The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-15 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.

PROPOSED ULTERIOR MEASURES.

On Saturday a numerous meeting of the members
of the National Convention was held in Bolt-court,
Fleet-street, with the view of taking into consideration
the propriety of fixing on a day for the commence-
ment of the Sacred Month, or Month of Rest, which
it had been resolved upon by large meetings of their
constituents should be held, as one of the ulterior
Chartist treasures. Mr. Osborne in the Chair.
Mr. LOWREY rose to propose a resolution on the sub-
ject. He stated that the debate in the House of Com-
mons afforded a proof, if proof were wanting, that no-
thins, was to be expected from that House for the bene-
fit of the working classes. Lord John Russell had
dared to declare that the working classes were insti-
gated to the course they were pursuing by persons who
were actuated by mercenary motives.—(Marks of de-
cided disapprobation.) Lord John Russell, in making
that declaration, brought against them a false charge.
—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It was nothing less
than a cool gratuitous villany.—(Cheers.) A more
unfounded lie he (31r. Lowrey) never heard. There
was no use in any longer petitioning the House of
Commons. Belgium and America did not get their
liberty until they took it, and the people of this country
will never get their liberty until_they take it.—(Great ap-
plause.) With regard to the Sacred Month, during
which it was proposed there should be a universal and
entire cessation from labour among the working classes,
the great point to be considered was the best day for
corsmeneing it. He had travelled through Scotland,
Cumberland, and Westmoreland, and found that the
Chartists in those parts of the country were of opinion
that it should begin when the corn was ripe and the
petatoes were in a condition to be due. He would
therefore, in conformity with this opinion, propose the
following resolution, namely,—" That the House of
Commons having refused to g,) into Committee on the
prayer of the National Petition, it is vain to expect re-
dress from that House ; it is therefore the opinion of
the National Cenvention that the people should work
no longer rafter tae 112th of Aineest next, unless the
power of voting for Members of 'Parliament to protect
their labour is guaranteed to them."
A MEMBER seconded the motion.
Another member was speaking in support of the
motion, when a message was communicated to the
Convention that Mr. Attwood and Mr. Fielden wished
to have an interview with a deputation from the Con-
vention on matters of great importance. A deputation
were accordingly appointed to wait on the Hon. Gen-
tlemen at Mr. Fietden's -house in Panton-square, and
during their absence the discussion of the question be-
fore the Convention was postponed till they should re-

turn to the meeting. On their return they stated that
on their introduction to the two Hon. Members they
asked what the Chartists ought now to do ? Mr.
Attwood's opinion was that they should ccntinue to
petition the House of Commons.—(Laughter.) The
Members of the House of Commons who spoke on the
previous night had denied that the petition was the pe-
tition of the people, and therefore he thought they ought
to get up petitions in all the parishes of England. The
Hon. Gentleman had also said that the Chartists had
injured their cause by the violent language made use of
at some of their meetings. To the first point the depu-
tation replied that they would never petition again, as
they found it was of no use. To the second point
their answer was, that they as a body could not be held
responsible for individual expressions. The Hon. Gen-
tlemen seemed themselves to be of opinion that nothing
but the pressure from without would ever secure for the
people their inalienable rights.
At this stage of the proceedings an announcement
was made that Mr. Croudy, the doorkeeper of the Con-
vention, had just been arrested by the police, and had
been taken to Bow-street. The announcement pro.
duced a great sensation i❑ the meeting, and two mem-
bers were forthwith appointed to proceed at once to
Bow-street to ascertain on what charge their officer had
been arrested. Just as they had taken up their hats,
and were on the eve of their departure, the doorkeeper,
supposed to be immured in some gloomy dungeon, made
his appearance. It is impossible to convey any idea of
the surprise which was felt at the circumstance. It

turned out on an explanation of :he mysterious matter,
that having been out en an errand, and coming through
a narrow passage, he saw a policeman taking a boy's
donkey and cart to the green yard, and seeing the boy
in great distress, he told the policeman that he should
let the donkey and its appendage go, and content himself
with taking the number of the vehicle. On this, he
himself was taken into custody on a charge of obstruct-
ing the police in the execution of their duty. On reach-
ing the station-house, however, and stating the circum-
stances, and also who he was, the inspector said that
as he (the doorkeeper) was a respectable man—(Loud
laughter)—he would let him go.
A letter was then read from Dr. Taylor, stating
that the organization of the Chartists for the approach-
ing Sacred Month was going on in the manufacturing
districts like a house on fire.
The debate on the National Sacrel Month was then
resumed.

