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TO IHE OLD GUABDS .
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" To your tents, oh Chartists « ." Old P...
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Untitled
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AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL.
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JOUm. |o . 606. LOUDON, SATURDAY, APRIL ...
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THOMAS CLARK AS CANDIDATE FOR SHEFFIELD....
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Pbobabiliit of a General ElectionI—Calcu...
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4£Jhirn0t$ntdltgntre
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National Registration and Eiectio.v Comm...
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TO THE ELECTORS AND NONELECTORS OF THE B...
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Mr. BLIGH AND THE GREENWICH CHARTISTS. T...
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TO THE CIIAItTISTS OP THE WEST RIDING. I...
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MR. THOMASON. TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE NORT...
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR. Sir,...
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ADVANTAGES OP HOME COLONISATION. LOWBAND...
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THE LATE FESTIVAL AT CHARTERVILLE. XO TH...
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LATEST NEWS. EXECUTION OF SARAlTlIAllllI...
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1 V 1 \ \
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begaifc to,.< t oinmandei? m- . enter P«...
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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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
To Ihe Old Guabds .
TO IHE OLD GUABDS .
" To Your Tents, Oh Chartists « ." Old P...
" To your tents , oh Chartists _« . " Old _PBnafDS am > Comrades , The hour is come when , the industrious classes of-ithis country must indisputabl y and unequivocally express their wants , and _develops their resolution . Last year the Whig Government held office * a _£ o * _o no better tenure than the apprehension of a revolution , _Strengthened—aay concocted—b y g overnment Officials , for ihe express purpose of alarming the upper and middle classes . That , however , is a dod ge which may secure the co-operation oithemost violent opponents once , and through fear ; but it has lost its charm , and we are now upon the eve of a great and mighty change .
The Landlords in the House of Commons , and out ofthe House of Commons , are mad enough to talk of the restoration of Protection ; while the Free Trade party attempt to tickle popular feeling - with a demand for a reduction of taxation , ofwhichlwas a most strenuous advocate , aa Hooked npon it as the means of destroying aristocratic power hy the destruction of patronage ; and , therefore , I asked you not to resist the movement . But the proposition has heen submitted to Parliament not as a demand to reduce taxation distinctly , and at once , hy ten millions a year , hut as a proposition which the Government will take into its consideration , and pledge itself to , when feasible and practicable .
It was my opinion—and I presume it was your opinion—that this proposition for a reduction of taxation was to have been " Yes , " or " Jfo ; " however , it merged into the more moderate appeal to Whig sagacity , based upon governmental convenience . Well , that has passed away , and Mr . Cob-PBK , the author—or , at all events , the adopter Of the proposition , has since paid a visit to Bis constituents at Leeds , where , no doubt , pricked by the smallness of the minorit y that supported him , he has come out for a large extension ofthe Sum-age . Now , for myself , I confess that I never can understand the construction that the several
parties professing liberal principles attach to the extension of the Suffrage . Mr . Cobden does not define his extension ; while Mr RoEBuck , the Candidate for Sheffield , and formerl y a whole-hog-Chartist , would define it by its extreme limitation , so that you -will at once nnderstand that as long as the House of Commons is constituted of members professing liberal principles , but making profit of limited representation—the most liberalconstituencies _, consisting ofthe middle classes , will endeavour so to entangle , encumber , and trammel this question of tiie Suffrage , as merely to enlist the
pressure of non-electoral power in aid of the half-and-half candidate of their choice , and ihey do this for the purpose of persuading the opposing classes in the House of Commons that you , the Chartists , are with them ; and thus it is that our weakness has been unfairly presumed . _Weharealways been looked upon as the mere reserve forceof middleclassliberalism , and the reason why I address you at this very try ing and critical juncture is to ask you , for the onehundredthtime , TO STAND ALONE ,
marshalled under your own banner , advocating your own principles . And , my friends , I think I have placed both you , and myself and our cause , in a better and more honourable position , by not resisting the plausible pretext of those who might have used our opposition as a justification for abandoning then * own project . We have now , however , seen the extent to -which they propose to carry it ; we hare seen that they were not in earnest , and for these reasons I ask you no longer to rely npon their professions .
Mark me , and mark me well , when I assure you that those who make merchandise of poverty and destitution , will be the very last to destroy their traffic in those commodities ; while , being more nearly allied to you sociall y than to the upper classes , they will endeavour to use you for the perpetuation of their own power . If you are not more dull of comprehension than I give you credit for , you must
understand that you are upon the eve of great and mighty changes—you must perceive that the Whigs are about to he kicked out of officeand you must be prepared with such a firm exhibition of National Will , national union and strength , as will prevent those out of power again using you for the achievement of power , as , depend upon it , in such case you will again discover the difference between men Seeking power and men exercising power .
Tho question of the Land is now the allabsorbing question—not alone in Parliament , or in England and Ireland , but throughout Europe and America . Both bantlings , as I have often told you , I have rocked and nursed ¦ when you were asleep and apathetic ; but both have now arrived at a g iant's growth . The Trades , formerly our greatest opponents , have adopted Home Colonisation and "the Suffrage—not , I presume , Educational -Suffrage , which is a mere _buggaboo with those who , ignorant themselves , dread the knowledge ofthe working classes .
