The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-05 00:00:00

NEW ELECTION COMMITTEES.

Yesterday, the General Committee of Elections
met, and nominated the following new committees:
Coss.—Sir J. Y. Buller, chairman ; Mr. Milner Gibson,
Lord Newport, Mr. Crowder, and Sir J. Tyler. The mem-
bers petitioned against are Serjeant Murphy and Mr.
Fagan.
PLTKOUTII.—Mr. Aglionby, chairman; Mr. Glyn, Lord
Chandos, Mr. J. A. Smith, and Mr. Child. The members
petitioned against aro Mr. C. J. Mare and Mr. U. P.
Collier.

—Mr. CHEETHAM would also vote against the bill. He
admitted the sufferings of •the class in question ; bat they
were sufferings which such legislation as this could not
ameliorate.
Col. H. BLAIR would vote for the bill. He had heard
no tangible argument against it.
Mr. MUNTZ had done as much to improve the condition
of the artisan as any man alive. (Laughter.) Hon. gen-
tlemen might laugh : he felt that what he said was
true ; whenever he had to balance his own interests against
those of the working man, he gave his conscience • tura
against himself. (Cheen and laughter.) But he was in a
difficulty about this bill. The people concerned would be
disappointed if it did not pass ; and they would be griev-
ously deceived in what they hoped from it, if it did pass.
(Hear, bear.) Under those circumstances, why not put
the bill in • committee, and see what could really be
done with it, to make it a rational and good bill ?
If the bill were forced to a division, he should vote
against it.
Mr. L. REYWORTH argued that, if it were right to
prevent the owners of stocking frames from receiv-
ing rent for their use, they ought also to take the sane
course with respect to the proprietors of land—that peat
machine by which the different articles of agricultural-we
nufacture were produced. Indeed, there were far moss
stringent reasons for the confiscation of the soil than of
machinery, to which the proposition would amount. In
truth, it was impossible to meddle either with frame-
rent or with wages without giving rise to incalcu-
lable mischiefs; but they might in an indirect way benefit
the frame work-knittera—namely,by passing such measures as
would tend to alleviate the condition of the working classes
generally. They must go on in the glorious course in which
they had already made such progress ; they must make
Wade free, and remit indirect taxation. That this would
prove the most effectual way of attaining the end sought by
the bill, their past experience would show. When he bad
visited the framework-knitters of Derby, five years ago, ho
found their position the most deplorable that could be con-
ceived ; but their present condition was infinitely better.
He should vote against the bill.
Sir H. HALFORD would be happy to refer the Lill to
a select committee, as had been suggested, if the house
would consent to the second reading.
The house then divided—
For the second reading 125
Against it lB6-61
The bill was accordingly thrown out.
COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BILL.
On the motion that this bill he read a third time,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL begged to state the reasons
why he should oppose the measure. When the bill was last
before the house, its object was stated to be only to declare
what was the law i and if that had really been the case he
should not have felt much objection to it. But he found
that it had been so worded as to lead to an entirely dif-
ferent result, for it would completely change the existing
law. By the 6th of Geo. IV., chap. 129, as interpreted and
declared by the late decision in the Court of Queen's Bench, INCREASE.
persons not in employment were allowed to combine for the In the month In the three months
purpose of raising wages; but this bill, if passed, would ending April 5. ending April 6.
legalise all eomhinations of person., whether employed or Cocoa ....lbs. 26.618 .... 72,093
not, and would repeal that important act. It ought also to Coffee ....lbs. 2,103,539 .... 2,795,220
be noticed, that the word " combination" was employed in Wheat....qn. 99,018 .... 434.476
the bill. Now, that was a technical word, and had a strict Flour....cwta. 427,413 .... 629,193
legal definition ; and therefore, if it pawed and legalised Flax ....cwts. 10,041 ' .... 62,44 G
"combinations" eo no,nine, it would give the sanction of Hemp ..cwts. 30,519 .... 36,476
law to every species of illegal society. (Hear, hear.) For Hides ....lbs. 2,304,729 .... 1,968,302
these reasons he begged to move that the bill be read that Silk lbs. 302,298 .... 795,372
day six months. Cotton ..cwts. 702,316 .... 871,031
Mr. G. BUTT seconded the amendment. There was Wool lbs. 2,553.590 ... 3,665,179
no doubt as to the state of the law, and the bill was quite Every one of these is an item of great importance •,
