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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1840.
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TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS
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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.
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PUNISHMENT OP LIBELLERS UNDER THE LIBERAL WHIG MINISTRY . Lo-rett rad Collins -were convicted of libel for publishing the following words : —" That the London Police w& 3 a Wood-thirsty , nneonaUtational force . " It ¦ was 3 great stretch of poorer to prosecute these words » s libellous ; the police force had been called " bloodfliirsry" in Tery many newspapers and publication * from the day of its appointment , and is still called 80 in some of ths newspapers . Harm *? Ckronide , 2 sta May , l ? 40 . —Mi . Fox Manle aid , " as regarded the case of Messrs . Lorett and Collins , the Hon . Member for Bridport was quite right in saying that he ( Mr . F . Maulei had admitted that be thought their punishment had been infinitely more evere than had been anticipated ; and more—be fcxd ¦ iorne testimony to the marip ^ r in which that punishrant had been submitted to . " y ^™ ., " . . r ^* * j Ji * J £ K THE
It was fire weeks before the 17 th May , that Mr . Fox JIanle promised to Mr . Warburton that " Lovett and C « llins Bhould be released handsomely to enjoy the JSasttr Holidays . " At the ecd of another month Mr . Pox Manle admits that the treatment of the men had 'been injintiely more severe than had been anticipated . Tet t >> ey were still detained in this tjyfatfcV more ¦ erere way , at the end of another month , and thus have they been i * jiaiieiy more severely treated than they oaght to-haxo been , even by the confession of the mouthpiece , for this purpose , of the Cabinet , in the Kov . se , Airing about ttn wctks aitt-r their infinitely worse treatni * -nt ha '; tven repudiated , and so they still coini-» ie to be treated . Let us see what is their present treatment . T :-. e two men sleep in the same narrow bad ; a ccm - Tict sleeping in another > ed in tne same brick-walkd , Jaicir-fiio-red , brick-roofed cell , about twelve fetz by eight fee : in siz . \
They jira -not allowed either to send or receive letters Bntil they have been inspected . Thty are cot allowed to see either relative or friend bat once £ . t tie end cf every three months . They are not allowed either to provide there solves irith bedding or with food , but most live on the- gao ! aBovsnce .
dietart , As improved since the beginning of February last For Dinner . Scxdat . —No dinner whatever . iloxDAT . —Soup . Tuesday . —Ono ponna of p-natoe * . Wednesday . —Hall a pound of meat-Thuhsd . it . —>' o dinner whatever . Friday . —Half a pound of meat . Saturday . —One pound of potatoes . The whole Dietary of Lovett and Collins is , therefore : —
Bread . Tea . Soup . Potatoes . Meat . Sunday 1 * lb . twice Monday da do . 1 J pint Tuesday da da 1 lb . Wednesday do . do . i Ib . Thursday do . do . Friday do . do . J ib . Saturday da do . 1 lb . . Butter , half-a-pound a week . Soap , which is served for dinner on ilendays , has never been eaten by Lovett cr CVuiss ; they said thilr sitmachs revolted Lt it , and they could eg ; eat it On Sandr . y 3 and Thursdays nothing ; and thus ther * * re three days in every seven when these two' rcspecuible men liave no aiaser . On Tuesdays aud Ssturnays , oae pound of potatoes
are serve =. Thus , in sd iiticn to thtir not having any dinner at aS in : hree days in cve .-y seven , there u : e two more ¦ when they have only one pcun-I of potatoes usch , Bating ive days oat of every seven , en vruich it cixmo ; be raid th ^ y have a dinner . And thtn , e-s to the way in which the fc > d 13 strvc-d , steady as it is , neither knife nor fork is ailv ^ en , except •» tit of tin . As to sleeping : here are two married , skilled labourers , < rf the bettor sort , us .-d to as m 2 . ; iy comforts as su \ . h jnea kaow i . ow to prize zn-. \ enjoy , rc ^ de to sleep or , ths sarrc narrow bed , on a lxdstaia sever intended to told two persons . Those r . nd many other sma'ler privations and punishments const-tute , together , a sysu-in of torture ak- > Xetber out cf i ; rvp"rtion to zzy uiiszix not ntttr : ^ degrading in its nature , as iibei never will and 2 iever enztt to be deemed .
