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THE NORTHEKN STAR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1840. SATUKUAX, SErTiSALBlSK 12, 1840.
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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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no * , oca loxdou coriespokdett , London , Wednesday Evening , Sept 9 , Quarter-past Seven . ANTI-CORN LAW LECTURE , AND DISCUSSION ON CHARTISM . Lart eveiu ^ a teeten was torreed bylft ; Wfcham cob of the eannca of the anti-Corn Law teague , » t the Peacock Tavera , Cmbtidge-heath Road , near Bethnal Green , tea respectable audience of about oneliundred persons , being all that the room would aoeommodate ^ i * " ?* % ?*** ¦ bdn « impelled to go away dial appointed . The lecturer commenced Vy stating that , prior to the general PMM in 1814 , although there had «*** !» Corn I * w of % certain description , it was not ? 5 «» *« that the landedproprietors » . * '
^ SS . . , onaisting prlndpallj of our aristocracy , -who wen oependant on' their boss being employed in the army and nary , -were compelled to change the law -which * ' a bounty of five sniffings per quarter on all imported , and imposed a doty of forty ahHIinga a quarter on all < orn exported , " to the pzeaeat prohibitory enactment (!!!) Indeed , U was the opinion of Lord ( then Ml . ) Western , and of Mr Arthur Young , that nothing less than from eighty shillings to ninety-three shillings * quarter would be a protection for the landed interest ! of this country . The lecturer then proceeded to contend that the Com Law had failed in iti intended object ,- of affording protection- to the landed interest * at laree . and that its benefits wire confined to the 30 , 009 landowners , while the farmer , aad the
agriculture labourer were worse off under its provisions than they could possibly be under a free trade ; that it -w a fallacy to assert that the removal of the Corn Laws would be unaltered with benefit to the labouring classes , for that it is peculiarly , and emphatically , a labourers' question ; that the annual consumption of wheat in this country is 18 million quarters , and as we ire now paying 40 s . a quarter more than in 1835 , ithe price being in that year 39 s . 4 & , while it is now 80 s . ) it follows that we are paying 36 millions a year more for our bread , instead of having the amount for shees , stockings , meat , and other purposes . It was said that the amount of wages was regulated by the price of oorn , but if tiat were so , how -was it thai , in 1535 , yngve were at least n high ai bow , instead of being not more
than one-half their present rate 3 ? The fact i ? , that labour is governed by the great principle of supply and demand ; if the labour market is oTerstocked , labour falls , and if yon repeal the Corn Laws , you will giye an impetuous (!) to trade . The lecturer next went over the well-beaten ground of Polish and Brhise commerce ; and wound np this part of his subject by stating that the Polish carpenter who works seven and a hall dajs for ISs . gttta a quarter at -wheat for it ; trhfl © the Engliih laU > arer , owing to the Com Iotb , has to " work seven and a half days for the landed interest before he can be allowed to work stren and a half days for himself ; but if the working classes of this country were wise , they would determiae thai these laws ahonld no longer stand on thestaiak-book . We shall not
-follow the " learned lecturer" throughout his address ; he ns corrected in his statement as to the dut £ paid on the article of batter , by a practical man in the oompany ; and receiTed with much good numour the information that xatsageg -were also taxable commodities on importation ; he concluded by avowing himself a Chartist at heart , bat inasmuch as the Corn-Law Repealers had been able to send into Parliament a million and a half of signatures , while the Chartists had only keen able to send a million and a quarter , he was for getting the repeal of the Corn Laws first . He was a friend of Major Cartwrighfs , well known to the late Jeremy B ^ ntham , and a disciple of John Home Tooke ' s , whose advice to the reformers of that day might be applied -with adraotage to the Chartists and the Corn-Law Repealers of the present day , Tiz : — " If two men
have to go from Hyde-park corner to Windsor , what does \\ matter , if one wishes to go by way of Brentford and the other by way of Kew ; why should they quarrel about it , as feng-a * they both reach Windsor at last" Bnrmg the delivery of the lectare , the speaker was occasionally interrupted by ejaculations of " Uni-Tersal Suffrage , " fce ., and the company , composed of a very near moiety of each party , was in- a small commo tion at the termination of Mr . Wigham ' s address " fw » cPK&i-V pin hardly all it 1 lecture )' "Upon lit Dyseiifciing called on by the Chartists to . iry . j w ooiue 01 ine observations that had been advanced , it was proposed by the Corn Law party that S Mi . Thorns should take the chair ; by the Chartists that a Sit . Wilaon . should preside ; and onadi-rision the latter was elected .
