ton , in Bttu . ¦ - the long standing boundary dispnte I between the : - " countries . If the late Gcvcrnmen ; , bad any excurt w . all for not concluding such a treaty , it was because they had no « ueh negotiator as the i Noble Lord rr .. rder to effect it i
Mr . EdwaIid Bcllek regreUed the introduction of tbe nsoUun , and the revival of a dismssion which he dtpiceated . Without blaming Lord Asbturton , he did ; not see why they should step out vt their way to thank him . Sir Ho"Wab _ d Docglas drawing on his military ; kikowlHlge and experience , acquired during his gover- norship of New Brunswick , justified the- arrangements of th& treaty . Mr Ves > os Smith quoted Sir Robert Peel ' s senti- menie uttered on th * ooeasian of voting the thanks of j tbe House to the officers and men employed in the Cbictae wax , when be- assigned precedent for pot in- eluding Sir Henry Pottenger , he being a diplomatic agent . He was therefore surprised when ha found that
ihe Right Honourable Gentleman i : tended to support the viesent motion . The best that could be said , . even by tit Xofele Lord's most darling friends , of tbe miscon of Lord Ashburton , was that we were all oat of the scrap * . Under the treaty , we had surrendered territory , and tte question of tbe right of March was left un- Kttled ; and low ground bas be n taken on tbe kubject of sl&vory i jorious to a question which the people of : this country had deeply at heart ilr . Hums was pa- ; trc-sLsed , on this occasion , by the ministerial side of the i House ; but bow wjm it that the Government followed ¦ bis leading , instead ot having anticipated him , as they j ou ^ hi to have dose , if the vote of thxrikn was usual , or ' , deserved ? i
Mr . CHAB . LBS Bclles regretted differing with j friends with Wflom be usually coincided is opinion ; but , on the present occasion , be waa disposed to over- j look precedent , because be considered tbe treaty of '¦ Washington a great achievement of diplomacy , and j highly boBOV&ble and advantageous to the country . We forgot tbe succession of irritating incidents occurring oa the frontier between Canada and the United States , exciting bot blood , and keeping us on tb * verge of a disastrous war . Lord Ashburton not only re-. moved these dangers , but be bad procured a change in tbe k « p * lation of the United 8 tates , by which such cuts as that of M'Leod could neve ; occur again . We , ought not to argue the question , as if we were exclusively in tbe right , and -were justified in insisting on \ tbe full amount of our claims . We bad got better . terms than under tbe award of tbe King of the
Netherlands ; under that line the American frontier was brought inconveniently sear Quebec , which was , in , fact , a material and main objection to it , and of far more importance than the territory which had been conceded under tbe treaty of Washington , and by -which the frontier bad bees removed to a satisfactory , distance . This , it might be said , had been purchased ¦ by tbe concession of the navigation ef the St . John . i But this was balanced by other advantages i and even ' tbe abandonment of tbe Madawaska . settlement was ¦ not of tbe importance attributed to it For himself , be was not disposed to censure Lord Ashburton for ) abandoning that style of diplomacy ,-of which be was j not disposed to speak in terms ef very great rever- ! ence ; and be was disposed to estimate at its full TaVae the settlement of disputes between two great nations , iha effects of ¦ which might be as great as lartin * .
Sir JOHS Ha * HER admitted the importance " of the j treaty , but protested against setting a precedent ' which { might be disadvantageous hereafter . - j Lord STAJfLBT said tbat tbe Government would not , , in tbe ordinary course of business , have departed from ' precedent , is proposing tbe thanks of tbe House to a ] regoti&ter , however successful . But tbe ungenerous \ attack of Lord Palmerston was the moving cause of i stealing to Lori Asbbvton the unprecedented honour of such a vote . Mr- Maeaulay had contended that Lord ; Ashburtoti bad cast a stain on British diplomacy ; yet to-night it was admitted that the treaty was not so j bad a one after all , and tbe only objection taken was , to tbe unprecedented nature of the motion . There ! sever bad been a treaty concluded in the ' face » f greater !
difficulties , or which had more effectually removed the j i-bmnryHi of a disastrous war between two countries , j every blow of -which weuld recofl on both . In-a few i months Lord Aitburton had conduJed tbe settlement I of a dispute which Lord Palmerston for several years j bad successfully protracted ; even tbe Madawaska settlement , about which so much was now said , was , one of tbe objects which the Noble Lord , when in j oSce , had Tainly offered , in order to . ' "induce the ! Unifcul States to accept tbe award of the King ; of the Netherlands . Lord Ashburton had entered \ oa his task , after ths question had . been embroiled fcy tbe management of Lord -Palmerston , and ! after separate states -were committing tbeaiselves ) on tbe bnbject by strong resolutions to ^ support the c ' ftims of Maine and Massachusetts , and in six months <
be brought it to a conclusion . Nor bad the Noble Lcrd or the Government compromised tbe question ol tbe Right of Search , though Lord Aberdeen did not imitate the supercilious style of Lord Palmerston , in addressing a people at once strong and sensitive , and on a subject of peculiar delicacy . Tbe United States did not recogni&c tbe right ot search , but they agreed that it might bt exercised under certain conditions of remedy for iujor . es . The very convention on this subject in tb © Ashburton Treaty -was similar to a proposition made by L ^ rd Pahnerston in 1839 , yet be now turned round , and said that it - was a step in the wrong direction ! Tbe
case of M'Leod , which tbe present Government , on entering office bad found to be so imminent and dangeroos , bad been successfully settled , and its recurrence provided against Lord Ashburton had , in fact , obtained a better military boundary than under the award of tbe King of tbe Netherlands , be bad procured tbe eniMimfflt of a lav which would prevent tbe recur rence of irritating questions , &sd be made no concession dishonourable or disadvantageous to tbe country . He trusted , therefore , that tbe House would mark its sense of bis high merits , and of the party-attack which had been made on him , by supporting tbe motion of Mr . Hume .
