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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th July 1849, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, IMtiottiil itanu orotmwttu

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  • Departments (5)
    • TO THE "WORKING CLASSES
    • MR. MUNTZ, M.P
    • IMtiottiil itanu orotmwttu
    • Ar00107
    • TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
  • Text (9)
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      To The "Working Classes

      TO THE "WORKING CLASSES

      My Fiuekds , ... I Daring the whole of last "week , and for some -time previously , myuTintlwas so ocoupied . mth matters of various descriptions , that it was impossible for me . to say a word relative to the discussion upon the People ' s Charter in the House of Commons , I may now state , however , that no circumstance connected with my long and varied political career , ever gave me so much pleasure , or inspired me with such strong liope , as the debate upon that question . Though not "usually nervous , yet I assure you I never felt more so than in undertaking to develope the practical views of anation upon so comprehensive a . measure . I feared lest an indiscreet

      sentence should justify , the opposition of those to whose support I had looted for ultimate success . You know , as well as I do , the difficulty of reconciling antagonist parties to popular opinions ; and yon are also' aware of the j ust reproach to which the leader of those principles subjects himself , if he merges thought of them in thought of self . And in this case I was most peculiarly circumstanced , as for years I have been the target of those who would have justly cased their opposition upon a rambling , exciting , self-laudatory speech . But I have been more than repaid for the anxiety I endured , by the fact , that while my

      speech appears to have given general satisfaction , it also extracted a retractation of his old pledges from Lord John Russell , by the avowal that he thought vTHE TIME HAD AEBIVED when large concessions should be made to the working classes- ^ an admi ssion which never hefore was exacted from the Kohle Lord under heavier pressure V I shall say no more upon . tha ^ politicsl question , but . shaH now draw your ^ enti 6 n : to the social question . But , inpass ^ g ^ let me briefly foreshadow for you the onerous an & Ifrying circumstances against which I had jbo contend last week . ¦ ' .

      Firstly . —During thewMg week I was suffering severe indisposition . ?" Secondly . —M y mind was tortured with anxiety lest an indiscreet word from me should injure the Chartist cause . Thirdl y . — -At thevery time when I required mental calm , I received intimation of the brutal , unjust , and ungenerous complaints of a portion of thelocated members at Bromscrove .

      Fourthl y . —I had an action pending against me in the Queen ' s Bench , for an attorney's bill of costs for the defence of the Chartist prisoners—but upon , this subject I shall address yoa a short letter . Fifthly . —The Judge of the Northampton Comity Court , gave Mr . Gdbbixs a judgment against me for 21 . 9 s . 9 d . of the 4 J . 19 s . 9 d . that he sued for , so that he has lost 21 . 10 s by his action , while the Judge has granted a new trial even to dispute his right to the 21 . 9 s . 9 d . Sixthly . —I had another application about some member in Halifax , who wished to follow Mr . GuuBDfs's example .

      Seventhly . —1 received a very proper letter from Mr . Mxjstz , the member for Birmingham , complaining of the abuse of him in the " Northern Star" of last week . 2 fow I think that any , the most obdurate , man Trill admit that these were strong grounds for reflection , and well calculated to break the soundest spirits of the holdestindividual ; however , the same medicine , — A OLE ATI

      C 0 NSCD 3 NCE—that has always sustained me , has proved an effectual remedy ; and as the working classes , as a hody , are not ungrateful , ungenerous , or thankless , I have received some little consolation this week from the letters I publish from different parts of the country , hut especially those from Bromsgrove , signed "by a majority—and by the poorest—of those located by Bonus upon that estate .

      You are aware , however , that although a "little leaven leaveneththe wkole-lwnp" that it requires a perfect flood of gratitude to overpower there streams of rascally , and you-will also discover not only the wisdom and confidence but the self-reliance of the truly industrious , from the feet that four solvent in dustrious individuals have oflered to become tenants to four of those reviled allotments , at a rent of 161 . a-ycar , and to pay their rents halfyearly . The name of one is advertised in the " Star" and as to the others , application is to he made through the Directors .

      Ton will find that the want of pumps constituted the sole ground of complaint , while the ' wells are sunk , and , as I stated , the pumps are to be put in . But if I required stronger confirmation of the value of the Plan , would it be possible to find it more satisfactorily proved than by the letter of those who have paid their Bonus , and who have been located upon the estate , and not one of whom would let ? In passing , I may observe that one who has subscribed his name to the letter , " Jobjj Wooden , " occupies the allotment upon which all the bricks , for building the several houses , were burned , and the most unsi g htly and nigged allotment on the estate , hut he is an agricultural labourer , and says that he will

      show them what to do . And let me here inform your order that the application of such labour to thelandis the only possible means by which your social redemption can be achieved ; and , as I have often told ' you , if the land was locked Tip to-day I would not give you three straws for the Charter to-morrow , and that has been my sole and only reason for undertaking so gigantic and responsible a task as Wending tbe political and social principles , so that you may he instructed in the science of the latter , when you achieve the means of carrying it out , by the accomplishment of the former And any man of common sense who casts * his eye over the past four years and a quarter , since the Land Plan was established , will see theldifficulties against which I . have had to

      contend . Every one is aware that fury , bombast , violence , and resolution to die ^ th your heart in your hand , while they / cost " nothing , will recruit ardent and enthusiastic admirers ; while the feelings of a manwho " has paid five shillings , orfivepence . to demonstratethepower of co-operation , would be governed by interested selfishness , and will not take the repayment of his five shillings in long yarns of rubbish . .

