The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-03 00:00:00

:.-: G CrilT .1 f )

NATIONAL CON VEN TION.

The, National Csnvention met yesterday, Mr. SA-marr
in the Chair.

NEW DELEGATE.

Jr. Vincent introduced Mr. Convcr as Deleg:te from
Troubridgl, elected at a public mr.eting, composed of up-
wards of 15,000 persons.
Mr. CON Y&R accordingly took his seat, having first pre-
sented his credentials.

COF.RESPONDENCIE.
' After reading the minutes, the Secretary proceeded to
read letters from—
Kettering, accompanied by four sheets of signatures to
nat'oall petition. On,^ from Detiborough, containing
131 names ; two from Rothewell, containing 250 sigr,a-
tures ; one from Kettering, containing 32 names additional
to those already sent.
From Cirencester, with 549 additional names to
the petition. They would have sent rent before this, but
that the expenses of agitation there were very heavy, and
were borne by a few only ; they would, however, shortly
make a remittance.

From Du r. tries, accompanying additional signatures.
From Hacia•k, inclosing resolutions passed at a meeting
there to the efsct—

That the General Convention of the Working Classes
have, by the talent, energy, and determination they have
evinced since their sitting in London, entitled themselves
to the confidence of the people.
T.yat as long as they continue to conduct themselves in
the
,same wise, firm, and temperate mariner, this Associa-
tion express their determination to support them in any
ulterior measures they may think requisite to secure the
adO'ption of the People's Charter as the law of the land.
'That the members of this Association resolve to perse
vere in doing all in their power to arouse, enlighten, and
organise the friends of liberty until the Charter becomes
the law of the land.

That a county meeting be held in Jedburgh on the 18th
of May, and that one or two Delegates do attend the same,
and requesting particularly that Mr. Frost and Mr. Low-
rey should be the persons, as they were to be in the North
of England about that time.
The letter stated that May 18, was designed as being
a border holiday, and all the mills being stopped, would
ye
ean opportunity to large numbers to be present. It
' o gave as a reason for the required attendance of the
legates, that the country was mostly under the influence
of the Buccleuch and Minto families, and consequently
the people would not attend, unless a meeting, to be ad-
dressed only by local speakers. With this letter were
455 additional signatures from Hawick, 694 from Jed-
burgh, and 201 from Earlston to the National Petition.
.i From Gloucester, regretting that the Chartist agita-
tion was behind in that place.
From Birmingham to Mr. Collins, stating that the effect
of tlre late disunion, and breaking up of the coancil had back-
warded the glorious cause of the people, declaring the Mal-
cation of Mr. Salt fruit) the Convention, contrary to his for-
mer expressed opinions. The writer never had an opinion as
to Messrs Douglas, Edmonds, or Mur.tz, going on steadily
for Universal Suffrage ; but he was surprised at Messrs.
141adley and Salt giving up supporting that cause. It
described 1 great meeting in the Town-hall, on Friday--
such a meeting as is seldom sea ,—on the horrors of war.
The Lecturers would not be heard by the people until an
opportunity was given Mr. Bro,, a to address it on the
duties of the middle classes.

From Plymouth, with signatures of 2,250 persons to
the National petition. It complained of the small numbers
which composed the Committee, and that some of them
were strangers—that they would send .5/. rent in a few days.
Mr. COLLINS observed that the lettt,r from Birmingham
r.-a 9 from a member of the Society of Friends.
From Cirencester, applauding the conduct of the Con-
vention.

