The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1841.

the results may be seen, and they, on their return, may
spread it in their respective localities, and that this as-
sembly will strenuously exert themselves in its promul-
gation.
Our readers are aware that the National Daily
Bread Society is founded on the principle of col-
lecting money to evade the Corn-laws, and is now
a numerous body. Thus, practically, the people are
resolving not to obey the law, while they are
guilty of no acts of violence in evading or resist-
ing it.. While writers have shrunk from discuss-
ing the principle of obedience, the multitude
have in their hearts felt that they had trespassed
on its extreme bounds, and had reached a point
where resistance becomes a virtue.

As a confirmation of this, we may add that we
have received several communications convincing
us that opinions such as we have stated are daily
extending in the manufacturing districts. One
letter, which came yesterday from Greenock,
says,—" I also hail with pleasure those vigorous
remarks of your's, advocating the undoubted
right of the people to resist unjust and atrocious
laws whenever it is in their power." Our Corre-
spondent follows out his principle with an abun-
dance of zeal, and recommends the manufac-
turing and trading classes to cease their exer-
tions, and throw the toiling millions exclusively
on the land for subsistence. Strange, but serious
and earnest thoughts are thus forced into the
minds of the multitude, by being obliged
to toil " incessantly, without being able
to procure food for themselves and their
I children," while those who govern the commu-
nity, chiefly for their sake, wallow in sloth and
luxury. That such things should be suffered to
continue, when every man in the country knows
as well nearly what is done, and what is its bear-
ings, as the Prime Minister himself, is, we con-
ceive, absolutely impossible. The alternative,
therefore, which is offered to the landowners is,
to change the law in due course by Parliament,
or see it and the authority of Parliament de-
stroyed by general resistance.

At a meeting of the unemployed at Paisley, on
Tuesday last, (where, we regret to say, the dis-
tress continues to increase, without the means of
relieving it augmenting in a like proportion),
Sheriff CAMPBELL " passed a high eulogium on
the manner in which the unemployed had con-
ducted themselves during this unexampled stag-
nation of trade. From his experience," he said,
" as a Magistrate for forty years, notwithstanding
all their privations, they had behaved in the most
quiet and peaceable manner."
Similar testimony can be, and ought to be,
borne to the half employed, and the unemployed,
throughout the kingdom. Though their suffer-
ings have been unexampled, their patience has
been unequalled. Not a riot has taken place—
not an outrage has been committed, to distinguish
the present from times of the greatest prosperity.
At the same time the public press has not been
dumb. Bold discussion has not been spared, and
has, perhaps, been substituted for violent actions.
We notice this feature with great pleasure, be-
cause it exists in connection with the removal of
a large portion of the stamp duties on news-
papers, and with no inconsiderable increase in
provincial journals. We are reminded, too, by
a pamphlet addressed to GEORGE BIRKBECK,
Esq., the venerable founder of Mechanics' Insti-
tutions, just transmitted to us, that the pre-
sent patience, quietness, and good order of
the people are so conspicuous, after mechanics'
institutions have been established for nearly
twenty years, and have done much to improve
the morals and minds of the present generation
of workmen. It ought to be a great encourage-
ment to statesmen to remit noxious taxes, which
stand in the way of increasing knowledge, and
to philanthropists to persevere in such good works
as promoting education, when they find them
accompanied by such beneficial results.

It is instructive also, and ought to tinge the
cheeks of some of our Contemporaries with
shame, to contrast the peaceable behaviour of
our suffering manufacturing population with the
conduct of some classes of men abroad, whom
in general all Governments are much more dis-
posed to honour than to honour the working
people. A few days ago we received accounts
from Belgium of an attempt to get up a rebel-
lion in that country, which must have been
begun in blood and war. It seemed so pre-
posterous, that at first we were disposed to treat
it as a hoax, but the commencement of judicial
investigation satisfies us of its reality. In that
case military men, out of mere wanton ambition,
would involve their country in the horrors of a
civil war. At the head of it are Generals and
Colonels, men decorated with stars and ribands,
belonging to a class for which Governments
scarcely think they can do too much, and who
look down with contempt on spinners and
weavers.

From Spain also, within a month, we have had
news of a formidable rebellion planned by a
whole army of Generals—O'DONNELL in Pampe-
luna, LEON at Madrid, NARVAEZ in the South,
arid begun with a cruel and bloody attack on the
Palace of an infant Queen. The outrages which
these much-honoured and highly-rewarded men
committed and instigated, were, it is true, all
professional; but they were such as, we are
happy to say, have not been conceived, much
less attempted, by the suffering artisans of
England.
France, too, thoroughly imbued with the mili-
tary spirit, and neither a manufacturing nor a
commercial country, has of late been conspicuous
for attacks on the KING'S life, for emeutes, for un-
ruly conduct, and for gross outrages. Cantrast-
ing the proceedings in other countries with
the behaviour of our own manufacturing
population under their most unmerited
sufferings, it shines out most favourably, and
should induce every Government which wishes
for peace and security to cultivate commerce and
manufactures rather than encourage the military
spirit and reward military virtues. In theory it
has long been known that commerce and manu-
factures are as favourable to the internal tran-
quillity of nations as they are to preserving peace
between them and this practical illustration of
the theory will, we hope, incline our aristocratic
rulers, ere it be yet too late, to remove those re-
strictions on commerce and manufactures which
are now imposed on them from the grossest igno-
rance or the most stupid selfishness.
We will, in conclusion, direct public attention
to a communication which appears in another
part of The Sun, from the Rev. H. PRICE, which
only does justice to the surpassing utility of the
classes which the Corn-law Tories are determined
to starve out of existence, and comes appropriately
to confirm some of our remarks.

On this day week we adverted to the Exche-
quer bills forgery, and to the destruction of the
Arsenal in the Tower, as adding to the difficul-
ties which Sir ROBERT PEEL will have to en-
counter when he meets the Parliament. His
postponement of business has not revived com-
merce nor improved the finances, but it has
given him more to provide for with diminished
means. Yesterday the Times, borrowing ap-
parently our suggestion, grounds on the fact
that Sir ROBERT PEEL will have more to
provide for in consequence of the forgery and the
burning, a defence of Sir ROBERT PEEL for not
having legislated during the present year. He
could not then know of these two disasters, and
therefore, argues the Times, it was wise in him
not to make ally financial arrangements till the
next session.

Our Contemporary also refers to the recent ac-
quittal of Mr.l7_'LEon as promoting a settlement of
the dispute with America, and therefore justifying
Sir ROBERT'S delay. In another Ministerial
raper, however, of yesterday, we are threat-
ened with another outbreak in Canada ; and the
Herald recommended the Ministry to keep a
large army on foot in the Canadas, to be pre-
pared for the insurrection. While the acquittal
of M‘LEon, therefore, on the one hand, is to
encourage Sir RonEnr PEEL to act, the appre-
hended rebellion in the Canadas, on the other,
to keep him on the watch, and pre-
e.it him from going Ibrward. If he could
n of take his measures in August because he did
a (0 juiow how the trial would terminate, he may