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Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th August 1846, Edition 1 of 2, Page unpag

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  • Departments (2)
    • Imperial larltamtnt
    • TO TBt MEMBERS OP THE CHARTIST tJO-OPERiTIVE" IT£ND SOCIETY.
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      My Dsar Fbdodb , Our first experiment , as sceptics call it , i * n o * listening on to matarity , and as I traTerse labour ' s eitate , % j mgnt and by day , exulting in the success of Iconfidence in ajielf . I » m sometimes driTen atawst to madnesibj the thought that nothing but labour ' s indifference to its own interest stands in the

      way of its complete emancipation . By our roles ve were bound Mat to commence operations till £ 5 , 600 tad been subscribed , but reliance upon your judgment induced us to commence long before that sum bad been reaUxed , in violation of the prescription . The society could not be said to be in a working order until the first £ 5 , 000 had been paid up , and lince that time to the present is sot yetfivemonths . I shall now quote for yon a passage from a letter just received from your talented and excellent friend and mine , O'HiggiiiB . He

      says—I sboald hke to se « O'Connotrille—the poor placehunters are mad about it . In my opinion it is one of the sobiimett plans that era : « u adopted for the com . j jete emancipation of the working classes . For God ' s sste K « t the dopes to withdraw their THIRTY MIL . U 0 SS out of the saxinga oanks let them buy land with this noney—they have lent it to their enemies to help them to crush and oppress themselves . Do all yon can to get the Irish in England to join you—achieve this and yonr triumph is complete . If they hold hack they ate tie greatest fool « and asses .

      My friends , the above short , pithy passage is from the heart and pen of one of the best men and deepest thinkers of the age ; from a man who never deals in folly , or requires the performance of impassible things . It is the severest erasure upon yonr order , for wise men to be able to point out the many of all those simple plans 1 & which the emancipation of labour may be secured , while their rejection by those who profess a love for liberty , encourages , nay justifies , tha oppressor in bis tyranny . I only wish that all the sons of labour could see the magic spot that has been secured as a retreat for those who

      will their freedom , and I tor one should never again repine at the degradation of the willing slaves . I know , my frieada , that lie great difficulty I have to contend with is the impossibility of convincing an oft-deceived and betrayed people of the purity of individual motives , and this is the only argument upon which I can for a moment justify the national apathy . I call it apathy , for although the progress of our plan threatens the destruction of monopoly and despotism , yet instead of hundreds a week ,

      thousands , yea , tens of thousands a day should pour into the national coffers—into Labour ' s Emancipation Exchequer . The means of supporting tyranny are wrung'from you at the point of the bayonet , while priests and old women , who fatten upon the spoil , denounce the means by which it is extracted , forgetting Oat the censure is vpaa the tyranny which coerces by physical force , although inteaded as » crusher ; for the slaves who neither talk or think about it .

      You , my Chartist friends , must have progressed rapidly in moral philosophy , when the tyrants who would trample upon you are left no other source of abuse than the mere denunciation of a phantom . It would not do for the modern Nero ( Daniel O'Connell ) ¦ to revile the land plan , after havingpromised Ireland to the Irish , but you know the old juggler always plays at cross purposes with difficult games . He and Ii 9 "Whig coadjutors having no positive merits of their own to recommend them to the industrious classes , would attach to yon a character for propensities that you are not chargeable with . This

      unclean beast has been , above all men of the age , the greatest inculcator of physical force , as long as he was seeking power ; but now that he has achieved it , tyrant like , he would compel the oppressed to shudder at the verr thought of self-defence . He has charged Smith O'Brien and the Young Ireland party as traitors , and has declared that they might have been tried and executed for high treason . Pardon me , my friends , for wasting so much of your time in criticising the conduct of a miserable old Whig placehunter ; bnfc it is { essential , in these days of Whig

      dominion , that yon should be made acquainted with the reasons for every move upon the political chessboard , and I write to caution you against falling into the trap that the old rat-catcher has so cnnningly baited for yon . Don't gratify him or his new allies by evea mentioning the term " physical force . " Let him go out in his own stink , and be consumed in the vaponr of Ms own fog . Hemade me a present to the English people ; " he made his son a present to the Irish : and I will take care that neither the one nor the other shall sell you to the Whigs .

      To go back from this disgusting subject to that of the land , I have to state , that , in complete violation of the decision oi the directors , one of the occupants with a wife and two children arrived at the farm last week , to our great mortification and to his disappointment , inasmuch as we have decided and proclaimed that the success of a great national project should net be jeopardised by the over anxiety of individuals . Of course our own feelings prompted us

      to soften the disappointment as nrach as possible , and to make him as comfortable as possible under the circumstances ; while I now inform the other allottees of the farm , that , in the event of their coming before the prescribed time , the directors will not hold themselves responsible for any hardships to which they may be subjected , nor will they give possession to me until all are admitted on one and the same day .