Mr. DEEGAN thought the Convention should
be very careful that they fixed the proper day for
commencing the universal cessation from labour.
They should remember that some Radical husbands
had Radical wives, who would compel their husbands to
work for their Rldical children. Some of the previous
speakers recommended them to wait till the potatoes
were ripe. He c3neurrt,d in the propriety of that step,
for he was very partial to potatoes ; he was particularly
fond of that root.

Mr. Mont said that the question before the meeting
was a ♦ery important one. A Sacred Month, with an
entire and general cessation from work, would be no-
thing more nor less than the beginning of a revolution
—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Unless they took
special care to have a proper organization throughout
the country previous to its commencement,
they would fail in their object. The thing
must be general, otherwise they might pull down
the houses of those opposed to thorn, and sacrifice many
lives, and yet not succeed in obtaining their rights. He
thought they ought to deliberate long and seriously en
such a subject ; he thought they should devote the
whole of next weck to the consideration of so moment-

ous a matter. The speaker then proceeded to de-
nounce the national debt and funded property. As at
present paid, the national debt was an infamous legal
robbery of the worting classes, and his (Mr. Moir's)
constituents were dctermined to stop the payment of it
as soon as they possibly can (Hear, hear,)—and then
let the landholders and fundholdcrs settle the matter
among tlicteselves as they best may.—(Laughter.)
A MEMBER of the Convention moved, as an amend-
ment to the motion, that the Sacred Month commence
on the 2.2 d of the present month.
The discussion of the question was adjourned till this
day. _ _ _

After sever:l letters from members of the Convention
in the country had been read, the Convention adjourned.

Ti CiiARTIS TS.

--.~,.-.

MEETING IN NEWCASTLE.

Considerable excitement has this week been created
in this town and neighbeurhood, in consequence of the
arrtst of several of the Chartist leaders at Birmingham,
and of Mr. Harney, at Bedlington. Several meetings
have been held in cons(quence, and others talked of;
all, however, have hitherto gone off peaceably, and the
Magistrates have not deemed it necessary to interfere,
but we understand every precaution has been taken to
guard against any breach of the peace. We trust,
however, that they will prove to be unnecessary, and
indeed our confidence in the good feeling of the inhabi-
tants of this district will not allow us to entertain any
fears upon the subject: Ia the mean time all sorts of
rumours are in circulation, amnngst which it is stated
that a general " strike" from work is to take place next
week, and it is also said that the manufacture of pikes
has been active this week at Wiolaton, where
they have been selling at Is. 6d. each. To what
extent these reports may b© well founded we are
unable to say, but as it generally happens in
such cases, they are most likely, at any rate, greatly
exaggerated. It is certain, however, that the works at
several collerics in this neighbourhood were suspended
in the beginning of the week, and some still continue so,
though at others business has been resumed."—New-
castle Chronicle.

A private letter from Newcastle was received. in town
yesterday, which represents the town as being in a most
alarming state of excitement. It is said that immense ;
crowds have assembled every night for some nights
that the colliers have to a man refused to work ; that
there is a complete stagnation of business in the place ;
that all the working men are providing themselves with
pikes, muskets, daggers, and other arms ; that all the
operatives generally are meditating a general strike ;
and that the state of alarm which fills the minds of the
more respectable classes defies description. The writer
adds that Sunderland is in an equally alarming cond:-
tion, as are also the adjoining villages.--Observer.