Star.
London, England, 1819-08-13 00:00:00

THE EVENING •STAR.

LONDON.

•
NEXT TITESDAY the Lottery Draws..—Tero Prizes of
1036,000 Conwls—only 64,00 Mans.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1819.
THE FUND&
IPRTtt OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK s
3 per Cent. Reduced 72)72*
3 per Cent. Consols 71i***
81 per Cent. 811-4 per Cent. 91 soit
.5 per Cent. Navy 101341
Bank Long Annuities 19 3-16*
lipperial 3 per Cent. Ants. 70*
India Bonds 12 1,3 pre.
Exchequer Bills (2d.) 1 2 pre.
Omnium pre.
Consols for Acct. 72 71i.

Every new day furnishes proof of are truth of our
e_ssertion, that the Public Press of this Kingdom never
is, or can become the systematic abettor of oppres-
sion and injustice of any kind ; but, on the contrary,
will ever give support to the cause of the oppressed,
the distressed, and the injured—when rightly in-
formed on the points at issue.
The Morning Chronicle has, we are happy to say,
given, this day, a striking instance of the truth of
oar general position, as to dte glorious character
that attaches to our free press; and has, at the same
time, manifested much candour in admitting one
of our leading and fundamental doctrines on the
question of the Remuneration due for Labour.—
The Editor of that Paper has adopted, enlarged,
and illustrated the views which we yesterday gave
on the effects of Legislative Interference in regulating
the Prices of Labour, in a manner which does him
credit ; and which, from his known hatred of injustice
and wrong, we were prepared to expect: but which,
from the limited view he took of this question yes-
terday, we durst not hope to have witnessed by the
revolution of only twenty-four hours. However such
is the fact. It is true, he sets out with a brief de-
fence of the Masters, before he advances the argu-
ments which he offers in support of the cause which
we advocate. To this we have no objection : on
the contrary, ACC are as willing as he can wish us
to be to do justice to the Employers; for we blame,
not them, but the system which empowers them
to oppress their dependants. Our censure of the
Masters is but secondary—and of that character
which should ever be extended to those who, under
any circumstances, minister to injustice and rob-
Lery : cur detestation of the system which not only
empowers, but, as it were, solicits them to defraud
their worb.:en, is radical and founded on principles
which must either ultimately prevail, or we may ex-
pect to see, and that at no very remote period, the
whole of our enviable political fabric entirely sub-
verted. The cause which we advocate is not merely
that of the oppressed workmen :—it is that of cur
Government and Constitution—that of every friend
to peace and order—that of our whole community—
that of the entire human race.
After, with due decorum, offering a defence for
the Masters, and putting the best possible face cn the
arguments offered by W. B. (see the STAR of Thurs-
day), The Chronicle of this morning does great justice
to the argument we advanced yesterday, expressing
itself in the following terms :

, " But while we contend for liberty to the master, justice de-
mands of us that we should also advocate the liberty of the work-
man. While we would protect the master from unreasonable
demands, we would extend the same protection to those whom
be employs.
"" That the workmen of this country are under very mere
and 11110ial restriction-I,Am the purpose efpresenting them from de-
riving aU the advantages which a demand for labour entitle, them to,
it aid I known. The removal of these restrictions would, not, it
is true, have the effect of raising wages at the present moment,
when the markets are overstocked ; but this state of things car,
not last always, and a better time cannot be chosen for vindi-
cating the just claims of the workman, than when the public is
generally disposed to sympathise with their sufferings, it not to
be unjust towards their masters.
" We allude of course to the laws against combinations, which
ought more properly to be called laws to make workmen take what-
ever their employers choose to give them When there is a demand
for labour, the workman ought to be at full liberty to avail him-
self of his knowledge of this circumstance. The struggle be-
tween wages and profits, ought in this, as well as the former
case, to be left perfectly free ; for if the profits of the master
cannot admit of the addition demanded by the workman, of
course he will not give it. The I.ublic have no right to interfere
between them. Labour is a commodity which ought to be
bought and sold with the same freedom as any other, and there
can-be no reason why a man should be compelled to work for
less than be pleases, than that he should sell his grain for less.
In the same manner the workman ought to be allowed the most
perfect freedom of deliberation with those who are similarly
circumstanced with himself. No man would now think of',
puisishing a number of farmers for combining together to raise
the price of corn. Yet combinations arc much snore practicable
with farmers than with workmen ; for the facility of combina-
tion is always in the inverse number of the numbers combining.
" If a number of workmen choose to throw up their work,
and to remain unoccupied for a time rather than take the wages
offered them, this is a speculation which may or may not turn
out beneficial for them; but we can see no more reason for say-
ing they should not be at perfect liberty to do so whets they
please, than for saying that a person who brings goods into a
market should not be at full liberty to sell or not sell them at
the price offered him.—' It is not difficult to foresee which of
the two parties,' says Dr. Ssuru, must upon all ordinary occa-
sions have the advantage in the dispute, and force the others into
a compliance with their terms; but the Combination Laws have
the effect of throwing additional power Mco the toads of those

