The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-11 00:00:00

THE FACTORY OUESTIOiti.
IA THE
„stins,. APRIL 9.—List night a very numerous, re-
-4017.7u1e, and in many respects an important meeting
thtue inhabi'ants of the borough of Lceil,e, was heti in
teef,,:„la,ily,sirco-rhall, in Albiou-street, in this town, in order
Per farther a restriction on factory labour to ten hours
women, pimp-4- p,rsons, and children.
itOn the platform were the Rev. Dr. Hook, Vicar ; the
tr• Joseph Wardle, the Rev. T. B. Ferris, th.! Rev.
).°ll2as Nunns, and other clergymen ; Mr. S. Smith,
kir" Geltge Balmer, Mr. Francis- Sharpe, and other
errand, M
several merchants; Mr. °tastier, Mr. Basfei!d
Vand, M.P. ; Mr. B. Jowett, of London ; Mr. Chas.
41ker, of Bradford ; and many other friends of the ten
%ars' Cause.
te°ll the motion of Mr. Bulmer, secon led by Mr. Sum-
rTst the Vicar of Leeds was invited to take the chair.
The
Rev, Dr. HOOK rose amidst loud applause, and
.0 viat arldressed the meeting at some length in favour
tothe
the Ten Hours' Bill, concleded by saying—" I am
aiy, In this righteous cause, to press forward ith you
frie,„lla4L gasp.—(Applaust.) And I trust that our
titl.y olnytililin when the queition is put to th ern,
'support the cause of the poor or the
hams. t h
party, will fling party to the dogs, and support
kni,t-Y, and go straight forward in that right path 111
Icso-cw" they now are. The arguments, I have adduced I
kreci TaaY b° met by counter argaments, but I have en-
tll uto them for that reason. There is, at least, you
agree, looking at the commercial question, much t
Bid:a-4190 both sides ; if much is to be sail on both
ititoc let us take the side of humanity. Throw humanity
Iv, the scale, and then we know how to proceed.
Willorgeolher the Bill will pass in this session of Parliament
(Lomay be doubtful ; but this I know, and thi3 I
ud that pass it must, and pass it will ere long.—
p 0,74 aPplause.) Even Lord Ashley consented to
the.e the of
of this Act for a short time ; and
weWe, I trust, are willing to abide our time ; but
we we are to expedite the movements of our friends.—
hairrL,iiear.) I cannot conclude without saying that I
tele now nor have lat any other time. uttered a
e word of disrespect towards the leading millowners
so
nle Manufacturers in this town ; on the contrary, I know
mostl'f*.t.hem to be amongst the most generous, and
this" oenevolent and most humane of our species; bit to
sy :stem We are opposed, and in our opposition to this
p:ti En I trust wo shall persevere diligently, ardently,
Wh determinately ; affording that fair play to all
ing~t Englishman loves, and with Christian feel,•
At lbws have.brought it to a successful
.issue.”
into th stage of the proceedings Mr. Oastler ascended
ereOstra, and was vociferously cheered.
Which J. HARNEY moved the following resolution,
operai.as seconded by Mr. R. POUNDER, a factory
sold.-e" That this meeting believes that what is
tiO4-411 understood as the Ten Hours' Factory Ques-
with. meaning thereby the limitation of factory labour
tiln a day of twelve hours, with a proper allowance
itedme for meals and rest—is a reasonable, a hely,.
righteous object ; and that the blessing of
ttf;g,u‘tY. God will not fail to attend the prosecution
thiiY upright and honourable means. That while
le meeting deeply laments that the attainment of so
togiPlate an object should have been retarded by a
).„4`44 which has now lasted more than five-and-twenty
,„."3, during which tens of thousands have gone to a
w"iraature grave, this meeting rejoices with a joy un-
~f.table at the progress this question has made
thaint the last:month; and more especially at the fact
en the 18th of March, in the present year, two
41,„,19ns were taken in the Commons House Of Parlia-
hOth virtually in favour of making the factory day
enee at six o'clock in the morning and terminate
91~.o'clock in the evening, a decision at on._e in ae-
-oauce with the requirements of justice, policy, huna-
tr)'t and religion, and one which calls for unbounded
.jititude to that Being who has the hearts of all in his
"Itand governance."
to BUSFEILD FERRAND, Esq., UP., came forward
agaPport the resolution. He was received wi,h loud
ft tas", which was continued for several minutes.
weer
er-it had subsided, he said, that when, a few short
ago, he had the honour of addressing a meeting
11,01-e_qB, he told those whom he then addressed, that
Nara Gastler would soon be free ; and now Mr.
