The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-31 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

We have transcribed from an Evening Paper
of Saturday the fullest details which we have
seen of the recent defeat of Don Miguel's arma-
ment at Terceira. The troops of the island,
with the gallant Count Villa Flor at their head,
seem to have conducted themselves with great
spirit and intrepidity. This brilliant exploit may
still, it is hoped, produce its effect in Portugal ;
though a partial success is much less likely now
to benefit the general cause than it would have
done some time ago.—Tinics.
The Paris Papers of Thursday and Friday,
which we received last night, contain no farther
intelligence from the seat of war in the east, and
*Arcely any news of domestic interest. Those
of the former day are almost exclusively occu-
pied with the trial of M. Bertin, the elder, one of
the proprietors and the sole responsible editor of
the Jouroul des Debats, for an alleged attack on
the Itoyal authority, as exhibited by the King in
his recent change of Ministry. The article thus
charged with a seditious tendency was inserted in
the French Journal on the 10th, and copied into
the Times of the 13th inst. It began and ended
with the two expressions which constituted the
chief part of the libel—the first declaring that
" the bona of affection and confidence which
united the monarch with the people was broken ;"
and the last exclaiming, " Unhappy France
unhappy King!" After a speech displaying a

ness and force of language on their sufferings,
in consequence of low wages ; and the follow-
ing resolutions were passed :
" Resolved—That the weavers of Barnsley view
with astonishment the unaccountable conduct of
their masters, in attempting another serious reduc-
tion in their already very low wages, especially
when only a few days ago three of the most re-
spectable of them, viz.—Jackson, Mason, and Tee
—asserted, in the public office, in the presence of
the Magistrates, Dr. Corbett and Spencer Stan-
hope, Esq., and the weavers' deputat►on, that they
could pay the present list of prices, and receive a
remunerating profit on their goods.
" Resolved—That as no change has taken place
in the circumstances of the country, as we can
learn, to warrant any reduction i❑ our wages, we
are determined not to take less than the present list
prices, for it is well known that our labour is now at
a famine price.
" Resolved—That it appears that the manufac-
turers have drawn up a new list of prices; whether
it will be binding on them or not, is at their own
option ; in fact they are determined to pay what-
ever they think proper. But we are determined to
be paid by the old list, or have no work at all.
" Resolved—That the weavers view with disgust
the conduct of the manufacturers in thus attempt-
ing to reduce the wages of the poor weavers, after
they, the manufacturers, had declared, in the pre-
sence of the Magistrates, that they could pay the
present list of prices, and have a remunerating profir.
And that this meeting is of opinion, that there has
nothing taken place in the state of the country since
their declaration to warrant such a tyrannical re-
duction.

e;:eatignoranje or a wilful perversion of consti- " Resolved—That low wages not only tend to
tutiosta principles, the King's Advocate, M. impoverish and demoralize the labouring class, but
Levamtur, demanded against M. 'Berthu the to shake the foundation of civil society also ; for how
full amount of penalty which the law warranted. can property be said to be safe, when millions of hard-
He was answered in a clever speech by M. working people are in a state of half-starvation ?"
Dupin, who mixed more politics with his The proposition stated in the last of these
harangue than would be listened to on this Resolutions, that " Low wages not only tend
side of the water ; and the Court, contrary to to impoverish and demoralize the labouring class,
sleneral expectation, condemned the defen- but to shake the foundation of civil society also,
ant to six months' imprisonment. It must have for how can property be said to be safe, when
been a subject of regret with the new French millions of hard-working people are in a state of
Ministry to find themselves called upon to corn- half-starvation ?" is an unquestionable truism.
