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Northern Star (1837-1852), 25th February 1843, Edition 2 of 4, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1843.
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      Untitled Article

      DEBATE OS MR . DUKCOMBE'S MOTION . ( Concluded from our Eighth pagej Tery giezx importance to the people of England , Irehaa , and Scotland . It was a matter of great imporfsjica to them whether they should respect their tribunals 2 nd their judges . He -sronld tell the House thai since Lord Ablnger ' s appearance o ^ that CommiEaon , Special Commissions were held in detestation and contempt . But , so far as the other judges were concerned , they iad a beauiifnl contrast with the Ivcble Lord . He had endeavoured to show to some Scotch friends thai the conduct of Lord Abinger was the exception and not the rnle . Every sort of care was taken in the English court ? in the

      trial of a

      Mr . ScaKLett ( Lord Abinger ' s eldest sod ) , in a low Toice , and with liable emotion , appealed to the Honse whether the Learned Judge had been fairly dealt with . Several petitions had been presented against Mm , and it was a- remarkabie circnmstance , that sH bnt one were couched in the Tery same "Words . From wnat source these coinciding docu-Ment ? were produced , it was not for him to say ; bnt he Trusted the Honse would not allow a pnbhc ser-Tant , who had done his < iuiy long and faithfully , to be borne down by nnjuss pressure .

      LoTd Jobs Russell was of opinion , thai a motion © f cecsnre ought not , except in tbe gravest cases , to T > e entertained by thi 9 House . To sanction such attempts would be effectually to destroy the independence-of the Judges . 2 $ or was his objecvion diminished by the form of this motion , confining itself to inquiry alone . Had Lord Abinger wilfully endeaTonred to oppress any of the Queen ' s subjects , lem : ghtnaTe felt it necessary to makean exception from what ought to be ihe . general rule j but Lord Abin % -er ' s character precluded such a supposition . Ha , however , could not a ^ ree in the view taken by the Attorney-General . In troubled times ii

      "was peculiarly necessary that the charges of the Judges should be mild and temperate , because the sentences would ihus obtain the more complete and general acquiescence . Lord Abinger's charges "Were objeciionable , as mixing political ^ nb legal matters , and so withdrawing the minds of the jary from the one proper subject of their cognizance Lord John Russell then selected some particular paragraphs as exemplifying his objection . They proved , in his opinion , that Lord Abinger , having much legal and much political knowledge , had tronghi his political knowledge to bear where Ms legal knowledge alone onghi to have'been exhibited .

      Sir James Gbahax rejoiced in the Noble Lord's determination to oppose this motion , the more especially because he felt assured that , in the present circumstances of the eouatr , y it 3 success would hare alarmed the friends , and encouraged the- esemifis , of law and order . On former occasions , when the conduct of Jndges had been impugned , the course had been , not to propose Inquiry , bnt to lay substantive charges on the table . Thi 3 latter mode had been pursued in the case of Sir Elijah Inipey , of Judge Fox , of Lord Ellenbqrongh ( wiih reference to Lord Cochrane ) , and of Sir Jonah" Barrington .

      In Baron Smith ' s case , indeed , an inquiry was moved for and granted , hut the order directing it ¦ was discharged a few daj 3 afterwards . He could not help concurring with Mr . Scarlett , who had observed that the fime was not yet « ome when it was to be held culpable in an English Judge to expound i » a- Jury fhe advantages of the English constitn Jlon . It was the duty of a judge , not only to contend against the encroachments of prerogative and pr ivileges , but likewise io restrain popular license when it threatened danger to the common good . He concluded with a warm panegyric on Lord Abinger ' s judicial character .

      Mr . Sbxshis Crawtobd found fault with Lord John Russell for refusing Ms support to ihe motion . Mr . Wats ? s conld not give a silent vote on the present occasion , as he intended to give it in support of the motion of this Hon . Friend the Member for Finsbnry . He would do so , for a _ very short and simple reason , drawn from a former speech of the Jfoble Lord the member lot North Lancashire in ihe case of Baron Smith . Th 9 Noble Lord , on that occasion , said , " "We impute no motives—we do not eondemn Baron Smith . We merely say -that there is s . primo facie case , which calls for inquiry , and the House is bound to make that inquiry "— ( near , tear , hear)—On this occasion he Olr . Watson ) imputed no motives te : Lord Abinser , ha did not

      eontjpm-n ifratT . farnprri Judge , but he did say that very crave and serious charges had been ms . de by his Hon . Friend ; and the representatives of . the peopl * ¦ would not do their duty if tbey ^ dTd not inquire into them . Ho-w ^ far th © inquiry -was to-be carried -vronld depend nn lhB * videfiea wWen Ms Hob . Prien > 3 iru ^ kt be able to bring before the House . H e differed with the Bight Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Hoae Department , that to vote for inquiry was to condemn Lord Abinger . If it were so , he Olr . Watson ) would withdraw from voting on the question , Bnt he must say there were some charges in the pamphlet pat forth by Lord Abinger , and other matters stated by his Hon . Friend , into which it was absolutely necessary to ir-quire . The charge

      made by ihe Learned Jadge , either to the grand or petty jury , was not a legal charge . Be did not say thai every person in ibiBcounirj had a eonsmniionai right to advocate any principles of Government , provided he did it by peaceable ana lawful means ; but fchat those who , under pretexl of advocating such principles , broke the peace , and were the cause of public disturbance , were to . be visited with punishment . The country was excited at the time ihe Learned Judge ' s charge wa 3 delivered . It behoved the Learned Jndge vo give calm and temperate dilections to the grand jury and the petvy jury , who

      were then too much incuned to punishment , and required such calmness and temper as were evinced by Lord Chief Justice Tindal—( hear , hear ) . He { Mr Watson ) repeated that he did not judge upon these matters now , bzt he thought they called for inquiry . He certainly thought with all rasnect to Lord AbJEger , that he had not shown himself a rt-ry good poliriciaK . He was an instance in snppurt of what was sometimes said , that iav > yers were very bad politicians—^ hear . bear , and laughter ) . Mr . Cakdwell had been a witness of Lord Abinger ' s cignifit 4 conduct at the trials , and wonld oppose this motion .

