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« TheM>js,a good time coming, boys." « W£enrogues " fill out; ' honest men come to their ¦ -_-.; - :-.:.^:^~^:: ,::own J' ;.-r \v--;..:;; -— :. - . -
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TO THE TORKING'eLASSES.; " My very ^s ^E...
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WINDING Up; OF THE LAND COMPANY. ; The B...
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the Manchester council to the chartists ...
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MR. ERNEST JONES, THE MANCHESTER COUNCIL...
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Ewnbuboh-.— The members held a meeeting ...
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THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ...
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Manchester.—On Sunday evening, Dec. 22nd...
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THE COLLIERS' MOVEMENT AND THE O'CONNOR ...
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The Great Britain.—This steam-ship has a...
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
« Them≫Js,A Good Time Coming, Boys." « W£Enrogues " Fill Out; ' Honest Men Come To Their ¦ -_-.; - :-.:.^:^~^:: ,::Own J' ;.-R \V--;..:;; -— :. - . -
« TheM > js , a good time coming , boys . " « W £ enrogues " fill out ; ' honest men come to their ¦ - _ -. ; - :-.:. ^ : ^~^ :: ,:: own J' ; .-r \ v-- ; ..: ;; - — :. - . -
To The Torking'elasses.; " My Very ^S ^E...
TO THE TORKING ' eLASSES . ; " My very ^ s ^ E ^^ ra ^ peatrto lw almost ridiculous for one manto devote his time , fais ; life ; ' ; jmd ^ his 7 . fdr ^ e ^; - to / - tihe-eIevationof a class , ' .. many of whom are following old Bnootfsmaorim—" The Lord love you , twe are all for ourselves in this world . " However , as I have , frequently told yon , lam as dogged as a mule , when , npon reflection , I see ^ y con > se hitfqre . me whicH is calculated to « levate _ ybnx order , and bring you back to the good old times of Kh ? g Alfred , when no lock was required npon a door , and no dog 4 o watch the house .
" My friends , I wish now to prepare you for .. the coming struggle ; and I wish to abolish the abominable system of idle land , idle la--J > our , idle money , and -starving , unwilling ' idlers . I before stated to you the effect that the present Papal controversy would have , * pon this country , in the ensuing Session ' of ^ ariiament 5 and * have also reminded you of ¦ the effect that the mind of the Irish emigrants . -would lave upon the American people . I have •* tated -to you the course which little John < tassEii , aided by the IrishCatholic people , . voold adopt in the ensuing Session ; and I "now give yon a report from Qxe Morning ¦
i-j- . T ™ Repeal Association , —The weekly meeting , <» f this association was held on Monday ; at Concilia-^ ipn Hall , Mr . 'jC . TRyan in the chair . Mr . John ^ Conn ell read .: a letter , enclosing £ 20 , from the pTHsh ' innaDitantB of Florence , Oneida county , State <» f NevrTork . -He then read a letter which he had ^ addressed to several Irish members of Parliament ] ; and which suggested " that the Catholic members -do meet jn Dublin one week before Parliament operis , ^ to " decideon ' tfee best meansof resisting-any « nd all attempts to re-enact penal laws against the Catholic religion and its ministers . " After address " ing the meeting at considerable length on the subject of the agitation ia England , the hon . gentleman -concluded by proposing the adoption of a petition to
-the House of Commons , which prays that " yonr honourable house , instead of consenting to outrage religious liberty and common sense , and to make a * etrogade step in civilisation by enacting penalties against bishops or priests , or against the doctrine or discipline of their Church , will rather proceed inwards in yonr honourable course of religious emancipation , by repealing all remnant of penal laws and disabilities , on account of creed . And that . you will be further pleased to establish thorough . religious equality in Ireland , by abolishing the church establishment in that country , and devoting : -the revenues to purposes of general and national -utility . " The petition was unanimously adopted , after which the rent for the week was announced : to be £ 20 14 s ., and the meeting separated .
- Now , when you read the above , you will 2 nd my two assertions , frequently repeated , verified : — Firstly , —That the Irish Catholics who have -emigrated to America naturall y hate and -detest the Protestant tyranny to which their -country has for centuries been -subjected , and -by which they were transported ; and , Secondly , —That the representative of the Iaberaigr , who had never appeared in the last Session , would , if possible , marshal and lead the Irish Catholic Members against the 'Government in the ensuing Session .
Ever since the Reform Bill , the Irish Mem"bers have been the tools and lickspittles of the -Government . Daniel O'CoifiSEix kept them together , and made every Member , except myself , obey his commands . He ruined Ireland—but I hope and trust that the Irish -people will now ruin and overthrow the vile and atrocious tyranny to which he subjected "them . My friends , I have no interest , and take no interest in any question , measure , nor movelent which is not calculated to serve your rder ; and you will see , by the report of the ^ jStepeal Association , which I have published , that I was perfectly correct in the conclusion I drew , as to the effect that that foolish
religious controversy which is now taking place would have npon the Catholic mind of Ireland . 'This is the struggle that I wish to prepare yon for j and however the Government may base its power npon the political apathy which the Great Exhibition of 1851 is likely to produce upon the public mind , they will find that it will not have the same effect upon Parliament . I have said enough upon this subject , and I will nowcall your attention to the clearest proof of yonr apathy . In last week ' s Northern Star there is an account published of the number of ^ persons who voted for members of the Committee of the National Charter Association ; and the number who voted , —that is , if each could only vote for one man—only amounted
to ELEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR ; whereas , if ea * ii could vote for nine members the number who voted would only amount to a little more
than ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED . Now , suppose that the largest number voted , it would not amount to onethird of the number of qualified electors of the West Riding of Yorkshire . Now , don ' t you think that this fact will convince the Government and your opponents that you are completely apathetic ? When the petition for the Charter of 1848 was signed by five million six
hundred thousand people , the Government referred it to a committee—a treacherous committee to count the signatures ; and that committee reported that the genuine signatures were a few under two millions ; but supposing thenumbertobetwo millions , what will the Government think of the present state of Chartism , when only THIRTEEN HUNDRED VOTERS vote for the election of a committee to conduct their affairs ?