Lord JOH > RrssEXL was surprised tbat the Government never thought of coming to tbe , rescue of Lard Afihburton ' 8 repntation and honour , until a gentleman came to their aid , who was so little disposed to uphold the honeur of this country , ttat be was tbe correspondent of one of tbe chief rebel * in tbe Canadian innirr < -ctioa The precedents adduced by Mr . Hume for Iu motit * ¦ w ere not very apputite ; and it wculd appear as if tb « fp «~ : ehe 5 of Lord P » imc « ton and Mr . M ; -caulay , ; n the fum-er duccssicn of this eubject , tad produce ! i-- pow-
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erful an tffrct that they coul J on y be met by resolutions passed without precedent by both Houses of Par-Jlsn . Eut . The rijfht of search , asserted by this counsry , and denied by America , had not been settled by the Ashboxton Treaty—the very convention on the subject of repressing tbe slave trad * , which that treaty contained , had already been the cause of producing an excitenitnt in France which it required all the prudence of M . Gnizot to allay . Without going into all the complicated details of the boundary question , he declared bis conviction that the tone adopted in the negotiations wm not only calculated to lower us in the estimation of the world , but bad actually done so , and had produced the impression tbat ! our claims bad only to be resisted in erder to compe concessions . An uHimatvm bad been proposed and
abandoned by Lord Ashburten , who had claimed the Madawaaka settlement , and had resigned it , as well as tbe definite proposition of a river boundary , at the bidding of Mr . Webster , in a manner not calculated to snstain tbe honour of his country . Lord Aahburton was not unlike Moses in the " Ticar of Wakefleld , " whose successful bargain ended in a case of shagreen spectacles . One of tie firat results in America of the treaty of Washington was the passing of a Bill to seize the Oregan territory—a plain effoct of tbe want of upholding the dignity of Britain . He -was not disposed to censure with severity the expression of Lord Ashburton , in terming Bostcn the " cradle of American liberty . ** He rather rejoiced that the Americans appreciated the noble struggles of their forefathers ; but while he wished to see tlflBxrads 8 treneth ? ne < 1 between the two countries , hemd not think the treaty had done fo .
S r Robert Peel censnred the conduct of Lords Palmerston and BusseD , and their fridBds , in endeavourinc to ruin the character of Lord . \ shburton , who , actU'tt-d by the purest motives , had undertaken this diScolt negotiation . Mr . Hume ' s support had not always been so indifferent to the late Government . Was it creditable to public men to pursue tho course ¦ which had been followed by the Noble Lords ? The Government was taunted with violating precedent by adopting the motion ; but when Mr . Canning ' s policy with respect to Spain was questioned , be refused , contrary to his original intention , to permit the motion to be withdrawn without a definite expression of the opinion of the House . The question was not , on tbe present occasion , about tbe fivitui up of a Madawaska settlement , or of a particular boundary ; it was one involving peace and war , on an irritating dispute
which , in spite of negotiation , had lasted for half a century . As to the rigbt of search , Lord Palmerston had authorised the capture of American vessels , -which bad produced so much excitement in the Unite 1 States , and had rendered the question a difficult one ; and the convention in the treaty secured for five years the cooperation of a joint squadron on the coast of Africa for the suppression of the slave trade . He believed that the Oregen dispute would be settled ere long , as well as tbat of tbe right of search ; and , notwithstanding the efforts of individuals to excite animosities , be was satisfied that the Treaty of Washington would lead to relations of amity and good will between the twe eountries . He called en the House , therefore , viewing the difficulties -which Lord ABbbnrton had successfully overcome , to depart from ordinary precedent in pas . sine the vote of thanks to the NoWe Lord .
Lord Palmkrston said that the argument used by Sir Robert Peel , on the occasion of the former debate on this subject , was that if a vet * of censure were moved , he would meet it with one of approbation . No vote of ceuiure bad been moved ; yet the unprecedented course was adopted of proposing a vote of thanks . He had shewn that the treaty involved a surrender of our rights , and was not advantageous to thu country , bntbe would not now repeat his arguments . The present Government were rather partial to following the example of the late one , but in doing so they frequently did not see the principle on which they had proceeded , and therefore imitated them wrongly . The late Government had proposed a convential line for the settlement ef tbe disputed boundary , and it would have been well
if it had been adopted as the basis of the treaty . He disclaimed all intention of insulting the American flag by using tbe phrase " a bit of banting , " which had reference not to the flag of the Union , but to piratical and fraudulent attempts to sail under it ; and he explained the circumstances under which suspected American vessels had been captured on the coast of A / riea by oar cruisers . It bad oeen effected throngh a voluntary arrangement between the nava ! officers of both countries , but being disallowed by the American Government , was immediately stopped by his orders . But the Convention in th « treaty of Washington , for joint co operation between tbe squadrons of
\ ; j ; . : ' : ; the two countries , would not prove effectual for check-! ing the slive tsade- Tte Government had not stood up ! very manfully for their negotiator , in leaving him to I the attentions of Mr . Hume : the principle on which he ' bad proceeded , of concession for the sake of peace , had ; been repudiated by so great a lover of peace as Mr . ; jx . Even admitting that the treaty of Washington > was ad-yantag-eoas to the country , it remained to bo : shown that the merit "was due to the negociator , and there was no ^ rtcrdtiit for » vote of thanks to a dip ' . o' . matist , which would lower tbe character of the House t > y dragging a majority through the dirt , in approbation ' of an unwise and disadvantageous treaty .
