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TO THE YOUIv ' Gr CHAETISTS
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You' Land lubbers; I see, as of yore , y...
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"UXKEff IS STRENGTH." TO THE WORKING CLA...
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- , : s AND NATIONAL TRAPES* JOURNAL.
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- :!§J^H°.627. LOSBOa, SATURDAY OCTOBER2...
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Me. KYDD AKD THE CHARTER ASSOCIATim. TO ...
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BIRMINGHAM FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY. TO FEA...
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THE CURRENCY QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR OF ...
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TO PEARGUS O'COSSOK , ESQ., M.r. My Dear...
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PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL REFORM. (Fro...
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MEETING AT STOCKPORT. Tho annual meeting...
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SOUTHAMPTON. A large and enthusiastic me...
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MANCHESTER. A "real meeting was held in ...
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Transcript
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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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To The Youiv ' Gr Chaetists
TO THE YOUIv Gr CHAETISTS
You' Land Lubbers; I See, As Of Yore , Y...
You' Land lubbers ; I see , as of yore , yon think that one man , or a few men , are to do your work . You talk like heroes , like patriots , and like demigods , but you rest on your oars -when there is a ri pple upon the-waters . I do not address this to the Old Guards , for they are sterling men , and only want the stufi ; but I address it to you who ought to give life , spunk , and vitality to the glorious cause of freedom you spend your day in the rattle box , and your iight in the gin palace or tbe beer-shop , while if you - » -erc men you would have less labour to perform , aud more healthy luxuries to par take of . s
I hare made many appeals to you to rouse iron your lethargy , but in vain . I now tell you that we have established a Committee in London as a basis of a new movement , and if fair and legitimate invitation cannot induce yoa to throw off your manacles and your shackles , we will establish such a system of disci plhie as will makeevery man do his duty—as that Committee has now decided upon a plan of organisation , by which Britons shall be no longer slaves , and which shall be published in next week ' s Sfar , and by which I and others will be relieved from that censure heaped upon us by the apathy of your order .
Now then , youngsters , " Awake , arise , or be for ever fallen ! " Freedom is within your grasp ; and if you lose it , it shall not be my fault I have aroused from that lethargy to which ' your apathy reduced me ; but , as I said at Aberdeen , so I say now ,
Away , thou babbling dreams , Feargas is himself again , " .... And resolved to die or conquer . Your faithful friend , And determined supporter of your cause , Fbargus O'Coxxob .
"Uxkeff Is Strength." To The Working Cla...
"UXKEff IS STRENGTH . " TO THE WORKING CLASSES . Mr FrjEXDS , " To be forewarned is to be forearmed , * and if you are not forearmed for that gigantic struggle which is now near at hand between active capital and dependent labour , it is not for want of forewarning . I have frequently told you that the Government of this country is much more influenced
by foreign than domestic policy , and , without Tanity , I may recall your attention to my se-Teral predictions respecting the result of the recent French Revolution . I told you , immediately after the election of the special constable Peesidext , that the Monarchists of France would cunningl y uphold his power until they were in a position to destroy the influence that created it , as their ultimate and darling object would be to restore the
monarchy . Oh ! how ferociously some of my Red Republican friends denounced me in the hour of their enthusiasm , for describing the difference between Republican ism as applicable to a country where monarchy never existed , as compared with its substitution for monarchy . In the one case Government is based upon the legitimate princip les of Republicanism—which , in its true acceptation , is the wisest , most just , and
paternal system , cheerfully supported by all , because protective of all ; while , in the other case , it supplants a system to which , from its iniustice and partiality , the rich , the favoured , and the powerful , are wedded ; and however their power may be subdued for a time , they watch their opportunity , take their advantage of popular disappointment , and are sure to reestablish the- ^ otten monarchy upon the basis of Republicanism , as defined and carried out bv those whom it invests with power .
* Now snetis precisely the present position of France , They have used the Special Const ible for the purpose of developing the description of Republicanism created m France ; the French people abhor the system , and the French Monarchists will use the disappointed people to re-establish monarchy . The Pbesidext meanwhile is catering , not for popular , but for military support . The populace are , thousands of them , naked , hunsry , and cheerless , while the Presides ! is expending their money upon luxuries for his soldiers . He Wets them , as I have recently of
told yon , every ni ^ ht a portion them , upon every theatre in Paris ; and he has recently furnished them with thirty thousand good beds , to increase their comfort at the expense of the poor . If you analyse the constitution of the present National Assembly , elected by Universal Suffice , and read flic ferocious speeches most enthusiastically cheered by the Monarchists if vou read an account of the trials of those now called " political offenders , " but who we formerl v denominated the " saviours of their countr v * , "—if you read the bornd tyranny to that dares
which any newspaper is subjected to criticise the most tyrannical ft of men in powcr-and when you understand the fact , that'tbe very circumstance which led to the dethronement of Lows Pdiu tpe , and the establishment of the Republic , was the suppression of one pnblic meeting-nay , a mere banquet-and that now no public meeting is allowed to exist , J" ^* S £ ^ fjS between MEN SEEKING POWER , AND SN EXERCISING POWER WTienyou reflect that the leading men m the National A « embly— Imean theracbonaiy Monarchists Z ™ one and all leading members of clubs ,
( and that no club is now allowed to exist , j you will be able to form some estimate of the libertr and p rivilege allowed to the working clSS , ^ ben they are sought to be enlisted as ciampions of freedom , and the amount of iibertv they achieve , when their bravery and clevbtion has gained the ascendancy for others . You must , however , always bear in mind fhat the present Assembly has not , in reality ,
been elected by unfettered Universal feutfrage—that the French were not so well prepared to exercise it as you would be ; and you anayrest assured that before another General Election takes place , the Constitution , as re-Sards the suffrage , will be altered—that is , I liean the attempt will be made ; while you will assuredly—and that erelong—see another revolution in France , and theresult of which , I trust , wiH be the establishment of such a re public as the combined force of the Monarchists , the Lamartihes , the Odillon Barrotsthe cunning caterers for patronage , and the destroyers of the Roman Republic—will be unable to destroy . .