It is my intention to be amongst the Man chester men , and to address them on Sunday nig ht next ; and I do hope and trust that your class will abandon their apathy , and attend more to Chartism than to the Exhibition . If you are united for -one month you could abolish tithes , poor rates , the army , and the national debt ; then every man would be a soldier—hut not a paid one—ready to risk his life or shed his blood in defence of his free country , his liberty , and his family ; yon would not have a pauper in the land , you would not have a criminal , and you would not have a drunkard , while bases
raider the present system , Government its financial strength npon your depravity and drunkenness . Thus I show yon that your union would do more than the Financial Reformers propose : it would reduce the taxes UPON YOURSELVES by over fifty millions a year , while their proposed reduction often millions a year would not confer one ferflung benefit npon you . I have told you before that -when the income tax was put on masters reduced the wages of their servants and their labourers , and manufacturers reduced the wages of operatives , and not only exonerated themselves from the tax , but made an enormous
profit by thereduction of wages . In the Morning Chronicle of Thursday you will find—that is , if you read it—a flaming attack upon Sir Geor ge Grey and the Government , for jsot prosecuting the brave and valiant men and women who attacked the bloody butcher Sjosau at Barclay and Perkins' brewery ; and you will also find correspondence between the Austrian and British Ministers , in which it is stated , that if Englishmen go to Austria they may be treated in the same way there as the monster
Haynatt was here . I do not give the Government ; anjr great credit for abstaining from prosecutmg the valiantmen and women who attacked the ruffian , as I base their non-interference npon the vigour that a prosecution would have roused in the English mind ; but to show you the justice of a daily paper , and the importance thatit attaches to fair play , the Ckronwle tells us , that the parties who attacked Haykatj
To The Torking'elasses.; " My Very ^S ^E...
might have been prosecuted . in his absence . Now , does not this prove to you that there is one law for the rich and another for the poor ? For suppose this ruffianHATNAU had assaulted a man in the street , and that a person who had seen the assault , but hot the person who was assaulted , had charged the ruffian in the absence of the assaulted man , then how could
the prosecution against Haynatj be carried on ? Again reminding yon of the present state of all parties , and imploring you to unite your minds and hare a Conference before Parliament meets , to be able to define your union to the Government in its present ticklish state , I" remain , Your Faithful and Uncompromising Friend , Feargus O'Connor .
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Winding Up; Of The Land Company. ; The B...
WINDING Up ; OF THE LAND COMPANY . ; The Bill for the winding-up of the Land Company is now prepared . I am to attend a consultation at half-past two o ' clock to-day , ( Thursday ) , npon the subject , and the Bill must be printed and placed in the Jumd ^ f ^ th ^ Clexk of . the House , according to the nsnar form , be f ore the 1 st of February ; and , therefore , I again state to the paid-up members , that if the amount required for winding-up the Company is not paid they will blame themselves , and not me . Feakgus O'Connok .
The Manchester Council To The Chartists ...
the Manchester council to the chartists of great britain . Fellow Countbtmek , —In the performance of the solemn duty of attempting to inaugurate a great movement of the democracy . of England , for the establishment of the political rights of the people , we again feel it our duty to address you . we are most solicitous to keep prominently before your eyes the vital importance of the forthcoming Conference , and to invoke every effort of your patriotism , to excite every aspiration of your souls to render that body , as we are sure " you can , an honour to yourselves , and a powerful auxiliary in the divine cause of human freedom .
We ask you , fellow countrymen , whether this work , in which we invite your co-operatiop , -is either an idle or an unnecessary one ? Let the present circumstances of Chartism answer the question . Every day brings forth an additional incentive to us to perfect the work which we have begun . Our humble , but sincere , efforts , are devoted to that glorious end , and , if it be not gained , no man shall be able to charge the failure to the indolence of the Manchester Council . In what a lamentable condition do we behold the result of years of labour and anxiety at the present moment . We see it , in sorrow , scattered before the whirlwind of that persecution which the folly and recklessness of professed friends mainly contributed to raise ; the
blighting influences of the apathy which supervened is manifest wherever the eye is turned . Oh ! what a humiliating fact , after all our toil and trouble , to find in our own newspapers of Saturday last that only 1 , 800 persons—men , women , and children—the aggregate of fifty-three public meetings , could be found to interest themselves in the once powerful and honoured cause of the People ' s Charter . This shows the existence of some canker-worm preying on the vitals of the movement , which must be sought out and destroyed ere health can be restored to it . Brother Chartists generally , but men of Yorkshire , Cheshire and Lancashire particularly , colabourers in the struggle for human redemption ,
we implore ycu to cast away every selfish consideration , to come forth at once from your inglorious seclusion , and strive to make the British liberty movement what it ought to be—the terror of the oppressor , the hope of the oppressed ,, and the admiration of the world . The materials for a mighty movement exist in profusion , the will alone to build them up is wanted . The necessity for doing this is engraved by the ruthless hand of Oligarchic power on that helot-badge with which the breasts of the millions are degraded . May that galling insignia of slavery be speedily trampled under the feet of an intelligent people" ! To all you who have ever had a scintilla of Chartism glowing in your bosoms we address ourselves . We conjure you by all that
is near and dear to you at once to place yourselves on the alert , to assume that dignified position which beseems the votaries of freedom to inaugurate a new movement of mind and power , which shall convince the upholders of corrupt , tyrannical , and vice engendering institutions . Fellow-countrymen , we propose , as the incipient step in this good work , that a Conference shall , as soon as possible , assemble in Manchester . Further on will be found a programme of such business as seems to us necessary to come under the deliberations of that body . It appears to us to embrace the chief topics connected with the great object we have in view , namely , the revival of a truthful , substantial , and powerful organisation to promote
the enactment of the People ' s Charter . Much has been done for the weal of Chartism , yet much remains still to be accomplished . We have seen it pass through many phases , we have seen it endure many shocks , as well from the fatuity of professing friends as open foes , but , notwithstanding , all the good eld principles must still live enthroned in the hearts of the mighty British people—aye , and is yet , we venture to predict , destined to invigorate every vein and artery of the body politic with the life gush of liberty and independence . We aim in calling a Conference , to give embodiment and form to those glowing impulses of the heart . These now constitute the patriot ' s hope , and in the future will be found to work out for him a glorious triumph .