Mr . Hume said a few words in reply . He did not think that my prociedinss of his would have so stirred up tbe Noble Lords ; and the spirit now evinced convinced him that , had they been in office , we should have been embroiled with America . On a division , tbe motion was carried by 238 against £ > 6 .
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This week we shall publish sevein . 1 Editions of the Northern Star . The second , which , as-usual , will reach our Lancashire and Yorkshire readers on Saturday morning , will contain a full report of the proceedings in the Queen ' s Bench to the close of the Government persecution case , on Thursday ; the third , which will reach Manchester and the other towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire
on Saturday evening , will contain the proceedings of Friday ; and a Fourth Edition , which we pmpose publishing so as to reach all towns within a day ' s post , will be delivered on Monday morning , containing the proceedings up to Saturday night .
Agents are requested to send early Orders . Perhaps the people will now see the absolute necessity of sending the means of finishing the good fight , so that our legal staff may be such as will do justice to our cause and our principles . The battle must be fought to tbe last , and shall be foueht , if we hare but the resources .
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the factory bill , the government concessions . 0 > ' Monday evening , Sir Jambs Graham detailed to " the House" the alterations in the educational portion of the Factory Bill , whioh have , during the recess , been determined on by the Ministry . As the subject is one of absorbing interest , no apology will be needed for making the readers of the Northern Star acquainted with the main of the alterations proposed .
In th « first place the Home Secretab-j referred to the gros 3 means of delusion that have been reserted to by the political dissenters to " get up the steam " against the original measure ; the palpable frauds and lying misrepresentations of which they have been guilty . The measure has been almoBt regularly and systematically argued npon , as though it was a first attempt to introduce the principle of 4 v Compulsory Education ; " and this , too , by the very parties who hailed and supported , and even carried , Lord
Althobp ' s Factory Regulation Act , which made it law that so child should be permitted to tcork in a Fac ~ tory , unless the master saw to it that it regularly attended school ! How well do we remember the glorifications in which the Whig press indulged , respecting this portion of Lord Althobf ' s measure , when it was first introduced ! At that period tbe Ten Hours Agitation was at its height . A demand , almost unprecedented for its urgency and unanimity , had been made upon the
Government , for the means of protecting the infant factory slave from a thraldom more oppressive , and more destructive to moral good and physical well-being , than the aost direct and uacioaicd system of slavery ever seen . The simple protection aEked for , was a forbidding of anj ownt-r of & factory to work his " hands" more than t-n hours a-day , it having been testified to , on cs'h , by the highest medical authorities iu the w-jrld , that $ 0 attempt io work youog per-
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sons under twsnty-one years of age , more than tsn hours a day , under the circumstances attendant upon factory labour , was to sacrifice health and sport with life ; and which testimony is to this day uncontradicted and uninvalidated ! The answer to this plain and simple demand , on tbe part of the Whig Government , was the Factory Act of Lord Althoep ' s , introducing the miseryengendering system of relays ; the obnoxious , and harassing , and expensive spy-system of Inspectorships ; a " Compulsory Education" for all children , as a qualification for work ; and the new fact ,
established by law , that young persons , thirteen years of age , are "free agents , " and out of the custody or care of the Lord Chancellor ! And O ! what credit was taken to the Whigs for the preparation of this measure . It was declared that the " Ultra-Philanthropists" as Oastler and Sadler were sneeringly called , were beaten hollow : that these parties , with their utmost stretch of compassion , had asked for the employment of children ten hours a day ; while the Whig Act prohibited their being employed more than eight : that the " philanthropists" had not even contemplated
the education of the objects of their oommisseTation and tender regard ; while the Whig Act provided that they should have an education , before any master should be allowed to employ them . 0 how vauntingly this portion of the Althorpean scheme was but set forth 1 The regard'it displayed for the intellectual culture and moral welfare of the factory child , was pointed out , and sung in pasans leud and long . A comprehensiveness of scheme , and enlightened views to meet the requirements of the case , were discovered in the plan ; and praise was thickly bespattered upon its " statesman-like authors . "
From the moment of the passing of Althorp 8 Factory Act , in 1834 , to the present moment , has the prinoiple of " Compulsory Education" been recognised and enforced by law ; and yet , notwithstanding this notorious fact , the Dissenters have choseu to represent the New Factory Bill as endeavouring to introduce that principle ; aud they have deluded their dupes into strong protestations and indignant denunciations against 6 uch an attempt ! The introduction and legislative enforcement of the u principle , " when proposed by Lord Althok p , is statesman-like and praiseworthy ; and the prinoiple itself is legitimate and right : but an attempt to make that principle operative ; an attempt to secure an education , somewhat worthy of the name ; an
attempt to put an end to " fire-hoile" schools , and " firing-up" masters , with scraps of the Leeds Mercury for books ; an attempt to provide day schools " ffficicntly conducted , " { ot the destitute populations of Ash ton , Staleybridge , and Oldham , where scaroely a single public day school exists , amongst their tens of thousands of wealth-producers : an attempt to accomplish these things is yelled down as an attempt to introduce a " tyrannical principle ; " a * principle violating the sacred relationship of parent and child ;" " a principle destroying all freedom , and interfering with natural rights f and yelled down , too , by those who have themselves established the very " principle" denonnced , and taken honour and glory to themselves for having dene bo !
