The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26. 1

men themselves. These men have no earthly ground
of complaint against the North Western Oompan,y,
other than this senseless one; yet; becaall, dray
cannot have their own way, they, like spilt
shildren, turn sulky, conspire in their sulkiates,
imd
twelve, in so far as in them Tier, to interrupt all
bade and intercourse Opitwien London at I,a-
-...hire.
The engine drivers on the southern division of the
North Western hue have, it seems, adopted the griev-
ances of their fellow-workmen on the northern division,
without the same inducement ; aid although they ad-
mit that they have nothing to complain of, they have
determined "not to stand by and see the rights of their
fellow-men encroached upon." And worse than all;
the dismissed engine-drivers of the Eastern Counties
Railway interpose in the affairs of the North Western,
and assure its workmen that should they strike, their
employers need not look to the discharged ser-
vants of the Eastern Counties, half starving though
lay be. Before this combination of their servants,
alloying excellent wi•es, and having collateral
vantages furnished them by their masters, such
as are not known to any other body of werkpeople
be the kingdom, the North-Western directors have
been obliged to notify that should it be pushed to
sixtremi!ies," a veiy considerable reduction of passen-
ger trains may be temporarily made on the line."
This is a very pitiable spectacle. Whether under
any circumstances workmen are justifiable in c•mbin-
leg to kelp up or raise wages is a question on which
difference of opinion exists; though, perhaps, the
very highest morality that could be appealed to, viz.,
" to do unto others as we would they should do unto
us," would decide it against any such right of com-
bination. But, for all practical purposes, these com-
binations are either ineffectual or tyrannical. For,
as wages are regulated by the supply of workmen and
the demand of masters, combinations of the former can
only permanently keep up wages by restricting the
number of hands in the particular trade that com-
bines, or, in other words, by a monopoly which would
inflict injustice on workpeople generally, by denying
to them the right of vending their labour freely.
Combinations of labourers to keep up wages mast
there'ore, as a general rule, either be unsuccessful, or
their success can only be permanently based on acts
of the grossest tyranny. Their very success would
thus require the interposition of the law to repress
their tyranny.
But engine-drivers can enjoy high wages without
any such combination or tyranny ; they are few in
number, the demand is great ; their wages are con-
sequently high and their comforts considerable. If
ever, then, there was a trade in which combinations
would, even were success possible, be needless and
foolish, it is their trade at present. Combinations
exist however in it ; and, having no legitimate object
on which to concentrate their ac ion, they find vent
in unadulterated mischief, springing out of unpro-
voked susceptibilities, unnecessary jealousies, and
unjustifiable apprehensions.
How often is it necessary to point oat that the
masters have not the power, of their own mere mo-
tivis, to reduce the men's wages ; and that when
the masters have the power, combinations cannot long
or permanently suspend or restrain itsexercise. The very
announcement of a reduction of trains proves that the
men have in this case greater power than the masters.
The North Western directors are preparing to endure
the pecuniary consequences of the threatened strike
Why? Because they cannot get hands to supply those
about to leave-. If they could, they would then be in
• position to lower wages; but not being in that po-
sition, they choose to endure every inconvenience and
' loss rather than to submit to the veriest tyranny ever
resorted to by workmen spoiled by good work and
good masters.
But have not engine-drivers a mural and a legal
right to refuse to give three months' notice to quit
their employment? Certainly they have. But each
in his individu capacity only. The North Western
Company does not enter into contracts with its ser-
vants as a great corporation aggregate; it knows
nothing of them in that character ; it can recognise
no union of them without ignoring freedom of labour
and disregarding distinctions between the efficient
and inefficient workman. It deals with, engages and

