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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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THE TRUCE : SYSTEM AND THE " DFVIL' 3 DUST . MB . FERRAND'S SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS . ON WEDNESDAY IN LAST
WEEK . Mr . FEBBA 2 CD rose , pursuant to notice , to move for a Efclect committee , to inquire into the existence of frauds in the various manufactures of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland : also to inquire into the existence of frands and . oppressions , either , directly or indirectly , committed by certain mannfiCtUieiS of the TJnitfcd Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , upon the persons employed by them ; and also by the workers of mines , colleries , and railways , upon the lab ourers in their employment . The Hon . Member also moved the following resolutions : — " That this House considers as highly criminal the condnct of any person or persons 'who may attempt to induce o ' -herg to give false evidence before a committee of this House , and "will inflict condign punishment on jOi such persona , and Trill also direct them to be prosecuted . "
" That this Sonse ¦ will protect and bear harmless every workiEg man -who gives true , evidence before any committee which may be appointed to inquire into the francs committed by manufacturers and others , to the injury of the trade of this country , and of the labouring classes . " He said tbat in rising to perform the duty -which he cad undertaken , he ftlt he had placed himself under a iesvy weight of responsibility . Every class of manufacturers in Grtat Britain and Ireland had their eyes on him . It "was felt by the "whole community that we were not in that position to which our skill , capital , and industry entitled us ; and it conid not but at the same time be felt that tlie motions -which he had submitted to the House onznt to cave proceeded from
certain Hon . Alembers at the other side . But though , perhaps , it mjght be thought that the motion ought to hs . ve proceeded from others rather than from him , he ytt trusted to the iind attention of the House to grant him a _ favourable hearing . When he first brought forward the charges -which -were involved in his motion , be "was induced to do so in telf-defeuce—he ¦ was driven into it by the accusations brought against the landed interest ; throughout the whole country men ¦ were hired for the purpose af using the most violent laDgnagfc—placards of the most inflammatory nature were posted in every town and Tillage . The working classes -were told that the evils which they bid to endure -wtre not imputstble to any accidental occurrences—were not in any respect imputable to their em cloy ers , but
were solely owing to the conduct of the landed interest ; it was the landed interest , they were told , which deprived tktm of food—it was the landed interest , they WfeTe toid . which dried the mother ' s breast , and exeittd th « out-crics of th « famished infant , acd no one was found to urge the trnta upon the attention of the working classes . He and those who generally coincided in op inion with him did not subscribe to those assertions . They repudiated the assertion that the landed interest wtre the parties to Wsme , and on the contrary affirmed that the manufacturers themselves were the causes of that distress under which the working people suffered . The motion of which be had given notice comprehended two resolutions , one of which undertook to deal with a matter which had already been made the subject of a
standing cider of t ' nat House . It was important , he couceived , to let the people know that they would be protec ** d & > m thfc effects of any false evidence ¦ which the manufacturers might get up against them . It was also important to let the people know that the House of Commons would protect them from the consequences ef freely and faithfully giving evidence before a committee of that House . They should be assured of ergoying absolute and perfect security for tuch of the working classes as might be examined before a select committee . Tie fact was , that the working classes would not venture to come btfure a committee of that Hiuseif they did not receive such an assurance , for otherwise the prevailing © pinion amongst thsm was , that their utter ruin must ensue . It was well known that the late Mt Sadler had done much with a view to improve the condition of the working classes , and they had his testimony to show that those who were called
upon to give evidence had been stTere BUfferers from the consequences of their temerity in bo offending those froia whom ibty derived their means of employment They obeyed the summons of the Speaker , and for doiEg bo they lest the means of subsistence ; and if they refused to obey the Speaker ' s summons , they were condemned to priFon and to misery , and their families to distress . Two petitions had been presented to the House by Mr . Sadler , stating all the facts which he had now stated . And whit now -was the language of the working classes ? Why , finding that £ 20 . 000 , 000 ef money bad been voted by that House to put down slsTery and oppression among the blacks , and ^ 17 000 had been granted for the purpose of eimabling the Hon . and Learned Member for Bolton to go to the continent for Vhe purpose of extending trade , commerce , and -matiufacturfca , they could not for one moment believe that the House would refuse
them protection whenever they were summoned to appear and give evidence before any of its committees . He thought the House would agree with him in thinking that Hothmg was more requisite for the extension of trade and commerce than that the merchants and manufacturers should be of unsullied character and upright honour , and that in all their trading transactions , in different quarters of the globe , they should act justly with those who traded with them , whether at home or abroad . He found that their ancestors were of this opinion . The Legislature of former times were jealous of the honour and character of the nation , and stringent laws were put in fjroe to prevent fraud being practised either at- 'home or abroad . Tee Act 13 th Richard II- c 2 . was intended to apply to this , and
the 5 th and 6 th Eiward TJ . was passed for the purpose of enforcing the true making of woollen clotb . The 43 rd Elizabeth was also passed to prevent frauds in the m ^ Vfng of cloths by starching them with flsur ; and the 10 th Anne , a 16 , was passed for the better payment of the poor employed in the making of cloth- All those -were Acts passed by their ancestors for the protection of the people ; tnt It happened tbat about fifty years ago a new and enlightened principle burst forth , and the laws which protected the working classes were put down . What had been the consequences ? Prauas of the most gross description had fcwei practised by some manufacturers in . different trades in this country , to the great injury c-f the merchant both at Lome and abroad , and to the utter ruin of those
manufacturers in thiB country , many of whom he believed were anxious to be honest , upright , and honourable men —{ htar , hear ;—and who wished to earry to the market an article the sale of which would give them a just reward for their capital , and liberal wages to the workmen . But an enlightened principl e had since then burst forth , and which , making rapid strides , had opened up a new arena fjr the manufacturer to walk in—( a laugh-j It -ss-25 tae new principle of many of those men to try "who could undersell hia neighbour , who could compete with his brother manufacturer at home and abroad , and "who could produce the greatest quantity of goods at the lowest cost , both in price and labour . He had been told by boa . members of that house , that the era laws ¦
were tse drag-chain of the commercial ana m&imisctnrina interests of this country ; and he had bees informed both in the honse and out of it , that the agricultural and landed interests ¦ were the causes of tfee distress which prevailed in the country , and that if free trade in corn were permitted , the commerce and manufactures of England would spread into every clime ; that , in feet , there would be ne measurement—if he might use that expression—to the extent of British commerce and manufactures . Why , he found that the merchants and maiurscturers of this country were in possession of the Sf-Dth American market from the year aso 9 to 1822 oi 2 S 23 . At that time Mr . Canning came down to the house and declared that we had called a new world into existence : and many of the manufacturers and merchants