Having replied to the objection cunningly enough , but roguishly , started , that the New Bill had sought tointroduce the priuciple of ' " compulsory education " Sir Jamoc Graham detailed the nature and scope of the alterations he and his colleagues were prepared to make in the Government scheme . He first applied himself to the question of Sunday schools . He said : — " Tbe first objection generally urged , and it is one with which the sympathy of a great part of the public , arises nut so much from tbe intention of tbe clause relating to Sunday schools as from tbe effects likely , as
is supposed , to result from Its wording . It has been described aa a clause violating the right of conscience , and compelling parents whose children are employed in factories to use the Sunday schools established under this Act to the exclusion of all other Sunday schools . Now , I beg to state that it is aiy intension to exclude from tbe 57 th and 58 th clauses all the words relating to Sunday schools , snd I shall also propose that tbe GOth clause shall be altogether omitted . In libU ot clause 60 , I shall propose to insert a clause providing tbat tbe master , or such ether person as tbe clerical trustee may appoint , shall , at
8 'ich time aa tbe said clerical master may direct , openly attend at such school to afford instruction according ta the doctrines of the church of Eugland , and shall give such instruction to all the children in attendance at such school whose parents may desire their attendance for tbe purpose of religious instruction of this character ; and further , this clause will enact that tbe said master shall , at least once on every Sunday , enforce the attendance of the children on divine worship in a church or chapel of the establishment , or at tbe performance of divine worship in the school-house , if no church or chapel is convenient Tbe House will at once perceive , that tbe effect of this alteration will be that tbe schools will be open on the Sabbaththat tbe master will attend—and tbat , to the children
of all inch parents aa may desire it , instruction in tbe catechism and liturgy of the established church will be imparted . But , as I stated on a former occasion that we recognised as a leading principle tbat until a child should be emancipated by age , tbe parent or guardian shall exercise bis discretion as to that child ' s religious creed , vie shall , acting in strict conformity with tbat principle , introduce a clause iby which the child will be allowed to attend any Sunday-school such parent or guardian shall prefer , and by which the parent will be left perfectly at liberty to choose any other in case be objects to the schools under this act . I hope , therefore , that by these provisions any objections that may have been urged with respect to instruction at Sunday-schools will be entirely removed . "
A tremendous hubbub has been raised about the intention of the promoters of the New Bill , to "break up the Sunday Schools , " and get the children into the bands of the Church clergy and their teachers on the day set apart for rest , and not for instruction . From the above statement of tbe Home Secretary , it is evident , that if ever such an intention existed , it is now given up . Surely , after tbe above " concession , " we shall hear no more about " the attempt to put dowa ' our' Sunday Schools . "
For our own part , we think it would be a great good webb they pot down : » c , were the necessity far ihtir existence superseded . It is of itself an evidence of the most weighty and telling character against the accursed THING , itself , that the only means of school education for the children of tho poor should be tbe Sunday Schools , with all' their narrow-minded , exclusive , and woefully imperiect arrangements . Were the parents of the children in the position they ought to occupy ; had they thjeir share of the manifold blessings arising from tbe abundant means wo possess to produce an illimitable
amount of wealth ; they would not need to b » dependent upon ostentatious fanatic " charity" for the education of their offspring in sectarianism and illibcrality ! The necessity that exists for Sunday Schools at all , is & strong condemnation of all our fiscal , political , and social arrangements . The S&bbathsnoviD be a day of REST . But there is no rest for the children of the poor . Toil all the week is their portion ; and a sacrifice of the only time for recruiting exhausted worn-out nature , is demanded as the price for merely learning it to read , —
and to think , and judge , and act illiberally towards all who do not belong to the " sect . " Whatever , therefor' * , will remove the necessity for the existence of Sunday Schools , will accomplish a great good , by removing a great evil . The working-day is the time for tbe schoolmaster to pursue his " avocation . " The Sabbath commandment , commands to "keep holy ( wholly ) the Sibbath day . " In it we are to " do no manner of work ;" but "to REST from our labours . " There is not much eist in a Sunday School .
Let us not be mistaken . We do n ^ t decry Sunday Schools , as things are . They have been , and are , of immense use , notwithstanding all their imperfections , and all their sectarianism . They have taught hundreds of thousands to read , who otherwise would cot have learned . When thus taught , ikey have been cast abroad into the wide world , to battle with the stern realities of life . The power io read has placed within thJr reach " materials for thinking . " Thought has been awn-kened and evolved ; and a conviction tbat man ' s injustice bas " o ^ fallished" a system of seluiLues .- aud . fraud , to which
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the ignorant and unreflecting have been subjected , has taken firm hold of the mind , and given birth to a holy determination to supersede the wrong by tbe establishment of right . Sunday Schools , poor , wretched things as they are , have had theii uses ; and good has resulted from them . It would be but a sorrowful reflection , however , to have to think that by their means alone are the masse 3 of our population always to be instructed in the little they can alone teach 1 The introduction of right principles into practice would soon supersede the necessity for Sunday Schools , and give every youthful member of society a scholastio course of education , physically , mentally , morally , and practically , Buoh as the most favoured of our race do nob even now enjoy !
