The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-15 00:00:00

CbitIBINATION.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING.

DUBLIN, MARCH 11.—Yesterday, at 1 o'clock,
a meeting took place in the Old Stock Exchange, Commercial
Buildings, convened by a great number of persons of respecta-
bility,—the Right Hon the Loan MAYOR, in the Chair.
His Loansx so caused the requisition to be read, which ex.
pressed a belief, " That a system of Combination now existed
among the tradesmen and working-classes of this city to a de-
gree hitherto unknown, not only highly injurious to the manu-
facturing and commercial interests of the country at large, but
destructive of that morality, industry, and good order, so de-
sirable amongst the working-classes of this city ; and an evil
which has occasioned'the loss of life to many persons—destroyed
all confidence and good-will between the employer and the
workman—rendered the sober and industrious subject to the
idle and dissipated—caused an almost insuperable obstacle to
improvement in many branches of our manufactures—and pre-
vented in a great degree the further employment of our own
and British capital therein ; whilst at the same time it has
brought misery and ruin upon the families of many of the
working-classes themselves."
After some preliminary remarks, it was asked by Mr. W.
HALL, of St. Andrew-street, if the journeymen would be
allowed to attend ?
One or two Gentlemen urged adherence to the original in-
teotion of confiding the Meeting to the bankers, merchants,
manufacturers, &c.
Mr. LAToucuE, as one of those who had signed the requi-
sition, disclaimed having intended to enter into any dispute
with the working classes. All compulsory combinations end-
ing in bloodshed and death, were inexpedient and highly inju-
rious to society, and the working people themselves. His ob-
ject was, to unite employers and workmen in mutual interest
and good will. It occurred to him that a declaration of the
evils of combination should be made.
Mr. Humes/is here offered himself to the Meeting, and
asked to be heard on the part of the journeymen ; he attended
as the Counsel of the working men of Dublin. If the Meeting
would not consent to hear him on a declaration to that effect,
he would retire.
The LORD MAYOR called on the Meeting to hear Mr. La-
touche, who was in possession. That Gentleman then pro-
ceeded—he said combinations were injurious to the workmen,
and deterred English and Scottish capitalists from embarking
their properties in Ireland. He recommended the formation of
an Association, composed of the Bankers, Merchants, and Ma-
nufacturers, to seek into the causes that have led to combina-
tion, by taking into consideration the state of the working
classes, endeavouring to ameliorate their condition, and lastly
to afford protection to those who would resist, or repel the in-
fluence of combinators ; the Association to inquire into the
conduct of Manufacturers towards persons in their employ-
ment, and protect the humbler from any oppressive mea-
sure: taken by the wealther persons in trade. He did
not wish to prevent the arguments of the Counsel for
the journeymen. They had net the people's interest half so
much at heart as he had when he signed the Requisition. The
Association he proposed to be called " The Friends of the
Working Classes." There was an injurious combination in
Dublin, the evils of which were seen in the condition of the
wires and families of the working classes. Kindness and good-
nature would dictate the proceedings of the intended Associa-
tion-L-the object being, the improvement of the condition of the
working classes.
It was then moved by P. D. LaroucuE, Esq. and passed,
that Counsel should be heard, when
Mr. II WIAND addressed the Chair on behalf of the working
classes. Some of the proposed Resolutions he objected to.
The journeymen had grievances peculiar -to themselves, which
could not ho remedied by ex-parte proceedings. He admitted
the existence of combination, but urged that the general wel-
fare would be best promoted by the masters andthwea ms
lennepcaormed-
ing together to an understanding. some intelligent men from
the journeymen should state their grievances; lie
to state some of them ; a fortnight would not be sufficient for
a -detail of all the grievances. It was expedient that no ex-parte
proceeding (where the journeymen were not present) should be
resolved on. If his instructions were true, serious causes of
complaint could be proved. The Resolutions, excellent as se-
veral of them were, would materially affect his clients. He
urged an adjournment to a future day.
Mr. LAT oucuE, in explanation, said, the object of the
proposed Association was exactly that which the Counsel for
mtahscezjitlua
ascertaining
ientyhre etvhnee;,;:i,viter.......--Inccoen:sl:7ll,euifogufr.rnit
journeymen,
cnheand7 lnienaAda
Association,
haa
teinornned:
friendly manner towards those oppressed, would restore confi-
dence, and ultimately lead to the welfare of trade and the coun-
try. !fearing evidence at such a Meeting as that, would occupy
time fruitlessly_while, bypassing the Resolutions he proposed,
the happiest effect would be A ,
4t
1t
t Ci
o
prouuccu on tne employers and the
employed.