These ptniteiiti . rj- regulations were ntver before applied to any ane convicted of libel—never were intended its such men . Tte folljw : t ; g passage fr-. m the printed regulations of the General Pcai-. entiary at MillbanX , the n : < xiel pri * jn for thtse purposes , \ n : l prove that Penitentiary discipline was i ^ i um ed solely for the purpose of reffL-JTriing iga- ; rwi :, itpreved , pron ^ to criminals , wlwn aothiug e " , se couU : oi > erate . That ta c y n c ver were- intaideJ . rs cruel , revengeful punishmeii ; , for men whoie habits CTid luannera were the reverse of depraved ar . rt juviiigr . te : — EJiract / rom the Printed IUipt ^ iior . s of the General PenileidUirv al Uiiib ^ Ju
After reeling that a prisoner may receive a -one : Setter , or a visitor once in every four months , is the following observation : — " The p ? rji ; ssion to write and rtcaive MUm is ei ^ u to the prisoners , for ilie purpo&a o ! enabling them to keep u ^ z coancction with the res pictableport of t !; e r tri-Eds , to wl ; oni i : is hop-c-J they may be re-uciied , whai tcit-j shall be rtsioied io society , and not that deymiiy heirt ' . e novrs of the day , with which they itavr n > c ¦ nccri ; . " Heace i ; : oiiows that these rttulitrous have no proper sj-pllcition in respect to Meisrs . Lovett anii
Co . iies— c ^ ver c'juIJ , ' in any way , have any , and ti-at they n-ver before were enforced against any persou or persons convictc-1 cf libel , however gross and violent . it mig ^ t have beeu d ^ n&l , cuicli le-s for the wonL ; — ITie Lo-don pAice u a Uood-LMrsty , vnconstituli' .-zui force ; —vrords vrhi--h every ic-in should no : only Le pemutUrd to use , but words vhich any man sincere 1 , v bdiicviug to be true , he ought to use , if , a 3 many n . osr Ksptctibw mrs conceive , it may tond to inquiry ; ztA if the force be either blood-thirsty , or in any war inimical to t ^ e weiSire of the Etite , it may be mudia ^ ' , * e « rsnoired in 3 co ^ srrcuonal manner , or suppresieA . '
Thess pn ^ lshmer . ts fjr libel nre new—are not fixed by anj- Act cf Payment-but are an a-. ldition to the bsusI pu ^ iihrner \ b . .- the wiil of the Ju-. f : c = 3 of the Peace , and tLe Secretary of State for the Home Dcpaitm-. n :, and is ti . irc . ' ore an iuhum&n bttctJi cf f-ower . urinevrr . u ^ til now to this couutry . TUis si ; = ht tiexrh of the case of Lovett and Collins is the Eubit ^ nce of a paper , -nVrat quarter of a paper . in the h ^ nis cf soveral Mtml ^ rs of Parliament
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TO THE CHARTISTS OF BIRMINGHAM . AND
THE MIDLAND DISTRICTS . " Freedom tuirLing from tis slumbers , V > "iLh fresh vlgoar cried ' Prepare ; Tc Lave he ^ ris and ye have numbers , bi'Jl and spiiit , chains and c ^ re ; 13 ut d-tcr ^ jine To Lc- ire ? , ind freo you tre I' " Bsotheb slaves , —>"«» riy twelve montlis have rolled ovtr our hfoda in quietude and languor ; scarce a ingle step is attempted 10 rouse the latent energies of the once brave men of Birmingham . One by oae our noble leaders are taken from us , and placed under the Itood-stjned vheels of the British Juggernaut : the piamtivfe cries of the sorrowing captives issue from the ¦ d reary dungeon ; the tears of mothers , wives , and children trickle down the pa . id cheeks of want and misery , and t ~« e gzliiag chains of the heartless oppressor arerireued firmer .
Other places shrink not at the oonuns storm , but are t ^ thrTisg strength ; while the brave , the unflinching , the uncompromising men of Birmingham are neutral * mere shadow of bygone days . Out of ten thmsand lands that have been repeatedly held np for poof Brown , goading him on by cheer * and expressions , to « ter language by the law termed sedition , and for wiiich he is bow unjustly suffering , cannot one thousand he fooml to gire each a halfpenny "weekly for the support of his -wife aad seven helpless children . Did not 150 , 000 men and women welcome the National Con-TBOtion to Birmingham ? Cannet , out of this vast numher , 5 , i > 00 be found to subscribe each week one penny towards our incarcerated brethren , aod also to hasten , wbat ought to be as dear as life itself—the People ' s Chaeteh .
It u true , ai regards petitioning , yon have doDe your 4 afcr ; but that will never get the Charter . "When the national Petition , signed by upwards of a million aud s half , was presented , you were told to " take away Hoi ridiatl&ts piece of machinery . '" Now what answer * aa you expect from a petition signed by five or six fhcnoBd ? Were 70 a to petition from the beginning to the end of each Session , one benefit might accrueit would keep them from doing a great deal of mAiiti ** - As for the petitions to the Que . n , I believe jfae met sod knows just t » much about them as the Pacto cf Egypt
Sew , my feilow Trorkmen , you may field bad trade , hard times , no money stirring , &g& , and so it siwayi will be until yon obtain the Charter . Ho Mr . Finecoat to hold out one single ray of hope . Ten dread to look at the future , jet you lack energy to fe&ve tb © storm . Though yon complain , and justly , the sjority of the men in the North are Infinitely worse ml ; they hare numbers suffering under the tyrants ' « nel laws , yet they go on . Aaotber plea-yon will set np is , «• We have no leaden . " What ! has not the noble O'Connor told you , one and ore * again , you mn ? t do the work yourselves , aad that each individual must lay his shoulder to the
wneoL as if it were for bis excluiire benefit Do the ¦ wearers of a superfine S&xony coat , a gold chain , a JsHttary cap ; or a pair of moustaches , give you sufficient «» ideaee that sterling patriotism and honesty of intension sogns within such men ' s breasts ? Do you not Je * know that they sought yonr aid under the garb of TTniTBrsal Suffrage to obtain the Municipal Charter ? Ho yon not yet see that those fine , lavender-scented gentlemen have considerably raised themBelYW ill t& 6 eaie-ol society , wnitoyoa , their daTes , are miserably Jowce , with a blodgwned reptile constantly at your hedj to keep you from marling ? " You hare no liadenf The bare assertion is aa insult to the tact
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and talent of scores of your fellow-wetkmeu in Birmingham : there are plenty of brave men , with their black aprons and paper caps , more competent , more determined , and , I trust , more honest , than the milkand-water , brick-and-mortar pigmies , that pretended to lead you to the goal of freedom . You might as well expect the stars to drop from their spheres as the middle classes to become your leaders , in one word , with a faw exceptions , they are your most < ieadly foes ; and however much you may revile the Government , the Attorney-General , and the whole crew of them , recollect the word " Guilty" was pronounced on upwards of two hundred of our best patriots by tbose base , mercenary , and sounlle&s thing 3 called middlc-dass men . talent scores of vonr fello'w- 'watkmen in Rir-
Lastly , that press which pretended to represent yon , but which , in reality , only " held the candle to the Devil , " never hints at the Charter , except to throw the envenomed shaft of its malignity at Feargus O'Connor . To that poltroon under the cloak of " Homo , " I would
say" Let ' s see thy foot ; perchance it ' s got a hoof . " Men of Birmingham ! srise from your slumbers . Organise , organise , organise ! Form yourselves into classes ; establish small stores , exclusive dealing ; avoid using , as much as possible , taxable articles ; shun the dramshop and the tap-rootn , as you would the most deadly plague . Sslect goort , honest , working men to direct you , and do not waste your time in long dry speeches . Let the Charter , the whole Charter , and nothing less , be the helm which shall guide you to the port of freedom .