„ , T \ bw , working men , I am perfectly aware that the complication of our system leads to the disunion of your order , and that the want of union of vonr order leads to the complication of the system ; and , therefore , I feel it to l ie ho difficult task so to organise and unite the labburin * mind of this country as to save it fSe misfortunes that tbe want of union » ££ ! of fSbTIS , * H -stitute nf Sland's latest difficulties , while one of iu S ; anas f dand wi constituteher
taucrnt to think slightingly of the Mpeop « , £ S , o assure you that Irish misery increases Sfshdistrek In Ireland there is no respect SUlisb . law , -because it ia admmistered W + bose whose power and patronage are based y serfdom , the servility , and the cred ty ™ aHan warfare m Ireland . The , . i v ™* . ™ the nayment of rack rents , S ^" a ^ and oU charges , are now £ 5 1 rescue L am * *™ *» *•* ° ™* SoVd as will secure for them a home m a
"Uxkeff Is Strength." To The Working Cla...
freer country : they have but the alternative of doing this or of d ying of starvation . The landlords , who have received all the produce , all the labour and industry of the Cultivatorwmie the cultivator has merely existed—are sympathised with by all , and an extraordinary nnhtary and police force , sustained by a tax upon your industry , is at their command . Let me now however , develope the effect of Irish hostility to English law .
The l abourers are the parties upon whom thefarmersrely for cutting and carrying off their crops to evade distress ; while those very labourers are themselves the greatest sufferers from the system—because , when the Land is deserted they become paupers ; but they do it from hatred to a system which oppresses them , although the act entails greater misery . I have more than once stated in the House of Commons and I now repeat it : " Show
me a rrant in broad-cloth , andI ^ wilf show you twenty in frieze . " There are not greater tyrants in the world than the Irish farmers are to Irish labourers . The bargain that an Irish farmer makes with a labourer is not for money wages , but for what they call " rights . " They get a hovel , the grass of so many sheep —upon a bare " night-park "—with all four legs tied together , and the privilege of drawing so much peat into their yard to make
manure for potatoes , and they never receive one farthing of money . Tbe farmer is bound to keep the house thatched , to keep the rain out ; but I have attended scores of trials upon summonses brought by the labourer to compel the farmer to perform his contract ; and although it has been proved that the rain has been coming through the roof upon the bed of the peasant during the depth of the winter , the landlord—who has been upon the bench , at the request of the tenant—has stated that the labourer is aWHITEBOY and REFRACTORY FELLOW , and the case has been dismissed with costs . i
Let me now show you how Ireland will , in truth , be England's greatest difficulty . The Protestant Members of Parliament who have sons , or fathers , or brothers in the Church , tbe Army , or the Navy , will resist any reduction in those establishments ; and will be joined by the English Protectionists ; while the Irish Repealers and Liberals—the greatest lickspittles that ever disgraced an assembly — ¦ will support the Government , not because then measures are just or sound , but to establish popularity upon opposition to the Church party .
Now , if France should be once more placed in an unsettled position , threatening danger to this - country ; and , if the Agrarian disturbances should continue in Ireland , any Government may be able to retain office and uphold taxation , upon the fears of those who would be otherwise their bitterest political opponents , and the people themselves will be the greatest sufferers from their own apathynay , treason .
I would not give you three straws for what may result from any agitation , if the people themselves did not take a prominent part upon the platform , and develope their own principles , without offering opposition to the present movement . The "week before last I showed the indispensable necessity of the leading Chartists taking part at all those meetings , ' and the result has been , that at Aberdeen , Stockport ,
and Southampton the practice has been observed . But see the result , as far as the publication of working-class sentiments is concerned . The Stockport meeting is given in five columns , each speaker belonging to tbe middle classes being reported at from a column to two columns length ; while James Leach and John Hameb , who , doubtless , made the speeches of the ni ght , are thus disposed of : —
"AFTER A FET 7 WORDS FROM MR . JOHN HAMER AND MR . LEACH , A TOTE OF TILOKS WAS GIVEN TO THE CHAIRMAN , ASB THE MEETING SEPARATED AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK . " Then , at Southampton , the speech of Mi " . J . Sauxders , a most intelligent and eloquent man , is thus disposed of : — " Mr . J . Saunders ( a working man , one of the Chartist leaders ) , who expressed on behalf of the working men , with whom lie was connected , their gratitude for the cordialitr that had been extended towards the working classes , and the manlv and noble manner in which the deputation had advocated their interests . On behalf of those working men lie tendered his hand to Sir Joshua Wahnsley . "
Now , what think you of such even-handed justice as this ? and let me once more ask you , if you will submit to the ocean flowing into the stream , instead of the stream flowing into the ocean ? It is my intention to attend the Brighton meeting on Monday next , and I trust that a working-class committee will be appointed to confer with the committee of the Reform Association—while I feel assured that no working man will offjr any resistance , or throw the slightest impediment in "the way of the present movement ; WHILE WE MUST , AND
