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' '" ' for WeInterference with politiesf...
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' HOW THB ' SPECIALS' WBRB 1USV-¦ " ^-^J...
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THE COMMERCIAL CLASSES AND THE CHARTISTS...
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HOMAGE TO TRUTH. All powerful truth, thy...
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QOHDITIOX OF THE WORKING GLASSES IN LEED...
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TO THE RIGHT HON . LORD JOHN RUSSELL, M....
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TO THE SWORH PRESERVERS OP THE PUBLIC PE...
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THE • TIMES' AHD THE SPECIALS. TO THB ID...
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THE POLICE AND THE « TIMES.' TO THE ZDIT...
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POLICE BRUTALITY. TO THE EDITOE OP THE N...
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ENGLISH LIBERTY. TO TBE EDITOB OV THE KO...
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FRIENDLY SUGGESTIONS. TO TBE ZDlTOtt OZ ...
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THE MECHANICS AND THE CHARTER. TO THE ED...
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PETITIONING-. TO THE ECITOB OF THE NOETI...
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HOVT TO GAIN THE CHARTER. TO TBE EDITOE ...
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THE 'SPECIALS .' TO »B LIHD1BT, THE EOIT...
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#Dr Linclaj lately recommended >ba dlemi...
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THE WAY TO CONQUER THE BANK. TO TBE EDIT...
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THE SPECIAL CONSTABLE3. TO THE EDITOR OF...
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CASE OF TYRANNY. TO THE EDITOB Or THB NO...
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LETTER TO MR THOMAS CFBITT. Sib,—Will yo...
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THE CAUSE OF DISAFfEQTIOS, TO JOSEPH BCU...
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JTHE WAY TO GET THE CHARTER. Birmingham,...
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OPERA PALMERSTONII , Qrj.E SUPERSPNT (.'...
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SiuiTOMUi, llth Aj.nl.—Irritation is con...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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' '" ' For Weinterference With Politiesf...
TgE NORTHERN STAR . *"" ' '~" v Ami . 2 % im , ' _^ ' I I
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' How Thb ' Specials' Wbrb 1usv-¦ " ^-^J...
' HOW THB ' _SPECIALS' WBRB 1 _USV-¦ _" _^ - _^ _JSSSftSto a « an ind _. x of the _fthe number _^ _«> w _^» 0 f _Tendon as opposed feelings of an umb « of _^ ep _^ pnDUc a few _^ _^ _nXrn ufaetare of - special .. ' _OaFri-SSto " « . took up i . the _MtaWMment of d _" _^ _eeriae firm , not 110 miles from _Sisss House Si " the riVmit ,, to swear ia aU those who were to attendandwith the exception of those em .
S , , ployed in the ofices , not one went . On Saturday it was intimated to the men , that the magistrates would attend st the _ofiees to try ta catch & few of thera , The mm held a meeting daring the dinner _heur , and decided unanimously , tbat tbey wonld net he sworn , and ' tbat they would support any man wbo w a * mads a victim for _refdSiDJ . Well , after being paid at _fte usual time , the men found the gates were kept closed , snd the foremen having been sworn , went amongst them endeavouring to persuade them to do that which _, ia their hearts they detested . A few lickspittles , fend a few wbo had large families depending on their earning , were got in , _Tfhea lo ! by some means the gate _flsw open , and out rushed the whole body cheering most luiiily . 11 iiuv _'
, ¦ • —it—_ t . » _XUACU mw _> . _.- „ v After that exhibition of feeling , one woald _have thonght thsy had had enough ef ' specialise ; ' but bo—on Monday & time keeper went round some of the 6 _hops , and got a few _t » give their names , but with nil _flttir effort * they did not get more _than a fifth of the men employed . There was one _argument used to induce the men to he sworn , which should no t he lost to the public , viz .. ;—* that their not being sworn would hare an injurious effect upon the firm , withrejptct to government engines . ' No _Srxcu
The Commercial Classes And The Chartists...
