The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-16 00:00:00

N A rIONAL COIN VE&TIO-14-

(FROM OUR OWN C ORRESPONDENT.)
BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.
Notwithstanding ,the attempts of the Tory Papers to
intimidate and frighten the peaceable inhabitants, and to
excite the discontented, Birmingham still remains in a
peaceable and quiet state. The only excitement that
prevails, if " excitement" it can be called, has been oc-
casioned by the unmanly and arbitrary attempt of Sir
Robert Peel and the Tory faction to force upon our
youthful but spirited Queen a change which was " con-
traryto usage and repugnant to her feelings."
The news of the instauration of the Melbourne Ca-
binet, which reached Birmingham at half past nine on
Tuesday morning, by the arrival of The Sun of that
day, by express, gave universal satisfaction, not so much,
perhaps, on account of the good deeds of the Whigs as
on account of the bad deeds of the Tories. The greatest
eagerness to know what took place in the House of Com-
mons on Monday evening prevailed, and the information
conveyed by The Sun quickly spread through the town,
while every one, on the other hand, admires the ener-
getic and courageous manner in which her Majesty re-
sisted the endeavour to force upon her the hateful com-
pany of political ear-wiggers, and has thus inflicted,
„
what perhaps a majority of the House of Commons
itself might not have been able for many years to
effect—a blow to the miscreant faction, from which it
is doubtful whether it will ever recover ; so, on
the other, every one entertains but one feel-
ing of disgust and resentment at the cowardly
and unfeeling conduct of Sir Robert Peel and
his band of desperadoes. It only remains now for her
Mljesty's chosen Ministers to follow up the good work
she has so nobly begun, and by bringing forward good
and wholesome measures they may restore the confidence
of the people, and put an everlasting extinguisher on
Tory rulers.
A meeting of the working men took place last night at
Holloway Head, and about 2,000 persons were present.
The announcement of the insurrection in Paris was re-
ceived with tumultuous cheering. Mr. O'Connor, and
one or two other Members of the Convention addressed
the assemblage, and exhort edi the men of Birmingham
to abstain from all violence and disturbance, but still to
show their rulers that they were determined to have
justice.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.
After the Convention adopted the Manifesto, and
resolved upon circulating it through the country, Mr.
Whittle tendered his resignation, which was accepted,
and Mr. Deegan, who has not actually resigned, refuses
to take part in the proceedings ; and although he at-
tended the Convention this morning, on his,name being
called answered " absent."

On Friday the Convention will leave Birmingham,
and the members will be dispersed throughout the
country, for the purpose of attending the simultaneous
meetings.
The Convention met this morning at ten o'clock.
The attendance of Members was very numerous, and
the chapel in which the Convention is held, was nearly
filled with " strangers."
•
Mr. ABRAHAM DeNCAN took the chair.
M). RICHARDSON said, that as the muster-
roll was every day diminishing in consequence
of Members leaving for the purpose of attending
meetings in the country, as they would all separate on
Friday on their missions, he thought it would be better
for them at once to wind up the affairs of the Conven-
tion up to this time, and to ascertain what portions of
the Correspondence should be destroyed or retained.
He therefore moved that a Committee of three be ap-
pointed to examine into the accounts, and to look over
the Correspondence.

After a short discussion this was agreed, to, and it
was arranged that Mr. Lovett should have. the care of
the books and papers until the re-assembling of the Con-
vention._

Mr., RICHAfiDSON then moved that the Convention
should, on its re-assembling on the Ist of July, s:t in
London. He was against, sitting in Birmingham be-
cause there they were merely surrounded by agricul-
tural districts- London being the capital, the proceed-
ings of the Delegates, if carried on 'there, would be con-
sidered as of more importance by the country, and
would have greater weight and effect with the people.
For instance, the recent outbreak in Paris would not
have created half the sensation it had done, if it had
taken,. place. at Lyons or any other town.—(Hear,

Mr. BROWN preferred meeting in Birmingham,
where they would be protected from all violence, to re-
sorting to a place in which they would be in the midst
of spies.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. DONALDSON was also in favour of sitting in
Birmingham.
The queition was then put, when there appeared—
For the motion ' 6
Against it
25
Majority in favour of sitting in Birmingham —l9
Seventc'en Members were absent, and three did not
vote.