      Bnt here lies my greatest difficulty ; the venom of the units is joyously circulated through the organs of faction , while the gratitude of millions is suppressed j and one enemy can do yon more harm than a thousand friends can do yen good . But , mark my peculiar position ; in all other cases popular enmity is « nlv roused against a principle , or a system , while , as regards me , it is directed solely against theindividnal . And need I—in confirmation of this great fact—reniind you of the stereotyped convictions of promoters for

      " FREEDOM FOE THE MILLHXNS : " "IT IS SOW ASCERTAINED , FROM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE , THAT A MAN CAS SOW MAINTAIN HIMSELF , WIFE , AND FA MILY , AND PAY THIRTEEN PER CEJfT KENT , UPON TWO ACRES OF LAND , COSTING £ 11 AN ACRE . " If I searched the dictionary , or if I exhausted the English language , could I furnish my revilers with , a stronger or more irrefutable answertotheir continuous slander ? Their repl y would be , "Yes , but that means the Land purchased hy OUR friends , and which will not release the holders from serfdom ; hut yours means Land that would make them independent of capital / 1

      In this week ' s paper you will also find a sensible address adopted unanimously hy 160 of the Merflvyr Tydv'l shareholders ; and while I read it with pleasure and satisfaction , there are a few points that require explanation . % friends should hear in mind , that Con-

      To The "Working Classes

      ferences were called for the express purpose of making changes m harmony with altered circumstances , over which they had no control ; and , that the Directors were also compelled to make changes , in compliance with the resolution of Conference ; and as to the abatement of the twopence per -greek expense , they must be aware that that conclusion was arrived at by the conviction of the Delegates , that the people would not be" able to pay it , and that the

      poorer members would consider it a hardship . All the other observations made by the good men of . Merthyr shall-r-as they well deservereceive my strictest attention , and shall he submitted to the Conference ; and I can only say , that I subscribe to every one of them , with the single exception of reducing the number of Directors , as they may rest assured that there is more than enough of work for three at the office , while Doyle does two men ^ s work upon the estates .

      I do not boast of my own work , hut I do assert , without fear of contradiction , that , the books and accounts of the land Company , the most Tplumjnous ; , aad muIti & iTOajs ever kepfchy an ^ oinpany , ; are sr &? ffie ^ m © st > a < lcurate , complete , and crttical i a ^ d S ar ^ m ^ shall inspect the accounts ' of the ^ anfej of England , down to those of the smallest individual banker in the kingdom , . ( that- is , if ^ hey will allow them , ) the largest railway company downto the smallest , and the 'largest merchant ' s accounts down to the smallest , and not one of them will be equal / in . accuracy and minuteness to those of the . Land Company ; and the subscribers must ^ understand that

      upon confidence in those-Directors my character depends , and that that confidence has never been shaken . I find that the Directors have decided that the Conference shall beheld at Snig ' sEnd , in the school-room . I would rather have held it in the midst of my constituents ; but I think it as well that my juggled dupes should have an opportunity of seeing Snig ' s End and Lowbands , which almost join , and Minster Level , which will be within thirty miles of it ; and as they will "be able to judge for themselves shortly , I now assert that they will be perfectly amazed and astonished .

      In conclusion , let me ask you if a stronger proof can he instanced , not of the value , hut of the absolute necessity of popular representation , than the fact , that while all represented classes can insure a legal right to juggle , cheat , and deceive the people , I cannot secure the legal right to protect the people against my own injustice . And why ? Because the friends of faction and opponents of

      freedom , judging hy universal precedent , have the matchless audacity to base the hope of my destruction upon the great temptation placed in my hands . Last year , however , I conquered them with a balance sheet ; and this year y ou shall have another , not manufactured by me , hut hearing the names of Mr . Fimaison , and Mr . Gre , the Government Actuary and Accountant , after the closest inspection .

      My friends , if I had robbed you and lost my political power , I should have been characterised as a clever merchant , but as I have discharged my duties faithfully , and robbed myself , and thereby preserved my . political power , I am a swindler , a vagabond , ajiigglei ) and a cheat , but I still remain ¦ :- ' - _ ¦ < %£ Your faithful Friend and Representative , Feargus O'Connoh .

      "RUIN THEM "WITHEXPENSES 1 " TO THE CHARTISTS . My Fkiends , Tou will see fioni the report of the trial in the Queen ' s Bench of Macnamatu 1 ) . O'Connor , that however favourable the law or the judge may be , the privileged jury will act upon the recommendation of Lord Meldovkke to ruin the Chartists with expenses . Nothing could be more favourable than the summing up of Lord Desman , and , as yon will see , nothing could be more conclusive than the evidence , had I not been the scape-goat .

      There are two or three very peculiar circumstances connected with this case . The Governor and the Chaplain of Newgate were the only two witnesses examined against me , and their evidence went merely to show that after the Committee had employed Mr . Macxamara , I announced that as solicitor for the prisoners , he was to have the privilege of seeing them . Now I will not undertake to contradict the sworn information of a reverend divine , but I declare , upon my honour , that I have not the slightest recollection of ever seeing him . Then as to counsel—although I admit

      that a barrister will sell his construction of law , as a hosier will sell his stockings—yet it is a most curious circumstance , that this very Serjeant Allen , who was counsel for the plaintiff , was the very first man to become a memofthe Sadical Association , and pay his shilling entrance money upon the platform in Circus-street , in 1835 , and he made such a tremendous speech that I requested the reporter of the " Time Sun" not to publish it , for fear it would damage us . But so powerful is the talismanie influence of wig and gown , that the learned gentleman relapsed into Toryism , and was the candidate for Birmingham upon Tory

      principles . ' The jury took three hours to decide , andthen expressed their doubts as to th ' eir verdict ; however , I am determined to fig ht Lord Melbourne ' s successors with their own weapons , and to have a new trial in November . I have overpaid this Defence Fund by nearly 60 / ., and if I am to be " ruined with expenses , " the charge will lie at your door , for , as I have often told you ,. a man cannot do a nation's work . I am still , Tour faithful and uncompromising Friend , FJEABG 17 S O'COSNOK .