      The first allottees have been particularly success * fill , asd they ehould rest satisfied with their success . When they come to take possession , they will find no labour before them , save what the most feeble may perform ; hut we are not going to condemn persons unacquainted with the operations of agriculture to the performance of labour , to n-hich , in the outset , they are nnsuited ; thus inflicting a deadly blow upon the whole project . Once for all , others must sot be sacrificed by the orer-anxiety ef those who are amply and cheaply provided for , for the remainder of their lives , and their families after them . The work

      13 now approaching towards completion . The allotments are all marked out , and will shortly be divided . The greater portion of the land has been ploughed and harrowed , and will be well trenched np for early me , -when every occupant will find a dung-hill of good Londonstablfi dungupon his allotment , a comfortable house to inhabit , and the requisite implements for hi 3 new trade . Care will be taken to be prepared with plants and seeds of the very best description at the wholesale price , and I will be on the spot

      instructing the Hew apprentices in their new trade ; and from whieh , by moderate industry , each may lire a life of comfort , happiness , aai lnHependenCB . At the same time , we shall be prepared for the recep * tion of those who drew prizes at the second ballot , and also for the reception of those who stall draw prizes at the next . It is only the long winter that we dread , as the scarecrow of the hot-house plants , taken from the heated atmosphere ef the rattle-box . Their interest , and the security of the plan , is much safer in the keeping of our prudence , than their

      anxiety . The directors have met , and had along and anxious discussion upon the sobject of the establishment of a Baak of Deposit . The arrangements will , I feel convinced , give the most perfect security and satisfaction , and will be shortly published . And all who have monies in the savings' banks , in the banks , or lent on other seenrity , should bear in mind that labour is the source of all wealth—that labour makes capital , and pays the interest upon it ; and that in addition to the lauded security , each depositor will be doubly secured by the improvements by labour . Now , let me explain this as critically as is necessary for the instruction of those who have earned their monev

      hardly and prudently , and properly look to its safe nvestment . Suppose , then , an Estate of twenty cottages pay m £ 5 a yesr each , or £ 100 . The directors , upon | that £ 1

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      y upon . We may presume that many occupants will pay a portion of the purchase money , thereby reducing the rent at four per cent ., thus being allowed a reduction of £ 1 a year in his rent for every £ 25 he pays . In the course of two years , the Estate held by the occupants for £ 100 a year , would be worth nearly double that money ; and the improved value would , of course , tend to improve the security . That is , £ 2 , 000 would be better secured upon a property worth £ 200 a year , than upon a property worth £ 100 a year ; although the occupants would onl / be liable to £ 5 a year rent , nevertheless , £ 10 a year , ihe improved rahw of the farm , would be better security for £ i a year , the amount raised npoa it , than £ 5 a year would be .

      This mode of proceedure would be much better than ( tiling , and would put us in more immediate possession of the required funds for going on . And from many applications that I have already had upon the subject , I feel not the least doubt that the Directors will be able to prove its efficiency to the next Conference ; by which time , I trust , that the society will have experienced extensive benefit from the plan . After a whole week's cogitation I have heard of nothing but the most unbounded satisfaction from

      LABOUR'S JUBILEE ! I am , my Friends , Your faithful Friend and Bailiff , Feargds O'Conkob . P . S . —I cannot forego the pleasure of publishing the following passage in a letter received from Glasgow;—" Permit me to congratulate yon , as the father and founder of the primeval settlement which

      bears your aame , and upon its success—one of the first movements of the greatest revolution of modern time * . I can conceive with what delightful feelings you must have addressed that gigantic assemblage of the people on the 17 th . That you may live many years to « ee the maturity of this grand scheme for the amelioration of yoHr fellow-creatures , I remain , Your most obedient Servant , R . Colvilm . "

      Imperial Larltamtnt

      Imperial larltamtnt

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      HOUSE OF LORDS—Thcrsdjw , Acgust 20 . Lord Lisdbubst rose to answer the accusation made by Lord G . Bentinck , in the lower house , respecting certain recent law appointments , and after recapitulating and explaining the circumstances © f the case with extreme ability , concluded by a vehement philippic on At noble author of the accusation , which he stigmatised as slanderous and vexatious . After some discussion , the British Possessions Bill was read a second time , and other measure proceeded with . The House of Commons having objected to the amendments made ny their Lortlshit'S iii the Baths and Waslihouses Bill , a conference was held , and their Lordships finally agree nos to insist on the said amendments .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Thursday , Abo . 20 . Lord Couktbnat brought up the report of the select committee on the Andover Union . The Consolidated Fund bill went through committee .

      SMALL DEBTS BILL . Considerable discussion took place in Committee on the Small Debts Courts bill , particularly on the 9 th clause , several members objecting to the Judges established under the bill being allowed to practise after their appointment . It was urged that they should be paid higher salaries , and be required to devote their whole time to the discharge of their judicial duties . Colonel Wood moved as an amendment that Judges appointed under the Act should cease to practice as barristers . -. _ _

      The amendment was opposed by Lord John Russell on the ground that its adoption would necessitate the payment oi higher salaries to such Judges ; he was not prepared to propose such an increase of the expenditure of the country . The amendment was lost on a division by a majority of 57 against 12 . An amendment , proposed by Mr . Wauet , to the effect that attorneys be eligible to the office of judge under the Bill , was also lost , by a majority of 53 against 16 . . The remaining clauses were then ' agreed to without discussion . , , The Railway Commissioners Bill was read a second time , and the various other measures before the house advanced a stage .

      BOTJSE OF LORDS-Fridat , Aug . 21 . The Contagious Diseases Bill passed through corn-Several other Bills were forwarded a stage , and the house adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS—Fb » at , Atc . 21 . On the order of the day tor going into committee on the

      RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS BILL . Several members objected to a bill involving such extensive interests being proceeded with at so late a period of the session , especially as most of those members who were connected with railways had left town . Ultimately it was moved as an amendment that the house go into Committee that day three months . On a division there apperred for going into Committee 64 , against the motion 0- T 1 " 8 ., " sult is attributable to the cirenmstance ot the tellers for the amendment , Colonel -Sibthorp , and Mr . B . Escott , being the only members who voted agarastthe original motion . The Bill then passed through Committee Without amendment . _ . .