mctece their attacks on the press by calling for the But what causes low wages ? and how are low
imprisonment of M. Berths, who has made more waees to be raised ? With respect to the cause
sacrifices for the Bourbons than probably any of of the present reduction, the manufacturers of
his. accusers ; who suffered for their sake under Barnsley say, " a reduction is indispensably ne-
the Convention, the Directory, the Consulate, cessary to enable them to meet the markets of
and the Empire ; who hailed their return in Scotland, North of Yorkshire, and Ireland."-
1814, and who, having accompanied the King The 13arnsley weavers say,' " In these places
to Ghent, defended their cause in a foreign ca- there is the same degree of work, rents are
pital (luring the hundred days. If such loyal lower, provisions are lower, and every thing is
sacrifices established no claim to forbearance, M. lower." But the Barnsley manufacturer cannot
Reran might plead the general moderation of his obtain higher prices for his goods in the market
principles, and the royalist tendency of his than the Scotch manufacturer, because rent,
doctrines, together with the caution and discre- provisions, and every thing is higher in Barns-
tion which have marked the political discussions ley than in Scotland and Ireland. As long as
of his paper. While a law lately repealed per- workmen can be obtained on lower terms, it is
mitted the Journals to have what was called edi- not in the power of manufacturers to avoid de-
teurs responsibles ; and while most of them avail- scending to those lower terms. 'Wages cannot
ed themselves of a legal perversion to invest with be kept up when the labour market is over•
that character mere men of straw, who had no stocked, any more than corn can be kept up
property in the papers to which their names were when the market is overstocked. The excite-
attached—who possessed no influence in their meat against the masters is, as might be ex-
direction—who never wrote a syllable in their petted, very strong. We are not surprised at
tolumns—and who were only hired at so much a this, for clever as some of the speakers are, they
day to go to prison when their employers corn- are unable to go to the bottom of the evil under
mitted a libel ; M. Bertin disdained to take ad- which they are suffering. The following passage
vantage of this legal subterfuge—remained an- from a speech made on Wednesday by Peter
swerable for every article in his paper—never ab- Hoey, is peculiarly deserving of the attention of
tlicated his editorial chair, and never made any the wealthier classes, representing as they do
hireling the seape-goat of his errors or intern- what is passing in the mind of almost every poor
perance. It would not, probably, become man in this country :
foreigners to express any opinion concerning " I commend Flanigan for recommending you to
the propriety of the decision to which the tri- observe the peace ; obedience to the laws I have al-
bum' has come. If any such expression of ways seen manifested in this town, arid have always
opinion were allowable, we should certainly say seen the subjects of England and Ireland willing to
that the sentence appears to us not only severe obey them. I recommend you to observe them now,
on the individual, but totally destructive of but I also recommend you not to forget the laws of
nature. If the laws of the country are observed,
every principle of free political discussion. The
how much mare ought the laws of nature to be ob-
ground on which it proceeds is, that as the served ? lam sorry to see by the appearance of
change of Ministry is a pure act of the Royal some of our persons that the laws of nature are vio-
will, any attack on the Royal choice is an attack gated ; and if the present list of prices are broken,
on the Royal prerogative. Nothing could be they will be still more violated. I appeal to your
snore manifestly absurd according to the reading feelings. What are your feelings with regard to the
Of constitutional doctrines on this side the water. feast at Barnsley ? It is not a feast but a famine for
It is the Royal prerogative to make peace or war, you. I have seen the work people in this town
as much as to create a new Cabinet ; and yet comforttible arid happy ; you have gone to meet
what is more common than to denounce a war
‘ r wives and your children, and spent a little
-tiornue in feasting; but that has not been so lately,
as expensive and unnecessary—a peace, as in- with the present list of prices? and what will it be
glorious or dishonourable ? Both are regarded if it comes to be reduced ?—it will be so bad that
as the act of the King's councillors, and not the we cannot live. I hope that you are well aware
act of the King himself; and even the decree what you do. The strength of the people and nation
for a change of Ministers requires to be counter- might bid defiance to the world ; but instead of
signed by a responsible Minister. We know of that, we are insulted every day. In conelu,ion, I
no constitution of modern manufacture, with the would say, observe the laws, and also remember the
exception of the late Portuguese charter, that
laws of nature.. ' (Cheers and shouts of " Huzza!'')