If the State requires soldiers , they do not require the country lout , with his lounging step , to stand erect , heads up , eyes rig ht , attention , stand at ease , right foot foremost , and the several technicanties of discipline he is wholly ignorant of ; he need neither read , write , nor spell , and he soon , from drill , walks upright and becomes a disci p lined soldier : And so it would be with the most ignorant , if once enlisted in the political service ofhis country . He would he drilled and trained in better and more
honourable service , and would be a much more useful and honourable memher of society , armed with a spade to feed man , than armed with a musket to shoot him . Therefore , pay no attention whatever to this Knowledge Suffrage . When we were well united before , they tried to disunite us , by outbidding us with "Woman Suffrage , and eighteen years as the Standard . But do you stick to the whole animal , unchanged and immutilated , and let me leg of y ou no longer to be governed b y that destructive policy of choosing the BEST
CANDIDATE THAT PEESENTS HIMSELF , for mind your true and adopted motto , "HE
"WHO IS NOT FOR US IS AGAINST VS . " It is my intention , as soon as you are prepared with your petitions , to propose the whele animal to Parliament—or , rather , it is my sanguine hope that I shall be able to second the proposition when introduced by _Duxcombe , our leader , whose health—I rejoice to tell you —is so far improved as to enable him shortly to take his seat . I do not know the price that you could name , that I would not give for another national monster ; and , despite of all opposition , it should go in the Kennington Common triumphal car to the door of the House of Commons .
However , it is my intention once more to rally the scattered forces of Chartism , and with that view I will attend public meetings ia London and the adjoining districts on Monday and Wednesday evenings ; and had it not been for the drain of my finances by the _National Land Company , I should traverse the kingdom once more , as after the last two sessions' experience , and after twenty-seven
years' ag itation , both in and out of Parliament , ° I have come to the unshakable conclusion that no power on earth , save the possession of land hy the working classes—who eannot otherwise procure labour—will save this country from bankruptcy or revolution ; and I feel as convinced that nothing hut the Charter will secure this wholesome , profitable , and beneficial distribution of the land .
Let me digress to tell you an anecdote . 1 _' oted with the Government for the repeal of the _Navigation Laws : I voted with the
" To Your Tents, Oh Chartists « ." Old P...
Gov ernment for the imposition , or rather , the restoration of the sixpence in the pound upon Irish landed property , to support the starving Irish ; and I voted for the £ 50 , 000 grant ;—in fact , I voted in five divisions with the Government—and upon the last division , a member said to me , "Well , Mr . O'Connor , how do you feel ? " I replied , "Why , very queer , I have had three violent spasms , and have scarcel y slept for fourteen nights , and now I feel another qualm coming over me , and I fear it ' s a judgment for voting with the Government . " " What ' s that 1 " asked Sir
Geokge _Geey , and I repeated it . " No ;" said the member , " but how did you feel during these several nights' discussion upon the Rate in Aid ; have you heard anything throughout , that was not the STRONGEST
ADVOCACY OF YOUR LAND PLAN ?' "Yes ; " I replied , " even Peel and all have adopted it . I thought I'd instruct them at last . " Now Old Guards , listen to me and pay attention , while I tell you that you have no more chance of any _improvemeMia . your . condition , while the present system oTTepresentation lasts , than you have ol " catching larks when the sk y falls . " If you turn to the old book of propheciesthe " Northern Star" - — you will find that in April last , in the House of Commons , I predicted two things—the one Colonial , the other Domestic . I told the Government and the
House , that this country would speedily lose Canada . Well , we have had a little foresi ght into this matter from the discussions in the House of Commons ; but last week I travelled with a most intelligent American merchant all the way from Paris to London . He told me that he had come over with two most intelligent Canadians , who made no secret whatever of the determination of the Canadians to sever themselves wholly and entirely from Eng land ; and if you read my work on Small Farms , written in 1843 , you will there find it predicted , that England would be compelled to abandon the monstrous and hideous monopoly of Colonial Governments .
The systcm reminds one of a little old wizened mother , of sevent y or ei ghty , whi pp ing a big , two-fisted man-child of five or six and twenty , and putting him to bed because he was not home in time . Well , that was my colonial prop hecy ; and my domestic prophecy was , that if the wet weather we had last April continued for a fortnight longer , we should have a deficient y ield and had wheat harvest in this country , and I think the result has proved that I was right .
Old Guards , I was in Pans , and at the National Assembl y during the recess , and I never was more astonished in my life ; it was a complete bear-garden , and the only man who made a speech defensive of the policy of the Provisional Government , or upon any subject worth hearing , wasLEDRU Rollin , who made a most powerful and enthusiastic speech ; but , as I intend to confine this letter to the Land and the Charter , I shall give you a description of my tour next week , and it will amuse
you . Let me now ask you to meet in your several localities , and come to some wise and defined resolution as to the re-organisation of our forces ; for although ' older , and a little tinged with grey , I have vowed to my country , to my God , and to you , never to abate my ardour in the cause of Liberty—never to abandon one bristle of the animal , and to struggle for the possession of God's g ift to man , so that all may live independently in the sweat of then own brow .
In conclusion , bear in mind that "God helps those who help themselves , " and that those who help themselves hy your destitution are not likely to help you out of your destitution . Old Guards , I am ready and willing as ever to march onward in the good cause of man ' s redemption and freedom ; and if you are not prepared to march with me , whj then you must take your own course . I remain , Your faithful and unpurchaseable Friend and accepted Leader , Feargus O'Connor .
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And National Trades' Journal.
AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL .
Joum. |O . 606. Loudon, Saturday, April ...
JOUm _. _| o . 606 . LOUDON , SATURDAY , APRIL 21 , 1849 . _^ ¦ _SyJSS _^ _U-
Thomas Clark As Candidate For Sheffield....