unnecessary. In the case which had been referred to the and they show that the community has more foode and
parties had been indicted, not for meeting to discuss and
settle the rate of wages, but for taking measures for induc- more refreshment, and more materials for employ-
ing persons who were in the employ of other manufacturers ment and for producing wealth this year than the
to.quit their employment. It was in short aMe of con- last. The facts are the more gratifying, inasmuch as
.piracy to induce parties by improper means, and for an there have been apprehensions that our supplies of
improper object, to quit the service of their employers. food would be curtailed and the supplies of the raw
Mr. Justice Erle had therefore told the jury that it was a
fallacy to suppose that men could be allowed to combine, materials fall short. But the supplies of corn and
for the purpose of inducing men who were already in em- flour increase with our wants; and the supplies of
ployment to quit the service of their masters, for the par- wool and cotton, particularly of the latter,are greater
pose of compelling them to raise their wages. That was than were expected. The ships from Australia, too,
the law, and it was quite en error to suppose that there had are now beginning to find their way home,
been any conflicting decisions,eitber by judges or by courts,
generany bringing some wool ; and
as was stated in the preamble of the bill. It each
was said that the Lord Chancellor, when Baron Rolfe, the dread of a failure of supply of this
had put an interpretation upon the 3rd clause differing important article from that quarter seems at an end.
from that of Mr. Justice Erle, for he had said that work- The price of wool is indeed unusually high, but that
men might meet to consult as to their wages, whether they r. more the consequence of the rapid progress of tho
were out of employment or not ; but Baron Rolfe had not
manufacture having exhausted the supply of home
decided that if they so met and consulted as to induce
other workmen to leave their master's employment, and growth than from any actual falling off in the supply
thus to compel him to raise their wages, it would not be an from Australia. It is extremely gratifying also to
illegal combination. He considered, therefore, that it would notice the large increase in the import of hides, as
be most unwise to paw& an act declaring that there were the supply last year was short, and the price is now
doubts as to the meaning of the act when in point of fact
from 20 to 30 per cent. higher than last May.
there were none.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND said that if the hon. and learned The large increase in the supply of cotton, too, is
gentleman had been in the house when this bill was last worthy of notice. Our cotton manufacture increases
before it be would not have asserted that there were no so fast that it is very natural some apprehension
doubts on the subject, for the Attorney-General bail then should be entertained by. those who do
stated one thing and tt e Solicitor-General now said directly not witness the increase in the production
the opposite. (A laugh.) It was no doubt very great
raw material that the demand may
amusement to learned counsel to discuss this matter, but of the
there had been some half dozen poor people who outrun the supply. Many look with some anxiety
had had to pay 3,0001. while they (the lawyers) to other sources of supply than those at pre.
settled the law. (Hear, hear.) Oa a former occa- sent open, and incite the Government to promote the
siun the 'Attorney-General stated the bill would be cultivation of cotton in India. As yet, however,
mere surplusage, but now the Solicitor-General said it
there has been no scarcity, and the alarm is as great
was not what It had been represented to be, and that it
would change the law. It was, however, nothing more in the United States that the supply will be too
than a declaratory measure, and if the Attorney-General or abundant, as it is here that the supply will be short.
any other gentleman would draw a better bill for that par- Some of the journals of the southern states are filled
pose, the promoters of the present one would willingly with complaints of the redundancy of the produce,
accept it at his hands. All they wanted was to pacify the
people, and to let them know what was really the law. and the lowness of the price. Two or three Conven-
(Hear, hear.) tiers of planters have been held with a view to esta-
Viscount PALMERSTON should certainly object to the blish cotton manufactories in the south, for the put,
bill, because, in the first place although the Attorney- pose of increasing the consumption of cotton, and
General had inadvertently omitted to more that it be read keeping up its price. To turn their slaves to other