THE COMMERCIAL CLASSES AND THE CHARTISTS . TO THE EDITOB 0 ? THB KOMHEBH STAB . _gjj —Mixing , as I do , with the commercial classes of ftil , kingdom , in C 0 _USf . q « oce of the position I hold In society , I have many oppor tunities ef ascertaining their -views upon those important subjects which are now agitating ths minds of men , and assuming a character most remarkable in IU tone and spirit . It has bsen said of tbosB men that thej- are al enmity with the labouring population of tie country ; selfish—seeking their own _aggrandisement , without regerd to _tfcoje bj whom their Wealth iB reared ; cruel and oppressive—looking on those a leu prominent _circauMtaaees ia life with eomempt and as mere serfs , er slaves , sent to de their bidding . ' ]
That such fa not t-e case , I can assure yeu . In many respects the commercial classes are one with the labouring portion of the community . They feel for them ; they sympathise with them ; th » y see- the degradation , insult , and _snffsring , to which they have so long patiently , and without murmuring , submitted . Commercial mea are aecustomtd to take broad and expansive views of the great questions of the day . Thej kBow there is danger fraught in oppressing the people . They look to their emancipation from the feondage of their raler _* . They are aware that it is _Bhorfceighted policy to _legislate for tbe few . The poverty-stricken may endure it for awhile ; hut the time frill come when , goaded to desperatioa hy tyranny , they will either shake off the yoke , or raise a _tempest that shall _raeahorriblv around , tha institutions of the _laHd ,
sad reduce the _so-exiled sicred edifice to ruin . Can : _serclal ns -n tea wise enough to perceive that legislation mast hare respect to the whole fabric of society . Ko lews , 20 institutions will _stanJ . unlets based upoa the divine laws of equality and justice to all . The permanent peace and prosperity of the couatry can enly he secured by the administration of even-handed justice ; snd _nc-gojmtnUe ean he given for this , but in the choosing of good aad wise rulers by the voice cf the people . _Partial legislation is the bane of eTery nation , be it great or proud , and abounding in wealth , titles , and natural resources . Bat it may bo asked , is this tn » Of tha _commercial classes generall y ! I _jeply —it is . They may be —yen , there are gome narrow-minded , bigoted , and selfish mea—who care not to lire by preying en the Bufferings and miseries
ef the dying—who disclaim all connexion with tlese sentiments . Poor , deluded , outcast men ! they represent not the commercial classes . Scotland is with the people . I hare- lately returned from a tour in that kingdom , scd from _conversation with the middle and commercial classes , I can confidently affirm that they sympathise—yes , deeply _sympathiser—with the people . Hr Editor , I can assure you that very large numbers of individuals are indoctrinated with the Chartist opinions , whom you and your confederates know not , snd whom jou hare rest on to suppose are against yoa . Yen haTe many _trae-hearted * aad Brave friends who as yet have not declared themselves . They are only _wa'tag their time . Tha day ot redemption drawelh nigh , The Chartists would , I _tkink , do well to nourish this feeling , and to abstain trom . using hard and _nnbrotherly langnage
towards these classes . The past twelve or eighteen months have _donemueh ta open our eyes . Once we were ' Kind ; * but now we * Bee . * The Chartist agitation npon tho Land Plan—the earnest propagation of their _principies—the noble bearing efthe afSieted people , combined with the almost unparalleled depression of trade—the bad policy ef _obt ruler ? , and the nnaccial embarrassmenfs " of the country— sot to mention the revolutions which are changing the dynasties of Earope—those have contributed greatly to change our _epinloBS . Tou who toil in the factory—yon , the mechanics , the arti . sans , and labourers of Great Britain—we sympathise with yon . Oar hearts year * in affection towards yoa . We are reminded that wa are all men , and we desire to live is peace as brethren . In confirmation ot these _srntimsnts , I am induced to send the following short poem , whieh , Mr Editor , ss breathing the trne spirit of
patriotism and fraternity , I trust you will bo able to insertin _ysarjaiily wined and widely _circulated paper , I adduce it merely as a specimen of feeling existing among very many of the commercial classes . It is written by a man of worth , and was entrusted to my care for the ptrusal of your readers . Unknown to political ( misense , and whose situation precludes him from taking an active part in yonr movement , he chooses to remain in secrecy tail ' a brighter day shaU dawn ; ' and if ho _eaiuot ail you hy the living voice , or tke open avowal of his principles , be trusts _thstth ' s _saill tribute ot respect may not be unacceptable to yoa , Mr _Editor , and those wort ' _ay men who are labouring ia the sacred cause ot rath snd liberty . For _si-ailer reasons , I mast ( for the _jres nt , at least ) , remain In obscurity , and therefore beg ¦ 0 snbtcribe myself , Haaebester , April 8 . A Cohhkcul Hah .
Homage To Truth. All Powerful Truth, Thy...
HOMAGE TO TRUTH . All powerful truth , thy followers oft have been ¦ _Espseed to to . -tures crael , dire and keen . Hampden and S y dney , Pym and Ra ; sell fell , And Emmttt , whose true worth no tongue can tell , * Paine , Hunt , and Cobbett , who in farmer times Told tyia tts of their crael ties ani crimes—For them the dungeon epe'd its yawning jaws ; They suffered much , but won the world ' s applause . When bold O'Cjnnor his bright flag unfurled , Aad showed the Charter to a wondering world , Around him soon a band of patriots rose , Who dared ths vengeance a ! their eonatrv _' e fast " . But soon the dungeons were with victims filled , And human blood by hired assassins spilled ; ¦ While others in the strong prison bound , Heaved their last sigh where no relief was found ; WhilB o ' er th * . waves in felons' chains were sent , The martyred exiles doomed to banishment . "Frost , rTiiliams _, Jones ; last of the patriot band , Now des _ti ned to wander on a foreign strand— _, lor us they suffered , and for us must bear , " The bonds of guilt their tyrants ought to t ? ar . Time with its onward _presencs fails to heal The wounds that rankle deep , nor can tke seal Of tfueforgireBetBev : rbe impressed On hearts thus bruised whose wrongs aro unredressed Arise-, ye giant minds , that long bave slept ; Be cautions vigil now no longer kept ; Sat thunder ia your grim oppressors' ears , That jasiica asks soma tribute to her tears . Never again let patience tamely wear , Tha settled aspect of fixed despair . But by the memory of onr former sires , On each col ! altar kindle freedom ' s fires ; And as the upward flirae to " _aeaven ascends , Send grateful tidings to onr patriot friends _. And bid _theia mark our efforts as we strive , To keep t « e sacred cause of troth alive—That causa for _serving which procured their doom , Shall see ub viators , or beneath the tomb .
