The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-18 00:00:00

MISSIONARIES.

Mr. DEEGAN moved a resolution of which he had given
notice, to the effect that Missionaries be employed to go
into the country fur the purpose of instructing the people
in political knowledge—and that such Missionaries be re-
munerated in the most convenient way to themselves. Mr.
Deegan introduced his resolution with some prefatory
remarks relative to the necessity which he had of post-
poning it from day to day, in consequence of his being un-
willing to hinder the progress of other business which was
of a more transient nature. The necessity of imparting
to the people instruction on the politics of the country, was
a truth so obvious to every person who felt an interest in
the well being of society, that he thought it scarcely
worth his while to allude to it.—( Hear, hear.) They all
knew how deficient in this respect were a great portion of
the inhabitants of this country, and knowing this they
must feel the urgent necessity there was to send among
them persons sufficiently qualified to give them informa-
tion as to what position they ought to hold in the scale of
society, and how necessary it was for them to exert them-
selves in order to attain their liberty.—(Hear, hear.)
Thousands of thousands of people in different parts of the
country were entirely ignorant of all the principles of the
Charter, and if it was necessary to obtain the enactment of
that document, was it not also necessary to give the people
sufficient information to make them appreciate the blessings
which it would bestow ? It was necessary to disabuse, by
instruction, the false notions which many had as to the
ulterior measures proposed by the Convention—they did
not seek for Radical Reform in the system of the country,
to induce such a change in the state of the country
as would create confusion or alarm.—(Hear, hear.) It
was the duty of the Convention to have the people
instructed in political knowledge—a knowledge of
more use in contributing to the happiness of the
people than any other. It was the duty of the Convention
to enlighten the people on the principles of the People's
Charter all over the kingdom, in order that they might be
able to appreciate the blessings which it would attain for
them, and the miseries which it would relieve them from.
If they were so instructed, they would see and understand
the manoeuvrings and contortions of the rival factions, to
obtain plunder at the expense of the people. If they
had this knowledge, would they not arise as one man,
and annihilate at once a system, which compelled them to
endure so much, for the purpose of aggrandising the ra-
pacious and craving few, who held in their hands the
authority of the State?—(Hear.) If they had this know-
ledge, would they suffer Lord Glenclg, who, when in
office, was declared unfit for his duties, to be quartered on
tha country, at the rate of 2,0001. per annum? He was
sure they would not. If they had the knowledge, could
the tyrannic Lords of the Admiralty, inflict on the un-
fortunate John Hynde, the penalty which they did, as
recited by Mr Frost yesterday, for the expression of his
opinion on the subject of the national grievances?
He need not reply ; they were all agreed that
knowledge is power, and to diffuse this power
was the object of his resolution. Mr. Deegan further im-
pressed on the Covention the good effects of thus dissemi-
nating political knowledge, by referring them to the great
success that attended the lectures of the Rev. Mr. Ste-
phens, and concluded by urging them to pass a resolution
which, if carried into effect, would not even entail on the
funds of the Convention any expense.
Mr. F. O'Cotssate seconded the resolution.
Dr. M‘Douaen opposed the resolution.
Mr. I3essey could not understand what was the notion
of the mover of this resolution. It had been changed
over and over agaie. It had been obliged to undergo va-
rious colourings. It had been postponed from time to
time, ant; at last it was brought forward very reluctantly.
---(No, no.) He would say, " Aye, aye." He would at
once admit that the people were in want of instruction, but
he must say that now was not the time to entertain this