The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-30 00:00:00

MEETING OF CALTON WEAVERS.

I From the Glasgow Chronirk of Tunday.l
Yesterday an Aggregate Meeting of the Associated waren tif
Calton, was held in the Relief Meeting-house, in this Borough.
Mr. Jones Artlinsteow. of James-atreet, *as celled to the
Chair, and opened the Meeting by saying. that it was with feelings
the highest interest that he rote to address SO numerous and re-
spectable a body of his fellovronsdeenten. The object of the Meet-
ing was one of the first impotence, and demanded their most @c-
rimes attention. The object *es to impress upon the minds of all
the members of the Association the necessity of standing firmly
by, and strictly adhering to, the articles which they had agreed to.
In comparing the situation in which they were now placm.l, with
that in which they stood about twelve months ngo,the contrast was
striking indeed. For a long time their suffloings were unparalleled
in the atonal, of civilised society. They durst do nothing to better
their canatlitiosn. 'rite combination hoes, like magic spell, bound
them down to horrid misery. fly taking advantage of these partial
and disgraceful acts, the-moues reduced their wages to the merest
pittance which human nature could bear. It was then no uncono-
mon thing to see stuck upon the corners of the walls, in all parts
of the country, handbills offering three napkins for one penny.
These bills they looked to with regret, and as so many indications
of their own degradation; but they could not help it, though
it went to lower them in the estimation of a better provided
lie hoped these dark clouds were now dispelled, and that a bettor
day was about to dawn. l'he combination laws were now abets:
gated, and their prospects were widely different. Let them avail
themselves of this boost of the Legislature, and free themselves
trona that reproach, contempt, and misery, which is ever consequent
upon poverty. Let them hmily act upon the principles which they
lad laid down—let their proceedings be open, free, and candid. Let
them persevere, for what would ate public think of them if they
should, after tile public profession of principle which they had
made, like a host of unorganized savages, basely fly at the first
brush of opptoition? No, they would not desert the path shich
honour, virtue, mid interest, all equally point out. By acting eau-
*Musty and firmly. upon fair, legal, mod constitutional principles,
they would be aisle to convince bath their friends and their enemies
that they were warthy of those high privileges which the I.egisla.
lure had so recently bestowed, and could nut fail eventually to bet-
ter their condition. (Oreat applause.)
111 r. Jour 31`ftrill said, that during the war the weevers had
experienced a variety of fortunes. Owing to circumstances their
wages were wintetinies high, anti sometimes reduced to the veriest
pittance. They were then taught in the midst nt their sufferings,
that all their distresses wire owing to the war, and that if peace
should revisit our shores, the bleminge attendant on a state of tran-
quillity would naturally hollow. to this they were sally disap-
pointed, and the gi%cn was, that the sudden transition front
war to peace had thrown all COMIllaTe into confusion. Whets that
cuckoo song would nu longer du to mislead them, they were told
that their sufferings were the result of a competition of manufac-
turers. When they complaineol to their employers, they lamented
their state, but declared dint they could not help them. The
weavers wire too numerous, and tooter only hope was in a reduction
at their numbers. 'That cure lay in their own hands; it was in
their own !sower its render it mote difficult to attain the trade. But
this was not the ease, as the combination laws were then in force,
and by taking any steps to effect this purpose they were liable
to he thrown into prison at the will of every petty tymait
who chose to put those grinding statutes into operation. At
the time the Association was begun, the wages were on
the point of being reduced. While other mechanics were
making front 2111. to :19e. a week, weatenteould only earu front
to 9s. Weavers considered it a benefit to leave their Loins and be-
come scavengers, that is, Sikes:pets of the streets. lie had seen se-
vetel in that employment, mod was *wry to think that men who had
served an apprenticeship to a regaia trade, should be reduced to
such a situation. Labour is the tirst cominiudity in a country, and
it was proper that they should put a fair value on the only erni•
'moodily they had at their disposal. If they continued firmly united,
they had only to will it, and it would be done. They would regain
that respectability which they possesses! tweary years ago, and be-
: conic again litchi:et class of tradesmen in Illasigow. ( Applause.)
Mr. 1)fr: ssr s: said, the weavers could not beltr their circuit],
stances without enhancing the profits of their employers. A striking
proof of this waa sou just now with the muter colliers. The off-
' ratters, to be sure, had got their wages raised a little, butt they bad
I got nothing like the sum that had been put on the mile. Ile
I strongly deprecated the howl weft trade, which he considered as
highly prejudicisl to both operetiveand manufacturer ; and was pro-
ceeding with a number of oloseerationt which the Meeting con-
sidered irrelevant, and. being galled on thorn various qttartent to
" conic to the point," lie eat down, declaring he was done when be
was interru total.
Mr. J. II kuvrir said, as an individual having the welfare ot
the Association at beset, belpg conscious of its utility, and expect-
ing, in morels of time, ell lite benefited by it. he could not help
making 3 few observations up% It. Ile cosogratullitedahe Meeting on
the repeal of the combination laws—Huse 'woeful restrictions
which had GO lorg fettered the operative community and deprived
then, of the means of exercieing the faculties of their minds and the
powers of their bodies to their own advantage, snit were progres-
sively reducing them to estate of abject poverty, misery, and crime.
Never had a poor man a mine favourable opportunity of raising
himself front a state of supineness and degradation, and why should
it be neglected ? I%'hy should he be backward in bringing his ener-
gies into exercise along with those of his fellow-tradesmen ? But a
short time heel elapsed since they rose in the morning and lay
down at night without a hop* of ever being better. when many
sighed for means to waft them from the land of their nativity, to
climes where better promises were held out. But now they had a
standard round which they might rally, anti by mothering to it they
in R short time might take their proper station in the world as it:-
telligent and deserving operatives. Ile had heard older and better
informed men than himself declare that ail the dephosions which
hare taken plsce since 1793 might have been in a great lIIVISUre
prevented by such a lemon as wu at present under contemplation.
There was one cause which &mooted in a powerful manner against
them. Many acted as if they invited their torighbours to take their
trade from diem, by the easy terms in which apprentices were admit-
ted. he would ask, has been the conseipence ? Let the
number of idle fellows at the corners of the streets hear witness !--
let the calendar of public crimes bear witness ! Only comeatplate
the boy of fourteen years of age told that he is a moin. • tree man,
and that he is his own toaster--a piece of education shich has de.
strayed the mown!' of thousands, rendering client useless to them_
salve', and a grief to all with whom they were emineeted. In
short, he continued, if our trade is in may way beneficial to the coun-
try, to ourselves, and to our posterity, the best way of preserving
it is to have good wielimen, and dose can only he procured by
well-regulated apprenticeships. Ile concluded by strongly TCCO4II.
mending them to adhere firmly to the rules of the Asoweistion.
Mr. 1.1.11.1. A "I strongly deprecated those who censured or mo.
Intel soy individuals who differed from dtea respecting the etti.
lily of the Association. a stone was dooms into a weaver's
window, the cry rose. •"rhere's your pretty Assoeiation now :•'
such emiduct was disgraceful, and he begged them to distuuate-
naloce it to the utmost of their power.
. . . .

