The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-20 00:00:00

"REPLY OF THE MEDIATION COMMITTEE.

' "Preston, April 19.
"Sir,—We are requested by the Mediation Committee
to acknowledge the receipt of yottnnote, in which you cour-
teously state the determination of the Committee of the
Associated Masters to decline any services which it might
be in the power of the Mediation Committee to give. They
deeply regret this determination, especially so, as in their
opinion the reasons you allege on behalf of the Committee
of the Associated Masters will not bear the test of any very
strict or profound investigation.
" The Mediation Committee, in accepting aloes imposed
upon them by the unanimous consent of a large assemblage
of their fellow-townsmen, have had no intention of allow-
ing themselves to be drawn into any discussion concerning
disputed points in political economy. In reference, how-
ever, to your remarks about supply and demand, they
cannot forbear expressing the opinion that the state of
the town of Preston is a striking exemplification of the
fallacy of the doctrine you have so unconditionally
enunciated. Labour here is in great demand, the supply
is small,' and yet the wages offered are considerably less
than such as were paid some six or seven months ago.
There are evidently other elements, not,, perhaps, as yet
well defined or scientifically determined, that enter into
the true solution of the question.
" You state that to admit of mediatiou4n such a case as
this would be the admission of a principle dangerous and
.mischievous in its tendency. Such a supposition appears
to the Mediation Committee to be based imp ari exagge-
rated notion of the necessity of defending Ind enforcing
abstract individual rights. Now, abstract personal rights,
if rigidly enforced, tend pot to the consolidation, but to
the dissolution of the bonds of society. society, in short,
is made up of compromises. Moreover, there is a legal
maxim to the effect that persons shall souse their property
as not to injure the property of others. Whether in law
the maxim be sound
.or the reverse, it evidently is so in
equity and common sense. Now, the skill, industry, and
capital i f classes unconnected with this dispute aro ma-
terially damaged and depreciated by it; and they, in s the
opinion of the Mediation Committee, baee a perfect right
to use all legitimate means in defence of their. property,
even to the extent of applying to Parliament for powers to
do what our chivalrous allies the French are, under similar
circumstances, in the habit of doing—namely, to make the
settlement of this dispute coinoulsork. The Mediation
Counr.ittee are sure that the members of the Committee of
the Masters' Association will, upon calm consideration,
coincide in the priniiples now propounded, inasmuch as
to hold the contrary would be equivalent to maintaining
that persons may, when they choose, appropriate to them-
selves all the advantages which the institution of society
originates and secures,. and repudiate the obligations of
that institution..when it suits their convenience to do so.
" We are, Sir;-yours truly,
W. ,COR. LESS,.
" G., SHAW, }HOU- Secretaries.
- "To Mr. J.A. Ewan, Secretary to the
Masters'- Associatipti."