The next ' concession" of the Government relates to the Certificates for school attendance . It is the law now , that no child shall be permitted to work in a factory , unless it attends some school ; but it leaves the master at liberty to let the school be of what nature or sort ho pleases . It is from the latter cause that we have had the children sent into the " fire-hoile , " to say their " lessons" to the " firerup" of tho engine boiler , their " lessons" being scraps of the Leeds Mercury newspaper , cut up for the purpose ; it is from that cause , that we have had these things practised , and dignified with the the name of " schooling" and * education . " The
new bill sought to put an end to such wicked mockeries . It provided that a certificate of attendance , either at a New District School , or at a School of the National Society , or a School of the British and Foreign School Society , or a Catholic School , or a School attached to any factory provided by the master himself ; it provided that a certificate of weekly attendance at one or other of these schools ( stipulating that the four last should be " efficiently conducted " J should be obtained by the factory master from the sohoolmaster , before he was at liberty to employ any child . An alteration in this particular is proposed . The Home Secretary said : —
"On thus point , I propose to introduce an alteration into clauses 16 , 17 , and 18 , and also propose entirely to omit clauses 71 , 72 , 73 , -ind 74 . In lieu of these I propose to introduce a claune that will enable the masters of all schdols in the district to grant certificates of the attendance of the children , subject only to this condition , that all such schools shall be under tbe superintendence of an inspector appointed by the Committee ef tbe Privy CouDcil , without any other sanction or control , and with regard to tbe character of the instruction , only insisting tbat in tbe course of such instruction the authorised
version of the Scriptures sball be used . With respect to Wesleyan schools or to those of Protestant Dissenters generally , this clause will be unnecessary ; but it is desirable , in order to provide for the caseB of certain Homai Catholic schools at which Protestant children may attend , and also it ia necessary to provide against a Roman Catholic master compelling the attendance of Protestant children at any private school within bis factory , and there instructing those children in religious knowledge , in the absenoe of the authorized version of the Scriptures . "
The power to grant certificates of school attendance is to be extended to all schoolmasters in the factory districts , who submit to place their schools under the superintendence of an Inspector appointed by the Committee of Privy Council , and who use tho authorised version of the Scriptures in the course of instruction . This " concession" meets many difficulties , and many objections , that have been started . The charge that it was intended to net all the children to the New District Schools , to be taught Puseyism by the Church parson , is now no longer tenable , even in appearance .
The ohild may be sent to any school so superintended , and so conducted ; and certainly , if Inspection is neeessary , * nd if the use of the Scriptures as a class book is not to be dispensed witb , we cannot see what objection can be urged against the provisions of ihe Bill , as now proposed . The world knows something of the utter inefficiency of much of what is now dignified by the nanae of " sohool eduoation . " They know that the keeping of a school is a " walk" of life in not very high estimation ; and tbat it is generally resortod to by the unfortunate and the disabled , with ne other qualification for the task than that they are
unable to obtain a miserable livelihood by any other means . " Do you teach morals to the young people under your charge V was the question put by some inquirers into the statistics of " school eduoation" to tho ooaduotor of aa " establishment" for the teaching and training of youth . " La , Sir , " was the answer , who could afford to teach them for twopenoe a-week" 2 If benefit is to be secured to the attenders upon " all echools , " in the major portion of them a far different system from that hitherto pursued will have to obtain * : for it is a fact that the major portion of the " masters" are as deficient of all mental and moral qualifications for the task they have assumed , as the poor children are of
that which they go to school , but go in vain , to learn . Should , therefore , improved methods of tsition , and a natural course of treatment to the children placed in the hands of the " educator , " follow from giving " all schools" the power to grant certificates of sohool attendance , by being placed under the superintendence of the Inspector , it will be one benefit resulting from the system of " Inspection" whioh we have hardly any right to expect from such an obnoxious mode of proceeding . The system , however , is one of Whig origin : and , therefore , the Dissenters cannot with any show of justice complain , seeing that they were the strenuous supporters of the " principle" when it was first sought to be introduced in connection with factory children .
The next alteration was announced in these terms : — " The House-will observe tbat I have now removed the difficulty with regard to Sunday schools , and that with respect to day-schools I have provided for the free granting of certificates , subject only to the inspection of the schools by the Inspector authorised and appointed by the Committee of the Privy Council . I will now go en to notice the third class of objections , for which I sball also endeavour to provide a remedy . I propose to alter clauses 57 , 58 , and 69 . It is objected , tbat as instruction in the catechism and liturgy of the Established Church may be aiven at any period
of the school hours , the imparting of such instruction may interrupt tbe education of the children of those Dissenters who attend ; and that it must consequently ensue either tbat those children will lose tbe benefits ef the education afforded , 01 that attempts will be made to instil the particular doctrines and catechism of tbe Established ( Jiiurcb into tbe minds of those who dissent from its principles . We shall provide , in order to meet these objections , tbat instruction in the catechism and doctrines of the church shall be afforded during one hour out of the three of each of the five d&js on which the children are to attend the schools ; but we shall also provide that that hour shall be appointed by tbe
masters , and tbat it sball be either the first or the last of the three boura . ( Hear , bear . ) Further , we shall provide that instruction in this branch shall be given to tbe children of churchmen in a class held in a room apart from tbe school-room , and separate from that in which the children of those Dissenting parents who may object to tbe education of their children In the chursh doctrines receive instruction . Then we shall take a precaution with regard to a matter on which the Rigbt Hon . Gentleman , the Member for Devonport , urged some objections the other night , —I mean with respect to tbe character of tbe books to be used . As