If you still remain inert , and leave the whole work to your poorer brethren , although you may hereafter eujoy the blessings of liberty , you are not only unworthy of it , but future ages will point to your children , on the pages of history , that the brave , the unflinching , the uncompromising men of Birmingham were sluggishly drinking out of the bitter cup of slavery , while the men 0 $ the North dashed the poisoned chalice from their lips , aud completed the glorious victory ! I am , 1 T 0 all true Chartists , ) Yours in fraternity , R . HOPKIJfSOJi . Birmingham , June 27 th , 1840 .
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NOTICE TO MR . O'CONNOR'S FRIENDS . As we have reason to believe that Mr . O'Coknor never Eees a single soul , we will thank all who are refused admission to him to send to our office a statement of the datea and circumstar . ces of their respective visits .
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CHARTISM UNMASKED . We are obliged to displace our notice of the Welsh parson ' s portraiture of Chartism until another week .
MR . O'BRIEN . V > * E claim the careful attention of our readers for the letter of O'Biuoc . in another column . THE HOl'SE OF COMMONS THE SLAVE OF THE MINISTRY .
TO THE WORKING CLASSES . " Mr . Aglicnbt asked when the examination and the report of the treatment of Mr . F . O'Connor , in York Carrie , would be laid before the House . " " Mr . Fox Mavle said he must first look over them to see if he could agree to their presentation . " —Debate , Monday , June 22 , 1040 . We invite , nay , we do more , we demand , as they value ar > d wouiu secure rational liberty and national iuucptudence , the most seriou 3 axtention of all , but e .-peclaiiy the -working classes , to the important text , and to the immearurably important subjects which are involved in the text , which we have placed at 11 . o head of this article .
\\ e have been told from our earliest infancy that the House of Commoio yrzs , or was intended to be , the representative of the people ; that the legally and consfliuiiouslly expressed wishes of the people , on ^ ht to be a law to the House of Commons ; and that the Hou .-e of Commons could alone open the nations ! purse , and vote the supplies , wi ; hout which the Government machine could not ba kept in motion , so that no Ministry , who did not truly possess the confidence of a majority of that House , could continue to hoid the
reins of empire in this country . All this , no doubt , was very fine in theory , but a little observatiua tola us that it was a lie in practice . We discovered , without , much labour or research , that the so-called House of Commons no more , in reality represented the peopie of these realms than the seraglio of the Sublime Pcrte . That , in fact , it wa ^ only a litU . o Houso of Lord ? , aud ten time 3 more mischievous , because , acting under a mask , and voting away mor . t-y , to which , either in law or equity , they cculd not mrvke out even the shadow
of a ckim . We not only found ail this out , but we were told that certain gentlemen , in connection with thi 3 miscalled House of Commons , together will ] some honest partisans of the Upper House , and iu conjunction with certain parties called Whigs , in various parts of the country , had found out that all the evils of which the nation h ; d to complain was ovring to the misgovtrEment of the Tories , and all would go on as it should be , and a reform of all abuses would be effected , if they , the said Whigs , could but oust the Tories , and pls . ee themselves on the summit of
political greatness and power . This noise was , a 3 wo ail knew , kept up incessantly , till the Tories got ashamed of their old and bad name , and got some friend sent to baptise them over again , by the name of Conservatives . Some ugly resolutions , however , at : achc-d themselves to the loud mouthed and Reforming WhigF , who , string a leaf out of their opponents' boolj , had a re-baptising also , and appear i-peck-span new as " Liberals . ' In the meantime : iiat model of a prince , and pious Head of the Church , George IV ., of happy memory , was gathered to his fathers , and found the only place he was fitted for , by his moral and precious iile ,
amid" , ancestral , lordly rottenness ;" acd the sailor having ascended the throne , this was a change indeed- ! Geobge was a soldier , at least the world said eo at his funeral William was a bluif son of the ocean , who had really seen some service ; and , as such a remarkable difference existed ia the character aud pursuits of the monarch defunct and the monarch regnant , thu people , who had been persuaded by the Whigs that they were the most patriotic souls on earth , resolved that the change should not stop at the palace , and
with a determination for which they met with a most ungrateful return , but which we should like to see repeated in a better cause , drew the iron Duke and bis Tory crew from office , and provided Earl Grey and his hungry satellites with comfortable and luxuriant board and lodgings in Downing-street . Thus , then , the Whigs attained their object ; and were borne upon the shoulders of the people te the long coveted , and , as it ha 3 proved , traitorously grasped , sceptre of political power . What did the people gain in return ! Kicks , and blows , and 6 tripes innumerable !!
The House of Cohho 5 s was bepobjied . It was modelled after the most approved Whig fashionthat is to say , it was rendered more despotic , more tyrannical , more time-serving , mean , hypocritical , worthless , senseless , stupid , mad , and contemptible than any other that had been before it . And this was called restoring the Constitution ; and the House , thus tinkered and mended by the Whig bunglers , is said to be a real representation of the people of the United Kingdom .