THOMAS CLARK AS CANDIDATE FOR SHEFFIELD . I have had many letters pressing upon me the desirableness of Thomas Clark going to the Poll at the approaching Election for Sheffield ; and some ask me what description of man he is . I do not like to praise men , because those I have most praised have generally become my greatest revilers ; however , at the risk of repetition of such payment , I will give his biography . He is a young man of very prepossessing appearance—of livel y , animated , but inoffensive manners ; he is one ofthe most eloquent men in this or any other country ; he is a sound reasoner ; an admirable debater ; he is witty , but not sarcastic , and when he descends to sarcasm he is not illnatured . He is a teetotaller ; and as to his honesty , I would trust him with untold gold .
T . G . asks me , how it will be about his Qualification ? To that I reply , that Clark will have as good and legal a Qualification as any candidate that ever went to the hustings . I have often told my friends , that a long and lingering agitation leads to apathy and slumber , and that the real and telling agitation is like the lightning that precedes the thunder ; and , following this opinion , as soon as the Writ for Sheffield is moved for , I will place myself at the disposal of the Democrats of Sheffield , to aid in the return of Thomas Clark ; for my friend ' s constituents must
understand , that , when duty calls , the tinsel of Membership has no charms for me ; and God only knows that I long for a good rattling , reviving , intelligent Chartist agitation , to take the rust and fust and dust of the House of Commons off me . This is selfishness ; for if I abstain much longer from addressing a Chartist audience , and hearing Chartist speeches , I shall lose my eloquence and my intellect , and become a mere spouter of twaddle and nonsense , and a listener to the folly of bygone ages , and barbarous times . Feargus O'Connor .
Pbobabiliit Of A General Electioni—Calcu...
Pbobabiliit of a _General _ElectionI—Calculating on the defeat of the Ministerial measures in the Lords , certain influential parties are preparing for the contingency of a general election after harvest . It is believed that Alinistcrs will resign ; and as no political party at present numbers sufficient votes in the Commons to take , or , at all events , hold office , an appeal to the country -will be necessary . _—Sunday Times . Sauries in Pubuc Offices . —An official return , ordered to be printed on the 23 rd of March , exhibits an increase during the year 1848 of the number employed in public offices ofl , 215 , anda concurrent decrease of 300 . The total increase of expenditure amounts to £ 65 , 063 , and the total dimi- , nution of the same to £ 83 , 772 .
_IIacisg Sweeps and Betting Lists .- —At the Middlesex Session , on Monday , several licences were granted to public houses which had been suspended by the magistrates , on their respective owners prom ising not to keep Racing Sweeps or Betting Lists on their premises .
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4 £ Jhirn 0 t _$ ntdltgntre
National Registration And Eiectio.V Comm...
National Registration and Eiectio . v Committee . —This body met at the " Two Chairmen , ' Wardour-street , Soho , on Monday evening , April 16 th . —Mr . John Milne was called to the chair , when Mr . Grassby reported that the sub-committee had compiled and written the " Handbook to Registration , and Guide to Elections ;' that it was now in the hands of the printer , and would be ready in a few days for publication ; and that they had found , from the immense quantity of matter it would contain , that its price must be threepence . —Mr . Arnott reported respecting the borough of Lambeth registration ; 250 names had already been added to the rate book prior to being
added to the electoral roll . Sheffield Election . — Mr , Grassby read correspondence , including Mr . Clark ' s address to the electors and non-eleetors , and a letter from the secretary of Mr . Clark's Committee , when it was resolved , — ' 'Thatthesecretary should write to the committee in Sheffield , requesting to know what number of Radicals are on the register , and the number of those who have already promised to vote for Mr . Clark in the event of a poll , " & c , after which the committee adjourned until Monday evening , April 23 rd , at half-past seven . Tower Hamlets . —On Sunday , April 15 th , a densely crowded audience attended at the Mechanics' Institute , Commercial Hall , _Philpot-streot ,
Commercial-road , to hear Mr . Stallwood deliver a lecturo on "The Life , Character , Writings , and Principles of Thomas Paine . " In a forcible and argumentative address , thc lecturer pointed out to his audience the great good that had arisen from the adoption of the political principles laid down by Thomas Paine in America , the advantage that must flow should his principle of " Agrarian justice" be generall y carried out , and the vast knowledge to be acquired from such an inquiry into true and false systems of theology as that commenced by Thomas Paine . The lecturer called on his audience to adopt the theory of representation put forth by that " great Englishman , " whose life and writings so many bad that night come to hear discussed , by
returning a working man as their representative at the next election , in connexion with George Thompson . The lecturer was listened to with breathless attention . At the conclusion of the lecture , Mr . Stokes addressed a few eloquent sentences in favour of the political pttnc . io . Les ( if Thomas Paine . —Votes of thanks were then given to the lecturer and to Mr . Stokes , for the information and instruction they had afforded ; and Mr . Stallwood , at tbe request of several friends , consented to repeat his lecture at the Finsbury Rooms , Clerkenwell-green ( Deadman ' s Coffee-house ) , on Sunday evening , in the Mechanics' Institute , Philpotstreet . We are happy to find that the committee have alread y collected a library of very useful books
, which are m much request amongst the members , and that lectures on a variety of useful subjects are delivered in the Hall every Sunday , Tuesday , and Thursday evening . A dfscussion class is in course of formation . The registration is attended to , and the men of St . George ' s-in-the-East have just achieved a triumph—the parochial officers recently returned being Chartists and Democrats , replacing old Tories . Hence , the under-current of democracy rolls on , giving promise of a far brighter political foture . We heartily trust the men of the Hamlets will find many to follow their example , and thus raise some bright and brilliant specs in the present dull calm of the political horizon . _HaetlepooIi . —We have just had two splendid