thwnght it would be a boundless sphere for w trade and commerce of this country . Bat what -was the consequence of the frauds which had been committed by the manufacturers cf this country 1 They themselves Were the first canse to a great extent of our loss of the South American market . ( Hear . ) He had heard it stated by some Hon . Members on the opposite side cf the House that the use of flour was indispensably necessary in making calico ; but he believed that the use of it was formerly unknown , and that it was never made nse of until introduced by the manufacturers f jr the purpose of cheating and defrauding their customers— ibear . hear ) . He would no longer make use of those expressions npon his own authority ; bus he would tell Hon . Members who denied bis statements
and said they we . e not true that they ought to call a comnuxtse , and prove them untrue if they could before teat committee—( hear , heat ) . He -wag asking for a committee for the very purpose of proving that his statement * were trae . He would produce the evidence of persons of great experience and influence even among Hon . Gentlemen opposite , and other evidence of manufacturers of the hithett respectability , men of fifty years standing in business , and also of working people , who would come before the committee , if prop-r protection were afforded them , and prove the truth of tyeij word he had uttered . He felt so strongly in his own mind conviction of the rectitude of the position be now held , that he fearlessly asserted , if any rule of the ' House would prevent his second resolution being granted , he would ask for s committee without it , and be would prate Ms case by the evidence of merchants , nuimfac ' . urers , clergymen , tradesmen , artisans ,
labourers , and other * . A son ot the late Memierfor leeda . Mr . Balnea , had published & -work , A Histor y of ih * Cation MwrnfaduTi , which -was reviewed in Tait s llagazinz for April , 1835 . It was considered a work of great merit , and had been consulted by all persoss connected with the cotton trade . He ( Mr . Ferrand ) hao sever heard of any one attempting to depreciate th « work . The reviewer in Taifs Magazine said : — u We shall extract but one sentence npon a practice Tr ach , we have heard , is rg » ni » r . > Tig foreigners from our fit . Set , and leading them to countries where this disgr - fnl practice is unknown : — ' To improve the appearance of the cloth , it is usually passed thxongh itarch t * c of wbeaten flour , often mixed -with porcelain day * aa calcined sulphate of lime , by which the doth is fc » : 6 eufier , and appears to have greater substance and * fciigth than it proTBs to have after being washed , — 1 eantriraace originally devised for the purpose of
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fraud , and which , though now too generally understood to be regarded as fraudulent , it would be ere'iiteble to the trade to lay aside . ' How a fraudulent practice ceases to be fraudulent when it becomes general , -we do net pretend to understand . In another instance Mr . BaineB places , to the advantage of the English manufacturer over the manufacturer of America , that the latter does not , or cannot , use any bat good cotton in his yarn , while the former , ' owing to the climate , ' can use some of the waste . This is not suffideatly clear . Is the yarn not worsened by u « ing a proportion of what in the United States is accounted -waste ? " Tbat proved that paste was first adopted for the purpose of fraud . He -would now submit other evidence to the House , for he was no : going to make assertions on his own
anthority merely , but upon fcuch authority as he trusted wi ; nldinduc 8 Her Majesty ' s Government and the House to conclude that it was high time for them to interfere . He would now read to the House the letter of a gentleman who had paid great attention to this process . [ The Hon . Gentleman here read a letter which he had received descriptive of the frauds practised in reg-ird to goods intended for tlie South American market ] in sapport of this , be referred to a work entitled " The History of Paraguay under Dr . Francia , " by Mr . Robinson , a merchant settled theTe , from which it appeared tbat his Excellency had always looked with great distrust upon the quality of Irish linens and cotton goods imported into that country ; and that - when he found the interstices filled up with starch , he
ordered one end of the piece to be washed , in order to demonstrate the fraud , and then would only allow the merchant half price for his article . Why , said he , the Jews are cheats , but Englishmen are downright swindlers—ia laugh . ) When he t ^ lr . Ferrand ) read the description given by Mr . Robinson his blood boiled to think that Englishmen had so far debased the character of the merchant of this country—( hear , hear . ) "Bring me , " said Dr . Francia , " coods from henest Gsrniany—tie English care for nothing but lucre and gain . " Cimld they doubt , then , the way in which they had lost their trade ? Why had they lost it ? Because the manufacturers had ceased t-j be honest , and haa become ravenous afu-r filthy lucre , saying to each other that the system suited their purpose —^( hear . )
Would tfce House know the manner in which these tricks and frauds had been carri «) on in Swur-rtand ? He would refer them to 2 io . 4 , of Chambers' Edinburgh Jountal . of the 19 th of Fehruary last , where , in an article entitled " A few vv etks on the Continent , ' he found the following passage : — "The bulk of the Swiss , it would appear , clothe themselves in materials made by the hand in their own bumble ti « elHngs ; and what they buy must be substantial and worth the money . English printed calicoes are rarely seen , although they ate much lower priced tban those of Switzerland , because the people have no confidence in the durability of the col ears . The Swiss goods of this c ? ass are not only beautiful , but stroug and durable in colour— qualities now rarely found in the produce of
English factories There are articles called Swiss prints sold in England , but we were informed by a manufacturer ai Zurich that he did not believe a single piece ever was sent to this country , the whole that were passed i ff as Swiss being mere counterfeits . I am unable to say with what degree of truth this allegation was made ; but it is very certain that the groTTing trashiness of quality of most En ?] ish tissues ia excluding them from the oDly open market in Europe . ' He , wonld noir read to Uie House a lfetttT from a highly respectible shopkeeper in Liverpool , who forwarded him a piece of whit was called the lower surt of white shirting . When he received the sample and the letter , he could scarcely believe that the pcortr classes were so cheated and plundered by the manufacturers ; and be
wrote down to Liverpool to ascertain the character rf this shopkeeper , and was informed that he was a person of the highest respectability . He says : — " 1 have this day . had the pleasure of reading the Bpecch delr ? eied by yon in the House of Commons on the evening of the 24 th instant . In prorf of your assertion tbat a large quantity o > fi > ur is nsed in' the manufacturing of calicoes , &C , I beg to hand you a fair sample of the lower sorts of white shirtings , manufactured in this county , and of -which you will perceive the poer man ' s food forms the greatest , proportion . " One portion of that piece cf , cioth he ( Mr . Ferrand ) s » -nt to tlie Bight Han . BaroBet ( Sir R . Peel ) , and another to the Noble Lord opposite lLord J . Russell ) . Although an attempt had betn made to fasten upon bim the accusation that he
had charged the manufacturers generally—nay , universally , with being dishonest , he had only declared that there were frandnlent myufacturere , and be was sorry to say that their number was increasing , and that they were driving the honest manufacturer out of the markets . He would trouble the House with an extract from a wotk by Mr . Babbage . The Economy of Manufactures . respecting the frauds in the lace manufacture , as brought UT . der the notice ef that House by a Committee appointed to investigate the subject : — "The lace trade affords other examples , and in inqoiring into the complaints made to the House of Commons by the framework-knitters , the Committee observe , that , ' It ia singu ! ai that the grievance most complained of 150 years ago should , in the present improved state of the tr \ de ,
be the same grievance which is now most complained of ; for it appears , by the evidence given before your Committee , that all the witnesses attribute the decay ef the trade more to the making of fraudulent and bad articles than to the war , or to any other cause . " And it is fchewn by the evidence , that a kind of 1 ice called ' single-press , * was manufpetered , which was only looped once , and which , although good to the eye , became nearly spoiled in washing by the slipping of the threads ; that not one person in a thousand could distingnish the difference between ' single-prtss' and ' doubls-press-lace ; " and that , in another similar article , called ' -warp lace / such aid was essential . It was also stated by-one witnefs , that ' the trade had not yet etsse ^ . excepting in those places where the fraud bad
