The Statesman. — London, England, 1818-02-10 00:00:00

Iff ,•••• addressing the people to dissuade them from the expedition, said, ' If you determine on taking this course, your must make up your minds at once on one of two things—either to cut your way, sword in hand, to London, for you will, not be allowed to proceed quietly, or to submit to he brought back and put into the New 1.1 %Vey Prison at Manchester.'—' Byrthe expresilon to cat their way, sword in band, 'after . preservedby the informer, without any after pltt of ttesebtence.-tilear !)z-lAtletfter per-' *on who addressed the meeting, said, You must - *know, that however virtuous your own abject and • istintions are at Setting out, it is quite impassible for .7eii to get tb•Losion without being joined by per sons of bad character, and very different intentions, fo r whose acts you will be4ield responsible Now the only tart of this lationalwild fair address which was pre. Sleeted, wife %ail which intimated to the people the likelihOod of their being joined by other conspirators chi the" way: * ' The connexion of the number who went on the expedition, with the Petitioners who met in the'lltiehrstartre to prepare a Petition, may be estimated from this fact—that the leaders or promi nent pertions at the several preceding Meetings slight amount to about seventeen, only two or three sif *boor took any part in the Blanketeers' espedi, Sion. The military followed these poor people, ' sod two or three hundred of them were taken and thrown into prison. Some of three poor people, when brought before the Magistrates, and asked what was their object in undertaking this journey, , limply replied, 'to throw ourselves'on our khees be fore the Prince Regent, to state our Sufferings, Ind tope he would give .us some relief.' That this was their immediate and only object, I base •no doubt; and that a Reform iii Parliament by cnostitutiornil Weans, was that of the other meetings, I am equally' eohvinced. When Mr. Event, 'of 'Manchester, ad dressed the prisoners' un their discharge, he alluded tit the information given against them, that it was their intention to hale proceeded to Birmingham.— Now it was a remarkable fect, that when these poor people set out from the Meeting, not one of them took the Birmingham road, they all Went by Stock port. In looking tit these proceeding', I feel it Incumbent on me to bring before the MUSS some ettliernentS relative to the oni.chirrnus activity of three or four persons, whom I Shall not hesitate to thsgoste as the spies, and I 'shall show that they mere an, by whose measures the poor people Were SliplPti to the course they adopted.—(//ear, hear!) -4)ste of them, named Plummer, made In fact se veral propositions so the people in di ff erent parts of the country, all of which had. for their 'object the dissemination of lawless doctrines. He not only tried to estate mischief himself, but he 'employed ethers to 5041 him in the underrating; but his plaits "were uniformly rejected. 'He, however, succeeded ito far in his marwenyres on Marth 28, that'it the •Meeting a number of persons were taken op and revolt to prison. This spy was himself, for show 'sake, arrested on that day, but discharged on the folio wing.—( Hear, hear!)—He Star also seen 10 the 'gig of Sir J. By rig. lie' de Scribed himself :es a delegate sent down from London, armed with *rest powers, and capable of doing great things for ltbe inst., classes. To effect his villaillous purpose - he does all he c.n t*lsad them into Crimes, and on 'aria bring totally disappointed,' he' entraps a few at 'al open and public undirguisedMeettrig. A second whir was: tells. en this 'tletaiicin, was named ) fiAtnatt, 414 antithei named Waadingten. There *wit person of 'the name of Acres, who bad advanced Iveitit•the'lllanketeers, end oil his return met Lomas, who liarnogaed on' the necessity of resorting to sio. •leuce for a redrefis grieiratices, iintritho'argued for the neresi!ty of dispatching emisiariei throughout 'the country for this purpose. - They dent together hitt) t. iiouse on the toad, when Lomiawrote down on a piece of paper the following lentenCe— • England rspeeis c*er la Wlll So his duty. Arise. Ji r i 444 us! relieve plur brethren io.pristm.—Cord save the XIII This he wanted Acres to get printed; but the printer -mold have nothing to do with it. This occurred on be 10th of March. On the 11th (that is, the following •ilav) Acres called on this man to know when the Meetifig of which he talked ives . to take place. He urged Acres, at the F.lephant puhlk.houtte, to start it himself; bet he refused ; Lomas then said, that a pri. • *Ate Committee was sitting for the purpose in an ad joining room, end he would go and speak to them, and consult what Acres had better do; Me latter not liking the maneeuvres of this fellow, and suspect. ins that his object was to entrap him, after waiting some time for Lomas's return from the private Comittee, at length took the resolution of going to ask for him in the room, when on opening the doer he discovered that the' Committee wai a very, secret one indeed,' for there was nobody there but Lomas . hirnself.