      What The State Gets Bt Life Assbbaxce.— ...

      What the State gets bt Life Assbbaxce . — "When assurances upon human life are effected for business nurposcs , we consider that the state should derive benefit from them in the shape of taxation , but where they are effected against future calamities which may come , at any moment , when we Ctespect such a visitation , perhaps ,, out . of small eSS and by much self-denial , we find in prac-SrS any such impost is » S ? BJXobK of the most dangerous and impolitic' ^ "J ^ France is Diminished according to the exwnt yi assurance «<™ 000 00 are invested in life ual

      LUo » -. --- wh - the state derives an ann SS ^ -rS ^ i Sda Ho " dealt atftetopptaessof a » a »» .-n « perished ^ theJFlorto em ^ ant shp . nn 0 n ^ nrr from Antwerp to , Aew i ^ «

      SoTedtS from their temporary grave .

      Mr. Muntz, M.P

      MR . MUNTZ , M . P

      Ley Hall , near Birmingham , July 9 , 1849 . . Sib ,- —I was shown this morning the last " Northern Star" in which you call me a renegade , with some other genteel remarks . It would be quite as well , before you abuse others to inquire if you have grounds for so doing ; in the present instance I am abused because I will not subscribe to everything which you think wise , and charged with having been a Member of the Convention . —

      I beg leave to say that I never had anything to do with the Convention—that I was residing in South "Wales , a hundred arid fifty miles from Birmingham , when it was got up ^ -tbat I believe I was named as one of its members without my consent being asked , but that I declined acting and never attended any of its meetings . I think it only fair that , after having so misrepresented me , you should correct your misrepresentations . Yours faithfallyj . .,,. >; - '' . ; .-: G-. F . ; Muwxz ^ ¦ Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., London .

      ' - ¦ ¦ ' '¦ v . M yBeaeMtjijtz ; . I assure you that your letter , of the 9 th inst , gave ; me- extreme pain . I had not read the article M'the " Star" to which you refer until I received your letter , but having since read it and your letter , I think you are perfectly justified / not in the explanation you give but in the complaint you make . I am not aware that , you were even named as a delegate to the Convention in 1839 . I believe it was your brother . Nor am I aware that you ever pledged yourself to the Six Points of the Charter ; but I am aware , as I have previously stated , that there is not a more independent member in the House of Commons .

      Those circumstances of which you and ethers frequentl y and justly complain , give me much painandcausemenolittleanxiety . The "Star " is not only open to reflections upon all , but frequently to observations most hostile to myself , I have tolerated this system for b / ldng time , simpl y upon the ground that I wished to afford all an opportunity of expressing their opinions even of myself , however hostile they may be , and there is no" circumstance that has caused me more pain than this uncalled for and unjustifiable attack upon you . ¦ Trusting , as far as 1 am concerned , that this explanation will be satisfactory , I remain , faithfully yours , Feargus O'Connor . G . F . Muntz , Esq ., M . P .

      Imtiottiil Itanu Orotmwttu

      IMtiottiil itanu orotmwttu

      O'CoSNOBViLLE . -rThe week before last , Mi \ Robotham , lecturer on Chemistry , paid us a visit , and we beg thus publicly to return him our thanks for Ms kindness in g iving us two gratuitous lectures on " Agricultural Chemistry , " and the many valuable facts and suggestions embodied therein . These lectures , and the other amusements of the week , will show that notwithstanding our deplorable condition , as represented in the Nottingham Review , we have some enjoyments . On Monday week , we had four vans from London with parties to view the . estate ; and on the following day ,-to prove that we had . not forgot the political principles that gave birth to the Lanil-Plan , ' -we' determined to hold a rural festival Firstly r m consequence of . the Brbmsjrrove

      lOOatiori . ^ Secondly : "Of Mr . O'Connor ' s motion for the Charter and thirdly : In eommemoration of the anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence . We accordingly got up a gipsy party , and , preceded by the band , took our way to a romantic dell in the neighbourhood , where Mr . T . Ireland tos elected King , and installed -with all usual ceremonies ; and we believe if all kings studied as much to promote the happiness of , his subjects as he did , there would be fewer republicans . After enjoying ourselves for some time we returned and pitched our tents on the land of the late Mr . Richardson , whfch is situated in the highest portion of ~ the ground , from whence the whole estate lay spread beneath us , while we could

      also command a view of the surrounding country for a dozen miles on either side . Had our late poetic visitors been with us to have enjoyed this varied scene , we do not know what flights their imaginations might have taken . After refreshing ourselves and enjoying various rustic games , including the dance on the sward , we adjourned to the schoolroom , where the song and recitation filled up the pauses in the dancing , and the day ' s pleasure terminated with three cheers for F . O'Connor , Esq ., the success of the National Petition , and the Charter . HULL . —At the usual weekly , meeting , held at the Malt Shovel , North Church Side , on Monday eveningJuly 9 th , Mr . Jackson in the chair , the

      , secretary read the correspondence from Mr . Wheeler , in answer to some reports spread here , which was received with satisfaction ; after which the letter of Mr . O'Connor was read from the Star , and a strong debate ensued . On the motion of Messrs . Oliver and Smith , it was resolved : " That the discussion be adjourned to next Monday evening , in order to atford every member an opportunity of giving his opinion on its contents . " Norwich . —At a general meeting of Land members belonging to this branch , held in the Chartist Room in St . Mary ' s , on Monday , July 9 th , after a vote of confidence in Mr . O'Connor and his brother Directors , the following resolution was agreed to : — " That this meeting is so disgusted with the

      fortunate allottees and members generally for their treatment and ingratitude towards Mr . O'Connor , who has devoted his life and property in their behalf , that they are of opinion the only plan is , in our present position , for that gentleman to apply to Parliament for leave to wind up the affairs of the Company , and pay off all the dissatisfied members . " We beg also to inform our brother shareholders , through the Star , that in the event of the Company being wound up , several gave in their names to give Mr . O'Connor full power to take the money they had paid to assist him in carrying out his new move of buying-wholesale and selling retail , or any other plan calculated to emancipate the toiling millions of this country , with no other security than his word , and they hope other localities will come forward and do the same .

