THE RIOT AT TAMWORTH. (From the Britannia.) LETTER OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 581, 8 November 1851, Page 3

THE RIOT AT TAMWORTH. (From the Britannia.) LETTER OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.

Sin Roecrt Peer, has .addressed the following letter to the Tunes on the bubject of the late riot at Tarnworth :—: — " To the Editor of the Times. « Sir ; — May I be permitted, through the medium of the Tunes, to thank the constituency which, together with Cap ta'n Townshend, I have the honour of reptesent'n<s in P. ilwnent, and, n a eon of the late Sir Robert, Peel, foi ilie spc. uieous burst of indignation wh:ch greeted tho 9 m"sty pilgiim;) of protection who, on We dne-iday evening last, sought in t'le Town Hall of Tamworth a but dec^tful refuge for the enjoyment of festivity and lanentition and abuse? It is, indeed, a source of congratulation to me that no ' mawkish sensibihty' should have eilenced the inhabitants of the borough and neighbourhood Into apathy and indifference, or restrained t'lem from giving vent to their feelings in reaenting an insult upon the memory of one who-e reputation, while it ennoble-; their political r 1 ecedeats, is so inconte^lably endeared to their recolluctioD. ''Is it not surpiiaing, although perhaps sa isfaetory, that popul,)" iic'igiiaiion knew how to contain itself even in tie moment of bitteiest exasperation, and that so much leuLncy should have been shown to the strangers who, for the £, ratification oft\eir animosity, and with the view of givi r- greater point to their vituperation and slander, thought proper to select Ta*nwoith, the Hall wuce yet echoes the scarce inanimate voice of the depaitid dead, and within a few yards of the very spot which is to be consecrated to his memory, in the vein hope of seducing a contented district into tie belief of imaginary ills, thiough their insane exhibition. " I trust most earnestly, tbat sbould a repetition be medita'ed on any future occasion, precautions may ba tii^en, if possible, for preventing the eftwlon of Wood, a:id thai, by the binding over to keep the peace of such miserable impostors as Mr. Q. F. Young, we may not have to lament excesses which, sooner or later, must ii cvi f ibly be the consequence of the~'r reckless folly, particularly should they again attempt to foist themselves upon the not-ce of the borough of Tamwortb. " I remain, Sir, with muchrwpect, " Your obedient Servant, " rloßcnr Peel, •' House of Commons, Friday, May 30."

LLTTER OF MR. G. I. YOUNG. The following is Mr. Young's reply :— << sir, — The columns of your journal are usually so free fiom offensive personalities that I was somewhat suipiioedat observing this morning that I am stigmatised hy name as a ' miserable impostor,' in a letter beann«* a signature which even I should have imagined would have constituted a security against coar-e vulgarity. Tt appears T was mistaken. The present Sirl'iobert Peel's taste in composition is on a par with his eloquence. " I shall not bandy scurrility wit^i the bon. baronet ; he appears to be a proficient in the art, and I am unacquainted with it. But he is unfortunate in tie designation he baa affixed to my name. I am conscious of many defects ; I may entertain erroneous opinions ; I may commit indiscreet actions ; but I never put for ward personal pretensions, therefore I am not an impostor. The convictions I entertain conscientiously I express fearlessly; but I nover attempt to deceive others by piofessing what I do not believe; and I never deceived myself into a belief that I was so capable of expounding the sentiments I honestly entertain as the fiiends of protection throughout the country have been pleased to consider me. It has been only at (heir earnest solicitation that I have ever attended any of the numerous meetings in which, at much sacrifice of time, convenience, and expense, I have taken part ; nor have I ever oiiginated or stimulated any of them. But I sincerely rejoice they have been held, and I am proud that I have been permitted to offer even the humble portion I have contributed to their uniform and signal success. t * " And now, Sir, having shown what is not, allow me briefly to describe what, in ray judgment, is an impostor. If a man should be discovered who, lepresenting a pure and viituous sovereign in a foreign embassy, should be discreditably distinguished as a profligate and a gambler ; if. as a member of a British House of Commons, be should aspire to the dignity of an orator, write his speeches, and break down in delivering them ; if, after breathing for years the aimosphere of the very land of freedom, he should return to his native soil, professing to be the champion of liberal principles, and be found practising on his vassal tenantry the most contemptible freaks of impotent tyranny — should such a man be discovered, well indeed might he be handed as an impostor, and if he should have ventured to fling the foul epithet at men more upright and consistent than hi-nself, deservedly might he be set down as a calumniator also. Let Sir Robert Peel beware—' They who live in glass houses should never throw stones.' " I am, Sir, " Your faithful and obedient servant, " George Frederick Youxo. " Winchester, May 31."