      On the order of the day for the second reading of the Patents Commission Bill , Lord G . Bestlsck took the opportunity of justifying his conduct , in answer to the observations made bv Lord Ltxdhurst , in the other House of Parliament , on the preceding night . He contended that the subject of the charge lie had made was fully sustained , he having clearly shown that there had been a friendly exchange of patronage between the former Noble President of the Board of Controul , and the late Lord Chancellor , inasmuch as Mr . D Pollock had received the office of Chief Justice oi Unmbav from the Earl of Ripon , while Lord

      Lyndhurst had nominated Mr . Wilson , the friend of the former Noble Lord , to the ltanu at Norton . That arrangement was to enable the Lord Chancellor to appoint his friend , Mr . Perry , to the office of Chief Commissioner of Bankrupts at Liverpool . He was surprised at the imputation of being instigated by base , sordid , and selfish motives , from Lord Lyndhurst , when that noble lord had himself , through his secretary , urged him to join the minority against the Sugar Duties Bill , for the purpose of forming an administration ; he had r « pe ! fed that association for his own part , but referred the messenger to his friend Lord Stanley . If he were base , sordid , and selfish , it was not at the public expend , for he never had oKe shilling of the public

      m The House then wentinto Committee on the

      SMALL DEBTS BILL which was opposed by Mr . Waklbt and Mr . Henley , almost clause by clause ; they proposed a number of amendment * , bat did not succeedI in at all alteufc the tenour of the Bill as proposed by Government The whole of the elauseswere read and a ^ edto seriatim , and the Bill passed through Commi . tee . HOUSE OF LORDS . —Satdhbat , Acoust 22 . The House met at two o ' clock , and sat for about an hour in order to forward bills . ™; m « Lord Ltsdhubsx took that , the earliest possible opi ortunity , to reply to Lord George BenUnci statement of the previous evening . . ThB . ^ and I « a . n « , 1 I «» l Iwcrait hrsKsiirintr their LoraSnlPS UMH .

      lie bad , upon the dissolution of tbelate government , reio ' ved on account of his age and infirmity , to ictirefrom public life , and to hold office no longer . But , be said , desiring to see the Conservative party reconstructed , and to put an end to personal difierenecs , he coniinuuicated a design he had formed witn that intent , to Sir Robert Peel , Sir J . Graham , and several other friends . Ills design had nothing , to do with the Sugar Bill , and could not have anything to do with Ms own acceptance of office ; it simply pointed to tlie reconstruction of the Conservative party . Lord Stanley having been out of town , it occurred to him ( Lord Lyndhurst ) to open a communication with Lord G . Bentinck , the leader of the Protection party in tlie House of Commons . So far from any fcciioiw

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      opposition to the Sugar Duties Bill Jia ^ g been pro posed in that message , no allusion to the sugar ques tion was even made on the occasion . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Saturday Ado ^ 22 The Speaker took the Chair at" Twelve o ' clocVjp *

      CONSTABULARY ( IRELAND ) BILL . On the motion for the third reading of this Bill Mr . Hume said , that he thought it was a bad thinsr to enact one set of laws for Ireland with . » speet to the police and another for England . Hedi&ip wish to impede the progress of the Bill , but he would just point out , that if they paid the police from the Con . sohdated Fund , the profit would go into the pockets of the lauded gentry . He would warn the Government that next session they would have to bring in another Bill to amend it .

      Sir R . Ferguson , and Mr . Escoir also opposed the bill Mr . Escott said he could not see why the landed gentry of Ireland should be relieved from the expense of the constabulary force—a force which was rendered necessary by the conduct of these gentry themselves . He had listened with approbation for five years to tlie cry of those who now occupied the Treasury Benches for equal law between England and Ireland ; but was this equal law ? Certainly not ; it was neither more nor less than relieving the gentry of Ireland , sot the people of Ireland , at the expense of the people of this country . .... ... . ^ . , Nr . Shieldefended the Bill . -i '¦' ,-. > : '¦ - . '

      Mr . T . Doncombe had objected to this bill in its previous steps , on account of its unconstitutional character , as giving , in fact , the command of a standing army to the Lord Lieutenant- He did hope , however , that there would be no necessity for the use of these extraordinary powers , but that her Majesty ' s Ministers would now take an altogether new course . He believed that they would do so , and that they should hear no more of Coercion bills , and the exasperation arising from them , and he saw an earnest of that new line of conduct ia the restoration of those gentleman to the commission of the peace who had been . deprived of that office by the late Lord Chancellor . He trusted also that in Ireland , where this measure was duly appreciated , that the landed gentry would be induced so to act as to render those on their estates an honour and an advantage , instead of , as they too often were , a misehief and a disgrace .

      Mr . Laboucubse admitted the objections to the measure , but justified its being brought forward , because the present had pledged itself to the late Government to do so . The bill was then , after some further discussion , read a third time and passed . POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS . Mr . Wakki-et presented a petition from a gentleman who had been chairman of the Quarter Sessions , and the oldest magistrate , in Berkshire , praying the house to dismiss the Poor Law Commissioners , and to impeach them for their conduct with respect to the Andover Union .