paja each man separately, distinctly, and apart from
all his fellow servants; it is fM individual strength,
skill, and work that it renders wsges to indi-
viduals; it has nothing to do with clubs or
confederacies or conspiracies of workpeople. While
I then each individual engine driver has a right to
I decline to be subjected to any pirtirular terms in the
contract prorised fur his adoption; for all the engine
drivers on the line to unite and threaten to strike
because a portion of them, in a corporate capacity.
object to a three months' notice, amounts to such a
conspiracy as reither the North Western directors
nor their customers, the public, can or will submit to.
It is a tyrannical nuisance that must be abated at
once and for ever : not less for the sake of the con-
spirators than for the general interests of the corn•
=unity.
It becomes, then, the passengers and traffic cus-
tomers of the North Western Railway to stand by and
to support that company, should its er gine drivers
persi.t in their folly and wickedness. Any amount
of inconvenience ought to be suffered, rather than
yield to pretensions so tyrannical, and to combinations
so unnecessary. And if workpeople will act so un-
justifiably to their employers, they mast be prepared
ter new laws to meet new emergencies.
Whilst, however, inviting the public to support the
North Western Company, we must again insist on
the neessAry that this affair establishes for railway
directors losing no opportunity of rearing up and
educating a large supply of engine-drivers, for it is
only by the supply ex. ceding the &mind that the e
strikes and this tyranny can bet ffectually repressed.

IT is difficult to conceive why the Austrian govern-
ment, which is m the habit of keeping its doings and
writings so exclusively sealed up, should have pub•
listed its oorreepondence with the British Secretaries
of State on the subject of the assault upon Marshal
HAYNAU. The correspondence renders pretty evident
what was the public feeling in this country respect-
ing what Priam SCUWARZCNSERO justly calls that
" celebrated" commander. It is clear that he had but
to show his face, and announie his name in any
spot where Englishmen cmgregate, in order to receive
from them full demon.tra•ions of their feeling
towards the butcher of the Hungarian generals, who
surrendered to him, and the flogger of the Hungarian
women who were true to the national cause. The
correspondence must reveal, even through the cour-
teous and covert language of a secretary of state, that
no minister in this country, and co attorney-general,
dont have instituted a prosecution, which would have
raised the voice of the public opinion against it,
and that no jury could have been found to
convict. Marshal HAYNAU brief as had been

his sojourn in London, saw putty clearly
what war the force and current of opinion, aed also
saw the utter absurdity of seeking to resist or stem
it. Like a wise man, therefore, he refused to identify
cry of those who mobbed him, and resolved to take
himself off, and have no more dealings or sojourn-
ing, amidst a free people.
Prince SCHWARZLNDERG by no means displays the
same amount of sense, although he was so long a re-
sident amongst us, and made such an ample experi-
MOO of English life as to have been the principal
personage in a celebrated trial for criminal con-
variation. He, fix", took himself off to escape
payment of damages, so that he is in the position of
one invokinf, in behalf of Marshal H•TNAU that
English justice, which he showed such particular ob-
jection to pay the award of in his own person.
It is not unamusing to perceive in Prince &swan-
SEWBERG'S first despatch the self-same argument and
assumption which appeared in the first leading
article of the Tines on that subject. The two
documents are, in fact, completely identical, both
attributing the onslaught of the brewers' men upon
HsrtcAU to a deep-laid conspiraey, concocted by men
who kept themselves in the back-ground, and moving
their puppets by wires. The impossibility of supposing,
that honest Englishmen and brewers could be moved
to any indignation on the subject of the atrocities in
Hungary unless they were paid for it, is a sentiment'
so peculiarly belonging to the nines, that the illus-
trious Prime Minister could certainly not have gleaned
it from any other source. And having established this
portentous fact upon such irrefragabie authority, the
Austrian of course proceeds to insist on a grand in-
quest. A drum-head court-martial would have suited
best. But this was impossible. So the brewers
were at least to be indin'ed for treason, and less
than their decapitation would evidently not have sa-
tisfied the Austrian autocrat.