In prosecuting the purpose which constitutes the subject of this address , we have , we believe , encountered all the opposition that could be arrayed against us . Efforts ha ve been made to nullify our proceedings , suspicion has been insinuated against our motives ; for this we were prepared , and are not therefore astonished . We think it somewhat relative to the point here to refer to our experience in the political world—some of the best years of our lives have been spent in its busy turmoil . The Chartist cause has had our warm devotion , our strenuous support , from the days of its initiation to the present time ; We have anxiously watched its progress , and noted its adversity and prosperity . The movement in which we are now engaged was
not embarked m capriciously or hastily , but after mature deliberation , and a thorough conviction alike of its necessity and propriety . We are , there , fore , resolved to abide the issue , regardless as to the vehemence with which denunciation may wag its tongue , or the industry with which calumny may point its shafts . Fellow countrymen , we see , with much p leasure , that several important localities have , within the last fortnight , resolved to aid in reviving Chartism from torpor , and raising it from degradation . We compliment them on their devotion . In it we xecognise a bright presage of the future , which awaits our united exertions . We submit to the friends of the Conference a programme of business . Discuss it seriously at your local meetings , and send your delegates folly instructed with your views thereon . It contains problems which must be solved ere the successful path can be pointed out to the wayfarers in the political wilderness . We must enwaste another ten of lrres
deavour not to years our in anxious solicitude and almost ceaseless efforts , without being able to point to some more beneficial and abiding results than a prostrate cause , political victims , public indebtedness for their defence , and misery of the direst kind to such of their fami-Km as become dependent upon public sympathy for iw snnoort which their natural protectors were Sud eTfrom rendering . Henceforth , wo must elevate the tone of our movement . We must ex-SnnrnnnciDles in all the attractiveness of their W ^ nffiKf tO the worid . Ouragitation sss ^ ta *« r * tx ^ r ^ r $ j * B ^ right and wrong , while it warms th e heart wi tha glowing enthusiasm for the liberation of the human race .
- . Propositions suggested for Debate in Conference . 1 st . —To consider what is the actual condition of Chartism at present in the United Kingdom . 2 nd . —To consider to what causes may we justly attribute the past failures in our movement . 3 rd . —To decide what ought , to he the present * Bd future policy of the Chartist party .
The Manchester Council To The Chartists ...
Shall we seek the Charter pure ahd simple , or shall we alloy it with social rights ' ? . -g . What means ought we to pursue as Chartists w ensure the accomplishment of the Peoplefs Charter ? and what policy Ought we to pursue in regard toother political reform movements ^ Shall we stand aloof from them altogether ? Shall we meet them with public hostility ? . ; Shall we give a cordial co-operation to all liberal associations having political reforms as their object ? •• .... ; 4 th . —To consider the best means of adopting cooperation in each locality , to free ourselves from the avaricious capitalist ! and thereby promote the interest of the mass . of the people , in creating capital for themselves . : 4 . :. The above are our . views , not to the exclusion' of any other matter . . ' I . . ] : >
Fellow countrymen , we have now placed before you the work which we think should be acoom > plished , and we wait with anxiety and hope to ^ se' 0 the result .. Our faith in our principles is' greaterour hope in your re-kindling devotion is strong . We appeal to the sires of England , who noyr ^ stjand on the shore of eternity ' s ocean , ere its silentjiiraves pass over them , to give to their country thebl & iBJBgfc of his last aspirations . We appeal to the Britten * joyingJlhe meridian of manhood , to bestowaif | ffoH indorsing ; out his beloved country ' s emanoi ^ ijppl Weappeal . to the ardent youth , whose vivid "Magination pictures a future radiant with happineWipo strengthen with' the freshness , pf tl ^ rjenergie ^ ifne cause of their fatherland ; - ;^ whclusion 7 we invoke the neighbouring towns' " of Manchester—the
glorious patriotism of whose people aforetime won the admiration of the world—those who have poured , periodically , their tributaries of patriots to Kersal Moor and Blackstone Edge , till they have swelled to myriads—once more to rally round the Charter , and make that noble theory of representation what it ought to be—the Faladium of British Liberty ! Signed by the Manchester Council , James Lkach , Danikl Donavan , William Foster , Henrt Nuitall , James Wainwrioht , Samuel Jones , James Moody ; John Sdtion , Chairman ; Joshua GuiiKBinaE , Financial Secretary ; James Alcock , Corresponding Secretary , 12 , Byrom-street , Upper Dukestreet , Hulme , Manchester ; where all correspondence must be addressed .
Mr. Ernest Jones, The Manchester Council...