If the people sit still much longer , and suffer themselves to be cuffed and cudgelled as they hare lately done—if the best of their friends are to be incarcerated in dungeons , and if the poor are to be murdered by a slow process in bastiles , for the crime of involuntary poverty , much longer , without a solid , steady , and nnc « asing effort on the part of the working classes to unseat the wretches , vrho , but for them , would never have been seated a-t all , we shall begin to think that for once the base , bloody , and brotal Whigs" have spoken the truth ; and shall be compelled to confess that the mules inside of
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the Honse are in truth no unapt representatives of the asses without . " We have had our full share of that sicknoss which is the result of "hope deferred ; " we , however , resolve to hope on , and labour on . We shall have our reward some day , or our children will ; tho seed sown will yet , we doubt not , spring up , and produce a plentiful harvest . Mas will not always be the mean , degraded thing , which we too often now find him . He will rise to the standard of moral excellence for which his God designed him , and , cheered by this confidence , we still continue to urge upon the attention of our countrymen that important truth , which it is so essential for them to know , and so necessary for them to practice . tViaHonse aremtrDthnoua&Dtreinresent&tiveaof the
We have traced some important historical matters in the former portion of this article . We have shown what sort of a House of Commons the boasted Whig Reform Bill has produced , and we now call upon all electors and non-electors to mark well how this " real representative assembly" is treated by a Minister of the Crown , and we call upon all to treat that Minister -with the scorn and contempt which his
arrogant presumption bo justly merits . What will the electors say to this , that after a Member of their own chosen House has asked for informatioa of an important character , a Ministerial uaderling—a scape-goat of the Cabinet—a mere tool of the Administration , is to bo tolerated in the matchless effrontery of telling him that he must look over the papers first , to see whether he can agree to their being presented to the House .
We have seen the Ministers treat their supporters , on many occasions , in a manner which none but the mean-spirited , solfhh , contemptible , brick-andmortar constituency of Great Britain would have submitted to ; but this is , by many degrees , the most unblushing piece of Ministerial arrogance which it has been our lot to witness . Constitutional rights have been , by the Roforming Government , inv&xted with a recklessness which was unknown in tho very worst days of Castlereagh and Sidmouth . Every thing manly and truly English has appeared a deadly sin in the
eyes of our besotted rulers . The red coats and the blue bottles are those on whom the Whigs have chosen to place their confidence , rather than on the affections of a well-fed , well-clothed , contented , and happy people . They have immeasurably increased the national distress , have made us ridiculous in the eye 9 of foreign states , and reduced us to be " the laughing stock of ( ho world , " wherecvtr the name of England is known , bKt with all their political sins upon their hoads , we did expect that they would endeavour to save appearances , and at any rate treat with decency those
whom they affeot to consider as the representatives of the country . Not so , however , is Mr . Fox Maule inclined to act . He and his hopeful associates have evidently mistaken tho British lion for a , spaniel ; they will get the beast roused from his slumbers one of these days , and if they don't take care he'll bito before roaring , and if once they succeed in bringing matters to that pass , they may depend upon it that no art of which they are masters will ever be able to make him sink into quietude or apathy again . Let tho doctors look to it ; if this insolence ia tolerated , then is it clear as a
sunbeam that even as it regard 3 those who are in possession of the franchise , the ri ^ ht of election is a mere farce ; the boasted limited monarchy of the constitution is at an end , and a despotism of tho most perfect character has been substituted in its place . For how stands the case ? Statements are made in the proper mauner , that is , by petition to the House of Commons , and by memorial to the Government , in reference to the treatment of a prisoner convicted of a misdemeanour , which arc deemed of sufficient importance to become the subject of official investigation . This inquiry either
results in establishing the truth or falsehood of the statements thus made , and the evidence taken ia lodged in tho hands of the Government . A member of tho House of Commons , perceiving the excited state of the public mind on the subject , asks when the evidence would be laid beforo the House , and is insultingly told that Mr . ( understrapper ) Fox Maule must look over the papers to see whetherho can consent to their been presented . What ia this but saying that the Government abuses the right to conduct inquiries , and if the result be such as they cio not wish to let the public know , that they may keep the whole matter in profound silence ;
aud teil the House of Commons— " You have heard thai a prisoner has been most inhumanly and barbarously treated—that he has been subjected to hards-hips and privations which woro never contemplated by the law and the judge . Wo have inquired into the affair , but we do not choose to let the result be known , and you who have only been called together to Yvte the supplies , not to redress the people ' s grievance ? , or protect their interests , may go and be d d . Thia is tho plain English of Mr . ( understrapper ) Fox Maule ' s reply to Mr . Aglionbt , and we leave the brick-aud-mortar franchise-men to difce&t the affair and settle accounts with the Ministry , as best they may .
In the meantime , we ask the working classes of these lands , the wealth producers and tax-payers , who contribute more than any other class of society , by their skill and industry , to uphold the rotten sytem under which the nation groans , to pause , &nd seriously reflect upon the consequences which aro involved in the principle here acted upon by Lord Nobmanbvs man of all work . If this is to be sanctioned by the silent submission of the people , and is acquiesced in by tho Liberal Membera Of the House of Commons , then is it plain that all papers
of whatever character or importance . may be refused , if any one , connected with the Government , chooses to refus 3 his consent to their production . Inquiries of every description may be thus rendered abortive , and the most atrocious deeds of darkness may be planned and executed at the dictum of a worthless Ministry , while tho pretended representatives of thepeopla , in utter ignorance , may vote the nation ' s money to be appropriated to purposes to which , bad as they are , they would never consent if the real facts of the case had been laid before them .
We may deem it , in the disoharge of our public duty , necessary again to resort to thi 3 subject . At present , however , we shall content ourselves with pointing ont the distiuct proof which is here afforded of the absolute hopelessness of effecting any material good for the country , unless the Charter becomes the law of the land . We will not reason upon this view of the subject , for to do so
would be an insult to the understandings of our readers ; but we do mo 3 t earnestly call upon all our friends to unite more resolutely and determinately than ever in th » glorious struggle for national and social freedom . We must either crush the reptile factions or they will crush us . On , then , fellowcountrymen , let us call forth all our moral energies , andswear never to separate till the tree of genuine liberty is firml y planted In our father land .
