Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 8th March 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 230, Untitled Picture

Page 230
Page 18
18 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • (Open Cmmril..#.
  • Pictures (1)
  • Text (7)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      Believe us I the crisis has but begun . A Ministry may be formed-butit cannot stand-it is not a Cabinet , it is Sst ^ ffiir ^^ SS ^ £ g asrt 3 uft « tf r ^ Sti ^§ when definite and certain progress is in view . We call on you for men and money ; give us these ! and , without the infringement of a single law , we will guarantee the result Three weeks are given you for preparation —it is enough if you are active and united-discuss the DroVrammein your localities ! -elect your delegates ! - JuofX your fund . ! Be ready by the 31 st of March .-Rally , Chartists ! llally once more—and then down with class leg islation . PROGRAMME OF BUSINESS .

      Times have become highly favourable to the united actions of the people . The fundamental truths of sound government are recognised by increasing numbers . Those fundamental doctrines are : —That the first business of the state is to provide for the welfare of the whole body of the people , giving preference to the living souls in the country over the splendours of rank , the accumulation of wealth , or the convenience of classes ; that the land is the property of the whole nation ; that the taxation of the people can only be justified as the means of payment for work done in the service of the people .

      To give effect to these doctrines , it is necessary that the people should appoint their own managers . The deniers of that truth are diminishing in numbers , and the fear of universal suffrage is passing away . It was the vain attempt to resist the extension of the franchise which overthrew the Russell Cabinet . The middle classes are advocating a " Charter " imitated from our own . A movement of the people would now meet with little opposition . It would be welcomed . Political leaders find that they cannot do without the people . Of recent middle-class agitations , although directed against the weakest of Governments , not one has succeeded . The power of the people alone can extricate our political system from the dea i lock of conflicting efforts .

      The burden of taxation must be removed from the shoulders of the working classes . The time is favourable : all our largest taxes are condemned by public opinion . The income tax is condemned by the middle class , the professional class , the agricultural class , and by the leaders of the three political parties competing for power ; the window tax is marked for abolition ; the paper tax , the soap tax , and many others . Public opinion is obstinately demanding sweeping concessions which would amount to an immense deficiency , a breakdown of revenue . By their united action the people can hasten

      that crisis . . We must have labour law reform . While there is food and wealth in the country , every free man has a right to ( subsistence in return for labour . Workers have as much right to combine for their own interest- as employers . The greatest change that has come over the minds and hearts of the English community , through all classes , is the conviction that the mass of the people , especially the productive classes , is in a state which casts shame upon wealth that can withhold a fair return for labour , or suifer poverty so abject from

      To remove our whole political and social system its precarious and debased condition — to replace it on the solid foundations of justice—arc- the only guarantees for national peace . To the cultivators of the laud we say , that by restoring justice to the relations of labour and land we save them from confusion and disaster ; to the capitalist , that just labour laws are the sole instrument of preventing social anarchy , of rendering industry productive , and of redeeming trade from the : bankruptcy which is eating into every part of it . To the army itself , while working oilierrs are denied just promotion , and their soldiers are denied the rights of citizenship , Unpeople will appear as friends , not enemies ; tor the people insist on justice to all . With these views we shall he prepared to submit for the consideration of the National Convention the

      following PLAN J'OR 1 'UTTUCH ACTION for the National Charter Association : — 1 . The enactment of the People ' s Charter in all its integrity . 2 . A thorough reconstruction of our ( system of taxation . 3 . A thorough reform of the labour laws . 4 . AIho live means of rendering our movement more efficient , by giving it a greater c-xteiihion , by directing our agitation , ho us to tukc every advantage of » he movements of the day , by the Hy « teiniitic issue of tracts , and by carrying our activity into the tiluiuheriug district of the factory and the mine , into the unvisilcd districts of agriculture .

      The Conference will be invited to consider a py-stenmtic method of carrying forward the extended agit . at . iou , and give expression to the wishes and wants of the people ,

      . : — 1 . The enactment , of the People's Charier . ' 2 . ' Revision of the whole jjysl . i'in of taxation , so sis to release the poor entirely from it » weight . ; remove , it . al together from labouring industry ; r < H < "v < - the operations ol trade , and place the whole burden when- it . can be placed with the most justice ; and the least , mischief . . ' { . A plan for placing the National Debt . uinliT a course of liquidation , gradual and equitable , but to coinnu nee forthwith . 4 . A reconstruction of the law called the Poor Law , Tendering it un instrument for securing ( subsistence to every able-bodied man who will work .

      b A total revision of the laws of purtncrtihip , throwing all its conveniences ) open to th < " working man , and (• mibling him to combine hi . s industry with that , of his f <; ll « WH .