SIR ROBERT PEEI/S REJOINDE*. « q; r , I pass over, without note or comment, Mr. G. F. Young's reflections on myself, which appear in your impression of to-day, I leave public opin : on to judge of tbe tone and taste of bis language, while personally I hare a consciousness with all my defect?, of not having merited his aspersions on my private character. " There is, however, one portion of the letter which I cannot leave unnoticed, nrniely, that referring to the relations between my tenantry and myself, which is stated to be characterised by the '' most contemptible

freaks of impotent tyranny." " I enclose a communication, which I hope you will oblige with publication, written by me on the 10th of May to my agent, on the subject of the then anticipated Protectionist Meeting at Tamworth. " This letter, which was read to some of my tenants, the contents of it being made known to others, will show the amount of interference I was disposed to exercise on that occasion ; and I shall leave the vindication of the goneral course I have pursued towards them to their own appreciations and testimony. " I remain, Sir, with much respect, " Your obedient Servant, " Robert Peel. '< London, June 2."

j " London, May 10, 1851. " Mr. Mattbews, — I understand there is to be a Pro- ' tectioniat Dinner at Tamworth— a proceeding which I j highly disapprove of, and upon which, in this sense, T shall be glad of your expressing my opinion on every occasion. As a landed proprietor, and one who looks upon his tenant -farmei s as members, as it were, of one grp.it family of which he is the head, I feel deeply interested in their welfare and prosperity, and would j most gladly assist in relieving, by legislative measures, the pressure under which tliey and the agricultural interest are unquestionably suffering; but in the character j of landlord, and from the social position 1 enjoy, I consider it necessary for me to let my opinions be known J to them upon every occasion that presents itself; and while I am most ready to tender advice, if solicited, or explanations, if required, I also expect due consideration to be paid to the views I have expressed or am known to entertain, and admit that I would hope to see | them frankly adopted by those who are in the position I ; have named. j " After all, I consider mysplf aa much the farmers' friend as any one else. I certainly have os good a reason as any one else. " Their prosperity is mine, our interests are common, but I look upon a return to protection (so called) as fatal to us both, and as likely to be productive of consequences far more injurious than the pressure which free-trade has occasioned, I believe, only temporarily. " M alee no hesitation in letting my opinions be known distinctly. " I wish to leave the most complete independence to those who have a perfect right to judge for them-

selves. I would ouly direct their judgment, not inter Ifere with it. "If any of my tenants were to ask you whether I would disapprore of their assisting at a Protectionist Dinner, you can say ' Ye 1 / and for this reason — because I bplieve they would be endeavouring to promote that which wouki be injurious to them and to myself, and that which would injure us hoth, must clearly meet with my tlibapproW'on. " E w en should they not inquire, and you hay« an opportunity of alluding to the subject, use it to propagate my Tiews. ■' Yours, very truly, ''Robert Pefl. *' To Mr. Matthews, Fazely."