lectures from our friend Thomas Dickinson , of South Shields , and at the conclusion we enrolled seventeen new members to our association . We are about- forming a library , and have been presented with n parcel of books by Mr . Dickinson , to begin with . We invite the co-operation of all localities in this district to aid us in reviving our cause , and getting up meetings to promulgate our principles , ana _aise to send petitions to parliament . Secretaries of localities in this county are respectfully invited to correspond , without delay , with Mark Parkinson , secretary , Shire ' s-yard , Hartlepool . Cheltenham . —The Chartists of this place being obliged to give up their room , the Mutual Improvement Society met to dispose of the funds they had hi hand , which amounted to 14 s . 6 d . ; 9 s . Cd . was
voted to the Victim Fund , and the remaining 5 s . to the Defence Fund . It was further agreed to get as many as possible to continue their penny weekly subscriptions , the proceeds to be sent to thc Victim and Defence Funds , and to meet the first Sunday in every month . It was further resolved , — " That , while we duly appreciate the noble and invaluable services of Mr . O Connor , we likewise tender our heartfelt thanks to G . J . Harney , for his manly and talented advocacy of the cause of universal demo * cracy . " Tower Hamlets . —A general council meeting of the Tower Hamlets was held on Sunday last , at the Commercial Hall , _Pbilpot-street _, Commercial-road , when the committee gave in their reports as to the
p laces to hold public meetings in , to petition parliament for the People's Charter . The meeting decided upon taking the British School-room , Cowper-street , City-road , for the above purpose , on Wednesday , May 2 nd , and a sub-committee was appointed to carry the above into effect . The council at its rising , adjourned to Sunday next at three o ' clock in the afternoon , when oil members of councils in the Hamlets are invited to attend . Finsbury . —A public meeting was held at the Finsbury Lecture-room , Cleriieirwen Green , on Tuesday evening , to adopt the petition of the People ' s Charter . Mr . A . Fuzzon in the chair . W . Salmon moved , and K . Fuzzon seconded , the first
resolution , " That in the opinion of this meeting the present system of legislation is opposed to the rights and interests of the people . " —Mr . E . Nobbs moved , andMr . Cater , seconded , the next resolution , " That in the opinion of this meeting the monopoly of legislation by a class is calculated to further the interest of that class , in opposition to those excluded from the right of legislation . "—After which the meeting having _^ passed the petition , resolved themselves into a committee to obtain signatures * A resolution was adopted relative to getting up a public meeting to sympathise with the victims now in prison . After which the meeting stood adjourned to Tuesday next .
To The Electors And Nonelectors Of The B...
TO THE ELECTORS AND NONELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF SHEFFIELD . Gentlemen , —The efforts which my Friends and myself have made to effect a Meeting before you , with a view of discussing in your presence the important matter of UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE , for the purpose of procuring harmony and unanimit y of action amongst the several sections of Reformers , at the approaching Election , having failed , there is but one course open to me , and which , in justice to . the unrepresented millions , I am bound to adopt , and that is , again to offer myself as a CANDIDATE for your suffrages and support ;
Having upon a former occasion , stated fully in a published address , and also from the hustings , my views upon the general questions of Government , Commerce , and Finance , it will not he necessary for me , in this paper , to do more than briefly recapitulate those opinions whieh , upon a former occasion , I had tho honour of urging upon your attention . I am for a " full , free , and fair' ? representation of the peop le in Parliament ; by which I mean , that every man who has attained the age of twenty-one years , who is of sane mind , and not undergoing punishment for the violation of law , shall exercise the right of voting in the election of members , to serve in the House of Commons .
I am opposed to all State Endowments for Religious purposes , and would therefore vote for the immediate separation of the Church from the State , at the same time making provision for the present ministers and other dependents ofthe Church of England . I am for the most perfect- system of Free Trade , and would to that end vote for the ahotion of all taxes , as at present levied , under the title of . " Customs , " " Excise , " "Stamp Duty , " _& _e ., & c . ; and would propose , in lieu thereof , a direct tax , to be imposed upon the property of the country , thereby freeing industry from those trammels and impositions which at present afflict the community . I am opposed to wars , armies , capital punishments , and to all those remnants of bar-
To The Electors And Nonelectors Of The B...
barism and ignorance , which serve to degrade and to keep alive those feelings of antagonism which it ought to be the first object of all human institutions to repress . I am opposed to the principle and practice ofthe present Poor Laws , and think their alteration and amendment a subject of the greatest magnitude . As I shall shortl y have the pleasure of appearing personally before you , I will delay any further statement of my opinions until that time , when I will be ready to answer such questions as may then he proposed to me . lam , Gentlemen , Respectfull y yours , April 13 th , 1849 . Thomas Clark .
Mr. Bligh And The Greenwich Chartists. T...
Mr . BLIGH AND THE GREENWICH CHARTISTS . TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE NORTHERN 8 TAR . Sib , —Wc , the undersigned persons , having seen in the Star of last week a letter signed James Bligh , in which the writer states he has been scouted as a spy by those-men who urged him on to take a loading part in the agitation of last year . It is true that Bligh was strongly suspected of either being a spy or a tool of Davis , for he was more with him than any other person in the movement , and from their intimacy , we must say , the one knew well the actions ofthe other . So far from urging him or ; we were always opposed to his harangues . Our opinion of Mr . Bligh is , as ever , that if he was not a spy he
was the tool ol that base and designing knave , Davis , and this being the case , how can we , as democrats , recognise or associate with him ? It is surprising to us that Mr . Bligh should have delayed writing to the Star upon this subject for so long a time , but we suppose the reason is because his principal accuser , Mr . John Robinson , has left this country for America . In reply to his assertions , that he did not know anything of the vile plots of Davis until he was _subpoanaed by Mr . Roberts's agent , we can bear witness to the fact that he was publicly accused , before a meeting of Chartists , in company with Davis , six weeks previous to his being subpoenaed . SlMMONDS SWEETLOVB , SAMUEL BrEWERTON ,
George T . Flotd _, Tikma . s Entecott , Thomas Lewer , Joseph Morgan , Thomas Paris . P . S . —We wish all our old friends to meet on Monday evening , April 23 rd , at Jenny Lind ' s Coffee House , Greenwich-market . Greenwich , April 17 th .