—(lleor !)—Here is a fellow pre. .ternillog to act on the part of private Committees with wriew to stimulate poor people to acts of vio lence, 'sod then to pounce upon theca. Lomas ew.., plairoWte this Acres that he tins waiting for the sit. tilig of this Secret Committee. ''Hi-'then proposed e t subscription for assisting the subject of 'Reform, and. the calling together Meetings and as at 'great piece of confidential intelligence. Informed two 'persons named 'rein, and George Berber (brother.in.lavi ie Acres) that there was •to be a• meeting under the Aqueduct (a place **PI knowall the neighbour. hood) and that it was determined to set - Manchester nit tire. '''hey declared itgainst such a *Maisons project, and said they would hate' no more to do with this fellow. On'-the sitme'darke . stilt pate 'eered is another direction,' tiird' Went towards Old. ham, where he.offered helf-e•OlOOR le One foiling. wood, to•show him the bowie of a Mr. Hagoe—Ae was shoo wit, and he entered and eattaired for Mr. Wipe. Ile was told be was oct, but he said he must staY tepee him, having business *I great moment to Vtosmunicate. After waiting for come time, end not finding that Mr. Hague had returned, he dere. 'loped the business of his mission to the family, end said that the factories were to be alt burned the game tight. I Tiya people thought him inad, end did not press him to remain. On Iris return from the , house, he met Hague with others oir their way home. He -stopped with them, and said that the fictories at Manchester were to be berried :thattighi, and be urged' them to meet and join Marge patty which would be in; readinele at a tertsih 0104 to entrance - sod release their brethren who had been film Otto'. custody. These people refused to have any thing to do with it, and ariu the spy was foiled iu his ~ object, and obliged to seek mischief elsewhere, lie spat a elan „slimed 'JII9Oo tpoor a r itor mil of wart, to Haley ind ? tlisafood, etem, with e message, entreating ilyet; totter/on as many pelt , es they eneld its St. Giforget'silleilest:lhey . piid ot the slightest attention to his invitation. The fellow was net set satiSfretimppeteiveeetVely ',totted trise on to still farther (mention: Op the '}4th of March, notwithstandilig Tip could . geif i t abOdy to unite with Mtn to *ilia mtveritotaiteitri* he determined Mill 'to ti l l lout Iti fr eleeihetilettliVig . :' He went to two turesolis,"tiliff broidlrpipoied them to set fire to the inawaVa'crorlei 'it Menthes. :ter ; but they rejected ties• diabolical scheme. Ile then wanted (hem to go said attack Potter's fac tory, end said he wield aecompany them, and if siessild stickby Imi he vrolild set fire to it litinaself—at the same time producing, from under his coat,* crowbar to aid his perpdse. The people whom be asked refined again to join him in his plans. Dohorst, Lomas, Waddington, end other Spies, Liessk all the pains they could to get introduced, and form an acquaintance with the persons known to be imaged in promoting Parliamentary Reform. — They got introduced to a man named Sellers; and less' a circumstance occurred which may explain ~hat was lonnerly eo Inuchd welt upon-1 mean the latanefactore of large 'knives at this tithe, for this ,Selters was' strongly . reensmthended to make, end procure to be made, as mahy knife.handles as he possibly could. Tinny contrived at length to get up a meeting, but not more than 10 or 12 cn'ild be got ingether, on the 17th•of March. This meeting was deelared too *small to go to- work. Another was held on the 23d, but only twelve or fourteen as gonmed—shis again would not do, and Deburst of •bie- awn authority -appointed the Meeting for the fflith, and it was recommended to be held after dark, •illeleisrst said, that it 'was clear nothing now would 4 ide-but - ph yeical force. Oa returning to Middleton, be said that he knew a house in Manchester where 1,000 guineas were concealed, and they could be had reise moment after the attack. He further og 4 'dt that *ben they had this meney they could either eppiy it ,te•promote the general object, it that should appear advisable, or escape with it out of the country. lie also said he knew an old lady on an adjoining green, whose house Was full of valuable plate, and that if they had this (which would be easily done) it weeld Set things ageing pretty well for them. The Wileittle to whom this intimation • was made, re-, *tad the proposal with horror, and finding he bad gone a little too far, 64 01%1" said he, " it is all a joke; I dld'nt 'lean any such thiug." The people, thus