Mr . DTS 05 then said , the lecturer , in his observations as to the conduct of the Chartists in withholding their support from the present Corn Law agitation , had evidently mistaken the point of difference ; the Chartista generally had no objection to go with the anti-Corn Law party , if they could see that party coming forward and advocating such an extension of the suffrage-as would procure a repeal of the Corn Laws and all other bad laws ; but the Chartists , who want this extension of the suffrage as a means to goo * government , have found the middle classes uniformly supporting the
Government in their persecution of those who aided to procure for them the Suffrage they now possess . The lecturer bad allnded to the passing of the Test and Emaneipati .. n Arts ; but he had omitted to mention that great care was taken not to let " the tithes go with them , " as had been so -well described in the story he himself told of the rector : who , upon being informed by his servant that the Methodist parson had taken away most of bis congregation , repied , "Never mind , John , he cant tfte the tithes -with them . " The lecturer had also declared himself
an enemy to class legislation / Then -why did not he and the middle classes join the working classes for the ¦ oppression of class legislation ? It was true that , without the aid of the middle classes , the - Chartists might be a long time in getting the Charter . ' bnt of this he wm sure , that without the working class—the millions—the Com Laws would never be repealed The tectarer had adverted to America , and stated that the imposition of the tea-tax on that country , and the Corn Laws in this , are parallel cases ; but he ( Mr . Dyson ) begged to diffa from that doctrine ; for it was
not against the tea-tax , as a tax , that the brave founders of American independence had issned their protest and declaration , bat it was against the principle of the Ttngiisn Gorernment taxing a country at all . by a Parliament in Trhich that country was not represented : it was upon the immutable principle of justice and common sense , upon the principle that " taxation without representation is tyranny , and ought to be resisted , " that tile people of America did resist , and did finally succeed in oTerthrowing the "baleful domination of the mother countiT . "
Mr . Wighak said he could not fiad fault with the tone or the language of the speaker ; bat . arhe had alluded to the Reform B 21 , as though the Sof feage were aa ai-rantage to the middle class , he would re P 7 that it was very generally felt to be a curse ; the v « ter dare not exercise his vote for his own interest , to the best of his judgment ; he is either in the agricultural districts , driTen to the poll like a serf , or , in the manufactoring districts , coerced by the rich and powerful manufacturer . In short , if the ¦ working classes could Bee the intimidation and deadly influences at work in various places , instead of the middle classes being objects of scorn , they would be entitled to their pity . It had been asked , however , ¦ why the middle dassts did not join tbem ? He would reply , because the Chartists omitted no opportunity to abuse them ; as an instance of which , he would mention that great numbers of respectable persons , who
had signed the petition to the Queen in favour -of the nnfortunate Frost and his companions , attended the immense meeting at White Conduit House ; and almost the first thing they heard was Mr . Feargus O'Connor launching out to the top of his bent , in denunciations of the deadly course and inflneuc * of the middle elasses ; ke ^ P ? te tr ° ni experience , that this aa < l tares of such exhibitions , had the effect of alienating hundreds and thousands of the best friends -, and -wcta it wag borne in mind thai all the best and most liberal membm-uf Parliament were returned Vy manufacturing district * . he thought the policy of the Coartists a most destructive one to their own interests , and that by joining the advocates for a Repeal of the Corn Laws , for the remoTal of that iniquitous impost , the tax « n the first necessary of life , they would acquire additional strength to feattle for their political rights wiih increased prospects of success .
Mr . Sakket , a-working man , in a very temperate * nd sensible speech , maintained the wisdom of the policy the Chartists were now pursuing , in determinedly , withholding their countenance from any sect or party , whose object or tendency might ba to direct their exertions from the Charter ; and a Mr . K 0 E . MXX , La an address composed almost wholly of the most lofty egotism , having nothing whatever to do with the subject , endeavoured to maintain contra . The hour was now waxing late , with little prospect of a speedy termination to the diflcussion , aud &e the place of meeting is some miles from the centre of the metropolis , where oar correspondent resides , he did not remain till the division ( if any ) took place ; but , jndging from the nicely balanced state of the contending parties , he thinks it would turn oat almost a " dead heat . "
Vibsow Escape . —This morning four young ten . 43 « ttfin had a miraculous escape with life , in consequence of a boat be ing upset near Battereea Bridge , and the whole would have met with a watery grav * . had not a man from a barge rowed off aad picked them « p ; none of them knew anything abo * t the managettentof a boat , and the late appalling lots of life on the river Lea appears to be no warning to the owners of boats , is lettingthem oat to inexperienced persons ; not * ta&e of the loo of life above the bridge mt « ts sue ere « f the public . '
Cab Accidest . —This morning , between eight and nine o ' clock , a fine youth , aged Beventeen yoa » , named Charles Johnson , was knocked down by a cab while <« asing the road in the Westminster-road , and before the driver coald pull up , the near wheel passed over ti * right leg , cruihing it in a dreadful manntr . It is tmtjustieetothedrivtr to state that he was not to Wame , and that he instantly conveyed the poor fellow - » o a surgeon ' s , and subsequently to the hospital . DETESMIKED 50 ICIDKAT LOKBOK BRIDGE—Last night , between ten and eleven o ' clock , a WelHiresaed man , apparently about fifty yewf of age . committed a nost determined act of suicide , by prtdp-taung him-« lf into the nver from the centre arch of London
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Sikgulab Circumstance . —Yesterday afternoon , a fine goldfinch , the property of Mr . Skinner , tobacconist , of Fleetrstreet . TO killed in Its cage by a large hawk , ¦ wh ich was nearly captured by one of Mr . Skinner ' s shopmen , Thb BawAJua ps Honesty . —Yesterday morning , a gentleman ( query ) , in passing through St . Paul ' s Church Yard , dropped his pocket-book , containing ten £ 5 Bank of England notes , and a cheque for £ 70 . It was picked up by a poor man , and on his restoring it to the owner ( who was running about like a madman ) be waa liberally rewarded with , tiapotee . After this , wko will think it worth their while to 1 » honest ? SIHGULaE CIRCUMSTANCE . —Ye 6 terd&y afternoon ,
The Northekn Star Saturday, September 12, 1840. Satukuax, Sertisalblsk 12, 1840.
THE NORTHEKN STAR SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 12 , 1840 . SATUKUAX , SErTiSALBlSK 12 , 1840 .