been di&eovered ; and from those places no orders are now sent fi . r any sort of Nottingham lace , the credit being totally ruined- '" What said the boot en the stocking trade ! " In the stocking trade b ' -miiar frauds have been practised . It appeared in evidence tbat stockings were ma e of uniform width from the'knee down to the ankle , and being wetted and stretched on frames at the calf , they retained their shape wben dry ; tut that the purchaser cou ^ d-not discover the fraud until , after the first washing , the stockings hung like bags abouihis ankler . " He begged pardon of the H' » use for detaining them by qnotiflg so mnch , bnt as there was no important public husiEess btfore them that nizht . and as the question he was urging was so very important , and as Le was
moss arsioua to discharge his duty , he trusted they would permit him to occupy their time for a £ sw moments longer . He was anxious to substantiate every word he had uttered in thai House . They had often heard it asserted that there was much distresa in the country , and they had as ofun heard it imputed to the Com Luws . He emphatically denied that statement , and would read a paragraph from the Sotiinghdm Journal- of April 15 , to show how trade was rui ed by the frauds of the manufacturers : — " The cottOD ent-npeose trade , -which has now become an extensive manufacture in this 'vicinity , haa somewhat improved , whilst the system of drop-offs is fast extending in some of the villages south of Nottingham . These drop-oSs are stockings made without narro wings at the
hee : 8 and toes ; instead of which , the heels are made full width of the usual length , the web tnat should have been narrowed two stitches at a time gradually , is then pressed off wholly , a slack course is . made in one of the heels in the usual way , and the heels are joined and turned off , by looping the slack courte in the usual manner . The fraud now commences ; the two flaps of tke heels are turned inwards , and are soaiewiiat neatly basted down by the stamer . the heels are then seamed , -or rather sewn , in the usual method , and to a casual , inexperienced , or inattentive observer , have all the appearance of being fnll-wrought hosa Nothing can be more unpleasant to the wer-rer ; the joining of the toes being effectd in the same mariner , by droi > ping off , instead of narrowing—the deception being ,
tbat the toes and beels are turned off in the usnal way , to deceive-the pnrchaser . By these practices , one stockiuger is made to produce three or four times as many hose as when they are made in a proper manner . This has a greater tendency to curtail employment in the hosiery , than steam or any other iavention baa in other manufactures , Trttb this marked difference , that the superseding of human labour in moit other branches of industry is the result of ingenuny and an extension of the arts ; in hosiery it is quite the reverse , as these frands are a retrogradation in ingenuity and skill , tending to produce interior workpeople ss well as inferior manufactures . The hosiery villages in the vicinity are fast getting isolated , or rather selected , in their employment . Thus , ihe hauas
n Bulwell are principally employed iu making cotttm gloves ; Ruddington , in making drop-offa and fancycaps ; Canton , in making socks , principally worn in the United States ; Hucknall , upon cotton fancy . hosiery ; Arnold , Calverton , and the villages to the east , are most employed in making full-fashioned hose ; whilst Stapleford and Sandincre are engaged principally in making warp lace ; but in most f these villages tfee stockiDgers are in a most destitute situation , arising from scanty employmeut and low wages . " It was en behalf of these men that ht asked for the Committee^—on behalf of those men who Could not protect themselves ; ana he trusted that no man who had heard the statement but wouia cheerf uii > assist hint in his object The Hod . Gentlemen opposite , who were engaged in manufactures , had promised thit no impediment would be tnrown in hia way ; he hoped they would now perform their promiBe , graut him the Committee , and be would prove every
ailrxation he had made . Then , as to watches , the ilectptiun was just as bad ; he bad a letter from a manufacturer , which , With permission of the House , he wouiq read : —" Sir , —I Bpeak of the disclosures you have lately been making in Parliament as to frauds in manafactuxt-a . It is now & long time since I broached that subject , and -suggested that the old plan of stamping our ciutbs and linens , "&r-, ahimld be resumed ; using in aid the argument that nnless this were done , the character of the country would be lost , as each successive swindler would say to himself , ' It will serve my turn . I believe tbeelotta sent out are often only fit for wadoing . That the prints become bl&nkB at first washing , l know , but I cad . no suspiciou that even the ©!• th nselt was equally infamous . I have heard that millions of needles have been sent ont without r vts ; scissor * mane of Tirgin steel , that remained virgins ia all points , refusing to be of the slightest use ; tbat watches from fojg country go only half an hour , and are losing ail
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chaiattei ; that clocks only go once round ; that our muskets were only dangerous to the owners till the Tower preof was restored , and that the American woodsman has found our axes such , that he has found it indispensable to decline to use them . These things are so serious , that I think they should at once be taken up ; it is thus we are losing business , and deserve to lose it , for we are risking the rain of millions of the honestly industrious , rather than ; epress the villanies of a parcel of Bcampa "—( laughter . ) ' They might laugh , but it was those frauds that had ruined the trade of the country , and it was high time for them to show that the Legislature of the present day were as jealous of the character of the country as it was 500 years ago . He had also a letter from a most respectable
manufacturer of Yorkshire , of fifty years ' standing , and he Baid—" Yon have not overstated anything as respects this neighbourhood , for I do not think there is a manufacturer of flushings , druggets , paddings , or pilet cloths , but who uses less or more of the ground-up rags called generally shoddy , or resurrection wool— . indeed , so much is it in use , that even the carpet manufacturers are now consuming considerable quantities , and the rugs making for Government are not free from it " Some few years ago these rags were imported from Hamburgh and other parts of the Continent , ; then , of course , this country derived some advantage in pulling tfetm up ; latterly they have come pulled up ready for use , they on the Continent having obtained from this neighbourhood tho machines for pulling up the rags
You will excuse me , but in my opinion , unless Government imposes some restriction upon the use of such materials , we may cry out for want of trade or business for ever ; it is not the Corn Laws which are the cause of our want of business , but it is our manufacturers and merchants who are the cause , for who will come a second time to our markets to purchase goods which when they get home' are not worth the carriage , I have seen pieces of druggets stiffened with flour and other things , tbat were you to set a sixth-fourth piece to stand on the list , it would do so of itself ; besides , this is not the worst evil—for when these goods come to lay some time , they generate a -worm or moth , which will very soon coBBume a whole piece ; in fact , such goods get worn out in
passing from one to another without any mafcmg up , ana probably get leturned again to this country in the shape of rags , to undergo . a second resurrection , or perhaps a third . " And another frem an old manufacturer in Leeds , who said— "I have a fact connected with the woollen laanufacture -whic'Q you are at liberty to make any use of you think proper . There is a manufacturer in this town ( who is at present a member of the Whig-Radical town council ) who has made it a regular practice to buy old stockings , and grind them up , and mix them along with his wool in manufacturing bins cloths . He -was thus enabled to undersell bis honett neighbeurs , who used nothing but wool . Well may our manufacturers lose their character in foreign markets . " But he had still higher authority ,