      3 Ir . DO" combe , in reply , said he had listened afcten- ; fively to bear -whether anythiEg might fall from tbose opposed to the motion which should induce him to ' ¦ withdraw it . He was bound to say he had heard nothing -which should prevent him in the performance cf his daty to the public from taking the Esnae of the ' Hffase as to vrhstoer there should be suy inquiry into the conduct of this Judge . The Rirbt Hon . Bart the Secretary of State for the Home Department siid it ; ^ onld ill become him to be the fnisome panegyrist of i Lord Abisger , andhe immediately followed up ihs de- elwadon by pronouncing the warmest snd most fulsome panegyric that had . been delivered on the -whole conduct of the Noble Lord —( hear , hear ) . Th « Hon . Member for Hoishatn complained that he OSr . Dancombe ) had introduced reference to recreancy and political apostacy . Bnt the Hon . ana Learned < 3- ? ntlemBn mifht have recollected

      that in his allusion to the political apost&ej of a former i < lsy , he was quoting an t-xpresaon of the R !? ht Hon . ! Bwonei tb « Secretary for the Hsaie Dspartinent , -who , ! in addressing the electors of Cumberland , dencuacsd Sir . JsmEa Ssariett as a recraant " Whig—{ hear , hear ) . Yet ; bow they were told by tha Bight Hon . Baronet , that , ' looting at the -whole past life of this Learned Lord , he ^ . saw nothing to find fanit with ; and he asked whether , they on his [ Mr . Dnncombe ' a ) side of the House , wonld sand the Learned Judge , at his advanced age , and after tiis Berrices he had performed , btf ore a Committee , in a degrading manner , by 32 angry party vote . What dif- J ferent la £ gcag-e from that of the speech to which he had refeireo , and -which he would now take tbe liberty « f leading to the H-.-use . iLaagLter ) . Ihe Houbb would

      leeoHect thai it did not contain bis ( Mr . Dancorabe ' s ) i BenisBf ^ nts . bnt those of the Kiaht Hon . Baronet thoSe-. cxet » ry dt State for the Home Department . They came 1 brftae the public -sriOi the authority of a Minister of the Crown , for the Kighi Hon . Baronet was then FirstLord or tbe Admiralty under Lord Grey ' s Government It Tna at ihe time of the General Election far Cocker- ; S ?^? " ¦ "' -, " Tba 2 art Ume J addr ^ sed yon from theee * -SS ?\ 'vI ^ e 1 **** I had a wish to know who xenre- ¦ to Borongh of Cockermouth , and , except ' the ' retoning officer , no man conM tell me—( a langh )—and ¦ w hoBowiepresgnta thatBorongh—ta voice : Scarlett )?! Ay ; aad 8 orrylamtohftarhimname 4 inthafw » y for ] ha ^ once «« a friena-tl an . glad ( S iSiS « mhe ) he M i ^ xed to that honoai . ^ gbte ^ Ss tte AttomeyGeneral

      Ex- - , a recreant -Whii , a foUower ! of Fox , a nominee of Eari Pitzwilliam , S iS i andli ^ pectad unffl he hegan to wage iaa iafiaSS ^ wI jia thepras- [ eheera ) -heJI-say , hash ^ nobliged io ! fiyftom theJndiniaQon of the people , wdiseklS ^ i to Cockeimouaiunder the wing cf my LordLonsdite . 1 He has erept into tbe House of Commons through the " postem g « e of whifii a reverend vicar , now an these ' lmstingj , keeps the key . He haa skulked from the of- \ Jeoded majasty of the people —( load laughter )—and is i to be found the representative of there knrgage tenures ! for which the late Mr . Sathertlnraite showed sa much ! fondness—{ A voice in the crowd : ' How do you like j that , my Lord ?*)"— " And I my now , " said Mi . Dan- ! combe ,, looking at Sir James Graham , •* how do you j Mtelhil , m ^ losd "—Oond Izaghtsr , in -srinca t 3 se

      ilenibea on the Ministerial Benches , except Sir James Gra- ] ham , heartily joined ) . "When the Highfc Hon . Baronet : aid it would ill become him to be the fulsome panegylist cf Lord-Abinger . he ( Mr . Ihincombe ) entirely agreed wifli ium , and viahed . he had not , ¥ y going further , mads itne » Mary for him to allnde to the Cockennouth ¦ peesi . The Hon . Mtantsr for Bute ssked * whtther

      Untitled Article

      a Privy CouuciIIot waa not to have political opinions ? Of course he might , but 1 Judge bad no business to bring his politics apo $ * the bench , any more than a clergyman had to briag tbefe into the pnJpit The Hon . and Learned Gentleman said that Lord Abinger only claimed what the Chartists claimed for themselves . Nobody thought of df-nyisg that the Noble Lord might have political party sentiments . Hejinight indulge them in the Hen « e of Lew ' s , at the Carlton Club , at Norwich or anywhere else ; but he had no right to let them inflnence him on the judgment seat , when tbe lives or liberties of men were at stake , and where the Noble Lord ' s politics might do terioua injustice to several iedividnala . He { Mr . Dancombe ) confined himself to the printed charges of Lord Aoinger , though he did not know wh' they might not as well Tely on the reports of fchs Times or the Manchzzter Guardian , which some Hon . Members «« -med to sneer at He believed that the Times and tbe Manchester Guardian possessed soaie

      of the best reporters in this country . Those reporters attended on the occasion , and he had reason to believe that they were prepared to prove the correctness of their report * . Lord Abinger ' s published versions of the charges had never appeared until notice was given at a public meeting that they would be brought before the House of Commons . They did net materially differ from the reports in the Times ; bnt words were inserted here and there , which gave , in point of fact , to some sentences quite a different meaning from that of tbe newspaper report . If the Committee of Inquiry had been granted , he could have proved to them that tbe report , which had been so much quoted , was not the most correct report ; and he was surprised that when the Hon . Member for Bate had quoted tbe examination of a witness by Lord Abinger , proceeding from the reporter sent down by Government , that he did not also qnote the charge of Lord Abinger by the same reporter . Mr . S Woktlkt bad not the report .