Qohditiox Of The Working Glasses In Leed...
_QOHDITIOX OF THE WORKING GLASSES IN LEEDS—SPECIAL CONSTABLES . TO TEC _EDITeS OF THE KOBTHEEIf 3 TAB , Deab Sis , —itis under feelings of the deepest distress of mind , that I write these few lines , hoping you will permit them to occupy a small portion ofyour valuable _psper so that every part of tht world , where the light ofthe 2 ? oBTH _** B . _** Star shines , may be made acquainted with the condition of the operatives of the borough of Leeds . In Leeds , as well as In ether boroughs , thwre are many evils which _giFens just cause of complaint—too many , I am s _=-rry to * sy , for me to attempt to _ennmerate Want of employment is , perhaps , as great an evil 88 we are subject to . Oar streets are _crowded daily with uuem plojed persons . S _rosg athletic men , able
aad williDg to work , could they but obtain it—and con d you sir . have b _^ _-n with me aad seen snch homes as there are at P « b nt in this barough , your mind , I feel confident , r . . mid receive sueh on impression as wonla take some um _, to erase It frum jour mi mory . I will just give you one ewe , an 1 no : _ona ofthe worst . It is of an individual who lives not a _scirre miks from Marea-lane _, wbo has a wife and . four ebil _Iren . Their coma is unfitfo - human being * ta inhabit . Whenlhart descended n .. £ gUt ot steps—the door was opes—the first _thinj ths ; met my eje was the figure of _« female , wham I took ti be the mother of the group of cbildreo _thtlEatplayfali y _oathrfljorof their wretched habita-*" * _^ sharp thorn of hunger had pierced them aU , „ " lts _* _' _?? * Ja _** es bahind . For a short time I was _ovsrgoweied b y the 5 isht , I Mta 4 a fcff questions
Qohditiox Of The Working Glasses In Leed...
• boat the cause of their distress , for tha appearance [ ofthe _woasalold mo that she had seen hetter days . She commenced , aad told me thofr history , which was of a heartrending nature , hut too long for me to trouble you witb . The husband always bore the character of a honest , iuduttriaus man , and was the manager for a _cerlatnnrmin _Irteds , but tost his situation simply beeause ha would not vote _ar-cording to hit matter ' s _dotation . This is not the only one , by dozens , that I could _eaumerato ; and yet we are told by the editor ef ene of our weekly papers , that we are a free , happy , and comfortable people—nay , more so than any other nation . And then he goes on to say , tbat the higher _clastet of saeiety ( in hit opinion ) have nothing to fear from the agitations caused by the lower orders of society . Tho arigtooracy are so closely knit together with the mldd _' _a class , that all attempts to upturn tbe government would ba useless—and , If I understand his words , they amount to this : that , let the working class ever attempt to gain their rlghtf , the _arittocracy _, combined with the middle class , will crush them , and frustrate all their projects .
Almost all the masters in the borough have compelled their men to be sworn as special constables by eighty and ninety at a lime . Three firms , whieh I already know of , have discharged a number because they refused to be sworn . Oh ! bow I long for the day to arrive , whenthechain of _oppression shall be broken , and hellisn tyranny shall cease to exist , and every human being , of whatever country or _condition , _Bhall be acknowledged as a friend and a brother , as the God of heaven and earth desired UB to be . Tours , An _Ofebativs of Lbedj .
To The Right Hon . Lord John Russell, M....
TO THE RIGHT HON . LORD JOHN RUSSELL , M . P . Mt Lobd , —A word with yon on your new bill . Lawyers' bills , doators' _bille , and tailors' bills , are all much dreaded , surely you are satisfied with your own bill , for you have a pretty round sum . First , £ 5 , 000 a year , and a _residenos , for being Lord _Coraaiisioner of the Treasury ; yon are also Commissioner for the Affitira of India , the salary of wbich is £ 1 , 500 a year ; yau are one of Ih * Eceleiteitical _Commissioner !; yon are one of the Commissioners of tbe Royal _Hospital , Chelsea , and hold several other appointments , the particulars ot which I have not betn able to ascertain . I have been looking dorm Johnioa _' s Dictionary to sea if I can find any explanation of the word hill , and he describes It at a kind of hatchet , which has suggested a fresh idta to
I Hie , and what do yon think it ia ? That yon Intend to cat out the tongues of all the Chartists . But , my lord , in l tbat case they may barn the dumb alphabet , and by thstjmeans instruct _« na another to do mischief . The only plan I can think of to cure these fellows is to make them blind and deaf , bi wAl as dumb , then , my lord , yoa would be almost master . It is very annoying to bo insulted by ' vagabonds ' who have ' not got a shilling to bless themselves with , ' nor ever likely to have , while things go on as they have done . There is that Mr Julian Hsrney . I see he haB quite taken your title of' lord ' from yoa , and put Mr In its place . Heat we shall see ' Jack Russell' put in the plaoe of if r , so the sooner yoa adopt my plan the better . What do yeu think , ray lord , I cat myself this _morslug when I was shaving , for all of a sad den I burst into snoh a hearty laugh when I thoueht about yon and Badger ( Grey ) Bull Deg ( Jocelyn ) . and _Beelxebnb ( H . TWney ) , speaking in the House to
please yourselves . First one gets np and assures the other they are under aa _excellent _gerernmeat _, load cheers , } anil that Her _Majeetj _' s _subj « ots wiU twine round them lite ivy round the oak . ( Laud cheering . ) Then np gett another and _eski whether it is not time to pat down tbe seditious newspaper * , ( ' hear and eheers , ) and also to stop all seditious _conTersstions . ( loud eheers . ) When each has done the same , the biggest tomfool ( yourself ) gets np to reply , and assures the hon . gentlemen tbat all thore matters bave her Majesty ' _^ ministers serious consideration , aad that the _neoessary steps will be immediately taken to snpprass those discontented wretches , who are not satisfied to live on a penny a day . { Lond eheers front the Badger party . ) My lord , yanr Chartist friends appear to have conducted themselves very well on _Henday , tbe 10 th instant , although tbey certainly disobeyed you by meeting contrary to your government _nreelsmation , I am A LlBEXAl _/ . HIHDID _BHGLISHIIiN .