(Fiom the " 15i ltdnnia,'' June 7.) It is somewhat curious that the cause which is usually designated that of u progiess," owes the ronjonty of its triumphs to the instrumentality of the bludgeon and the brickbat. Everhince the era of the Reform Bill, we h.ive been threatened, not with the in 'pi.pjh, but with more startling menace of its physical ferocity. We have seen burnings at Bristol and Monmoutb, riofs in Biroiinghnm and Stdleybridge, dastardly assaults at Hawick, and election tumults innumerable. These things have been commented on and condemned or palliated by Ministers, as suited tbeir immediate purpose, until it seems to have become a mooted point, whether the dignity of the law, the inviolability of the subject, and the right of free discussion and opinion, are at all times to be considered as objects of paramount importance. The late Tamworth riot has brought maters to a crisis. If the proceedings of the wretched mob, who on that occasion assaulted the house in which the Protectionist farmers of the neighbourhood were assembled, are to be sanctioned, or even indirectly excused, there is an end of free discussion in England, and the actual revolution has begun. The Times, with its customary hardihood, and more than its customary disregaid of public decency, has attempted to throw its yEgis over the proceedings of the riotecs. Let us see the nature of the plea advanced by our contemporary in vindication of this scandaloua outrage : — " Much as we deplore the fact of any riot in any part of the kingdom, we cannot but say that the geitlemen who dined together on Wednesday at Tamwoith licbly deserved to fp?l the consequences of theif folly. If they would deliberately go and insult the feelings of a community, which, but for such provocation, would have remained in order and in peace, is it matter of surprise t!iat the townsmen should have replied to the challenge I It would have been strange had it been otherwise," What, would it have been strange in the eyes of Ptinting house Square, if the yeomen of Warwickshire had been allowed to hold their meeting at Tarawor'h, and d ; "cuss their own especial grievances, without being subjected to the most hideous insult and outiage? According to this doctrine, clublaw is part of the Biitish constitution. The opponents of any measure, if they possess a. numerical majority, have the right of rewt.ng to physical force, for the purpose of silencing 01 dispersing those who entertain opposite opinions ; m which case, we are indeed living in a land of blessed liberty! According' to ike view of the Times, Tamwor b. is now and henceforward consecrated as a kind of Mecca, into which it is not lawful for the foot of a profane Protectionist to intrude. It derives its peculiar sanctity from its connection with a late prophet ; and all opinions, which may be suppoced contrary to i'jose which he enteriained, are tabooed within its walls. This is comfortable intelligence for the tenantry of the late Sir Robert Peel, who, almost to a man, were present at the assembled meeting. In reverence to the memoiy of; their deceased landloid, they are to be looked upon as Helots, debarred of all political privilege, and prevented from meeting in their market-town to discuss their own grievances, and consult as to a ren edy. At the burial of an Eastern Rajah, it was customary to inter alive a large number of those who were trusted and lived in his service. The old Hindoo rite, it seems, has been revived in Tamworth, at le:st in so far as the civil existence of Drayton tecantry is coi.ee ned. Nay, we find the young Rajah issuing his decree on the subject, and transmitting to his agent a firmaun, which, for deliberate arrogance, and contempt of the farmer's rights, we believe to be unparalleled. Listen to this precious specimen of fine new aristocracy ; — " While I am most ready to tender advice if solicitated, or explanation if required, I also expect due consideration to be paid to the views I have expressed, or am known to entertain, and rdmit Cat I would hope to Gee them fiaukly adopted by those who are in the position I have named!" What posit' on? Does this follower of Tippoo really suppose that he has the right to direct the conscience;; of his tenantry, or to interfere in this scandalous manner with tbeir undoubt 1 privileges as free men ? A Norman baron in the eleventh century could not have written more peremptorily nor iroreoffensively than does this scion of cotton-spinning in the nineteenth j and so intense is his obtuseness, that he dops not even seem aware of the breach of decency which ha has committed, hut sends a copy of his letter to be published in the Times, by way of a specimen of his moderation ! As to the allegation that the attack was commenced by the mob, in consequence of some reflections made by the speakers on t'le conduct of tbe late Sir Robert Peel, that is a statement so obviously preposterous that we are surprised (o see it ' cited in any respectable journal. The disturbance took place without, not uUliiti the hall. The nvscrennts, who were preparing and organizing the outrage, knew v ; much of what wai going on within, as they did of the proceedings of Parliament assembled that night at Westminster. They came there determined on rioting, and they fully succeeded m accomplishing the'r purporo. It was no feeling of nspect for Sir Robert Peel which dictated the movement — it was as pure r ) act of political violence as was ever perpetrr.ted beyond the jurisdiction of Lynch. Subsequent inquiries have shown that the principal parties implicrted in the riot were strangers to Tarnworth—fallows from Walsall, St -fford, and the Potteries — sturdy ruffians who have ere now tiled their handtin getting up em.ulci among the working classes. DoubtJess the?" efforto on this occasion were materially assisted — possibly suggested — by the knowledge of the Lord of Drayton Manor who bad chosen directly to interfere, ~d to do all in his power to prevent the meeting from being held. That cir -umstance encouraged tl c rioters to proceed to extremities, and we are exceedingly thankful that we have not upon this occasion to deplore tbe actual loss of I'fe in consequence of proceedings 60 utterly recklejs and undefensible. These thingSj however, must have an end. Short of absolute murder every conceivable outrage was perpetrated against the Protectionists, whose forbearance I seems (o us under the circumstances marvellous. Let us look at the detailed report : — " Everything went off satisf ictorily until the close of Mr. Young's speech — the only indication of a counter-demonstration out of doors baing an occasional burst of cheering from a, gang of boys who were parading the streets, and shouting vociferously for the • big louF.' As the twilight approached, however, it was evident from the increased noise made by the mob that they were gathering force, and that a storm was ready to burst at the first opportunity. That opportunity was not long delayed. The assembly was engaged in applauding the conclusion of Mr. Young's speech, when a stone was burled through the window, immediately at the back of Mr. Newuegate's chair, but fortunately inflicted no other damage than breaking a pane of glass. Though not then commenced in earnest, a volley of immense stones was thrown at the hall windows— the tbe glass flies over the br.i quet table— the missiles fall in the hall in every direc'ion — volley after volley succeed d, till every window and every chandelier was smashed. The company made hasty retreat into the lobbies, where they armed themselves with such weapons as were within reach, and, to the number of three hundred made a sally into the street. Here they encountered the populace, a hand-to-hand fight took place, many persons weie seriously injured, and the Protectionists and their friends took refuge in the King's Arms. Stone 9 were soon thrown in here, tha hotel was closely invested, every window was broken to atoms, — the bleeding and wounded were brought into the hotel in most pitiable plight, and the excitement of the populace rose so tremendously that at one time it was feared the place would be set fire to. For two hours the town was in possession of the mob, and amongst the acts of daring committed was the taking of the farmers' vehicles from the inn yard, aod casting them over the biidge iDto the river." And this is the conduct which the Times ventures to vindicate ! Is there any speciality in the Tamwortli case, which can at all remove it from the catalogue of common outrage, or which can be construed into a defence "> We can find none. 1/ such scenes are to become frequent among üb, the liberty of Englishmen is gone, the Jaw will have lost its power, and anarchy will be established in its place; and, if we are to regard this as the commencement of similar outrages, it is very important to remark which party it is that has thrown the iirst stone.