To The Ciiaittists Op The West Riding. I...
TO THE CIIAItTISTS OP THE WEST _RIDING . In consequence of a number of inconsistent reports having been circulated with an Intent to injure my reputation , I beg leave to say , that as I hail been appointed at the last West Riding Delegate meeting to be on the plan as a lecturer , such towns in the West Riding that I am appointed to . attend this quarter must not expect me . I think it is very hard for a man to labour strenuously in tho cause , so much so that I have materially injured both my constitution and circumstances , and then be repaid by calumny . I am charged with neglect for not giving publicity to the lecture that was to be delivered at Birkenshaw , by Mr , Harris , of Leeds , on Sunday evening last . How , I ask , could I give publicity to the lecture when it was at
halfpast eleven o ' clock on Saturday night , that a person accidentally got one of the lecturing plans and put it into my hand ? I likewise saw upon that plan that I was to lecture in Bradford on Sunday evening , Now how could I conscientiously lecture in Bradford when I knew nothing whatever of tlio circumstance until the time above specified ; not only that , but I made arrangements with my Bingley friends at the commencement of the week to Lecture there twice on the same Sunday . Whoever was intrusted with the lecturing plans to distribute in this district , is to blame , and not me . I am also charged with neglect for not attending an appointment of Mr . North , at Leeds ; I promised Mr . North on Saturdav that I would go , but I had no directions where
to go to , except that the meeting was to be on Woodhouse Moor . The day was very wet ; the rain _descended iif _torrents , even at the time the meeting should be held ; my Birkenshaw friends requested me not to walk eight miles in the rain , as they believed there would be no meeting . I acceded to their request , and staid with them all day . I am informed that I went half way , into a public-house , and there got drunk . My Birkenshaw friends can prove this to be a fabrication . The above awe the circumstances which cause me to have my name struck off the list . Another cause is , that some would-be conscientious Chartists want to gag me at meetings and lectures , but as I resolved not to be gagged by the government , I never will be gagged By men like myself .
I am still an unflinching Chartist , Edward Hurley Birkenshaw , near Leeds , April 17 .
Mr. Thomason. To The Editor Of Tiie Nort...
MR . THOMASON . TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE _NORTHERN STAR . SiB _. —Having seen a statement in your valuable paper of the 14 th instant from Mr . Thomason , stating that he has suffered a loss by the Chartists of Wednesbury , v * e beg to state that with regard to the school that nothing but his own negligence caused the breaking up of that establishment . The number of scholars was near one hundred , besides the district subscriptions to him as a lecturer ; while so engaged we supplied him with food at our own expense , till the district would not subscribe any longer . We hope the men of Manchester and other places will not be taken in by the artful dodger as we wore . I remain , Sh" , yours respectfully , _Benj . Danes . _Wednesbury , April 18 th , 1849 .
To The Editor Of The Northern Star. Sir,...
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —The re-organisation of the Miners' Union in Northumberland and Durham , continues to progress . At a delegate meeting , held at thc sign of the Cock , Newcastle , on Saturday last , there were additional delegates from Trimdon , Castle Eden , and Wallsend collieries . The number of miners enrolled at present is upwards of two thousand , and as the employers throughout the entire district are attempting reductions , it is anticipated that in a short time tho whole ol the miners of these important _counties will be once more in a position to secure " a fair day ' s wage for a fair day ' s labour . " Tlie
delegates , among many resolutions calculated to forward the extension ofthe organisation , adopted a petition to the legislature , praying an enactment for the better protection of the lives of the miners from explosion by fire damp , and to compel a more healthy system of ventilation . It having been also resolved to hold another meeting on Saturday , April 2 Sth , at eleven o ' clock in the forenoon , the meeting was duly dissolved , all parties beiug in high spirits at the position achieved in so short a time . Yours , tic ., M . Jude .
Advantages Op Home Colonisation. Lowband...
ADVANTAGES OP HOME COLONISATION . LOWBANDS , SNIG'S END , AND MOAT ESTATES or the NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . At the annual meeting , on Thursday week last , of the parish of Redmarfey , in which Lowbands is situate , the business was conducted in a straightforward manner , by calling on the allottees to investigate the accounts and scrutinise the vouchers , as well as nominating one of them , Mr . Henry Porter , to act as parish constable , when it was deemed prudent not to disturb the harmony existing in thc parish , more particularly as those selected to fill offices have given satisfaction . As a portion of the Sni g ' s End Estate is in Gloucestershire , and the residue , with the Moat , in Worcestershire , battles had to be fought in two parishes— -Staunton and Corse . After some _skirmishing at the Staunton meeting , Mr . Roswell proposed , and Mr . James "West seconded ,
Mr . W . Coulson ( late of Derby ) as Churchwarden . This was carried by a large majority : a poll was threatened but subsequently declined . Thc unity of action amongst the occupants was truly pleasing . Messrs . John Clarke , Kinross , and others , replied in good style to the arguments adduced b y their opponents . The Chairman ( an intelligent one ) , the Curate of the parish , acted with impartiality , except in one trifling instance . It was then proposed to build a bridgo , which would cost tbe parish over £ 200 . This proposal was likewise quashed by , the efforts of the allottees . At Corse parish meeting , on the Hector taking the c ' mir _, a young farmer , possessing more land than sense , and who said it was strange of men who had only a few acres of land contendi ng with those who had hundreds , protested against Mr . O'Brien having anything to do with the business of the meeting . Mr . Pewhurst
Advantages Op Home Colonisation. Lowband...
