The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-01 00:00:00

NATIONAL CONVENTON.

The Convention met to-day, Mr. DEEGAN in the
chair.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read,
Dr. FLETCHER in-reduced Mr. Donaldson as Dele-
ate from Birmingham and neighbouring districts.
The Secretary read the pr...,cerdings of the meeting at
Birmingham, at which Mr. Donaldson was appointed to
one of the vacancies created by the resignation of
Messrs. Salt and Douglas, as the representative of the
working clasies of Birmingham, in the Convention ;
also the proceedings of a meeting at which Mr. Donald-
son was elected as Delegate for Stourbridge and sur-
rounding districts.
The CHAIRMAN asked if any Delegate wished to ob-
serve upon this subject ?
Mr. FROST inquired if Mr. Donaldson claimed to sit
for Birmingham.
Mr. O'CoNNoR hoped that Mr. Donaldson would
not answer any such question.
Mr. HETHERINGTON said he did not think Mr.
O'Connor could be aware that a protest, signed by up-
wards of a hundred working men of Birmingham, had
lien sent to the Convention, representing that the
election of Mr. Donaldson was not valid, inasmuch as
proper notice had not been given of the meeting. He
(Mr. H.) had, in coming through Birmingham on the
Saturday morning, seen the bills summoning the meet-
ing puiting upon the walls—the meeting being called
for the fol:owing Monday ; and be believed it was
thought that the meeting would have been larger had
longer notice been given.
Mr. O'CONNOR said he thought there was consider-
able inconvenience sometimes in Delegates taking their
seats for different places.—(Hear, hear, hear.) As
to the protest, how could the Convention entertain
it ? Were they to receive the signature of the
Chairman, of the meeting as a priori evidence of the
regularity of the election ? How could the protest
be properly received before the Delegate claimed to
take his seat. Why, even Parliament did not receive
a petition against a return until the Member took his
seat, and, till the petition had been decided upon, he
sat as a matter of course.—(Hear, hear.) He should
recommend Mr. Donaldson, in order that the Conven-
tion might have the benefit of his services, to claim his
seat for the districts as to which there was no objec-
t:oil—(Ht:iv, hear)—leaving the question as to Bir-
mingham siill open.—(Hear, hear.)
The SECRETARY read the rule of the Convention re-
specting elections of Delegates, which required that ten
days' notice should be given of the meetings.
Mr. CARPENTER thought an important question of
principle was involved here—whether, because a pro-
test had been presented, the Convention, without know-
ing the grounds of that protest, should recommend a
Delegate not to claim his seat for any place.—(Hear,
hear.) He trusted that Mr. Donaldson would persist
in taking his seat for Bermingham.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. FROST said he thought the rules of the Con-
vention should be adhered to ; and that as a protest
had been raised, Mr. Donaldson should prove that his
election had been regular.
Mr. DONALDSON said he now claimed to sit for
Stourbridge and surrounding places—leaving the ques-
tion of Birmingham open.—(Hear, hear.)
A letter was read from Mr. Craig, who had been
elected Member for Ayr by the show of hands, though
he did not expect to be returned.
A letter was also read from Mr. Williams, giving
encouraging accounts of his progress in Carmarthen-
shire and Glamorganshice.
Mr. COLLINS said that the Petition Committee were
not ready at present to report, owing to so many peti-
twos coming in whbout stating where they came from,
which gave the Committee great trouble, and of course
caused delay. But the work was going on very well,
and be trusted that the report would, be
.made
to-morrow. Meantina he might state that he had that ,
morning received 50,000 siginitures.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. O'BRIEN reported 45,000 additional signatures to
the petition from Leigh, Lancashire, n hich had already
been numerously signed, 5,00 Q being wornen.—(Hear.)
Mr. O'CONNOR .aid a question had been put to him
as a barrister, with regard to the right of interfering in
the training and sitiiiing into corps, which was going on
in Lancashire. Now, he wished that'his answershould
receive ins much I.lll3l;eity as pus:46le ; and it was, that,.
by an Act of George 111., it was a transportable eIF ace
to drill or train comp vies of 'men into marchiwg order.
Mr. DUNCAN Wisbcd to know if the Committee,
which had 6,A:a ap,,Mored to wait npon Members of
Parii.unent, us to tire prusuntat:on of the petition, were
able to report ?
Dr. FLETCHER said the Committee were not able
at pre sent to report.

Mr. O'CoNNon said he trusted it would be the firm
determination of the Convention—as he believed it was

the general expectation—that the National PeCtion
should be presented on Monday, even if the Conven-
tion were compelled themselves to carry it down to the
House of Commons, and a member to present it.
Dr. FLETCHER said the Committee had waited se-
veral times on Messrs. Fielden and Attwood, who, how-
ever, had not kept their appointments. They had fixed
four o'clock to-day for an interview.—(Hear, hear.)
A letter was read from Maldon, remitting 15s. to the
national rent, as evidence of a " germ of radicalism in
that Whi A•:;gal-Torrridden town "
A letter was read from Mr. E. Williams, Tavistock,
on behalf of the Working Men's Association in that
town, transmitting 61. 44. 81 to the national rent, and
representing the cause to be very prozperous in that
neighbourhood.
A very long . document was read by the Secretary
upon the condition of the Silk weaving trade—showing
miserable stae of the workmen engaged on it, who
tend to work from from fourteen to sixteen hours per
day for seven or nine shillings per we,k. Up to 18'25,
the trade was protected by the prohibition of Foreign
silk ; but in that year the protection was removed—a
measure which was unjust, because not accompanied by
the free trade in corn, which ought in conats.ency to
have been established. The only thing that would
really benefit the silk-weavers was a firm representation
in the House of Commons, whereas at present, out of
12,000 in London, perhaps not twenty got the fran-
chise. It their interests were advocated in the Legis-
lature, they might .obtain cheaper taxation—a repeal of
the Carn-laas—a tax of ten per cent. on powerdooms,
or a property tax, and a Board of Trade to regulate the
prices of wea%ing every six months.
Mr. CLEAVE said that he had been desired by seve-
ral peones from
hdiffhcly rarengtptified at
parts ooft
711,6 e Sun
e country,
novstating
r
that they felt highly
having published their letters to the Convention. or
ahri..tzmi.nts of them, and trusted that the members of
the Convention would continue to obtain the insertion
of summaries of the documents they might receive in
that newspaper.
Mr. O'BRIEN said that the same feeling of satisfac-
tion aad delight prevailed- Lincolnshire.