WE WILL , MAINTAIN AND DEVELOPE OUR POWER . My friends , you are not aware of the coming convulsion . It is all rerj well for Free Traders , Political Economists , and Newspaper Scribblers to attempt to base agricultural prosperity upon the average prices of corn for a certain number of years , during protection , and to show that it is not at a lower standard now under Free Trade ; while the farmer will not measure prices by any average of past years , but by anticipation of future diminution : and as self-interest is the basis of human
action , although they were convinced to a man , that Free Trade would not ultimately injure them , "THE CRY" would spur them onto demand areduction of rent—would induce them to withhold capital , to reduce wa ^ es , and be poorer customers in the manufacturing market . However , you may rel y upon it , that the threatening state of France , the naturally discontented state of Rome—not to talk of Austria and Hungary—the revolutionised state of Ireland , the combustible state of our colonies , and the gloomy aspect of
the English farmer , will give rise to a cong lomeration of Ministerial difficulties , from the solution and adjustment of which your order , if united , will be able to extract its fair , and not its sham , share of justice . Andif you are not united-s-if the man who earns 15 s . a-week is satisfied and despises the co-operation of him earning but 10 s ., and if Ministerial tyranny is to be based upon your jealousies and want of union—my fervent prayer is , that you will get such a squeeze as will open your eyes to your own degradation , exclusively based upon your own subserviency and
disunion . Let me show you the manner in which English law is administered in Ireland , and then you will understand the cause of Irish re pugnance to that law . Read the Mowing , it is extracted from the "Times" of Thursday : — "We hare reeeired the particulars of a most melancholy event which took place on Wednesday last , at Knocka-K adjoining Coolcullen , and m the part of the county ofCarlow there adjoining this county . A poor-rate collector named 3 Jark Scanlan , from the Carlow Union , accSnied by atafllff named Patrick Lynch and other assistants , William Scanlan ( brother to the collector , and a resins-officer ) , James Patterson , Wuham Eadwill , ana __ fXeUl . went to the house of a farmer , named
"Uxkeff Is Strength." To The Working Cla...
John Comerford , for a poor-rate demand , amounting to «> los . Comerford hud not in the house more than £ 2 in cash , which he offered to the collector , and also two heifers as a pled ge for the balance , 33 s ., until the next day when hcwoulu sell some butter which he had , and then Le exhibited eight firkins . He would have offered than for sale before , but he was waiting for a rise in the market ; and then lie would pay his rent andpoor-rate together . Scanlan refused the ofter , and said he would fake two of the man ' s cows . Comerford and lus wife , and her sister , seemed disposed tp resist this ; and they went out to the farmyard 5 » " ??¦ 1 > eSBmS of toim to take the two heifers and the £ J , aud leave the cows . He still refused and proceeded to drive the animals out of the field . We learn that Comer-• ord then took up a fork for the purpose of preventinjr the cows from passing out of a gap , and some altercation fol- * lowed
; whereupon Scanlan induced Comerford to lay down the fork which he himself raised and held menacingly towards the other , and some scuffling ensued , during which the woman , who was in an advanced state of nveeuaucY , came up to her husband ' s help . He Mas knocked down and the fellow hither across the back , knocking her down also . Lynch next came up to the place to assist the collector , and , in the course of more wrangling , he struck the poor woman with an " alpeen " on the head , and she again fell ; and immediately her husband fell too . The cattle were then removed to old Leighlin pound . Hie woman was able to walk across * field towards her house , when she felt « Hrnaad soon expired , before her children and husband . He was not much injured . Scanlan atonce absconded , but Lynch lies in Carlow Gaol An inquest was held' upon the body of the deceased , and a verdict of " Wilful Murder " returned . "
• Now if the death of the most tyrannical landlord , or of the most cruel and brutal-bailiff , had resulted from the dispute , we should have had article upon article reprobating the brutal ferocity of the Irish people ; but here we have a mother of a family in the family-way , the mother of five children , brutally butchered by a poor-law collector , who refused to take £ 2 in cash , and two heifers in pledge for 35 s . —( which should be paid next day )—until he sold his butter , but which the butcher refused ; and the poor mother , in endeavouring to save the milch cows—in order that her little children might not be deprived of milk , was brutally assassinated by this savage , and you will not hear more than the mere legal quibbles about the matter .
iNow some of my readers may say that it is very easy to prophecy the result of measures after it is proved by experience , but I will give you two short extracts of speeches from mine , made in the House of Commons , upon the probable result of Free Trade as regards Ireland , and taken from the " Mirror of Parliament ; ' ' the one on the 21 st of February , 1834 , the other on tbe Gth of March , in the same year : — Feb . 21—Mr . Fbabgds O'Connor , —I ' shall be happy to give thenoble marquis my best assistance in suppsrting his motion . There is a distinction , which seems to have been overlooked , between agricultural distress in England and Ireland . . In England when you relieve the landlord , the tenant feels the relief ; but in Ireland , any relief to the landlord gives no relief to the tenant . I do not think any relief will he effectual for Ireland , until a measure of poor laws be introduced into that country .