484+7 was present to bear witness to the truth of that
that (Applause.) He (Mr. Ferranfi) told them
the -:n.lght that the day was not far distant when
Y, would havea Ten Hours' Factories Bi.l.—(Hear.)
true 7 wanted a proof that his assertion would come
lup;,,he would wish no inure convincing one than WAS
,e,ey'r led.by the numerous meeting before him, presided
as It Was, by their vener ible chairman. They had
64) tell the Queen's Ministers, and to tell the House
theirtlans that justice was their claim and justice was
iesti t'ght ; and as sure as he addressed them that night
for‘iee should and would be done to them-4 Applause)—
t4eulere was a spirit awakened abroad in their cause which
k_nl)Pressors of the weak'and poor could not gainsay
0.1! degtroy. Sir J. Graham the who declared
kteriY 8110Uld not have a Ten Hours' Bill, had been
Ito-mil the last few weeks dreadfully earwigged at the
110„-t-cffice by the oppressors of the poor.—(Hear,
His (Mr. Ferrand's> firm conviction, was,
d
a 'ilad it not been fur the cold-blooded coolness
hti-:M
ed stupidity of Sir James Graham, they would
rtit2; 'ma the Government at this instant sanctioning a
th— 'lours' Bill—(Hear, hear)—but he was dead to all
g:Ffitter feelings of humanity to think of anything but
teol,--(Applause.) Sir James Graham, ever since he
en: office, had done everything that he could to
eie,sa and grind the poor. He had said that he
old not consent to a they
Hours' Bill, and that the
0176rib:tent were determined to stand by him. Nut only
t,_t, but he had said that if they were in a minority,
tt_t!YouNv.ould resign. Ile (Mr. Ferrand) had no hesi-
• ;itoun
al, in saYiug that the declaration was unconstitu-
weai.)anl
teria_oritys
tion.an hdei
esitila.yl
ItioaciSir James as a Minister.—
declared the factory ques-
Would boopaen one' when they ha6l no thought that there
In a minor'
Y, they againstd them ; but when they were
bad Wade it a at it was a party question. If they
selves in a raj Government question, and found them..
-MeV, hear.N. 111ty, they ought to have resigned.—
of one ) The Whigs, when there was a majority
solved pail.tilat of Mr. Walter—against them, dis-
The
nt 'Lt, and that led to their resignation.
country. utereratnent ought to do their duty to the
drag th' and not to
.....urreeaprresien call upon the house of Commens to
the them
through th kennel of apostacy, making
tat of the people the tools of a party.
be defe • near). He believed that the Ministry would
degrade ated, and that the House of
annexComons would not
fiist. and stultify itself, and sho ample of the
feelia-ssetblY in the universe sinking down, without
6f. a‘p of honesty or consistency, at the mere bidding
manistr
,IYeetint„ be
hear.) But if they did, was the
batrio,?. to. be told that there were no honesty, no
In that House, but that which sat on the
axzv y benches ? There might not be the cunning
Girl of Sir Robert Peel, nor the cool effrontery of
Itistv .."nlea Graham, amongst the Tories who sat in that
Wag or those who lived in this coum.try ; but there

.•
kan greater desire on their part to do ju•tice between
e64llB.bad ,114 man, between master and servant, than he
nad in the present Government. The meeting.
tto

hit occasion io be disheartened ; they ought to
1,e4 cou rage, and go on.—(Cheers.) Let the Ministry
tIT: I, for one, should not drop a tear. Sir Ho-
it-.reel gave the country to understand that he would
146,1441 the obnoxious clauses of the New Poor-
. th-e„,13i11; Instead of doing so, he had stood by
„ g--(Rear, hear.) He had lost his (Mr. Fer-
, t.„lllciss) confidence. He placed no faith in him, and he
fi6i the meeting that after Sir Robert had made the
QZ`c'rY question an open question in the House of
tun
teoity °will's+ and he had a majority against him—a ma-
t, asserted that ten hours were sufficient fur
in,-,t'Y labourers to work—if he should, by whipping
I,slLue Treasury benches, by Treasury influence, and the
italics of the Government, destroy that vote by unfair,
hti,l users and unconititutional means, he (Mr. Fer-
tilen.,), would withdraw his confidence from the Govern-
% and place himself in opposition.--(hear, hear.)