MR . ERNEST JONES , THE MANCHESTER COUNCIL , AND THE CHARTER IN DANGER . Fellow-Cotoirtmbn , —We had fondly hoped that the controversy that has too long occupied the columns of the Star between Mr . Jones and the Manchester Council would , ere this , have been at an end ; that the personal abuse , the covered slander , and open falsehoods , that have previously emanated from that gentleman ' s pen , would have exhaustedhisstock of such unworthy missiles . Ourfond hopes , however , have been again disappointed . In the Star of the 21 st inst ., there -appears , from the pen of this gentleman , over two columns of worse , and more trashy matter , than any that has previously emanated from the same quarter—worse , because more malignant in its intent , and false in
its composition , and which compels us , however reluctantly , to notice and expose . Mr . Jones has discovered that there is more in the present dispute betwixt him and the Manchester Council than the mere question of where and when a Conference shall be held . The Manchester Council have , from the first , endeavoured to make this matter so plain that all who might read their address should understand it to be as Mr . Jones has said ; and if he had had as much of the lawyer ' s sagacity , as he has proved himself in his last epistle to have of their cunning and quibbling , he would have been under no difficulty in discovering that we were anxious that all should understand that which Mr . Jones has now discovered . Had the Manchester Council no higher
objects in view than that of calling a Conference , or going through . the mock form of electing an Executive under present circumstances , they would never have been heard of in this matter : if Mr . Jones has aided us in making that object more clear than we were able to do , we are obliged to him for his assistance . To us , it is a matter of very little importance where a Conference be held ;' providing it be not held in London , and teat it be held soon . As a Council , we have higher and more sacred duties to perform than to quibble about Conferences . We are anxious to do what we can in wresting the principles and the name of Chartism from the filth and mire into which it has been thrown by those who still vapour Tand bluster
about that which they know has no existence , but which , at times , serves as stock-in-trade for those whose over-weening vanity and self-conceit leads them to display their ambition to the world , and , despite themselves , let the truth ooze out , that all other objects , whether of national or local importance , sink into insignificance when contrasted with their own self-sufficient and silly conceit . Mr . Jones has further discovered that " in our address and resolutions there is treason against the principles of democracy , and the whole of our future movements . " Reason against democracy , as far as it has exhibited itself in the prostration of all that was good , valuable , and manly , in the devotees and martyrs to the sacred principles the
name implies , has long since done its worst ; and we are resolved to render , every obstacle to its hideous and desolating career for the future . We are charged with the intention of electing an executive , at what Mr . Jones pleases to call a party Conference , and the working men are warned to have nothing to do with a " hole and corner Executive . " We , too , caution the people not to he led into the follies and dangers of the past with any committee who may choose to dignify themselves with the name of Executive . Look at the miserable exhibition in the Star of Saturday last , under the head "Chartist Intelligence" —there the votes are recorded for the Executive of the National Charter Association . Out of a population of twenty
millions of people , not to mention the whole kingdom of Ireland , there are not three thousand men who have thought it worth their while to take any part in the farcical and humiliating proceedings ; all the high-sounding phrases about the working people , the minorities , and overwhelming majorities , are answered in the above three lines . Mr . Jones is floundering after a shadow , and exhausting his eloquence and perverting his logic in the foolish attempt to make thinking men believe it is a substance . To this end , there is nothing unfair and dishonourable in discussion he has not resorted to , even the misfortune of a friend , known to most of us , and whom all of us respect , has been disgracefully lugged in to serve
a disgraceful and unmanly purpose . But whilst we grieve over the misfortunes of that stern and honest friend to liberty , William Cuffay , we have a very different version of the cause that lead ' to his banishment than that which Mr . Jones has given . In our resolution we declare what we believe to he true : — " That to platform bravado and Jirivate cowardice might mainly be attributed the ailure and disgrace that has overwhelmed our cause ; " but not one of us ever thought of attributing to the firm and manly courage of Cuffay , the sins of commission and omission that we know belong to others . We are asked to name whom we know to be guilty of platform bravado and private cowardice ; weanswer—their name was legion . If we were asked to point eut those whose wild
and foolish harangues gave importance to such criminal folly , then , we should point out Mr . Jones as one of the most prominent of that mischievous and visionary hand ; who that does not remember the thrilling and patriotic strains wherein he announced to the electrified Gods in the Convention gallery that if government dared to touch an hair of his head , fifty thousand stalwart armed sons of freedom would march upon the metropolis from the hills of Yorkshire , to revenge the insult , and to retrieve the wrong done to their warlike representative . " Well , the government notwithstanding this fearful announcement , did touch a hair of his head , and no doubt London was shaken to its centre with the martial tread of his fifty thousand Yorkshire warriors . Ah , fellowcountrymen , the government knew as . well , or better than Mr . Jones did . how far the people were
prepared to obey the call of " ginger bread" generals , and mere " spouting'' bravadoes . They knew it from their spies , what such disgusting folly and falsehood had given employment to . Mr . Jones still persisted in this line of wild enthusiasm and trash , after peine repeatedly warned of the injury he was doing the cause , andhis miserable misrepresentions of the B parties he professed to represent . Joseph Barker and William Brook , both from the centre of Yorkshire declared in the Convention that Mr . Jones s statements were untrue ; that they had both come from the imaginary encampment of his imaginary arm y but had not been able either to- count its numbers or learn its destination . In fact , it was not the armies on the hills , but the wfw on the hills that Mr . Jones represented . It is to these , and the like proceedings , we attribute the misfortunes that have overtaken . wwae of tiuv truest and
Mr. Ernest Jones, The Manchester Council...
