The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-24 00:00:00

NATIONAL CONVENTION.

_
On the motion of Dr. FLETCHER, Mr. Lunen took the
Chair.
Mr. BURN was appointe3 Secretary for the day.
THE SACRED MONTH..
Dr. FLETCHER, as the Chairman of the Committee appoint e
to report on the arrangements for carrying into operation the
Sacred Month, stated that the Committee would not 'come to
any conclusion until the adjourned debate on the question had
been decided.

ADJOURNED DEBATE.
The motion and the amendment having been put from tl e
Chair, and no member thing to address the Chair, it was prc-
posed, in consequence of no person rising to address the Cor-
venton, that they should adjourn for an hour.
Dr. M`Do U A Lt. objected to their adopting such a course.
Mr. 13uatv was of the same opinion. He did not see why
they should accommodate any party. He thought the discus-
sisn ought either to ko on, or the question should be deter-
nun d.

Mr. JAMES TAYLOR believed, with respect to keep-
ing th sacred month, that the Convention had placed
them elves with res; eet to the people in a wrong
Fos;tion. All those who had fixed upon the day for keeping
the sacred month had stated their opinions of its impractica-
Li In the present state of things, if their constituents had
been led astray on this subject, it was the fault of the Conven-
tion alone; they had called for evidence on the subject, and
upon that evidence they had.come to the determination that it
was impracticable. Their constituents ought to be informed
of what that evidence consisted.—( Hear, hear.) Unless the
minds of the middle classes could be worked upon as to the
necessity of refraining from work for a certain time, in order to
coerce the Government or influence them, it would have no
effect. If this was not accomplished the attempt to cease from
labour would produce a bloody revolution.—( Hear, hear.) He
thought the Convention ought to be guided by the evidence
they had received, and they ought to put forth some resolution
showing their determination to act upon that evidence.
It had been said they had the confidence of the
people, if they had they were in a most responsible situa-
tion ; and he hoped, therefore, that in the important discussion
they were ncw engaged in, they would lay aside all personali-
ties. as in the adoption of that course alone beneficial results
might be expected.
r. OsISOR NE would vote against the motion of Mr. O'Brien,
and the amendment of Mr. O'Connor, because he believed
in the first place it would unsettle the public mind and throw
di,repute at the Convention. He thought the adoption of the
holiday would have a beneficial effect on the minds of the work-
ing classes, because it would show the worthlessness of pro-
perty when its great creator, labour, was withdrawn front it.
WoondousE believed that they had made a serious
mistake in not appointing a committee, for he believed
if that course had . been'- -adopted they would have
been prepared to have 'fixed the 12th .if August
or the commencement of the holiday. He should vote for the
amendment of Mr. O'Connor.

Mr. O'CoNNOR would propose that the call of the Conven-
tion should take place on Wednesday next, instead of Monday
week, as he had previously stated.
Air. 31A itsDEN opposed the motion and the amendment.
Dr. FLETCHER did not consider the people were prepared
for the sacred month, and as evidence of that he might refer to
letters he had received from those parts of the country he re-
presented. Dr. Fletcher then read two letters, from which it
appeared that, although that pa. t of the country was prepared
for the holiday, yet they were of opinion it would be useless to
attempt it unless they were supported by every other part of the
country.
Mr. KNOX would vote for Mr. O'Brien's motion, because it
was in nccordance with his own opinions and those of ins con-
stituent s.

