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Leader (1850-1860), 9th November 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 773, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      ject upon which all are agreed , viz ., self government through universal suffrage ; while at the same time their consciences , intellects , and energies are left free to develope their own particular views in their own circles or upon the public platform , open to all sets of reformers alike , while advocating the People ' s Charter . In sending delegates to the Conference we had hoped that a union of this sort might be the result of its deliberations ; in this hope we have been disappointed ; the Conference has thought fit to mix up other reforms of an economical or social character with the organic reform demanded in the Charter .

      Such a course , if persevered in , must , we fear , endanger the integrity and unanimity of the Chartist body , indeed it has already done so , if we are to judge by the published reports of various public meetings in town and country , as well as by the correspondence it has provoked an the Democratic papers . The National Reform League will be no party to such dissensions , while as a league it will hold fast to its programme till the public mind has been sufficiently matured to appreciate the social rights it demands , it will at the same time uphold the integrity of the Chartist body by

      all the means in its power . To this end it will eschew the dangerous policy of sanctioning the obtrusion of its own , or any particular creed of social reform , upon the Chartist body , as part and parcel of a national programme , while it will not the less zealously promulgate its political and social views amongst all sects and classes of the public . In other words , it will , as a league , do all in its power to promote the plan of national reform ( based upon social rights ) which it has promulgated , "but as a component

      part of the great Chartist community , it will steadily refuse its sanction to any and all measures which might fetter the free action of that community , or endanger its integrity through the mixing up of other questions with that for which alone the millions demand a national organization , viz ., the attainment of the People ' s Charter . Signed in behalf of the Council of the National Reform League , J . B . O'Brien , President . P . W . M'Neilt ., Secretary .

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      THE INTERVENTION IN HESSE . Advices from Cassel and Frankfort of the 4 th instant state that the number of Prussian troops now quartered on the city of Cassel amounts to 2500 , and that another force of 3000 men was hourly expected . A detachment of 1600 troops , Hussars , Foot , Rifles , and Artillery , occupied Fulda on the 2 nd instant ; and another force , under the command of General Von Katte , proceeded immediately from Fulda to Neuhoff , near Schluchtern . Quarters had been commanded both at Fulda and Neuhoff for the Bavarian troops , but the Prussian battalions , which arrived earlier , occupied these towns and the positions which they command . The Prussian troops at Fulda muster 4000 . At Hanau the Civic Guard has been effectually disarmed by the Bavarian and Austrian

      troops . A Prussian Corps of Observation is concentrating on the Nassau territory , in the immediate vicinity of Frankfort . This corps consists of three battalions of the 28 th . Regiment , of two squadrons of the Glh Lancers , and of one battery . Other Prussian troops are concentrating at Kreuznach . The Prussian and Bavarian outposts are at a very short distance from each other , near Fliedern and Neuhoff . It is stated

      that General Von der Groben has declared that he thinks only of occupying the Etappe roads , and that he would not attack the Bavarians and Austrian * , unless they were to endeavour to push him out of his positions . Nothing of the kind is likely to be attempted , for both the Prussian and Bavarian commanders have received orders from their respective Governments to stay all proceedings , and not to advance .

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      AUSTRIA AND SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN . The triumph of Austria in German affairs seems now to be complete . On Sunday an Austrian officer arrived at Kiel with federal despatches , ordering the immediate cessation of hostilities , and threatening , in case of non-compliance , that the execution of the orders shall be insured through the instrumentality of federal trroops . The duchies are now expressly forbidden to prolong the war . Austria and tho Diet threaten them with penal consequences in case of refusal . Letters from Hamburgh say it was expected that the Kegency would return a fitting answer to this usurpation . The Government had met immediately upon receipt of the messuge , but nothing was known of the result . General Ilahn was on his way

      German officer of the highest military talents ; lie will not , however , wear the uniform of this army , nor occupy a prominent exterior position .

      from Berlin to Kiel , provided -with new instructions to the Statthalterschaft as the Austrian arrived . Meantime , we are told , there is no lack of preparation on the part of the duchies . Four depot companies of recruits were expected at Altona , quarters had already been prepared for their accommodation . It is stated that a number of powder-magazines have been established between llendsburg and Altona . M . Boltog , a former Austrian oiHcer , has just entered the Schleswig-Holstein army . The general stall has just been strengthened by the addition of a non-