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THE LEEDS FOX AND GOOSE CLUB . Thb blue of pure Radicalism , which oar last lamp presented , prevented the possibility of exposing even a glimmer of the expiring flicker of Whig * gery . But if ever the Radicals , as a body , whether nationally or locally , have had jnst cause of triumph , it "will be found in the self-convicting judgment passed upon the enemies of Chartism , by the " awkward squad" composing the Fox and Goose Club , who assembled at the Music Hall" last week , under the captivating title of " The Lcedt Parliamentary Tteform Association , " and under the presidency of Mr . Mabshali ,,
The Leeds Mercury , from which we gather the scattered notions of those new M marshals" of public opinion , most wisely abstains from a single comment upon the first , yea , even the very first , meeting of the Fox and Goose Club . How unkind ! No notice of three hundred gentlemen and mechanics , beyond the mere insertion of corrected speeches ; no exultation , by the laughing God t no pride , no boast , that Leeds has thus taken the front rank in that crusade to be handed down to our successors ;
and m which we are to see wealth and poverty shaking hands in token of mutual love and reliance , and joining in an endless struggle for permanent right ! Why , We &&k , this slight I . Because the Mercury must recognise the abandonment , of all principle in the doctrines propounded by the several wealthy speakers ; and such privilege the Mercury would very properly confine to the judgment of the doctors of the press , and therefore treats withsilentcon contempt those who would presume to touch upon usurped privilege .
Without further introduction , we shall proceed to analyse the reasons for establishing the Association and the objects to be achieved by the body . This we shall do from the mouths of the several speakers , commenting as we proceed upon the extracts : — " You are already , I believe , aware , that the more Immediate cause which originated . this Association was the late ominous refncal , by a large majority of the
House of Commons , to remove or modify the iniquitous tax upon the people's food , —a refusal sullen , unreasoning , without the decency of inquiry , and almost without the formality of a debate . ( Loud cries of " Hear , hear , " and cheers . ) This is an event which proclaims with fearful distinctness to the English people to what an extent their vital interests are sacrificed and set aside in the national Legislature , by the preponderance of the ignorant selfishness and unjust power of one class of the community . "
In the above extract from the speech of the Chairman , James Gasth Marshall , Esq ., we have the candid avowal of one of the objects of the " Leeds Parliamentary Reform Association . " Here we find the sweep with the clean shirt ; here we recognise our old friend with the new face . What a sill y old gentleman to place in the chair 1 What folly . ' at so early a period , even before the perfect
organisation of the body , thus to parade the vanquibhed ghost of Wkiggery—thus to point out the weakness of the party with whom the operators are requested to co-operate , in order to acquire strength ! " Never , " says the proverb , " wed with a falling house . ' And bo the wealthy , having failed in the Corn Law agitation , are now forced to fall back upon the despised , the outlawed , the disfranchised portion of the community for support !
" The refusal of the Commons , " says the Chairman , was sullen , unreasoning , without the decency ef inqHiry . " Has not every grievance complained of by the people been treated in the same way ? Yet have not Mr . Marshall and his party systematically co-operated with their representatives , in their " sullen , unreasoning , nninquiring " mode of treatment , until decline began to knock at Mr . Marshall ' s own door , and until the means by which Mr . Marshall amassed prodigious wealth , were likely to be overturned , and until that prodigious wealth was likely to be taxed as a substitute for unrequited labour , no losger capable of
bearing the state ' s burdens . Why did not Mr . Marshall speak in time ! Why did he and his order wait till the wolf came to their own door ! Why not cry out , wolf , wolf , wolf , when the cottage of the peasant was firgt assailed—when the right of his now courted ally was first invaded ! Why , we ask them , give to their disinterested profession the colour of selfishness ! Have the men of Leeds forgotten 1832 ? No ; nor never will . Therefore , as well may the Fox and Goose Club bay the moon as call to the "sullen" operatives once more to place reliance upon the rotten reed of Whiggery . Hear another of the Chairman ' s cheering
effusions : — " 1 have only further to add , that we ought to impress upon our minds that we are not now commencing a struggle to be lightly or easily brought to a successful issue , but one that will require long , patient , and persevering exertions . ( Hear , hear . ) Oar chief efforts must , therefore , be directed with the view of producing solid and enduring effects upon public opinionnot mere transient expressions of popular feeling , evaporating in a few speeches , and then forgotten . ( Hear , hear . ) We must adopt some system that will
give unity and definite objects to our labours , and which will enable us to embody them in some permanent shape . One mode by which these objects may be secured will be the vigorous and well-directed agitation , discussion , and support of such great practical measures as the Repeal of the Com Laws , National Education , Inquiry into the Condition of the Working Classes ail in reference to , and in strict subordination with , out own great special object of Parliamentary Reform . ( The Chairman resumed his seat amidst loud and prolonged cheering . )"
To this cheering prospect herein held out we may say , " Live horse , and you'll get grass . " A M struggle , " saya Mr . Marshall , that" will require long patience and persevering exertions , " during which , the prominent questions for discussion are to be , " Repeal of the Corn Laws—National Education—and Inquiry into the Condition of the Working Classes . " Here acain we have , Repeal of
the Corn Laws in the foreground , and Mr . Marshall ' s own ignorance fully confessed in the third object , viz ., National Education . After twentyfive years of peace , and on the eve of a war—after eight years of Reform , Mr . Marshall honestly confesses himself ignorant of the condition of the working classes . But what is the education for ! Surely those entrusted with the u Inquiry into the Condition of the Working Gasses" do not plead
ignorance . The people are living monuments of their wretched condition ; and the reason of that condition they have been telling Mr . Masshall and his order for now twenty-six years ; yet Mr . Marshall only comes forward when he finds that mal-administration of law , which was allowed in the most " Bullen and unreasoning" manner to rob the operative , is now about to give him a
scratch in return for his subserviency . Mr . Marshall now discovers that he wants " education , " for the people are only to be witnesses . The education is requisite for the inquirers . Ignorant people can judge of motives . As John of Greenfield said , " though I can ' t make a shoe , I know when it pinches me , and that chap will make no more for me . " Now Marshall and the Leeds Reformers have made shoes that pinched the people , and the people are resolved they shall make no more .