To The Sworh Preservers Op The Public Pe...
TO THE _SWORH PRESERVERS OP THE PUBLIC PEACE . _FaiEHDS , —You have been required to relinquish your domestic _affiiis , ond your own Immediate ' interests ' for _tha-allesed ' good' of society . Have you considered tbe ' object' for whieh this sacrifice is required ? Are the ' _intereits' of society _eadangtred hy the ' principles ' contained in the People ' s Charter ! Ara not those * pria . _elples' founded upon the divine and br « ad basis ' to do nnto o thers as you would they should do ' unto you !' Are not the Chartists your servants—yeur eustomersyour neighbours—your fellow men ! Are they not reduci d to the lowest state of degradation by ' poverty ' consequent on the want of employment , occasioned by « competition' and unjust _legislation ! Enow ye not , that yonr 'interests' are intimately connected witb ' theirs , ' that if they sink yoa win be inevitably drawn into the vortex 1
The majority of jour number are electors , you possess the ' power' to redress all our grievances . It would require but little exertion on your jart , to _convert our present ' desolation' to a comparative Elysium . Tha' work'is ' noble' it will ampl y repay any _sacrifice , and is attainable by the simplest means . - Millions' of your fellow countrymen claim it at your hands as their 'birthright *' —tho have hrook _' d their ' giant strength * to supp lication ! The united voices of' millions' have breathed the ' prayer' to yen ! Wbat has been yonr answer ? The _efingiag _csatampt' of yonr' parliament—your crouching assistance to onr oppressors—tbe loaded musket and policeman ' s truncheon ! Think
yon , that the 'love of liberty' is extinguished la the feosoma of yow fellow _btiejja ? Be not mistaken ! There is a ' still smell Teice' that ever whispers the beloved name to ail the ' oppressed '—that * whisper' Villi ere long be changed into the voica of the ' roaring' cataract . ' striking terror to the evil doer , ' and ' judgment' on the ' oppressor . ' It belongs to you , electors , to stay its _tormtB , lest you he overwhelmed , Then come forward on bshalf of the people , demand for them the same ' political' rights _andprivllegesyourselves enjoyshow the same ' alacrity' in the attainment of ' their rights , ' as you have to serve the' cause' of their oppressors , and , you will no longer _dregd the adoption of the People ' s Charter . T . W .
The • Times' Ahd The Specials. To Thb Id...
THE TIMES' AHD THE SPECIALS . TO THB IDITOB OT TBE _XOBTUXBN _3 TA « . Sia , —I beg to caU the attention of the National Convention to the vile and calumnious reports , published in the Tikes newspaper , calculated to mislead the middle classes as to the real power and strength of the _Chartists , by asserting that only 20 , 080 were at the meeting on Kenbington Common on Monday week , when it was proved , by an experienced surveyor , that , at eleven o ' cUck , 150 , 000 were present . I speak the sentiments of thoussnds of the respectable inhabitants of Lambeth , who are disgusted with the abominable proceedings of the special constables in this parish . Several of the tradesmen of the New Cut rendered themselves _conspienonsly disgraceful la the Tork-road , and , notwithstanding tbo opposition of the _Convention to the _motion for the withdrawal of all business dealings with those _tradeamen who acted as special constables , I assure _yOU it wiU be vigorously acted upon in this district .
I trust , when the great day does arrive , that the abuse in the Tints will not be forgotton , and that the day is not far distant when the despot Russell will be hurled from the Treasury bench by tha moral foice of tho people , I am , sir , yours truly , Thomss Pldks .
The Police And The « Times.' To The Zdit...
THE POLICE AND THE « TIMES . ' TO THE _ZDITOE OF THE HOBTHEItf STAB . Sib , —I take the liberty of sending you tbe copy of a letter the Tikes refused to insert , showing ths partial manner they deal with matters likely to bring the enemies of the people into disrepute . Every word contained in that letter 1 can prove by respectablo witnesses . If yon think it is serving the cause of right against might , by publishing my statement in the Stab you are at liberty to do eo . I am , sir , your obedient _s M . P . Leb . A subscriber from the commencement .