      TO FEARGG 8 0 ' CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . ' Sin , —Trusting you will insert the enclosed report at full length in the Star of next Saturday , for there was a very strong muster of members here last Sunday , and we went to a considerable expense to call the meeting . There were 160 members together , and they all earnestly request you to insert ft , for it is very seldom we trouble you with long reports , and you see unless some plan is adopted the Land Company will soon-go to destruction , but if the old plan is adopted it will speedily be restored to its usual vigour . Yours , most truly , D . It . Morgan .

      Merthve Tydvil . —A special meeting qf the members of the Land Company resident in this town was held on Sunday evening last , in theil " room , back of Wellington-street , when the proposed Conference was taken under their consideration , and all came to the unanimous conclusion that they could not see the utility of the proposed Conference , for nearly every rule made at the Conferences had been broken ; some b y members , and a large portion by the directors : there is one in particular —and on it the entire prosperity of the Company depended—that is , the non-enforcement of the members to pay the twopehce per share per week . However , we are of opinion it is not yet too late to re-organise the Company , for there are very bloombefore all

      ing prospects now us ; are now aware the press—with a few exceptions—is now advocating Land schemes of some description ; and they are springing up . in every part of the kingdom with ffiffautie strides ; we are firmly of opinion if the above rule was carried on with strictness , the Company would be now in a prosperous condition , for if there were only 20 , 000 members in it , there would be only land and houses for that number wanted ; and if each of them was to pay sixpence per week-that is , the paid-up as wel ^ . as the un-Ld-up memberfi-the above s ™ > J ™ « MKJ members ,. would amount to £ o 00 weekly ,-that would b e £ 2 , 000 per month , and it would . anioun m the neat sum of £ 20 , 000 per year . But it would be betS there were only 5 , 000 members , good , to the Coppany , than tobe in the mumble position

      Imtiottiil Itanu Orotmwttu

      we aro . now in . We-have noneto blame but the Directors , that the above rule is not carried into effect . Now we propose the following plan for the confiw # x i ,, e « members of the 3 & i ri ° i rust al 1 ™ U n « et , and coolly and carefully del berate on it , for it will do quite nv ^ L *? - ? ' ••* Coi " ercnce , and save much S ^ that 1 ' *? kya Krof 6 d . per week on ? MS £ ? y ' as wellasthounpaid-up ; and S ? iffl ^& h * 1 ' , e ( h , » as it commenced , and wi £ rf « . ° * ffl * lbI « government about protection , -All that kad confiffenee in Mr : O'Connor £ S « tS 1 w f ™& W' a « d ^ e of the un-Ff WlmSif f ?« Mn « t comply , then-names 5 ? ~ S « atel J /? ' fi , om too books - of . . the Company . Ke-estabhsli the ballot : for th . it is th «

      only . thing that will place the Company on : afirm lounuauon ; lor the poorer members' are entirely disheartened since the ballot was abolished ; and let tnis be as a-fine or penalty on the paid-up members that will apt comply with the rule , not to stand any chance jn . the ballot , and the unpaid to be erased from . the books . Then we should soon know hew many good members wore in the Company , and all those ! pai ( fcu pnienibers that would not comply with the abpveffule to have , their money back at thel wmdmgjip of the . Company ; that Is when the last manflrcwon the .. land , and let them have four per ; ^ t . ;« £ their money . Weave firmly of opinion /; if * here ^ rere fifty plana proposed , none would work ao well- 'as this . plan , foi- we ¦ are sure-it would' ineet witIf"the . approbjitibn of ten out of every twelve in

      the company , and we arc agreeable . teat' the bonus should be continued as at present , for if any member had money by him , and anxious to go , we think it right he should go . We also think if there was a ballot to take place every three months it would greatly facilitate the above objects , for every one would then exert himself to clear up every-three months , and wc are of opinion the number of directors should be reduced down to three , for we think that number plenty to carry on the operations of the Company when it shall be cleared of its present lot of lumber , ( wc mean two with Mr . O'Connor ) , and if the Company goes on more prosperous than we expect then Mr . O'Connor can add one more'to the number , or employ an additional clerk ; and wo arc also of

      opinion , that annual elections for directors should take place in each locality , as well as at the Conference . We have seen with extreme regret in the letter of our esteemed father that he is intending to retire from public life , we humbly and earnestly implore him not to do so , for if that was done all hope in this country would be for ever lost . We have seen with great astonishment , in the report-of our friend ^ "Day at Lowbands and Snig ' s End , " that a large portion of that estate is waste and unproductive , and very likely portions of the other estates may be in the same condition . We consider it the duty of the Directors , while they arc in the employ of the Company and paid for their services , to take

      to any land that may be deserted by any allottee the instant it is made known to them , and they should request the members located on each estate to furnish them with intelligence if any one should quit his allotment . And we are of opinion , the first on the books of the balloted members should occupy all such vacant allotments , for we consider it a crime of the greatest magnitude to let the land become a wilderness , and so many of the members in want of bread , —many in this town would be glad to have the chance to go there . We have calculated , by what we have seen in our friend ' s report / that on Lowbands alone there is at least £ 50 . a year lost to the Company . We trust the above neglect will be speedily corrected .