SETTLEMENT OF. ACCOUNTS.
Oa the motion of Mr. RICHARDSON it was agreed to
call in all accounts, and to settle the same before the
Delegates separated on Friday.
COMMITTEE OP EMERGENCY.
Mr. WOODHOUSE moved that a Committee of Emer-
gency, consisting of five should be appointed with
power to call the Convention together before the Ist
of July, should the ,Committee think fit. His abject
in making this motion was in case it should be necessary,
in consequence or the insurrection in Paris, to :call the
'Convention together INifore the time' agreed on.
Mr. O'CoNNoE suggested that it would be better if
the Secretary; Mr. Lovett, were directed to communi-
cate with - the Delegates, and on the recommendation
of a majority be empowered to call the Delegates to-
gether. •
This suggestion was adopted, and Mr. Woodhouse
withdrew his motion.
A deputation 'frOrn the working'elasSes .of Birming-
ham attended to inform the Convention they intended
holding a meeting at Ho'lloway-head this evening, and
would be happy to have the attendance of the Delegates.
Mr. O'CoNNott said the Delegates would attend,
and recommended the Deputation to hold their great
meeting in Birmingham on the Friday in Whitsun-week,
that being the day on which the simultaneous meetings
would be held.

SIMULTANEOUS MEETINGS.
Certain alterations in the appointment of Delegates
to attend the simultaneous meetings during AVhitsun-
week were made.. Mr. M'Douall was appointed in
place of Mr. Moir to attend the meeting of Birming-
barn. and its districts ; Mr. Duncan was appointed to
the Northumberland arid Durham meeting ; and Mr.
Richardson was appointed in Mr. Duncan's place, to
go to Devonshire and Cornwall, in company with Mr.
Girdo. It was also resolved, that the meeting in
Devonshire and Cornwall be a week later than was
formerly agreed to. Mr. M'Douall and Mr. Cardo
were appointed to accompany Mr. Richards to the
Potteries. Dr. Fletcher and Mr. Richards were ap-
pointed to go to the Preston meeting.
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
On the motion of Mr. IttcriArtnsolv, the General
Committee was authorised to ascertain the number of
Associations in Great Britain having for their object
the attainment of Universal Suffrage.

COLONEL WEItTiSS

On themotion Ai'
of a vote of thanks
to Colonel Wemyss, for his gentlemanly and soldier-
like conduct towards the people of Ashton-under-Lyne
during the Late excitement in that town, was agreed on.
Mr. MARSDEN moved, that as soon as the Conven-
tion met after the simultaneous meetings, they should
within a fortnight afterwards issue a document contain-
ing the final result of their deliberations as to the course
which the people should pursue, in order to have the full
attainment of their rights.
Mr. O'CoNNoR approved of the principle of the
motion, but did not think it would 'be wise to
adopt it at present. It was like putting on a roof
before the walls of the House were builf.—(Hear,
hear.) After the simultaneous meetings were held, and
the feelings and opinions of the people well ascertained,
Mr. Marsden might, perhaps, be able with more pro-
priety to forward some definitive motion on the subject.
After a few observations from Mr. Lovett, the mo-
tion was withdrawn.

THE MANIFESTO.
It was ordered that the 10,000 copies of the mani-
festo should be printed on foolscap, with fly leaves, so
that members might make any communication they
thought proper to their constituents.