      Mi . Dcscombe—Yea ; but you might have got i — ( hear . hear ) . If he could have got the inquiry , the parties could have been produced to shew that the report published by Lord Abingei was not a correct report . The report also given by Mr . Gnrney -was at tbe command of the Government , and could have been produced . He said that this was a fit snhjeefc for inquiry—( hear , hear . ) The Attorney-General had complained of these petitions . He said there were bnt six or eight of them , and thsre was not one that proceeded from tbe parties aggrieved . He sbonld like to know what wonld be the effect cf producing these petitions . He had read a letter from one of the parties ( Wilde ) Btating his complaint , which he conceived to be equal to a petition . But let him suppose that he had prfsented a petition from

      Wilde , er any other of the prisoners , wonld thty , on the other side , consent te an inquiry ? Would they consent to an inquiry if petitions hereafter were produced ? Not a bit "f it . As they wonld not consent to the present motion , under the circumstances in which it was brought forward , so -they would not consent to it under any other circumstances . Why then , throw ont your objections , -whi ; h , if removed , could be of no avail ? This was a Bert of special pleading on the part of the Attorney-General which he did not expect ; for if he prodnced those petitions , he would be as far removc-d from inquiry as ever—( hear , hear ) AnS then the Hon . Member for Woodstock had said , that if they encouraged petitions of this sort , they would have petitions from every disappointed suitor , who would be comine

      to that House and asking them for redress , and seeking for an inquiry into the conduct of the Judges—( hear )—Was thai the case at the present moment , when the Hon . and Learned Attorney-General complained that they had not a petition from one of the disappointed smters ; and if they had , then another Hon . and Learned Gentleman told them they Bhould have no inqniry—( cheers ) . Why , it was utterly impossible to please these gentlemen . This was not a case of private wrong . The whole nation -was interested in this question , and the whole of the people were looking to it ; and they were about to see them in that Honse pat a direct negative on the motion for an inqniry . The Hon . and Learned Attorney-General said he wonld meet this motion by a direct negative , and he said that he had an objection to

      Judges delivering charges that had a political tendency ; but then h 9 denied that the charges of Lord Abinger had a political tendency—ihear , hear ) . Bnt then other supporters of the Noble Baron , isho had spoken that evening said that his charges had a political tendency . Other Hon . Gentlemen were more candid than the Attorney-General , for they not only said that the charges had a political tendency , but that tbey onghfc to have a political tendency , bemuse they arose out of political events—( hear , hear . ) No one attempted to answer the argument of the Honourable asii Learned Member for Cork , that ft the charges shonld necessarily be of a political character , -why was it that Chief Justice Tind . il , who had also to dispose of political trials , did sot deliver charges of exactly tbe same character ? Ho thought that of all the dtbites he had ever heard in that House , there never was one in which

      there was to be found so little of argument and of reason in opposition to a motion—( hear . ) They were , he said , determined to Bcreen this judge . Tee public , however , would judge them and condemn them . He was satisfied that the public could come but to one conclusion with respect to those in that House , and that -was . that they , in their desire to screen a delinqnent judge , lost sight of that which was owing to—[ -ihe remainder ef the sentence was lost in loud cries of " "Cm , oh , " from 3 I « iabon on lbs MloisUtial banchot ] Aye , the delinquencies of the judge wonld go forth to lh » country—they showed that it would not bear that inquiry , -which l » e challenged tbtm to eater into . He Said thfi . k the public -would com © to the conclusion that , in their desire to screen a judge , they lost sight of that which was due to the pure and impartial administra tion of justice—( cheers . ) ,

      Mr Scahlett had one word to ; &dd aa to tbe accuracy of what Lord Abinger had published . He might state that he knew that -what was published in the pamphlet was taken from the Times , and only some small alteration made in it —( laughter . ) such as any one troaid make who wished to correct the mistakesthe usual mistakes of a report Farther , he had the be * t reason for believing that if that report were compared , with tbe tb . ort-h&nd notes token by Mi . Guroey it would make it appear that there was less point—in many of the allusions less point , than in that report which Lord Abinger had published . The House then divided—For the motion ... ? 3 Against 228 Majority 155 Tba follo-tricg names constitute the minority ef 73 , who voted with Mr . Dancombe : —

      Aglicuby , H . A . Gore , Robert Pecbell , Captain Axcbbold R . Gainger , T & PJumridge , Capt . Barnard , E G . Hall , Sir B . Ponsouby , Hon . J Bertceley , Hon . C . Hast ie , A . Ricardo . J . Lewis Boiely , H . F . Haires , B , Roche , Sir D . Blake , Sir T . Hay , Sir A- Roebuck . J . A . Bo-wring , Dr . Holland , Robert Robs , D . E . Brotherton , J . Horsman , E . Russell , Lord E . Bnsf- ^ Id , Wm . Hume , Joseph StansSeld , W R . Chapman , B . Hntt , W . Strickland , Sir G . Chiisue , W . D . James , Wm . Stiutt , Edward Cobden , Richard Johnson , General Thorcely , Thos . Coiborne , W . R . Layard , Capt . Turner , Edmund

      Collins , W . Leader , J . T . Yilhera , Chas . P . Cowper , Hon . W . Listowel , Earl of Wakey , Thomas Crawford , W . S . Macauley , T . B . Ward , H . G . Dawson , H . T . V . Majoribanks , S . Watson , W H . Dannistoun , J . Marsland , H . Wawn . JohnT . Duncan , George Martin , John Williams , W . Dandas , J . C . Mitcalfe , Henry Wood , B . Dandas , Adm . Mitchell , T . A . Yorke . H . R . Eiphinstone , H . Morris , David TELLERS . Ewart , W . Murphy , F . S . Duncombe , T . S . Ferguson , Col Napier , Sir C . Wallace , R . Fieetsrood . SirP . O'Brien , W S . G 11 , Thomas Paeet , Frederick

      , ' . : ' Captain Pechfll , understanding that the Right Hon . Baronet , the Secretary tor the Home Department , intended to re-introduce this session a measure partly similar to that which he had proposed during the lusJ session , end that wir . ch would involve the abolition oT the Gilbert Unions , begged to rnoi'e for certain returns , wiih the view of procuring information upon the subject , which he thought that the House , before it proceeded to legislate upon it , should be in possession of . He moved for a Return of the nnznber , names , and ages of all persons committed to any prison in England or Wale 3 for any offence in an union workhouse , established under the provisions of tbe Poor Law Amendment Aot : Etating the nature of the offence .

