offences to which the act adverted, but the evil of
workmen being permitted to plot, and the bold, open avowal of carrying
such permission into effect. He moved for the appointment of a committee
to inquire into the effects of this act, and to report their opinion how
far it might be necessary to repeal or amend it. This motion was agreed
to, and the committee, after a laborious investigation, made a report,
in which they recommended the repeal of Mr. Hume's bill; the effect
of which would be to restore the operation of those laws which were
suspended by the second and third clauses of that act. But while
recommending that the common law should be restored, the committee
expressed an opinion that an exception should be made to its operation
in favour of meetings and consultations amongst either masters or
workmen, the object of which was peaceably to consult upon the rate of
wages to be either given or, received, and to agree to co-operate with
each other in endeavouring to raise it or lower it, or to settle the
hours of labour; an exception which, while it gave to those in the
different classes of masters and workmen ample means of maintaining
their respective interests, would not afford any support to the
assumption of power or dictation in either party to the prejudice of the
other. But in recommending that liberty of associating and co-operating
together, so far as wages or labour were concerned, should be preserved
alike to masters and workmen, the committee deemed it requisite to
propose that the resolution of any such association should be allowed
to bind only parties actually present on personally consenting; all
combination beyond this should be at the risk of the parties, and
open to the animadversion of the common law, and should be dealt with
according to the circumstances of each case. The committee further
proposed that every precaution should be taken to ensure a safe and free
option to those who were not inclined to take part in such associations.
The language of the report on this subject is emphatic. "The most
effectual security," it says, "should be taken that legislative
enactment can afford, that, in becoming parties to any association, or
subject to their authority, individuals should be left to act under the
impulse of their own free will alone; and that those who wish to abstain
from them, should be enabled to do so, and continue their service, or
engage their industry, on whatever terms, or with