The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-15 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE P ÜBLIC J 0 URN A L .

In an answer to an address from the Mayor and Com-
mon Council of Toronto by Sir George Arthur (which
our readers will find among our extracts from the American
Papers) his 'Excellency contradicts the assertion made by
the Prete...dent of the United States, " that disturbances
had larokeu out anew in different parts of the two Canadas."
‘e I unhesitatingly reply," says Sir George, "that I am
rent aware Vany. And so much struck was I with the inac-
curacy of this allegation, that I did not fail to invite the early
attention of her Majesty's Minister at Washington to it, for
the purpose of informing the Government of the United
States of the very material mistake into which the President
had been drawn ; a mistake, certainly, of no slight importance,
as furnishing some kind of pretext, however unjustifiable that
pretext may be, for the interference of the citizens of the
Union in the affairs of this province, and by consequence tend-
ing in some degree to lessen the enormous turpitude of their
conduct."
The American people have of course much to answer for
and we ore glad to learn from this document that it is in
contemplation to demand satisfaction from the Government
of the United States. Hanging the brigands is not enough.
That State which, either from a wish to be spared the bur-
den of establishments to preserve order, or from defects in
social organization, allows armaments to be regularly er-
rayed, and to issue from its territories to invade a neigh-
bouring grate, is in justice bound to make compensation for
the injury done. Sir George holds out this hone of redress
as a means of prevailing on the people of Upper Canada to
abstain from reprisals. He urges his most anxious des're
" that the spirit of forbearance which has been observed by
the Government throughout this tragedy may bc followed
by the whole body of the people, and that whilst the ban-
ditti who have fallen into our hands are made to answer
to the offended laws of the provinces, you will leave
it to your Queen and to your country to redress those
great wrongs which, I am persuaded, all Europe will
assent, have been done to the peaceable inhabitants of
Upper Canada, and which it is my conviction that roe
spectable citizens of the United States must now look
upon with abhorrence, and as a most flagraet violation of
their own constitutional principles." Tl:e Americans have
much to answer for, not merely to this country, but to the
people .of every country in the world. Absolute power
everywhere, as a justification for refusing to comply with
the
.just demands of the people for Reform, says—" Look
to ahe United States of America ; see the consequences
of liberty—inability to execute the laws in the interior
and inability to prevent aggressions on neighbouring States,
which in Europe would lead to constant war, and only
slobs not lead to such a result in America because, with
teen exception, America has only savages and Mexicans for
neighbours." Within the last three or four years these popu-
lar outbreaks called Lynch law, and the invasions of Canada,
have lowered the reputation of America a hundred percent. in
thie part. of the world. The inhabitants of Europe begin
.to look to the future prospects of a people growing rapidly
is numbers and physical strength, apparently exempt from
due moral restraint, with fear and apprehension. Sir
George Arthur, as we have seen, tells the people of Upper
Canada—" Trust your Government : make no reprisals t
those of the banditti who have not been destroyed will be
brought to condign punishment." What is called taking
the law into one's dvvn hands is generated by a despair of
justice, and it is judicious in Sir George to afford no pretext
for indulgence in this most dangerous of all habits---Lydelllaw, But we are sorry to learn from these who are yinti
anately connected with Lower Canada, that there is not
the same confidence in that province that the law will be
executed. There is a belief among the British—right or
wrong- we will not say—but there is a belief that Sir John
Colborne's hands have been tied by instructions from Eng-
land, and that the rebels will not meet the punishment
they deserve. While Sir George Arthur is resolutely en-
forcing the law in Upper Canada, the British population
in Lower Canada see nothing done ; and fears are
entertained that the twenty thousand armed volunteers in
Montreal and its vicinity will resort to Lynch law, and do
that justice which they despair of seeing the Government
do. This, of course, the Government of Lower Canada
will feel itself called on to prevent ; and we grieve to say
that a collision between the Queen's troops and the volun-
teers is honked for as not beyond the range of possibility.
In that case we may bid adieu to the possession of Canada.
Wh trust, however, the apprehensions of the gentlemen
connected with Canada in London are not justified by facts,
and that no false step on the part of Government will place
us in the predicament of playing for Canada for the last
time, Certain we are that if Government do its duty at
this time, these provinces may become a source of strength
to the empire. We have trifled long—we must trifle no
longer.--elforning Chronicle.
Announcements of meetings for a repeal of the Corn-
laws are pouring in on us from all quarters. We learn from
the Aberdeen Herald, that " a preliminary meeting for the
formation of an Anti-Corn-law Association in Aberdeen, or
to advise what other measures may be thought necessary,
with a view to the change or repeal of the present laws af-
fecting the importation of food," was to be held yesterday,
and it was confidently 'expected that it would be nume-
rously attended by men of all parties. " We know," says
that journal, " many stanch Tories among our merchants
and shipowners who are fully alive to the evils of the Corn.