the bill Btauds it is in the power of the clerical trustee to make the selection , and of course it is to be expected that every such trustee will select according to his own peculiar tenets . To obviate the difficulty we shall provide tbat the selections shall be made by tbe two archbishops . We shall also provide that no Inspector shall inquire into the character of the religious instruction imparted , unless be shall receive express authority to do s » from one of tbe archbishops , or from the bishop of the diocese . This , the House will observe , will prevent all inquiry into the special religious instruction afforded . "
O / i this we have not , at present , any thing to say . It will be better to wait , and see how it is met and received by the religious portions of the community , who object to mere secular education , and insist on the priest interfering with the functions of the schoolmaster , to impart religious instruction ; but who cannot agree a * to what is religious instruction , and who , in their bitter quarrels and disgraceful contests on the point , evince that they are possessed of no religion at all ! but that its place is occupied by furious fanaticism and intolerant bigotry . Sir James Graham proceeded : —
" I now come to another point . In clause 59 it ib provided , ' chut if tf : e pun . nt of a < iy scholar sball certify to the master or trustees thac he desires that such scbolsir , on the gr ( um ^ vf religious objections , may not be pvtsout at th * j periods when suoh catechism or por-
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tions of the liturgy are taught , it sball not be lawful for any person to compel such child to be present at such periods . ' An objection bas been taken to this clause , because of the introduction of tbe words ' on tbe ground of religious objection , ' it being thought invidious to compel a parent to state what may be the grounds of the objection be entertains . I shall propose , therefore , to omit these words , and it will consequently be competent for a patent , -without assigning any reason , simply to state that he objects . Besides this , I propose specifically to enact , that during the hour in which religious instruction is afforded , which , as I said before , may be either the first or tbe last hour of the threa , provision shall be made by the trustees that the children of
Dissenters shall receive instruction in some branch of knowledge taught in the schools . But although we make all these provisions , we do not think them sufficient to meet all the objections urged . Tbe precautions I have stated I believe to be ample against any attempt to introduce a proselyting spirit ; but although we . have taken these precautions—although we have provided that education in the catechism and liturgy of the church should be afforded in a separate room and at a fixed hour—still we think that these precautions fall short of all tbat tbe necessities of the case require . ¦ Excepting on Sundays , no provision is made fox tbe education of Dissenters in the peculiar religious creeds they may profess . This is an important point I propose to
introduce a clause to provide for it . I propose that children of Dissenters shall have instruction in the creed of their parents for a time exactly equal te those of children brought up in the doctrines ef the establishment . This instruction will , of course , be at the discretion of the parent . As the case now stands the Sunday is provided for—tbat day is at the disposal of eyery parent to provide as he pleases for tbe education of his child . During tbe afternoon of Saturday it is also competent fur him to provide for tbe special religious instruction hifl child is to receive ; but something more is wanting , and we therefore propose to enact tbat tbe trustees shall appoint a day in each week in which any . scholar whose parent desires that bis child should . not b « present when the Catechism and Liturgy of the
Established Church are taught may receive religious instruction from a licensed minister of any congregation at which such parent attends divine worship , and that such scholar shall attend to receive such instruction at such time as the parent may notify to the trustee that the minhter will attend to impart it , and at any convenient place other than the school-house itself . ( Hear . ) Now then , Sir , I think I may say that everything bas been done that I and my colleagues could devise to meet the several objections which have been taken to tbe religious insttuctioa of the scholars . I hope and believe tbat we have met the difficulties of the ease with tbat candour and firmness which was required , aud I am quite sure tbat the object of our regard has been to secure the Instruction of Dissenters , as well as of other classes of her Majesty ' s subjects . "
This , too , is a matter which does not call for observation at the present . It concern . 3 the " unco guid" more than any one else . Upon the provisions as they originally stood the " fighting sects" have been mest condemnatory and most severe . Let us see how they receive the " concession" here offered to them . We next come to tbe proposed alteration in The Trust , for tho governance of the new District Schools . This is the whole question . If the Trust be a popular one , and unobjectionable in its nature , the government of the schools , and the nature of the instruction imparted will be all that they require to be . But if the Trust be viciously constituted , it must follow that their arrangements will be vicious also . Here are the alterations proposed : —
" I will now offer to the House ai explanation of the course which I propose to take with regard to the constitution of the trust . The clauses in tbe Bill which relate to the appointment and powers of tbe trustees of the school are to be omitted entirely . I allude to clauses 52 , 53 , and bi of the Bill as it now stands , and we introduce new clauses , which will give an entirely new character to tbat part of the Bill . It is ( be intention to adhere to that part of tbe Bill which enacts , that when the school shall be intended for a place for which there shall be only one officiating minister , such minister and tbe other trustees shall be the trustees of the school , the minister being termed the clerical trustee . When there shall be more than two or
more ministers officiating in any eucIi place , or when tht school sball be intended for two or more districts , the bishop of the diocese within tbat district from time to time shall appoint from such ministers , or from tho ministers officiating in such districts , one to be a clerical trustee of the school , and the clerical trustee will have the power , in writing , of appointing some person , being a churchwarden in the place where the school is erected , or being a person qualified to act as a trustee , to be one of the trustee of tbe school . I propose also , that a portion of the trustees shall be elected trustees . I will now state to the House what alterations the Government intend to introduce on this point . I propose to enact , that when there shall be
