Star.
London, England, 1830-02-25 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM POLITICAL UNION.

In the STA R of the 27th of January, the second day
after the Birmingham Meeting, w•e gave a statement of
the " Objects, the Rules and Regulations, and the Du-
ties of the Members of the Political Uniou." With re-
ference to these, and to the former articles which ap-
peared in this paper, on the subject of this momentous
and now interesting topic, we give the conclusion of the
article from the' Authorised Copy :

These, then, are the vizws an4IOIIALCTS, and these are the
RULES, REGULATIONS, and Pnovistows. under which we pro.
pose to font; the POLITICAL UNION for the PROTECTION of
1 PUBLIC RIGHTS. We respectfully submit them toour FELLOW-
TOWNSMEN, for their sanction and support, and for such coirce.
Lions and Improvements u they may suggest.
In seeking a Reform in the Commons' House of Parliament, we
think it proper to declare that we make no coMplaint against the
House of Lords. That Right Honourable House fulfils its duty as
an intermediate Body between the Crown and the People; and it
has often stood forward in defence of popular rights, when those
rights have been endangered. But by some means or other, the In.
flume of the House of Lords, breaking out from its proper sphere
has gradually extended itself to the Elections of the Members of
the House of Commons,usd this latter House, thus partaking of
the station, habit% and nudes of thinking of the Upper House, has,
consequently, lost much of its original character, and discharges In.
effieiently the duties prescribed to it by the C,onstitutian.
Nor have we any huh to find in the general thine and fabric of
our eacelkat•asusaientioo. On as contrary, we readily acknow.

ledge, what all experience mints, that no system could possibly
Irtdendwri, better Enna to the genies and habits et the British
people. We only find fault with the present state and composition
of the People's own llonst, where, in our judgment, the interests
and rights of the people are not properly understood : and, conse-
quently, nor properly defended and secures!. If we should suecetd
in obtaining a just and effectual Reform in this Honourable House,
it will be happy for ue, and for all classes of our countrymen ; for
it is now sufficiently evident that through the defective represer.ta.
don of the people In the Commons House of Parliament, the Aris-
tocracy themselves are beginning to feel the injuries said the dangers
to which the Industrious classes have so long and so cruelly been
exposed. We call, therefore, with confidence upon the ancient
Aristocracy of the land to come forwanl, and take their proper sta.
don at the head of the people, in this greet crisis of the oatiot.at
affairs. They have, formerly, dere Ided their country against the
open exercise of tyrannic power. We trust that they will now, also,
defend it against the silent and undermining encroachments of a
corrupt borough influence, which deprives them of their jut.
political power,and threatens their interest in common with our os n.