      . the period of punishment , the name of the union , and the number for each nnion and for earn year , from the 25 ui day of March , 1835 , to the 25 th diy of March , 1842 ; with tha population of each union , according to rhe last census . Also , " Similar returns for offences in workhouses of parishes and unions governed by guardians , vestrymen , or parish officers under local acts and 22 d Geo . 3 , c . 83 , known as Gilbert ' s Act , or not included In any Poor Law Union . "—Agreed to .

      Mr . William Williams moved for a return of the snm expended in every Poor Law Union in England and Wale ? , in each of the years ended Ladydsy 1841 and 1842 j specifying the sum expended in salaries and establishment charges , the Bum expended in in-door reliel , the sum expended in outdoor relief , and the aggregate amount of the same ; also the number of persons who received in-door relief , and the nnmber of persons who received outdoor relief in those years . Retnrn ordered .

      Major C . Bruce , in moving that a petition , formerly presented from the workmen employed in . the LowerhiU Colliery , in Fife , be printed and distributed , gave notice that he would , on Tuesday next , call the attention of the House to a petition from certain colliers near Dunfermline , and other places in Scotland , praying Tor an alteration in the Mines and Gollieries Act . He would also move for leave to bring in a bill to allow unmarried females , above eighteen years of age , to be employed in mines in Scotland .

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      EEDDITCH . —The neodlemastera of Rcdditch are beginning to make the eaters of cheap bread feel how much , they rejoice at having such an opportunity of redncing their wages . Tommy Truck is alive and kicking ! any body may find him at the house of Mr . Wm . James , and Mr . Bealiss , of Redditch , if they iLonire . In factj the fellow visits every pettj tyrant in this locality .

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      THE DEFENCE FUND . " By St . George ! but th © work goes bravely on !' The people _ have , thiB last week , bestirred themselves in earnest 1 Upwards of £ 70 has been forwarded within seven days ! Mr . Cleave has received £ 60 ; and this office upwards of £ 10 . This is encouraging : it shows that the people , amidst all their poverty , spare from their scanty meal a crumb to serve their friends who are m the toils of the enemy for the people's sake 1 It is the visible manifestation of the people ' s estimation of , and gratitude for , valuable services rendered !

      We do not give the particulars of the subscriptions this week . The crowded state of our columns is one reason ; a desire to print all the Subscribers' Names together is another . For this latter purpose we shall reBerve all further particulars ' till after the trial ; merely stating the gross sums raised . When the affair is over , and the result known , we will exhibit to the world a full list of tbose who have befriended the prosecuted and the persecuted . To the good work , we again invite the people Slacken not your exertions . Ke ^ p up to the collar 1 Work ! Work !! Work !! ! The time is short , and the calls are urgent !

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      THE LEAGUE OUTBREAK . * —m RESULT OF * H 0 WICK'S MOTION AND FERRAND'S AMENDMENT . In last week's Star we detailed , up to the time of going to press , the progress of the debate on Lord Howick ' s motion and Mr . Ferrand ' s amendment We showed , that while the amendment included Howick's motion , it bound " the House " to an enquiry into the effects of the operation of Machinery upon the producing classes , and also into the origin of " The Struck" outbreak in August last , which the mover of the amendment pledged hhuself , before all the people , to bring home to the door of the Anti-Corn-Law League .

      There was one thing observable in the debate which ensued upon the motion aud amendment , to which we directed especial attention : the silence of the League M . P ' s respecting Mr . Ferrand ' s serious charges ; and also the silence of the Home Secretary upon the same subject . Up to the close of the debate on Wednesday night last , not one of the members had touched upon the charge , either in support , refutation , or denial . Indeed it was not till Friday night , the night that the debate closed , that any attempt was made to grapple with the accusation . How the accusation was met ; hotc it iras repelled , and replied to ; how it was answered , we are just now going to see .

      The reader will remember that one portion of Mr . Fbrrand's amendment was , that the House should resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House , to inquire into the origin of the late disturbances in the manufacturing districts : and that the Hon . Member openly stated , in moving this portion of the amendment , that he was prepared with evidence to PROVE that "th Strike" was originated by the Anti-Corn-Law League . Let the reader bear in mind that this was the charge , and that this was the offer . Let the reader remember these things , when reading over the answer to that charge , and the defence of the League , offered by Mr . Milner Gibson , the League member for Manchester . On Friday evening he said : —

      " There had been tv statement made which he thought Honourable Gentlemen on that side of tbe House were bound to rebut with the utmost indignation . It had been insinuated that the Membera of the Anti-Corn Law League bad by the violence of their speeches—iloud Ministerial : cheers )—and by the insinuations which the ; had thrown out at public meetings—irenewed cheering : —induced men to commit unlawful acts—( cheers . ) N' > w he waa prepared to say , that if there had been at any of the meetings of the Anti-Corn Law League any remarks that conld be for one moment supposed to allude to the commission of Buch acts as had been alluded to . be said

      at once that there were no men in this country more likoly than the persons who were in the habit of attending those meetings to dononuoo -with indignation the proponnder of such sngjjefltiona . ( Cheer * . ) He denied that the speeches which hart been delivered possessed the character ascribed 10 them—lbear , hear ) But it was eaid that th ^ se meetings had been tbe original cause of tbe disturbances which bad taken place . If that were bo , why did not the Right Hon . Baronet , the Secretary of State for the Home Department , who bad s ? nt a Commissioner to inquire into tbe origin of the disturbances , lay the report of that Commissioner on the table of the Honse—ihearj .