who, from the nate% of things, ere the most powerful.-5 A
landlord, a farmer, a master manufaisturer, se merchant; conti-
nua Dr. Batton, • though they did not employ a single work-
man, could generally live a year or two upon the stock which
they have already acquired, while many workmen could not
subsist a week, few could subsist a month, and scarce any a year,
without employment.'—And yet to guard against the romibility
this cessation from labour, which can seldom occur, and must neces-
sarily be of such short duration, have all the rigours of the law beers
directed as against a most heinous crime.
" We have never yet heard any reason for this interference
between master and workman, deserving of the slightest atten-
tion. It may be said, that it is the interest of the master to throw
every obstacle in the way of a rise of wages ; but it does not
follow that the interest of the Public it to be identified with the
interest of the master any more than it is in the interest of the
workman. It has also, we know, been said, that by workmen
suddenly striking, the concerns of the master may often be ex-
posed to the greatest hazard. But in all cases where a business
may be endangered by this circumstance, such a contract ought
to be entered into as might prevent the master from being ever
taken unawares. He bas no right to call for a law to protect
him against what originates altogether in his own want of foresight.

" 6 Masters, says Dr. Santa, ' are okays and every when in a
sort if tacit, but constant and uniform combination, not to raise the
wages of labour above their actual rue. To violate this combi-
nation is every where a most unpopular action, and a sort of re-
proach to a master among his neighbours and equals.' There
was for a long time, however, no law against the combination
of masters, and when from a skew of justice it was at last thought
fit to prohibit these combinations also, the master was allowed
to escape with a slight fins, while a severe imprisonment was
impended over the head of the workman. Combination is thus
in the one ease considered a venial offence, and in the other a hei-
nous critne, a distinction for which there is no other reason that
we know of, but that masters happen to be makers of laws and work-
men are rlt.

a But though the combination of masters happens ale.° to be
prohibited by law, this circumstance would even seem to be
sametimes forgotten by those who administer the law, as well as
by masters themselves. We remember, during the last turn-out
of the Cotton Spinners, that a certain Judge in his charge to a
Grand Jury, even went so far as to say, that any master who
complied with the demands of his workmen, was the enemy of
his country !
" If this is not recommending combination, we know not the
meaning of the word. We recqllect, too, the unsparing abuse
which was heaped in several Newspapers, and particularly in
The Courier, on a certain Manufacturer in Manchester, who alone
refused to make common cause with his brethren, and whose
workmen never left him, from his having at once agreed to their
demands ; but while all were ready to condemn the combinations
of the workmen, this indication of a similar combination on the
part of masters was allowed to pass unnoticed.
" Before the close of the last Session, a Petition wrs presented
to the House of Commons for a Repeal of the Combination
Law:. Those who are interested in such repeel would do well
to avail themselves of a moment peculiarly favourable for ob-
taining the public attention to claims, which require only to be
fairly discussed to be generally admitted. The public will soon
see that they hate no interest z., fcr:aurin,g either the liftr party or
the other, or in determining what share of the returns shall go to
profits and :chat to wages. They will see that it is for tke general
good, that matters and workmen should be left in the enjoyment t,f
equal liberty; that both are entitlrd to protection, when they claiml
only that liberty; but neither, when they claim to place each other
under restrictions."

Thus far The Morning Co-ankle. The doctrines
are so precisely those which we have advanced, that
we should have thought the Editor had The Star be-
fore him as his text, and was occupied in composing
a well written commentary ;—but his next words op-
pose this idea, for he adds :
.6 We had written thus far, when The Star of last right came
into our hands, which we; are happy to find coincides with us in
opinion en this subject, though the writer seems, on what ground
we know not, to take it for granted that we approve of the Com-
bination Laws. As the specific injuries suffered by the work-
men, under these Laws, are very forcibly pointed out by our
Cotemporary, we shall conclude with inserting that part of the
article he accordingly did.

Happy are we to find that we are so far agreed.
There is, however, one received opinion, stated in his
argument, to which we cannot subscribe till we shall
have some demonstration of its truth offered to us.
It may he true, butive-are not satisfied that it is so.
The words we allude to are these :=-" Labour is a
commodity which ought to be bought and sold with
the same freedom as any otber."—ln our present
views, but we may be wrong, Labour is vnt a com-
modity, but that which produces all marketable com-
modities !

We have :ec ived to-day Halifax Papers to the
20gi of July. Orders have been received there foi
the immediate discharge of almost every person em-
ployed in his Majesty's Naval Yard and Hospital.—
The%e establishments are no longer to be kept up ;
the ships of war on the Halifax station are in future
to receive at Bermuda whatever repairs they may
require. The Earl and Countess of llnurovsa ar-
rived at Quebec, in his Majesty's ship MERSEY, on
the 30th of June. The Parliament of Upper Canada
was on the 14th of July prorogued by proclamation
until the 21st day of October.

A Mail arrived last night from Flanders, from the
Papers brought by which we have given some ex-
tracts in a preceding column.

A Dutch Mail has also arrived this forenoon, with
Papers to the 11th instant. The KING of SWEDEN
arrived in Stockholm on the 27th ultimo ; and the
KING of PRUSSIA at Berlin on the 2d instant. The
KING of the NETHERLANDS has issued a Decree ap-
pointing Exhibitions of the National Manufactures
to take place at stated periods, at Ghent, the first to
be in the year 1820.

The Countess of GommAND (Queen of Sweden)
has been recently in Frankfort, under the strictest
incognito. She is almost always with her sister, the
Ex-Queen of SPAIN.

Yesterday Admiral Sir GEoßos Commit,/ left
town for Portsmouth, to attend the hums RZOENT.