Illitebstorisa—.7(piicts, however, are not believed
amongst us. The passions which invent them, and the

vengeance they call tor, aro alike impossible. English-
men don't conspire. , And when tier working and, ,
populist claim% do feel. • great interest in foreign
polks'its they have done lithe affairs of Hungary,
is is tees the political question which moves them, than
deeds which outrage humanity. The Elliott public
has no doubt swag opinions on the subject of free-
dom re despotism, oonaritwional or non-constitutional
government ; but it avid never mob a foreigner or exe-
crate him for being either • democrat or •courtier. It is
the wholesale murders they abhor, the administration
of the know. to women, the stringir g up to the gal-
lows tree of some score of brave generals, guilty of
no crime save that of defetding the traditional inde-
pendence of their country. It is not as • politician
that General Mixtratt underwent the stern treatment
of English execration ; it was as a monster. And
we are glad to see that the whole story of the cue
has been permitted to penetrate to the perception of
the Austrian public.
Prince ScHeisarerensao winds op his puerile and
captious correspondence by a trait worthy of him.
He threatens retaliation. This must mein, that if
any Englishman visits Vienna, and gets ill-treated,
he shall have no redresr. Now, since Prince -....farawan-
ZENBERO imagines, that the ill-treatment of HATNAII
was instigated, his myrmidons may no doubt be insti-
gated to ill-treatment of any Englishman in the streets
of Vienna. And Englishmen in such a case would no
doubt apply to the magistrates and the courts of law.
All these, however, he would find in c unpiete depend-
ence on the government, which has announced before-
hand that it will prevent redress being given. English
gentlemen, therefore, of constitutional opinions, how-
ever they may travel with safety in Turkey,
and even in Russia, had better beware how they visit
Austris, whilst it rem oine under the vindictive tyranny
of Prince SCHWARZANBERO. It is there not the mob
which threatens, but the minister; and the minister
can keep his word. Trio Prince ought, we should
think, to be satisfied with his revenge. For if we
have shown disapprobation of Marshal HATNAtt,
• Austria has retaliated by sending us Cardinal WISE-
, MAN.

GERMANY.

[TZLIORAPRIC DISPATCH sal

DRESDEN, MONDAY BVECINO, Die 23.
The Conferences hare been opened in the Buhl
Palace, by Prince Schwarzenberg, who is as yet the
sole represen.alse of Austri.t. Frauds is represented
by M. Manteuffel and Count Alvensleben. Hesse,
Mecklenburgh•Bcbwerin, Oldennurg, and the small
states had no representatives to-day.

Dec. 24

This mornin,z, at 10 o'clock, the Conference met for
the verification of powers. The next sitting will take
place the day after to-morrow. In the opening sit-
ting of yesterday, Prince Schwarzeoberg, M. Man-
teuffel, and M. von Bend expressed their hopes for
the maintenance of peaco and harmony. M. von der
Pfordten announced at once the demand of &saris
for the representation of the German people in the
B uod.

On the 21st at noon, the following plenipotentiaries
had arrived :—Herr Smidt, Iron Bremen ; Herr
Brehmer, from Lubeck ; Hrrr It der, from Schwarz-
burg-Radoistadr ; Cour eellor Chop, from Schwarz-
burg Sandershausen • Herren Schlrinitz and Liebe,
from Brunswick; and Herr Wechmar, from Mein-
ingen.

We learn from Berlin that M. Von der Heydt, the
Minister of Commeroe, was about to resign. Baron
Dormberg, the El. ctor of Hesse's agent at the Prussian
court, bad arrived at Berlin.
In Hesse the national guard have been required to
deliver up their arms voluntarily, to prevent the
necessity of compulsion. After a consultation with
their commandant, the guard refused to comply
with the requ:sition. The editors of the two po-
litical papers had made their escape out of
the town. Count Leiningen and General Peocker,
having extorted a provisional submit:a:on from
the Hessian authorities as representatives of
all the Orman states, now issue their edicts
in the came of the Diet alone. Count Leiningen
insists at present that the ordinances of September
should not only be submitted to, but aeknowl.dgrdes
legal and constitutional. This has occasioned more
resignations, and has brought the Court sf Appeal
again iato negotiation with the C )mm'saioners.
The despatch respecting the lorgeditsche corps,
alluded to yesterday, is not mentioned in to-day's
Frankfort papers. Perhaps it was merely intended to
act as a menace to the Danes. It must not be
forgotten that the despatch did not speak of a march-
ing order, but only of an order to be in readiness to
march.