for the manufacturers of the north had been conimittijig snch disgraceful frauds , that the Government had been obliged to take ttte matter up ; they found it necessary , in order to protect themselves , to take measures for preventing the frauds ; they had another duty to perform—they ought to take measurea to protect the public . They had found it necessary to issue a circular to protect themselves : he called upon them to extend that protection to the country at large . The circular he alluded to was as follows : — "The whole of the cloth of which the supply is to be made is to be manufactured from new sound wool ; if it is discovered to contain any portion of wool made from woollen rags , known by the terms of * woollen wasts , ' or 'shoddy , ' or other than new wool , it shall subject
the whole of the supply to be rejected , and the honourable board will not have any further dealings wit * i the patties so offending . " These were the practices of these rogues—the scoundrels—( loud laughter ) —the infamcus rogues , for he could call them nothing else ; and instead of laughing , Hon . Members ought to blush for shame that their countrymen were capable of committing such infamous frauds . Having laid such shameful cases before the House , they would agree with him that he had proved ail the charges he bad brought against the manufacturers . But if the House had still any doubt upon the matter—if they thought the evidence was still deficient—then let them grant the committee . Was it not high time that the Government should interfere in order to put a stop tt >
those practices / which were ruining the trade of the country , and punish the guilty ? A poor man committing a trifling fraud was punished heavily , while those who were fraudulent by wholesale escaped . There was , indeed , one law for the rich , and another for the poor , so long as such a system was allowed to go on . He would now say a few words on the infamous truck system . It was now even of more importance that the frauds , because in consequence of that infernal system thousands of the labouring population wtre dying ; the misery caused by the cruelty of the masters—by their heavy oppression—was incalculable . He had stated before , tbat a large portion of the manufacturers were in the habit of paying in goods , in place of money , and many firms settled with their -workmen only once in
three , six , or eight months . On that subject he had a letter from a highly respectable gentleman , who said"Sir , — In consequence of the spirited part you have taken on a recent occasion , and fw which , with every friend of humanity , I feel indebted to you , I beg leave to ; ay before you tLe fallowing statement;—On Monday last , Match 21 st , application was made by a poor weaver , named Irwm , to the Board of Guardians at Cockerniouth for relief . Ho is in the employ of the firm of , Carlisle , gingham manufacturers . It was stated as a reason why relief should be afforded him , that the material recently given out by that firm to their operatives was so wretchedly bad , that it took six weeks to weave what , if the mute ial was good , they could readily do in three . Two of the Guardians
conversant in such mavters were deputed to examine into this statement , and report to the Board . Their report fnlly confirmed the poor man ' s statement , and they prosuced a specimen of the warp fully corroborating this . Yet such is the thraldom in which these unfortunate creatures are held , that the wife most earnestly entreated that no steps might be taken under the act of Parliament , lest htr husband and a crippled son should be thrown in consequence out of bread , as they coula uo nothing but weave . I have since visited the weaving place , and have obtained from this man ' s loom a speevmtn of the material , taken at random , which I enclose . JIuch of it appeared greatly worse than what I seivi , but it was dyed , and the effects of the colour might ( as I supposed ) have farther iDJared
the texture . " He bad told the House that these poor men were paid in goods in place of money . He had a . blank form which was nae-d in many factories , in which there wtr « ctarges , for rent , fuel , cash stopped , and cash overpaid—that would happen very seldom , he tbunght ; but then followed fines , the most iniquitous of all things ; for the masters hnng up a set of rules , which the poor labouring man could not understand , if he aid nothing else from Monday to Saturday , nor could he by any possibility help infringing some of them , by which money was stopped from nim On the truck in cottages he cad a letter from a workitigman . but he must not disclose hid name , or he would become a marked man , and would not get work at any factory , nnless he changed his name . He said ^ "
Masters of one of the largest mills have houses , and compel their work-people tu live in them , or whether thuy do or not , they must pay for them ; and those who do not live in ibetn , let them to other people . The masters stop their rents out- of their wages , for these tyrants have p > wer to do so—some about 3 s ., others 3 s . 6 d , 4 s . per week , and so on . The oppressed get them let . some for about 2 s ,, some far about Is . 6 d ., others Is . pet week and in two instances they have let them for 4 a . a-Wcek . Until lately they kept cows , and forced aii that lived under teem to have one quart of milk a-day . an < J in some instances threo quarts a-day , because they hart : three woikpeople of a family . When they bill tht > ir cows they compel their workpeople to have shares of it ; tht-y sell it at the very top price , whether it be K » od or had . and they force them to these things , oi
they wuct turn face about If they happen to speak a Word , they will give them a character with which they cannot get any more work in the town or the country t itner . Thfcsu are some of the glaring tricks of thet-e corn law repealers , these hypocrites who tell the working saves that they wish them to have their rights , that tuey wish ti'tm t j have their liberty ; but it is all fudge , they art-the same as their leaden , the anti-corn law league , they are downright impostors . One of them is uuw raising his rent- f » r voters , while his hard-working slaves haa hard work tu keep budy and soul together before . " Was that a system that the Government ought to tolerate for auy lunger period , now tbat it had come to th-ir knowledge ? The hon . member proceeded to read the following letters from a clergyman of the church of Euxland : —
" Wolverhampton , April 2 , 1842 . " Sir , —I am bure I need not apologise for the intrusion ot a perfect stranger upon your Tamable time , it my statement will tend , even in the slightest degree , to runner the praiaoworthy object yon have in riew oi exposing the iniquities of the . truck system . ' 1 regret to say that I have too many opportunitif b of witnessing the working of this tyrannical system in my own parish , and Mr Villiers need go no further than the borough which he represents for pioof that a great portion cf the distress now existing amongst the poo is caused by the payment of wages in provisions instead ot money . "I will mention one instance with ¦ which I think you shuuld be mads acquainted ; others can be brought forward if required bat this is a case which I have taken particular pains to investigate ;—
One < f the most , active partisans of Mr . Villiers , and a principal member ef bis committee at the election , who was by the late Administration made a magistrate for the county of Stafford , is a chief partner iu the colliery , where the truck system is carried on more jfcfamously than in any other works in tbeneighr «; urboi / d . The men are paid once in four and sometimes five wetks , -when they may reoeive their wages in money if they Demand it , tat the man who made such attuua would in ail probability da dismissed : but as it . is n < . t possible for their families to wait till the ex-M-rauon of ti . e month for the means of subsistence , they are compelled to go to the ' Tommy shop , ' as it is called here , a ticket to which is given for any goods ihey may r « -quire . Theprice of some few of the articles » t ibis shop , compared with that asked by the shopteepern in tb » to wo , I hate . ascertained , and it will
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showyou atonce the dishonest advantage taken by the oppressors of these poor men—At Tommy shop . In the town , ¦' . ' , J perlb . per ib . Sugar ...,.,.,, ........ od . ... 7 £ d . Salt butter ...... I 5 d . andl 6 i } . ... ldd . andlld . Bacon , , ¦ . - ....,..... , 9 d . ... 7 jd-Tea .............. , 83 . € >> 5 ^ there beingadifferenee of mote than 50 per cent , on the article ef tea . ,. . . ¦ -..-: "I shall not object to your using ray name as the author of this information should its truth be disputed , but at the same time I may add , that I would not willingly have my name made public .