      Sir J . GRahaH— " I said that I did not send a Commissioner , and that there was no such report as the Hon . Member alludes to" —( cheprs . ) Mr . Gibson— " The Solicitor of the Home Office had sent Mr . Gregory into the manufacturing districts ; and he had gone in two capacities : —one . profeiwiina ) ly to assist in the legal proceedings against certain persona in custody ; the other of a confidential natura What conld have been the second object of Mr . Gregory's ( -xertions ? He -was Bent down at tho precise time of the disturbances ; he had Borne duty of a confidential nature to perform , and , considsring that he was the solicitor of the Home Office , he asked whether it -was any great tax on the belief of tbe country to suppose that he had had instructions to inquire into the origin of the disturbances which had arisen , and that , having

      nothing to Bay on the subject that was satisfactory to the members of her Majssty s Government , it ha-A bten thought right that he should hold his tongue- ( hear , heail ? That , he thought , was the fair construction to be put on thtse proceedings—( bear , bear ) . But he would ask Honourable Gentlemen to apply their minds to the denial of . the anti-Corn Law League , that they had had nothing to do with the late cibturoances . The anti-Corn Law League was composed for the most pint of manufacturers ;—of rnrn who employed nearly twothirds of the population of Lanciiahire . and to whom the country was indebted , not far hsving inst . ucted the people to break the peace , but for having opposed all measures of disturbance , and he asked whether kien whose property was most exposed to destruction and waste ; were likely to cenuuit acts tbo ten- ' ency of which was the- creation of disturbance and a contempt

      tor the law—ihear , heart ? Was ihere any prop « rty , be asked , so exposed to the operations of a lawless mob as that of the manufacturer ? and would not their own interest induce them , above all others , to prevent a breach of the peace ? There was a much more plausible argument for accusing the opposite party of ttw which they laid to the charge of the League— ( die rs and laughter from the minis * erlal banchtsi . He did not make assertions without substantiating them . He believed that the disturbances had originated in the reduction of wages ; and the first reduction of wagos had been made by Conservative firms , and not by the firms belonging to members of the Anti-Corn Law League—thear ) . He did not throw out this as a charge

      agaiBst those persons , because there was notaing which he so much deprecated as the tioctrine of teaching the people that their masters could give them a greater amount of wages than that whicn they received ; in fact , that to reduce the amount of wages was to robl the artisan of the fair reward of his labou ' . He coula not think that there was any mode more calculated to bring about disturbances than this—( hear ) . The Conservatives began the reduction of wages because trade had declined and their profits had diminished ; indeed , he belitjved the cotton trade never waa in a worse condition . But what did tha Conservatives say in tne speeches they made in various places ? and , above all , what did they do by means of the press ? They

      employed themselves in every way to excite the labouring classes agamst their masters —( cries of * oh , oh , oh , ' from the ministerial benches , and cheers from the opposition ) . ^ He would read one or two extracts which appeared , before and after the disturbances , in the Standaid newspaper , -which was acknowledged to bo the organ of her Majesty s Government—( cries of ' no , no , ' from the ministerial benches)—then , at any rate , it was the organ of tbe Conservative party—( cries of oh ') He said this wiitoout hesitation , because he knew that at any rate newspaper editors did not write articles which were not congenial to their readers—( renewed cries of ' oh *) . He did not stake the charge againBt gentlemen oppoaite , and should not have said

      a -word about the matter if Honourable Members had not got up in that Honse , and imputed to the members of the Anti-Corn Law League acts little short of murder . Will ; those belonging to the Anti-Corn Law League fiilentiy aubmit to be charged in this way—( cries of oh , oh' from the ministerial benches ) ? He felt bound to rebut sneb accusations , when brought against himself and his frieutie . The charge was sparingly made that the anti-Corn Law League were doing all in theii power to work the labouring classes into a state of rebellion . at > d accused tbe numbers of that body of making

      speeches which almost led to the commission of acts oi murder—( hear , hear , from the Ministerial benches . ) Let the house then see whai the Standard newflpapei Baid on the subject cf the treatment of the labouring classes by tho manufacturers . —( loud cries of oh' . ) The Standard ne ^ Bpaper , previously to the breaking ont of the disturbance * , said , Any appeal to justice , to humanity , is utterly out of tbe question . The die iSj therefore cast , that the wagea of the labourer are to b « . pleasured by the power cf purchasing what will barelj support life , including the contingency of preinatuft

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      destruction . '—( orteH of 'oh . ' ) This , be it recollected , [ was particularly addressed to the labouring classes In the manufacturing districts . Again , some time afterwards , at about the period of the disturbances , it was stated in the same newspaper : — ' There is no real excess of labour , though you , the millowners , make an artificial excess of yenr own profit ; you violate the order of nature by working women and children in rivalship with men one year > with the certainty of abandoning all men , women , and children , the next year to famine . ' Again , a few clays afterwards it Bays : — ' When before have Englishmen , Englishwomen , English infants , had to work wider the cudgel and thong

      for more than ten hours a-day ? ' He found , also , in an article of the same newspaper of a subsequent date , the following passage : — 'Aa a mere matter of policy , therefore , toe cour'e which has been pursued by the manufacturing capitalists hits been most injudicious , putting altogether aside the consideration of reciprocal moral , duties 6 r Christian feeling for the poor or oppressed . The impression continues uniform that the misguided persons that have been or may be guilty of excesses during tbe excitement of the strikes shonld be as leniently dealt with as Is consistent with the supremacy of tha law . ' ( Loud cries of ' oh , oh , ' from the Ministerial benches ) He did not deny that

      these persons should be leniently dealt with ; but were net the opinions which he had just read equivalent to teaching the labouring classes the pernicious doctrine that masters could keep up the rate of wages to the labouring classes , and that to reduce wages was nothing more nor less than to rob the labouring classes . He would ask , could anything tend more to excite the people in the manufacturing districts against their masters tban the utterance of such sentiments as these —( hear , hear ) ? He would read one more passage from the Standard , which was written after the disturbance 'had subsided —( loud cries of ' question' and * oh ' from t&e Ministerial benchea ) " A longer continuance

      of tbe turn out , however , must exhaust tbe savings ' banks deposits , and reduce the labouring manufacturers to utter destitution—a circumstance of which tbe millowners will know how to take advantage in the next adjustment of wages . Tha expression of feeling among the manufacturing labourers has gone already as far as it can be useful , and in many instances something too far . The attention of the Legislature must be directed to the Bubject next session , and doubtless a goo < l Factory Law and a greatly amended Poor Law will be the result . Let the manufacturing labourers look patiently for these benefits . Any further active proceedings can only injure themselves . '—( Renewed ciies of ' Question . ' ) Gentlemen oppoaite then chose to indulge in charges which they could not justify , and they

      reiwed to hear the dbfuueo . But did not the extract which he had jast read look very like a suggestion to the labouring people to act against machinery ?—( cries of ' Oh . ') He would ask the Right Hon . Baronet who sat opposite whether he wus not aware that mvlla had been burnt and machinery bad been destroyed in the manufacturing district in the presence of the police the magistracy , and country gentlemen , and not one hand was held up there to protect this property ?—( Cries of ' Where ? ' from the Ministerial benches ) . Why , in the manufacturing districts ; and he was biuo the Right Hon . Bart , could confirm his statement , if tiu were appealed io . He could produce evidence to show where mills had been destroyed under such circumstances . " —iCries of Name . ')