So much for Mr . Marshall . And now for H . Staxsfeld , Esq ., who rose to more the first resolution : — 11 H . Stansfeld , Esq ., rose and was received with loud applauss . He said , Fellow Townsmen , —We are not met thi * day tor any wanton trifling purpose . We
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come not here to agitate for the sate of agitation . We hare had enough of meetings and petitions and subscr iptions , and that so much trouble and expense ihonld be necessary to bring our wishes and our Hints before the Legislature , is evidence sufficient that the House of Commons dow not TepfeseaVnvTwtthat ttrrather misrepresents us . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) We are met together because we feel that eur interests have been sacrificed , our petitions despised , our sufferings laughed at , and there are none to halp us but urselves . ( Cheers . ) We come not here smarting under the mortification of any recent defeat , or flushed With the hope of any sodden victory . " coma not ha ™ «/¦ uU ^ tA « uHt * . H ^« ' W *
From the above ) specimen , the very opening of the mover , we find the seeds of revolution . M We have had enough of meetings , and petitions , and subscriptions . " Well done , Sxanspkld . So we have . We have had enough of meeting 8 , petitions , » D < l subscriptions . " But what then would you ooansel the people to do ! Fight ! for that is the next thing . You are to agitate long and perseveriBgly , says the Chairman ; but you are not to meet , petition , or subscribe , says Stansfeld !
But now for the " plum —now for a smasher for the Chairman , who boldly confessed that the rejection of the Corn Law question waa the cause of their associating ; and hear what Stansfeld drops in his pride : — " We come not here smarting under the mortification of any recent defeat . ' Don ' t you indeed ! Then what brought you there at all ! Your Chairman avows -that your recent ignominious defeat brought you there . 60 home , go
home , you ignoramusses ; take counsel from Mr . W . Rotherv , whose political honesty was not affected by bad company , and of whose sound , common-sense speech we shall presently say a word . Go get " National Education" and then inquire into your own Exchequer . Examine how your weath has been acquired , and you will find the direct reason of the poor man's poverty .
But , just listen to the second part of this important sentence—important for the immense mass of ignorance contained in so brief a space Stansfeld has had " enough of meetings , petitions , and subscriptions , " and how does he propose to carry out his plan ! Hear it , ye ignorant slaves 1 Hear it , ye " uneducated" unwashed . In Bpeaking of the Almighty and the Government , the infidel proceeds thus—** With the former we interfere not DiRxCTLT , but with the latter this Association will grapple , and will never give up the struggle till the wronged have been righted , till the laws of men have been brought into harmony with those of the Creator . "
Now , first let ub ask what this gentleman means by the word ** directly" for we who contend for the " uneducated " have a full right to canvas the value of each sentenoe and word spoken by their " oducated " leaders . But to come to the solution of the above proposition . It admits of two : the one a moral one , which maybe thus rendered , " open your mouth and shut your eyes , and see what God will Bend you . ' This does not square with the good maxim , " God helps those who help themselves . " Then the physical solution of the Stansfeld problem is , " put your trust in God and keep your powder dry . " With this solution Sir John Campbkll does not agree . But , in the name of common sense , how are we to grapple , when we are not to have " meetings , petitions , or subscriptions " ! Stanspeld proceeds : —
" Yes , it is with the misery of classes , that we , as an association , have more particularly to do ; and nothing is clearer to my mind than that the cause of such misery is bad Government . ( Hear , hear . ) I speak not from theory alone . My calling in life has afforded me opportunities of witnessing the effect of various Governments on the human race . For upwards of twenty years have I been enabled annually to contrast them one with another . "
" Yes , it is with the misery of classes we , aa an Association , have more particularly to do , and nothing is clearer to my mind , than that the cause of such misery is bad Government . " Why , Solon , have not the ignorant working men , whom you would " educate , " been telling you that very fact for twenty-five years ! that class-legislation is the cause of bad Government , and that your own class has a monopoly of legislation , and , that therefore , to you aro all the poor man ' s woes to be ascribed . STANSFELD , go yon to school also , and take lessons from your
men . The next morsel from Staksfeld ' s dish is a dainty bit ; fit to set before a king . He says , in speaking of the ill-treatment of the poor , starving , oppressed masters : — " The masters and the men are the foolish countrymen ; they get the sheila , the aristocracy have swallowed the oyster . " No , no , Mr . Stanspeld ; you mistake ; you have taken the fish , leaving the finB for the landlord , and a shell each for the operative and agricultural fJave .