firmest friends ' : that democracy had . No doubt , when he talks so glibly of the people , of minorities , jand' overwhelming majorities , he has an eye -to the same ; rule by which -he found out P ? . ^ 'ength and breath of his Yorkshire invisibles i and , no . doubt , they will vanish as his visionary ariay did , when the rays of truth arid common sense dawned upon them . Mr . Jones ^ knows' the profitmdngers , and despises them /' We are not aware that in any part of our " address we said anything in defence of profitmongering . r * : " *™ been taught to know , from bitter experience , what the profitmongering class as a body are ; hut we can distinguish between the noble and manly , exer ^ ions / rfthe ; co-operating producers and the idle usurers his cunning seeks to alloy them with . He tells- us ,: " thepedestal of liberty never vet was the counter of . ;' grocer ; " had he added , * or the
portfolio . of ; a lawyer , he would : not have outraged truth much . One of his class' ought to he the last in the world ; to , provoke comparison betwixt the trades and professions of men . .. i'If commercial circumstances and professions change the nature , of men , then there is the least tb' be hoped , for from the lawyer-class of any in the world . The ' highwayman may . ; have some qualms of conscience when despoiling the victim he has overpowered '; * hot " so with . the lawyer , —he despoils professionally '{ . froni his & £ a , U } irjih talis grave , he is a compound , of chicanery , ; quibbJe 5 ^ Pseh 6 od , , and extortion ^ : and acting ^^ under ^ heiinflueno ^ ofihis edooatibh , he ? bb . s upon principle , and fattens * *!^ the" dissensions-aria miseries of his unfortunate victims . No doubt Mr . Jones would claim exemption froni this rule for some of his order ; we grant it , and claim the same for those he has made the object of his slander and abuse . ' "
"If Cobden , Bright ; . and Walmsley were behind the screen moving their puppets ' , they could not be more effectually served . " We have met some of these men in more stirring and trying times than the present , and should not shrink from doing so again , did circumstances call for our interference ; and ,. we would remind Mr . Jones , that we stood in opposition to the whole of the fallacious economists , when some that made loud professions of unswerving integrity to the cause of democracy shrunk from the contest at the very time the people had the ball at their feet . With regard to Sir Joshua Walmsley , we must confess that we have seen nothing in him as a man and a statesman that would not stand very favourable in the
contrast with anything we have ever seen or heard of Mr . Ernest Jones ; and , we shall prove to him , and those he would make dupes and fools of , that we shall neither be the puppets of Cobden , Bright , or Walmsley , nor yet of E . Jones , Esq ., Barrister , of the Middle Temple . We have , all of us , braved the dungeon ; some of us have been within its walls more than once , and , although earnestly pressed by professing friends , to compromise with the government , and slip through the prosecution , shorn of our political integrity , we resented the overture with indignation , feeling that the sacred cause of liberty and humanity demanded at our hands some token of manly firmness . That which we had taught from the platform we had defended in court :
and though our names were not adorned with the "Esq ., " nor had we received the education to qualify us for barristers of the Middle Temple , we disdained , when manhood was required , to crouch behind the wig and gown of a hired pleader . So much for our integrity of principle and firmness of purpose . "They talk of the stigma of Redism . " When and where did they talk of the stigma of Redism ? ' Come , now , sir , be honest ; and tell us if this is not hooked in to give you an opportunity of introducing your transparent use of the names of Garribaldi and Mazzini . How dare you , sir , couple the names of these men , whose high commanding talents and patriotic singleness of purpose , prove them to be the world's leaders , with the low ,
grovellmgi political insanity of which you have elected yourself the leader and champion ? We have a higher respect for these men , and a higher esteem for their noble and generous aims , than to use their aims for the mere purpose of demagogism . But we will not waste our time in going through the whole of the jargon with which you have managed to fill two columns of the newspaper ; your production , from beginning to end , is a tissue of false assumptions : you have been acting the play of the schoolboys , who , in the winter time , turn out to enact the theory of waifare ; they set up generals of snow , and then exert all their talents of military genius to knock off the heads of their own childish productions . This game you have been playing with us ; you knew it was easier to answer arguments that had no existence hut in your imagination , than meet , as you
ought to have done , the difficulties that beset the question of the people ' s rights . You tell us , ' * it is perfectly useless to talk about preparing the people for the coming struggle until we have established union . " True ; and is it not equally foolish to talk of establishing union until the people ' s minds are disabused of the prejudice and ignorance that past follies have warped round them ? We tell you , the people never were united , nor never will be , sufficiently to accomplish their politico ! and social emancipation , until they see something of a more encouragingnature than anything that has yet marked our advocacy of Chartism . We are , sir , without any regard for your members knocking at " 14 , Southampton-street , " or your half million of men waiting legally and constitutionally on Eennington Common , The Members of the Manchester Council .
THE O'CONNOR DEFENCE FUND . 70 THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Dear Sir , —I beg '¦ to inform you that , upon application to Mr . Price , of the National Land and Labour Bank , you will receive £ 10 towards the fund for defraying Mr . O'Connor ' s law expenses . I will briefly state to you the source from which the money has been sent . In the spring of 1848 , Mr . O'Connor attended a tea party in Preston , got up by the members of the National Land Company . The proceeds were intended to be devoted in assisting the balloted members in this locality to take possession of their allotments . The unexpected and unforeseen position in which the Company is now placed renders it impossible that the money can
ever be applied to the purpose for which it was originally intended . The committee who conducted the business have met to consider the most appropriate purpose to which the funds ought to be applied , and have decided that £ 10 of the same should be sent for the purpose of assisting Mr . O'Connor in meeting the enormous expense to which he has been put in defending his character . It would require a more able pen than mine to convey to you the feelings of indignation which animate our breasts at such conduct as that exhibited by men whose characters ought to he above suspicion , and who have not hesitated to make the sacred tribunal of our country the ground upon which to gratify their vindictive and malignant dispositions .
... We trust that Mr . O'Connor will be able to bear up against the apparently insupportable difficulties with which he is surrounded . If there be any honour or public , spirit left in the Chartist or Land movements , this is the appropriate tiAie for its development , in saving from ruin one who has sacrificed his time , talent and fortune , in defence of the rights of the industrious classes .. I remain , dear sir , yours truly , James Brown . 2 , Upper Lawson-street , Walker-street , Preston , £ Dec . 8 th , 1850 .
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Ewnbuboh-.— The Members Held A Meeeting ...
