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    THE REFORM CAMPAIGN. MEETING IN SCOTLAND...

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    PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION. EMl'I-rOYEHS' S...

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    A Meeting Of "Associated Workmen" Took P...

    ei ghty-nine mere workmen ; in yours I f ^ *™* ™* ; mmim ^ Mm mmmm ? ery exportation has been the great cause of our success If the most extensive source of the happy results of our efforts . Why should we not transport our industry to the New World ? We shall find there , on the spot itself , the raw materials necessaryfor us , and the cost of whose trans-. nnrtrpndas their acquisition here more onerous—I allude

    to timber , metals , leather , wool , & c . New York and JN ew Orleans will soon cease to depend on Paris , inasmuch , as with us , who are the real producers of those wonders of Parisian industry , Paris will have emigrated to New York and New Orleans . I propose , then , the formation of a Committee of Emigration , to be charged with the liquidation of the Operative Associations of Paris , the realization of their capr tatTim-drib ^ orgairizatioi ^ f-the means necessary for our emigration to the United btates within the shortest period possible . "

    The statement was received with marks of approval . Some other members also addressed the meeting , not , however , to oppose the proposition , but to modify it . Various points of South America and of Canada were also suggested for the new establishment ; but it was observed that these were mere matters of detail , the solution of which ought to be entrusted to the Committee of Emigration ^ as the labours of that committee would have for their object to give to the proposed emigration all the guarantees conversation matters of

    of success . After some on detail / the proposition of the operative cabinetmaker who first addressed the meeting was put to the vote , and unanimously adopted . A Commission of Emigration was then elected by ballot . The author of the proposition wa s the fi r st wh o was named m ember of the commission ; his colleagues are an operative ehg inemake r , an operative paperstainer , an operative up holsterer , and an operative silversmith . The meeting then separated .

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    The Reform Campaign. Meeting In Scotland...

    THE REFORM CAMPAIGN . MEETING IN SCOTLAND . Edinburgh and Linlithgow have spoken out on the coming Reform Bill . The Edinburgh Reformers met under the presidehce of the Lord Provost ; and the gentlemen around the chair bore names which have been associated with the liberal cause for years . There were Mr . Charles Cowan , M . P ., Mr . Macfarlan , Mr . J . H . Burton , advocate , Mr . W . Duncan , S . S . C ., Mr . William Tait , Mr . F . Russell , and others . The speeches delivered in moving and supporting the subjoined resolutions were up to the

    mark , and not above it . There was no very particular display of animation except that produced by an allusion to the canvassed question of French , invasion . The incident is curious . Dr . Glover , a rather hot-headed gentleman professing Chartist opinions , proposed a weak amendment to the first resolution . It was seconded by a Mr . Henry , who asked whether the people would not refuse to fight if the Government refused to concede the franchise to the working men ? This was received , as it deserved , with hisses . Mr . Russell took up the remark .

    " Notwithstanding the strange sentiments they had heard that evening , and which he knew were not the feelings of the working men—( applause )—he believed that patriotism ran through them all , and that even those who were not reached by this extended suffrage would be ready to show , when occasion offered , that they deserved it , by baring their brawny arms and rushing into the thickest of the fight . ( Loud oheers . y The following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — " That provision Bhould be made for a large extemion of the constituency , which in England and Ireland should take place by conferring the franchise on all persons chargeable with the poor rate ; and in Scotland

    ( where the poor rate does not universally apply ) by conferring the franchise on all persons who are chargeable with any general local rate , eup h as an assessment for the support of the poor , for prisons , or-for police purposes j and , in the event of there being any burgh or district in which no such rate is now levied , that in such oases the franchise should be conferred on all persons who would be chargeable with any such rate if it wore levied ; that provision should be made for the extinction of all small burgh constituencies , either b y such an a mal gamation " of burghs as would form a united constituency of not fewer than 6000 electors in each group , or

    „ by merging the voters for small burghs in the constituencies of the counties in which such burghs are severally situated ; that the right to elect members no longer required to be returned for email burghs should bo transferred , either to towns which have acquired a largo population since the pausing of the last Keform Act , or to burghs which have bo much increased in population since the passing of that Act jib to be now inadequately roproHcntly ; and that in any rearrangement of meiubora , Scotland uhould havo an equal proportion with Eng la n d , having regard to the population of each division of the United Kingdom , and to the nctt amount of revenuo contributed by each for national purposes ; that provision should be made for the © stabliehjaent of tho