      This , then , is the anstver of the League ! They are charged before the country with being the authors and originators of "the Strike" disturbances ; evidence is offered to bring the charge home to them ; and here is their anttuer ! Let us examine it . It consists , first , of " an indignant rebuttal . " Just so much wind in opposition to offered evidence ! Then we have a train of reasons to show that the League manufacturers could not be interested in creating disturbances and outbreaks ; because 1 heir property would be in danger . Just so much wind again , in answer to the charge supported by evidence that they have created disturbances ; that they have caused outbreaks ; and that these outbreaks led to serious loss of life , banishments and transportings , and much

      imprisonment . In addition to these two points of defence , we hare a series of counter-accusations , by which it is intended to show that the Conservatives were the authors of " the Strike , " and that the Standard newspaper had more than an ordinary share in causing and perpetuating it , because it described and spoke against the oppression of the operatives by the Mill-owners ; and ndvised that the " misguided persons that had been guilty of excesses during the excitement of the Strikes should be as leniently dealt irith as was ^ consistent with the supremacy of the law ' '! This is the whole of the answer ! Not a jot more , nor a jot less . No indignant demand for investigation ; no challenging of inquiry ; no daring the accuser to bring forward his proofs ; no offer of testimony to rebut the foul , and slanderous , and criminal accusation !

      Ah ! the answer is no answer at all ! It does not explain away the meaning of Tadnton of Coventry , when he talked of " risings and riots , " and " advised the appointment of a Committee of Public Safety " ! It does not explain away the meaning of Bailey of Slieffield , when he said : — " It was not icords would move Parliament , B ( 'T foiice ; this SHOULD HAVE effect , if they did not chuuye their system . lie had heard of a gentleman who , in a private company , said , that if one hundred persons cast lots amongst them , and the lot should fall upon him , fte would take the lot to deprive Sir fivberl Peel of Ufa . He felt convinced that no such attempt ought to be made upon any pretence whatever : but was persuaded of this , that when Sir

      Robert Peel went to his grave , there would be but few shed one tear over him . '" It does not explain away the meaning of young Finch , of Liverpool , who " advised the organising- of the colliers for a uenkral strike , as a mean * of carrying the Repeal of the Corn Laws and the Charter . " It does not explain away the meaning of Alderman Chappell , oi Manchester , who distinctly said in open meeting , that " the only plan now left to the Mill-owners was to stop their factories , " and force the hands into tho streets . It does not explain away the meaning of John Brooks , who talked about " something terrible just about to happen that would bring some folks to their senses ; " nor the meaning of his brother Leaguer that talked about

      "ARRESTING THE W 1 IKKLS OF GOVERNMENT " ! It does not explain away the meaning of the League organ , the Sunday Times , who boasted that the proposal for " shutting up the factories , " originated with himself ; nor his distinct avowal that the project was entertained b } the Lengne again and again ! It does not explain away the private meeting of the Leagued Manufacturers in the town of Manchester , where it was agreed that it would be unsafe to adopt the advice of the Sunday Times and of Alderman Chappsli-, to " shut up the factories ; " but that the same end could be gained by reducing wages , and so working upon the operative population by fit instruments as to induce them to leave the factories of their own

      accord ! It does not explain away the determination then and there come to , that a gpneral reduction of wages Bhould be attempted , of at least twenty-five per cent ., between that time and Christmas ; and that , though each employer was to take his own time and manner of effecting this reduction , yet it was to be effected between and the period just named . It does not explain away the overtures and representations made by . a League - Manufacturer in the town of Ashton , to some parties there , who can be named , to induce them to infuse a proper spirit of resistance amongst the factory hands to the proposed reductions ;

      by working on their feelings , and showing that unless a stir was made , their condition would be deplorable in the extreme : for , if the attempted reduction was carried out —( notice of a reduction had then been given by a Cotton firm in Ashton)—all the other masters would be compelled to follow the example thus forced on them ; while a determined stand at the outset might save them much misery , and even be the means oi forcing the Government to do something towards establishing the Charter . It does not explain away the several meetings held between that League-Manufacturer , and some half dozen others , at the house of , in Ashton , where the whole i-lot was

      entered into , and the means devised for carrying it into execution . It does not explain away the production of " An Address to the Workers " in MSS . at one of these meetings by , of Ashton , for the

      approval of the League-Manufacturer ; the tone ami object of said address being to " get the people out !" It does not explain away the arrangement come to at that same meeting by the Leaguer and his tools , that should take the MSS . in his pocket to a

      meeting in Ashton , and procure itB adoption by the assembly , he being authorised to state that several friends had promised him donations towards the expense of printing it for circulation . It does not explain away the fact , that the MSS . address was so brooghl before a public meeting , and its ^ adoption so procured ,

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      It does not explain away the fact , that ihe printing oftliat addressiwas paid for by the League-Manufacturer and that its appearance on the walls caused universal attention , and paved the way for thb Strike . It does not explain away the fact that a meeting was holden in the town of Ashton , to follow up the measures thus far detailed ; which meeting was attended and addressed by the men who had been privately concerting with the said League-Manufacturer ; and who were paid byihim for their services . It does not explain away the nature of the speeches made to the

      assembled thousands on that occasion ; nor the recommendations openJy given . It does not explain away the fact that jthis meeting was adjourned from place to place , time ! after time , until it had nearly perambulated the whole district , visitingStaleybridge and Hyde , amongst other places . It does not explain away the fact , that the workers in all these places were addressed by the League-Manufacturer-paid concocters of the whole proceedings . { It does not explain away , that on the instant that Messrs . Bayley and Sons , of Ashlon , gave notice of theiriintended reduction —( the otheV notice by

      a neighbouring firm having been withdrawn)—the " hands" all jleft the mill ; and they were joined by the major portion of the factory" hands" of the town . It does not explain away the fact , that a meeting of the " turnouts " was almost immediately held , presided over by a League-Manufacturer , at which it was determined to " march into Manchester , to see the masters at the Exchange , and have a bit of talk with them about the attempted reduction ; " the said presiding League-Manufacturer offering to lead them vv in person ! It does not explain away the conduct of several managers of the leading firms connected with the League , when " the Strike " was progressing ;

      particularly 1 ¦ u , the son and partner of an Alderman Magistrate of Manchester , and leading Leaguer , who went round with their own men in their own mill , showing where the plugs were , helping them to draw them , giving them beef and ale after the exploit , and then directing them where to go to next , to perform the same sort of plug-drawing operation !! It does not explain away the sending of Delegates from the Town of Ashton to the other parts of South and North Lancashire , with money found by the League-Manufacturer ,: to " get the people out ; " nor does it explain away the proceedings in Preston ' , which Mlripd with A FKARFl'I . LOSS OF MFT 5 ! i