CASSEL. Dsc._22

At this moment the "Diet's" troops are marching,
to the number of 6,000, into our city, by 'he Leipsic
gate. There are Austrian charseure, Bavarian light
horse, and Bavarian infantry and artillery. Of the
Prussian troops, but a very small remnant remains
among u,---)ne battalion of the 13th infantry regi-
ment and another of the 7th chewers. To hinder
any no-sib's collision between the Prussians and the
Diet's troop, the farmer are queered in the Upper
New-town and the latt r in the Lower New-town.
(By a telegraphic despatch, of the 23rd instant,
which has just reached us, we learn that the Bare-
Irians on that day left Cas el.)
The Elector, it is said, arrived yesterday at Wabern.
FRANKFORT, Dn. 23
The news of Hassenpflug's appointment as pkni-
piventiary at the Conferences was erroneous. M.
Beombach goes to Dresden, ',loath Hassenpflug is
to have the honour of accompanying the Elector on
his return to Cassel. The ez•mioistcr Dungern, and
not M. Wintzengerode, is to go to Dresden for
Mumma

MUNICH.thre. 20.

It is said that Von der Pfortden will, at er the opening
of the Conferences, be relieved by Count Armansperg.
If this report be true, and we are to judge from the
antecedent politice of M. A-mtneporg, the policy of
Bavaria, both home and foreign, must have undergone
a change quite unexpected.

RENDSBURG, Dic. 21.

The 7th battalion yesterday morning met with a
reverse at Msnenthal. Our whole loss amounts to
seven men, flys taken and two killed. On the Danish
side an officer was killed.

Beaux, Dec. 24.—Volontary Lose, 1041 ; New Loan,
Four-led-a-Hoff per Cents , 981 ; National Debt, 831 ;
Commercial Mules Society's Freedom, 120; Bask
Bbarer,94.

Vierrtre, Deo. 271.—Fin per Cent. Dietariquei, 931;
Four and-a-Half per Crate., 811. Bank /inert,. 1112.
Exchange on Leaden. 12.34.

FRANCE.

PARIS, TUMIDLY EVRNING.
The principal business before the Assembly to-day
was with respect to the interpellations announced by
M. Sevaistre to the Nlioister of War. Tnese inter-
pellations have reference to the adjudication of the
last contract of cloth for the use of the army—an ad-
judication which was contrived in such a manner
that all real competition was destroyed, and the
interests of the manufacturers of the north were sacri-
ficed, according to M. Sevairre, to those of the ma-
nufacturers of the south of France. M. &Tabour,
in bringing the subject forward, complained—though
in very moderate and becoming langlisge—of this
disloyal partiality. The Minister of War, in replying
to this charge, reminded the house the contract was
entered into, not by him, but by h.s predecessor; and
'that if he had wished to annul it he could not have
done so, uit was a fail accompli. He then went on
to deems that the Assembly might be assured that
henceforth the government would allow all France to
compete, and that the operation would be carried on
with the greatest impartiality.
After a long discussion in which M. Dupre. M.
Bourdon, M. Vernhette, M. Randolog, and M. Emile
Leroux were heard, the following order of the day
was moved:—" The Assembly, convinced that free
competition is the best guarantee for the interests of
the treasury trusts to the solicitude of the Minister
of War, to apply it with firmness acd impartiality."
It was then moved as an amendment that the order
of the day per ei simple should be adopted, which was
carried by a majority of 346 to 301.
Some unimportant bills were then pa,eed,: after
which the assembly adjourned.
The President of the Republic received the com-
mittee appointed to examine and report on the system
of education in the Boole Polytechnique. The
report, which is drawn up by M. Leverrier,
was delivered by that gentleman to the President
The Alba, affair came on to-day before the Court of
Correction police. A great number of witnessee ap-