Mr. PITKEITHLEY thought the Convention ought not to
be biassed by one constituency or :another, or by one indivi-
dual or another. The only consideration which ought to in-
fluence them, was that which would be lead to the accomplish-
ment of Universal Suffrage, and the bringing into operat►on
the People's Chart-r. Notwithstanding what had been stated
by several Members of the Convention, he did not b lieve that a
half or a third of the working and middle classes were prepared
for the holiday. He thought if they adopted the holiday at the
present time, they would give their enemies a triumph.
Mr. LEESOM had been requested to inform the Convention
that it was the intention of 'Mr. Harney to be in his place in
the Convention to-morrow, to point out to it the situation
of the North of England with reference to the National
Holiday. NA ith respect to the subject now under consideration
it was his determination to give his most strenuous support
to the motion and amendment, as he believed one and the
same end was intended by both, namely, to negative what
the Convention had already agreed upon. It was his firm
belief that if the resolution was rescinded the Convention would
no longer be capable of carrying on its business. The resolution
hail been carried by a majority, andought to be sustained. He
believed the people were much better prepared for the holiday
than their leaders. The people were better prepared than he
expected they ever would have been, or would be by delay.
It had been said that the effect of the holiday would be
to cause a bloody revolution. Why, Universal Suf-
frage would naturally, when it w•as obtained, create
a revolution, but it would be a moral one. He was con-
vinced, if the Convention did its duty to the people, they would
do their duty to them. It was not any member of the Conven-
tion that could stop the present movement, but they could stop
the effusion of blood.—( Hear, hear.) He had only the good
of the working classes at heart in all that he had done, and with
them he was determined to live or die.—( Cheers. )

(LEFT SITTING.)

METROPOLI rAN POLITICAL

SUMMARY.

The Morning Herald of this day, commenting on the
the proposed Birmingham Police force, observes :—" This
experiment will, in all probability, cost the country dear,
and the country gentlemen more especially, will yet see
cause to regret their support of the scheme."—The Times,
in the course of an article on the Penny Postage measure,
strongly recommends the repeal or the equalization of the
duties on steam and animal power.—The Morning Adver-
tiser remarks, with reference to the late outrage of Char-
tism at Birmingham, " its violent exhibitions are its weak-
est ; the power most dangerous to be evoked, is the cool,
calculating resolve of those who, while condemning this
outrageous proceeding of action, approve of the sentiment
which dictates it."—The Morning Chronicle in a leading
article on last night's debate in the Lords, speaks of the
Earl of Clarendon's speech on Spanish affairs, as being
" full of sound and enlarged views, and breathing the very
spirit of constitutional freedom."—The Morning Post is
quite in raptures with Sir IL Peel's speech last night on
the proposed increase of the Police force, observing that
" it took by far the soundest and most statesmanlike view
of the subject."

RIOTS IN NEWCASTLE.

EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF THE

RIOTERS.
MONDAY, JULY 22.—This town was in a state of grea
excitement all day yesterday, and towards evening an at
tempt was made to create a disturbance in Sandgate, by
two men, who collected a great crowd of people about
them, and endeavoured to incite them to acts of mischief.
The police on duty in the immediate neighbourhood,
finding themselves unable to apprehend the leaders, or
suppress the tumult, despatched information to the princi-
pal station, whence a strong detachment of the reserve
corps issued, and succeeded in taking the two men into
custody. After a vigorous resistance, they were safely
lodged in the gaol, and nothing further transpired during
the night to interrupt the tranquillity of the town.
This morning these two men, whose names are Michael
Cover and Christopher Hart, were brought up before the
Magistrates at the Police Court, and summarily con-
ictcd of an assault upon the policemen in the execution of
their duty.
Respecting the rioters who had been apprehended on
Sunday morning, and during the course of which day the
Magistrates held a private consultation, and having deter-
mined to hear the case against them, they were brought
from the prison under escort of a strong detachment of the
police force. The Mayor, Ma. Alderman Roeley, Mr.
Nichol, Mr. Plummer, and Mr. Loraine, having taken their
seats upon the bench, the prisoners, nine in number, the
others having been disposed of among the disorderlies, seve-
rally answered to their names as follows :—Archibald
White, Peter Flanagan, John Southeron, John Thompson,
William Campbell, Peter Divine, Peter Brown, Barnard
Flanagan, and Thomas Owen. They were severally
charged with riotous proceedings, and with obstructing the
police constables in the execution of their duty. Owen, the
last named prisoner, was also charged with having in his
possession an unlawful weapon.
Cuthbert Ridley, the policeman on duty at the head of
the Side when the riot commenced, detailed the whole of
the circumstances as recorded by us yesterday, and his tes-
timony was confirmed by that of other policemen who were
examined, and by several inhabitants of the town. From
the evidence, which we do not think it necessary to give
at length, it appeared that about 12 o'clock on Satur-
day night, Southeron, one of the prisoners, was going
down the Side on his way to Gateshead, in company with
his brother, who had recently come to the town, and whom
he was accompanying home to his lodgings in Gateshead.
When at the head of the Side they saw a great number of
persons collected together, one of whom struck at South-
eron and dared him out to fight, and Southeron was obliged
to strike in self.defence. Ridley, the policeman, came
up just at the time, and took Southeron into custody, and
then the people cried " Down with the b--" (meaning
the policeman), " We'll do for them to-night." Several
xpressions of similar import were used, and the mob at
length overpowered the policemen and other farce who
had come up on hearing Ridley spring his rattle. The
rest of the proceeding has been already told. Southeron's
statement having been confirmed, and it having appeared
that he made no resistance on being taken into custody,
the Magistrates directed him to be discharged.
Peter Flanagan was summarily convicted, and fined 20s.
and costs. and in default of payment was committed to the
House of Correction for one calendar month.
The case against Peter Brown was disposed of in a
similar manner, the prisoner being fined 10s. and costs for
assaulting the police. and in default of payment committed
to the (louse of Correction for 14 days.
t take Barnard
theirF 1
trialan a g hiroarn
riot,an d Jaonhdn
wanton Thompsondes
twr
Lie
er et i
n ofcommittedp ro.
o
rpeemrtaynadtedth, itonfeathsees
them,pargisaoinbnaletrsthwere
named Leslie, a police constable, who was tine e at
eonAessoizfestheanpdrintchieparleswt
tend from the injuries he had received, not being present.
thelras act
at
The Mayor pointed out thegreantilitmyp, raonpdriestxyproefsesoedndtuheet
iu
ho
of which the prisoners had been g
wNalasytoark,eln,
determination of the Magistrates to act promptly in all
cases of this kind that might be brought before them.
police, and he was heard to exclaim,
go, and the Mayor at the head of
One of the prisopnieerese(oPf entreirekDaistinteh)e
etif:ethirioeawdingof lithe
him, let us scalp him."
them.tc‘
ieTyhsettrraceteDetthnefr
havingombeen him, a
thrown similar
a t
one
o f
Besides the pike
found on the person of Owen, and which was with
instrumentdiffi-
the' foundas
policemen.n
Three of the prisoners had the appearance of respectable
mechanics, and the others were stonemasons, or persons of
TChartists intend to hold a meeting in the Forth to-
inoriwevening, and due precautions are being taken to
have
that class.ol
t
ehe military and the police in readiness to act, upon a
moment's warning, in case any disturbance should take
place.— Times.

THE PRINCE OF CAPUA.—M. de Berardi has
again left Rome for England, by way of Naples. He is
said to be charged with a mission from the Prince of
Capua to that city, the object of which is to bring about an
arrangement with the King and his Royal Highness.