      The " answer of the League" does not explain away lliese ( kings ; and till these things are fully inquired into , and explained away , we fancy that the people generally will hold with us that the answer is no answer at all ! ! These are the charges that the League have to meet and rebut ! These are the charges that can be brought home to them ^ if a fair opportunity of inquiry is

      afforded . If the League were not conscious that they could be proven , they would be the first to demand such inquiry ; and they would not content themselves with the miserable subterfuges offered by Milner Gibson as a defence ! They would not shelter themselves from the serious and criminal accusations brought against thenij by paltry and laughable counter-accusations !

      When Mr . Ferrand first opened out upon the League manufacturers , and exposed the practices they 60 universally : adopt of Truck , and of using paste and devil ' s dust , iudignant were the denials , and loud were the calls for inquiry . Brotherton , Cobden , Mark Phillips , Villiers , Gibson , and others of the League , almost run a nice as to who should second Mr . Ferrand , if he 4 ared to move for a Committee of Inquiry . He did so dare . He procured the appointment of such Committee ; and through his labours a system of the

      most tyrannical and heartless bearing upon the operatives engaged in manufacturing pursuits was laid fully bare . His charges were brought home ' . The Leaguers got' enough of " inquiry " ! Thejf . got more than they liked . They have been very careful how they have talked of " inquiry " ever since the close of the labours of the Truck Committee ! and they took precious good care not to offer to second Mr . Ferrand ' s motion this time , for an inquiry into the origin of the : ¦ outbreak !

      That "inquiry , " however , we must have ! The League must not be allowed to shirk out of the charges thus publicly and openly made , without a thorough investigation . Those charges must be met with something more than Milner Gibson ' s bare word of denial , and a miserable set of counter accusations ! The ; " offered evidence , " that is to prove that the League originated the disturbances , must be heard and considered ! The case must be gone into , or the people must speak out !

      The inquiry can yet be had . Though Mr . Fbrrand , as will be sei-n by the report of the proceedings in the House of Commons 011 Friday night withdrew his amendment , he did not preclude "himself from moving it again as a distinct motion . Indeed we think he acted wisely in withdrawing on the occasion referred to , and under the circumstances . His amendment had other objects mixed up with the "inquiry into the Outbreaks . " It included Lord Howick ' s motion , which was sure , from the course of the debate , to be rejected ; so that this fad , would , of

      itself , have secured the negativing of the amendment . Another object contemplated by the amendment was the instituting of an inquiry into the effects of the workings of . machinery upon the operative classes-This , too , was a question not likely to secure the cooperation of many , who might have been disposed to vote for inquiry into the conduct of the League in connection with the outbreaks . Besides , one great object in moving the amendment had been gained . The charye had been made . The offer of evidence to support that charge ; to prove it ; had been made

      also . The i League members had winced under the charge . Only one of them all dare venture to hazard a deni . il ; and tltat denial so feeble and so miserable , as to become evidence of guilt ! To have persevered in going to the vote under the circumstances we have detailed , would have been to ensure the rejection of the proposed inquiry , for the reasons above- stated . This was felt bv several who wished to support the

      demand fora searching investigation , Mr . T . S . Duncombe , amongst the number . We happen to know that Mr . Duncombk desired Mr . Ferrand to withdraw ; and Sir . Ferrand did so , thus reserving to himself the right to moye for a select Committee to inquire into the charges he has preferred , and which he has offered to prove . That Select Committee we hope and trust he will move for . Indeed we have reason to believe that he will / He has shewn himself hitherto to be a

      man who is not to be turned out of his path , nor induced to lay down his charge when he has once taken it in hand . His . conduct on this question , will , we hope , be in accordance with bis general conduct on former occasions . It might serve League purposes , were the matter to end where it is : but it will not serve the people ' s ! The lives of many of their brethren have been sacrifictd ; the husbands and fathers of hundreds of mothers and " little ones " have been forced into

      banishment ,, or condemned to the penal settlements , or to the hulks ; hundreds of others have to perform hard-labour < at the tread-wheel in the hell-holes of " Correction * " where they are doomed to all the horrors of a lingering starving-to-death existence . These butcherings ,: and these transportings , and these imprisonments , are attributable to the League , who led them into the excesses which procured for them the " vengeance of the law ; " and the members of the League ought to suffer also ! !

      Yes ! the inquiry must be had ! We must know whether th $ charges made are true or not ! We must not permit an association of this dangerous character to get up outbreaks , which end in loss of life and liberty , and ! endangers the property of the country ; we must not have such doings as these perpetrated with impunitv ! We must not have Reverend Rascals inciting to assassination , without being visited with " the law ' s jvengeance " ! especially since the law takes such good care of a poor and , comparatively , innocent Chartist " Seditionist" ! To the report of the ' ¦' Scene ' ''' at the close of the debate on Friday evening , we invite special attention .