peered and the cue is likely to last several days.
Mists was pale and depreseect. The evidence of M.
Yon was long and embarrassed. Th• •coart was very
severe on M. Yon. and remarked that when a witness
was dispose:l to till the traih he was in general less
prolix and more decided than he appeared to be.
Rumours of a change of ministry are current to-
day, but they do not appear to rest on any good
foundation.
WlDNZatila Ella' IMO.
Christmas being observed as a holiday, and the
Assembly, the B3urse, and all the public offioes being
closed, politics are at a stand-still, and the Parisian
public devote the lay to their devotions.
At the Passage de I'Opera a few speculators assem-
bled (notwithstanding the orders to the contrary
given by the prefect of police), but scarcely any
business was done. The Five per Cents. were at
95 fr. 75c.
The trial of Allah yesterday, after the hearing of
a great number of witnesses, was adjourned over
Christmas-day till to-morrow (Thursday).
The Afoniteur announces that the adjudication of
the new French loan of two millions of mites (which
failed on Monday last) has been flied by the minister
of finances for the 31st instant.
BOURSE.

ror AOCOLLDL.
PARIB, Dion 14. For
Money . 'Opening Highest. Lowest. Claims
----.-- --- -- -- —.
3 per Cents. ....... .... 37 70 37 30 37 70 37 33 37 60
5 per Cents—
-1 do. Nam Loan_ „ or
Npar cants..
I per Crate7ll 73
racoons* on Loom, t at dub; 24 82i ;"9n days,9o 34 70. "
srOgou.,- S, 1860
De. 3, 1842 -
Do. 44 ...... " Ditto, d 0.... 1330 781 „
Do. 24 MS „ Treasury Bonds 4 "
Piedmont 3 parCenta. 94 60 „ Bank Shares 7333
Bonus —Bt. Germain, 422 60; Versailles (right bank),
168 75 ; ditto (lett honk), 168 76; Paris and Orleans, 860;
Paris and Bourn, 690; Routh and Havre, 27260; Marseilles
sad Avignon, 196; Strasbourg and Bale, 137 60; Centre
("Pierson), 410; Boulogne and Amiens, 226; Orleans and
Bordeaux, 407 60; North, 483 75; Paris and Strasbourg,
360; Tours and Nantes, 252 60; Montereau and Tropes,
96; Dieppe and Fecamp. 190.

MADRID, Dsc. 18,—Three per Cents., 35& Four per
Cents., —. Five per Cents., 12i. Coupons, 61. Pas,
cites, 31 cub. Bank of Bas Fernando, 92; paper. Ex-
change on London. 6046.

ITALY.

ROMAN STATES

Oar Roman corn epondent, writing on the 14th
December,givrs tie result of M. Cal's interview with
Cardinal Antomi:li on the 10th, respecting the closure
of the protestant chapel, and the determination of his
holiness to allow it to remain open. Our correspond-
/tit mentions the fact of Prince Schwarzenburg's
having addressed strong remonstrances to the papal
government on its present policy. Cardinal Antonelli
was complaining of the expense of the Austrian forces
in the legations. The French were to occupy the
Castle of St. Angelo entirely on the let January,lBM.
A government edict appeared cn the 13th, fixing the
rates at which professional men were to be taxed.
Signor Piccioni had been absolved by the coneulta
tribacal, but reserved for that of the police. Prince
Sciarra Colonna was mentioned as the new senator.
Mr. Gibson was beginning the statue of Queen
Victoria for the House of Lords.