TO THB EDITOB OF THE TIHES , Sis . —I observe yon allow a person signing himself E . T . C , to express his satisfaction at the conduct of the police , on Henday , at _Blsckfrisrs-bridge ; permit me , through the same medium , to express condemnation of the orders given to stop the people from going _trertbat bridge * I was one of those wbo joined the working people to assert the right of meeting to petition thelegisla . ture . The leaders having advised we should disperse on Kenningten Common . I left with my friends to go _hrnae peaceably , if I could , but in attempting to paes the bridge I was struck a violent blow witb
a _bludgson , although I produced my card , which would prove I was on my direct way home . Knowing , ss they did , tbe people did not intend _coming back in _proosssion , It appears to me they conta have no other object Jn viewbut to ercite tbe people to a collision . I am glad that the people did not retaliate , and I am certain the excellent conduct of the working men , on that memorable day , has raised _ibesa fifty per cent . In the estimation of the middle classes . Trusting you will , in fairness , publish this , I am sir , yonr obedient , servant , _Albcmorle-streot , Clerkenwell , M p Lee . April _18-. h .
Police Brutality. To The Editoe Op The N...
POLICE BRUTALITY . TO THE EDITOE OP THE NOBTHEBN STAB . Pib , —Is it possib ' e they caa call this a Christian country where hired _uBeaEsins are employed to murder people * Tbis I can prove to be trne . I Bm the _wem- _^ n nho viae knocked down by tha police and trampled on It v . aB reported I wbb _killoa _. but I am not yet out ot Sanger , and it was four hours before I came to myself . When I _attempiol to rise they _knocked me down again withou t any provocation . I was merel y asking an old woman the way to the _Suspension 'bridge , when she said , ' they are ia search of somebody . ' little thinking they wero running at ua . I never shall forget her , how she begged of them to let her go . I saw them beating
Police Brutality. To The Editoe Op The N...
her , when thsy knocked me _dewa . I should llko a deeto ? to view the marks of violence on my person , I wanted my husband to send and let yen know at the time , but he said there was ne redress fer the poor . I hiari a person , whom I _ocspeeted to ba a -special , threaten Mr O'Connor ' s life , I would hare wrote before feat I hava not been able . I think they have hurt my heart , as I bave bad a pain in It ever since , I Bead you this on parpoBa to expose them . Pleats to excuse had writing . I remain , with " . respect , yours most truly , 4 , _Samford-street , " Scoah Da VET , I ' ortman-mBrket _j _. Marylebone ,
English Liberty. To Tbe Editob Ov The Ko...
ENGLISH LIBERTY . TO TBE EDITOB OV THE KOBTHEEW STAB . Sib , —I am not one of those who are disposed to attach great importance to _t'ie new ,. Treason Aet . The law can hardly be made moro rigid tban it is now . In my opinion , no people in the civilised world live under Bore stringent laws _' thon the English , with respect to the liberty of the press , of speech , the right of assembling to disens * political grievances , snd the _rjjht of association . The pretenee that Englishmen -possess . those right ? an * privileges , for which the French , Gorman ? , and Italians have lately contended , and that successfully , is the most abaurd of all the lying pretences of our aristocracy and their dupes . Let no see what are the rights of Englishmen , _inde _» _psudently of tho new act .
Rights of Discussion , —Any man who speaks or writes anything , calculated to excite dissatisfaction In the minds of tbe people , with respect to the government of tho country , is liable to be indictedfor sedition , and Sped and imprisoned . There is no country on tbe face of the earth where the law is more rigid—not even Russia , Poland , or Spain . Under this law , in the years 1889—40 , and 1842—43 , hundreds were convicted . Tne _Gotiemmewt can select any Advocate of Popular Bights and sacrifice _iim . —Its power is as great as that of tbeFreneb Kin ; before the first ( evolution , tO _isluB Utlrcede cachet . The judges , nho try the alteged i _fivndor , are ereatures of tbe government , and the juries in the rural districts , an ( ha saris of the landed aristocracy , _Thejudgea themselves , in the Court of _Qunrter Sessions , are _uristo . orats , all of whom are made judges by virtue , or ia consequenceof tbeir territorial possessions .
, It is true that the people are permitted by their masters I to violate the taw , so long as no practical result Is likel y to follow from their grumbling—so long as the efforts of ths people ' s orators are weak and manifestly ineffectual . And tbis enahlee our lordly masters to tell foreigners that we enjoy free discuasioa ! And foreigners , not knowing that all this depends on the sufferance—the mere will and pleasure of the aristocracy , believe 1 heir statements ! And the speeches of foreigners , In praise . if our system , are triumphantly quoted in our P _* _r'ia . ment . Never in the world ' s history , was there so conning a contrlvanoe to enslave a great people , to cheat them witb appearances , and to deceive the world 1 It ia perfectly unique—exclusively Euglish ,
Men of commanding talent and elevated position , knowing that they would be seteeted for sacrifice , nnder a law which eaablosa government to choose its victims at pleeaure , usually refrain from joining the popular Cause—unless it is supported by a powerful section ofthe aristocracy . It is true that the Whig _arietocraoy have occasionally sided with popular demands , in order , by means of the popular voice , to eject their opponents from the ministerial benches , and , on such occasions , the law of sedition has been violated with impunity ; and , I may add , tbat petitions got up in tbe same manner as the great Chartist Petition is eaid to have been , were deemed highly important by Whig aristocratio agitators , notwithstanding the assertions of the Tories , thatthey were mere farces , like county meetings , an & that the signatures _werefictitions , and , for tho most part , written by _persens paid so much per day to display their penmanship .