perpetually - reminded Of these burnings ',end plans of mischief, acteally believed that such ''hatters were in preparation, and a great thing was gained fur those Spies by. habitually reconciling the People to listen to such desperate projects. I shall show 'another - attempt to give an air of mystery to a I , transaction in itself open and free from the imputation of crime. A Meeting was arranged for subseqeently convening a large public one. One of these Spies, however, proposed, that all persons should toot be permitted to commune with this preparatory Meeting —that it ought to be select; and for this purpote recommended that pieces of paper should be cut ' Into a. triangular 51)4pe, and then cut into two , pieces, one man to hold one, and the person coming to the Meeting to present the other ) Wei by com paring the one piece with the other, it would be seen whether the visitor had permissions to be present:— I Sellers declined having any thing to do with this paper editing, and said that he would never attend any aseetingvagain, said would recommend his friends to follow the same course. • Duhurst finding, as well as his brother spies, that nothing could be done, complained bitterly to Hutton, whom he had em. l ployed to carry messages to mod fro, that he had , spent his last shilling, and that the People would not tome forward and meet like men. The People were it this time tired of meetings, and had acteslly given them up whets these spies were vent down to en-1 courage them to go on.—[llear, hear!] —Wadding ton repeatedly exclaimed, that the People welter set of d—d soft foods, and would not 'come forinird.— Duhurst subsequently got some persOus to go with him to the Royal Oak; and told some people there 1 that Helton ' of New Mills, had beets to view the baracks, and had laid down a plan for an attack on them. Another individual went by persuasion to the George and Dragon Inn, and was dragged into a room by Duhurst—to some persons there assembled, Duhurst affirmed he had received papers from Lon. don, acquainting him with intended meetings, to ' Consist of a hundred thousand, mid in another in. stance of seventy thousand persons. The individitel alluded to answered, • I don't believe it.' •Ditherst he'd show lettersthe either* continued, 'if you kehow a hundred letters, I won't belleye it.' • On another occasion, Waddington told a man named Ryegate, of a Meeting to be held; when' 60 or 70 abousand persons would be present. • Ryegate he did not believe it.' I shall not go any nuttier into the facts of this case. I bate said quite enough to show the mischievous conduct of these axe- I treble agents; and that as far as regards this petrol the country,' nothing lite a case had been made out 'for the Suspensions of she Hibeas Corpus. Not. .withstanding all the efforts 'of 'these reisettfints, sot more than ten or eleven perstint Were ar rested ; and what is extraordinary, not an actual trench of the peace occurred. Waddington and Lome were taken into .cuatody •by the Maids-, 'hates but discharged nest day. It is tree inform. 4ons were given of the 'ellsteuee of a traitotoes•con 411ney—of meetings . of Persons calling themselves draigitles—of a grand rising for the loth' 'of March, ertd.flettthe town wf Manchester Wes the spot fixed on; but I think it obvious' that without tire efforts'of spies not one Meeting would have taken place. We have heard of various meetings in that neighbourhood for the bight of the 30th, and of the advantage of the full moon for the porpoise; but with all this psiade,it is clear that the arresting of 10 or 11 men, including the 'spies, would not account for the aelversil tranquillity •of the neighbourhood on thistneuifel day.ltis a known fact, that owthatilay' Manchester', and the other °suspected towns, were perttoctly quiet. If such an enquiry be beseoWeel on 'iltesWilteenistancein as their importance *Nita, ticinee efAhet • SWIM enormity „twill be &wavered. Hay; itti'elfirer • of the Quarter Sessions, asserVetl4 tfiat prilefit dfcanspltacy would be given. 'Where shall we look for them ? is it in the liberation of all the persons arrested, with- 'PI IF, STAT ES N:1,01 SI CRET COMMITTRE. out trial, aisdthos entreating to _ be tried ? With ontanetioint any reflection, I+m bond to declare, that'tbe People feel convinced the Government was issposed upon; and if they are not now themselves We - rounded tley were imposed upon--if they do now in confidence believe that the accused entertained de- sigiew trwititt to the 'pearbf thin nig teneistent with Mat' o.llollto send them back unfet tered to their homes. I trust that the facts of this Petition will be tooted into otieddy, Intl to The 'beltelb. I alit Mete particblirly desirous of this, on account of the errstety at one Gentleman who lias sribscribed it, to purity the striae throirs on the cha racter of his part