any number of persons , not less than twenty , who shall each have voluntarily subscribed a donation of £ 10 at the least , in one sum , towards the expenditure in the maintenance of the school in any one of three years immediately preceding any election , or the sum of £ l for the two successive years immediately preceding any election , or one of whom shall have given a site for the school , the returning officer shall have tbe power to summon a meeting of such subscribers , and such subscribers and donors present are to elect one er more qualified persons to be a trustees of the Bald school . It will be expected tbat I should now state to the House tbe qualification of the trustee : — ' That any person being assessed to tbe onrrent poor-rate of any
place wholly or partly within tbe district of tbe said tschool , in xeapecV ' ot property situated within such district , and whose assessment ia among the first third of the assessments arranged according te the amounts of rental from the highest to the lowest , any person being usually resident within five miles of the school who shall have given the site thereof , or one-tenth part of tbe entire original cost of the school buildings , or shall have given a sum of £ 20 at the least towards the expenditure in tbe maintenance of the school daring any one of the three immediately preceding years , or Bhall have subscribed the sum of £ 2 at the least thereto for two successive years immeoiiatelyfprecedlng tbe publication of the notice of the said election , sball be
qualified to be a trustee : provided that where any firm or partnership shall be assessed , the amount of tbe assessment shall be divided by the number of persons whose names shall be expressed iu the rate , and each of such persons shall be deemed to be aaseased at the amount assigned to him by such division , and no person sball be deemed to be qualified in respect of the assessment whose name is not set forth on the said rate . ' These are the qualifications which I intend to propose with reference to the trustees . The House will observe that I have now mentioned three out of the seven trustees . It is my intention to aibere to the originally proposed number of trustees , viz . seven . One is to be the clerical trustee , one is to be selected by the
officiating minister , and one to be elected by tbe donors . After this the remaining four more trustees are to be elected . In the bill as it stands it is enacted that the means of erecting the school , aud other expences connected with its efficiency and maintenance , are to be provided out of tbe poor rate . The Government thought it but fair and just that tbe ratepayers should nave a considerable voice in the selection of tbe trustees—( loud cheers ) . It is intended to propose that the four remaining trustees , to which J have previously alluded , shall be elected by tbe rate payers assembled —( cheers ) The clause is as follows : — " That four persons , qualified as hereinafter provided , sball be elected by the persons who shall have been assessed to the poor-Tates in any part of the pl : ice to which the said school shall be assigned for a period of not less than twelve months
previous to the day of publication of the notice of the election , on lands , tenements , or hereditaments , of the net annual value of £ 10 and upwards , to act as trustees jointly with the trustees hereinbefore provided ; and any rate-payer qualified to vote in the election of such trustees m-iy put in nomination at such election all or any of the requisite number of persons qualified as herein provided . ' Whatever may be the predominating influence in tbe district , whether that influence be in accordance with the Established Church or with Dissenting principles—whether it fall on tfae right hand or on tbe left , it -was resolved that tbe minority ( as we understood the Right Hon . Baronet ) should be represented . No ratepayer shall vote for more than two trustees , and the minority in every case will elect two . "
This " concession" is net sufficient . The Trust so constituted will not operate for good . It is , not popular . How easy this thing could have been managed had the Government dared to have applied correct principles . They come to the ratepayers for money to support the schools : they should have given the ratepayers the controul over the expendi ture of the money . Had they done so , the way would have been clear of difficulties . But classinterests interfere . There is the Church , with all her , pretensions and assumptions , compelled to seek the strong arm of the law to uphold them , having lost her hold of the affections and judgment of the
people ; and who , therefore , must be propitiated by making her Parsons ex efficio heads of The Trust : and there are , on the other hand , the hungry aud aspiring hordes of Dissenters yelling and clamouring against Mother Chubch , denouncing her for her intolerance and unjust assumption of power and posititm , while they are merely seeking to occupy her place ! Were this not so , they would seek to enforce tbo principles of religious liberty aud universal toleration , about which they so glibly prattle . Were this not so , they would seek to place the " dominant sect" on an equality with tho rest , and leave each to tho good sense and active support of their rc ^ peotive adherents . Were this not so , they
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would not content themselves with annual exhibi tions of virtuous indignation against Chnrch M&tea and seek to set the mark of public odium npon pajtj ' cular MinisterB of the Church , while they resist with all their might , the only measure that would reud tt Church Rates unnecessary , or which could , by an possibility , get rid of compulsory payments for the offices of objected-to-religion . Were the Dissenters honest ; were not each " sect" seeking by unworth y means to take the place of the now " dominant sect " and thus enjoy and wield the power they now ^ much decry ; were not this tbe case , we should haTe
them pursuing a far more open and strai ght-forward course from that they do pursue . We should hat * them avowedly and energetically seeking fot tm abrogation of the " incestuous union" between Church and State ! As long as there is an Estab . lished Church , it ia right that compulsory paym ^ should be enforced . And as long as we have s " dominant seot" recognised by law , it cannot W be expected but that the " lawful" claims of suc j , " sect" will be maintained . The only way to set aside the one , and abrogate the other , is to " cat the connection altogether" !
The Trust will not do ! There is in its eonstitn . tion & union of such opposite principles , as must of necessity , lead to inharmonious action . The Parson an ex-officio head , with a power in himself to choose another to act as his echo . Another trustee to be chosen by the donors to the school ; and the remaining four elected by those rate-payers who are assessed to the Poor Rate at Ten Pounds and upwardt ! What a monstrosity I A union of ail the woast portions of bad principles ! Even in the attempt la
" popularize" The Trust , by a pretended election bj the Rate-payers , the very parties who are mainh interested in the question are shut out from all con troul ! Whose children are they who need the edacation sought for ? The children of Ten Po ^ Rate-payers ? or the children of the poor f Then why are the poor rate-payers to be denied the ptin lege of voting for the four elected trustees J View it in whatever light we may , the professed constitution of The Trust is vicious and bad .