Tht Bight of Meeting to Discuss Grievances . — Meetings of more then fifty persons , debating societies , and reading rooms are almost invariably illegal . The country justices can put them down when they like . Tha consequence of this _tsthet in most places the peopio are afraid to express any but slavish political _sentiments _. The tavern or publie-faouse keeper who permits a meeting of parliamentary reformers to be held Ih his honse , rune she risk of _lesing his license . Any landed aristocrat called a justice of the peace , may treat him es a criminal if he allows any newspaper to bo read in hia house , which tends to mako people dissatisfied with tbe existing order of things . A justice of the peace may attend a political meeting and order any speaker to ba taken into custody if he _spsake against the government , and may order the meeting immediately te disperse on pain of _tranportition .
The right of heating _areis .- Any persons' s een walkin g in step and learning io act together , may bo arrested _sb criminals . This law may he violated with impunity hy soma classes , bat not so by others . This BuVjfct of English liberty , Hr Editor , is one whioh ought to be exposed fully . It is time for the people of this country _^& nd for the nations ef Europe , to be informed of the actual extent of the boasted _liberty of Englishmen ; as to the Americans , they know all about it , end look upon tbis couatry as the most downtrodden in Europe . They know what our laws are , by whom aad how they are administered , and are fully acquainted witb the whole trick . They know that the aristocracy have monopolised the land and entirely governed the country for their own aggrandisement , under the hypocritical pretence and outward form of popular representation .
You need not tell the Americans anything about this , they understand it fully ; but it is high time to lift the veil and expose the deformity of our institutions , to the wondering gszo of Europe . Pray do not talk about legal and constitutional _rights , sueh notions sbould not be treated as realities , —speak of natural rights I As a lawytr , I will venture to affirm without the feor of centradiction , that the laws of England on the subject of libsrty , really amount to this ;—' Be it enacted that notfi _' _tip- shall be printed , written , or spoken that may be _displeasing to tAe _o-ouernment . That no palitical meeting shall b > heU at which there shall be any speech delivered calculated to excite dissatisfaction . That no _political association shall be allowed wbich tbe government may object to . That there shall be no debating society without the permission of an officer of the government . Nor shall thei-s be any large meeting which the government may be pleased to prohibit , ' I am , Sir , your obedient servant _. Ah Advocats .
Friendly Suggestions. To Tbe Zdltott Oz ...
FRIENDLY SUGGESTIONS . TO TBE ZDlTOtt OZ THE _NOBTHEBK STAB . giE . —Permit an ardent lover of our oemmon oountry to address a few words to tha present National Convention , to these who may be the members of the next Conveation , to tha Chartists generally , and to the friends of humanity throughout the British empire . _Ndtbiogis more dear than that government do not Intend to _coucedo the _Charter , nor , perhaps , any _conn ! - derable pari t f it , or rather no part at all ; and nothing ia m ors certain than that , in this _retusal , they will be backed by tho whole of tho aristocracy , And , when this refusal shall be ' announced by government , let not the people be precipitate on the one hand , nor discouraged on the other . The peop ' e have vast power In their hands—vast moral powtr . Let them be inatructed to know It , and let them he instructed how to tine it .
1 . Itis well _known that tbe industrious classes pay most of the taxes cf this country , some of which might be entirely avoided , and all of which _mig ht be diminished . Let the National _Assembly take this subject np , and , j am _? ng _others , 1 st them not forget intoxicating drinks , articles from which g _ivernment derives no small rev ' e _* _- nn « s , and also tubaceo . 2 . Let them organise a regular system of agitation , instruction , and political education , not forgetting the midland boroughs , where an incredible amount < . f ignorance prevails , but which , nevertheless , possess great _pollt _' eal powtr , inasmuch as those very borough 0 send members to parliament , and who mostly _aey ' no' to every good and Radical measure proposed to the House of Commons , 3 . The working classes lire by wages . These wages they have a right to spend upoa friend s or foes . Let them be taught to spend their wages upon friends , and not upoa foes , and let this be particularly observed In parliamentary boroughs _.
4 . Continue to exercise the right of petition . Let tbo Houbo of Commons be inundated with petitions . Fire * , let i very town , borough , anil locality meet , smdsend a petition from a public meeting . Secondl y , after : _nat _, let every family petition separately . The prayer of all to be : —Grant the Charter , and admit us within the pale of the _censtitutlon : and further , to please those gentlemen who are more fond of eatipg taxes than paying tbem , evtry petition might bo deinaaded to be read . , 5 , Let a general subscription be made throughout the empire of ooo halfpenny per bead , and no more , allowing , however , liberty for other panics to pay for those who conld not pay themselves . If five millions paidsnd I _believo many more would , —It would amount to £ 10 416 13 s . id .