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THE MANCHESTER DELEGATE
MEETING . Wb have given extensile notice , from time to time , of the Delegate Meeting , intended to be holden at . Manchester ; but of what avail is our notice ; or to what use is it that one portion ef the oppressed order exert themselves to improve their condition , by commune , by conference and consultation , when , at every torn , they meet with either open or disguised opposition from sections of their own class !
Indecision has ever been the bane of the working classes . Whether it proceed from jealousy , supineness , or temporary prosperity , its effects are equally fatal . From whatever canse it may arise , this indecision is , even now , as manifest as e ? er . Now , at the eleventh hour , when every one admits that things are all but desperate—whilo every one sees that something must be done to resuscitate the sinking energies of the people , and , while plans for the
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effecting of this universally desired object are pouring in from all sides—each one inviting the attention of all—now , when the necessity for conference , for deliberation , and for comparison of facts and circumstances was never greater . One party says " meet at once ; " another says " Wait ; " and another , the London party , says Don't meet at all !" We have never sought to make the Northern Star a " ruler and a Judge . " We have endeavoured to make it , that which we know to be most of all wanted for the people ' s interests—a reflector of the public mind—a mirror in which all might see their neighbours' faces , so that poor men could hold commune with each other through the length and breadth of this great empire . offt > n » irn » nf + liio nnimiKnilltf Ar , ai-m n A Ak ;«« t « . * ... » .... _
'Tis thus that we have concentrated and brought together into one focus the intelligence and patriotism of the people , for the universal good ; and 'tis from the view of this concentrated phalanx of the wise and good that each takes comfort and assurance . But , though assuming no pre-eminence , we claim our individual right to tender counsel with the rest , and we tell the men for whose sole benefit the projected meeting is intended—the mass , the suffering mass—as the result of long observation an ' d acquaintanceship with public movements in connection with their interests , that their worst enemies are the well employed and comparatively prosperous ef their own order ; that of all parts of tho
kingdom , they have least to expect from the leaders of popular opinion in the metropolis . The fustian jackets , the unshorn chins , and blistered hands , are good and trustworthy there as here ; but the mouthpieces which undertake to represent them appertain , generally speaking , to an altogether different class . We tell them that though London oppose them —nay , though some of every one of their respective classes oppose them , that they must do their own work , and do it themselves ; and that the sooner they do it , the better . What though they meet again on tho release of Lovett and Collins from their dungeon ? , why not meet now ?
We do trust that between this and the time of meeting , as stated in our last , a proper understanding will havo taken place—energetic means wiil have been adopted all over , and that the delegate meeting will be of a character fully answerable to the fearful times—that men of sound hearts and cool heads will come properly instructed from all quarters , prepared to exhibit , in just terms , "the collective wisdom" of the people . It is all needed .
O'Connor used to say that a delegate meeting was a flying national gazette , which did more good than a hundred public meetings , and went further to create a good understanding between the various towns than any , or all other methods of communication . They make Bradford acquainted with Glasgow , and Newcastle with Bristol . Tho reasons why this acquaintance should bo matured and extended were
never more pressing than now . We do hope , therefore , to see this meeting the most numerous and the most orderly , cautious , aud prudent meeting of delegates that the country has ever Been collected together . We 6 hall next week say something on the various matters which must of necessity come before tho delegates for discussion . Meantime let every district be picking out its man , and looking for the means to send him .
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MR . O'CONNOR , THE YORKSHIRE " SHALLOWS , " AND THE "SHABBY SET . " So ; here wo aro at the end of another week , and no report from Mr . Crawford . Most probably the Uudcr-iJccretary has not yet made up his mind whether ho shall" agree to its presentation , " or mayhap hid clerks and secretaries find it more difficult to patch up a . sham that shall pass muster , than they anticipated . Without going , just now , into any inquiry about motives , nothing is , at all events , more true than the fact , that inquiry into
the case and circumstances of Mr . Feahgus O'Connor was put a stop to ia both Houses of Parliament by the assurance of the Government that they had sent down an inspector of prisons to inquire into tho truth of all those circumstances , and that the moniont ho gave in his report , the whole matter should bo laid bofore the Parliament and the country ; and that now » after the inspector has had two journeys of inquiry , two voyages of discovery , and has returned , the report is not forthcoming—and the Under-Secretary takes
care to make himself scarce on the night when he expects it to be called for . From these facts the people will draw their own conclusions—we have already drawn ours ; and as one consequence of those conclusions we aid another to the many appellatives of honour aud distinction so well-deservedly and . bo property applied to this " reforming , " " retrenching , " " stand-still , " " tocol , " " do-nothing , " " bed-chambor , " " Burgundy pitch" Government—we will call them the coward Government , the calf-hearted miscreants
that shrink from following up their own rascality . We " daukd" them , in our last number , to produceUhis report of Inspector Crawford ' s" —they have not dared to do it . We now again DARE them , and we tell them that , in spite of all their coward fears , IT SHALL COME . Their hair may staud on end—their teetli may chatter , and thoir eyes may glisten , while their lips turn pale , but the report shall come . Wo will know , and tho country shall know , all about the doings of the dirty Whigs , and their still more dirty took , the " Shallows . " And ,
when the report does come , we shall help the country to find out the reason of this tardiness in its production—the reason of the altered tone in which the namby-pamby Lord—the novel writer—speaks of Mr . Crawford and his mission . We shall help them to find out a reason why Mr . Crawford ' s Mission was even rendered ni'Cessart . 0 yes ! we shall unfold a tale that shall make Mistermy-Lord Nokuanby and his patron , the " Big Beggarman , " to shako in their shoos . We shall show that Mr . O'Connor was not writing in mere empty