ARREST OF MEMBERS.
Mr. COLLINS begged to make what he considered to
be a most important suggestion. It was not unlikely
that the Government would determine on seizing the
Delegates at the simultaneous meetings that would be
held. The plan adopted in the Birmingham Political
Councilwas this, that in the event of any such occurrence,
a member should have the power of nominating a friend
to sit at the Council in his stead ; and if that friend was
taken that he should name a third person, and so on.
He thought some such step as that should be taken by
the members of the Convention, otherwise if the Dele-
gates were arrested the people would be thrown into the
utmost state of confusion, without having any directing
body.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. O'CoNNoa said the suggestion was most impor-
tant, and was a very excellent one.
Mr. M‘DonaLL moved that any discussion upon it
should be postponed, as it was of too great importance to
be conducted in a desultory manner,
Mr. O'CONNOR thought it was most essential that a
discussion should take place upon it, as well for the in-
formation and protection of Mr. Vincent, as for the in-
formation and protection of others.—( Hear.) He did
not approve of a member who had been chosen
by a constituent body delegating his authority to
another without the consent of his constituents. That
would be very wrong. If the first batch of members were
arrested the second batch might be arrested, and so mi •ht
the third.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Now, he bad
read carefully the whole of the evidence taken against
Mr. Vincent, and in that evidence there was not one
single tittle which gave the authorities in law a right
to detain him.—(Hear, Lear.) The strongest evi-
dence brought against Mr. Vincent was that in
one of his speeches he had said " perish the aristo-
cracy." What had the Whigs said ? They had said,
" Perish the Tories"—and the Tories had said, " Perish
the Whigs." Mr. Vincent did not mean any more than
the Whigs and Tories, that they were to perish by
death, but only that their monopoly was to perish.—
(Hear, hear.) He had been told it was Mr. Vincent's
intention not to accept bail. Now he (Mr. O'Connor)
wished to impress on every one the propriety of giving
bail if the law would permit it. He found that the
drillers who had been taken in Manchester were too
poor to get bail, and he intended to go to Manchester
either to get bail for them, or to pay the money himself.
—(Loud cheers from the strangers present.)
The Cnaiamax—This is a deliberative assembly,
and if' strangers take any part in the proceedings they
will be ordered to withdraw.

Mr. O'CONNOR thought that when a man refused
bail who was able to get it, the country would call
him a coward, and would say " this man has been ar-
rested for a bailable offence, and he refuses to take bail
because he is afraid of facing the danger he has himself
created." He did not think the Government had any
idea of interfering with the members of the Convention,
as such, not because of their justice, but because of
their fear.—(Hear, hear.) But if any Member was
arrested, it was the duty of the Convention im-
mediately to give bail for him, because, if allowed
to remain in prison, that might operate as an en-
couragement to the Government to arrest more.
He denied the Convention had been guilty of one un-
constitutional or illegal act ; and the very fact of those
who had been arrested being admitted to bail, showed
that their crime had not been very heinous or very great.
—(Hear, hear.) He thought it was the duty of the
Convention to procure bail even for those poor fellows
who were led on by the infernal scoundrel, traitor, spy,
of a policeman Higgins, for if they were not protected
in the same way as are their own body, they would lose
the assistance of those men who were doing the best as

hear.) If London was not agreeable to Members, he
I would take Manchester, which was preferable to Bir-
mingham. In Manchester he knew they would have
800,000 men ready to protect them in case any attack
was made on their liberty.—(Hear.) But he thought
London would be the fittest placefor them to re-assemble.
as they would then be in the heart of the enemies
camp, and would have more assistance from the press
than they at present received in Birmingham.
Mr. O'BRIEN was opposed to re-assembling in Lon-
don• lie had no objection to the Convention being
of a perambulatory nature, and holding its sittings at
intervals in Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, and
other places, by which they would be able to ascer-
tain the state of the country generally, but he was de-
cidedly against returning to London where they met with
no sympathy, and which would be inconvenient to many
of them.—(Hear, hear.) He should therefore move as
an amendment, that the Convention on its re-assembling
in Birmingham on the Ist of July do sit in Birmingham.
Mr. O'CONNOR seconded the amendment. He
thought it would be paying but a poor compliment to
Birmingham after the gratifying reception they
had met with from its inhabitants, if after
such a Short sitting they re-assembled in London.
—(Cheers.) Notwithstanding the great length of time
they had sat in London, their labours there had been
worse than uSeless.—(Cries of No, no,) In the time
of danger, the members of the Convention ought to be
prepared to take the most prominent part, and to main-
tain that pest where they could act with honour and cre-
dit to themselves, and with utility and satisfaction to the
people.—(Cheers.) They had been received by one
hundred and fifty thousand men bf Birmingham,
who despite of the formidable threats of cannon, rocket-
brigades, dragoons, and four thousand special con- .
stables, had shown they were prepared to uphold the
principles of the Charter, and to support the National
Petition.—(Hear, hear.) He should therefore vote
for the amendment. •