Now , "Scripture" Stanspeld , don ' t you think that more like the real division ! Never were we more fully confirmed in the truth of the wise saying of the archdevil , Talletsand , that " words were given to men to conceal , not to express , their opinions , " than upon reading the following improvement upon the mystery already so sedulouB attached to the limits by which tke Suffrage should be defined . Stansfeld gives this mystery a finisher . " Frankly and fearlessly , therefore , will I state that the true measure of the
Suffrage , in my humble opinion , should be its utility and its capability of conferring happiness on the greatest number . " What a precocious youth 1 who thus " frankly and feelingly " tells us nothing at all . Thifl beats Dan ' s " practicability" hollow . But who is to be a judge of this utility ! for the misfortune happens to be that the " utility ' ' must remain in embryo till the standard of Suffrage is first established . We give one more extract from the frank necromancer , and then take leave of this fox . He says : —
" Now , experience tells us that as yet there is -so little of the genuine spirit of Christianity in the world , so little self-sacrifice , that give to any man , or any body of men , too much power , and it will be abused for selfish purposes . " Tne above assertion , together with the oft-repeated fallacies set forth aa reasons for preferring Household to Universal Suffrage , shall have a full , fair , and , we trust , an unanswerable notice in our next ; for the present , in passing , we will observe , that Household Suffrage would give to every class , save the working classes , a more equal power than
they now , perhaps , separately possess while it would not only destroy the hope of Universal Suffrage , but would subject the really industrious and unrepresented to the divided incursions and invasions of sections and battalions , instead of the assaults of one grand army of plunderers , as at present . Plunder would then go on in a multiplied form , each represented section living upon the only substantial means of producing wealth , namely labour . Before we can even entertain the right of an equal participation in legislation for all classes , we must come to the
conclusion that each brings a fair quota of wealth to the market . Now , out of the fair representation of labour , all other classes could honestly , affluently , but perhaps not luxurious , live ; while , by the fairest representation of all other classes besides , labour is only depressed the more . Those classes which are now exclusivel y represented , are represented by the majority of householders , and in any suffrage the minority must be b y themselves supposed to be coercivly , represented or not represented at all
The effect of Household Suffrage would be to give to wealth more modes of oppressing poverty than it at present possesses , by multiplyingthe enemiesof labour . We now begin to merge out of middle class ignorance and the light of de ar bought knowledge , cull'd from nature s book , dawns on us in the speech of a honest goose inveigled amoDg the foxes . Hear Mr . W . Rothekt ' s speech ; we give it all , not more for the value of its contents , than with a view to test the opinion of his audience , by the censure or applause which marked the most striking passages : —
" Mr . Wm . Rothery , an operative , seconded the resolution . He observed that the present House of Commons did not represent the feelings of the people so well as that which existed previous to the passing of the Reform Bill . { ' Yes , yes . ") What was it that broke up the Peel and Wellington Administration ? It was their extravagant Civil last Well , they got a reformed Parliament , and a mach larger Civil List was
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granted . ( Hear , hear . tj ^ tie maintained actions spoke mach louder than words , and if they would only read the history of the country , ty would be , found that the Whigs had ialways shown themselVesthe ' fllre enemies of the people . ( " No , ao . " i The Whiga passed the Septennial Act and the New Poor Law Act , and he maintained that it was grou ignorance on the part of the people , as to what constituted their real interests . jwt -a *~ . ~ r , M * kVMA »« 1 n ^ tn ^ >
which had led to their accession to power . Nothing was to be expected from the two factions but injustice . He had heard of an instance where a man was brought before a magistrate , on a charge of rape , and because the girl had not been instructed In the Church Catechism , he dismissed the case . ( "Shame . '') He believed that the only means by which the people could obtain their rights waa an extension of the suffrage ( Cheer *)"
1 Now from this admirable speech we learn two things : —firstly , that the day of delusion has passed away ; that no matter under what name working men may now and then casually fight , yet neverthelesa all seem to be impressed with the conviction , that they have nothing but injustice to expect from either faction . But what is the still more valuabla truth which we leara ! Why , that Marshall , Stansfeld , Goodman , Bower , and all the whole Fox and Goose
AsBociation , and their associates , are the cause of the principal grievance of the people , " want of justice . " He arraigns the magistrates , and justly too , and they cry " shame ; " while we ask the worthies if any of themselves received a severe reprimand from Justice Littledalb , for incarcerating White and Wilson , two peor working men , till they should find Hearly £ 1000 bail ! And this is justice ! and the hypocrites cry " shame , " at the repetition of their own iniquities ! We shall dismiss the self-confessed , ignorant Alderman Goodman , with a single extract and short commentary . He
says"The resolution lastly spoke of equal and cheap justice to all classes . ( Cries of " Hear , hear . " ) Hethought this part of the subject was of considerable importance , for it frequently happened that the costs attendant on the endeavour to know their rights , were far more than the working classes were able to pay . ( Hear , bear . ) It had long been his conviction , that there was no department in which reform was more loudly called for than in that of the law , and he thought the measures they were , about to take , if successful , would be a great means towards accomplishing that most desirable object ( Hear , hear . ) He must really apologize to the meeting for the imperfect manner in which he had addressed them , but his numerous engagements had prevented his giving that attention to the subject which its importance demanded . "
Now nothing can be more true . We hare now before us an account of £ 36 15 s . 9 d . paid by Mr , O'Connor for the interference of Mr . Justice Littledale , in order to force Mr . Alderman Goodman and his associates to take bail for Whitb and Wilson . We have also many more acts of theirs in our arohives ; not th « least numerous those of their support of profligate , lying , drunken policemen . But
now for the tutelage of the new schoolmasters . Surely one must suppose that those gentlemen have come to the taBk of instruction with minds chargod with information ; but , says this national schoolmaster , " He must really apologise to the meeting for the imperfect manner in which he had addressed them , but his numerous engagements had prevented his giving that attention to the subject which its importance demanded . "
Well done , thou good and faithful blockhead . Ab you can't " Rear the tender mind , " you had better join the physical-force department , and
" Teach the y « ung Idea how to sftoo *; - And so the poor people who have been instructing these bloated calves for ten generations , are now to receive instruction from gentlemen who are so busy about making money , that they have no time to think of even what they should say upon the very rising of their sun of genius in Leeds ! We now come to the speech of the second working man who spoke , and let ns see how far , from the manner in which the different points were received by the audience , we can justly saddle upon our new friends the title of
levellers , and the designation of wholesale plunderers . " Mr . Martin , an operative , seconded the resolution . He showed the vast amount of wealth enjoyed by one class , and the miserable poverty of another . There was the Duke of Cumberland , King of Hanover , £ 21 , 000 a-year ; Duke of Sussex , j £ 21 , ouo ; Duke of Cambridge , £ 27 , 000 ; Duke of Gloucester , £ 23 , 000 ; the Royal Princesses , £ 13 , 000 each . («• Shame . ") The Marquis of Westminster had an income of £ 400 , 00 * a-year ; Matqais of Stafford , £ 360 , 009 ; Duke of Northumberland , ' £ 300 , 000 ; Duke of Buccleugh , £ 250 , 000 . " I" shame , shame . " )
Now the worthies only give one "Shame " for the exorbitant sums best owed by themselves , through their representatives , upon a parcel of idle drones , but they cry " Shame , shame " when they hear of the vast private property of four noblemen . What is the inference to be drawn from this march of disapprobation ! We say , a desire to level ; but what did the hypocritical cry covert Why , their own villany , of course . Why did it not strike some of the 176 who were present ( that was the exact number ) to ask who , in ease of any of those estates being offered for sale , would be the purchasers , and out of what fund would the purohase-money be paid . But as it waa neglected , we shall supply the
omission . Marshall , Gott , Brown , Stansfeld , Goodman , and a few others of the masters , could and would purchase all the four estates , out ot the plunder of the poor operatives . Have not Bbowh and Marshall paid over half a million for estates lately ? and yet they cry " Shame "—aye , so say we . Shame , indeed , upon the new schoolmasters ! Tais presents the Fox and Goose Association , to our contemplation , in its proper light . The Foxes inveigle the Geese to join them in depradations from which they would have not one particle of benefit .