produced an act of Parliament showing that Mr . O'B . was entitled to take part in the proceedings It was then resolved that Messrs . Dewhurst , Lambert , and O'Brien audit the books . Wiien they did so , they found that they had not been audited since 1333 , and not even cast up since 1843 , and they could not refrain from condemning the slovenliness and carelessness apparent in them , but at the same time remarked that the last year ' s expenditure reflected credit on the Churchwarden , Mr . Wilkins . There is a sum of _ovor £ 20 due to parish . Messrs . Cullingham and Lambert were severally proposed as Churchwarden for the parish . Mi * . Cullingham declined ; on which Mr . John West proposed , and Mr . Rogers seconded , that Mr . John Crofts ( late of Leicester ) , be the parish Churchwarden : the last
named person was carried by a great majority . They then commenced about a church rate . Mr . Cullingham showed that no rate could be laid for the liquidation of old debts ; that whatever was made must be in perspective . The large farmers then agreed to pay the old amongst themselves * , though talking of a sixpenny rate , they then considered threepence would do . Eventually , they proposed a penny rate , but even this they could not obtain . Then did they bellow that all was illegal ; that Dr . Phillimore would grant them a rate despite the Allottees . Mr . Crofts is a local preacher of the Wesleyan Society . The . Rector acted with the strictest impartiality in the chair , ana very kindly granted a request , made by Mr . O'Brien on the part of the Allottees , for three months' indulgence in the paying Of tithes now due .
' CO-OPERATION . TO TBE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sia , —Your broad sheet being literally a working man ' s paper , I am sorry that so long a lapse has occured between my last and present report , resptcting the Rochdale Co-operative Society , 'The Equitable Pioneers . ' The society , after a few years ' experience , finding it necessary to alter and amend its laws , sent the new Jaw to the Revising Barrister for his approval ; but so accommodating to the wants of the labourers have been the law-makers , that it has taken our people and the law di « penser some six months or better to understand each other . Being in this fix , and kuowing that applications for copies of our laws would be the result of a notice of our society appearing in your paper , we held our peace until our laws were arranged and printed .
Tracing the causes of failure in co-operative societies to a system of credit , and leaving the management of business in the bands of an agent or storekeeper , who , through incapacity or dishonesty , involved the society , and determining to make a more equitable division ot profits , by giving a fixed rate of interest—five per cent . —to shareholders , and the remainder to purchasers , in proportion to the amount _expended by- each , not giving all profits to the money holders , and thus keeping the poor man eternally so . In the hope of evading the evils noticed , and effecting the following objects—namely , the establishment of A Store for the supply of genuine articles of food clothing , See ., at cost price to the members ; A Working Man ' s Savings Bank , where sums from threepence upwards could be deposited at five per cent , interest , and withdrawn in cases of distress ;
Th . e fostering of prudence and economy amongst working people , by inducing them to abstain from petty shopping and debt contracting , _* And of giving to those , whose limited means or large family prevented them from saving money , a fair share of the profits arising from their trading transactions . The society commenced operations with very large hopes , but a very small stock , the sum total of its _possessions being £ 24 worth of goods and chattels -. its weekly receipts £ 14 ; and balance in treasurer ' s hands _J 55 * , at the close of its first quarter , March , 1845 . But the close of the quarter , ending March , 1849 , shows the increase of stock and realisation of hopes , as follows : —
Value of stock ( cost price ) , _£ 385 ; cash in hand , £ 120 ; cash withdrawn , £ 49 ; weekly receipts , £ 105 ; number of members , 220 ; admitted during the quarter , 80 ; dividend per pound , purchase money , la . 8 d . Such is our present position—and , next to the free labour and _enthusiasm of some of our members , I think we ewe our present prosperous condition to our rigid adherence to buying aud selling for ready money only , and neither intrusting nor tempting any individual with the sole management of our business . Parties desirous of possessing copies of our laws or further information , can receive such by sending six postage stamps to Yours , & c , James Daly . Secretary , _Pianeers' Store . Milkstone-road . Rochdale .