I From Plymouth and from the London Democratic Asso-
-1 cietion, expressive of their confidence in Mr. Williams,
. their Delegate.
From Stoke Newington enclosing 10s. rent.
From Mr. Douglas, Birmireeham, relative to the defal-
cation in the rent. The letter stated that "the several
matters of finance requiring explanation, had nat been
specified. That he (Ms. D.) had never been Treasurer
of the National Rent. That he had become liable for,
and had paid certain expenses, which he had not been
paid, and that the Secretary must continue to put
his questions in such a form as to render them intelligable
to men of limited comprehension."
Mr. MOORE thought they bad no authority to accept Mr.
Ryder's resignation. His constituents alone were compe-
tent to do that.
Dr. FLETCHER thought the discussion irregular, and
I moved the previous question.
I After some discussion, in which Mr. Burn, Mr. Cleave,
and other Members took part, it was decided that Mr.
Rvder's resignation be accepted, Mr. Ryder observing that
he held in his hand a letter from another portion of his
constituents, approving of his conduct.
RESIGNATION OF MR. RYDER. -
Mr. F. O'CoNeort then read an extract from a letter
1 containing a resolution of the Committee of Delegates of
the Radical Association, of the West Riding of York-
' shire, passed on the 29th April, accepting Mr. W. R.vder's resignation, and stating that they no longer considered
him a Member of the Convention. Mr. O'C. observed,
that there Was a question then before them, which
Mr. Ryder alone could decide. The resolution emanated
, from a Meeting of Delegates, and not from a public
meeting. If they were governett by rules in any instance
they must observe them in the present case. The Con-
li vention had nothing to do with the resolution of the
Delegates, but he had felt it right to lay it before the
I Convention.
Mr. RYDER (who was in the room, lona had not taken
I his seat among the Delegates) said if any portion of his
I constituents objected to his conduct he should at once re-
; sign, and he now did so, but would present himself before
1 them at the ensuing Pilgreen meeting..—( Hear.)
i Mr. O'CONNOR thought Mr. Ryeer might take his seal
amongst the Delegates to- morrow if lie thought proper.
,'I Mr. FROST thought if Mr. Ryder resigned his seat to-
day he could not take it again to morrow.
1 I-he SECRETARY next read a letter from Hull, addressed
' to Mr. Vinnent, and statieg that 1,671 ar'd;tional s;stla-
/
tires had been obtained to the petition, and that of 1,400
females. It was iatimated that it would be desirable if
f the Convention would endeavour to irifese more energy and
preserve more union in it; pracee:iines. —(Cheers,) •
Mr. Pitkeithley, Mr. ileartweil, Mr. Collins, and other
Members, announced the receipt of several additional
1 ' thousand signatures to the petition for the People's
I Charter.
I A letter was then read from the West London Radical
1 .Aseeciation, stating that they felt much pleasure in nreseet.
ing the Convention with a frame for the National Petition.
1 —( Hear, and cheers )
On the motion of Mr. FITREITIII,EY, seconded by Mr,
O'CONNOR, the thanks of the Convention were voted to the
IWest Loeclon Radical Association.
Mr. I:ICIIASDSON announced that Dr. Fletcher and him-
self had gone dawn to Mitcham, in Surrey, and hal ad-
I dressed the people there. It appeared to him that they
f were ,all melt anxious to support the Convention, but they
I rec-eurneedsd more unanimity in their proceedings. He
also Mated that it was intended to send a Delegate from
I I.3str.s!ey, and one from Caine. .
PRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL PETITION.
Mr. Rstoeits was then caned on to report, on tile part of
ithe Committee appointed to confer with;;eases. Attwood
end Kelderi, as to the p-esentation of the National
1 Petition. They had -hoer; extremely anxious to make their
report sooner, but circumstances hal prevented them
They had had several interviews well Messrs. Attwood
I, and Fielden, and these gentlemen had written letters, aid
1 he thought the best repoit the Committee could make
to the Convention, would be to real these letters—(lissr,
hear.) Mr. Ro,sesss than read Mess's. Attwood and Fite'd-
ing's letters. The purport of them was that the writers
wished to have from the Convention, before the presents.
thin of the petition, a resolution condemnatory of the strong
and violent language which it was said some of the Mem-
bers made use of at public meetings; and also that in fu-
ture
they should he governed in their exertions to procure
the People's Charter by the principles of peace, law, and
order. This resolution we; sought for in order that they
(Messrs. Fielden and Attwood) might be prepared with
arguments against their opponents in the House of Corn-
s mons when they would present the petition.
The reading of the letters excited strong marks of dis-
[
approbatione—sorne parts, however, were cheered.
Mi. DUNCAN said, these were two very important
documents, and he would at once move that, they resolve
1
themselves into a Committee of the whole House to take
thorn into consideration.
Mr. WHITTLE moved as an amendment, that the peti-
tion be placed in the hands of Messrs. Attwood and
Fielder], as it was not likely to be in better hands—that
the thanks of the Convention be sent to these gentlemen,
for their communications, and that they resolve them-
selves into a Committee on Monday next.
Mr. Glee—But the petition is to be presented on
Monday.
Mr. O'CONNOR did not see any advantage to be derived
from deferring the consideration of the present question--
it would be better, in his opinion, to proceed to discuss it
at once.
Mr. DUNCAN thought it was most important that no
thee should be lost. They ought to have men who would
prey t .eir petition, without any conditions, if such men
e a t' e
could be found—if that Convention was the veritable Re-
presentative of the People—(Cries of " Question.")
Mr. RICHARDSON saw no necessity for going into Corn .
mittee. Why not discuss the matter as they now stood ?
Mr. CLEAVE moved that the Standing Orders he sus-
pended, and that they proceed to take the question into
consideration at once.
The motion having been seconded, was carried unani-
mously.
Mr. Cesevx then moved that the offer of Mr. Attwood
to present the petition to Parliament be accepted, and that
the Secretary be instructed to send him a copy of the in-
structions given by the Convention to all its missionaries.
Mr. GILL seconded the motion. He thought that was
making as great a concession as they were called upon to
make.
Mr. DUNCAN said, if the proposition was acceded to, it
would only prolong the controversy. If the instructions
were sent to Mr. Attwood, he would say, "true, these are
are your instructions ;" but at the same time he would point
to the facts.—( Hear, hear.) "If these instructions were
attended to, such language would not be tolerated." He
apprehended that Mr. Attwood would satisfy himself, be-
fore he allowed the controversy to close. Why not apply
to Mr. Wakley.—( A Member—" It is now too late.") Then
he thought the Committee was highly reprehensible in not
making their report sooner. The character of the Con-
vention was at stake with respect to the presentation of the
Petition, They bad been thirteen weeks sitting in London,
and if they now returned to their constituents, and told
them that up to the last moment they had never ascertained
whstobstaeles stood in the way of the presentation of the
, petition; that the Members they had so confidently relied
'up would not present the petition,. or would not cordially.
;port the demands made in it ; every Delegate in that
70eas must hold himself
ci LI i•ation was, were they to say to censured. Now the
g that had
sot 2.• for the langue-eJr. Att wood that they were
;,- ' tes beg him to preset-A be used, and like crouch-
eneet
vi tei
ro ns
submit
m it Whateverto
have i
other members might do, he sve'eellre