      6 . A thorough revision and amendment of the Combination Laws ? Contract Laws , and all laws controlling the relation of employer and employed . 7 . A reorganization of the army , restoring to every soldier the rights of citizenship , securing to the private comfort in service and a free discharge , and to the oincer iust promotion . , The Conference will be invited to recommend a series of great public meetings in rapid succession ,- to consider the grievances enumerated above ; each grievance to be the subject of discussion at simultaneous meetings under the advice of the Executive Committee . _ An improved organization for the National Charter Association will also be submitted to the Conference , lor the purpose of rendering its action more prompt ana

      efficient . .,, ¦ .. ¦> . „<• Meanwhile , with a view to a possible dissolution ol Parliament , localities should enable their delegates to state what boroughs might be contested in the Chartist interest , and a plan of action be propounded to render the contest successful . The Secretary having been instructed to engage a proper place wherein the delegates may assemble , the committee adjourned to Wednesday evening , March 12 . Signed , on behalf of the Committee , John Arnott , General Secretary .

      Untitled Article

      Pimlico Working Builders' Association .- —The office of this society is in Upper Tachbrook-street , Pimlico This association has been established for the purpose of enabling the workman to obtain the benefit of his labour . In order to carry out this object comprehensively , the following branches are executed by competent workmen on reasonable terms . —Carpentry , bricklaying , masonry , plastering , plumbing , painting , decorating , glazing , smith-work , bell-hanging , and every description of conservatory , greenhouse , blind , and verandah work . Houses heated with hot water on the most improved principles , and at the shortest notice . Reference as to capabilities of performing work may be made at the office of the "Society for Promoting Working Men ' s Association , " 76 , Charlotte-street , Fitzroy-square from the promoters of which this society has received valuable help . —B . Jennings , Manager , W . Pond , bee .

      RoBEiiT Owen axu the International Exhibi-TION 'I'de weekly meeting of the Central Committee of Social Propaganda was held on Wednesday evening , at the office , 52 , College-place , Camden-town , when communications were read from Bradford , Dundee , &c . An address explanatory of the objects of the Committee was agreed upon , and also a subscription list to be sent to various friends and local committees throughout the country . —Hunii y A . IvoitY , Secretary , 52 , Collegeplace , Camden-town . Redemption Society . —Mr . and Mrs . Gardener were elected as members of the Welch community on Thursday , the 27 th of February , in all the branches . This familin Wales

      makes another addition to the y . We are still in want of further help at shocmaking . Mr . Bentley has ten weeks' work beforehand in Wales , and we could find work for a score of shoemakers in Leeds alone . It is quite evident , if we get the communal buildings erected we shall have them tenanted by useful and lucrative trades , which will both bring a profit to the society and a cheapened and good article to the members . We br-lieve that if wo are enabled to supply all the members -with shoes , wo can ( ilVct a saving for them equal , if not more than their contributions t . > the society . About £ 70 is wanted to complete the communal building fund . The society is more than 1000 , and yet we stop Jor this mm , Ir , -will bo seen from the advertising columns of the

      Leader , that another rescript is issued lor another shoemaker and a young woman . We want the young woman to take the management of the dairy . If a shoemaker without children , ' has a wife , who can undertake this department the better . Monies received for the week ending Feb . 21 . — Leeds , £ 3 : 5 . s . ll . Jd . ; Burstall , per Mr . II . S ^ nds , 4 s . ; ( iildersome , ' 1 a . <) d . ; Hyde , per Mr . J Bradley , ' M . Communal building fund : —Jjceds , ' , U . ; Hyde , per Mr . J . Bradley , 7 s . ; Burstall , per Mr . II . Sands , ' , U . —Monies received lor the week ending March ; 5 , 18 "> i : —I-eedH , £ 2 His . 11 ^ 1 . ; Nottingham , per Mr . Smith , 7 s . ( id . ; Newcastle , per J . II ., Is . ; Di i ^ lington , per Mr . Clayton , 10 s . Communal building fund : —Nottinghamper Mr . Smith , 12 s . ( id .

      , Macolkhkikm ) . —On the l !) th ultimo Mr . Lloyd Jones delivered a lecture on Social Reform in the Parnonageslreet . Chapel , Macclesficld . He dencrihed the trade societies established in Paris and in London , and pointed out the advantages which the members derived therefrom . Hi ? also went , into hour ; details of several cooperative societies in Lancashire , some of which wei e , he said , doing bnsincHS to the extent of dUOOO per week . lie urged in forcible liuiguav . e the necessity of the people of Maccliihficld forming similar societies . At the clo . so several working men made * remarks on the necessity for cooperation . One person Htatt'd that a society hud

      alrc ; i < ly been commenced , and that information could l >«; obtained at . the reading-room in . Stanley street . Mr . John \ Ws . t said there were ; many persons in the town who were iiilvocat . es of cooperation , but . who objected to combi .. ati ( iliu for the purpose of keeping up wages . lie ( Mr . Went ) wished to know whether Mr . . Jones was in favour of such combinations or , not . Mr . Jones replied that he thought it . was much better for the working classes to combine-for ' tlH" purpose nf setting each other to work . They would thus become ; their own masters , and a « th » -y would not . be likely to turn themselves away or Htrike agaiimt tlu'maelven , oi < bo |> their own wages , then ? would be Ichh reason for the disput « .-H that are now ho prevalent .