" My attention has long been directed to this horritf system , and in July last , a letter of mine , under the signature of ' The Minor ' s Friend , * appeared in the Wolverhamplon Chronicle , but no good resulted from it . " I shall have great pleasure in giving you apy further information on the subject "During the severe weather in 1841 , when soup was distributed to puo poor at a penny a quart , it is a fact , which came to the knowledge of my curate , that some of the families , in the receipt of nominally good wages , actually declined a ticket for the ' soup ; , on the plea that they had not the penny to pay for it , as they received their wages in goods " " WelTOthamptori > April 13 , 1842 .
" Sir , —In reply to your inquiry respecting the quality of the goods sold at the tmefe shops , I have frequently seen bad salt butter from these shops at 15 d and 16 d ., while at the retail shops good was sold at lOd . and lid . a-pound ; the sugar at 9 d ., and iheue instance at lOd . per pound , not so good as at 7 id . y flour of a very inferior quality at Us . a bushel , while I find that at the very time the best was lQs . afc the mi !] . " Since my last letter , I hayo ascertained from a huckster upon whom t can depend , that she is iu the constant habit of receiving goods bought at the truck-shop in exchange for milk ,, potatoes , &c ., as the men in some instances never receive money ; of course such barter is not made without a loss to the labouring man . "
He begged to call the attention of the House to the following communication be b . 'id received as to tlie city of Carlisle ;— " Hundreds of xhe working classes are grateful for the fearless exposure of the deceptions and villanies practised by the master manufacturers and cotton-Bpinners of this country . The truck system has been carried on for eighteen years by one © f the largest firms in this district ; they have some hundreds of cottages , which they force their workpeople to occupy , for which they have to pay thirty or forty per cent , more than others . The master manufacturera ; who employ weavers here to the number of 3 , 000 , supply them with shuttles , biddies , and brushes ( all of which
the weaver has to find ) , and for which they charge enormously higb . You might be furnished With a full and accurate exposure of tho truck system , and other matters of deception as practised here , provided the parties furnishing it Were secured against future persecution . Protection is absolutely necessary . " Then as to Scotland , tie would lay before the House the following statements : —'• Cofttbridge , near Glasgow , nine extensive iron works , at which au immense quantity of people are employed . Each ironwork has its store , and a considerable portion of the wages are paid in goods , at a profit to the masters of fifteen to twenty per cent , above the common retailer . Some of these
masters have acted as conspicuous members of the anti-Corn Law League . "' "Paisley . —Working man . . Specir men of the nefarious system pursued by our Corn Law repealing masters . Most of them have stores , or cottages , for their workers , particularly those who are the greatest Repealers , and their workers are obliged to purchase from such store , and take their cottages , or if not , no jonger work for . them . They are charged about twenty to twenty-five per cent , above the market price for their goods , with ah inferiority of article . The master printers in this country not content with the above system of robbery , adopt another system of robbery more grievous than the above . They make them work from one to four hours extra per day , which is called overtime , and give them nothing for it .
Be so good as not to give up my name , as the master printers would punish nie by not employing me . " He had also received this letter from a paor miner : " Sir , —It is with inexpressible pleasure 1 write to you , having carefully read all the speeches and remarks you have marie in Parliament , and find that you are one who wishes the welfare of the toil-worn and cruelly-ueed British artizin . 1 see you mean to bring on a motion before the house on the 18 tli instant ., which , if carried , will be the cause of bringing to the world an exposure of the robberies and cruelties played off by our tsroployers upon us miners . Every coal and iron master in and ronnd this extensive mining district are law makers ; and believe me , the laws they make and put upon their office doors are of the most hideous caste . We are
obliged to bend under them , for should any of us resist them , as some actually does , we . are pounced upon by them , carried before the sheriff , or magistrate of the district , who never fails to decide against the miner , on the ground that 'these are the rules cf the work , and you mutit abide by them . ' In consequence the victim has either to go to Bridewell , or pay £ 2 or £ 3 of expenses : the latter he is not able to ( to , so he is imprisoned and his family starved . There is a general law practised at all these works which I will take the liberty of exposing . If any miner allow his father , his brother , or his son , to sleep one night under tke roof of his bouse , and they are employed at aDy other work but the work ho is employed at , tho unfortunate miner is charged double rent for each fault ,
and compelled to pay , it being a rule at the work 1 Our employers have almost all victualling stores at their works ; the miners are compelled to tike alt the provisions they need from these stores , at a rate price far above the market ot any grocer ' s shop ; , They -wish the miner to have nothing left at pay-day , yet they strive to have him out of iie . bt with them also , by keeping his belly to match his earnings . I know many industrious miners who have not handled a shilling of thoir own earnings these four years ; and it ia a general feature in the trade , when they wish to reduce wages * or introduce any new rule , that they shut their store , and never fail to gain their point , oy starving poor nieu into their measures . At works where there is not a st « re , the miner has to pay one shilling for every pound he lifts ,
at any other time than pay-day , which is bad enough , but nothing to a store . " Tfce pernicious system he Was exposing extended tvleo to Ireland : — In . ' . Portland , county of Waterfbrd , a wealthy firm , who lately offered £ 80 000 for a property , carry oh the infamous ; truck system in full operation . The operatives arM compelled to live in houses built by their employers , exorbitant rents are demanded 1 which are stopped out of their weekly wages , and a shop , with numerous articles for sale , is attached to the premises . ' The popr people are not paid their miserable earnings in money , but in bits of printad tokens , ' which will only , pass as an equivalent of
for card paper ( marked with t '^ e name ) called goods at this track shop belonging to the mill . I need not tell you exorbitant prcfl's are raade . " But what would the House say when he told them , that under this system , which extended through En ^ lnnd , Wales . Scotland , and Ireland , the workpeople were compelled to pay for anti-Corn Law pamphlets , fined sixpence for speaking , and one sSilting for singing ; culled upon to obey roles which they eo'ild not help breaking , aud fined enormously for doing so : of money lent , usurious interest exacted —( hear , hear ) He wished particularly to draw attention to the following : —On the 14 tb of December a manufacturer was convicted before the
Sheffield magistrates for paying wages in cloth ; b > asked f 2 a yard ; the workman gave £ l 15 s ., wni sold it for 11 s ., proved before the magistrates ti- Uv its full value , ami a quarter of a yard not firtoi use ; fined £ 10 and costs . Two more £ 5 and coa > Now he wished ib observe that when the Hon . Member for VVolverhamptonhad , on a former . occiinion , read a statement ftonVa person residing in his ( Mr . FerrdmVs ) part of the country , that statement asserted what was utterly untrue , naraoly , —that he had ftoplieii the charge-he mado to all the manufacturers of Yorkshire , whereas he had only applied them to some , ami those belonging to the Li . ^ ue . This ; statementi moreover , had been supported by fraud and forgery—( hear , hear ) —for many of the signatures were positive , forgeries ;
and some of those who signed were makingseventy per cent on the poor - ( bear * hear . ) The ffon . Member then read thefolldwing : —• ' The following passage , extracted from the report ( p . 552 ) of H . S . Chupinau , Esq ., of the Middle Temple , an assistant Commissioner far inquiring into the condition of the bandloom weavers in the United Kingdom , in 1838 , will show that not only does tb . 9 truck system prevail in the West Riding of Yorkshire , but that any complaint on the part of the Weavers is generally ' 'followed by loss of employment , as was staled in the House of Commons by Air . Butfield Femnd : — At Idle , where I held a public inquiry for the townships of ' -i \ Uv . Shipley , Eccleshill , and Bolton , a written stittment was handed in , complaining of tho existence of the truck system at a small hamlet called Windtiill . in the firstnamed township . It is afact worthy of notice , that was begged not to ask questions on the point , as any