G , _L-t this money be spent in agitating the eonntry , in giving political instruction , aud in printing hundreds of thousands of tracts , and _soUing and gratuitously distributing them in districts wbere _needed , and particularly in _tde _mifllABc * and email parliamentary boroughs , wbere thpy are much required by the _ijenorunt state of the people , a : « 5 particularly the working classes . . I have , within a few weeks past , aakad many ef tha working class in this part of tbo country questions renpecting tho Charter . Soeae of thom had not heard of it , others _askad if the Chartists were soma sect of Rel - _gioniits , and not ono of them know anything of the principles of the Charter . And yet some of them lived in avarliiraieotary borough .
Lastly . —Let me say to the Convtntlon , to Mr O'Con . nor , and to every patriot , ono and all—bs temperate , be prudent , bo _cau ioub . Wo cannot _sparo one for imprisonment , or transportation , or death . We want nil that we have—we want every one of them , for living aud ac . ive service , and we want tea thousand more ,
Friendly Suggestions. To Tbe Zdltott Oz ...
We cannot spare Mr O'Connor for ImprUoument . We want his active services'in tho House of Commons .. w » want htm to set a brave and bold -front against tha olL earehy in a place where they , must hear him ; aud we want btm to present _tboussnde of petitions , if need be , for the _People ' s Charter . Thanking you , Mr Editor , for the service you are _renderlng to the cause of _Dc-mocraoy , I remain , your admirer , Tsmworth . Bl , A _' April 7 tb , 1848 . . _- _ .- . «* _ilt _. _^ l _— _« V _Ttf *
The Mechanics And The Charter. To The Ed...
THE MECHANICS AND THE CHARTER . TO THE EDITOE OF THE _KOBTHEBIf STAB . Sia , —It is with feelings of pleasure that I bave pe . _ru _« ed tbe _praoeedin-js of tbe trade delegates assembled ut tbe Bell Inn , a majority of whom agreed that the principles as set forth in the People ' s Charter , mast be _enooted as the law of this realm , before any permanent good can be effectually secured for ' the working classes of tbis country . I noticed the different speakers , and also the trades that tbey represented , and I am sorry to soy that no one appeared from any ofthe mechanical trades , not even from that portion of mechanics which tbe Stab laboured so hard for , wben they were engaged in the Newton conspiracy case . Now , I would ask , if they ( the mechanics ) are so well to do as not to want a
political and _soelal change , that they do not send delega tes to devise some plan whereby the moral _influenee of tbe trades might be brought to bear on the present corru pt House of Commons ? Or does it arise from & want of sympathy for _thase who have been thrown into the street to starve , through the application of machinery to do tbat which they have served an apprenticeship to learn V If so , let tbem look to tbeirown trade , and ask themselves how long will it be worth calling a trade ! Again , let them look to their own trade reports and thoy will see tbst there aro some hundreds of distressed mechanics walking the streets of llaneheeter , and to relieve tbese men a _twnevolaot committee waB appointed , and they have paid sums from 3 s . to 10 s . a week to each applicant . In tbe Stab ef April 1 st there
appeared an article setting forth the alterations that had been made ot a delegate meeting of the _mechanics ' society , showing that they had df cided on giving te each unemployed member the sum of £ 19 . Hu . in one year , instead of £ 7 . 10 s . as they , up to that time , had been accustomed to do . Does the absve _nots © J ? tbat they , as a trade have been and are _suffering , from a wild and reckless speculation , fostered by elass legislation . It may he asked , why do net the mechanics of Manchester o- nd delegates to the trades committee tbat Is now sitting at tbe Railway Inn ? Is it _beoausa the cry of no politics ie raised in the _socioty , or is it because fhe seeds ef dismemberment have been sown by tbe
executive of lhat society that so much apathy exists 1 Let the members look to It , for It behoves the merbanieB as a trade to be up ond doing . The present critical times call on them to come _foroard . The sufferings of those in the bastile , tbe oakum shop , and the stone yard , call them to their duty . A word to thoso mechanics who have been sworn as _special constable * . Are you willing to be the tools of tho present tyrannical factions in power ! If net , speak out like men , aad do not be crying if a row takes p ' ace , so tbat you will be missing , bnt tell the powers tbat bo , in n way not to be mis . understood , that yon will not Interfere with the people now seeking redress for long-standing grievances , but rather assist them in getting their political rights . A Wkm . _Wishee . Manchester , April 16 , 1848 .
Petitioning-. To The Ecitob Of The Noeti...
PETITIONING-. TO THE ECITOB OF THE _NOETIIEBN STAB . Sib , —Allow me through tbe medium ef your paper , to suggest to my brother Chartists , the propriety of making the qualifications laid down in [ the People ' s Charter , for an elector of a member o ! parliament , the qualifications of tbose who in future shall be deemed eligible to sign petitions to the legislature . Thia would show the martow otouv strength , and , as it appears to me would give greater weight to an appeal than when the names of our female friends—and I am not the man to _dinparage them—or our sons , under age , are appended , If to tble fact thero be also added the residence of any disputed name , as to its reality-snch as ' _Oldknow _, ' 'Stronginthearm , '' Gotobed , ' oni others , which , though not common , are the names of tradesmen in our metropolis—thoy may be at once verified .