The resolution was then put and carried.
ever created an irresponsible power, called amo • The law of nature so significantly alluded to
dcrating power, to be exercised by the Sovereign
as deserving a preference to the law of the land,
without the intervention of responsible advisers.
a sentiment huzzaed by the meeting, is that a
There is one aspect, however, of this case, which
man in want has a right to make free with the
must be consolatory to the lovers of' free discus-
property of others. They who believe that a
sion, and tranquillizing to those who sent forth
starving population will quietly lie down and die,
such a cry of alarm at the appointment of the
may find themselves under a arievous mistake.—
new Cabinet, or were preparing their mouths
b classes in
for the gag of the censorship. By appealing to At this present moment the labouring
manl ripe for obe to P
the tribunals the Ministers have shown that they H
oey,p y s Law are
of Nature. Let not ence
the peopl etere
of
wished to try the power of the existing law IT-
property in this country lay the flattering unction
fore they resorted to a royal ordinance.
The to their souls, that they can enjoy their property
law has given them as great powers of repression
in peace, while men are starving around them.
as they probably desired or expected, and the
In Ireland the landholder consigns his serfs to
productions of the French press may now be
the anent or driver, who, with the aid of sol-
considered as secure against the mangling ope-
diersband police, keeps up an incessant war for
rations of the Censor.—lbid.
the produce of the soil, and withdraws to a
We publish to-day the concluding trials of country where he can enjoy what has been so
the policemen connected with the transactions at wrung from necessity in peace and quiet. But
Borrisokeen. It will be seen that Ledger was ' England is not a country of drivers and serfs,
again tried on a dace of shooting at two men
b ) and one unvaried appearance of destitution. It
and acquitted. In this case, the prosecutors is not like Ireland, resting for protection on ano-
stated to the Court, through their Counsel, that titer country. It is a country possessing all the
they wished to take the prosecution out of the gradations of • society, and in which property
hands of the Crown, and carry it on themselves. every where meets the eye. It was observed by
The Solicitor-General; however, refused to ac- one of the speakers, Frank Mirfield, " One half
cede to this request, and the result was as we of the owners of cottage property in this town
have stated. Thus has terminated an investi- cannot get half their rents now ; and if wages are
gation which excited extraordinary interest; and reduced still lower, how is it possible for them
during the progress of which, the most unpre- ito get their rents paid in future ? The major
cedented exertions were made by a portion of part of the working people in this town are
the Press to overawe the legitimate tribunals of in a most wretched state ; they are possessed
the country. The project of intimidation has of scarcely one vestige of raiment or furni-
failed. Successive juries declared upon their tore worth calling by the name. Their wages,
oaths, after the most patient attention to the evi- if lower, will never enable them to provide them-
dence on both sides, that the individuals whose selves with provisions and clothing necessary to
lives Were so eagerly demanded by popular snake them comfortable ; and if this cannot be
clamour, were not guilty of the blood of their I done, how can rents be paid ? . . . Cer-
countrymen. This was tantamount to declaring i tainly, then, I say that low wages is an evil in
that they fired under the imperious necessity of : any country ; and while low wages are paid, the
self-defence. Greatly is it to be regretted, that i country will always be distressed. The labour-
there was any cause for their using fire-arms at , ing class constitute the greatest mass of people
all—but whether policemen, or their opponents, 'in every country; they are the machines that
are put upon trial for their lives, we wish to keep it in constant motion ; they feed and clothe
have their fate decided according to evidence and all the rest, and surely for doing this they are
law, and not by the wild exercise of the passions entitled to a belly-full themselves. It has been
that steel the heart with cruelty, and close the stated that the manufacturers are under the ne-
eyes against justice.—Morning Herald. 1 cessity of reducing the wages, on account of
Our readers will see from our extracts from other masters in other towns doing so. I say
the Leeds Mercury, that the starving popula- those people who have submitted quietly to have
tion of Barnsley have broken out into rioting, their wages reduced, so as to make them unable
and that it has been found necessary to have re- to obtain the necessaries of life ; I say those
course to the military. In the paper, detailed people, instead of being honourable, will be es-
reports are given of the proceedings at two meet- teemed disgraceful by us and by all honourable
ings of,the Operatives held on Barnsley-green, men." Frank Mirfield here assumes as an un-
on Monday and Wednesday last. At = these questionable proposition, that " the labouring
meetings several speakers dwelt with much clear- class are entitled to a belly. full themselves." He