Now the system of Poor Laws which I proposed that year , was a graduated scale of tax of five per cent , upon all landed property—the largest amount falling upon the absentee landlord , and to be distributed in agricultural and labour premiums . This would have produced nearly a million a year , and would not have left an unemployed man in the kingdom , and would be therefore opposed b y English members , who built upon the influx of Irish paupers to reduce English wages . Upon Mr . Huiffi ' s motion , upon the 6 fch of March , I stated the following as regards the effects of Free Trade upon Ireland , unaccompanied by " TIMELY AND PEUDENT
CONCESSIONS " : — They say , iftba first or best class of land return onl y a priceadequatffto repay the cost of cultivation aud the iisualnite ofWp ^ npon capital , after deducting the rent , the otherfourciasses of the land would bealtogether put out of the market . Confining this argument to England only , it is true ; but you have no controul over the cheap lands on the continent , which come in contact not only with the first class , but with the second , third , fourth , and fifth classes of land in England ; you make England , in fact , the standard market for the world . Is it not clear as the sun at noon-day , that when you take from us that protection
which was given to the agricultural interest of the empire , but more especially to Ireland when she lost her provision trade , and let in upon us the produce of foreign countries , not subject to those heavy charges to which we ourselves are liable , that you will leave us neither a wholesale or retail market ? The situation of Ireland is very little known . It is such as will not wait even the short time that is necessary for the maturity of all the good plans in store for it . The English landlord is naturally the guardian of his tenantry . If he found that by any measure his tenantry would be injured he would " take time by the forelock , " and make that reduction in his rent which the case required ; but the LANDLORD OF IRELAND WOULD LET
ALL THINGS GO TO CONFUSION BEFORE HE WOULD ABATE A SINGLE FARTHING . Now , working men , you shall judge for yourselves , whether or no my predictions of 183 i were correct , as regards Irish , landlords and present confusion , always bearing in mind that 1 am , and ever have been , a Free Trader , if the principle was carried out by such a representation of your order as would insure for you a fair share of the change ; but I am not a mongrel Free Trader , that would abolish a system nominally , while those who had the greatest interest in preserving it were still allowed to preserve a monopol y of legislative power , as the feudal lords do at the present moment .
You must understand what loyalty means . Loyalt y has a class definition ; it means the satisfaction of those who , by coercion , can suppress the dissatisfaction of others , and revel and luxuriate in their dependence . In 1818 , 1 told the gentlemen in the House of Commons , that if the salaries were taken from bishops and parsons to-day , their loyalty would follow to-morrow , and that if protection and pre-eminence were taken from the feudal lords , their loyalty would as speedil y dissolve . Well then , in conclusion , let me , for the one hundredth time , assure you that you have not , as yet , seen the commencement of Free
Trade ; for , observe , the tenants are calling out for areduction of rent , the landlords have to pay marriage settlements , mortgage debts , and personal liabilities , aud to keep up then " social position . Their land , in some instances , pays from Os . to 8 s . tithe , a "large amount of poor rates , which will annually increase , together with other charges , amounting lowly to 10 s . an acre , which the tenant will not consent to pay ; while , averaging the produce of an acre of English land at three quarters of wheat , the American can now send the same amount—namely , three quarters- ^ at a freight
of something under 5 s ., unencumbered by taxation ; and , if you recollect , when the newspapers luxuriated in the notion in 1842 , that foreign countries could not send their cattle to England , beaause freig hts were so hig h , I answered the absurdity by the old Free Trade maxim , " That supply was regulated by demand ; " and that when the rich " MAW " of the world was opened to the produce of the world , the supply required—or , rather , speculated in—would regulate freights , as every dock would soon show its competition . Wellj now the freight of corn from America has fallen to less than one-half of the amount
chargedtwoy ears ago , itwillpresentlybe lower ; and my prophecy is , that the feudal lords will attempt to drive the farmers and labourers into such an agitation , if not a revolution , as will , once more , place their order upon the Treasury Benches , and your order are ever the greatest sufferers from revolution ; therefore , despite the presumed insignificance of Chartism—despite the silence of the
Pressthe dread of the landlord—the hope of the farmer—and the co-operation of the agricultural labourer , I ask you , in the name of honour , honesty , justice , patriotism , and the CHARTER , to join the New Parliamentary Reform Association , heart and soul , as the only means of breaking down , and for evetj that feudal system which has so long held you as bonismen in fetters ; and if you do not , that feudal system will drive the people of this
"Uxkeff Is Strength." To The Working Cla...
country into a blood y revolution , as the enlightened mind of to-day will not submit to the dark oppression of bygone days . Your faithful Friend , Fearous O'Connor .
Ar00116
- , : S And National Trapes* Journal.
: AND NATIONAL TRAPES * JOURNAL .
- :!§J^H°.627. Losboa, Saturday October2...
- : !§ J ^ H ° . 627 . LOSBOa , SATURDAY OCTOBER 2 W ^ 2 ™"^
Me. Kydd Akd The Charter Associatim. To ...
Me . KYDD AKD THE CHARTER ASSOCIATim . TO III * EDITOR OP THE KOKTHEIW STAR . My Dear fem .-fhe monetary business of tbe Chartist Movement being now before your readers , 1 solicit fromyou-the libert y of making » fewstlte raents , in which I am personall y concerned . I was c ecteda member of the Chartist Executive , during the height of ^ e agitation of 1848 . All-the ' active members of our ^ body were subsequentl y incarceratad-Mr . O ' . Ccmnor and myself excepted . For some . time the ; whole responsibility of the . movement devolved upon myself ; and on tbe books of the society bomg > udited--previous to the Birmingham Land Conference of the same year—it was discovered-. vaiaf I had paid in all £ 10 more in expense ol the-assoczation than its income : and had
given from three , to four months' service gratuitously . And let it bo understood , that my duties wove arduous and hazardous . Acting on the advice of some of the leading democrats in London , I called a delegate meeting during the sitting of the Conference of the National Land Company—November 2 nd . 2 fo meeting could be more enthusiastic ; and all those present on that occasion will long remember it . A numerous Executive Council was chosen—the old plan of organisation was unanimously adopted—and the delegates present —without a dissenting voice—elected me General Secretary , at a salary of £ 2 per week . On my return to London , a meeting of the metropolitan members of the Executive Council was held forthwith—Messrs . Clark , Harney , M'Grath , Dixon , Stallwood , Ross , Grassby , and others were present . Subsequently cards , plans of organisation , and addresses were issued ; and . Iwith othersfondly
, , hoped that we should preserve the nucleus of a democratic movement that would one day be the powerful ally of right , and the determined opponent of wrong . With a view to the accomplishment ! ot such an object , I left London for six months , and have lectured in all the principal towns in England , and also in Glasgow , and some of the smaller towns in Scotland . My meetings have , in most cases , been well attended , but after deducting hall rent , expenses of bills , & c , the surplus has been trifling , and no regular organisation has been effected . A fortnight since I returned to London . A meeting of the Executive Council was held—the books of the socic-ty examined—and show a debt due to me of £ 60 , and a debt—I think—of £ 3 due for printing . It seems necessary to state , that the monies acknowledged in the Star as Executive Fund , have generally been the surplus of my lectures .