braggadocio , when he said in his letter , which we published the other week , that he would " astonish every Court in Europe . " 0 ye 3 ! the proofs , my Lord , tho proofs 1 , We have them , and in due time you shall have them . The witness still lives—though you thought you had destroyed him ; and should he be now murdered , it would be too late , for the documents abb in safe hands that know how to use them ; and that , in spito of all your power and malignity , will use them to your confusion and political destruction ; whatever betide O'Connor . Our readers
are astonished . They rub their eyes—they don't understand clearly these last few sentences ! They must bear with us for . a little—the novel-writing Lord will understand them perfectly . We just think we can see the grinding of his teeth as he reads these ; and we only wish he could see the corners of our mouth as we write them . Meantime we tell our readers , that we have a tale of facts in store , which , when developed , will explain the whole mystery ; and in contemplating which they will for a time lose sicht of Feasgvs O'Connor ' s treatment
in their horror and their loyal loathings of its cause . Thoy will then cease to wonder at the adroit finesse—the accomplished villany with which the Noble ! Marquis fences in the matter of the report . When the petition of Mr . O'Connor , presented by Sergeant TALFOCRD , was on the carpet fordiacuBsion , and when Lord Brougham seemed disposed to push the inquiry further than the Noble Marquis wished , he deprecated the discussion of the subject by the
House , because they had not evidence before themsaid that an inspector had been sent purposely to learn all about it , and report ; and wished tho further consideration of the matter to be put off till the House should have his report before them . He now , when Mr . O'Connor ' s second petition is printed , finds out that tho inspector went merely for /^ informa tion , and not for that of the House at all . That hia business was to enquire , not , as he at first stated } whether the allegations . of Mr . O'Connor ' s petition were true ; but whetfler the Magistrates had violated any
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of their own roles and regulations , in his treatment . Now , why does Lord Nobmanby thus shift his ground J Why does he thus shuffle and prevaricate andlioV " Why does he thus dare to trifle with the British Parliament , and , through them , with the people \ For the same reason that made it necessary for Mr . Fox . Macle to ** look over the report to see whether he could agree to its presentation . " Is the reason asked ? We'll tell it . Between the first period referred to and the second—Lord Normanbt » ca «! . nnmmlo (] ii » l vaonWianii in Viiu twafmant
had received from Mr . Crawford an unsatisfactory report , accompanied by a long and indignant protest from Mr . O'Connor , and the protest was so intimately eonn ected with the report , that the one could not be produced without the other . There is the whole secret of Mr . Fox Maule ' s wanting time to look them over—and of Mister-my-Lord Normanby s finding out that Mr . Crawford only went down to York for his gratification , and not for the information of the " House . "
• The ! report might have been doctored;—that might have been made to assume such form as best might please the novel-writing secretary—especially as he perhaps did not know where to look for the du plica teof it so well as we did : —the report , we say , might have been managed perhaps with a little dexterity—but then the protest—what was to be done with tho protest ! It was sure to be called for if kept back at first . They could not deny having received it ; and if it were doctored , O'Connor , or some of his friend 3 , would find it out—and the Northern Star would play the d 1 about it . But it won't dO j Mister my Lord Normanby ; it must come—protest and all ; so out with it and make no more fuss—and mind one warning ; let it speak the troth when
IT DOES COME . In another column we give the petition of Mr . O'Connor , presented to the House of Lords by Lord Brougham . By the vexatious restriction imposed on Mr . O'Connor , through the order of Normanby , not to publish anything , wo had some expense , and no small trouble in obtaining it . We know the reason why Lord Normanby refused to accede to the suggestion of the Magistrates , in their correspondence , that Mr . O'Connor should see his friends , and receive and send out his correspondence without
surveillance . It was because he knew Mr . O'Connor to be in possession of information which he found the means he was taking to get rid of him might iuduce him , in the extremity ^ f his suffering , to Jet out . Ho is a fool ! or he would have known enough of human nature to take for granted that all due preparation would be made for that before O'Connor went into gaol . THAT WHICH HE DREADS HAS BEEN DONE , and he is in the power of those who will deal out mercy to him as he deals out justice to his victims .
With respect to Mister Magistrate Barnard Hague and his " correspondence" with the novelwriter , we must , for the present , content ourselves with drawing the attention of the people to the following extract from Mr . O'Connor ' s petition : — " Your petitioner requests to direct the attention of your Honourable House to the following passages in a letter of Mr . Hague ' s , dated June 1 st , and also to your petitioner ' s reply : — " Mr . Feargus O'Connor is not subject to any indignities of the person . He does not take his chamber utensil up stairs , or bring it down to clean it out He
does not scour his room . He does not perform any menial office . He has had sheets offered him to sleep in , and ho refused them . He has tea and sugar , without restriction as to quantity , twice a day . He has animul food for dinner , and two glasses of wine . He ia ah . ived daily , ami has clean linen and towels when he wishes . There are no beds but those of iron stocks and flock beds , of which flock beds ho has four . He has a pitlow , chair , and table ; be eata , and has eaten his meals in the ward by himself , the first day exeeptcd . He has a large yard to exevcise in . Ho has a bed-room a > id large hospital to himself . He weara his own clothes . '"
" Your petitioner respectfully gives the following answers to the foregoing communication : — " If your petitioner was not subjected to any indignities of tho person on the first of June , why do tho Visiting Magistrates , in their letter , of the same date , audressed to the Home Secretary , request that your petitioner should be relieved from grievous indignities , which the rules impose , the l&st request being that your petitioner should be allowed tho same privileges as felons , as respect * seeing friends and relations ?