Ewnbuboh-. — The members held a meeeting on December 24 th , in Mr . Buchanan ' s Coffee-house , High-street , to assist in winding up the Land Company , and also to consider the O'Connor Defence Fund . Walter Pringle was called to the chair , and after stating to the meeting the cause which had kept them from meeting , and especially the long illness of Mr . James Cummings , their secretary , that something must be done or Edinburgh would be utterly disgraced . Mr . David Cherney moved , seconded by Mr . Clark : — " That a ? committee of nine be elected for the purpose of arranging the winding « n nf the Company , and other business
connected with the branch . " The following persons were elected : Archibald' Walker , George Brimner , John Pendelton , William Fuzzen , James Clark , George Willis , George Gall , David Chenney , treasurer ; Walter Pringle , secretary . Moved by Mr . Frazor . ' seconded by Mr . Willis ;— " That the scrutineer and secretary be deputed to Mr . Cummings , to get all books , papers and money belonging to the branch , and to report on Monday evening to the committee at the Land Company Hall , Netherrow , the 30 th of December . " It was then moved bvMr . Willis , seconded by Mr . Gowan :- " That the committee call upon each member to pay od ., or more , for the winding up of . the Company , and that the committee would wait at the Land Hall on Monday evening , to receive the levy . " Moved by Mr . R , Henderson , seconded by Mr . John Govran .-
Ewnbuboh-.— The Members Held A Meeeting ...
" That the committee he-entrusted to ufefjneans to get up apiiblic meeting , to raise funds , for ,, ' the defence of Mr Feargus O'Connor as speedily as possible . " Eight shillings was collected for the winding up of the Company . , . "
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The Executive Committee Of The National ...
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION , Held a special meeting on Thursday evening last , at their office , 14 ; Southampton-street ., Strand . Mr . John Milne in thechairj The whole of the committee were present . Mr . Reynolds' moved ; and Mr . Ernest Jones seconded : —»* That John ' Arnott be appointed secretary . " . It was then agreed-that Mr . Robert Le Blond be solicited to act as ' treasurer . It waa also agreed that the commit ^ , meet for business every Wednesday evening , at-seven ^' olock precisely ; that five form a quorum , jand ; that the names of those attending be duly published . The following address was read and discussed blauaeby clause , and after a long , animated , but friendly debate , was adopted by a majority of seven to two .
! . THE aiXECCTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE oMglfiNAL CHARTER * ASSOCIATION TO ^ iggEXPEOPLE . ; ., c £ ?! FBLLOWrCouNTByMBN i— Your suffrages have elected us to the important trust of Exeoutrge Com--ti ttee of the , National , Charter Assooiatisfi ^^ We icept the duties that election has . imposed upon us . / * '• -. \ ¦ ' ¦ - " .-. Of those duties we feel alike the importance-and the responsibility . You have called us to the helm of British Demo ; cracy , at a time when the most critical circumstances exist , both within the ranks of Chartism , and throughout the political world . A reaction has followed the feverish excitement of 1848 . The public mind , wrought into' enthusiasm
then by external wants , was suddenly checked , and thrown back upon itself . The inevitable result was , that disorganisation , apathy , and despondency , which always succeed all violent but ineffectual exertion . During two years , Chartism has been feebly recovering from the- blow ; but we wish ydS to observe the evidence of its increasing strength from the fact , that , whereas it took five years to recover its vigour after the events of ' 42 , it has already resumed activity and power sin . ee ' 48 . The period of prostration has been short—the reinvigoration more complete . The amount of members voting for the election of the present Executive is four times as large as that voting for the Executive elected in 1847 by a general poll .
In the ranks of our enemies we find division , both religious and political . In reference to both , we intend taking no part , but strengthening ourselves to encounter the victor , which ever he may be . When our opponents fight , it is our duty to abstain from the strite . It is nothing to us whether Papist or Royalist triumph in the Church—whether Whig or Tory triumph in the Senate . In the ranks of the middle class certain reforms are being propounded . They do not satisfy us . We intend keeping our policy distinct from theirs , and going onward without heeding them . They cannot exist without Financial Reform—the people without political power ; we well know the day of bargaining for our support must come : —our price
is the Charter . We feel convinced the way of obtaining that price is not by compromise or present alliance—but by becoming strong enough to dictate the terms . There is but one means—organisation . In our own ranks a small amount of disunion exists . It is only local , and is beginning to disappear . It shall be our study to eradicate its seeds by holding the hand of brotherhood to all who honestly advocate our principles . We recognise no private or personal hostilities—we tolerate no individual ambitions—we obey no authority but that of the democracy we have been called to represent . In accordance with the desire so generally expressed , we have resolved on summoning a Convention , to meet in London , oil Monday , the ' 3 rd of March ensuing .
The Convention will consist of forty-nine delegates , and we shall submit to you , next week , a list of places required to send representatives . We shall shortly submit to you a programme of the business we purpose bringing before the Convention , as far as it is independent of intermediate events . It is proposed that two members of our committee proceed on a tour through the principal towns , and all localities prepared to make arrangements for their reception are requested to inform us without loss of time . Fellow countrymen ! In carrying on the movement for the Charter , we intend keeping our organisation inviolate and distinct . We believe that the guarantee of success lies in the simplicity of our machinery , and the oneness of our purpose . At the same time we believe that the connecting link between the Charter and the public heart has too
often been untouched : —that link is self-interest . Once show the people that the Charter will do them good , once show them that it is their interest to be Chartists , and they will be Chartists to a man . We , therefore ^ hold that the people must be instructed in their social rights , and they must know that their leaders are instructed in them , too , before they will have confidence in the leadership , or take interest in the struggle . We desire to rally all social reformers in one phalanx , and we desire to do so , not by breaking up , altering , or weakening our association , but of showing them that we , too , are social reformer ? , like themselves , but that we understand the only way of obtaining social reforms and political power is through Chartist organisation . - We shall carefully abstain from appealing to the passions of the people—for we intend to keep the movement as far as in us lies , alike distinct from violence and vacillation .