hi. would tell Sir Hobert Peel that he was not to
113' the
are to nine game now as he did in 1829 ; that there
side now
body of independent men sitting on his
to their the Rouse, who are determined to do their duty
twelve country. He (Mr. Ferrand ) had for the last
first tea'eara felt deeply on the factory question. lie
Dour an an active part on the subject at the Odsall
tfilitre„eatlneheuitertainvo, which was convened by his friend,
astler.—(Hear, hear.) Since that time
in its had gained strength; and if those who took par
geticatv 541"
Ite?

might de
.s.,,_tiruy,niil-1
that God
legally, constitutionally, and ever.
Pend 1,, Y were sure to succeed, for they
on. Member sat and, after
they li d Gd‘oodwnwaomuliiclisdt elofeunddchtheeersr:Oit. The
sad call .SUbilded, the resolution was put to the meeting
. • resolution,..wlhitieTlE:a Fs
. .
The
no, ee
Illeetbr, " That while till,
FERRIS RfloSllborili,esfl:_y proposed the next.
Hirn ct Would, make its chief acknowledgments to
AI fuels Y whore kings reign and princes decree justice,' • bound to express the deep sense of obligation it
enteet •
• of aing owards all those Members of Parliament,
1„ whatever party in the State, who united in the recent
ttlelnorable vote in favour of the ten hours' measure ;
took specially to the noblemen andentlemen who
d;seired.B. prominent part in the debate ing favour of the
restriction, and whose names are herein-
ltwr numerated, namely—Lord Ashley, Lord John
Ix ssell. Lord Palmerston, Lord John Manners, Lord
, ligeli, Lord Sandon, Sir George Grey, Sir Robert
lisi Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Stuart Wortley, Mr. Muntz,
. • eft. glionby, Mr. M'Greachy, Mr. William Beckett,
~,`:.x. Charles Buller, Mr. W. B. Ferrand; Mr. Fielden,
....Z. Colquhoun, Mr. Hindley, Mr. Borthwick, Mr.
es 41,11.1. Mr. Hawes, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Thos. Dun-
pel4l3,e, and Mr. Hardy and that the noblemen and
' - noted--li ttn.en who irominenily supported, and all those who
. . ...,,with Lord Ashley on the occasion above referred
until
earnestly requested to continue their exertion.s
. et9the success of this most sacred measure is tie
liiintly secured."
• , . Air. GEORGE BULMER, surgeon, seconded the resolution.
.4 Theltev. T..NuNN, in an able speech, proposed the
• that
reeolutioni—" That this meetiue-, would fain hope
. offit,llllQr Majesty the Queen will be made cognistut
fact`,,,.? fact that a large majority of those who work
tot.
jii.urles are females, the number often amot
to b to two-thirds, and in some instances .
trtreefourths of those employed ; and that this meeting
• 432,,Ilfidently believes, that her Majesty herself, if the facts
7..,' the case are defy laid before her, by her confidential
'l'lB,ll-sera, will not fail to sympathise with her oppressed
• • -
tqvuigets, but be anxious to redress their wrongs. What-.
pro course, however, her Majesty's Ministers may think
. , ?roper to take, warned as they have been by the &fee-
. iri of ninety-three of theih r ordinary supporters, this
eting feels that the interests involved in this
question
.IN:e of fur too sacred a character to permit them to be
ever
for any party, or temporary considerations what-
irror ; and it therefore hereby calls upon Lord Ashley
• 31:, his Parliamentary supporters to persevere reso:
4„..11Y in the course to which they in the sight of God,
.... "u their country stand pledged, until the ten hours.,
' .(lUztion is brought to a glorious and triumphant issue.
SiMIIEL SMITH, surgeon, seconded the resolution.
4.r. OASTLER WO next called upon, and on rising he