" Your petitioner was subjected to every indignity which the rules impose , even up to the firs :, and is still subjected to many of tho most galling . H ; td any portion of your petitioner's furniture , or his utensils , been brought from petitioner ' s room , your petitioner must have done it . He did noi bring down his chamber-pot latterly , because he would not use it ; but from the 19 th May , till June 1 st , no person ever did one hand ' s turn for your petitioner in his cell , either directly or indirectly , with the ex&eption of one act of kindness by a fellow-prisoner , when your petitioner was too ill and weak to do it for himself . That no one was ever ordered , told , or asked to do so .
The rules impose upon your petitioner the duty of scouring out his room ; they were never relaxed in his favour . A fellow prisoner did it for petitioner , who was informed tha » he was only exempt during illness . " Your petitioner has performed many mental offices , and continued to do so up to the date of Mr . Hague ' s letter , Juno 1 st . ' Your petitioner refused sheets ; observing , that he had always understood , thai in so damp a place , blankets were better . " Your petitioner never , to his knowledge , slopt without sheets till the 19 th of May last . "
There are many other crack points ia this " corr respondence , " to which we shall invite the attention of our readers next week—when we may possibly lay it before them , as published , "by authority" of Mr . Edward Harper , who enjoys the distinguished honour of being " Clerk" to the illustrious " Shallows" of York Castle . " Meantime , if the " report " have not appeared , we shall try to find a few reminiscences of the why and the -wherefore , for the benefit of my Lord Nobmanby and Mr . O'Connell if it havo appeared , we shall know what to do with it
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MR . VINCENT . We take tho following letter from Mr . Vincent to his friend Mr . Bolwell , of Bath , from a Bath paper : — " Oakham , Rutlandshire , 15 th June , 1840 . " After two months of very irksome and solitary confinement , under the' silent system , ' in the London Penitentiary , here I am in the pretty little county gaol of Rutland , in the company of citizens Shellard and Edwards . My removal from London was occasioned in consequence of my complaints , made to the authorities of that place . I ought to tell you the Penitentiary is the only government prison in the country , and waa 'built exclusively for convicts .
whose sentences had been commuted . I was placed upon the same degraded level as the convicts . I was dressed in the convict ' s garb , lived in a ceil about four yards' long * and three wide , day and night , only going out to exercise two hours a-day , and that in a confined yard with fifteen convicts , and an officer placed over us ; and if any man so much as looked at another * he was liable to be reported and punished . I was also set to work at making convicts' dresses . I felt all this keenly—I confess that I felt myself a degraded man—and had I not loved the good cause dearer than my life , I should have completely sunk beneath , it ; but , as it was j I was wonderfully borne up , both in health and spirits , my only ailment beiric weakness in the aves
and occasional giddinesB in the head . Last Thursday week , who should visit me but the Secretary of State . I knew him as soon as he entered my eel ! : he waa accompanied by the governor and another gentleman . You can better fancy how I looked than I can tell you . I looked daggers ! The Marquis looked ^ heepish . I at him at once . I told him he knew that I had committed no crime , and that instead of being punished , I ought to be praised for all that I had done : I told him that it was madness to attempt to crush ray mind , or subdue my princples , by the means resorted to . I maintained that he had no right to degrade me as a thief ; I insisted that the treatment to which I was unnecessarily subject was against all law , and was adding insult to wrong . He bepaved very politely , and said there was no desire to treat me
harshly , and that he would take care I should have every possible indulgence shown me . He expressed a hope that I Bhould keep my health , and very politely bade roe good day . La « t Tuesday evening , at Bix o ' clock , the governor called me from my cell , and bade me dress myself , and informed me that , in consequence of my complaint , I was to be removed to a place where 1 should wear my own clothes and enjoy more privileges than the rules of ttie Penitentiary would allow . I was thefl introduced into a room to tiSTolea , atid was surprised to meet with Shellard and . Edwirds , ready equipped to journey witji ine . They lbbked dreadfully Si . I hardly kneiw them . Edwards declared to me that on the Thursday evening previous he was so ill that he began to arrange his aifairs with the view of bidding
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adieu to the world . We left London at ei ght o ' clock by the ^ ail , in the company of two officers of the prison ; we were not chained , but travelled like freemen . We arrived here at six o ' clock on Wednesday morning . The gaol is small , and plea , santly Bitnated in the midst of fertile fields , and the air salubrious . The diet is about the same as at Monmoutb ; and I assure you I am heartily sick of it . I have just written to the magistrates , asking permission to purchase a little food for ourselves . I trust we shall be permitted so to do . Thus , yon see 'the fates' are driving me through various vicissitudes ; but I have a firm conviction that all will yet end well . So much for myself- —and I confess I fear that as much of self will tire you—but you will pardon me . » Aimi - * a th * ¦ arny-lA V « laffc Tnnffnn » t a : nu
" Your devoted Brother , ' " Henry Vincent . " We had prepared an article in reference to the treatment experienced by White , Roberts , Marten , and various other victims , but our space compels us to forego it .
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Agents and Portraits . —We are constantly receiving complaints from Subscribers of being overcharged by Agents on Portrait weeks . A Subscriber front Manchester writes as follows : — " Manchester , June ^ Otb , 1840 . " Sir , —On Saturday last , I applied to the agent who supplies me with the Star for my paper , and was charged by him C . Jd . for the paper and plate . I told him he was charging me a halfpenny too
much , as we had been repeatedly informed in the paper that 6 d . was the price . He said that you had no right to give any agent more trouble and allow him le .-s profit . He then explained that at times when there were no plates the paper was charged to him 3 ^ d ., and the price being 44 d ., he had one penny profit ; but when the plates were given , he was charged 5 ^ d ., go that by selling them at ed ., he would only gain one halfpenny , and have extra work .