The LORD MAYOR ordered a Resolution proposed by Mr.
witnessesßoylan t beon o
at read-
h,;. ' 0' a
pt,. a ghat on mi ri
Parliamentit ee b e appointedfor
a new tt o
code n
hear t
laws, on the various subjects connected with trade.
Mr. LATOuCTIE PVPfted an amendment, declaratory of the
existence of combination, ace.
Mr. FINLAY thought that an agreement might be entered
into to satisfy all
persons concerned. Tile question was between
masters and employers' Ile thought the masters, manufac-
turers, &c., should be excluded. As long as human nature
was what it was, men Pitted against each other would be urged
too much by personal Interests; while one party was excluded
altogether. If the masters alone formed part of the Association,
how would t yeg fre! of the charge of being themselves in
combination by fixing tnc price of labour.—(Hear!)—All con-
flicts arising between wnlttnen and employers, must be set-
tled either by blows, 1- ,1 Unmirage, or by non-intercourse--
to the last the Irish lia,7,recourse ; in England, by the English
law, the poorest sly", n? lifr. Whitbread's brewery could, in
case of dispute, compel hint to come to arbitration, and abide
by the award. The secret of the whole was in that, and was
disclosed in the 38th ands th Geo. 111. cap. 700, which pro-
vided that, in case 0I misunderstanding arising from causes
possible to
demand an arbitration, each ap-
menausmteerraatnedd
thea occur, it should be lawful for the
ap-
pointing an arbitrator—Oiat Act passed in the year of the
Union. In the 43d of the King, the great Combine-
tiontiAlectileiansgsedirx pa
excluding the clause of the 39th and 40th
of
tion in Ireland. Ile put it to
bleglninds of the Lord Mayor, Mr.
that if what he was then suggesting
would not meet the intention announced, it was from the want
Lt the
to u fairch e , andand thhen honourable
of a just law, creating a disparity between the working classes,
that combination followed. In America there were no com-
bination laws, and it wet; beat the world in manufacture
and in comme rce._(fleer, hear!)g
All factious Acts of Legis-
s
lation were bad—the code of combination, he doubted not,
would be ameliorated or abolished in England before three
years.
Mr. Er.e.rs, M.P., said, he attended there to ascertain the
wishes, and obey the commands of so respectable a portion of
his fellow-citizens; any thing which could enchain the freedom
of trade, (he agreed with Mr. Finlay,) was extremely detrimen-
tal. He had no interests but those of trade; the interests of
the masters and the journeymen were conjoined, and it was im-
possible that one should be injured without prejudice to the
other. The humblest mechanic would be heard ; hut it was
necessary to state an important fact—a Committee of the
House of Commons was sitting at that moment—sitting
at that very moment. He (Hr. Ellis) waited on the Cham-
ber of Commerce, and" took their instructions ; he then
wrote to the Chairman of that Committee, prayiag that Ireland
should be looked toesand her interest', ok/suited`, by including
her in the inquiry of the Committee. He had therefore to
announce, that the Committee consented ; and he called on
all concerned to furnish him with information on this import-
ant subject, which lie would faithfully transmit to England,
and submit to the Committee.—(Hear, hear, hear ! and cries
of " We will, we will.")—He would submit his information ;
coming from high or low, it should ascend to the sanctuary
of justice. There were faults at both sides—both have been
in an error in supposing that workman or employer had
separate interests. While that feeling existed, no peace or
prosperity could be expected. He concluded by saying,
he would attend the Committee of the House of Commons
on Monday next, and would submit whatever information he
might be favoured with upon a point of such vital importance
to Ireland, and fellow-citizens. He hail remained for several,
days in Dublin, with a view of attending that Meeting.
Mr. Alderman ARCHER agreed with Master Ellis. He re-
commended an adjournment, until the Report of the House of
Commons could be made. The journeymen should be repre-
sented.—He himself had successfully practised umpirage for
sixteen years, and, by advocating mutual appeals, succeeded in
reconciling many differences between employers and their
men. As long as the Committee was composed of masters
only, disturbances must continue, and the city be disgraced
as it has been. He wished to bury in oblivion every thing past,
anti advocated the policy of exciting mutual good feelings be-
tween the masters and the men. He hoped the amendment
would be withdrawn, and that the Meeting would adjourn for
a fortnight.

eri.; two letters were read by direction of the Chairman.—
One of those, dated Chamber of Commerce, and signed " Ro-
bert Roe," stated the fact of the Committee of the House of
Commons being appointed. The other was from Mr. Joseph
Hume, enclosing the following Resolution of the House of
Commons, and stating that the Committee had commenced the '
examination of witnesses :—]
" ORDERED—That a Select Committee be appointed to in-
quire into the state of the law in the United Kingdom and its
consequences, respecting artisans leaving the kingdom, and ie..