The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-07 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANhAiIn.

THE MAGISTRATES, THE TOWN COUNCIL,

AND THE ORANGEMEN.

The meeting of the Town-Council on Wednesday last
throws a little more light than we had previously upon the
proceedings of the authorities with respect to the seven
members of Orange benefit societies, who have been dis-
covered to belong to the Liverpool Police Force; and, we
must say, the disclosures made do not very materially im-
prove the position of the magistracy. What is it that is
urged in defence of the proceedings of that body, and in
mitigation of the charge brought against them of having
slighted, by the course which they adopted, the Watch
Committee of the Council? It was explained by the
Mayor that the whole affair, so far as regards the ques-
tion of Orangeism in the police-force, originated out of a
procession, " said to be an Orange procession ;" and
which has proved, to use the language of Mr. Henry
Lawrence. to have been " a paltry procession of a few lads,
with yellow ribbons and a cracked drum." With the
fact of such a procession having taken place, as his cue,
the Stipendiary Magistrate bustled to the Mayor, with a
face full of horror doubtless, and made to him " certain
representations;" but what were these we know not. We
can only guess that they were representations which had
been conveyed to himself by the late Head Constable.
Mr. Whitty, to the effect that there were a large number
of Orangemen connected with the police-force. The
Mayor sent for the Town-Clerk to share and advise 'iv ith
him upon the important representations of the Stipen-
diary • and, having so consulted with the Law Officer of
the Council, suggested, very properly, that they should
communicate with the Watch Committee. So tar, then
affairs were conducted quite regularly; and had the May-
or's suggestion been adopted, the injurious collision
which has since arisen between the Watch Committee and
the Magistracy would have been avoided.
But such straightforward course was not that advised
by Mr. Rushton and the Town-Clerk. " The objection
they had "—we quote the Mayor's words as reported
—" was simply this : they thought the matter might be
kept perfectly quiet, and done in a qaiet way (1) They
did not think it would be necessary even to consult the
bench of Magistrates" (11) So far then, by his worship's
own showing, no question had arisen as to conflicting
jurisdictions, between the Watch Committee and the
Bench. That body was not to be asked to lend the sane•
tion of their authority to any course which might be
adopted ; but, in a quiet way, Mr. Edward Rushton, was
to assume the powers of a Fouche, the Mayor's room w .s
to be converted into a bureau of secret police, and the
community was to be astounded by some such master-
stroke of policy as was wont, in the days of the Empire,
to startle France and the world !
But it will be asked—what, during all this time and all
this awful secrecy, had the question of Orangeism in the
police force, to do with the " paltry procession of lads
with yellow ribbons and a cracked drum"—the assumed
origin of the movements of the Mayor, the Stipendiary,
and the Town-Clerk ? Had any one of the seven Orange
policemen neglected to enforce order on the occasion of
the procession in question ? We have never heard that
such was the tact ; and bad it been, we should have heard
of it soon enough. We assume, therefore, that no such
neglect had occurred, and proceed with the doings of our
secret tribunal.

Mr_ Whitty, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Dowling were sum-
moned to its presence, and directed to make such inquiries
as should enable the stipendiary and the Mayor—not the
magistrates, mind—to detect the unfortunate parties who
were to be quietly done for. But, alas! before such con-
summation could be effected, the whole affair got out !
The Mayor would have us infer that this unfortunate con-
tretemps occurred owing to the instructions given to Mr.
Whitty and Mr. Miller being laid before the Watch Com-
mittee ; and a contemporary declares that the proceedings
in the Mayor's room, which should have been kept as "n
POLICE sgensee (!)—from whom ?—would never have
been divulged but for the circumstance of Mr. Harbord,
a member of the Orange order, being also a member of
the Watch Committee! That both these conclusions are
erroneous, we know; and in fact that they are so, is self-
evident. Mr. Whitty had informed the seven-men them-
selves, and, we believe, the whole force, of the resolution
to which the Mayor and st;pendiary had come—(that
Orangemen were ineligible for the situation of police
constables)—some dos before the Watch Committee
knew that anything of the kind was in agitation. Why
should the Watch Committee fly up in indignation, if,
whilst quietly, the proceedings of the Mayor and stipen-
diary had been regular& conducted, and Mr. Whitty's
instructions recorded at the time in the proceedings of
that committee ? Upon this part of the defence—for as
such it appears to be given—we feel assured that we need
say no more; and with respect to the disclosure of the
great " police secret" by l tr. Harbord or any member of
the Watch E.:ommittee,•it was known to ourselves, and,
we venture to say, to the Mercury as well, (who appears
to have been well primed as to what was going on,) before
either Mr. Harbord or any other member of the com—
mittee knew a word about the matter ! _