      Untitled Article

      SIX BISHOPS ON LEVITICAL LAW . March 6 , 1851 . Sir , —In the recent discussion on the Marriage Bill in the House of Lords , six Bishops undertook to explain the will of the Creator on this important matter . But no two of them absolutely agreed , and three are diametrically opposed to the other three : — The Archbishop of Canterbury said that the question was unchangeably settled for them by the Law of God , yet that this law is not explicit but leaves much to implication and analogy . The Bishop of Exeter rails at there marriages as _ incestuous , and by a new translation of Lev . xvm . 18 ( specially improved ) , dexterously twists it to his purpose He quotes Herod , and thus forces a mere narrative into a Christian sanction of the Levitical Law .

      The Bishop of St . David ' s altogether differs from both . He considers that people have interpreted the word of God according to their own preconceived notions , and have manufactured a Divine prohibition out of ambiguity . The Bishop of Norwich thought that there was no clear prohibition in the Old Testament , and that a very important passage in the New Testament might be brought to sanction it .

      The Bishop of London ten years ago thought that there was no Scriptural prohibition , but had changed his opinion , and now had no manner of doubt that something of the kind might be thought to be implied . The Bishop of OssoiiY admitted that the Levitical law was not very distinct ; but , with the light of the Gospel lamp , he thought something might be made of it . Lord Brougham drily remarked , that it would ill become him to be confident where he found the Right Reverend Prelates in no small doubt and discrepancy . Now , in a case of human law , concerning a most important offence , imagine six Judges all differing as to whether it is prohibited or not . Should we not reason thus ? Either the law is clumsily worded , or the Judges want common sense . Again , suppose a scientific law propounded by Sir Isaac Newton , to be 6 o obscurely worded that three of our first philososophers imagine lie meant one thing and three others thiit he meant the contrary . Should we not nay ? "he could not have written anything bo foolish ; it must be a forgery in his name , "—or—" alas ! poor human reason , sometimes godlike , sometimes drivelling . "

      But in the case of a supposed divine law , how ik it possible to escape from a similar dilemma ? Either the expounders are puzzle-headed or the law ia ho . They will hardly tell us that the Deity could not write clearly , or forgot to guard against this or that complex case , or maliciously wished to entrap us into crime by ambiguity or omissions . When driven into this corner the orthodox without scruple endeavour to escape by charging their opponents with blasphemy in presuming to question tin ; law oi (» od . But I boldly rebut the charge , and accuse them of the most monstrous blasphemy , in attributing to the allwise Creator of this glorious universe tin ; foolish and obscure ; records of a Bmull , remote , and barbarous Eastern tribe . We moderns p lume ourselves on our great advance in physical science ;

      but . where are we in matters of pure mind ? What ib the real difference between the brutish A frican cowering before his fetish or bogy , and the Eng lishman trembling at an imaginary hell , or worshipping a Levitical law ? How much longer is abject craven fear to a wo men into silence before this huge sham pasteboard iigure of orthodoxy ? How much longer shall we ; tamely Hufl'r these ? right , reverend tailors to force our reluctant limbs into the scanty clothes made for a few savages who wandered in the desert soino two or three thoimuid years ago ? and how inurH longer hIiiiII we believe these right reverend tailors , when , having dishonestly made some clumsy iilterntioiiH , they assure us that , these ; ginnent . H wen" evidently inude for us and all mankind for ever ? -If

      Untitled Article

      230 «** &eair « r . ^^^ Saxokoav ^

      Untitled Article

      Cmnuino to Kuitous . -1 here are many who have a half knowledge that their religion in but it wuking dream , yet hefr \ on "ill not disturb Ilirm —Atkinson , anil M'tr-( iniKiu ' n Iji-ttem on Man .

      (Open Cmmril..#.

      ( Open Cmmril . . # .

      Untitled Article

      [ In this department , as all opinions , H ° *« = * 2 ?*™"' ARE ALLOWED AN EXPRESSION , THE EDITOR UECEfaSAKILY HOLDS HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR NONE . ]

      Untitled Article

      Tfcere is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to reaS , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . — Milton .

      Untitled Picture

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 8, 1851, page 230, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1873/page/18/