      TO PBAROU 8 O' CONXOn , ESQ ., M . P . Hokoured asd Respected Sir , —We , the members of the National Land Company , resident in thistown and vicinity , have seen , with extreme regret , in j'our letter in the Star of last Saturday , your intention of retiring to private life . We , the above members , humbly and carneatly implore of you not to do so , for if you do all our hopes and prospects are for ever vanished . We extremely regret to hear of the constant torment with which you are troubled by a portion of the located members and some of the others . We arc at a loss to know

      what is the reason of their grumbling , ; unless they are tootwell off . There are many in this town who wish ' they had their chance—but we earnestly trust you will not be daunted by the few discontented . We held a meeting of Land members here on Sunday evening last , and there was a very good number of members present , and the proposed Conference was taken under their consideration , and they came to the unanimous conclusion that they could not see the utility of it , for every locality could send in their opinions to you as well , and , perhaps , better than at a Conference . You will nave the

      goodness to read our report that we have sent to the Star this week before it is published , and we have no doubt you will highly approve of it . We have all recommended the Company to be re-established on the old form—that is , to establish the ballot , and not to trouble the government for protection . We have enough of confidence in you for our protection . We have recommended a levy of 0 d . per week on every paid-up member , as well as the unpaid-np members , and we have made a calculation that 20 , 000 members would be found to comply with the proposal . Sixpence per week from that number would he £ 500 weekly , £ 2 , 000 monthly ,

      and £ 20 , 000 annually , and we propose that all those paid-up members that will not comply with the rule shall have four per cent , for their £ 5 4 s ., and have it back at the winding up of the Company—that is , when every man that has complied with the rule is located—and all those unpaid-up members to hjyro their names erased from the books of the Company , and to ballot every three months . That will be an inducement for all the paid-up members to clear up every quarter , and also to the uhpaid-up members to exert themselves to clear up , to stand their chance .

      You may depend , if there were fifty companies formed , none would work so well as this proposal , for as soon as the ballot was abolished , the whole of the poorer members were disheartened—but the Bonus niay then he continued . If any man had a hundred pounds by him , we see no reason that he should not go on an allotment . We also proposed to reduce the number of Directors to three . We omitted to propose a levy towards paying the Directors . You will have the goodness to consider this report and give your opinion ; we have no doubt it will meet with the approbation of ten out of twelve of the Land members throughout the kingdom . We were greatly astonished at reading the report of our Worcester friends relative to Lowbands , that fourteen acres of it sbouid be waste and unproductive , but we do

      not lay the least blame to you , for wc are perfectly satisfied that yen perform enough of work for the men—we are looking to the other directors , for we are sure they have but very little now to do ; they should take to every allotment the instant it would be deserted and cultivate it for the benefit of the Company , or let the first on the books of the balloted members occupy it . There arc many in this town would be glad to have the chance , and we are perfectly satisfied they would be industrious tenants . We calculate that the fourteen acres on Lowbandsis at least £ 50 a year lost to the Company , and there maybe other estates the same . We trust you will stir the Directors about it and not let such things be reported again , for it is a crime of the greatest magnitude to let land waste and the people starving forhread , and that land within our grasp " .

      I am , honoured and esteemed father , Yours most obediently , David B . Morgan . ( Signed for the Land Members of Merthyr Tydvil . ) Merthyr Tydvil , July 10 , 1849 .

      TO FEAHGUS O ' CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . Sir , —It makes my very heart ache to read of your intentions of winding up the affairs of the Land Company—to have , as it were , the cup of hope dashed from niy lips . The land , of all things , was my fondest wish ; I have been a paid-up three aero member before the first draw , but the luck of being drawn seems in some instances to have fallen into the hands of the ungrateful , the selfish , and I may say , some monsters inhuman shape—but such things are . Ah ! sir , had the mon been put on according to priority , it would I think have been different ; the best men , the men who placed . confidence in you , men determined to carry out the system were in the first division , if I may judge at least bthe rl

      y eay members who paid iip in Reading . That you are tired and sickened at so much ingratitude I do not doubt , for I myself am tired in my little way , in combating with members who have lost three , four , or five shillings , as they say , by . the Company—men who hesitate to pay a shilling towards . emancipating themselves , but will spend four shillings per week in cold fourpeririy—such men would not purchase their freedom if , it rdepended on their spending a dry shilling . I have had . jobbing gardeners at me , like a . swarm of bees , and I have invariably found-thorn as ignorant of what they produce in the several g ardens in which they work as a young jackass is aoout his own father , for I hare always beat them by their own answers to my questions . Where then , sir , is the intelligence of the working man ? for whe there is such a mass

      Imtiottiil Itanu Orotmwttu

      of ignorahbe how o ^ w ^ iBipeb ^ graiitude the minds of . ^ eijtore . bo &^^ as notto'kri 6 w ) hQff ; ntoyieatibages :: he grows oh a pole of grotu ] d ? v ' A iybKVariiwere ^ o plant suckling pigs and treeKtbatilj ^ ift ^^ W ' roast -heef , and were to scald ttepige when ripefor ihem , and chew the beeffor : |^^ Titi «) i ; theyJwaiited , they would grumble a ^^ oiplrt ^ . your- face if you' did not carry them ~ # be ^^ Ujge ] iige & 'i to rrepletloti likewise . But there ire ¥ on »' good ^ en amon g us , ahd is it not ^ pj ^' tb ^^ h me ^^^ back to t &;«^ kli ' 9 ^ such Tellows ? , ; IS it not hard " an ^ gr ^ lS ^ 'ihihk you , to the very soiils of such men , to * ioowthe v are ' slaves thrhun-h ¦ the Talk

