The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-23 00:00:00

The Report was then ordered to be received.
Mr. HETHERINGTON moved, seconded by Mr. JAMES
TAYLOR, that copies of the address be forwdrded to the
Editors of the different papers.
Dr. M`DouALL suggested that before the address was
ordered to be printed a copy be placed in the hands of each
member, in order that they might make such amendments
as they thought necessary, and moved an amendment to
that effect.

Mr. DEEGAN thou,ght that each member should be fur-
nished with a copy in the first instance, and therefore
seconded the amendment.
Mr. BURNS was in favour of the publication of the ad-
dress.

Dr. TAYLOR had no great confidence in the middle
classes generally, but be thought such an address would be
of considerable value in the northern parts of the country,
arid he should support the issuing of it immediately.
The original motion was agreed to by a majority of 20
to 4.

P n adjournment for half-an-hour then took place, in
order to allow the Defence Committee to meet.
The Members assembled again at half-past one.
Dr. M'Docant. presented the recommendations of the
Committee appointed to consider the time for the com-
mencement of the sacred month. They recommended that
the trades of the country should take proper steps to carry
cut the sacred month ; that the unemployed labourers be
advised to hold meetings on the 12th August, for the pur-
pose of requesting relief from all rates, and assistance from
t he'r more wealthy fellow-countrymen ; that the whole people
of the United Kingdom be recommended to meet on the
12th August, for the purpose of entering a protest against
the proceedings of the present Government. and to declare
their firm adherence to the principles of the Charter—and
that all persons be recommended to grant only promissory
notes to those shopkeepers, whom tey called upon to
supply them with food during the sacred month.
After some desultory discussion upon a point of order,
the recommendations were referred back to the Committee,
on the ground that they had not been agreed to by a ma-
jority of the Committee, some mistake having occurred as
to the time of meeting for agreeing to the address.
Mr. F. O'Connor here entered the room and was re-
ceived with much cheering.
1/. ss. 'was handed in by Mr. Cameron from the St.
Andrews, Clerkenwcll, Charter Association.
Dr. M‘Docann moved the suspension of the standing
orders for the purpose of moving that a Committee of two
persons be appointed to proceed to Birmingham to prepare
for the defence of Mr. Lovett, Mr. Collins, and Dr.
Taylor.
Mr. PITKEITIILEY moved that the orders be not sus.
pended, on the ground that if they sent Delegates to one
place where prosecutions were going on they must send
them to all places, and it was impossible to spare Members.
of the Convention.

After a discussion, in which it was conceded that the
Conveution ought to defend Mr. Lovett in the best man-
ner, on the motion of Mr. F. O'CONNOR the matter was
left to Mr. Lovett himself.
The Convention was then adjourned.