testimony on the part of a weaver who bad suffered from the custom would have been followed by loss of employment . I was , however , assured by Hiany perr sons , both employers and weavers , that tho allegation was correct . This shows how completely impotent i * the law , howsoevev stringent it way be , where both employer and employed will consent to violate it . The employed is compelled to submit . ;• the constantly overstocked state of the » labaur-tnatk « t pluses hini at the mercy of the master , and the same condition prevents him taking a single step to expose the fraud to which he is subjected . At Churweil , south of Letds , another form of truck was exhibited to me , aa existing at Beeston , where is a factory employing botween twenty and thirty handloom weavers . It is the practice of the owners of this factory to oblige their weavers to take part of their hard earnings in cloth , In some cases less than , half being paid in money . '" Ann now as to Birmingham he would read the following : —
" . JO THE EDITOR OP ARISS GAZETTE . " Small Arms Department , Binni'ghamy March 10 , 1842 . "Sir , —Great complaints have been made to me lately by the labouring men in the gunlbck trade , and I yesterday visited the neighbourhood of Wednesbory and Darlaston , where that branch of manufacture ia principally carried on , and I Snd that tho practice of paying the workmen by jtiuck / of ? tommy / aait is
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called amongst the men , ha < j been , ana is at the present moment carried on to a ruinous extent . "To all thoss . persons who are employed as contractors for the supply of musket locks for her Majesty ' s service ( niany of whom , however , I must say , have hot lent themselves to the practice ) , I have given notice that I am determined to put down such a nefarious and illegal system in every way in my power ; and that so far as those supplies are conc 9 rned , t shall insist that the lock-filers do receive the wages agreed upon in money , witnout subteifuge , trick , or evasion , either by tickets upon other parties , by discpunt , by pretence of loan , or hy any other dishonest contrivance ^ The labourer is worthy of his hire . A fair allowance is made for it in the contract price , and be has aright to spend his money as he will ia the best and cheapest market . ¦ ¦ / ' . ¦ : " . ¦ ' . ¦ : ¦ ¦ ¦ . . ¦ ' ¦¦' ¦¦ : ¦ ' ¦ : . ¦' . . •¦'
"If you will have the goodness to make this , my resolution , more extensively known , through the medium ' of your widely-spread publication , itmay be the means of benefitting » very deserving class of workmen by drawing attention to the destructive practice ; and you will at the same rime confer an obligation on - , . . "Your very obedient , humble servant , > " George liOVEix , Her Majesty ' s Inspector of Small Arms . " If he wanted any confirmation of the justice of bis claim he need not go far for it . He would remind the House that this Was not the first time the working classes had , by their advocates , appealed to the House for protection , and ' . tliat their claim had , ere this , been
recognised . On the 17 th of February ^ 1795 , a motion was made by Mr . Wbitbread ror a protection of labour , seconded , by Sir It . Peel ( the present Bight Honourable Baronet ' s father ) , supported by Fox and Sheridan , and admitted to be juvt by Pitt , who sanctioned the payment of Wages out of the poor-rates . Then in July 5 , ' 1830 , Mr . Littleton moved to bring in . the Labourers ' Wages Bill , on which Mr . Huskissoh soidH" If any ^ Hon . Gentleman would take the trouble * to inform himself as to what was passing in . Staffordshire , and in part of the cotton , and clothing districts , he would find that a very great portion of the distress now prevailing there was not so much owing to want of employiuent as to the undue and unfair competition to
which the truck system gave rise , by making the whole trade a struggle between the aval-ice of the master and the necessities aud comforts of the Workmen . Why should we not extend the same protection to those who had no friend to guide them , arid who looked up to : the Legislature as their shield against the extortion of those- who regarded only their own advantage , and never thought of the sufferings arid afflictions of those whom they employed 1 It was upon these grounds he was ready to acknowledge that on the score of humanity and feeling he gave his support to the bill , and should dp so even if it were opposed to the doctrines of political economy , with which , however , he ' :, conteadt'd , it was perfectly consistent . " On the 3 rd of May , 1830 , Lord Stanley presented a
petition from the manufacturers , tradesmen , and others of Heaton Norris , against the truck system , and stated " that ; this syfet ^ m gave great advantage to a few rich men , who acquired immense profits at the expence of the labourers— -a system that was aa injurious to the manufacturers who did not adopt it as to the workmen who were its immediate victims . " On the 6 th of July , 1830 , Sir Robert Peel said— " The great evil of the piesent day was a tendency to diminish the enjoyments of ihe poorer classtB ; and he could conceive nothing more likely to reduce them to a state of servitude tban that their master , who might be getting £ 8 , 000 or j 6 lO , 0 ( iO a-year by his manufactory , Bhould take from them £ 2 , 000 or £ 3 600 more by dealing iu bacon and cheese . He hoped that if this bill Were lost by the means which the Hon . Member ( Mr . Hume ) possessed , and might use to defend it , the Working classes would understand that it was he who was responsible for the
consequences . " The Hon . Member concluded as follows : — " Sir , —I have done my duty in bringing this question forward—( hear , hear ) . The responsibility rests on the House and on the Government of dealing with the claims for justice and redress of honest manufacturers and distressed workmen —( hear , hear ) . It the Government resist the motion , the tesponsibii lity of rejecting it will be theirs—( cries ofhear , hear ) . There is , let me assure them , an intense feeling abroad upon the subject . There are , not far distant , honeBt manufacturers , who have come from the north at their own expence to give evidence upon this coniiiiittee , and to declare that they must either be honest themselves and retire from trade , or be as dishonest as those who have till now oppressed the poor and disgraced the country— ( hear , bean . There are those , not far distant , who are ready before a committee of this house to substantiate those claims for
juhtice which there , and there only , they can assert—( hear , hear ) . In their name I appeal to your justice for thit protection which here sloue they can seek , and Which here they have ah inalienable right to clahn—( heaT ) . This motion may be lost ; but if it be , it will be lost to the serious injury of trade and commerce ; ^ will cause heart rending affliction to thoviisandB of the working classes who are anxiously awaiting your decision —( hear ) . And ardently I do hope that the Government will discharge the duty they owe w » the public as the guardians of the country " a honour , and of the sovereign ' s dignity ( feeling that dishonour at home or abroad must sully the lustre of that sovereign ' s diadem)—that they will discharge that duty by agreeing to the motion , which I urge on the unassailable principle that the "labourer is worthy of his hire . " ( Loud cheers . ) The hoii . member afterwards acceded to an
amendment proposed by Sir James Graham , that a select comtnittee should be apppointed " to inquire into the operation of the law which prohibits the payment of wages in goods , or otherwise than in the current coin of thy-. realm , and into the alleged violation and defects of existing existing enactments , " but intimated that the question would riot rest where it was , as the frauds were of such a nature as must speedily bringthem to an issue with the publia
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ROUSE OF LORDS . —Friday , dpiil 22 . A conversation arose on the motion for the third reading of the Irish Spirit Duties' Bill . Lord Mqnteagle pointed out an inequality in tbe imposition of tfeio duties on spirits distilled in Scotland and Ireland , the Scotch distiller being alloweda drawback not enjoyed by the Irish distiller . TneEarl of WrcKLOW expressed his fears that the increased duty would lead to illicit distiliatioa in Ireland , and counteract tbe progress ef temperance . After a conversatioa . the Duke of Wellington postponed the third reading of the Bill till Monday , iu order to inquire into th « facts pointed out by Lord Monteasie .