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      ANOTHER FRENCH CRISIS . For the last few days the French people have been in a rather more serious crisis than at any period since the last disturbances . The dispute between General Changarnier and the Government seemed in a fair way of being brought to an explosion by the following order of the day , addressed to the army , which was issued on Saturday : — " Paris , Nov . 2 , 1850 . " According to the terms of the law , the army cannot deliberate ; according to the terms of military regulations , it ought to abstain from all demonstration , and not utter any cry under arms . The General-in-Chief recals these dispositions to the troops placed under his command . "

      This official notification to the troops , without any intimation having been given to the Minister of War of such an intention on the part of the Commanderin-Chief , produced a great sensation at the Elysee and throughout Paris . A new conflict between the Government and General Changarnier appeared imminent . All kinds of alarming reports soon obtained a widely-spread circulation , and nothing short of

      General Changarnier's immediate dismissal was expected . The Government , however , did not think proper to take any such decided step . Changarnier has had an interview with the President , and , to all outward appearance , the two men are on the most friendly terms with each other . Paris journals regard the affair as damaging to the Napoleonists . The Opinion Publique , after drawing attention to the fact that neither the Moniteur du Soir nor the

      Patrie , though avowed supporters of the Elysee , have published the order of the day , declares that the advantage in the late struggle at present remains with General Changarnier , this last act of his having , it says , brought about the triumph of discipline and of the law . The National also assigns the advantage to the general , affirming that he has now struck a master blow , and that by it he holds the Elysee in check . ' The triumph of General Changarnier , " it says , " is complete . He replies to an affront by a provocation and a bravado ; and he has the immense advantage of having right on his side . " The whole squabble appears to be a very contemptible affair , but in France a small thing often leads to great results .

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      AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA . The latest news from Berlin announces the resignation of M . dc Kadowitz , in consequence of the retrograde policy of the Government . Two other Cabinet resignations , M . de Ladenburg and M . de Ileydt , have been tendered , but only that of the latter has been accepted . Tho Liberal papers speak in the most melancholy terms of the humiliating position in which Prussia is placed by its truckling to Austria . A letter from Berlin of the 3 rd instant , in the Cologne Gazette says , that one important point has been well established : —

      " M . Radowitz shrinks from the consequences which Austria is drawing from the Warsaw conferences , as well as from the material fact which the occupation of Hesse revealed earlier than had been expected , namely , that Austria was ready to fight . The results of the Warsaw conferences are becoming clearer . According : to the Prussian proposals in the definitive organ of the confederation , the legislative arid executive powers were to be divided . The executive to be exercised by the two powers only , the presidency to alternate . Austria should enter with all its provinces into the Bund . The eleventh article of the Congress Act was to be interpreted as reserving tho right of Prussia to

      retain and encroa . se its alliances within the confederation . No Parliament should exist by tho side of tho federal organ . Upon these bases the free conferences were to open . Thus six points were proposed by the Berlin cabinet . In Warsaw , Austria showed herself inclined to concede the greater Dumber of these proposals ; she only reserved the questions of the presidency and the dualism of the executive . On this last point the allies of Austria must first be consulted . Austria appeared inclined to enter into the free conferences , but required that they should exist by the side of the Diet , and that the plenipotentiaries there should have the undisputed right of calling for the assistance of tho Dirt .

      The Parliament and constitution of the union were to be given up . Yesterday despatches were received , in which these demands were plainly and formally set out . Austria intimated that * he was in real earnest . At the same time the entrance of the Bavarians into Hesse was announced as the execution of the treaty of Bregenz . Austrian declarations were madn on the subjoct filso . No affront to Prussia was intended ; the Bavarians would leave the land immediately upon the restoration of the sovereign authority , and Prussia might occupy tho military roads . Upon this R . 'idowitx proposed tho mobilization of the army ; he would negotiate supported by the army , in order to give effect to the Prussian representations . Tho result is known . "

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      THE MAYOR AND TUB RAILWAY COMPANIES . The Lord Mayor gave a sumptuous entertainment , on Wednesday evening , in the Egyptian-hull , to the Directors of tho London and North-Western , the South-Eastern , tho Midland , and the York and

      North Midland Kailway Companies , and to the principal officers of the different companies , as well as to several distinguished visitors . Among other guests of note was the American Ambassador , Mr . Abbott Lawrence . In reply to the toast of " The Foreign Ministers , " he said : — " He looked upon railways as among the great civilizers of man . ( Hear , hear . ) He was said to be a public benefactor who caused two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before . Those gentlemen were surely benefactors of their country who had brought their countrymen togethermaking" travelling by public

