The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-10 00:00:00

SHIPWRIGHTS.

FOR THE SUN.
Ma. Enrron—ln the public discussion of sub-
jects calculated in their nature to excite a•strong
degree of popular feeling, the task of opposing
the current of that feeling is so odious and thank-
less, while so many inducements are afforded to
flatter the passions, and minister to the preju-
dices of the multitude, that it can scarcely be
matter of surprise, if in such discussions the voice
of reason be freqnently suppressed, and the sober
dictates of truth borne down, by • the clamour
of party, and the seductions of popularity. These
reflections are suggested by the consideration of
a subject, to which I rejoice to perceive that the
attention of the Public has been drawn by the
humorous letter of your Correspondent on Mon-
day. last; I mean the Repeal of the Combination
Laws. That in expunging those laws front the
Statute Book, the Legislature were actuated by a
liberal and enlightened desire to do justice to the
labouring classes, to promote union with their em-
ployers, and to extend to domestic labour that
freedom which the spirit of the times is daily !a-
fusing into our foreign intercourse, I can have no
doubt; whatever be the opinion I entertain, as to
the motives of some of the individuals by whom
the measure was most strenuously supported ; hut
I firmly believe, that-in pursuit, of an object, ab-
stractedly good, the Legislature itself acted with
indiscretion and precipitation; that. Parliament
was misled by partial, erroneous, and ex parte
information, and that had the inquiry, on which
legislation was founded, been further extended,
and the decision postponed to a futere Session,
the result would have been, a modification or
gradual abolition of the laws, Instead of their
sudden and entire repeal 1 By this course, all
the expected benefits would have been ultimate-
ly obtained, while the evils which I contend
have occurred would have been avoided. It
is one question, whether prohibitory and restric-
tive laws ought ever to have been enacted, and
another, whether after having become ine-Iwoven
with the complex and artificial fabric of Society,
they should be suddenly and indiscriminately
withdrawn ; a distinction which, obvious as it
must appear, has in more than one notable instance
been lost sight of in the innovating zeal of modern
legislation. But, as it appears from the speech of
Mr. Hume, at the Anniversary Dinner of the
London Mechanics' Institution, not improbable,
that the subject may, in the ensuing Session, be
again brought under the consideratiou of Parlia-
ment, it must be admitted to be of the last im-
portance, that no misapprehension should exist as
to the actual results of the experiment, as far as
they have hitherto been demonstrated, whatever
be the opinion entertained as to the policy of the
experiment itself being attempted. At such a
Meeting as that alluded to, it can scarcely
excite surprise that Mr. HUME should use every
effort to prove that the offspring of his own
endeavours possessed allthe merit its sanguine
parent predicted, and in this view) it was perhaps
nut unfair in him to state, on such authority as
he quoted, that as far as regarded the Sawyers of
Liverpool and the Shipwrights of the Tyne and
the Wear, the experiment had been productive of
benefit. But when he goes on to infer broadly
that these instaueser `rclearly demonstrated that-ts none of those serious Consequences resulted
44 which had been anticipated from the repeat of
the Combination Lows," I venture, as a practical
man, intimately acquainted with the particular
dus§es of men unfortunately selected by the
onourable Member in ktlislstration of his argu-
ment, to tell him confidently and publicly, that
he has drawn an inference unwarranted by facts ;
and that if instead of travelling to the North
for information, he had pushed his inquiries
nearer home, he would have found that in-
stead of " living in perfect friendship with
" their masters, and the most perfect harmony
44 existing between them," the Shipwrights,
Sawyers, and other Artizans employed in Ship-
building in this port, are unhappily at this mo-
ment in a state of direct and general hostility
with their Employers, entirely unknown ror Some
years previously ; that his favourite measure has

introduced, an indefinite feeling of discontent
a fierce spirit of defiance ; a general tendency to
insubordination ; a wanton, unjust, and unneces-
sary determination to reject all control on the
part of the people, and u consequent jealousy
and distrust on that of the Masters ; he would
have found that a combination now exists not, for
the fair maintenance of independence, mid resist-
ance of oppression, but extended throughout the
Country to check the free competition qf labour,
and subject the Public to an unjust and ruinous
monopoly; he would have found, that this com-
bination has exerted, and is exerting, the most un-
justifiable means of intimidation, misrepresentation
and violence, to prevent l r from finding its
proper and natural level, bofr‘tery labourer being
permitted freely to offer his exertions at the best
market that may be open to him. That a few
bold bad men, taking advantage of this state of
things, mislead the undiscerning many, are con.
stituted a regular deliberative assembly, promul-
gating-its decrees, and distributing its funds
through all parts of the kingdom, and pursuing
a system threatening to subvert the whole social
fabric. All this the Honourable Member would
find in London, and. without entirely assenting
to the shrewd suspicion of your Correspondent
of Monday, as to the motives of Mr. HUME'S in-
formant, in representing as so harmonious the
condition of Liverpool and the Northern Ports, I
can positively assert even, with respect to them,
that there is by uomeans a sentiment of satisfaction
and
men. is true that the men, having carried
f'
Mr. H ustE
good will prevailing between masters and
It
their point, are no longer standing out, but i
the conduct pursued by
or Mr. GLADSTONE wish, and publicly
express a wish, that the powers exercised, and
the Artizaus of Liver.
pool, should be generally introduced in other
ports, I may hereafter be induced to submit a
few facts relating to that
place, which would
(or I um much mistaken) induce the Public,
and especially the unbiassed and conscientious
advocates of freedom, and free trade, to form a
very different conclusion. Apologizing for this
long intrusion on your columns, I remain, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Aiwa Thames, Dec. a, 1824. VEItAX.