    fortv shillings freehold franchisee counties throughout the whole of the United Kingdom ; that all real property held by any other tenure than as freehold should giv e the same right to the franchise as freehold property : and that in Scotland provision should be made to prevent all merely nominal owners from being registered as electors by Tequiring all claimants to make . up their titles iri the most complete manner , by lnfeftment or btherwise , and that a residence of not less than three months yearly should be required within the county iu which the property is situated ; and that in any measure of reform which may be pr o posed , it is indispensable that provision should be made for protecting voters , by enacting that all elections should take place by ballot ; for limiting the duration of Parliament to not more than three years , and for abolishing the property qualification now existing in England and Ireland for members

    of Parliament . " T h es e r e solutions , it will b e s een , substantially agree with those propounded at the Manchester Conference . One important characteristic of the meeting was , that several working men who , to use their own expression , ha d be e n " o nsider a bl y mixed up' in movements for the charter and universal suffrage , or ^ Qthingt-proiessed ^ thejr readiness to accept of reform

    bv instalments . ' Linlithgow is not so " advanced" as Edinburgh . Linlithgow eulogizes the ballot ; is prepared to be saved b y the ball o t ; and is kind enoug h to profess itself , incidentally " favourable to a large extension of the franchise ! ' * I n anticip a tion of th e c o ming e lection , gentlemen are courting their constituencies pretty freel y . ^ Sir James Duke has been down- to Boston , it is s a id , to

    se c ure a s e at , should his city pedestal break down under him . Colonel Thompson and Mr . Milligan have been at Bradford . Mr . Matheson has been visiting his constituents in the Inverness Burghs . Sir F itzroy K ell y is coming out for E x e t e r , in opposition to Mr . Divett . Several towns are advertising for Lord Palmerston . Mr . Walter has been lecturing at N otting ham—on Socrates ! and Mr . G . C . Lewis has been to Hereford .

    " Although , " says the Daily News , " the intentions of Lord John Russell have , of course , been shr o u de d in all secrecy of official reserve , it is now whispered that the following boroughs are certainly amongst those marked for positive disfranchisement ,: —¦ Calne , Chippenham , Totriess , Harwich , St . Albans . Three others—not named—are likewise , it is said , to lose all Parliamentary privileges . Besides these , many Other boroughs are to have enlarged constituencies given rthem by amalgamation with neighbouring towns . Additional members are to be allotted to London and to Lancashire . Atnongst the other chief alterations proposed will , it is i a a id , be a £ 10 franchise for counties , and a £ 5 franchise for boroug hs . Not a word is yet said upon that most important point—the Ballot . " PREPARATIONS FOR OPENING PARLIAMENT . *

    Preparations on a very extensive scale are being made on the works of the new Houses of Parliament for the approaching session , which will be opened by her Majesty in person on Tuesday next . The old House of Commons and adjacent buildings in Abingdon-street , and the temporary wooden erections and hoardings in Palace-yard , facing the entrance to Westminster-hall , have been pulled down , an d the w hole s pace th r own open ,

    affording an uninterrupted view of the end wings of the new palace . The entrance to the House of Commons will be through Westminster-hall , a noble flight of steps at the western end leading to the main corridor or avenue of the chambers . The hall will be lighted by several gas illu m inatio n s of a spiral circular form , which will have a most charming effect upon the fine and stately proportions of the structure . The entrance of the Victoria Tower will

    be used for the first time by her Majesty on the approaching opening . The state carriage will proceed under the tower , and her Majesty , ali ghting , will be conducted along the royal corridor to the House of Lords . The entire line of quay , or promenade , fronting the T ham es , has be en li ghted by some forty or fifty gas lamps .

    Progress Of Association. Eml'i-Royehs' S...

    PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION . EMl'I-rOYEHS' STltntE . The second aggregate meeting of the workmen engaged in the engineering trades was held on Monday , at St . Martin ' s-hall , Long-acre . Mr . Musto presided . On the platform wore Lord Goderich , Mr . William Coningham , of Brighton , Mr . Vansitturt Nealo , Mr . Thomas Hughes , Mr . Thornton Hunt , Mr . Furnival , Dr . Travis , Mr . Weller , Mr . M . Morgan , Mr . Lo Chovalior , and several other gentlemen unconnected with the iron trades . Mr . Musto said that they had mot to lay before tho trades and the public the exact facts of their position . The men wore rpady to work ; the musters still hold out , and prolonged tho strike . Mr . George Usher , a young working man , moved the first resolution . " Tho employers of operative engineers having enunciated their right to do wh . it they like with their own , and denied the operative tho right to do what ho likes in employing his own wages , and devoting his spare time as he will , and having Uomandod an unconditional submission , this meeting declares that such a submission would be at ongo botfi impolitic and disgraceful . "