Next comes Mr . Councillor Jossy Bower , from whose speech we give an extract , in courtesy to the " Reformer of fifty years' standing . " " He supposed the resolution had been put into his hands because they knew that the extension of the Suffrage was bis darling nobby-horse . ( Laughter . ) He had been a Reformer for nearly nalf-a-century , and he knew that what they wanted could not be got in a day or a year . His friend , who addressed them after Mr . Stansfeld , wanted too much . He ( Mr . Bower ) was once as vicieua aa he was—( laughter)—but now he began to see things differently . "
So Jossy has been fifty , ' years a juggler , and has yet to learn why the resolution was put into his hand . Jossy is at a loss to find it out ; though he has had many crooked , things in his hand in the course of his fifty years' agitation ; but as he professes ignorance , we will tell him . It was just , because they wanted to pass off tho joke , and who so likely to give effect to it as Jossy 1 Jossy says he was once as vicious as Martin . So he was till he got his " ticket for soup , " and then hia vice departed . Josst ' s reform would extend just to the fifth milestone on the top of the hill , and no further ; for he knows there is a wheel within a wheel in the art of local as well as national legislation .
Next comes another working man , Btjtterfield out of whose head the schoolmaster cannot drive Universal Suffrage . He said , and said truly , that "Universal Suffrage was universal right , and to withhold it was universal wrong f and in saying this he was cheered by those who say it is not so . Mr . Middleton made a sensible speech ; but Dr . Smiles , in proposing the sixth resolution , got completely out of his depth in the short space of twelve lines . We give the Doctor ' s double-distilled nonsense as it appears in the report : — ; " Was not a man of twenty years and ten months old as competent to give a vote as a man of twentyone !" " Maybe yes , and maybe no ,
One of the maybe ' s must be bo . " But is not an apprentice aa well able towork in six years and eleven months as in seven years , and why is he not out of his time ! Why have Parliaments every three years , as proposed by the Doctor ! Why not every two years and eleven mouths ! Why fill offices for a year ! Why not for eleven months ! For the simple reason that some standard is absolutely necessary ; and several incapacities being removed at the age of twenty-one , the Chartists have wisely adopted that as their standard of
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eligibility , with a full conviction that with the enfranchisement of all persons of twenty-one any grievance complained of by persons of eighteen , or under , would be mote likely to be removed than by those enfranchised by Household Suffrage . As for the jargon of women and criminals , it has been hackneyed and exhausted by all bnt the Fox and Goose Club , till people are 8 ick of the nonsense . Bat was ever saeb . v pretext for an association stopping short 1 Because another portion of tho community does not go far enough . In faith , Edward Baines , you showed your judgment by leaving the Foxes and Geese to the tender mercy of the Times and the Doctor , and if they survive both , they must have as many lives as a cat . AHr *;> iilitv wit h & fnll Annviflftinn that With thfl
When they stutter a little more nonsense , the great physician will salivate them with a few doses of mercury and stop their jaw . Some one boasted that they had one Universal Suffrage member . Is not this what we have been sayhig for yean ! that the House of Commons is more liberal than the constituencies . So we have the member contending for Universal , and his constituents for Household Suffrage . Happy union of opinion , between those who would ask the people to sink all differences , and join tbem !