a second time that day six months, the sense of the house labour is not easy. Slaves cannot learn new arts
had already been very fully taken upon it. He had a very
free men, and can only cultivate the
great objection to the bill, also, on the ground that it was like
nos a declaratory measure, but one that would tend sub- ground in the rude manner they have been accus-
stantialy to repeal the 3rd clause of the 6th of George IV., tomer! to. The slave-owners are compelled, there-
which protected such workmen as were willing and desirous fore, to continue and to extend the cultivation of
of working from the threats and intimidation of other cotton. In consequence the quantity is increasing
parties who might wish them to desist. They all
ear by year, and the phinters in the United States
knew it often happened that while there were men Y
who were able to abstain from work, there were others in , complain bitterlj of the increased quantity produced
great distress who would gladly accept employment in order
,1' and the deterioration of the price. We are reminded
to obtain the mesas of providing for their families ; and the !of these facts by the large increase in the quantity
object of the third clause was to prevent the former clams imported in the present year, and such facts are worth
from preventing them, whether by threats and intimidation 1
or by other improper inducements, from accepting work it .remembering to allay the apprehension sometimes
they chose so to do. He certainly could not consent to re , expressed lest the supply of cotton should fall short.
peal so important an enactment. 1 Our exports have kept on increasing like our im-
Mr. M. CHAMBERS expressed his astonishment at the ports, or have grown even faster. The increase
coarse which hid been taken by the government—the At- in the declared value of the exports in February,
torucy-General objecting to the clause one day because it
was simply unnemseery, and the Solicitor-General to-day : 1853, over that of February, 1852, was 919,097/.,
aeddeuly changing the ground of opposition, and arguing which was thought a large sum ; but the increase in
that it would change the law. He certainly could not as- March is no less than 1,486,8181. above the value of
sent to the doctrine that there was iso contrariety between
the decieions of Baron Rolfe and Mr. Justice E the exports in March, 1852 ; and the increase in the
for while Baron Italie asserted that workmen three months of 1853 above the declared value of the
might met t and determine what steps to take . exports in the first three months of 1852—a rospe-
with regard to their wages, and even persuade othersto fol- ' roue year—is no less than 3,815,97,5/. 11 nth the
low their example, provided only that they did so in a exception of alkali, candles, coals, cotton manufac-
peaceable manner, Mr. Justice Erie stated that if they '
at-
tares, window glass, unwrought leather, linen yarn,
tempted to advise other men what to do, it was an overt act i •
ng iron copper, silk twist, refined sugar, wool,
and au indiciable offence. But whether the privilege was i
en old One, or whether it would be new, he contended that woollens re entered by the yard,—the incase in
it ought to be conceded to the working classes. They ought
the exports is general, and in most casts
to he able, if they pleased, to meet and say to each other, there us
" Trade is flourishing, and our employers are making vast an increase in quantity as well
In the case of cotton manufactures,
profits, while we are overworked. What, thee, can we do •
as value.
to mend our position?" The bill would only place window glass, pig iron, linen yarn, and some others,
a proper construction on the statute of George IV., and there is an increase in the value, while the quantities
would in nowise alter or repeal the common law, ' have decreased. The increase is very considerable in
mid. r WlllOl au indictment for compiraty would
Thew oraioa el leafs weee 1110dt QIIIIIi.US to obey the
'till lie. ' beer, cotton lave, cotton yarn, saddlery and harness,
law it linens, MRCIIIIWIN, bar iron, wrought troll, in most of
they c ,o 1 I only make out what it was, and he thought
the metals, in silk, and in woollen manufactures.
their very reasonable request that it should be plainly 1 ' •
stated to thi m should be complied with. (Hear, hear.) All our great Industries share in the growth, and
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, also complained of the winner in nearly all appear to be alike flourishing.

DUBLIN.—It is stated that in this cue the petition against
the return of Mr. Grogan and Mr. Vance is withdrawn,
after the committee was nominated by the general com-
mittee. The members appointed on it were, Sir J. V.
Huller, Mr. Halsey, Lord Shelburne, Mr. H. Smith, and
Sir J. 11.'Taggart.

the eroreoo.