    " They were not now in the position in which they had found themselves on the last occasion . A fortnight had passed away—a fortnight marked by many privations , by considerable suffering , and by unwearied . exertion ; and yet , as they now met , a smile of hope and of satisfaction seemed to pervade the whole of this vast assemblage . ( Cheers j The evil prediction-of " Anaicue " had not yet been fulfilled , ( Hear ,, . hear- ) They ^ had not yet heard that any of their body had died from want . They had- not yet 'heard that any of their body had broken the peace . They had not yet heard that any of

    their body had used threats or intimidation to prevent those who might be willing to make the ^ unconditional surrender seeking work with such of the employers as would g ive work to them . ( Cheers . ) They had not yet heard that any of their body had been seen knocking about begging of the employers to give them leave to toil . { Cheers . ) No , none of these things had happened . The greatest unanimity still prevailed among them . T hey had no disaffection in their own ranks . They were all still confident of success ; they all knew that success was inevitable . ( Cheers . )"

    He declared that the present struggle was One upon which , depended the rights of the whole working classes of the country . He defended the Amalgamated Sociefy . " TherA ^ iaTffamaTed-Society- ^ ra 8-attackeA ; _ and _ it _ was

    the Amalgamated Society which they were defending . If that fell , the tocsin would * "be sounded for the fall of every other similar society . They would not tamely consent to the destruction of a society which had given them all the education they possessed ; and which , in 1848-9 , saved hundreds from becoming the inmates of a Bastile , or from being consigned , Btaived and diseased , to a premature and dreadful grave . ( Loudcheers . ) He believed that the Legislature of this country would not

    permit such a society to be destroyed without good reason being shown . The House of Commons was alive to the question of poor rates ; and as £ 58 , 000 , 000 had been expended during the last ten years in poor rates , the valu e o f the Ama lgamated Society , which acted directly in relieving the poor rates and the public purse , would not be overlooked . { Hear ., hear . ) The public itself would not stand by and see a combination of capital assaulting a body of such manifest usefulness . { Hear , hear . )"

    Mr ; Brown seconded the resolution . Mr , Newton rose next , and was most warmly cheeredj Without preface , Mr . Newton at once entered upon the great question opened up by the Representation of the M a s ters , signed Sidney Smith—of capital versus labour . In that document the employers told the men that they had no right tOHcbinbioe , and that they would never consent-to negotiate with an irresponvsible society ; but it was jSalpable nonsense tio spe ^ k of an association like tfce Amalgamated Society as otherwise than a responsible find" most important body . . ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ " ¦ r : ' . ¦ " ¦""

    " But while the employers were denying to the men the right to combine , they themselves were _ combined , and were governing one another by one combination . ' If you now met an employer in the streets and asked him the reason why he would not open his manufactory , and allow his men to work six days for six days' wages , the answer , in nine cases out of ten was , that he knew very well that the work wanted to be done , that he knew his men wanted to work , and that he himself would like tp set to the work , but that he had pledged himself to a certain course in the employers' association , and that until some one gave way with him , he could not be the first . (• Hear , hear * and laughter . ) This was combination-with its evils ; and a protest against combination came with an exceeding ill grace from men , or from the

    organ of men , who had entered into such a confederacy . ( Cheers . ) In the document he held in his hand the emp loyers said that on the 10 th of January the honoura ble pl e d ge which they had made to each other was fulfilled , and all their establishments were closed . Why , this must be combination . { Cheers and laughter , ) And it wa s e x a c tl y that species of combination which the men had been in the habit of forming . The employers even used the very terms which the men had always used the men having always considered that the resolutions they came to at their meetings were honourable pledges , and that when those pledges were broken the parties breaking them behaved dishonourably . The masters , then , were unionists . { Cheers . ) The masters had imitated the men . { Cheers . ) But , worst of all , they had imitated the worst examples of the men . "

    The men had not always been in the right , nor had they acted always rightly ; nov had their demands been always just . " But the employers went far beyond the men in what they claimed . In the manifesto to vf hich he had referred there were some very curious doctrines laid down , laoy said , 'We alone are the competent judges of our own business ; ' ' we are respectively the masters of our own establishments , and it is our determination to remain so . Well , if . this were 90 , then the operative engineers were alono competent to decide on the conditions on wmon . their own lnhmir nhmilVl hn an \ A /¦ *?/» . «/?*•* . 1 The

    cmployers further said , ' Ours is the responsibility of tno dotailB , ours the risk of loss , ours the capital , its perns , and . its engagements . We claim and are resolved to asaert the right of every British subject to do what we will with our own . ' The answer of the men might bo— - ' ours is the responsibility of idleness—ours is the risk 01 scarcity ; ours is the labour , its perils and its ong » K «" mentis . We eluim and are resolved to assert the right 01 every British subject to do what he likes with Mb own . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Were the operative engine 0 ™ British subjects or were they not ? { Cheers and wuffn ™ r ' l According to the employers they had the right over mmju capital , over their rosnootiv © © sUbUahmenta , ow * tnoir

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 31, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_31011852/page/4/