So much for the formation of the Corn Law Repeal , Education , Inquiry , Association , or otherwise the Fox and Goose Club . But we are inclined to ask whether or not this new Association is to be directed to the purpose of municipal elections , as the time approaches \ No , no ; we are not going to be caught by moonshine this time . One great point acquired by this hedge-fire Association is the paucity of its meetings , which are to be once a-year for one purpose , and once a-month for committee meetings ; but we give the resolutions , and we are at a loss-to know how Stanspeld will stomach the fifth , as he is for no more meeting ? : — Mr . C . Cummins moved the adoption of the following rales : —
" 1 . All persons signifying their approval of the objects of this society , as above specified , and paying an entrance of sixpence , with a future quarterly payment of sixpence , shall be members of the same , and shall have a vote at all meetings of the Society . " " 2 . This Association shall be governed by a Committee of not less than forty-eight persons , comprising a Chairman , two Vice-Chairmen , a Treasurer , and two Secretaries , with power to add to their number : and of the whole Committee one-half shall belong to the operative , and one-half to the middle class ; and that the election of that committee be as follows : —
' Each Member of the Association to give in a signed list of 48 competent persons a week previous to the General Meeting , and from the collective lists a Committee of scrutiny shall select the requisite number of Committee-men for the ensuing year—such selected list to be submitted to , and approved of , by the first General Meeting . '" •« 3 . A general meeting of the Society shall be held on the second Monday in January , of each year , to receive the report of the retiring Committee , and to appoint a new one : and it shall be obligatory of the Committee to convene a special general meeting of the Association at any time , on a week ' s notioe being given by the Chairman , five members of the Committee , or forty members of the Association . "
" 4 . The general Committee shall meet upon the third Monday in January in each year , and appoint from amongst its members , a Chairman , two Vice ? Chairmen , a Treasurer , and two Secretaries , and such number of Sub-Committees for the transaction of the ordinary business of the Society , as may be judged convenient " " 5 . The general Committee shall meet at least once a month , and its duties shall be to suggest and forward all measures calculated to promote the principles and objects of the Association , and to convene , as circumstances may render desirable and necessary , general meetings of the Society . "
" 6 . No alteration shall be made in the rules of this Society except at a general meeting , nor unless carried by a majority of two-thirds of the members then present ; neither shall any such proposition be entertained , unless sufficient notice has been given to the members of the Association , at least two weeks previous to such meeting , stating the precise object of the alteration to be proposed . "
Mr . Whitehead , tea-dealer , seconded the motion . Mr . R . Wright , shoemaker , moved—That the following Gentlemen form a Committee , to remain in office till the first general meeting of the Society , to be held in the second week in in January :
COHHITTEB . MIDDLE CLASS HEN . OPERATIVES . Fo $ K 8 . Geese . James G . Marshall Edward Sunderland Hamer Stansfeld Andrew Keenan George Goodman Joeeph Nichols H . C . Marshall Wm . Nichols , jun . Joshua Bower John Butterfield Israel Burrows William Mennell John Forster John W hi taker Jonathan Shackleton Thomas Anderson Joseph Cliff John Dean Matthew Hall Alexander Fordyche
Thomas Plintf John Jackson James Richardson Samuel Temple John Whitehead Benjamin Addeman Samuel Smiles Robert Addeman Richard Jackson Joseph Briggs John Wales Smith Thomas Greveson Edward King William Mitchell Charles Cummins Abraham Barrow Christopher Heaps John Barlow Robert Craven John Speed John Airey John Goodison Robert Wright James Marshall Simeon Spenceley Richard Varey Thomas Koblnaon Charles Thomas .
We have thought it right to expose the iguerance , arrogance , and inconsistency of these new public instructors in the outset ; and , therefore , our notice has run to considerable length , which , however , we deemed necessary , in order to point out the objects of the new association , which are , firstly , and only , if possible , a repeal of the Corn Laws ; secondly , National Education , and thirdly , Inquiry into the Condition of the Working Classes . Now , the people know for what they are to unite with their disinterested masters , &o they have at least the advantage of going towork with their eyes open .
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THE MARQUIS OF NORMANBY AND THE HULL CORPORATION . The death of Earl Durham has deprived the town of Kingston -upon- Hull of an officer called the High Steward of the Borough . It has been usual to confer this dignity upon some Nobleman ohoseu by the Corporation , and by them recommended to the Crown for appointment . It is necessary to premise thus much , in order that our readers may under , stand , and rightly appreciate , the evidence which we give them from the Hull papers , of the manner
in which the reformed municipals" testify their gratitude to their Whig godfathers . Thismatter of the election of a High Steward for the borough of of Hull , though it might seem , at first sight s to involve merely local interests , will be found , on nearer examination , to afford such conclusive evidence of the truth , which we have often stated , that the same spirit animates both Whigs and Tories and that the devil of class-domination , though its form and characters be various , is yet one devil , as to make it sufficiently important to receive general notice .
We copy from the local press the following report of the eleotion : —
LORD HIGH STEWARD . The Town Cletk read the minutes of the last meeting , and then said it would be for the Council tbat day to elect a nobleman to fill the office of Lord High Steward of this borough , Mr . Tall said he wished to know if it were a correct proceeding for a member to prop'so some person whom he might think fit to fill the office of Lord High Steward ? The Town Clerk said any member was in order in recommending a person to fill the office , though it was not incumbent upon them to do so , as the Lord High Steward would be elected by voting papers , and not by the show of hands upon the motion of a member .
Mr . Tall said they had an opportunity now of honouring the town by the election of some illustrious character to the vacant office , and he should mention perhaps the greatest man alive as fitted for the office of Lord High Steward—he alluded to his Grace the Bake of Wellington , and he did hot think it possible for any other man to be placed in competition with Lira , oa the score of everthing which characterised a great and good man . Mr . Atkinson said he differed from the gentleman who had just sat down ; the Duke of Wellington was doubtless a very great , but he was also a very old man , and if elected to the office of Lord High Steward
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they oonld not expect that he would live for any lengthened period to fill that office . He ( Mr . A . ) wsi of opinion that , from many causes which he weuld not then particularise , the Marquis of Normanby waa tks person beet fitted to hoW the offleenow n « ant . , The Mayor then appointed Messrs . W . Ayre , j . Bowden , E . Squire . andiH . ISeatoB , « rutators of th » voting . In a few minutes these gentlemen rettrned with a lift of the votes , which were a # follow : — For the Marquia of Normanby ... 26 For tbe Duke of Wellington ... . 1 . 5 Majority .. ; ... ; ... ... —21 The Mayor then declared the Marquis of Normanby dnly elected to fill the office ot Lord High Steward of this borough . * thflT AnnM Tint A * tww £ £ li * t Ka w / inM 1 tw A 4 U- . .
Very well , Mr . Mayor , and "liberal" Councillors of Hall ! You have made your election ; yoa bare set np your idol , and bent yonr subservient knees ; w * have only to express our fervent hope ^ ^ that , some oi these fine mornings , the whole batch of you may find yourselves en joying the special favour of yonr High Steward , the arbiter of fate to political and criminal offenders , in some of those cool snug
retreats which bis Lordship has provided for bo many infinitely better men than either he or yoa We shall have much pleasure in complimenting your good taste , when our compliments can be received as the accompaniment of your due share 0 T skilly , bad bread , and pig potatoes ; furnished in exact scale and measurement , and nicely calculated to stave off the chances of a Coroner's inquest , by the command of yonr respectable High Steward .