      GENERAL POST OFFICE . Mr . T . Dckcombe wished to call the attention of the house to the petition of Thomas Mitchell , late sub-sorter in the General Post Office , complaining ( bat his dismissal was occasioned by proving in evidence certain malversations and corruptions on behalf of his superior officers . He had pointed out a great many previous abuses in this large establishment , and had been told that all hi .- complaints were ineffectual , and that nothing could be done respecting them . An inquiry was , hownver , instituted before the solicitor to the Post Office , who certainly was a person qualified to inquire into tha matter , although his appointment did not give general satisfaction . Manv of the abuses had been remedied ,

      and in the course of the inquiries Thomas Mitvhe )) was called before Mr . Peacock . He asked for i . roUcuon if he should speak the truth , and on an a-ssurancc tlmt he . * h <> uld be protected , he made certain statements with refererce to the mal-practicesoi Mr . Kelly . Copies of those statements were furnished to Mr . Kelly , and shortly afterwards it was whispered that Mitchell was a marked man . On another inquiry being instituted Mitchell was again called , and on a fresh assurance that he should be protected , he gave information that 70 , 000 of the circulars of Air . Kelly had been sent through the Post Office free , thereby defrauding the revenue . He had become a marked man before , without any complaint beingmade against him . Mitchell , who was not in

      good health , was so fatigued after giving his evidence , that he was compelled tt go home , ana on hie reaching his home he was so ill that he was compelled to send to the office to state that he should be unable to attend to his duties . That was strictly within the rules of the establishment , but he received his dismissal very shortly after , the letter stating that the dismissal was ia consequence of his having absented himself from his duty without leave . Another ground had since been ' taken up , and it was stated the man was dismissed in consequence of insoleut conduct . These subterfuges were proofs of the weakness of the case of the Post Office authorities , and since this dismissal Mitchell had received an appointment as a general letter carrier , stating that it was in mitigation of his punishment . If the man neglected his duty , he was quite unfit to be engaged at all —( Hear , hear , hear , )—and if he had not , he

      ought to be reinstated in his original position , and not be degraded to the rank of a letter carrier , Oilier sub-sorters bad since been called before Mr . Peacock , and they had declined to give any evidence against Mr . Kelly from fear of being treated as Mr . Mitchell was . He had with him a petition from 200 employed in the establishment , complaining pf the treatment Mitchell had received , and expressing a fear of the like treatment for themselves . The case was one which certainly called for the severest investigation of the house , and he therefore moved that an humble address be presented to her Majesty , praying her to appoint a commission of inquiry into the ma nagemept of the General Post Office , the particulars of the dismissal of Thomas Mitchell , and also with regard to a certain private speculation in that office , and whether it ought to be continued or not . Mr . Proiheroe seconded the motion .

      Mr . J . Parekb observed , that there could be so doubt that the Fwt-Ofikf Directory , and the transactions connected with it , had led to the disagreeable feelings which at present existed in that establishment ; bat it was the fixed determination of the present Postmaster-General ( Lord Clanricarde ) . to inquire into the matter , and to put the establishment upon a better footing . Lord Clanricarde , in dismissing Mitchell , had acted upon a report regularly sent to him , and not deprived him of his situation in consequence of the evidence which he had given . If it should turn out that Mitchell hud not been guilty of the conduct imputed to him , he would of course be reinstated in his situation . Under these circumstances he recommended Mr . Duncombe to withdraw his motion .

      Mr . Huue advocated the claims of Mitchell , who had , in his opinion , been most unfairly treated . He also complained that Mr , Rowland Hill had not been employed by the post-office to carry out his own plan . Lord . J . Russell observed , that the motion proposed so wide a range of inquiry that it was impossible to accede to it . A plan was in course of arrangement by which the ground of complaint respecting the Post-Office Directory would be removed . He thought that Mr . Rowland Hill's plan had not been carried out sufficiently , and that there was still room for further improvement . After assuring Mr . Duncombe that the attention of the Government would continue to be directed to this subject , he expressed a hope that it would be lef c at present to the hands of Government . After a few observations from Mr . Warbhrtoj ? ,

      Mr . Wakiet would ask what , after all that was said , was to be done with Mitchell ? For ten years that man held a situation in the Post-Office , with credit to himself , and advantage to the public ; and because he gave evidence not very agreeable to certain parties , lie must be dismissed . If there was one thing more than another which should excite the jealousy of the house , it was in affording protection to persons who held subordinate situations , when they had the honesty and courage to expose official mal-practices —( hear , hear . ) Instead of throwing obstacles in their way , every proper means should be adopted to promote inquiry—( hear , hear . ) He ( said the Hon . Member emphatically ) would show the heads of departments , that there was an authority to which they were accountable , and that if the persons under them were subject to their vigilance , they should remember they would bo made to know there was an authority above them n hich could make them

      also vigilant—( hear , hear . ) When an investigation was to be held , an individual should beappoiHted totally independent of the department which was the subject of inquiry—an individual who could neither be damaged nor injured by the discovery of the whole truth . Ih the Post-Office investigation , while the inferior officers were giving their testimony , the superior officers were present . Why , under such circumstancts , the whole was a mockery . Could it be supposed that these men would state all they knew , standing in the presence of those who might on the following day dismiss them—( hear , hear . ) No good could come from such an investigation —( hear , hear . ) But what was to be done with poor Mitchell , was the question which still recurred ?—( heav , hear . ) Here was a man dismissed from his situation because be gave an honest testimony—was there any effort made to « et him a situation elsewhere ? Wa . % it just , after teaVeavs' faithful serv ice , to turn him on the world

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      —tar tduce him to ' beggary ? rr ( Heari hear . ) , To permitraclv conduct would ^ unworth y of the head * of thePtf&Office ., Iffbefore the next session of Parliament a sHiiationwas not provided for Mitchell , his coriviotion ^ was . thatihott Was very little justice to b » expected either fromfthef Government or from the headsof the Pbi ^ ffi ^ fhear , hear . ) g&Soraefurther discussion having ensued , Mr . Duncombb withdrewMs'iBaption , on the understanding that the case should undergo a revision by the Postmaster GeaeraL > It could not possibly re » t in its present statfc . ^ ; ' ^ The motion wm then withdrawn . Several bills were then advanced a stage , and the house rose at I o ' clock .

