London, Tuesday, December...
WVe regret to fiad frpon tho Glasgow newspapers, thatathe weavers a-ad cotton-spinners of that great city eontiz2ue to stand out against thc[r mnasters, and refuse to work. The objects of the co3binzation are stated to be twvo-fold-an increase of wags and of power. It is quite undoubted thlat if any class of -workmen couceive themselves to be inadequately paid, thoy have a right to ask a higher reward for their labour, or not to labour at all. The Legislature actod from Pure.motives, as well as from suScieut reasons, 'h0n they repealed the old law against combinations ofI journeymenl. It was a lavv not on unjust but inefrective, and the existing state of Glasgow is no argument against the wisdom of abolishing it. For when it is asserted that the workmen have a right to combine, it will be also ac- knowledged on all sides, that they must stand the natuma consequences of combining: and among those conse- quences are the rr. istanee of the masters to their demiands, with the probability pf other workmen .being embployed, and of their owvn fitnal reduction to beggary. It ought 'to be observed, that the. repeal of the for- mer statutes wvas accompanied by a sharp legislative provi- sion against the means whichShave usually been resorted to by the journeymen for giving effect to their schemes-. any violence, or tmenace, or molestation, offered to such inaidii- duals of their own order as may continue at their woik, and decline taking part in the general secession, is liablekby the new law to be severely punished. We find, iecoid- ingly, that a measure has been adopted by the masters in Glasgow which must brffig about the submission of the journeymnen, and a measure which every friend to justice must wish to see successful. 'I'his is no other than the peaceable employment of new hands willing to work, in- stead of the old and refractory, who would labour only on their own terms. A numiber, it is said, of "' weavers from "Paisley, and of excellent spinners and piecers from other " parts of Renfrewshire, have been engaged" to carry on the business of the deserted maniufactories. Arms are supplied to them, in case of an attack frora the sulky and threaten- ing seceders; regular nightly watchles are kept; a procla. rnation has beena issued by the Sheriff against disturbers of the peace; and many of the works are in full and unmolest- ed action. It seems plain,, that in the present state of .the country, when there is no want of constmnt work, the wages proposed by the masters were not unreasonable, since they have been able to supply themselves from the neighbouring towns and country on their own terms., But, as we havealready hinted, it is said in the Glasgow journals that wages are not the sole point in dispute. The jour- neymren are accused of seeking such a degree of power over the masters, as would, if conceded to them, totally change the relative position of master and servant. They are accused of seelking no less than that the nsanage. ment of the mills should be lodged witlh the workmen-that individual weavers shall be employed or discarded-that foremen shall be selected, not according to the master's will, but to theirs-that idleness, and drunkenness, and unmar- ketable work, shall be no otherwise punished than as they, the drunkards and idlers, themselves may authorize ! These, we say, are the charges brought against the " Ope- " rative." (we detest the Scotch pedantry of the word), who have long lcept Glasgow in disorder, and who will end by ruining themaseives and families. If the accusations be Just, the punishment will be as well merited as it will be certain. Other hands will be empleyel; some of the masters will emigrate (one has already done so) to parts wvhere they can find labourers more tractable; and conmbinations-we mean such as are not fairly provoked- will thus be cured by legitimate expediente. We have seeu something of the Glasgow weavers, and feel bound to say, that among the body are a large proportion of as coarse, ruffianly, and turbulent fellows, as ever annoyed an indtus- trious and inoffensive community. LONDON, TURE'DAY, DECEMABER 21, 1824.