, We have been told that the Hall Corporation is one of the most" liberal" of all the * liberal" bodies called into existence by the Municipal Corporation Act . We believe that they some time ago petitioned Parliament for Household . Suffrage , and may thos claim cousinship with the Le eds Fox and Goose Club . Hence , then , from this selection of the man whom they delight to honour , may the people well judge of what they are to look for , should they bo
geese enough to make any alliance with the foxes . They find here a choice sample of the liberal feeling , and of the common sense into the bargain , of some of the shopocrat upstarts . We were at some loss to find out what claims tho Beau Marquis couid have upon the confidence of the Hull "liberals . " In one of their organs , we find the following editorial comment , intended , as we presume , to afford the natives Bome light on the subject : —
" In the Town Council meeting , en Wednesday , H will be seen by our report , the Marquis of Normanby has been nominated Lord High Steward of this borough in the room of the lamented Earl of Durham . The ' selection must be highly gratifying to the Reformers of HulL The qualifications of the Noble Marquis for the distinguished office , are sufficiently establish ed by the fact , that he earned the inveterate hatred of the Tories , fer his mild and conciliatory administration of the affairs of Ireland , while Lord Lieutenant . "
So , so , the renegade Marquis is thus to be disguised before the people , as the gaol-delivering Earl ; but the mantle is too short and too scanty for the purpose . The mountain of iniquity , over which it is thrown , will still exhibit the political deformity of the worst specimen of even Whig rascality . And we beg most respectfully , that the M liberal" Editor and his friends , Mister Sir William Lowthrop * Mister Alderman Atkinsok , and Messrs . the Towa Councillors , will not distress themselves ; for the multitude of sins which load their noble protege is utterly beyond the greatest stretch of " liberaP charity to oovor .
The good burgesses of Hull , we fancy , will take the trouble of contrasting the English policy of the Home Secretary , with the Irish policy of the Lieutenant ; and will , we doubt not , strike the balance fairly . Do the fools and dolts suppose that the voices which are now being raised from the murder dens and manufactories of lunatics can be hushed by the faint whisper of the Irish Viceroy ' s mildueBS , while his master dodged his footsteps ! If so we tell them they mistake . Let their Lord High Steward be invited to a feed ; and let them ventnre on the
experiment of a public entry ; they will then find out the estimation in which they and he are holden . Curses loud and deep ' wonld so astound his ears , that they would scarcely recognize the adulation of the sycophant municipals . But what we want to know is , where the burgesses of Hull were , amidst all this eleotion movement ! We are informed , and we believe oorrectly , that the appointment by the Crown will be made , in compliance with » petition purporting to be from the Mayor and Burgesses of Kingstoh-upon-HoiU On the last occasion , we believe , when the old
corporation made application for the appointment of his Grace the Duke of Wmxikgtow , the Burgesses memorialised the Home-Offioe ; declaring that they had never been consulted on the subject ; and so sensible was the Duke that , should an investigation take place , the Mayor and Aldermen would not be allowed to stand for the whole body corporate , that he politely and politicly declined the honour ; and no High Steward was appointed till the old Tory squad were laid upon the shelf , and the New Corporation sprung into existence , robed in all the honesty of liberalism . "
Oa that occasion some of the present despots were loud and unsparing in their denunciations of the Tory Aldermen for daring to act without consulting the burgesses . This was very properly paraded as a reason for Municipal Reform * The Tories are now out ; the Liberals" are in , and what is the difference to the burgesses ! Why , just the difference between six and half-a-dozen . We have noi heard that any meeting of the burgesses has been held in their Town-Hall to take this matter into
their consideration ; w « cannot learn that it is purposed to ask their sanction to the appointment ; the corporation , like their predecessors , will go to the Crown with false pretences , and , ' unless the people stir , and instantly memorialise the Crown , the town will be disgraced by the confirmation of the Town Council ' s naming ; and it will go forth to the country that all the base , sneaking , mean , unprincipled , and dastardly rascality of the most " shabby" of ihe " shabby set ' is approved of by the people of one of the most important towns in the empire .
' If the people of Hull wish to have and to deserve this character , let them sit still and say nothing . They may approve of all the proceedings of the * Home Secretary—the ^ y may think the unblushing lies and uncloaked despotism by which he prevented Parliament from taking into consideration the statements of the imprisoned Chartists to be all just , and right , and proper—they may think the moneysuckers and shopoorats , the Ministers and placemen , the only people wortk caring for—they may be well contented with things as they are ; and if it be so , we certainly think the appointment of the Noble Marquia the most proper that could have been made .
But if they do love jastice and hate oppressionif they would have thought to be free , and the expression of opinion to be unshackled—if they desire not to see Englishmen the very slaves of despotism , impudence , and fraud combined ; then w * say , let them memorialise the Governmentlet them honestly avow their determination not to have this man to rule over themlet them protest against the infraction of their right ' s as citizans by the arbitrary nomination of the Town Council ; and we shall see whether they will now receive as much attention , when declaring their non-approval of a Whig Marquis , as when under like circumstances , they declared their nonapproval of a Tory Duke .
This act of the most "liberal" of all w liberal " Corporations must not be lost sight of . It is valu able , as being characteristic of the whole crew Let them "jump Jim Crow , " and laud that as jus and right , when done by themselves in 1840 , which they censured as unjust and wrong when done by the Tories in 1833 ; and let the people hence learn to keep right on in their course , turning neither to the right hand _ nor to the left , after any of > H manv humbugs who are seeking to allure thea *
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that * THE NORTHERN STAR . 1 fnr fha mfca nf tmtrt + i tiit Mtinna
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 12, 1840, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2701/page/4/
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