      HOUSE Oj ; : LQ : RDS , Mosdat , August 24 . The Lord Cbajtcbixob took his seat on the w . oollack at 5 o'clock ^ ¦ , : ¦ > ' ... , '¦ ¦ -..: " - . ' : " Lord HoLLAwpJ ^ ok the oaths and his seat . Lord LYNDHCRsiyread a letter . which he had received from Sir Jt . ' > : i £ | fel ; - " confirmatory of . the explar nation whick hemad ^ On Saturdayi-as to the purport of the rawsage . sent to Lord §>¦ Bentinck , and expressed his regret at being forced into personal controversies of thif kind . " : " ' Some bills wepethen forwarded a stage , and tb « house adjouraegjtV * W ^ OVSJB ' ^ 0 B ^^^^^^ Av ^ % r ^^ Thehouse " met soon after 10 o ' clock ' / - " - ? ' . >

      . EDUCATION IN WALES . In reply to a question by Mr . Williams , Sir G . Grkt stated that his attention had been directed to this subject , which had also been under the consideration of the late Secretary of State . He ( Sir G . Grey ) brought the matter before the Education Committee of the Privy Council last week , and directions were given for taking immediate steps towards inquiry . Instructions bad accordingly been issued to gentlemen to proceed to Wales to make the strictest inquiries , the result of which would be brought forward at the earliest possible opportunity .

      OUR RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL . Mr . Home begged to call the attention of the noble lord the Secretary for the Foreign Department to the present unsatisfactory state of our relations with Brazil , Persons residing in Brazil , nnd thoie who were in the habit of trading with that country , were in great doubt as to the safety of their proper ty under existing circumstances . Lord Palmbrsion said it was quite true that the commercial relations between this country and Brazil were in a very unsatisfactory state , but , although

      that situation was unsatisfactory as regarded many points affecting British residents in Brazil , still he was not aware that as yet any practical grievance had been experienced in respect to the commercial intercourse between the two countries . He had no ret son to believe that the Brazilian Government was acting in any way but what was fair and just toward * our merchants in that country . The house might rest assured Her Majesty's government looked upon the question as one of very great importance , and that it would be their business to direct attention to the

      subject with the view of placing the two countries upon a more satisfactory footing than waa now the case with reference to the interests of the commercial community . ( Hear . ) MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES . Lord G . Bentinck called the attention of the house to the present state of affairs between the United States and Mexico . This country had a great inter ? est in Mexico , inasmuch as our annual exports to it amounted to £ 500 , 000 a-year , as the British capital invested in its mines amounted to at least £ 10 , 000 , 000 , and as the public debt of Mexico , to this country amounted to nearly as much more . Wnr , therefore , between the United Sut « s and Mexico must be extremely injurious to British commercial interests ; and if it should end in the conquest of Mexico by the United States , he feared that the

      British debt in Mexico would follow the fate of the debts owing by the United States themselves to this country . Besides , if the United States became masters of Mexico , they would , in consequence of their haying already annexed Texas to themselves , stand at once in front and rear of our West Indian colonies . After several remarks on the unjustifiable character of the means by which the United States were working out their schemes of territorial aggrandizement , he asked Lord Palmerston to explain the existing state of our relations with Mexico , and pressed upon him , at the same time , the expediency of our taking some immediate steps to prevent the auu »« - tion of Mexico to the United States , and to put an end to the hostilities now prevailing between those two countries . He concluded by asking Lord Palmeriton what was the true state of the case with respect to this offer of mediation .

      Lord Palmbrsion declined , as a Minister of the Crown , to follow Lord G . Bentinck through his various observations on the transactions relative to the annexation of Texas , which had passed between this country , Mexico , and the United States . He admitted that in the present state of the international relatiens between the states of the civilised world , it was impossible that any war could arise between two independent nations without causing injury to ; the interests of other countries which might happen to have relations of commerce with them ; and he therefore believed that , just in proportion as trade was free from all those restrictions which circumscribed its extent , would it be the interest of all nations to promote peace throughout the

      world . He thought th&t Lord G . Bentinek had exaggerated , the probabilities of the United States establishing their dominion over Mexico . Mexico had 8 , 000 , 000 or 10 , 000 , 000 of inhabitants , differing in race , language , and religion from those of the United States , and extending over a vast space very difficult for military operations . He declined , however , to enter further into Buch topics , as he wished to say nothing which would affect our character for impartiality ai a mediating state . He assured Lord G . Bentinck that an offer had been made oy his ( Lord Palmerston ' s ) predecessor in office to mediate on the part of Great Britain between Mexico and the United States . He then explained the circumstances under which that offer had been made ,

      and which resolved themselves simply into this—that if the Government of the United States were d : aposedtoseekour mediation , we should be readv to offer and accord it in a formal manner . The Urated States had not thought it expedient to express any opinion in answer to our communication , and we had no right to take umbrage at their omission to answer our note . Having stated what passed at an interview which t

      Pakenham to renew the offer ot mediation on the part of this country to the Government of the United States in such & thipe as would require au answer . A corresponding { communication had been made to the Government of Mexico , and it depended upon tho answers to be received how far we could entertain hopes of bringing this question to an amicable settloraent . He concluded by calling Lord G-. Bonbinck s attention to this singular fact , that in order to raise their revenue to such an amount as would meet the expenses of the war , the American Government had lowered the high protective duties of their recent tariff .