The ( jutn Importation Bill was read a third time and passed ; and aftsr some other business , the House adjourned . Monday , April 25 . Tlie Irish Spirit Duties' Bill was , on the motion of the Duke of VVel . ington , read a third time and passed .
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HOUSE OF COMMuJSS , Friday , April 22 . On the motion of the second reading of the Income Tiix Bill , Mr . Chaules ButLER rose to move that it be deferred for six months . Whatever might ; have been his fears on tha first propositioa of the income tax , they had bewn greatly enhanced by the perusal © f th « bill . It created a host of cpmniissiouers , armed with very ' xtraovdynary powers ^ a ' ien to the habits and dispositionsof EneUshmeh , The tariff , which was the consideration for the income tax . had been supported by tbe
most contradictory and inconsistent arguments , fpi sometimes it was contended that it would lower the cost of living , and at-o . ther . ti . ni . es . this was denied . On hia own side of tbe Home dirt ct taxation had been praised , as being a be ter nrid more honest mode of raising a revenue than by indirect taxation . But direct taxation was at once unequal , and unjust in its applicationliterally a resource of barbarous timea . As to tbe argument that tUe ihcbme tax would only fall oh tde wealthier classes , it was Understood even by the Chartist . s themstilTt-s , who saw that any diminution of tUe labour-fund would be f « lt by tbe labourers . . '
Mr Ewart , while deprecating the income tax , was yet an advocate of the fair application of the principles at direct taxation . White approving of the tariff , so far as it went in the direction of free trade , he objected to the proposed tax on exported coals , as being detrimental not only to the foreign coal trade , but to our steam commercial navy . . '" ¦ ..- ¦ . Sir John vvalshe Considered that the inequality charged 011 che income tis was inherent to all taxation . On tiii . f ground he vindicated the Income Tax Bill , as b ^ ibg . in i ts propoBed operatien , at once as comprehen-Hive and as equal as any such tax could be , framed
to meet a greit emergency . Tbe tariff was a boon to the trading ami commercial classes ; and it was pet * fectly- " -r ' ua ' son » ble . that they should contribute their share to make up those deSciences caused by wars under ^ ikeu for t be protection of their interests—such as that 1 f Obtna . ' From his own personal . knowledge , he couia tiatify to the existence , in France , of a nationa hostility , wt . ioh could uot be overlooked by any one jealous » f the honour and security of thia country ; and ror these reasons , in addition to the existence of axi ai ! ua / inrcessity , he voted for the imposition of an income tax . : ' ¦; ¦ ¦ : - . -. ¦¦ . '¦; . -. '¦¦"' ¦ : ¦'¦¦ .:: ¦ ¦ ' ¦¦ : ¦ :
Sir William Clay pointed out how the income tax would operate itt its imposition on . capital employed in farming , as compared with other sources of income ; and While givinv due credit to the reductions of the tariff , did not thin fe that there was either a compensating advantage or a necessity for tne income tax . Mr . Wakley wonld have supported a graduated inconie faix , as throwing tbe chief curden on the wealthier classes . But the present income tax would fall chiefly on t he industrious classea He admitted tbat ont of doors there was no feeli g against a property tax , and thafc the puBlic beliaved that Sir Robert Peel had mad ^ a gigantic efifoit to overcomt our national difficulties . But when the public had become acquainted with the operation of this income tax , they would become alive to the nature and value of direct taxation , and they woul'i insiat on a " sliding scale" in tbe imposition of that Miation . ; :
Air . i > ySKA £ i . i considered that the deficiency in onr Indian finances was owing to the policy of tbe Ifltfi Qoveinment
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Mr . CHRISTIE was decidedly of opinion that such an inquisitorial impost as an income tax should be ^ "ed for the last extremity , and even tben be resorted to under a serious responsibility . He argued against its injustice and inequality , and instanced various cases , illustrative cf the hardship of its infliction on professions and trades , as compared with the owners of land . ¦¦ : ;¦ :.-, ¦ ;¦ : ' -- " . ' / ¦ .- . '' ¦ . - -- -g hit . Sm ythe did not wish to discuss the question of the juBtict ? or injustice of the income tax ; he . wonld give his Vote as one of confidence , and while he admitted , the iDquisiterial nature of the measure , he would support it as required by a great emsr ^ ency . 'After sptao observations from Mr . W . O . bTANLET and Mr . SCOTX , the latter of whom admitted that there was not a strong feeling in the country against the income tax , but said he opposed it from a conviction that it was proposed as the price for maintaining monopoly ..
A division was called for ( the opposition benches being but scantily occupied ) , when the second reading of the bill yrtia carried by 155 to 76 . After sonie other business , the Railways Bill was considered in committee . Some discussion took place on various clauses . ; i A division occurred on a motion by Sir William JOLLIFFE for omitting the 11 th clause , the debate tVrning on the question in whose bands should be vested the care of gates leading across railways—^ the occupiers of tbe adjoining lands , or the railway companies . ' The result of the division was- —For the ciauso 103 ; for the amendment 104 ; majority against the clause 1 . The House then adjourned .
Monday , April 25 , Mr- Hume took the « aths and his seat for the Montrose burglss . . ' . ¦ . ¦ . ; - . .. '¦' .: '¦ ¦ . ¦¦ . '•¦; / . -. ¦ . ' Mr . Reuikg to ^ , the Ghairinan of the ^ Southampton Election Committee , reported the committal of John Wren , for rtfusing to answer a question ; and moved that he be calledtothe bar , and interrogated . After a conversation he was brought to the bar and expressed a willingness to answer the question , if the Kouse should decide that he ought to do so . Another discussion followed , in which most of the leading men and legal , members of the House tciok part , during which considerable difficulty appeared to be felt as to the proper mode of procedure .: John Wren was recalled to the bar , and informed that he was bound to answer any question which the Committee ., after hearing his objections , should decide oppressing . . Oa the motion for going into committee on the Income Tax , ¦ ¦ ' .. ' ¦ ' ¦ " " ; ' ' , ¦ - ¦ ¦ . ; . "¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ . - ; . ¦¦
Mr . Waxxa . ce rose , in pursuance of a notice , to move tbatit was more expedieafc to resort to aa issue of Exchequer Bills than to an incoma tax , which , however , he said be would not press , if certain assurances were given . Sir R . PEEL , after deprecating state'Ioans in timeof peaca , repeated hia foriner declarations , thatj in the . dettrmination of the Government , the income tax and the tariff : Wore inseparably connected . Mr Hume appealed to the House to permit him , on this his first opportunity , to state his views ' on Sir R . Peel ' s financial measures . After declaring that he had not expected that Sir R . Peel would have grappled with monopoly in the way be had done , he affirmed that the-cora monopoly , under the new bill , was still amply sufficient to compensate the landed interest for their share of the income-tax ; But -while legrctting that corn and sugar had not been dealt ffith in a way corresponding to tbe wants of the country , he gave
due credit to the reductions proposed on the next , important article , that of timber . He should have no objection to see the entire revenue of the country raised by direct taxp-tien ; but before he Would resort to an income tax in the preaent diatitesscd utats of the manu « factuting community , be would reduce the public expenditure in salaries , pensions . &c . Ouly a small portion . of the Queen ' s income , £ 60 000 , - was at her own disposal ; the rest was spent on lords and ladies , and in maintaining the frippery of a court which oatriyalled that of Louis XIV . In addition to reducing the Civil List , be would also impose a tax en real property by descent , and he was glad to find that his views on this subject were obtaining greater currency . He was afraid that the income tax would add ta the difficulties of the country , aud was convinced that the reductions of the new tariff were only the beginning of greater changes . The House then went into committee on the bill .