ltlr. Et a: said. he really believed that i: was not the wish
of the manufacturers at large that their wages should he so far
reduced. Fitr upward. of twenty years all the wealth hail bren
going to oar side, and all the poverty to the otlit-r t all tile money
palmed into the hands of the few. and all the poverty fell to the bit
of the many. At the villas arose round Glasgow. it was a melan-
choly reflection that the pawnbmkery' shops hal multiplied and
been Riled. Now they had some chance of relief; for he was con.
vineed that lioveniment, in repealing the co:ubination laws, in.
tended that the operatives should thereby better their condition.
lie thoaght the manufacturers would be also benefited by the can.
hination, as they would lir prevented from underselling; each other.
Ile would instance tliecotumapinners, who, even during the exist.

ence of the cumbinstitin laws,rhail ganited — lunation,
which kept the wages of the operatives on ale o rl. sometime, the
'nesters pretended to be Milli 10t5.% to put it down but it was all •
feint; as it was the great bulwark behind which they sheltered
themselves from all attempts on the part of un► of their hotly to
undersell the rest. lle concluded b► recto 1111 l ending the under-
workers in the cotton works to the charity or the meeting.
A resolution was then moved and carried unanimously. that the
Meeting are determined to continue to adhere strictly to the rule s of
the Association.

It was then ittee,Nl that a vote of thanks be given to the Legisla.
tore for the repeal of the combination laws.
One of the meeting thought that the vote should be put into
the neospapero. that it might be seen they were not unthankful,
ungrateful. disatfected beings, displeased with everlthing
vernment dnl, as their enemies had represented them. (Applause.)
The inot..tri was earned with acclamation, as was also a vote of
thanks to Mesons. Ilume, Iluskisson. and Moore. for their active
exertions in pr erring the repeal of the combination law..
Thanks were then given to the managers of the Meeting-house
for aft ...Ming thrust Remount...lotion ; to the l'ommittee for calling the
ntertiog ; and to the President, tot hi. impartial conduct in the
chair, and the meeting 'rpm:sled about nine u'elocl..

, • • • - • mows. • •••• U men T woe of men ventured
port the true euuseqii,uee cethuwitttt of the Clergy. histrivo Ot TWT C•SDITORS OW MASON STRAWS:I', down, and front fifteen to twenty 111 l leg 111.1 alivfied•
(: wrgrilL-A lade tube. which, in the of nualerr;
.11ra• they never cling to the statute and ileereo of rsc N
NOV, AND (.O.—A third meetius of the creditors that he was rot out, hut it visa unfortunately too late;
he
manse. aeons in have the power a re.rhou,..,,A U. parental news.
,-iry
1.1 1 XVIII ,or penult its uti.cetil to destroy our venera- of this firm took piece last evening, as the Court of the was dead. is body now awaits the l7oroittn's inept ,t t 3..
have been ronvt vtil to rile r*
the hrsi Church; but ht I I e '•'of II k Ita "aghall-st eet • ob- morrow. Th ofh
tom for *sift- 1 lel rat ret such pro- oniniihsioners rupts in et r , no ti the w• ho endenviutrni t Sava
Grapt.-Natutio battle, which
Cro•tdottier't 11.-siew. thethereirtiasl
v 5...,
ingenuity
of
man
vision he math. as is consistent to support its character and jest of which was for the proof of debts. As the great pro- Smith have lortfereti bit! strong hoes at erne,. -
not ontrequently morass into Pandora
in
welfare. and at the same time be equitable towsids the potion of ereilitori hstl ittentieal the two previous gaming, 'lined of their recovery ; they G,ovr.- The put throug:t which we pass from the visible to
the intieiht• world. isre,,re
au:h inrialtioncra, Yours, for that initpos,. but few proofs were exhibited On 'lli. 0:- regPrefiSC wlllTo el,..ty attention born pi,' to -•
Gft.s.4ttrtet motet.-Tbo poot.t.ai rams
-X PSI TNT TO Tilt: EISASLISMEW Citt:eCl!. IvAvilli:SS the mettittgrouniton:c.t si 7, stul their coo-, bt- direztio:ts •-•- r
',nicht laud be rte ants, aryl reviled . o. the f•
wrote bsekh L". the SC"' • Octolivr .i 9, IS`S. WAS over by o clock. Vi oika.
upen OW-1 WIWI&

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