      Mr . D'Isiueli considered the reply of Lord Palmerston to be anything but satisfactory . It weuld have been some consolation to the merchants of England to have learned that our offer of mediation had been accepted by the two belligerent parties . He could not find that consolation in Lord Palmeriton ' e vague statement , that in the development of the pvuv > ciples of free-trade we should find the best means of topping foreign war . Indeed , one reason why he could not accept that theory as true , was , that Lord Palmerston had laid down the very contrary proposition before the close of his opeech ; namely , that the United States had reduced their commercial duties in order to find increased means for prosecuting war . The British merchants connected with . Mexico were of opinion that at this moment the political existence of that country was at stake , and that was the justification of Lord G . Bentinck in brini-ing the subject

      forward at this period of tha session , lie then proceeded to enforce , at considerable length , the arguments previously employed by Lord G . Bentinck . As there was no power of self-government in Mexico , lie recommended that , in common with the great powers of Europe , wo should act towards it as we had acted towards another revolted colony—Greece . A protectorate should bo established , which would give Mexico a chance of ten years' firaiiquillity , of which the benefit would bo incalculable . lie concluded by insisting on the necessity of our arresting in u n determined spirit the system , on which the United States were acting—a system which menaced at once our North American and our West Indian colonies , and evinced a disgraceful desire for . universal empire . Mr . Bbrnai . expressed his satisfaction at the speech of Lord Paltiierstou , and contended that we ought to wait and seo what answer would be _ returned by the United Statos to his last

      communication . After a few words from Mr . P . Howabp , Mr . Waklet said he considered the speech of Lord Palmerston to be the speech of a peaceful Minister . He was delighted to hear that the noble lord waa

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      " . "f tho restoration of peace between the United States and Mexico , and he hoped that he would not change his policy . Here the discussion dropped . ; Several bills were then advanced a stage , and the house adjourned . ' f HOUSE OF LORDS ^ Tujjsday , August 25 . The house met at five o ' clock . Messengers from the Commons brought up severa Bills , and prayed their Lordships' concurrence .

      THE LATE GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE . The Earlof Ripon begged to occupy their Lordships' attention for a few minutes while he alluded to a sutpct which had lately been referred to in their Lordships' House .. He greatly regretted that ( he had not been in the house , when it was under consideration , or it would not have been necessary for him now to allude to it ; but feeling that it personally concerned himself , he felt it to be his duty to request their lordships' attention while ho briefly explained the circumstances of the matter so far as he himsolf was concerned . He had come to town today for the purpose of entering into a full explanation of the whole of the circumstances connected with the subject ; but the situation in which the matter now

      stood , and what was . said by his noble , arid learned friend ( Lord LyndhurRt ) the other night , in vindica . tion of himself and him ( Lord Ripon . ) he did not know that it was necessary for him to trouble their Lordships by pursuing that course , and he would willingly abstain from Baying anything to their Lordships if he could reconcile it to a sense of what he owed personally to their Lordships . But this he would say , that he did then upon Mb honour of a gentleman , and if that was the last word he should utter on that side of the grave , he did absolutely deny , in the most unequivocal manner , that there either is or was the slightest foundation for the imputation that was cast upon him —( Hear , hear . ) After some further observations delivered

      with much vehemence of manner , and under the influence of considerable excitement , his Lordship concluded by saying he felt it necessary to enter into any detail as to those charges ; but , conscious as he wasof his own innocence—conscious as he wsb of the injustice of the aspersions which had been attempted to be cast upon him—conscious ot the total want of the truth of those aspersions from the beginning to the end , he repudiated them . His character had been attacked , a great injury had been inflicted on him , but he still told their Lordships that he would rather be the victim of that person s accusationshe would rather carry with him to thegrave the sense and feeling of the injury—than be the anonymoui author of that calumny .

      POOR EMPLOYMENT ( IRELAND ) BILL . The Marquis of Lakbdowxb proceeded to describe the provisions of this bill . He referred to the distress which had existed in Ireland from the deficiency of crops , and the efforts which had beer , made to remedy that distress . The fruitjessness of these efiorts had rendered it perfectly manifest to the late government as well as to the present / that it would be impossible for parliament to separate without taking measure to prevent , if practicable , the recurrence of such extreme distress and misery . The government had endeavoured , in this measure , to avoid the evil of interfering with the supply of food . They would not become importers of meal or of grain , and this had specially been announced in order to prevent apprehension in the trade . At the same time , they did not preclude themselves from assisting in the

      distribution of the supply . Their principal object , liowetcr , was to take care that tlie people had employment , and fair remuneration for their labour . They provided that in cases of distress duj occupation should not be wanting . Great powers were given for that purpose to tlie Ford-lieuten ; int ; powers , however , of only a temporary nature . The bill , as their lordships knew , waa not unaccompanied by other measures . They had for their | objects the encouragement of public works , for which the government would be responsible , and which would all be of a permanent character . Whilst he ) deplored the necessity for such measures , he trusted that the tendency of the evil to be met would be evestuaUy to improve the internal condition of the country . He now moved that the house do go into committee on the bill .

      Lord Monieaglb wished he could see his way clearly to the accomplishment of the good which was anticipated from the present measure . Whilst he concurred with his noble friend in many of the point ? he had lni < l Juiru , ne must say mat , uc antiofpated failure , or at least disappointment , from the working ef these measures for the employment of the poor . The evil , they must recollect , was of much greater magnitude than last year . Now , whnt was to be the system of relief ? Loans from the government ot three and a half per cent , for public works , and a grant of £ 50 . 000 . The grant was utterly and entirely inadequate to the necessity . _ It was intended that this grant should be apportioned according to local contributions . The umdlness of the

      grant only showed how littte local contributions irai anticipated . In the county of Glare a former grant of £ 30 , 000 had led to the expenditure of £ 123 , 000 in the making of roads . A still more fatal objection to the bill was that it involved , practically , the _ introduction of the principle of out-door relief into Ireland . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) The application of that principle might be right or wrong ; but at all events its adoption in Ireland would be the greatest social change ever made in any country , and fatal as it would be in any case to the best interests of a people , would be peculiarly injurious to those of tha Irish nation . While , however , the bill was not likely to do any good , there was a great probability of its inflicting considerable injury . Mr . Griffith stated thai the resident landktfds had , in almost every instance , doubled their usual number of