_Ou > Saws and Proverbs . —A handsaw is a good thing , but not to shave with ; a good word is as easily said as a bad one ; an inch is not much , but in a man ' s nose it ' s the deal ; a plaster is a small amends for a broken head ; a little pot soon hot ; a runaway king never praises his subjects ; a sorrowing brain was never fat ; an old naught will never be aught ; a wild goose never laid a tame egg ; a word before is worth two behind ; better come at the end of a feast than at the beginning of a fray ; be not a baker if your head be of butter ; better keep the devil out than turn him out ; empty vessels make the most noise ; feather by feather the goose is plucked ; an old knave is no babe better lute thrive than never do well ; better an empty house than a bad tenant ; a fool knows more of his own house than a wise man of another ' s ; have wide ean
and a short tongue . A MEWCA & Witness . — -Tho assizes for the county of Cornwall , which were brought to a close on Saturday fortnight , produced few cases of interest . In a will cause , a very curious incident occurred of the force of habit . A surgeon , named Ward , gave the following understandable evidence for the benefit of twelve Cornish jurymen , in relation to the testator ' s capability of making a will : — " I found him in erysipelatous inflammation , face and scalp of a dusky brown , covered with furfuraceous scales , the result of the pbeling of the cuticle ; tongue dark * brown and dry ; pulse 120 , and thready ; slight subsultus jactitation ; low muttering delirium ; answered when roused sometimes coherently , sometimes incoherently : hc was in a sleepy comatose state , and clearly moribund . "
Poor Hates in Ireland . —A return on Wednes _* day printed by order of Parliament ( moved for by Mr . French ) shows that thc military iorce employed in Ireland in the collection of poor rates between October 1 , 1848 , and February 1 , 1819 , consisted of 11 field-officers , 40 captains , 118 subalterns , 216 sergeants , 42 drummers , and 4 , 533 rank and file . The constabulary force employed for tho same purpose , the compulsory collection of poor-rates , consisted of 69 officers and 2 , 558 men . London . — A Child Burnt to Death . —On Thursday an inquest was held before Mr . Bedford , at the Plough , Carey-street , on the _bedy of Joel Harris , aged three years , who died under the following dreadful circumstances -. —The deceased lived with his _uarents in _Yates-buildings , Carey-street ,
Lincoln ' s-Inn . On Wednesday evening the maid servant went to one ofthe upper rooms with a candle , and finding the door was locked she left the candle on the stair while she went for the key , and deceased and another child were left standing on the landing three steps above the candle , which was quite out ofthe way ofhis clothes . Thc servant had hardly < rot down when she heard violent screaming , and on ffoing back she found thc clothes of the deceased in flames and the candle in the hand of tho other child . The flames were extinguished as soon as possible , and he was taken to the King ' s College Hospital , and attended by Mr . ' Salter , the house surgeon ; but ho was so dreadfully burnt over the face , neck , and body , that ho expired in about two hours . The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death . "
The Late Festival At Charterville. Xo Th...
THE LATE FESTIVAL AT CHARTERVILLE . XO THE EDITOR OF TUE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —In your account ofthe proceedings at the tea festival at Charterville in last Saturday's paper , in the report ofthe short speech I made , I observe an omission , which appears to me of some importance . In the beginning of my speech , I begged to disclaim a _* ny participation in the political part of the sentiments expressed by other speakers , not being yet prepared to give an opinion on the question of politics . An insertion of this explanation will much oblige , Sir , your humble servant , Minster Lovel , P . W . Bryan . near Witney , Oxon , April 17 .
Latest News. Execution Of Saraltlialllli...
LATEST NEWS . EXECUTION OF _SARAlTlIAllllIET THOMAS , FOlt MURDER . Yesterday this wretched criminal underwent the extreme sentence ofthe law at Bristol . The spectacle of a public execution—the first after a lapse of fourteen years—attracted an _immensa concourse of spectators , manv of whom conducted themselves with that disgusting levity too often wit * nessed beneath the shadow of the gallows . The ceremony was rendered intensely painful by the tenacity with which the unhappy criminal elunc to
life , So prayers nor entreaties could induce her to walk a step towards the fatal drop , and she had literally to be dragged from her cell , shrieking frantically , and struggling all the time , until she was carried to the platform , and handed to Chlcrn ft ths hangman , who at once fastened the fatal noose . Sheexclaimed , " Lord , have mercy upon me . I hope my mother and none of them are here , - " and she was almost instantl y cast off ) and in a few monieuts was dead . The following confession was made by her to the governor of the gaol : " Confession of Sarah Harriet Thomas , made to Mr . J . A . Gardiner , governor of the gaol , in presence of one of the female officers , April 4 th , 16-4 U , at ten o'clock p . m .:
" Two days before the murder was committed , Miss Jefferies called me up to her bedroom , and attempted to strike me . She also locked me in the kitchen during the whole of that night . At five o ' clock a . m . she unbolted the door and told me to make a fire in her room . I thought then to have / struck her , but did not do so . On the following night I slept in her room , but did not contemplate murdering her until between five and six o ' clock in the morning , when I got up , went down stairs , aud returned with a stone , with which , whilst Miss Jefferies was asleep , I struck her on the head three times . Between the second and third blow she made * some sort of a noise , and the last words I heard her say were , ' Christ , God . I then dressed myself , robbed the house , flung the dog down the privy , lucked up the house , and went home . 1 took thirty sovereigns and a quantity of silver things , all of which tho police have since found . The keys of the house I
flung away , but believe they were nherwards found by a man when putting up some shutters . I committed the murder and robbed the house with my own hands , and no person else had anything whatever to do with it , Neither did I mention having done so to any person . I regret exceedingly having committed so horrid a crime , and I pray to Almighty God for forgiveness . I novel should _haveeomuiittcd so dreadful a crime had Miss Jcfferies ' s conduct been less provoking . —April 5 , nine o ' clock , p . m . — After Miss Jefferies died I remained in the room for more than an hour . I then went home , nnd did not return until about nine o ' clock in the evening , for two boxes , but did not go into mistress ' s room . On leaving the house I saw a strange man _standing opposite , who carried my box as far as the Infirmary , or which I gave him 'Jd . I then took a fly nnd went home .