Some conversation arose on the proposition that the inc .-me tax should commence from tke 5 th of April , 1842 , and some questions -were- put as to the time whett the tariff should come into operation . The CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer reminded the House th * t th « tariff wa& to bt > paiiuanent , and the income tax xemporary . . Sir R . Peel said that as the tax was to last for three years , it wus immaterial ; whether it commenced in April or July , but that it would be convenient tbat it should have effect from tbe commencement oi the financial year , on the 5 . h of April . This was accordingly earned . A debatfe arose on schedule A , involving the question whether a person deriving ja . ' . clear income from land , but incurring losses from some vtber trade 01 occupation , should be allowed to subtract the loss from the one from his gain in the other , and thus be taxed on hia net income from both . :
The question was raised by Mr . Benjamin Wood , and , after considerable discussion , Sir Kohert Peel promised to tafee the subject into cousideraiion . v . ; ; Schedule B was voted ; anrl on schedule C , Mr . F . T . Baring asked if foreigners holding British stock were to be subjected to the tax ? / ' Sir Robert Peel answered in the affirmative , an 3 ftlr . Hume complained that a breach of pu olio faith was committe ' d by subjecting the funds to taxation . Mr . BicaRdo proposed an amendment , the purport of which Was to make a . distinction * , in levying the tax , in favour of terminable annuities . The Chancellor of the Excheq , uer affirmed that the value of these aunuities bad not bean affected by the knowledgs of the fact tbat they were to be subjected to the tax equally with other secureties . ¦ After a discussion , a oivision took place , when Mr . Ricavdo ' s amendment was rejected by 253 to 117 . :
On arrivins . at Schedule D , it wus acreed , after abrief conveisation . to postpone further consideration of the bill t tl to-morrow . _ ¦'< ' . ;¦ ¦ Sir Robekt Peel said thai he would bring on the tariff ' . before ' the thinJ reading of the Income Tax Bill . The House resumed , and , after eonie other business , adjourned , . . y :
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THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION OF SALISBURY AND ITS
VIGINIT ¥ , TO FEARGUaJ OeoNNOK , ESQ . We , the undersigned , do most respectfully address you on account , of your indtfatagabiez-eal and uuwearied exertions inthe cause of reii reform , to impreaa on the miii'ds of the multitude that it is the Charter which can alone secure their rights , their privileges , their freedom , and their independence ; and seeing tbat in endeavouring to accoinpliah this praiseworthy object , you have not only fallen back from the ranks of ¦ the proud aristoccray ,. but have made sacrifices of wealth , of health , and of every comfort attainable by a person of youv rank in society ; and have also endured as a ni&rtyr for our cause all the horrors of a prison . Under these
circuuifit incts therefore we hail you as our patriot , andi do most sincerly trust and anticipate that you in your travels will as « oon as it is possibly convenient , be pieased to visit us , that the blind , dark , benighted , and priest-ridden classes of this strong bold of Gonserratisai , this cathedral city ; may once hear the voice it Ptataua O C >; nuor ; that the cry . for freedom , imlKpedwiice , and justicH to tbia poor niay nng through our streets , and that the shout for civil and religious liberty may send back , its echo from the walls of our cathedral ; and that th < 5 people may be convinced that tb « y are oppressed , and will still continne to be oppressed 6-a . long as they succomb to the i-resenj form of adminiatratioa .
With sit cere wishe 8 therfcf . > re for the accomplishment of your ttlorious design , - with sincare thanks for your valuable labours , and with the strongest invitatiou wq can give you to visit us , We subscribe ourselves , Yours , truly , ( Signed in behalf of the association , as per resolution ) John Wilkissok , Sub-Secrtitary . Salisbuvy , April 19 , 1842 .
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Recognition .- —A curipuflincideiit occurred during the recont march' of the 78 th £ ii ^ hiaud « iy throug h Birmingham . It appears that some of the meu had browgiit over from Ireland a bottle of whisky , of whiftlv . a , acrjeaut of police was endeavouring to Qepriyn them , ¦ when the s « rjeant of t' e Teciment ^ gazing intealy at him , owned him as a deserter troai the 78 th thirteen years before , and took him prisoner . : ' ;¦ :... : . : ¦;¦ : ^ ¦ ' - ' . ' . .. ;¦ T ¦ : ¦ ' Supposed Muudeb . —Some excitement has been cactsed in WoistantoH and the neighhourhood by the discovery of the remains of the two iuf ^ nt children in a pit of water in a field at the Bradw ^ ll Farm , ia the parish of Wolstanton . It seems thit on
Tuesday morning several men went tt > the pit , a short distance from the turnpike-road , with a view of getting watercre 88 e 8 , when their attention was directed to aa unusual substance floating on the top of the water sear '" ibe ' sido of the pit , which , on being got out proved to be the leg and thigh of a child . The pit was afterwards emptied , another humau remains found , some of them imbedded in the mud . Theremains were subsequently examined by two medical % ntlemen , and proved to bo tho 3 a of two childrenone of them a child of from eighteen months or two years old ; the other is qnite an infant . From the
very decomposed state of the bodies , it is not im-• likel y that they have been immersed in the water from twelve . to eighteeri months , and probably longer . There is little doubt but there has ^ cett some foul play ia this tranaaction , but it whom guilt attaches remains at present shrouded ' in tha greatest mystery . At the coroner ' s inquest , which was held on the day following , nothing was adduced tending to throw any light on the occuirenco . Tb © ury returned a verdict ^ - ** That the bodies were found submersed in the pit , but how or by what means they came there no evidence appeared to the Ury . " ; ' . . . ' " , i ¦ .: ¦ ¦ . . ¦ ¦ ¦ . - ¦ •;¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . : ¦ " , . ' . ; V .: ' ; v :. : . .
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THE NORTHEBif STAK . ; . . , ,. ; . - , . :. , ; __ ¦ ¦ . : - - - ¦ - '¦ / y-- -7 : ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 30, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct752/page/7/
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