      labourers , and that many had commenced the improvement of their eBtates by draining , and subscribed to the relief fund in detached portions of their property . The operation of the tax which they were going to raise would be to discourage the expenditure of private capital . If the bill were passed he did not know how they were to extricate themselves from tie principle oi out-door relief \ and he hoped her Majesty's government would say whether they did not feel the necessity of guarding against the extension of that principle . The Earl of Wicklow said he entirely concurred in all that had fallen from the noble marquis , in reference to the supply of food , and he thought the government had displayed sound judgement in their mode of dealing with that subject . The Duke of Grafion said the object was to find

      food for the people , and he doubted whether the employment of the people in making bridges and roads was ihe best means of arriving at that eud . He thought the present evil was owing to bad cultivation of the land , and that the people would be more appropriately employed , by affording them means to cultivate it better . He thought that a clause ought to be introduced having this object . The Marquis of Lansdowne said that no alteration could be made in the bill in the present session , with * out endangering it altogether . The bill then passed through committee , and was ordered to be read a second time on Wednesday . A great number of bills were passed , forwarded through committee , and read a second time , and the House then adjourned .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Tuesjjat , August 25

      POOR-LAW COMMISSIONERS . Mr . Hume said that lie had placed nine resolutions on the motion-paper , respecting the Poor-Law Gomraissoners , with the view of getting the house to pass some opinion on them before the session was closed . It was not his intention to proceed with the first eight of them at present . Witn respect , however , to the last , which referred to charges of a very grave nature against the proceedings of those Commissioners , it was too important to be passed over without sorao remark . He did not intend to refer , at present , to the transactions before tlie Andover Committee , but should limit his observations to the results of the evidence broug ht before the District Asylums' CommitfPB . whinh nrared . to his conviction , that tho Poor

      Law had not been carried out in the way in which it ought to have been . Parliament had resolved that uvei-v thing done by tlie Poor L « w Commissioners should be done by them as a board . Now tho evidence proved saiisfactorily that the law in this respect had been completely annulled by the Commissioners ; for it MS nw « te out , beyond the possibility of contradiction , that they were in the iiabit ot sittiug in their private rooms , and of acting without consulting each other , and without keeping any regular minutes of their proceedings as a board . The lax proceedings of the Poor Law Commissioners in this respect had given rise to the District

      Asylums' Committee ; for , inconsequence of the deceit practised on Parliament and the government by the Commissioners , a bill had been brought in to CBta-Wish district asylums . Had the Poor Law Commissioners made inquiry into the condition of the workhouses in the metropolitan parishes ( always exeepting tliose of the city of London ) , and into the accomodation which they were capable of affording to tho casual poor , they could not vecoiamend the establishment of suoh asylums . That inquiry they had not made ; but that inquiry ifc was their duty to have instituted . Such were liis complaints against the Poor Law Commissioners . II o had come to tho conclusion that those officers had violated the trust reposed in them

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      / . Parliament ; and , in flaying , so , he did jiofc execp « rom censure either thetfirst commissionere or Sir F LewishimBelf . It WM f therefore absolutely neces-Bary that the executive government should-interfere £ mo ^ n « fin ^ i ' once - " He - 'flam concluded by-S ^ sisa ESkw ^ ^— hUBa

      guidance . " . " . "" .. ¦ * = * S »! r r G A GB « observed that , -when he represented to Mr . Hume that it would not be practicable , at this period of the Beasou , and before the evidence taken by the Andoyer Committee , to go into the subject of his resolutions , Mr . Hume had distinctly assured him , in private , that be would not move them during the present session . As sueh was the case , he would not enter at all into the subject . at present * but would merely assure the house that during the recesE ) her Majesty ' s government would give it their best consideration . .

      Mr . Hume replied . that he had proposed his resolutions to obtain an opportunity of expressing his opinion upon them ; but he had no intention to press ¦ them upon ihe house at present . The motion was then by leave withdrawn . ; Mr . Etwall then gave notice that it was his intention to take an early opportunity next session of bringing the report of the Andover Union Comnai J " i 5 r tlle consideration of tho house . " r r-Mr . D . Brownr then called the attention of the - house to the state of distress in the country / of Mayo . Mayo was the poorest county in Ireland ^ and had- , the greatest number of non-resident proprietors ; and , as tranquillity was in crenf . dammr . mrineiar&&r

      iamine with which its peasantry were menacetipin consequence of the total disappearance of 'the potato crop , iie called . upon English members to urge upon the Government to take more immediate steps thain could be taken under its own plan to relieve thelmminent distress of the county of Mayo . * -He knew that the priesthood , would do all in their power touroserve the public peace ; hut there were circumstances under which the blind impulses * of naturebecame stronger than all human obligations . ¦ ¦ The O'Connor Don observed , that the Government was fully alive to the extent of the distress , and was devising means to enable the people to get over .-jts immediate pressure , and to improve theircimdition in future .

      Mr . Labouchkre admitted that the failure of the potato crop was this year much more extensive than it wag last year , and that Ireland was , therefore , in a situation of peculiar difficulty . The county of Mayo was at present one of the most disti ejsed part * of thatcountry ; still he believed that the statements regarding its distress were in some degree exaggerated . He then stated that potatoes and Indian , corn meal were selling afcaveryckeap price within its boundaries , and repeated the assurances which , he had given upon a former occasion , that the Government had been , and would continue during the recess to be , attentive to the state of the people ia Ireland . The Small Debts Bill and several other bills were then read a third time and passed .