      ignoran , tKp ^ hy . of ^^ he ^ HUclass ? - not to me of the intsll ^ nt a ^' g ^ nerous . working classes of EnglandrWwsJi : . » geuwsfci & rt ' comes forward' with all his s 6 u | , intweot ,. tuB ' e ^ 4 ; propSrty , descends from his high'etaU ( m , wha 1 tlfel sole intention to benefit the poor , ; weak , ftfofldeh ' -down working-slave ; to raise him up from bigydegjfdded prostrate condition —a man who witt ^ ia after years , when history will record hie aotiona wltl » butprfl ) i » dice or party feeling , place his name jq ^ p . thei ; highest pinnacle as the greatest pMIantttffipat that Sreat Britain can boast , and throw the Howards find Frys into the back ground aa pigmie * .. jjjmfr talk not of the working classes int ^ tfi ^ ifjiairene ' roejty . when such a

      m M' *^ l ^ l ^ *« i » ot . insults ., and selfisliniotiy ^ - ^ B lB i ^ ^ pn hfe aame ^ b ^ oh't the generou 8--flegli » h wo | Sing : mea who are in employment ; " Bayii" We aw notfmembers . of the Land Company , but'tp . efeow our generosit ^ we will GIVE from > ourwagesa ^ nalfpenny per ' week for twelve months , and in spite-of " a dastardly ' , government , you SHALL go on ? ' ^ cThe amount weekly from so many would be large and work wonders ; but the tax upon that boasted generosity would be only a pipe of tobacco less—wonderful sacrifico-ra grain of mustard seed from each would fill a bushel , and let the registration and Joint Stock Company ' s Act go to the devil . The working man ' s freedom is in his own hands if he would but exercise a little wee bit of

      generosity- in fact , it is too little to be called generous , it is a slur upon that virtue—it is a duty one man owes to another when it is to . elevate his fellow creatures and at the same time working out his own and bis children ' s redemption . I hopo and trust that the Conference will suggest some plan to enable us to go on and not to wind up . My son , Henry A . Major , was drawn a three-acre man in the last ballot ; he is willing to transfer the possession to me—would to God I could get it . I am too poor through having so much affliction in my family so many years , that I cannot pay a bonus , or I should have been one at Bromsgrove or bought

      before now . I am well Known by all the Wheelers , at O'Oonnbrville . I hope , but it is ungenerous in me to ask you tcpersevere for me ana others like me , when you get nothing but ingratitude for your glorious efforts ... That aweet hope " seems now to be flying from me and to leave me no prospect but the workhouse . But thanks , sir , for the great efforts you have made on my behalf , and may the blessings of God reward you , —you have the prayers of thousands—and your name will be handed downto posterity and will have the blessings of thousands yet unborn . Please to excuse the liberty in trespassing on your valuable time .

      I remain , an admirer of your philanthropy , Thomas Major 43 , Whitley-street , Beading , Berks , July , 1849

      TO 71 ABGUB O CONNOR , ESQ ,., U , V , Sir—Seeing in the Star that you are about to visit Manchester and Todmorden on the 15 th and 16 th inst ., I write you to come and view my small farm of nearly two statute acres , situate in Sale , Cheshire , six miles from Manchester , on the Altringham road , if you can make it convenient to do so when you are in Manchester . I will show you a young cow that has had only one calf , and which I expect to calve again in September next , She has already given me two hundredweight of butter , that is 224 jbs . ~ ; andjs giving near five quarts of ; . inilk at a meal now , morning and evening , that is near ten quarts a day . I should feel great delight in seeing you and showing you over my little

      farm . . I am- cultivating from your " Small Farm Work , " and have done bo ever since I began . The people about here scoffed at mo at first , OR account of my following your farming system , but now they watch me like a oat watching a mouse , I have such splendid crops . . Beceive , then , my grateful thanks for the valuable information I have received from your production . I never was accustomed to agriculture before—the last business Ifollowcd was dispensing drugs . I would advise all who go on the Land to persevere and be determined , or they had better far never go . Had

      I bad the chance of having land from the Land Company , I should not have had the same difficulties to contend with that I have had . But neither the Purchase Department nor the Bonus was thought of when I bought here . If you should favour me with a visit I shall be glad , and would go to Manchester on purpose to accompany you to my farm , if you would condescend to drop a lino to that effect to me , stating what time I must go to meet you , and where—at the Moscley , or elsewhere . I am , dear Sir , yours respectfully , Richard James Radforb . Radford Farm , Sale Moor , Cheshire , July 9 th .

      TO FBABQU 8 o ' GONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . My Dbae O'Connor , — I hear from this day ' s Star , that you intend to give up the Land Flan , and your dear children , that have fought with you through good and evilreport and who love you with all their , heart . Now , if you do so—but no , you cannot ; who is to lead them on to liberty ? As for me , I have paid £ 6- 4 s . 8 d . the share of four acres , and if I lose it all you shall have no frown or reproach from me . But will you not try the sons pf

      Scotlandwhat they can do by bonus in the purchase of land ? You will find them hard-working men . If you were to hear then * lamentations at the loss of your services I am sure you would retract your promises . Go on , dear sir , and you will have the prayers of all the working-men of Scotland . Tell them to be sober , and lay up their pence , and you be their unpaid bailiff , is the kind . wish of an old Chartist , and will be so till life is no more , . and long may you be spared to help the needy , is the wish of . •<¦ -. John Cannon . 15 , Adelphi-street , Glasgow , July . 7 , 1849 .