      , conveyance so cheap that the poorest man could not afford to walk . ( Laughter and cheers . ) He looked upon railways as the greatest labour-saving machine ever invented—( hear , hear ) ;—but he considered that we were only commencing the application of steam , either to land travelling or navigation . { Hear . ) He felt delighted in meeting the railway kings of England ; or as that phrase was not popular —( a laugh ) , —railway managers—( hear , hear ) , —gentlemen dealing with a capital amounting , perhaps , to one-third of the national debt of Englandgentlemen who might almost be said to have the destinies of the nation in their hands . ( Cheers . )"

      Several of the speakers referred to the Industrial Exhibition of 1851 . Mr . Lawrence said he believed it would be of the greatest benefit to this country and to the world . As to fears for this country , * ' it was too late in the day to talk , of the energetic , broad-shouldered Anglo-Saxon being driven out of the markets of the world . " Mr . Paxton , in reply to the toast , —" Prosperity to the Industrial Exhibition , " with -which his name was coupled , made a few remarks on the Crystal Palace : —

      " The building was considered a great novelty , but it was no experiment ; there was no feature in it that had not been carried out by him at Chatsworth and other places . ( Hear , hear . ) He felt perfectly certain as to the result . ( Hear . ) He claimed no merit ; he had only done what every Englishman ought to do in such circumstances ; he saw a difficulty arising , and , believing he could render efficient aid , he came forward to assist—( hear , Jiear)—and , as far as his humble ability went , he should be happy to give it to the end of the chapter . ( Hear , hear , ) He believed the exhibition would tend more to the benefit of mankind than any circumstance

      that had ever occurred in the history of the country , or , perhaps , of the world . ( Hear , near . ) It would do the utmost honour to this country . Our friends across the Atlantic , who had become a great tree , returning to the mother country in shoals , would find it still a stouthearted oak , sending forth vigorous branches , and sheltering a happy people , contented with their institutions . ( Hear , hear . ) If the Exhibition did nothing else , he hoped that it would cement various nations together—( hear )—and that our visitors would return home to declare to their friends and neighbours the warmhearted reception they had met with from all classes of Englishmen . ( Cheers . )"

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      COOPERATION VERSUS COMPETITION . A public meeting of the working classes was held , on Tuesday , at the Literary Institution , John-street , Tottenham-eourt-road , to consider the plan of cooperative stores , as a means of assisting the establishment of working men's associations . The first resolution was moved by Mr . Henry Mayhew in the following terms : — " That the resources of Great Britain , in wealth and industry , are sufficient to secure the constant employment and comfortable maintenance of its population ;

      that nevertheless the condition of the labourer is insecure and miserable , those in employment receiving inadequate wages , while those unemployed suffer the extreme of wretchedness ; that this state of things is caused by a misapprehension of the economical law of demand and supply , ' which , as it is now understood , means the lawless and inhuman competition of the fraudulent and strong against the honest and weak ; and that the best remedy for this is an equitable arbitration or mediation between demand and supply by the means of cooperation among the people . "

      He spoke strongly against the doctrine that wages were to be regulated by demand and supply , and also against free trade : — " If men would hold together and persevere in endeavouring to mend their position , they . would ultimately beat down the doctrines of the Free-traders , who were the greatest enemies of the working classes . He belonged to no party , but he contended that the doctiines of supply and demand , which were called the rights of labour , were the wrongs of labour . Low-priced food would be a blessing to the working classes if the price of labour was fixed , but if labour was to be governed by the

      price of food , it must result in the misery and distress of the working classes . The agriculturists who used to bo engaged throughout the year were now only employed during the harvest , and had to walk about the country the rest of year , and roit was with hop-pickers and others . With carpenters and other workmen there was a system of fines and other charges which reduced the nominal wages to the lowest amount a man could subsist upon , lie saw no cure for this state of things but combination through trade societies . lie knew that £ 5 , 000 , 000 ayear was now distributed among tho unemployed by the trade societies , and he culled upon the working men to hold together to protect the fair tradesman , and be determined to have their own rights . "

      Mr . Field seconded tho resolution , and contended that the principle of cooperation by which one man was to exchange his labour for the products of the

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      Nov . 9 , 1850 . ] Stj $ IL * && *?* 773

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 9, 1850, page 773, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1858/page/5/