The doings in the Mayor's. room, and the "Police
Secret" of Mr. Whitty, having transpired we need not
describe the alacrity with which the majority' of the ma-
gistrates (who were themselves, in the first instance not
to have been consulted) rushed to aid with their authority
the Mayor and. Mi. Rushton, and:thus brought to a full.
head the very pretty quarrel in which they had got them--
selves involved with the Watch Committee. Knowing as
we do the materials of which that bench is in a great part"
composed, we are not surprised at finding that Mr.
Rushton's conduct received their sanction ; but it does
strike us with some little surprise to see the names of one
or two conservative gentlemen recorded, as the unenqui-
ring registrars of Mr. Rushton's or any body's decrees.
if Mr. Rushton's secret police bureau had thought it po-
litic and prudent to act, without- the concurrence or
knowledge of the Watch Conlmitt.e,there was en earthly
reason. secrecy being no longer necessary, for persisting
in the course of slight towards that body which had been
originally and unfortunately adopted ; -and we cannot but
think that, on reflection, the gentlemen in question will
be dissatisfied with their silent acquiescence in the pro-
ceedings of the Radical majority.
We are quite disposed to arquit the Mayor of any desire
to outstretch the authority of his office, or to shell!' any
want of attention to the Watch Committee, throughout
this affair. He wished to have communicated with that
body. But it is not at all clear-that Mr. Rushton and
the. Town-clerk can •be excused so easily. Both these
official parties appear to have set themselves above, not
only the Watch Committee but the bench as well; and
this conclusion is not at all weakened by the explanation
of the Town-clerk,. tbat the Watch Committee were to be
communicated with "at the propertime." Their pur-
pose was—and would have been carried out if the "police
secret"' could have been well kept.,—fiTst, quielly.to pro-
nounce the law, end then quietly,to weed the force; and
then, possibly, the empty compliment would have been paid
of informing the Watch Committee of their proceedings.
That such project•was not successful, and the committee
rendered merely the recording body of the presiding genus
of the police-court, we have to thank the able stand mrde
against the encroachment meditated upon their powers by
Messrs. Aspinall, Harbord, Turner, and other of its
members, which we are happy to see adequately appre-
ciated by the majority of the Council. Whatever may
be•the opinion of the authorities to be consulted, with
respect to the legality or illegality of the Orange order,
Xnd the eligibility of members of that body to situations
of public trust, we are confident that the expression of
public opinion which has already been elicited; will pre-
vent any further attempts of the bench, or a single, but
eminent, member of it, to arrogate an authority which, if
they do possess, which we doubt, might be wielded with-
out the very injurious result of weakening, by outward
and delibe. ate slight, the moral influence and consequent
usefulness of a body, to whose labours the public of Li-
verpool are so deeply indebted.
A few words, with respect to the outcry-which has been
raised against Mr. Harbord, as a member of the Watch
Committee and, at the same time an influential officer—
not the Grand Master, asbe is erroneously styled—of the
Orange Order. It was urged by Me. Rathboae, at the
meeting of the magistrates, that it was highly improper
for " such a person " as Mr. Harbord to remain a mem-
ber of the Watch Committee. Let any member of the
Council: come boldly forward and propose the opinion
which Mr. Rathbono thus volunteered, in his capacity of
magistrate, as a resolution in the Council ; and, if he
succeed in the effort to carry it, he will earn the adulation
of the Mercury, and—the indignation of the Council.
With this challeoga we take leave of the subject.

One of the latest London bubbles. is a society " for
promoting the restoration of the Jews to Palestine."—
Liverpool Meroury.—[A better plan by far than this—,
and, by the way, no bubble—would be, to send all the
priests to their lord and master, the Pope of Rome.]
" THE QUEEN'S HOTEL,”—MANCHESTER.-OUr well
known and esteemed townsman, Mr. Towers, of the
Angel Hotel, has (as will be seen by an alvertisernent)
commenced an establishment under this name, in Man-
chester. The opening dinner is fixed for Tuesday. next,
and from past experience of " mine host's " taste and
judgement, as a pravidore, we need scarcely say that the
entertainment will be of the shoicest kind, whether as
regards viands or wines. We have seen the new hotel, it
is in Piccadilly, and is a superb and exceedingly spacious
stone building, apparently as large as the Adetphi, in this
town ; elegantly fitted up, and unsurpassed in.comfort and
convenience by any in the kingdom—out of the metro-
polis.
- -

•
LIVERPOOL PORTER.—We have hitherto considered
the flavour of the London, Dublin, and. Cork Porter
unapproachable, and have, in some way, been inclined
to think that Liverpool brewed porter was greatly inferior
to that produced by its rival towns; but from the samples
we have been shown by Messrs. Cross and Metge, who
have opened extensive stores in Water-street, we are now
lead to believe that Liverpool is about to compete with its
hitherto now favoured places in the production of this
popular summer beverage. The flavour of this porter is
excellent, and it possesses those combined qualities of
strength and mildness so much desired. Those who are
about to lay in their summer stores would do well to try
the article.
GRAND CONCERT AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
—A grand concert is announced for to-morrow evening
at the Royal Amphitheatre, under the patronage of the
Worshipful the Mayor. It is for the benefit of Miss
Hamilton, of the Philharmonic Concerts, a highly ta-
lented and deserving young lady, who has for this occa-
sion, engagaged, at a great expense, a constellation of
talent, instrumental, as well as vocal. Amongst the
" stars" will appear the fsr-famed Herr Ernst, the gaeatest
violinist of the day; Signor Paltoni, of the Italian Opera
Housef London: Mr. John 11.-. eves, faom the Theatre
Royal. Drury-lane; Miss Keale, pianiste; Mr. S. Per-
cival, flutist, and many favourite native performers, Mr.
George Holden, will precide at the piano, and it is fully
anticipated that the entertainment will by a rich treat to
the musical world.