      « ro rsAEaus-o ' coNNon , esq ., m . f . Honourbu Bib . —I am in the most sorrowful mood I ever experienced iu my life , by reading your letter in the Star , of this week , showing the discontent of those allottees that have taken possession of Bromsgrove Estate : ' but , sir , I hope you will not give up the glorious Land Pian , which is a means to an end—the only- means , whereby the working classes- may expect emancipation from slavery . I have been a working Chartist now nearly ten years . I ams also . a . payed-up shareholder in tiio Land Company , and Save the greatest confidence in you ,: for-had Ivien- thousand times ten thousand pounds you shouldt have it all for the purpose of

      carrying out your noble Land Plan . Go on , noble sir , thou- champion of liberty , and father of the poor , securing real freedom for the millions , and posterity willtjless your memory . —I know , sir , thou hast given thy-time , talent , ^ and money , and spent the best days of . your life- in . the advocacy of the cause of the-working classes of this country , and all for what ? i ^ the . scoffs and sneers of the wily , cunning / and-selfisb . But , sir , go on , a glorious future lies before you ; bright , shining , sparkling ia the distance , the . bright sun of liberty is now beaming through thVthiok cloud of misery to cheer and animate the world . —Dearest father , you may publish this with my name . ¦ ¦ '; Yours in the cause of freedom , Carlton , July 7 , 1849 . iSamuei . Hudson .

      - TO FBAHQUa O ' CONNOR ESQ ., M . P . Dear and Honoured Patriot , ¦— Permit me to address-yoa individually , for this reason—I have not , I donotj andjl hope , never shall grumble ; and'the reason why I so address , is because you , Sir , include us all , and I felt hurt , because I would not be thought ungrateful ; for I am sanguine ; lam averse to t hat * and all that I ever wanted was to be placed upon my own resources . This , honoured Sir ; you have already done , for which I hope never to repay you with ingratitude or slander . Permit

      me testate I found all as I expected , with the exception of the pumps . M y cottage has surpassed my expectation . With diligence and labour my labourfield will become a paradise , and your promises , as contained in the Northern Star , lay me under new obligations . Whatever you find in this paragraph that is not right you must attribute to ignorance and not to presumption ; and I hope , as this is the first letter I ever addressed to a gentleman of your order , you will receive it as a father , from yours , Elizabeth Dswrnnsr . Bromsgrove , July 9 th , 1849 .

      TO PKAB 8 U 8 O ' CONNOR , ESQ . M . P . Honoured Sffi , —There are a portion of the allottees on this estate who feel grieved and unhappy

      Ar00107

      ^ S v . at the conduct of the othei ^ portion of the allottees but who are bound in gratitude to state their satisfaction , and whose desire is to work out their eman-. cjpation . : Woh ' elievc those who have said most are myariftbly-themOst ^ fortmwto , with regard topecunmrymattersiand ^ hosLvthatliave said least , or nothing at all , are the -poorest members ; and we - further beg , tbjState buivheartfolt gratitude for your generpusiprpmisesV in the Korthern Sfar—namely ' ^ P ^ P ? ' -. ) ¥ ^' SJ ^ i } f ' - An ^ lu , ni P i and , " most of all . the length of time , given before you , exact the rent £ fBut /{ Si £ wp regard to the Company being woundup ,- ; we ; the allottees , are decided ly against ;; it ; because we know there are : hundreds

      , perhaps ; thousands , of . the poorer members , who , like ourselves , would ^ bo biit too happy to leave the labour market , ¦ arid who ; solely depoiid on you , sir , and this plan . Go on , brave arid honoured patriot , in spite of the " Whistler" and all your foe ' s , and you have many . But you have the majority of the toiling millions with you and depending on you ; - WO remain , yours l ' especifuliy , ow-behalf - ' of the Allottees ; - * - ; :- . " ¦¦ Nathaniel Dewhihst , • J . C . Benton ,-Hannah Ward , . - '* Ann Wood / i 3 '" WlIXIAU ACH , ¦ William WAtKEB , Jamks Johnson , Robbkt West , . John Monda , William Meadlycott , James Finmjy , Jons Woode . v , JOHN ' CAOiHlLV "JOHN'R" TOPP , John Bucknolb , Senr .

      To The Chartists Of The United Kingdom.

      TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM .

      THE LATE CHARTIST TRIALS MACNAMABA V . O ' COSNOB .

      Dearbbothersin The.Eiatrse Of Truth And ...

      DearBbOTHERSIN THE . eiAtrSE OF TRUTH and Justice io ALL , ~ We , Vthe undersigned , members of the late National Victim and Defence Committee , and witnesses on the late trial in the court of Queen ' s Bench , between Macflamaj'a , Plaintiff , and Feargus O'Connor Defendant ;^ in an action to recover £ 101 , ^ or defending-33 rnest Jones and others ofthe'Cliaftist ]| eM . ersj clo . hereby make an earnest appeal . fo ytiqr tovc'bf ^ stice and fairplay , hoping you will at once " ealfeh and all subscribe your mites , and send them without

      delay to the Star office , to pay ojf this bill and costs / given against Mr . O'Connor ,- but which really belongs to ' the Chartist people . Trusting you will at once respond to this call , and not suffer for one moment the stigma of ingratitude to Mr . O'Connor , or the desertion of your cause , to rest upon you , Dear Brothers , wo remain your , fellowworkers in the work of emancipating the white slaves from the fetters of Mammon , Robert Side , "William Axlnutt .

      Court Of Queen's Bench.—Mojjday. Macnama...

      COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH . —Mojjday . MACNAMABA Y . o ' cONNOB , M . P . . Mr . Sergeant Allen and Mr . Brauvwcu appeared for the plaintiff ; and Mr ,. Sergeant Shoe and Air . Prentice for the defendant . This was an action on an attorney ' s bill , the bill being that which was incurred in the defence of the Chartists on . their trials at the Central Criminal Court . The . plaintiff _ was an attorney . The defendant is Mr . Teargus O'CohifoiVone of WmemberS for the town of Nottingham , and proprietor of the ¦ Northern Star . The bfll had been originally £ 316 17 s . Cd ., but the plaintiff admitted that he had received payments to the amount of £ 215 , and he brought the present action to recover the

      remainder . The defendant pleaded that he was never indebted ; that the plaintiff had not delivered a signed bill according to the terms of the statute ; and , lastly , that the bill had been paid , It appeared In evidence that Ernest Jones , Fussell , and Others were in June , 1848 , committed to take their trials for seditious practices ; that on the 9 th or 10 th of that month the defendant visited them in Newgate , when he learned froin Mr . Cope , the governor , that several persons had called at the prison , proposing to act as attorneys for the prisoners . In the conversation that ensued , Mr . Cope asked who was to act as their attorney , when the defendant said that Mr . Macnamara was their " solicitor , " and no other , and that he was to conduct their defence . lie

      shortly afterwards said something of the same kind to the Rev . Mr . Davis , the ordinary , adding , when he alluded to the prisoners , that ' "he ( the defendant ) never left his children in the day of trouble , and that they should all be defended ! " Some letters - oi the defendant were also put in evidence , in ono of which , addressed to the plaintiff , . he aaid , "In future I request you . will transact-your professional business -n ith me . " In another he said , " Two counsel had been engaged for some [ of th « se defendants ] , which is altogether needless . In future you must consult me . " And , " 2 fo expenses must be incurred without consulting me ; " and , "I shall only be ' answerable for what I approve of ; " and in another , " You are young in the profession , this case , if well done , may be the making of you . I

      shall recognise no solicitor but you , and you must not engage counsel without my approval . " There was also an address by the defendant to the Chartists , published in the Northern Star , in which he said that a bill of £ 316 had been incurred in defending the prisoners , and in the course of which , urging his readers to subscribe , ho said , " Surely you will not allow all the expense to fall on myself , " and "' You ( the Chartists ) will take care that I shall not be the sufferer . " The defence was , that all that had been done was chargeable not against the defendant , but against the Chartist Defence Committee , which had been got up in the early part of June , for the purpose of providing for the defence of the Chartist prisoners , and which was to conduct its labouz'a with

      subscriptions received from the Chartist body . Several members of the committee were called , and they stated that they , as committee-men , had retained the plaintiff ; that the defendant had nothing to do with the matter till the 23 rd of June , when he and the plaintiff attended a meeting of the committee at Osborne ' s Hotel , in the Adelphi . The defendant , who wanted to know how matters stood , had occasioned the meeting to assemble , and it then appeared that there wore £ 40 or £ 50 in band , which sum was laid on the table . And the defendant was then asked to assume the management of the business , and , instead of the committee , to engage the counsel . At that time the defendant , while consenting to do what was thus requested , said that he

      should have prelerred employing Mr . liouerts , who was a man of experience in business , and had had the conducting of the Chartist trials on former occasions , instead of employing the present plaintiff , who was young and inexperienced ; but as the plaintiff had been retained , ho , of ooui'so , should not think of making any alteration in the matter . The defendant then added , that though undertaking the management , he would not be answerable for the expenses except so far as the funds collected would meet them , as there were a number of prisoners to be tried in the country , and the London prisoners should not be allowed to swallow up the whole of the subscriptions , —they would only be

      entitled to their proportion . Lord Desman , after stating the nature of the action and of the pleas on the record , said that the question was , whether Mi . O'Connor had conducted himself in such a manner as to make the plaintiff believe that he was really responsible , and to induce the plaintiff to do the work on the faith of his being so . If he had led the plaintiff to , , believe that , and the work had been done on the faith of that belief , then the defendant , was answerable , but he might remark , that should the plaintiff not succeed he would not be much of a loser , as in no bill of liko amount had he ever seen the money out of pocket form so disproportionate an item . A paper had been read , in which was an article of the

      defendant s , and certainly the expressions there used were strong . Among other things he said , " Yon ( the Chartists ) will take care that I shall not be the sufferer , " He could not be the sufferer if he was not responsible ; but then the question was , whether in another part of the transaction it did not appear that what the defendant did was done on behalf of the men who wore really responsible . In other words was the contract for actual employment made by the defendant , or by other persons , with the plaintiff ? The learned judge went through the evidence , and left this as the question to be decided by the jury . ¦ The jury retired to consider their verdict , and

      after being absent for three hours , returned with a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount claimed , £ 101 17 s . 6 d . The foreman said the jury had had great difficulty in coming to a verdict , on account of the plaintiff not having properly ascertained who was his employer . The Daily News , of Monday , in a paragraph relating to this trial , concludes as follows : —The presence of so considerable number of Chartists collected together in one spot in the centre of London created considerable sensation , and the authorities were consequently induced to adopt precautionary measures , by distributing in the vicinity a number of the'detective police .

      The Minebs Of The North.—The Miners Usua...

      The Minebs of the North . —The miners usual delegate meeting was held at Newcastle , on Saturday last , and was attended b y an increased number of delegated , and also by nearly one thousand members . Among the various resolutions agreed to , was one embodying an appeal to Mr . Vtylde , M . P ., to have the inspectors of mines practical men , which was signed by the whole of the delegates , and an intimation given that a petition numerously signed would follow . The appointing of the lecturers ' route , closed the proceedings . The next delegate meeting will be held at the sign of the Cock , ^ - > ycastle , on the 21 st inst ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 14, 1849, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_14071849/page/1/