T:ie following is the Address which was agreed to—

FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN,—We, the Members of the
General Convention, deeply impressed with a desire to
allay all party feuds and class animosities, address you, at
the present alarming crisis of our country's fate, to solicit
your aid in the righteous struggle in which we are en-
gaged. We are struggling to restore to the industrious
millions their long-withheld political rights ; to promote
the cause of efficient reform ; and to secure to the indus-
trious working people of England permanent prosperity
and happiness. We believe these glorious objects can
all be easily obtained by a wise application of the vast
resources of our beloved country for that purpose ; and we,
therefore, call upon you, who are invested with the elec-
tive franchise, to co-operate with us in establishing, as the
law of the land, the Pcoplc's Charter; which Charter
confers upon every honest and intelligent Englishman a
voice in the election of the legislators of his country.
" You, the middle classes, as well as ourselves, declare
that you desire good government. It is asserted that you
are anxious the people of England should have just laws
impartially administered ; that rational liberty should be
the distinguishing characteristic of our country ; that trade
and conanerce should be free, and encouraged by the re-
moval of all unjust restrictions ; that all monopolies
should be abolished ; and, in short, that one class—and
that the most wealthy class—should no longer be allowed to
cast the whole burden of the State from their own shoulders
to those of their more humble but more deserving fellow-
countrymen.
If, then, you honestly desire the accomplishment of
these things, why hesitate to join our ranks ? Disunited, both -
classes are comparatively powerless ; united, every just ob-
ject is attainable. Many of you, it appears, are opposed to
us on account of the violence of language which is said to
have characterised the speeches of some of those who
have taken an active part in the present Chartist
movement. It should be recollected, however, that if
what you deem strong or intemperate language did cha..
racterise the speeches of some individuals in our ranks,
such language was, according to your own admission, con-
fined to a few who were, perhaps, excited by their own
urgent necessities, or by their strong sympathies with the
sufferings and oppressions which they have witnessed
around them ; but it by no means warrants the deductions
that our enemies have so pertinaciously drawn from it.
The great body of the working classes—the honest and
industrious toilers of this country—are as much opposed
to invading the rights of others, or to the inflicting of
injustice of any kind upon any portion of society, as
they are determined to persevere in their peaceful
agitation for political emancipation. They will, you
may rest assured, never abandon their efforts till
they have placed themselves on a footing of political
equality with the other classes of society. If, therefore,
your professions are sincere, we are in pursuit of common
objects—namely, RATIONAL REFORM, AND PERMANENT
PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS FOR OUR COUNTRY. How' then,
are these righteous objects to be accomplished ? There
are but two modes. The first is—Bv FORCE ; which, as
it is the worst mode of accomplishing a rational object,
we have never sanctioned, except as a last resort, or in
self-defence, against unconstitutional, unlawful, and atro-
cious attacks upon the people when peaceably and legally
assembled for public purposes, such as have been recently
made upon the people by the Mayor and Magistrates of
Birmingham. The second is—BY LEGISLATIVE ENACT-
MENTS EMANATING FROM A HOUSE FULLY REPRESENT.
ING EVERY CLASS OF THE PEOPLE; which IS the only
just and legitimate mode of making those alterations and
improvements called for by the progress of human events.
Hence it is evident that you, the middle classes, are highly
culpable in longer obstructing the attainment of those
changes in the representation that will confer upon the
people at large the elective franchise. Whatever, there-
fore, may be the consequences of your refusal, they will
be directly chargeable upon yourselves. It is extremely
difficult, if not impossible, for either the working or middle
class to obtain any substantial reform, by peaceful and ra-
tional means, while their common enemy can keep them
disunited ; but let a union take place, for the purpose of
carrying into effect the principles of the People's Charter,
and then those progressive improvements in the condition
of the people will immediately commence that ultimately
will make our beloved country free, prosperous, and happy.on
It unfortunately happens that the creduloush e
that g
your class still hope for some amelioration
,
of
afflict our country from the House of Constrnoottn j y
o,satsifattphreei-r
sent constituted. But experience does
e them any encouragement? hopes and exectations. Does the recentt ,D
conduct
idnot of the
Mmbers afford more
in
the
than
n lnaew-
sh a?
Did If o
tose theutvote against anyof alteration
not 335
Members h
vote against the Ballot ? Andi Members f
use
also
who
the
drd not vote on the occasion were all n favour of the
Ballot, and had attended and voted, that question would,
notwithstanding, have been hopelessly
rejected. Will a
better fate attend your endeavours to procure the repeal of
those obnoxious laws which are considered as peculiarly
affecting the interest of your class ? It is absurd
to expect it.
upon every question of importance. Mark the opposi-
The same painful reflection attends
us
tion which
a grant of 30,0001. for educational pure
Poses receives as_ compared with a grant of 70,0001. for
the Queen's stables. Observe, also how UNEQUAL is the
taxation imposed by a House of Commons representing but
a small portion of the people. In innumerable instances
the nobility and gentry of the land escape, while the in-
dustrious artisan and tradesmen are taxed' to the utmost
limit of endurance. We see, by law, probate duty rigidly
exacted from the intelligent and skilful tradesman on all
personal property disposed of by will; while, with great
partiality and injustice, the real estates of the nobility. and
gantry, under the side Ciraumttifileakierdrefiipler 11-0-6
payment.

Middle classes! It is our anxious desire that you