      On Mr . Borthwick ' s moving for a copy of the rer port of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the salubrity of Buckingham Palace , some remarks were again made on the absurdity of placing the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington for throe weeks on the arch atfljde-park corner . Lord Mobpeth was sorry that no member of the sub-committee was present to fight the battle of the 8 tatue . _ He was not very anxious to become the champion of it himself ; but as it was resolved that the statue should be put up experimentally , he did not wish to say anything that -would derogate from the experiment . The house then adjourned . HOUSE OF LORDS , Wemjbsday , Atoubt 26 .

      Their lordships met at two o ' clock , when the royal assent was given , by commission , to fifty-one Bills . The Lords Commissieners were the Lord Chanoellor , the Earl of Minto , and the Earl of Shaftesbury . Messengers from the House of Commons brought up the amendments to the Small Eebti Bill , and several other Bills . The Poor Employment Bill was read a third time and passed . Tlie Consolidated Fund Bill waa read a third time and passed . The other Bills on the table baring bees forwarded a stage , their lordships adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Wednesday , August 26 . The Speaker took the chair about half-past two o ' clock , and soon afterwards proceeded to the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent given by commission to several public and private Bills .

      THE LEVANT , AND THE RIVER PLATA . In reply to questions from Dr . Bowrkg and Sir H * Douglas , Lord Palmerston informed the -WiM , # »*•„? £ , « Russia" « *»—** "s «/ u a wise ana generous lulicy had consented to forego the superior advantages which its merchants trading to Turkey enjoyed over British subjects in the Levant , and the Turkish Government had in consequence placed British on an equal footing with Russian subjects . He likewise stated , that the late Government had sent out ; Mr . Hood , the late consul at Rio Janeiro , with instructions similar to those which had been sent out bj- the French Government to its representative in tho Rirer Plate , to bring about , if he could , a cessation of hostilities between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video . Though sufficient time had not elapsed to enable the Government to become acquainted with the resultof the negoektionswith Buenos Ayres , he was not without hope that those negooiations would be brought to a satisfactory issue

      HAYDOCK LODGE LUNATIC ASYLUM . Mr . WAKLEir then called the attention of the house to various facts connected with ihe mismanagement of the lunatic asylum at Haydock-lodge , in a speech which occupied nearly three hours in the delivery . He then referred to the returns connected with that asylum , contending that they reflected more disgrace upon the system than anything that occurred in the Andover Union . The assistant-secretary was owner , and the auditor of the district was superintendent of the asylum . It contained 60 private and 400 pauper lunatic patients . These patients were culected from 20 different countiei of England and Wales , and were taken away from the places where they were known , and were sent to a distance wiiera

      the churchwarden ; , and overseers , and medical officers of the districts to which they belonged , could not watch over them , or show them the slightest sympathy . Haydoclt-lodge was licensed as an asylum in 184 . 4 .. He had no account of the mortality in it during the first year ; but in the second year , out of 450 patients , 112 died , lie then read a frightful catalogue of the deaths which subsequently took place , and complained in terms of great indignation that this astounding mortality had not attracted the attention of the Commissioners in Lunacy . Numbers had died of insufficiency of diet , bad ventilation , and bad clothing . Was it not monstrous that such things should be going on in a civilized country , where bo much was expended in charity ? Was it endurable

      that we should have a Poor Law which could give rise to such unprecedented enormities ? Every thing about such a law was stamped with , tlie character of cruelty . It steeled the hearts of men and converted them into granite . He then entered into a severe condemnation ot' the Poor Law dietaries , which ia many cases were not more than half of those allowed in our houses of correction . Reverting , however , to Haydock-lodge , he showed , from medical authority , that a liberal and nutritious diet , and an excellent system of ventilation , were of the greatest importance in recovering the insane ; and then proved , by various returns , that at this asylum the diet had been insufficient , the ventilation defective , the drainage bad , the bods damn , and the accommodation for 434

      patients not more than ought to have provided for 367 . He contended , that when a complaint was made of such a public establishment , the commissioners appointed to control jt ought not to be allowed to investigate into its justice . There was no looking at this case without feeling a strong conviction that there had been grous and culpable negligence somewhere , and that it was the bounden duty of Government to institute & most searching inquiry into it . Looking at the conduct of all concerned in this asylum , at the conduct of the Poor Law Commissioners , of the Board of Guardians , of the Lunacy

      Commissioners , oi' the people employed in the establishment , there was a case which demanded a thorough and complete investigation . The only inquiry into it which could be effectual was by a commission . Ho therefore Jioped that Sir G-, Grey would not oppose his motion , but , by allowing it to pass , would adopt a mode of discovering the truth on this subject , which was alike demanded by the justice of the cas < and the feeling of the house and the country , lie concluccl ; by moving for an address to Her Majesty , praying for the appointment of a commission coinquire into the management of tlie llaydock-todge Asylum .

      Mr . Fieijben seconded the motion ; but stated that his feelings were so harrowed by the speech of Mr . Waklcy , that lie dare not trust himself to speak upon tho subject . Sir G . Grey was not in the least degree anxious to throw any concealment over the facts of this case ; on the contrary , ho thought that Mr . Roberts had clone a public " service in bringing , them before the public . lie only regretted that this subject had been , brought forward " , in so long a speech , in a-houae ot literally not u dozen members . lie thought , however , that Mr . Waklcy had introduced into ihe discussion allegations not necessarily connected with it , as ior instance the general conduct of tho Poor Law Commissions , lie regretted , the absence of Lord Seymour as lie believed that his lordship would hare been able to give a fulll explanation of the charges brought a « ainst the Lunacy Commissioners . The knowledge

      To Tbt Members Op The Chartist Tjo-Operitive" It£Nd Society.

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 29, 1846, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1381/page/1/