When elected on the Executive Council by the National Assembly , I warned the delegates not to vote ior me if they expected to gain the Charter hastily , or by using any other means than a peaceful propagation of their opinions . At Birmingham , I pressed on those who voted for me the desirability of electing ; another as secretary of the newlyformed body . They elected me unanimously , and to the best of my abilit y , I have discharged the duties of my office . I now resign : not that any great change has taken place in my opinions , but because I have not been supported in my endeavours to resuscitate the Chartist movement . I observe that some of the leaders of the Chartist body are co-operating with the lately formed Parliamentary Reform Association . I also hear that there will be another attempt made to get up a powerful Chartist
organisation , and Mr . O'Connor , m one of his receatfr published letters , assures us of his determination to make a tour of England for such a purpose . From my heart I wish these parties success . My opinions are too well known in England and Scotland , to require repetition in'this place ; and , while I live , I hope . my ^ jmpa { Mes . and energy will , be . found on the side . of the peogfe . I thank many of my friends in London , and throughout England , for their personal kindness and esteem , and express a hope that they will endeavour to collect a sum sufficient to discharge the debt due to the Printers ; as , for myself , I am this day a poorer man than I hare been for years , and , if blessed with good health , I doubt not but I will be able to make my way in society , and by dint of industry and economy , to discharge , at all times , my trifling liabilities .
I return to London on an early day next week , and will lecture in the Hall of Science , City-road , on Sunday , November the 4 th . I remain , dear Sir , as ever , Your obedient servant , Samuel Ktdd . Rotherham , near Sheffield , Oct . 22 nd . P . S . All the members of the Executive Council , present at our last meeting , agreed that it was not desirable to continue its name of an association , if not more efficiently supported . ' In which opinion-1 fully concurred . All parties desirous of writing to me must do so immediately , and address to National Land Office , 14-1 High Holborn , London . S . K .
Birmingham Freehold Land Society. To Fea...
BIRMINGHAM FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY . TO FEAKGUS O ' CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . Sib , —Some time ago , when you made a few observations upon the above society , you kindly published my letter in reply , this induces me to believe you will give the present epistle a place likewise , as I am decidedly unwilling any wrong impression should go abroad , unchecked and undenied , hence my appeal to you now . I lament , truly and sincerely lament , that you have , in your Star of this day , given currency to a report in reference to what you call rather contemptuously the " Cobden-Scholefield Freedom for the Million Scheme ; " and what is more than this , your seeming tone of exultation , because you fancy
the Revising Barrister will not "legalise the society , or what is the same thing , will not allow them their vote . " Supposing this were true , is it consistent with your principles to rejoice that men are forbidden to exercite the suffrage ? Can you harmonise your professions of an attachment to liberty with your crowing at the defeat of working men in the Revising Barrister ' s Court ? If an " extension of the suffrage" is really an object of your heart , do you rightly exhibit that feeling by glorifying in the technicalities of a Tory lawyer , and the triumphs of political exclusiveness ? To me , sir , there appears to be something between your actions , language , and professions , ' that does not exactly correspond , —most certainly they will
not dovetail , without considerable qualifications ! But what is-it . that seems to afford you so much delight , and from what source do you draw so much satisfaction ? Simply because you conceive that a body of hard-working , industrious men , who refuse longer to be made fools of in repeating the farce of " petition I . petition ! petition V who , instead of this , have resolved to "obtain ! obtain ! obtain !" You tell the country laughingly , that these determined self-sacrificing men are vanquished , and that the Freehold land Scheme of this town is a failure ; and believing , this , in anything but a honourable tone , you boast and politically clap your hands But permit me to say , you are altogether mistaken ; the Revising Barrister has " not refused to grant «
vote . ' Every man amongst us , oven according to the Revising Barrister ' s decision , will have a vote either jor the noROMH or the couNTr ! He has simply said , that " no land in the Borough , in the owner s oivn occupation , if the owner lives in the Borough , and a housekeeper , iviU give him a vote for the County , hut must in value be added to his rental of / lis house , and give him a Borough vote . " All our members who are not housekeepers , and all who Jived out of the Borough , were declared by the Barrister entitled to be placed upon the County registration sheets , and were bv him placed on ! All the others were declared by him to be legitimately entitled to be Borough voters , so that every man , it was legally decided , was fully entitled to " avote !" So much , therefore , for the statement that the judgment of the Court was in favour of the
"illegality of our society . It is true , I admit ,-nay , I do not admit , I assert , —it is true , that we would prefer ow members being " County voters " rather than " Borough voters , " and the "land being in their oivn occupation" deprives them of this privilege , Imt this is } ust as easily provided against ( if it be the law , ) as it is to say § o . I let my land for anything , or nothing , till I want to occupy it myself ; in other words , I permit another to " occupy " it till I require it . Then the Revising Barrister says , " the land beinj not in your ovm occupation , you are entitled to be upon the County list !" Is there anything here implying " illegality ?" Then again , . Mr . Editor , what have vo done to , merit your jealously , and I fear , spleen ? Are we enemies ton-ny cause that benefits our fellow working men ? Do I over say a word against any society whilst I am exalting ; my own ? Do I follow your example , and make invidious distinctiWS , --dwtino .