See how simply the object might be accomplished without injury or favour to any . Let the rate payers in Vestry assembled return annually a list , say of twenty-one names , from which the Magistrates in Sessions assembled , shall select the seven required . What more would be needed ! What more simple ! What more satisfactory ? The board so constituted could appoint the instructor , and make all £ a arrangements for the sohool . If these were imperfect or bad , the remedy would be in the hands of those whose money was wasted , and in the hands of those whose children were deprived of the instruction par . , chased . Abuses would soon be rectified .
Had those who have raised $ he loud ckmwu against the education clauses of the Factory Bill been sincere in their expressed desire to secure for the children of the poor an education" at all , they would have sought to have accomplished a change in The TaU 3 T of the nature here indicated , instead of seeking to defeat the measure altogether . Tht
fact that they have so sought to overturn the only approximation to a measure of National Education ever proposed , instead of seeking te reconcile existing differences , and to make it acceptable to all , is at once a self-evident proof that each religious " sect" dreads education , unless it can exercise over it undisputed and absolute control ! Pro * selytism is what each seeks !
These , then , are the main of the alterations proposed . Whether they will be satisfactory 01 tot to the Dissenters remains to be seen . We deem Thb Trust to be far from satisfactory , for tbe reasons just adduced . And yet , so anxious are we to have the children of the poof " educated , " and that , too , in other than Sunday Schools , that we would gladly prefer the B : ll passed , in its present altered state , to no Bill at all . With those who wish to defeat the attempt to compel the rich to pronde education for the poor , we hold no sympathy . With an ignorant population society cannot be safe , Nor are We justified in subjecting the poor to
incessant toil to procure for others the means of luxurious enjoyment , and doom the offspring of their loins to mental blindness and intellectual destitution . Ererj child has a claim to be taught . Society has aninterest in seeing that it is taught , —and taught aright too , as far as all known knowledge goes , and as far as moral and social obligations are concerned Any attempt to embody this prinoiple will find support from us . Nay , we shall be disposed to put up with many imperfections and short-comings , in its first application , for the sake of the " principle" itself , Once introduced , it will make its own way ; ud the errors in practice will be removed .
Should the present measure be overturned , we Bhall have another blessikg to thank religioua bigotry for ! The children of the poor are enveloped in gross . ignorance , and mental darkness . EwrJ attempt to enlighten their mindB , and cultivate their understandings , is opposed by rfligiwn sectarianism and intolerant fanaticism ! The Minister proposed to set apart from the £ 60 , 006 , 000 a-year wrung at the point of the bayonet from the toil of the producing classes , a paltry £ 30 , 000 ia « doTH » education of those who are uneducated , fccaua weir ^ p ^ rm ^ . w ^» w ^ v ¦ ^ — ~ ^ - ^— _
^ ^ " ^ means have been absorbed in the way just pointed out ; and the proposal was met with a yell 01 execration from the " dominant sect" aHd the wesleyan body . The Minister proposes an approxuution to a national system of education ; and a clamour is raised by the discordant sects against the scheme itself , under the false pretence that they are opposinjS an unjust bestowment of power upon their al'eWJ too formidable rival . And thus because of sectarian quarrelling and bitter religious differences , the people a , e to " perish for lack of knowledge" !! S « t James Graham , in concluding his announcement 0
the alterations , aptly said : — " The great Autfaer of religion and of Wtij 1 b « JJ on record a test by which wo are ^ ab *<> to toow true followers . It is said , By this shall all * know whether you are my ^ isciples , If you w other . ' In the early perioda cf the history 0 Christian world the bond of union « " "fj ^ martyrdom , and by every kind of < " **** %£ & * those nieu were exposed . Tbe remark was , »^ these Christians love one another ; ' but m oor own £ the sceptic , the scoffer , and the ^• Vt ^ St- - ' exclaim , ' See how these Christians hate one anota «
The saying is not confined to the " « jp tio « ^ scoffer ! It is truly no scoff to say it ! The tians" do hats one another : and because 01 haired , the children are to be deprived of tb > P l « ge of having the door of understanding nj Jotf ^ ' and knowledge and wisdom are to be a sea e to them ! Out upon ye I ye vile hypocrites , stand in the way of mental light !
Empmal Sfarltamrnt _
Empmal Sfarltamrnt _
This Week's Star. «?¦
THIS WEEK'S STAR . «?¦
The Northern Star. Saturday, May 6, 1843.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , MAY 6 , 1843 .
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WORKINGS OF THE SVSTEM . THE NOTTINGHAM LACE TRAJ ^ The Report of the Commissioners "PP ^^ enquire into the condition of tbe youtbiui » ^ turing population of these ldflgdo-j" » t rf valuable , because the most taghiW dowj ^ modern times . It has brought orijW « J ^ the infernal money-grubbing system ^ { ha we live , that make the flesh « J ^ his blood curdle , and the whole man blush » race . With -some of the horrors of employed in coal mines and iu f ^ torie 3 ' ° . bttt the have become to some extent ^^ of the half is not yet told them . The l" - * " ^ h * Midland Counties equals if not exceea ^^ been said of theso pandemonia . we * t 0 this an article from the Times , m "ft * ^ matter , to which we refer our " ^ T ^^ il their attention for it . It is exceedingly m ^ ^ its tone ; and yet holds up a picture ^ ^ may well blush to contemp late , ine ^ is to be continued , We shall most prot ^ the continuation : or , if not , r ,- «« tW a « d have somethiag of w o «* t 0 ' ^ subject .
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4 ^ THE NORTHERN STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 6, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct480/page/4/
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