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      It will be seen that Cobdbn tried thTua ^ eVtlP of " violent and threatening language" towards ? Robert Pek , with considerable effect . A 00 ^ 0 snubbing was the consequence ! He will not soon for the castigation his impudence and insolence rece' ^ What was left short in this respect was amply nafc by Mr . Roebuck , who happily exposed one of the mZ barefaced attempts at intimidation ever made M Roebuck had expressed his intention of defending Lo a Brougham from Cobden's chargeof " madness , " should he have the courage to make it in public , as he had th

      made it in private . " You had better not , " says c 0 den ; or the"League will be down at Bath , and x *" you out of your seat ! " Was there ever insokn " equal to this ? The members of the House of 0 ** rnons are to hold their voices and their seats at the "it behest , and command of the League ! " Dare to d f a Lord Brougham , and the League will turn yon out the House" ! The Queen and the Legislature had better " turn out , " and install the League at once the Government , making Dickey , the blud geon-man " First Dictator" ! . '

      But " Lord BKorgham is mad . " So Cobden La found out ; and so the Leeds Mercury has , at last dcovered ! It is a pity that the discovery i 5 so ** late ! Bao . UGHAM was not " mad" when on the side ( the League : he is only " mad" when he is compelled to wash his hands of the getters-up of outbreaks and inciters to assassination !

      The cry of " madness , ' however , will not blun t the edge of Lord -Brougham ' s denunciation of the Leasnied assassins ! It will only add to its force ! Th League should have shown that there were no grounds for the charge made against them ; and they would have rid themselves of it . As it is , it will stick to them spite of all the clatter about " madness" that can be raised !

      The threat of Cobden to turn Roebuck out of Bath if he dared to defend Lord Brougham from the charm of " madness , " reminds us of another matter connected with the League , which loldly calls for inquiry ; and which should form a portion of the matters to be referred to the Select Committee . We have heard a great noise lately , and seen a famous stir , made , about the £ 50 000

      which the League have been raising for the accompKshmeut of their purposes . But what will the public think when they are informed that the managers of th » League confess to having spent £ 100 , 000 6 e / ore they asked for the contribution of the last £ . 50 , 000 , about which so much bother has ¥ een made ?! Twice fifty thousand pounds had been expended in October last ! Tnwhatl what for ? HOW ?

      These are the queries that ought to be answered These are matters that loudly call for inquiry . It is very seldom that the League publish any statement of their income and disbursements , even the most general . We have , however , some data furnished bj themselves that gives rise to curious and serious speculations . Some year ago , they published that their income and expenditure had been , for the then passed year , £ 10 , 000-At the end of some six months from that announcement they stated that their expenditure had been £ 100 , 000 ! So that during one six months no less a sum than £ 90 , 000 had been disbursed !

      Now , on what had that immense sum been expended ? Dare the League show their accounts ? Date they show to what purpose the money was applied ? Dar » they produce vouchers for every payment made ? During those six months we had the general election and THE STRIKE ! How much of tbe £ 90 , 000 went to bribe the electors , and influence th « elections ; and how mucli to the getting-up and sustaining

      of THE STRIKE ? If Parliament is honest , it will drag these facts to light . It will have these queries answered . It will compel the production of the accounts ! The present position of the question is this : the League stand charged before the open face of day , as the authors and origixators of the "Insurrectjitiiary Movement" in August last . An inquiry has been demanded , the party making the demand offering

      evidence to prove the truth of the charge he has preferred . That demand for inquiry has noi been backed by the accused ! They have not ventured to second efforts which would have procured a tribunal before whicli their innoceHce or guilt might and would have been established . They have shrunk from the investigation . ' A bare , simple , unsupported denial is all they can offer in answer to the serious charge ; and that denial so feeble , so peurile , so weak , as to lead to no other presumption than a consciousness of guilt !

      There the question rests for the present How long it will remain there depends partly upon the people . If Parliament does not institute the necessary inquiry , it will be for the people to ask Parliament the reason « % . If Parliament are afraid and awed by the League , thank God the people are not ! If the seats of Hon . M embers are only held at the beck and controul of the League , the people have not yet sworn allegiance to it . And if the Parliament dare not to grapp le with the Leaguers , why then the people must try !

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      THE PARTIS AN JUDGE ! In another part of this sheet will be found a full report of tbe debate on Mr . Doncombb ' s motion for an inquiry into the partisan and " brutal" conduct of Lord Abinger , during the late Special Commission in Lancashire and Cheshire . To it we can'but call especial attention . It is impossible to add to its interest , or to set the question in a clearer light-, than ifc is set forth in the speech of Mr . Duncombe , by any commentary of ours . He haa well and nobly done his duty ! He has been well supported by Messrs . Mubphy and Watsos , two of the advocates retimed for the defence of the

      Chartist " conspirators" at Lancaster next wedt The points in Mr . Murphy ' s speech are exceeding well put . Mr . Wallace , too , was not lacking . He rendered efficient aid . The defence of Lord Abinger by tb . eATTOB . w-General and Sir James Graham will also be found in the report ; and a miserable defence it was . There , however , it is : let the reader judge . Dukcjmbs ' s reply was crushing ! How m * &

      Sir James Graham must hare looked , when beted so completely , as the " fulsome adulator a man he had before-time treated with the utmo scorn and contempt ! f the Mr . Duscomb ? has earned another measure oti people ' s gratitude He has proved himself w I of the post he has assumed . His services will n soon be forgotten . ¦ ., " The motion was unsuccessful . '' In , one ^ in . was : not in another . The majority stifled tne quiry . They prevented the evidence from offered , which would have established the c » ar partisanship , blind bigotry , and exetssive bru JBui they did not prevent seventy-three mero&e voting for such inquiry . They did not preren ^ expession of opinion by these Mffr ^ ^ there were grounds for inquiry ; that tne ^ portions of the Judge ' s conduct that , wq « ^ planation ! And however the friends of ^ V uch may think they have screened him , it l 8 . J ° lT that he has to plume himself upon ! He will W ^ J remember , when next he ascends the judgment ^ that his conduct has been denounced aa narr _ minded , savage , and brutal ; and ho ^^^ ' seventy-three have voted that these charg es ¦ « w » far established , as to make a primafast * c « e inquiry . He will reflect , too , upon the fact uu » inquiry was mothered ! and that snea smofte . ™ did tot purge him from the charges V ^ f ' &i There is a rumour that he is to retire from W Bench . It is better he Bhould do so . T . owg ^ longer under the circumstances wonld be painfoi » both Judge and Judged . '

      The Northern Star Saturday, February 25, 1843.

      THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 25 , 1843 .

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      m ^ MM and [ Accnngton , been the leader of ' * ^^ Jtej tf »? rWfitf 3 ^ £% ! i ? "X ^ S- Lancaster Castle .

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      4 THE NORTHERN STAR .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 25, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct470/page/4/