Birmingham Freehold Land Society. To Fea...
tion » founded on error , and erected by misrepresentation ? No , no , sir ; my heart swells , , and my SOUl 1 » enraptured , at anythinj that promotes their interests ' : and whether it be propagated by © 'Connor , Cobden , or Scholefield , so that it is propagated , " I rejoice , yea , and will rejoice !" See what we have done , aud I challenge even you , to show an equal instance of success , glosioas success 1 We have expended in this town , in two years , £ 19 , 000 in freehold land . We have given 42 S freeholds to our members ! In three weeks we-shall give just 400 morel We have placed nearly 200 working men on the register as County voters ; next year we shall place 300 more upon tbem ! Has anything you have assisted in , since ym commenced i your political career , done this much ? Nay , has
all the agitation this last eighteen years done this much ? I demand , in the name of my fellow members , — -in the name of the 1729 working men of Birmingham , who are now candidates- for "freeholds , "—that you cease to oppose us , if & ese statements be true , and I know they are . Iamno ^ nngry with you , —my temj ^ mont , I grant , is rather wafm ? "' 3 ^ , |^ ^ toMhatSiifSighaht wen I find you arrayed agaii & st our cause- , and by indirect insinuations endeavour to injure- us . Bo assured by a working man , who feels what he-writes , and writes what he feels , —that he in his heart and soul believes that , by a general ¦ cstablishratent of similar institutions , every one of the SRy-two County divisions may be " won" by his fellowworkers , and the domestic and social happiasss of each infinitely enhanced .
I will not say a word about your charging some ! agent of our plan with instigating men to sue you , on account of your Land Scheme ; what I know is this , —that it so happens that there are no smitties in those towns where you have been summoned . In conclusion , permit me to say , that I am devoted to everything that has a tendency to promote the grand object of my feeble labours , viz ., —the freedom , happiness , and contentment of my fellow labourers ; and I thank the Almighty Disposer of events , that those labours have not been altogether vain . I find fault with no man ' s plan , and oppose
no man s scheme . "What I say is this , you lahoar in your vineyard , and let me labour in mine , and by « ' the fruit shall it bo known " whose labours ave the most productive ! There is room for all , —work for all , —and if each attend to his own , and cease to wrangle with his co-labourer , depend upon it , a fey better and heavier harvest will be theresult . I wish every honest attempt , whether yours or mine , success ; and I hope we may both pull in the same team , mttaut kicking wev the traces , ami injuring our progress . To every attempt to benefit my fellow men , 1 shout , " God speed' /' I am , Mr . Editor , faithfully yours ,
James Taylor , Jun ., Secretary Temperance Hotel , Kewhall-street , Birmingham , October 13 th .
Sir , —I am not aware that any other journalist would give you free insertion for so long an advertisement , and so gross amisrepresentation of the proprietor . I neither exulted , crowed , nor clapped my hands at the unjust decision of the Barrister . I merel y stated that it was repudiated b y other papers , which exulted in the legal antagonism exhibited towards my plan ; hut as you state in the concluding part of your letter , that you
are of an excitable temperament , I can veil make allowance for the many mistakes you have committed , and beg to remind you that I more than once lauded your plan , by showing that , even limited as it must be , it would nevertheless confer great benefit upon the people , * and now wishing it every success , and that it may ultimately triumph over the legal perversions of the legal quibbler , I remain , Your obedient servant , fc-PEARGUS- O' C OUNOR . r > '
The Currency Question. To The Editor Of ...
THE CURRENCY QUESTION . TO THE EDITOR OF TUB NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —It appears to me that in order to arrive at a right understanding of this important subject , wo should begin at the beginning , and , I will therefore , with your permission , state briefly what I consider to be the true elementary principles of the subject . The use of money , I take to bo to measure ' the value , or rather , the prices of commodities . Labour is the standard of value , that is to say , it determines the value of commodities relatively one with the other ; but whether an article on which a certain quantity of labour has been bestowed shall sell for £ 5 or £ 10 , and another article on which double the
quantity of labour has been bestowed shall sell for £ 10 or £ 20 , is determined by the quantity of money in circulation—the quantity of money then , being the measure of prices , it is evidently essential that that quantity should bo incapable of being varied arbitrarily , and hence , the precious metals have , in all ages , and in all nations , been used as money , as their quantity cannot be arbitrarily varied ; and , moreover , metallic mon « y diffused itself over all countries Having intercourse with each other , m due proportion to the quantity of valuable commodities they possess , and thus equalises prices in those countries . For if any country , either from the discovery of new mines or otherwise , has more than its due proportion of money , then 2 > rices will rise in that country , and importations will take place till the equilibrium is restored ; and with respect to new mines , unless the quantity oi metal obtained be very large , as it will be quickly dispersed over all
countries , the effect on prices will be inconsiderable . We shall thus under a purely metallic currency , have no sudden or violent fluctuations in prices ; there will , indeed , be fluctuations occasioned by the greater or less plenty of commodities , as for instance , if the produce of the land be double this year what it was last , and the quantity of the circulating medium remains the same , then the farmer who aad five coombs of wheat per acre last year , which he sold for £ 1 per coomb , will this year have ten coombs , for which he will only got 10 s . per coomb ; but no harm will arise to the farmer from this , seeing that in both cases he will have the same amount of money , vix ., £ o for the produce of the acre , and it is evidently beneficial to the rest of the community . Having thus far , Mr . Editor , briefly stated my views on this subject , I will , for the present conclude , and beg to subscribe myself , Yours truly , Common Sense .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN . STAR . Sir , —I have delayed answering Mr . Culpan ' s letter in the expectation that cither he or some one else would give me something to answer , by entering into some explanation respecting the formation and working of theiv " National Bank , " the details of which I have . so frequently called for without effect . I am at a loss to conceive how Mr . Culpan can say , that I " manifest such a reserve on this subject . " I have stated my op inion—that all tamper-Ings with the currency of a country , by means of paper money , is productive of ovil , and lie _ agrees with mo . that paper money has proved an evil m all