( Signed ) " _Saiuh _IIahiiit-t Thomas . " The Convict Rush . — The execution of the murderer Rush is appointed to take place this day ( Saturday ) at twelve o ' clock . A correspondent at Norwich , writing last night , says : " Thc city is already full of persons who have arrived from different parts of tlie country , to be present during the proceedings . There are also many visitors from London , the Eastern Counties Railway Company having run a * cheap pleasure train , ' issuing tickets which arc returnable at any time during the next three days . Some of the visitors are of very questionable character , but they are closely watched by Mr . Yarrington _, the superintendent of the city police , and Mr Langley , one of the Loudon detective force . These officers were present on tlie arrival
of the several London trains to-day , and carefully scrutinised the passengers . The convict Rush has undergone a little change . He oats heartily , sleeps well , and seems unmoved by the position in wliich ho is placed . He has laboured hard to convince the Rev . W . W . Andrews and the Kev . P . Brown , who have been in attendance upon him , of his innocence ; but both those gentlemen have expressed to him their conviction of his guilt . Since that declaration the convict has treated them with marked coolness . It does not seem probable that Rush will make any confession . He perseveres in affirming his innocence , and frequently calls upon the Almighty to prove his innocence , aud to fix the crime upon those who reall y committed the murders . He confidently asserts that in two years the real murderer will be known . "
Charge or Embezzlement . —Edward Hamilton was charged at Manchester yesterday , with embezzling money to tho amount of £ 1 S 7 _J the property of Messrs . W , Kcild , Monies , and Co ., wine and spirit merchants , Hanover-street , Liverpool , his late employers . lie was committed for trial at the sessions , but allowed to go out on bail . London . —Fire at a Pawnbroker ' s . —Yesterday a fire occurred at the shop of Mr . Fish , pawnkbvoker , 14 , Edgware-road , by which a considerable quantity of property was destroyed .
Suicide from Feaii of being sent to Prison . — An inquest was held yesterday beforo Mr . Baker , at the Rose and Crown , Bunhill-row , on the body of John King , aged seventy years , who destroyed himself under the following circumstances : The deceased had for many years carried on the business of a greengrocer , in Bunhill-row , but latterly he had become embarrassed in his affairs , and an agreement was entered into between him and his nephew that all hie debts would be paid by his nephew on thc deceased handing all his goods and property over to him . Thc agreement did not appear to satisfy both parties , and there were frequent quarrels , and tho deceased had threatened to put his nephew out of tlie house . His debts were not paid , and on Friday last he received a summons to attend the
Palace-court , but the deceased said , " It was no use his going ; he could not pay what he owed , and ho should bo placed in prison , but sooner than be sent to one he would hang himself . " On Tuesday morning hist , the shop not being opened at the usual time , the deceased was called , but no answer returned . The door was broken open and the deceased was found suspended by a piece of rope from a rail of tlie bedsteao . He was quite dead , and hail apparentl y been so some hours . On the washhandsta . w \ i _vsa-j discovered a piece of paper , on which waa written , "Make haste nnd let me down , for my neck aches . " The deceased had written to his sister , stating that ho intended to destroy himself , for he could not bear the idea of being confined in a prison . Verdict—* - Temporary insanity . "
Embezzlement of £ 5 , 000 . — On Thursday Mr Peter Mann , for many years chief secretary of the Leeds Waterworks Company , underwent a preliminary examination before J . Iloldforth , Esq ., and the other magistrates , at the Leeds Court-house , charged with having at various periods embezzled money belonging to the company . The exact extent of Mann ' s defalcations is aa yet unknown , but up to the period when hc was placed in custody a deficiency of about £ 5 , 000 had been ascertained . Mann was remanded till Monday , bail being refused .
Dublin ' , Fridaw—Deaths from Famine . —In _Ballinrobe , in the union of Mayo , it appears that famine is making fearful progress . It is stated that twenty-six deaths occurred in the workhouse in one day , and that the deaths for the week were one hundred . In tlie union of _Ballinasloe , in the adjacent county of Galway , it appears that the mortality is quite appalling , In consequence of representations made to the _ poor law commissioners , Dr . 1 'helan , their chief medical officer , was sent down to institute an inquiry . Out-door relief is not g iven in this union , although thc workhouse accommodation is entirely
insufficient . Dr . Phclan reported that there is not workhouse accommodation for more than 3 , 246 persons , yet there were , on tho 31 st March last , 3 , 8 _'Jti inmates , the number having been reduced during the week from 4 , 189 person s . Respecting the increase of mortality , tlie commissioners statu that " 179 inmates died during the four weeks ending 24 th February , and as many sis 448 in thc five weeks ended 31 st March , making ' t ) 27 deaths in uine weeks —the deaths during thc weeks ended 24 th aud 3 lst March having reached 100 and 104 respectively . The Galmv Vindicator states that thc deaths last week in the Uallinasloo workhouses amounted to 122 .
The Cork Guardians have refused , even on tho recommendation of thc commissioners , to grant out-door relief to the infirm classes composed in tho 1 st section of the act . The Clearance System—In thc northern division of Tipperary , in Limerick , and in other parts of thc south , tlie clearance system is continued on an extensive scale . Vast numbers of ejectment processes are entered at thc quarter sessions . A chapter iu the Mayo Telegrap h is devoted to an account of the hearing of ejectment processes at quarter sessions of Westport . The agents of the Earl of Lucan obtained ejectment decrees in all the _ciscs adjudicated upon . It is also stated that Sir Richard O'Donnell , Bart ., obtained ejectment decrees against a number of tenants in tlie barony of Burrislibolc .
LATEST FROM HUNGARY . ( From the Daily News . ) Vienna , Armi , 15 . —The _newsfrom Hungary continues unfavourable for the imperial army . The Hungarians have not only taken Waitzen , but thoy have also taken by storm St . Thomas , thc fortified camp ofthe Servians , defended by 25 , 000 msu and forty _ClYnnovvs . In the suburbs of Pesth thc Croats plunder some davs ago , and their e cimatedthem . The Magyars did not but left a corps of observation before the their chief force seems to have crossed The imperial party amongst tho inhabitants are _quitting tho Hun « avi _' . m capital aud Gran , and even to Raab and _Pvesburg .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 21, 1849, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_21041849/page/1/
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