¦ " Now , Sir , this very agent has offerod to let me have other papers , if I chose , and at the same time to furnish me with the plates given with the Star . 1 think you will see from this ( which I have before stated ) the cause of such baseness , and the necessity of some arrangement being made , so as to allow the agents their regular profit ; and 1 have no doubt that then such attempts will , in future , not be thought of . " I remain , " Yours , &c , " A Subscriber prom the First . . " P . S . —I am not objecting , by any means , to the price , 6 Jd ., but to being charged by an agent more than the sum at which the papers are published . " ^ F * ¦ ¦
This is one of scores of such complaints from all ptrts of the country . There is an easy remedy . Every Agent knows the terms of his agency when fie undertakes it ; and , therefore , every such attempt to impose on the Subscribers is a fraud and a robbery . The remedy tee recommend , is for every Subscriber who is thus cheated instantly to cease taking his Paper from that Agent , and either to transfer his orders to some man who trill use him honestly , or at once send his money to the office , and have his Papers direct .
Veritas Vincit . —We have no room . An Irish Democrat is right . The rascals are the true representatives of Judas Iscariot , who " cared not for the poor" and only referred to their complaints "because he was a thief , and had the bag . " That must be an axoful stale of the Church in which its patrons perceive danger in the spread . of temperance and virtue . Our correspondent says rightly , that "in Ifie enlightenment and reformation of the people they see an unim ^ acompanied by knowledge , which will destroy their power , and consequently deprive them of the means Ity which they have hitherto kept this noble people in bondage , in misery , and in ignorance" He asks— " Why h < tvc not the working
men of England instituted this holy union ^ an& taken the emblem of sobriety and of virtue ; lliereby emancipating themselves from the most hellish and debasing of vices—thereby improving their condition immeasurably , while at the same time they will take from their taskmasters the funds by which the policeman and the soldier are paid for coercing , for transporting , and for dungeoning their leaders and their friends ? " We are happy to inform him that the " holy union' * is progressing rapidly among the working men of England ; and we hope soon to see the lank jaws of the Chancellor of the Exchequer still further lengthened by the sober virtue of the whole three kingdoms simultaneously exerted .
A Dublin Democrat says rightly , that " it is of little import whether the Whig jackal , Campbelly denies or not being accessary to lite frightful treatment inflicted on Mr . O'Connor . Until that gentleman was convicted , the jackal never hit hold or view of him : the conviction effected , the Whigs knew very well how safe their interests and wishes were in the keeping of the Tory and Whig magistrates . "
R . H .- Shall appear ^ but must stand over for the present . The Bristol Radicals have our thanks for their letter , which might have been inserted liad it been less complimentary to ourselves . They call loudly upon all Radicals to see that the Star add to the number of its subscribers weekly . Tltey recommend that four agree to take one in every week , and take it in turns to pay the halfpenny ? to those who do not take in one , upon this plan it will come in easy . They also hope that one plan will be laid down for agitating for the Charter , throughout England ^ Scotland , and Wales .
An Operative Cotton Spinner spins poetry very badly . F . L . P . Fogg . —The report of the Stockport Sunday , School prosession ioas received . and inserted . The Recruiting Serjeant shall appear . An Old Correspondent . ^—The remarks he has sent tis on the bitting of horses have already appeared in the Northern Star . . Jamks Mallikson will see that we have made use of the information he has sent us .
Lodghborough LoYALTT . —The account of the meeting to congratulate her Majesty on her escape from assassination is too old . C .. C . —Can't read his poetry . A Republican complains that the men of Stockton are . apathetic in the cause of liberty . We hope the charge is untrue , or , if now trite , that it will not longer be so . A Disciple of O'Brien . —His long address must stand over for the present . Our space is quite crowded .
To Agents . —The Papers of all those Agents who have not paid up their accounts will be stopped after this notice . W . B ., Pimlico . — We cannot tell . The person has not been supplied from the office for some time . J . Mellrrs will receive a Plate enclosed in Mr . Neat ' s next parcel . Rather , Hyde . —The Portraits were sent by waggon . A LovEtt of Justice should have sent his name and address .
T . Brown , Settle . —Send to the Postmaster-General , if such a thing should be attempted as is threatened . You will find every attention paid to " your communication . NoTicE ,-rZ 7 te 10 * . noticed as from Silsden last week , should have been from Sutton .
The Northern Star. Saturday, July 4, 1840.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , JULY 4 , 1840 .
To Readers And Correspondents
TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS
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FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THE INCARCERATED CHARTISTS . ¦ ¦ ¦ ; . - ;¦ ¦ - ¦¦" - : • ; - ¦ ; _ ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ £ s . d . From Pontgpool , per F . P . ^ ...... 1 6 0 From the Chartists if Auchwall , near Aberdeen ......... . » 1 12 0 From Barnstaple , per S . Bowden-. 0 10 0 From John Smith , of ChilversCoton' inearNufieatdn ......... 0 12 0
Fr < m ' afew Fiienijs , not belonging to the Working Men's Association . 0 14 6 From a few Female Friends , by E . Pybtts ' ... .. w ... ... »• 0 2 2 From Waterhead Milt , Austerlands , LeeS ) and , Sheldenslou > y perJ . Greaves ,....,... »• 2 9 0 From % S . £ rook , Dewsburp- ... 10 0 Three Dewsbury Journeymen ... 0 3 0 From Bury St . Edmund ' s , per J . Abbott 0 3 0
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4 THE NORTHERN STAR . , ¦ * , ' . . '" , . ¦¦ '¦' . ¦ - . ' . ' ' , _ ...:..,. " " V ) and of ¦
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), July 4, 1840, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2691/page/4/
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