ITHE CAUSE OF POLAND.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

San—We have read over and over again the able
articl3 inserted in your Evening Paper of the 13th inst.
about the Poles, and the late grand meeting held in
favour of the cause of Poland. As it shows that you
are a true advocate to the cause of our unfortunate
country, we cannot but be most sensible of this new
proof of sympathy on your side. But as that article
may create a supposition that the Polish Refugees are
indiscreet intruders in the political affairs of this coun-
try, we hope you will allow us, Sir, to make some
remarks on the subjeet. We agree with you that it is
mostindecent for any foreigner to interfere with the affairs
of the country which gives him shelter and subsistence
and which of all other countries is most likely to assist us,
in obtaining the very object of our dearest expectations
namely, regaining the e independence of our country. But we
tu:nte tnat our political conscience as a body, is free from
the reproach of any indiscretion in this respect. In two
only instances the name of a Pole was mixed up with
your domestic concerns. The first was that of Shoultz,
WOO was rei orted to have been a Pole, and hanged since
for the part he bad taken in the troubles of Canada ; but
we beg to remind the public that before he left New York
our brethren from America reported him themselves to
your Government as a Russian agent; neither could he speak
.tie Polish lrnguage, and the 4,0001. found on him after his
execution may terve as an additional proof that he was in the
pay of a wealthy Sovereign. For further particulars we refOr
uo to toe Papers published at the time. Another offence
on our account was committed by Mr. Beniowski, whose
mime has been associated with the recent transactions of
the Chartists. But do you know who that person is ? He-
is a Jew by birth; a converted Christian by speeulation ;
educated at the public expense under the influence of the
Russian Government, and subsequently a surgeon in the
Russian army ; he passed to our ranks at the moment
when the cholera exposed him to a greater danger in a
Russian hospital than he was likely to meet with on the
field of battle. Arrived in France, as a Polish refugee,
he fomented for a long time the Polish ernigraticr. in
that country. At last, despised by the Pok;',.. and
seeing his labour fruitless, he wrote an
~:;ppertinent
letter to the French Minister, came tQ England, pro-
proposed to attack St. Petersburgh, with forces which, if
his advice had been listened to, must have been exposed to
certain extermination by the Russians; and we believe
that with the assistance of the P.usilan Government he
would have been able to ,gssatet few„transport ships at that
time, and to sell us to the Czar at the market of St. Pe-
tersburgh. When this' project fell to the ground he pro-
posed aaother. lie entered into an alliance with the
taelteaan promisedned dk:
p meetingao mwinead rhd eidy
abandoned
cohbi
disgust
refugees
flattering
td ottih eee
d contempt
woulds t
bhpyi support Oshfr himself
rfifomyf
Associationtt
rtht
the
Chartists, and, representing himself to them as a person
Polishof)fo is'e„. great
soldiers;ntfir 'et
ota:lohlti
iff
t
t
e
Eh
tie
gt the Friends
ec
na
friends,
nodofsf,
o
. his standard, as a drowning man de. ready to catch
at a straw. To effect this he determined to in-
sult some of the most distinguished friamds of the cause of
Poland at the meeting held for the purpose of celebrating
the anniversary of the Polish Revolution in November last.
He came there in company of some dirty foreigners. How
lie succeeded is well known to the public. You have at-
tested yourself, in your Paper of that time, the in-
dignation of the Poles, who expressed unanimously and
loudly their conviction that be ( Beniowski) acted in the
interest of Russia, and that they looked on him as
an a Russian agent. And if from another quartar you
have learned that he is in the pay of the Russian Govern.
ment, it is clear that no responsibility for the actions of
that man can fall on the Poles in general, and that they
have never deserved to incur odium and contempt in the eyes
of the English nation. It would be equally just to lay on
our account the Russian intrigues in India, Persia, Turkey,
and Egypt.
The most grounded reproach against the Poles is, that
we are disunited in our political opinions, and that we
have no confidence in our chiefs and statesmen. But we
never differ in the principal object, which is freeing our
country from the foreign yoke. Some differences of opi-
nion occur only amongst us in matters of lesser import..
ance ; but the first trumpeter who shall call us to battle, will
at once put an end to all our disputes, and at that moment,
with joy and cheerfulness, we shall all embrace each other.
But as to the confidence in our chiefs and states-
men, the matter is widely different. Confidence, if
once lost, cannot be so easily recovered. Our chiefs and
statesmen have bad no reason to complain in that respect
during our last war with Russia, though, unfortunately,
they had nut sufficient confidence in themselves. In-
stead of raising the people, and using every means for
offronithae
cv
ea tr.tqaui
ni s rivqgt 0
rtyh,e t
hey ot
bh
cc;
edkept e back oon u.ra
nacrems y
French Cabinet, and, having allowed one of the best
causes to perish by their false system, they cannot claim
again any confidence from their country, unless they de-
clare that they will never return to the same system again.
Friends of Poland !—lf you wish earnestly to reconcile
us, you must ob:ain from those exalted persons a renuncia-
tion of that pernicious system, and this assurance will be
the only efficient remedy. Our anxiety in this respect
!,roves that we are always ready to meet again our enemies
with certain success. It is true, that being unacquainted with
the manners of this country, some of us may injure our cause
by our awkward demonstrations; but it is in your
power, Gentlemen, to prevent that misfortune. As edi-
tors of various papers, but all of them favourable to
Poland, you will, we are confident, give no publicity to
any injurious articles. It is a repeat we make by the
organ of your valuable columns to all the Editrrs of
A POLE.
Great Britain.