of tire country." The Petition was then brought up and read :- 4. The retitinuers state, that at the time when evil-designs were imputed to the labouring classes io that neighbourhood, concealed under the disguise of an ;anxiety to obtain a Reform in the Representation, not only did those classes exhibit noten dency to Insubordination or violence, but sustained with exem plary fortitude an unparelleled extremity of dieters—That without implicating themselves in a defence of the propriety and prudence of al the political proceeding's of the labouriter classes.. they insure the House, after careful and assithous enquiry, that their proceedings have been completely misrepresented—That with respect to the Meeting of the 10th March, fansiliaely called the Blanket Meeting, nothing could exceed the quietness and order with which they proceeded to it, and denuded them selves during its continuance—That it bad hero •publicly an • - nounced several days before, and no intimation given or its im puted illegality—That. no attempt was made to disperse it by the civil power,. but that without warning, and as the Petitioners believe, without having the Riot Act read (though it isdouhtfol whether even that Statute could have been legally enforced), the dragoons, acting under the orders of the Magistrates. dashed among the multitude, nod compelled ' them to seek safety in dig*, although the Magistrates at that lime did not worm the discretionary power over Public Meetings with which Parliament has since invested them. •• That between 2ittruid SOU petite's... in the coarse of that and the preceding day, were wised, and lodged under circum stances of great hardship, in a prison which csmaiased before their arrital nearly three times the number of pewits which it was originally calculated to receive; mad teat eight of these men who refined to give bail for their appearance. were committed to Lancaster Castle, and discharged without trial, after having been detained there nearly six mauls, among people of the most profligate description and character. . . •• That on Saturday, the 49th March, piddle alarm was excit ed by an Advertisement from 'the Magistracy and Police of Manchester, matine • Information. dtc. • The Petition thither represents, that the Rev. Mr. Hay, I Stipendiary Chairman of the tiolfiwd Quarter Sa-ssiois; did in his address to the Grand Jury allude to the subject iu the fol lowing terns.—[Here read.) • • '• Ihe Petitiouer3 express their conviction that this House will learn with surprise that all the persons arrested. and &sic noted as partaken in this adeged conspiracy, have beeisdis charged without trial. 'they urge the ditager,• if there be the aligatest suspicion of their guilt, of restoring men to liberty, and to the capability of &dog mischief, who ate declared to base cuaueeted themselves with a design of such atrocious wickedness ; white, on the other hand, they insist, if there be no toandation for the views imputed to them. that plaice and humanity require that they should be publicly 'and legally ac quitted. •• The Petitioners Mate, that the discharge °fame men having excited their attention, t hey entered upon an extensive and rigid enquiry into the grounds co which traitorous designs had been imputed to them, and the result of their examiuntiou as, a post live and irrefragible conviction that no conspiraty ever existed, that no violent designs were in contemplation, or ever propus ed, except by . hired Spies awl Informers. The Petitioners persuade themseivesthat it will afoul great satisfaction to this.Hease, to leans, that although no Wert was left untried by these misereaots to ensuare the labouring classes into acts of riot and insubordiamion. their villainous schemes, and exhortations addressed to men enduring the severest priva tions, have been eminently and uniformly intosteemfol. The Petitioners represent that daring the early part of last year woe turfed and domiciliary visits were frequently made, attended with the greatest abuse sod inherounity, by the interior agents of Police. without she exhibition of any warrant or authority. They state their conviction that she employment of • -pies in the manner and to the extent to which it has been tweeted inthat district, is pregnant with conseqdences the molt dangerous to the tranquillity of the country, and trims an anxiety tat make the truth known to Parliament, and to siadiente the loyalty of their neighbourhood, they Wirral the House to institute ao eu.. quiry into the matters contented in their Petitlosa, acid into the proceedings not only of the lobouriag clones, but of the Magi*: tract' and Police at Manchester. its neighbourhood. and they pledge themselves to furnish sack evidence as they believe will completely establish the conclusion which they have Asenwelses formed, after a most careful and deliberateeoquiry." It was ordered to be laid on the - table, and to be printed. Mr. PHILIPS begged that it should be sobonisted to the consideration of the Secret Committee. —[/ fear, hear!) I SURCHARGES ON FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGES. Mr..METHUEN wisbpd to his informed,' whether the Right Honoutable Gentleman oppot.ite meanitu afford any relief from the surcharges on Foor-wheeled Carriage.. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER replied, that an Act for giving some relaxation of the Horse. Duty, which passed two year* ago, whold'be again submitted to the consideration of the House during the present Session, and that he intended to introduce into that Act some relief en the subject al luded to. SUPPLY. The Report• of the Committee of Supply was brought up mud read. Mr. BROUGHAM begged to know whether the Noble Lord opposite could give ant htfOrmatiou as to the time when the Repot t of the Secret Comolittee night be expected. Laid CASTLEREAGH - replied io a very,low tone of voice. Ile was• underxtood to say, that it might be expected in 14 day or two at furthest., Mr. BROUGIUM hoped, that the Petition from Manchester, containing se many very inapotientfams, would be referred to intneciiittely. ABOLITION OF•TI4K BLAVE TRADE. Lord CASTIEREAqiyi moved " That the H..., do testily. itself - into a, Conisittee *of ' the hose, to take into consideration the Treaty 'COS* eluded between his Majestrand - the Conrtaf for the Abolition 'flat Slave Trade." -On the Speaker's leaving the Chair, • Lord CASTLEREAGH moved, "That provi sion be made for carrying into emotion the Treaty between his Britanoic Maiesty and his Catholic Me jelly, signed nit the 23d September, 1817, for pre venting the* soliects 'from 'engaging hi any illicit traffic in Slaves."-.4tretoport of thit motion, his Lordship' said, in calling the - attention of the House to she Treaty under consideration, he was desirous 'that it shoold be looked at in reference to the 'Address from the House on the subject; and with • recollection that that has imposed a stronger duty on the house and the country to make every esertion to give effect to their own recommendations. There was no better mode of ex citing the attention of the noon to the ref/elation, of this Convention, than by showing the state of the Abolition at the end of 'last Sessiou t and the change that has since taken place. In reference to AO question of the Abolitiontato distinct questions. arise First, with respect to th taw of Abolilion io general= and secondly, the regulations necessary for carrying into effect the measures _already prottided for the. Abolition. Looking to the first, the state of the lair of Abolition, it most be satlsfactOry to the • A ' .1 ') 9 zAt, I ) • - House to consider the •mmense progres s th at saes been made. All States he tithe' for ma ll y o l isped this inhuman tra ffi c, r engaged to , aka to su es f or that purpose. But though much has beenll one, much remains to be done. What has been done wou ld he found inefficient fur the ends of humanity, unless all States could he prevailed on to bestow their sincere exertions in the suppression of the igfiee s re gie,:__ Towards this an immense stride has been made, by theconceseirme of Spain. to estimating the . e0,,, N . votive efects of the good dispositions of dlffer eet Powers on the Abolition, Spain holds a rank. el. tremely important, not merely from her situationisnd l eztent of territory, but because her unwilling. ness to lend her aid to this pest cause renalekg all former exertions meek's. The House were well aware, that as long as Spain retaiued od a traffic, the subjects of any other European Si ve could pursue the same, under cover of the Spanish the. Considering the emission of Spain geog rep ki, cslly, it his narrowed this traffic to a great eatesn...., She consents to gise rap this traffic, from tire present, in every place north of the tine, and in every pi ece south of the Line in the coarse of 18:10--and et this moment no Slave Trade can - be carried on under the countenance of any European Power, wish the es, ception of Spain and Portugal. Another citcum. sleet* is obvious : by the present arrangements, the Slave Trade is completely excluded from the *hole of the West India Islands, and all places north e( the Equator. By this concession a plain line is drawn between the legal And illegal traffic. At p re . sent the only traffic legal is that .. oath of the fins, and this to continue so only till the 20th May. IRO. He was free to confess that the Powers of Eareee ' have done a great-deal hi this interesting cause, mit if the. Congress of -Vienne possessed no Other claim to the gratitude and recollection of the world, lee as affording the first opportunity for the great Powers coming 'together, and issuing a dreier:ide a against the Slave Trade, since aceeded