Special attention is needed for the agricultural counties and the West of England , —too long neglected by our advocates ; and we hope , by sending our missionaries to unite the democracy of Ireland with our own . Brother Chartists ! In entering on our office , we make you no promises . We mean to work , and to work hard . To enable us to do so , you must support us . Our own services , ( excepting the secretary , ) are rendered gratuitously , but we need funds to carry on the movement . Now is the critical time . If you let it pass by unemployed , for want of money , do not wonder , should you fail , and be trodden under foot in the coming shock of parties . We would suggest that all localities hold public meetings in furtherance of the funds , at which to adopt an address to the inhabitants , and to appoint collectors . Let them issue collecting books , and forward the subscriptions weekly to the treasurer of the association
. - » We need not tell you , it would be a mockery to place us here , and leave us without the means of action . We have found your exchequer wholly destitute ; till you replenish it , we can do nothing . Recollect—we make you no promises—we do not tell you when the Charter will be carried—we do not tell you of any wonderful progress to be made this year—we certainly believe progress , and that great , may be made , but the solution depends on the support we meet from you . He will do our duty , you do yours . William Davies , James Grassby , G . Julian HARNEV , G . J . HOLYOAKE , ERNEST JONES , John Milne , Feargus O'Connor , G . W . M . Reynolps . John Arnott , general secretary . 14 . Southampton-street , Strand , Deo . 20 th .
Manchester.—On Sunday Evening, Dec. 22nd...
Manchester . —On Sunday evening , Dec . 22 nd , Mr . James Williams , of Stockport , lectured in the People's Institute . His address gave general satisfaction , and a vote of thanks was given to the lecturer . —On Monday evening the council assembled in the large ante-room of the People ' s Institute , and , after transacting the weekly local business , an address , and also a reply to Ernest Jones ' s letter in last Saturday ' s Star , were adopted . Carlisle . —A meeting was held on Sunday evening last , at No . 6 , John-street , Caldewgate , at which it was agreed to open a subscription for the Honesty Fund , and the following persons were appointed to receive subscriptions : —Wm . Coulthard , grocer , Caldewgate ; James Heaton , printer , Cummersdale : Thomas Roney , weaver , Botchergate ; James
Montgomery , Kingstown ; James Murray , shoemaker , Rickergate ; Nathaniel Parr , Duke-street ; Seth Huntington , Queen-street ; John Hudson , Caldewgate ; Alexander Mulholland , Parhambeck , and John Gilbertsou , Bridge-street . Several persons enrolled their names to beeome regular subscribers , and agreed to meet every Sunday evening , at half-past five o ' clock . Bermonpsey . —At the weekly meeting of members the following resolution was adopted : —" That the members of this locality independently deny the assertion made by Mr . M'Grath that the Bermondsey branch of the National Charter Association does not consist of a dozen members , as , by referring to the . Secretary s books it can be proved that between seventy and eighty members , are enrolled , of which . nearly Sfty are paid up . " A subscription was also
Manchester.—On Sunday Evening, Dec. 22nd...
opened , for the Honesty Fund , Vernon Fund , and Winding up of"the Land Company . -- ] ' -----The Edinburgh Western Locality met in Mr . Burk ' ett ' s Reading-room , 108 , Westport , when the propriety of joining the " National Charter and Social Union was , takeh'into consideivition . It . was moved by Mr ; B ' urkeTf ? seconded by Mr . Walker : — " That we "dp" not countenance the ' National Charter and . oooial Union as contained in the programme of the London Conference . " An amendment was proposed :-p" That we do join the said union . " And after a long and able discussion , the original-mc « tion was lost . .- . . •¦
: Bridoewater . —A locality has just been formed in this towii , and on the 25 th of Decemb ' er . ' Ts ., 7 d . ' was voted to the O'Connor Defence Fund . " ' Mr . Charles Poole was elected Secretary , and Thomas Hill ; Treasurer . -Resolutions were carried thai ; each member pay a penny per week subscription * and an additional halfpenny for the formation of a library and reading room . An order , of one dozen copies of Mr . E . Jones'lecture was given , and tha money will be sent as soon as , the cost of the same is ascertained . ' The following ore the subscribers ; —Messrs . C . Poole , 6 d ; T . Spurnway , 0 d ; , j . Ashton , 6 d ; C . Collins , Cd ; T . Atkins , 6 d ; Faikrel , 6 d ; G . Cross , 6 d ; T . Hill , 6 d ; J . Dudderidge , 6 d ; J . Staples , 6 d ; Hill , 4 d ; G . Fry , 3 d ; S ; Fry , 2 d ; W . Warren , 3 d ; Fooks , 3 d ; G . Prichard , 4 d ; 17 Hardin , 6 d ; Mary Grant , 6 d .
The Colliers' Movement And The O'Connor ...