laws, and who will not hesitate to join any class of their
fellow-citizens for the promotion of an object which they
feel to be absolutely necessary for the preservation of our
commerce and manufactures." In the Potteries, we learn,
the subject of the Corn-laws is attracting general atten-
tion. On Monday week a numerously-attended meeting
took place in Fenton, where resolutions against them were
passed. A requisition is in course of signature, addressed
to the Chief Bailiff of Hanley and Shelton, to call a
meeting of the inhabitants on the same subject. On
Tuesday last, the Mayor of Birmingham mentioned to the
Council that he had received a communication from the
Deputation of the Anti-Corn-law Committee in Birming-
ham, requesting him to convene a public meeting to con-
sider the propriety of petitioning Parliament for the total
repeal of the Corn-laws, and praying the Council to take
the subject into their consideration. After some dis-
cussion the deputation was received, and J. Scholefield,
Esq., M.P., who headed it, said he "trusted for the ho-
nour of Birmingham they (the Council) would not refuse
to use the influence of their body, representing as it dal
the feelings, wishes, and interests of this town, to remove
that which affected the welfare not only of that, but of all
the manufacturing towns in the kingdom. He asked the
Council to give the resolution he presented all the attention
which it demanded." Mr. Scholefield read the resolu-
tion of the Anti-Corn-law Association, and then laid it
upon the table. We may then count Birmingham
among the other towns now agitating for this great
object. The next important facts stated by Mr. Rawson,
a Nottingham hosier, at the second meeting of the Cham-
ber of Commerce at Manchester, did not find their way
into the reports published in this or any other paper. He
said that from 1814 to 1824, his house supplied Saxony
with hosiery, when they were totally driven out by Saxon
hosiery ; that from 1824 to 1834 they maintained a com-
petition with the Saxons in the United States of America,
when they finally retired from the struggle ; that from
1834 to this time they had been importing an annually in•
creasing quantity of Saxon hosiery for the supply of their
English customers ; and the following morning he was about
to give a large order to a commercial traveller from Saxony,
on which goods he should pay 5 per cent, expenses, and 20
per cent. duty, and have a handsome profit remaining for
he bought at 2s. 6d. what he could not procure at Not-
tingham for less than ss. He did not think that even the
repeal of the Corn-laws would enable them to maintain a
competition ; but for any others to think that anything
short of a total repeal would do them any good, was merely
delusion.—Morning Chronicle.
We observe from the Patriot of last night that a deputa-
tion of Dissenters waited a. few days since on the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer, with a view of ascertaining fi om the
Right Hon. Gentleman what were the views of Govern-
ment respecting the abolition of Church-rates, and whether
those who complain of the exaction of these imposts are
justified in expecting that a measure shall be passed in the
approaching session which shall afterwards exempt such
persons from their payment. The Patriot adds, that
.the
result of the interview was satisfactory. It is not otten
that we differ from our excellent Contemporary, but unless
the deputation received from the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer some other assurances on the subject, than the
vague one that Government are anxious to see Church-
rates extinguished, we are constrained to say that we can
see nothing satisfactory in the matter. The great error
of the Dissenters, on former occasions, has been, that
imagining in the charity of their hearts that other per-
sons were as honest and straightforward as themselves,
they reposed entire confidence in the promises of public
men.. Who doge not recollect how Earl Spencer,
four years ago (he was then Lord Althorp), thought
always having the reputation of being the most honest
and candid Minister of modern times—who does not recol-
lect how he misled—to use the gentlest term—tine Dis-
senters, by his professions and promises on the subject of
the extinction of Church-rates ? Relying on his assurances
that they would be abolished in the course of the then
session, the Dissenters abstained from all further agitation
on the subject. Judge, then, of their surprise and dis-
appointment, when they found that all that Lord Althorp
proposed was to saddle the Church-rates on the Consoli-
dated Fund /. We warn our Dissenting friends against
suffering themselves to be again deceived in a similar way.
We have but little faith in the " anxieties,” and " wishes,"
and "hopes" of men in office; above all in the case of Chancel-
lors of the Exchequer. We haveseen too much of the slippery
movements of such personages to be the same confiding, un-
suspicious men we once were. We have no notion that Mr.
Spring Rice will repeat the game of Lord Althorp, and propose
to throw the Church-rates on the Consolidated Fund ; but
knowing, as we do, that where there is a will there is a

The police are almost daily receiving descriptions of
children that have disappeared from their homes, and who,
it generally turns out, have been decoyed away by infamous
wretches for the purpose of being stripped of their clothes.
On Saturday, at the Brentford Petty Sessions, a
drayman, in the employ of Messrs. J. and W. Farnell,
brewers, of Isleworth, appeared before the bench to an-
swer a summons at the instance of Captain Jelph Sharp,
one of the Magistrates, for having caused an obstruction in
Church-street, Twickenham, by leaving his dray, with three
horses, without any person in charge of them. The case
involved a point of considerable public interest, the bench
not agreeing in opinion with their worthy colleague, that
an off, nee had been proved to have been committed agains'
the provisions of the Highway Act, under which the sum-
mons had been issued, unless some particular obstruction
were proved. They, however, were unanimous in stating
that draymcn, and the drivers of all other vehicles, are
bound under that Act, and General Turnpike Act, not to
leave their horses without: sonic comryaent person having
care of them ; and they told the defendint that had the
summons been taken out under the latter Act a conviction
must have followed.