whatever master, they
may choose, in perfect security against molestation, insult, or personal
clanger of what kind soever." The punishment of offences of the nature
alluded to recommended by the committee, was, in case of conviction,
six months' imprisonment, with or without hard labour, according to the
circumstances of the case. A bill founded on this report was brought
into the commons, and after considerable discussion, was passed into
a law. In the committee several of its clauses were resisted, and
especially that which made it penal to induce any man to leave his work
by threat, or intimidation, or by molesting, or in any way obstructing
him. This was said by Mr. Hume to be too vague, as what one man might
consider an obstruction, another might not; and by Mr. Mansfield, as
being deprecated by the workmen. In reply, Mr. Huskisson said, that he
had no intention of acting harshly towards the operative mechanics: the
object of the bill was to protect the weak against the strong; to
afford to the man who chose to give his labour for a certain value that
protection against the combination of large bodies to which every man
was entitled. Upon a division the clause objected to was carried by a
large majority; the members rightly conceiving that man is free to act
upon his own responsibility, and that he should not suffer from the
control of others. If a man chooses to give his labour for a certain
rate of wages he should be at liberty to do so without intimidation or
molestation. And he is the more entitled to act thus independently of
his fellow-workmen's interference, because no man will throw away his
labour. Self-interest is, in fact, the best protection from oppression.
A skilful mechanic with a good character can always obtain the true
value of his labour without the aid of his fellow-operatives. He can act
as a man; can ask, and obtain his just wages.

FREE-TRADE SYSTEM.

Many petitions had been presented in the course of this session for and
against the existing system of the corn-laws. On the 25th of April
Mr. Whitmore was induced to move for a committee of the whole house to
consider of these laws; but his motion was rejected. Previous to this,
however, Mr. Huskisson, in pursuance of the scheme of commercial policy
which he had adopted, brought forward three important subjects: first,
"The system of our commercial policy in respect to our colonies;"
secondly, "The expediency of revising many of the dut