THE COLLIERS' MOVEMENT AND THE O'CONNOR DEFENCE FUND . ; : TO THE EDITOR , OF THE NORTHERN STAR . .. ' Sib , —It is gratifying to learn the progress being made by the miners of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in . the organisation of their union , several lodges having been opened since the Miners' Con ' ference was held in September last . From a letter now before us the worthy secretary , Mr . . .. Goulder seems to have but one complaint , viz . —that the ? harvest is ready , but the labourers are too few . . It would appear that competition has , ' by its long continued and uninterrupted sway , done good service in practically demonstrating to the great body of miners , that when unprotected by union their
labour is increased ; and their . pay diminished , until theX | Jsi . ' a .: siirplus ; of hands , an ^ thejmasters enr out ^ s ^ WorMor less wages , ' or leave ifrflltogether / 1 ' There is now , in that district , eleven lodges , and but one lecturer or agent , who cannot possibly at » tend to them properly , and open now ones at the same time ; indeed , there is work for three more agents there , and they appeal to the miners of Northumberland and Durham to send them an agent or two , that the wanderers may be gathered in , and the full fruits of the harvest secured . Sir , it is with equal satisfaction that we record the progress made in Northumberland and Durham ; each week the agents announce the enrolment of members and the bringing of the "loa & sheep" again to the fold . There are six agents
employed in this district , and the advantages of the union being kept up will be apparent when the facfc is stated , that the average amount of extra wages , realised solely by those collieries who have supported the union , is about five shillings per fortnight each man , whilst the cost has not been more than sixpence per fortnight per man , thus leaving four shillings and sixpence in every man ' s pocket each fortnight . Thus , supposing 10 , 000 miners enrolled , the outlay to support the union would be £ 250 , whilst they would be advantaged to the tune of £ 2 , 250 . Surely , commercially considered , to join the union is even preferable to going to California , and surpasses any speculation oft lie day , in its immediate and certain benefits . Yet , strange to state , there are thousands of miners who dare not
join the noble band , who at present devote their time and their money to the support of so good and so just a cause . But the advantage above alluded to is what the union has done in the shape of an actual advance of wages ; and when it is considered that the masters roused the men up to thus unite together , by proposing a reduction of prices , amounting , on the average , to sixpence per man a day , or about five shillings per fortnight ; then we are bound to give the union credit for saving this reduction , and turning the scale exactly the other way , and making the real advantages to the workmen double the amount stated , or £ 4 , 500 per fortnight , and allowing twelve months' work in the year , the amount will nearly reach the astonishing sum of £ 120 , 000 per annum .
Sir , however desirable it may be to place the question thus clearly before the great body of miners , and appeal , as it were , to their cupidity , ia order to induce them to make common cause with their brother miners , throughout the whole of tha mining districts , yet this is not the only ground on which the utility of union rests . No , happily wa have ample experience of the great advantages secured to them in other points of view . When the union exists , however weak and circumscribed ifc may be , even when confined to a single colliery , will you find the workmen attempting to improve themselves intellectually and morally—there you will see those able to read and write amongst them gratuitously instructing their fellowmen who maybe without such acquirements ; and another advantage is likewise secured , viz . —that the march of knowledge thus going on provides a goodly number of patriotic individuals to perpetuate and keep alive that organisation which enables them to reap such desirable results .
Sir , it is now nearly two years since the men of Seaton Deleval resuscitated the union by resisting the attempted reduction then being made on their wages . For two years have the miners here been enabled to resist successfully ( or with hut few exceptions ) all attempts to reduce their prices ; and many of the colliers that have enjoyed the advantages thus obtained have never paid anything towards supporting the union , thus selfishly partaking of the benefits arising from the same , but which had entirely arose from the labours and endeavours of a portion only of the workmen . But it may perhaps not be amiss to warn those who have thus acted , that before long they will have the cry of reduction again sounding in their ears , and that of no slight character ; and as they have had no
foundation for sympathy or help for their brother miners , they cannot expect to be supported , if they should feel themselves necessitated to stand out against such reductions . Then , now is the time to make up for past apathy . Let all who have not taken a part in this cause set about it at once ; there is no time for delay , for the employers are sure to mark out the weak spots of the citadel , and , by taking advantage of their state of unpreparedness , will necessarily secure an easy victory . Sir , the mining body in this country are , perhaps the worst paid class of all labourers , yet they have ample experience that without union amongst them , their prices will have a tendency downward , and their few remaining comforts are gradually slipping away from them ; but
irrespective of their present diminished pay , it is but right to remind them , that they have duties to perform which , if left undone , draw them very closely within the charge of ingratitude ; and it is also right to hold up to them what is meant by the above allusion . Sir , unions make but slow progress without the aid of the public press ; and it is needless to say that the Northern Star has done its duty towards the working classes generally , and the miners in particular , by allowing them free scope to detail their grievances to the world ; whilst the other newspapers , with an exception , or twonamely , Reynolds ' s Weekly Newspaper , Ac ., —not only refuse to aid them in the cause of progress , but very often pen articles to stultify any efforts others may be making to emancipate themselves . Such then being the case , I apprehend that it is of the greatest utility to secure the permanency of a
paper which is " a friend in need , and which his done such good service in the working men's cause . Hence I would appeal to the working classes generally , and to the miners of the North in particular , to set about a penny subscription to meet the liabilities of Mr . O'Connor , and thus afford , by their mites , the means to extricate that gentleman from the difficulties which have been entailed in defending his character , against the slanders and calumny propagated by . parties who are hostile to > the welfare of the people , and who expect , by crushing him , to submerge the principle of progress amongst the working classes . It is gratifying to see the example set by the committee of the National Trades , 4 c , in last week ' s Star ; and it is to be hoped , that that example in spirit will be followed out by the great body of unionists throughout the country .
Trusting that all who have read in the columns of the Star , from time to time , the able articles published and set forth by the secretary of that body—William Peel—will see that the manifold advantages of having a paper which affords such ample space , weekly , to the cause of progress , must not be suffered to go down , nor its worthy proprietor be allowed to be ruined—as no doubt it is intended—with expenses . —I am , Sir , yours , < fcc , Dec . 24 . M . Judk .
The Great Britain.—This Steam-Ship Has A...
The Great Britain . —This steam-ship has at length been sold by the directors of the Great Western Steam-ship Company , to Mr . Patterson the eminent ship builder of Bristol , for the sum of £ 18 , 000 , being about the seventh part of her original cost . Mr . Patterson is now building in the dock in which the Great Britain was built a steamship for the Royal West India Mail packet Company , and she will be six feet longer that the Great Britain . „ _ ,. , „ , The RoTAt Lbbabt . —Messrs . Walter and Gough , manufacturers of the patent Kamptuhcon ( which is acombination of caoutchouc and cork ) , have received intsructions to supply a quantity of this composition for the Royal Library , Windsor Castle . A Shopkeeper , in recommending a-piece of goods to a lady , remarked , " Madam , it will wear for ever and make you a petticoat afterwards . " . ¦
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 28, 1850, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_28121850/page/1/
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