to by the States that did not then join in it--4t it ftsiely en. titled to the esteem add remembrance of the world, end there is now no State in Europe, great oraman, that has not subscribed this decl intim'. His Lordship, after stating that he believed we were now in the last stage Of prevention, went oo to explain the more and further necessity of entirely checking the existing traffic. He said it was painful, but us. cessary, to state, that in spite of all oar vast ever. lions, there has arisen en the coast .if Africa au ills. gal traffic in Slaves, which gives it a character of greater inhumaisity that' it was before marked byos character necessary from the description of vestols that those engaged in it are cumpelled to resortte. It has been endeavoured to obtain regulations to pre. vent this from the different Powers, and it ought to be declared, that no State is fairly changeable with any of the disgraceful conduct alluded • to. M. mischief has been done ander the flag of France, but Government has found every anxiety on the part d that country to counteroct it. There was not even any necessity to apply to it ; far it was at the same ! moment he first received well.fountled intelligence of these infamous practices, and an application from their functionary here for my advice on iW beat means of potting a stop to them. However, we ought not to assume to be masters of Om administration of this tratic—our right to• search neutral vessels in war, ceases on the return of peace: this remedy canna., be had. unless other States would consent to our retaining this privile.3. What is now required of all countries Is, to take away -the protection of their ,flag from this abominable ttide ; for if it is countenanced or connived' at by any, that flag will be assumed by alt ritiende:s.— With to • view to this, motile, auth••tity is given by the present Contracting Parties to crotaio of their shiprof war to search merchant vessels suspected of having slaves on board. There would, in the outset, lie ef course a natural reluctance, a strong prejudice against grouting this right—and it is due to Portugal to declare, that though she has not agreed to the present Abolition of the . Trade, she was the first Power to yield this right. In 1815, a Treaty with (he( Power was agreed upon, similar to that with Spain, by which our Government engaged to pay-to it 300,0001. in consideration of the sacrifices made, and to enable the King of Portugal to indemnify his so iljeets for the losses sustained by them in the trade. In the exercise of the right described, there was a stipulation 011 the part of Great Britain totbstaia as mach as possible from annoying the commerce Of each Slate. It is a great satisfaction to his .11'11- jelly's Guveromeut tote enabled to declare, that the conditions of Oil l'reaty have been ar proved of by the Portugoise Government, theigh the ratifications have •not yet been received... No search is le be made but by vessels specially ao thori.ed—nia detention, but in the case where slates are actually discovered on board. To give a liberty of detaining en account of intention to trade, would create great trouble, and engender meltitedes of eases of a disputable and questionable nature; it was therefore deemed expedient to narrow the operation Or-the right of detentioo to cases palpable in thee. MI, and to prevent the zeal of each country in Moe:Rash from becoming an annoyance to the other. France etas abolished it in all her own .territories, and .prehibited all her aubjrcts from engaging in it ; . she has moreover, . made the carrying ono( the Ire& a criminal offence. Spain has likewise recognised this principle of rendering the offence .criininal.— Still; however, there will remain a great .protectioa to those sordid and unfeeling enough to-persevere, if thetag of any one Niger will (afford ilmat sh ter. The Hags •of Powers are now flying on the coasts 'of" Africa, who. scarcely ever before lest a ship there on any pretence whatever. With re spect to the regulations necessary to effectuate a retrell purposes of Abolition, he was sure the How sod the euentry will .feel that if the consent to Abolition be important, the law of regulating the measures for Abolition is of ten-fold importance. It is by combined aid regulated exertions of the differest Powers, that their purposes cars be truly effected• and not otherwise; without this the traffic "redid retill.egisti under a •darker and more matignent de stllooll. fin "proViriing for the exercise tit the mutual Aight.tai preveittioti t it'is quite obvious that neither State would consent to their vessels being brought tfefore tribunals of the other, and to conikcatioos so decreed. The result of these conflicting i lifficulties was, that a tribu n al should be coustiiuted of ill:N -• tiduals of bath Fifties, the capto:s and 4:4,,,,uted•