the modes that it has been tried in thus Jar ; therefore if he has a plan for its establishment which will not only escape those evils , but be productive of good , is it not clearly his duty first ol all to give us every particular with reference to its manage ment , in order to enable us to examine them , and endeavour to find out those advantages ourselves ? Mr . Culpan labours under a great mistake in sayin " , " all the other institutions of the country arc foreign to this subject . " Has the present enormous taxation of our own country nothing to do with the subject of the currency ? Let us try . The average mice of wheat is now about forty shillings the
quarter , and the whole taxation of the country , including the expenses of collecting , is about sixty million pounds a y ear ; these taxes , then , will now take the value of thirty million quartens of wheat every year , with wheat at present prices . So t , wrapping it we possible to double the amount of the money in the country , its effect would be to double the nominal price of wheat and all etbet cenKftodities , and consequently , the taxes remaining the same , it would only require jijtecn million quarterns of wheat to pay them ; they would in fact be reduced one-half . Surely this- is an institution which has something to do with the
currency . Those who have an interest jn bank note making ave in the habit of speaking and writing a great deal of nonsense about the foreigner coming over to buy up our gold , and leaving us without a sovereign to bless ourselves with . Now , I am persuaded , the Bank note men see the folly of all such arguments , but it serves like the parrot-cry— " dependence upon foreigaen "—of the Protectionists , to throw
The Currency Question. To The Editor Of ...
dust in the eyos . of those who will not take tinio to Si ' v th "Mtfc ' fw themselves . I have already fi „ * 1 , - ! P nn lf he would part with a sovereign , either to the . foreigner , or to anybody else , without receiving something in exchange of greater value to him J And . the eases are precisely the same with nations as with individuals , in this respect . Let us try if wo cannot understand this "buyin < f up of the gold ; and as it is easier to understand such matters on a small scale than . on a lame one we will suppose the islands of Guernsey and ° Jcrsov existed as independent states , each containing afi hundred families , and having in each a circulating medium of gold and silver worth ten thousan pounds . It so happens that certain merchants or moneymongers in Guernsey are smitten with a desire to
" » uy up" the gold and silver of the Jersey folks . How do they proceed in order to effect their object ? . In the first place , they must offer them something in exchange which they want—and secondly , they must effb * tbe goods at sucb prices as will induco the Jersey peeple to g ive their gold , in order to become possessed of their goods , and , really , for myself , I can : see nothing wrong in . this . " Oh , " says Mr . Culpan-, . "Tiie gold and silver will bo made scarce by the- transaction , and i \ vx people will b & loft to the mercy of usurers . " Let us try this also , ( suppose the Guernsey merchants succeed in "
buying up a thousand pounds worth of coin from tlio Jersey people ,, this , of coorse , will be-added to the circulation of their oroi island ; a tlioifsand pounds ; would be taken- ivom one community and added to I the circulation of the other , making ' a difference : in the . quality , an * consequently in th ' e'vahto . of 'twenty per cent . Sbw ^ r . Culpan must'know that a > fourth part of this difference would'instantly cause the gold to ffiidib way ^ back again ,, a * 4 would give a proffo to the importer of "five- ner ' cent ., and the cqualibrhwn would be restored in * notime-.
. •• • ' ? MS ^ at > fajllt ( wj ^ iW , o ^ pJjiieians is ; T " h ' & t ' . thbr appear to lpoK for , an * expect , such changes-a » shalr make society perfect—as shall hanish alt povei'sy and crime , and : bring on a sort qf political ! millennium . Now I have no such expectations . I believe the moat that the wisest and best of legislators can do will not change- the nature of man , aud , therefore , thesteosg will , move or less ,, oppress the weak—tho cunning over-reach the unweaiy ; nor do I contend- , that a currency possessing intrinsic value would ' put a stop to the machinations of usurers-but I do- contend that the power of the money-mongers andi usurers , for mischief , would be-infinitel y less under a metallic currency ;
possessing intrinsic value ,, than under a paper system , to say nothing of allthe-other evils , which are inseparably connected witln sueh a currency , and which I shall point out at a proper opportunity . The quantity of wheat grown annually in the united kingdoms of England ,. Scotland , and Wales , is stated to bo fourteen millions of quarters , and the value of all the other agricultural produce is stated , on tbe same authority ,, to- he equal to tho wheat ; this would give twenty-eight million quartersofwhe . lt , which , at ftho present prices of forty shillings . - the quarter , would sell for fifty-six million pounds . Now tho taxes alone , if we add the expenses of collecting thorn , amounts to sixty million pounds jand if we add the poor rates ( which we have a perfect ri ght to doj . seeing that it is those taxes which cause the- user ratcs . l these
will givo eight million pounds more ; add to vhis the six million pounds which the parsons swallow , and we shall find that we are burthoned with a taxation of seventy . pour million pounds a year or eighteen million pounds more than the entire value of all the produce of the soil J 2 s ' ow , Mr . Culpan , do you not think there is cause enough here for all the distress and misery which we so frequently see amongst honest and industrious men ? I confess I lose all patience when I hear mea beating about for causes of this distress , and seemingly paying little or no attention to this monstrous robbery , lb is these taxes which givo the money-monger and usurer such immense power—just as ' a poor neighbourhood makes a rich pawnbroker ; and Le assured , whatever scheme you devise for bettering the condition of the people , if sucb scheme docs not include the entire destruction of the accursed taxing and funding system , it will end with disappointment . Huddersfield . Kichabd Urook .