Above all things, we rely upon the benevolence and paternal
affection of our good and patriotic king. We deprecate sincerely
the insidious and criminal attempts, which we frequently witness,
to hold up our gracious Sovereign before the eyes of his people in
an unworthy and derogatory light; and those equally insidious
efforts which are, also, made, to hold up before the Royal Eyes, the
faithful and affectionate subjects of his Majesty, as disaffected to his
Royal Person, or to his Kingly Office and Government. All these
attempts we deprecate, as calculated and intended to sow distrust
and dislike between his Majesty and his faithful and loyal people,
in order that the guilty parties concerned in these calumnies may
find the means of controuling and circumscribing the Royal Prem.
gatives on the one hand, and the just Rights and Liberties of the
People, on the other. It is with this guilty object that these atro.
sous calumnies are propagated. It shall be our study to counter.
act them, es far as lies in our humble power, by exhibiting, upo
every occasion, the most sincere attachment to the &aced person of
the King, and the most dutiful submission to the Laws.
If our fellow-townsmen should think proper to act upon the plan
which we him laid down, and if their example should be followed
up by similar Unions throughout the country, we cannot but anti-
cipate the most important benefits to the Lowsa AID Altnnss
CLASSES of the community. These clones will thus poison re-
presentative bodies of their own, chosen annually by themselves,
and entirely dependent upon themselves ; by means of which they
will be enabled to set upon the national legislature in a just, It gal,
and efficient way. The Pusste Ortwitost, instead of being scat-
tered and (Utilised throughout the country, and conceited witl.in
the breasts of individuals, will be collected and concentealed in
influential masses, and in those masses it will be guided and di-
rected into wholesome and legal operation upon the legislature of
the country.
We have given great power to the political council. In all or-
ganised bodies, power must exist somewhere, or there can be no or.
der, no discipline, so unity of object or operation. Under the pre-
sent operation of the public opinion, every thing is disjointed and
inefficient. One man petitions for one object, a second petitions for
another; a third moves to-day, a fourth moves to-morrow ; a fifth
recommends one line of conduct, a sixth recommends another. All
this is futile. What, fur example, could be expected of a military
body acting upon principles like these? The exertions of a whole
army would come to nothing. ea it is with the moral army of public
opinion. To become efficient, it must have coganixatieo order,
discipline, and unity of object and operation. It must 'be ani.
mated with one common mind. It must move to one common
object. It must move through the same road, and at the mine
time. Without this, we can do nothing. By a moral disci-
pline of this kind, Vire have virtue to act upon it, we am do every
thing that it Is just and proper for us to do. It is, therefore, that
we have made obedieno to the Council an isidiSpen,abk rule of
our Society. But in return for this, we hive made the Collura
entirely dependant upon the General Afeetings of the Maas.
By these means, we hope that we establish a system, which cam-bines the order, unity, and erect of discipline, with the force and
freedom of popular enthusiasm.
In carrying this great object into effect, we use no violence, and
we allow none. ?affront us, and firom our righteous cause, be the
use of means which we deprecate in others, and which no circus:-
stances could justify in us, so long as our list remaining liberties
are left to us, and as the Kixo's Tattoos presents a &sites, k,
under which his.faithful people may find a shelter from the oppres-
sor's wrong. IVe seek no wrong to others. We seek onlyfestire
for ourielvea and for our country. We put in force tem constitu.
tional rights ; the right of meeting together, peacefully and legally ;
and the right of petitioning Parliament. We only meet, consult,
remit's, and petitton. We disculs the effect of public measures
upon our own affairs, and we take the proper legal steps for secur-
ing our own redress. In a great national emergency, when the h.
gladsome has lost its hind marks, and its guides to the natio'
welfare, we bring forwards the intelligence, the public spirit, Lr.d
the practical knowledge of the industrious classes, to the aid of the
legislative councils.
In any common state of things, tradismins and mechanics u.igl.t
not perhaps be called upon to interfere in polWcal au Lao
individual ie perhaps more beneficially employed, forbg:utlf, ar.d
for his country, in confining his industry within his own particular
occupation. This might be the case, when public affairs ate both
honestly and rationally conducted. But it is not so note. The
public business is now become the best private business foe every
man to attend to. Without attention to public affairs, indeed,
there is now no security for private interests. Umoil the public
business is bett.r conducted, it is in vain that the industrious classes
use diligence, and prudeoce, and economy, and anxiety in the ma-
nagement of their respective affairs. It is in vain that they "Rise
up early, and late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness;" they
du but realise the fabled torments of the wretch caladium's' to waste
his labours in "continually rolling a stone up hill, which continually
retails to crush his own head." This in • great degree hes bee
the situation of the industrious closes in England for aeve t.
ral years.
The wen who have occupied their capital in productive power,
in working the greet duties upon which the existence of mar..
kind depuids,--thesc own have groom poor, as the reward of
their' industry and via Pie; but the men who have locked
up their capital in a eaest,haie teund it daily incitesintin value ! !
These 111C14 have realised riches, as the reword of idleness unit
sloth!! The reward of industry, indetd, nosy be said to be deettoyed
in England. " The ox muzzled that trcndeth out thi eons." Er-
ror succeeds error, and fully succeeds folly, until the nation Is at
Litt brought into each a state that the moat aides, and superiker
observer must perceive, that great pclitleal. ehmsps must sale
place.
It is under these citeun.stances, therefore, thit we deem it nteas-
sary that the industrious claims Of the antomiiityshould come fct-
ward in their can defence, and put in force the political functions
which the.conslitoiloi soil the laws allow them to exercise. Uod..
Into, eircutheusoces„ and urldit a less complex state of society, the
legislature, as it is, mist. perhaps be competent to restore and se-
cure the national prosperity. But 'Aral experience has 'efficiently
proved tar lb yawls torfbet, thol meilii• the ctisibay state of MM. 6,
the 1e latute,, as it is, is not competent to protect the most vital
Jut of "the co wiry. At tus vriy mooert Agr culture, Ma.
autumns, Commerce, Trade, the Chipping Interest, the Colonial
interest, every great Interest of the Nation that is vital to its era-