To Peargus O'Cossok , Esq., M.R. My Dear...
TO PEARGUS O'COSSOK , ESQ ., M . r . My Dear Sir , —As an elector and member of the Norwich Reform Association , I cannot but express my bumble thanks for the splendid speech you gave us in St . Andrew ' s Hall , on the 3 rd inst . It did my vci-y soul good to hear you . I assure you , sir , I feel thankful that you have joined this glorious cause . If we can but get the working men of this country to join our movement we shall bo sure to carry oav cause . I really believe , sir , your attending all tho Reform meetings will have more effect than everything else in earning our cause . I have been a warm Chartist all my lite , and hope I shall continue so to tho-last .. hojors . of my life . Knowing well tho political feeling of my native city , I am sure that glorious mcetins we had in Norwich
has done more good to unite all parties together than any meeting ever held in my lifetime : lean assure you , sir , you have gained many friends bv it . I have heard that Lord John Russell will bring ' the Suffrage question forward the next session . I wish the little man may . I don ' t believe it : do you , sir ? Having borne influence \ vi £ li many working men , can you give mo some good advice to tell them ? I know several working men that think of joinina ; your land scheme , shall I advise them to c to so r I shall be most gl .-id to hear from you tho first opportunity . I remain , Your most obedient servant , Hknrv Lake . 1 , V ictoria-tcrraco , St . Faith ' s-Iane , Korwich , Oct . 10 th , ISiO .
Parliamentary And Financial Reform. (Fro...
PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL REFORM . ( From the Aberdeen Gazelle . ) Honour to tho working men of Aberdeen ! "With an eilljshtonmont and generosity that do credit alike to their heads and their hearts , they have given themselves honestly to the new movement for Parliamentary and Financial Reform . Without abandoning , in any degree , their just claims to an equal participation of political rights , on tho high ground of manhood suffrage , they were so deeply impressed with tho c .-iniostness—the good feeling of the speakers , and the practical character of the speeches delivered on Monday week , that they unanimously agreed to make common cause with tho Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association , and not to cease to co-operate with that body until / " « >• millions of the unenfranchised arc placed on the lleqislralion roll .
To ensure this co-operation , the Council of the Association will have to reconsider their programme of details . This , n-c doubt not , will be done , and we feel assured that , with the prospect now before them of realising a practical and permanent union between the middle and working classes , such modifications will be made at the Conference as will provide a basis broad enoush and deep enough to sustain a political constitution , in which the rights and interests of all classes will bo perfectly secured .
To tho deputation , the thanks of the friends of reform are eminently due . They acquitted themselves nobly , one and all , and even Mr . O'Connor , of whose presence not a few stood in dread , was found , on close inspection , to be neither a Goth nor a VandahJ , but , in feeling and in speech , acted like a patriot and a brother .
Meeting At Stockport. Tho Annual Meeting...
MEETING AT STOCKPORT . Tho annual meeting of . the Stockport Parliamentary Reform Association was held at the Lyceum , in that borough , on Friday evening . A soirh was given on the occasion , and besides the members of tho association , the meeting was graced by tbe presence of a great number of ladies . ^ A deputation was also announced to be present from the London Parliamentary and Financial Reform
Association , to consist of Sir Joshua "Walmcsley and Tindal Atkinson , Esq . ; but the former gentleman from some cause was not able to attend . Among the other principal guests besides Mr . Atkinson , were James Kershaw , Esq ., M . P ., ( one of the representatives of the borough ) , Sir Ralph Pendlcbury , John Williams , Esq ., M . P ., and Mr . Archibald Prentice , and Mr . W . Sbuttleworth , as a deputation from the Manchester Financial and Parliamentary Reform Association .
Speeches wore subsequently delivered by J KuRSiniw , M . P ., Ti . vdai , Atkinson , Esq ., Aucm bam Prentice , Esq ., and other speakers .
Southampton. A Large And Enthusiastic Me...
SOUTHAMPTON . A large and enthusiastic meeting of the inhabitants of Southampton was held at the Victoria Assembly Rooms , on Tuesday evening , to welcome a deputation from tho National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association . The largo room was crowded to overflow . The meeting was addressed by Sir J . Wnlmslcy , M . P ., G . Thompson , Esq ., M . P ., and R . M . Wilcox , Esq ., one of the members for tho borough ; in lengthy and eloquent speeches . ^ Mr . J . Saunders , ( a working man ) , delivered an admirable speech , in the course of which he tendered his band on behalf of the Chartist body to Sir J . Walmslcy , who cordially shook hands with tho speaker , amidst tho enthusiastic applause of the meeting .
Manchester. A "Real Meeting Was Held In ...
MANCHESTER . A "real meeting was held in the Free Trade Ha'll , on Thursday evening , which was addressed by Mr . Milner Gibson , Mr . bright , Mr . Taylor , and othci BCjitlemcn . The meeting lasted upwards ot foul ho uiis , and was attended by 5 , 000 persons .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 27, 1849, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_27101849/page/1/
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