It may alio be greatly to our advantage that a com mittee of inspection be appointed for all petitions , especially a National Petition—whose duty it shaU be to ascertain the number , and as near as may be , the genuineness of signatures _. Such a proceeding will be business-like , and prevent any recurrence ef those _ignominious tricks of sham friends and paid spies , who app > ar to have floored our last noble effort to cell attention to our rights . Let out motto be—' 'Peace , _determination , law , snd order . ' Let thoso who in word , or deed , violate this motto , be passed by as traitors to our causa . I am happy to know that the peaceable _proceedings of the 10 th inst ., hava produced a most favourable impression respecting our body , cud that the middle _ClatBos are coming over to onr ranks .
Moral power is paramount to every other , and by it we ehall soon present a phalanx which no human agency can break . I am , sir , yours with respect , April 17 th . Benjamin Cabto . No . 11 , Charles-street , Commercial-road , Peckham .
Hovt To Gain The Charter. To Tbe Editoe ...
_HOVT TO GAIN THE CHARTER . TO TBE EDITOE OF TBE NOBTHEBN STAB . Sm , — The working _clauaeo alone cannoteucceed in ob » talnlng parliamentary Reform , either by persuasion or force . Not hy persuasion , because the aristocracy will not resign power voluntarily . Not by force , beoause the working classes never succeeded in effecting a revolution without aid from tbe other classes . In Prance , Germany , and Italy , the middle classes are with the bulk of the people . Tho government of this country io now busily engaged in increasing the Ill-will between the Chartists and the middle classes . Notwithstanding the fiery speeches of some of tho Chartist orators , the government knew tbat the great meeting and prooessien were to be composed of unarmed men , and that the object of the Chartists was b peaceable demonstration of their numbers .
But It would have ruined the cause of aristocracy to let tbe middle classes Bee all through the streets of London the numbers and Importance of tbe Chartist body ; hence tha procesBiOR was prohibited . And , in order to increase tbe ignorant enmity of the middle classes towards the Chartists , the government pretended to feel great alarm and fear that the _Gbartists were going to attack the City , and plunder the banks and the shops ! Coder this pretence they enrolled tbe special constables , and made them Bwear to be Monarchists , But having _succaedod in keeping _nwaj the greet body of the Chartists from the meeting , the gevernment resolved not to interfere with that meeting , it being quite easy to peri untie the people who were not there , that the numbers were insignificant .
Hitherto the government has adroitly availed itself Of every circumstance to set the middle against the working classes , and it now tells Europe that tho mass of the people are proud of our Institutions , in proof of whieh tbey refer to the display of _civioforce against the Chartists on the 10 th April ( Now the middle classes have as muoh to gain from the triumph of democracy as any other _boJy of them in the _country . And It Is perfectly easy to convince them efthe fact _. The only way to gain the Charter is to disseminate po . litical knowledge . How can this be done effectually ? The answer is that it can bo done only through the medium ofthe press . Let thero be aoheap daily newspaper established to defend tbo cause of democracy at home and abroad , and faithfully chronicle everything affecting the ' state of societj question , ' and the cause of human progress . This alone will suffice to produce a reform in the tone of tho _cotemporary preBB .
_Secondly—Let a penny weekly paper , oontalnlng political Instruction and a familiar explanation of the btne _> fits to be obtained from _Democratlcgovernment , bo circulated everywhere . In order to secure this desirable oVjeot , let competent persons be employed to lecture on Democracy , and Induce as _m- * ny as possible to give orders to tho local _nens . venders for the supply of these papers , and the regular weekly newspaper of the party—the _Nobthesh Stab . Lst a large circulotlon of all of them be secured , and thc sceedy triumph ofthe good cause Is _veittctly certain , v ADekocbat .
The 'Specials .' To »B Lihd1bt, The Eoit...
THE ' SPECIALS . ' TO » B LIHD 1 BT , THE EOITOR OV THB _GABDEHSB ' S
_CUBOMCLE , 8 ib , — From the frequent denunciations whioh have is sued from your _psn against Irishmen as Irishmen , and the fulsome _adulation , which , for seme unknown reason , youhiap on Scotchmon , aB Scotchmen , I _desir _? , though in the assurance tbat you will treat my communication wJth _cont mpt , to set you right upmone or two minor points , wh oh jou have , perhaps , been advisedly led . to misstate . I demand no consideration at your hand ?; Your true charaoter ia well known to many of the unfortunate class whose loyally jou ao much extol , My character , either public or private , Is not affdcted by your _ins inuations or scurrilous attacks . Allow me , then , to profess myself an Irish journeyman gardener , and as such , hated by you . Allow mo , _furtlitr , to state , that I
am employed in Kew Gardens * though I do not know how long I may continue there . I have committed no single ae ' . to justify my _dismiesal , or I should have lorn : Einco been dismissed , as there is little encouragement litre for those ' accursed Irish . ' I havo farther to state , that I hold you to bo part and _parcel of thia system of oppression and intimidation , which is earriod on against u-. Since , you have become a recipient of government bounty ( _'P-i . tat _* _CommieBiou' ) you must uphold tho same—aud , no doubt , hope to sit one day ia the _Erector ' s ehairof this _CBtabliahmont _, to the great annoyance of the public and those employed . I look , _therefore upon _yourjMhticnl cant , in thela BtGABDE _^ _su _' ri _Chronicle as I look upon the parson ' s prajer _foy tha preservation o ' f thu abominable system of _claa . * , og _- lBii , v n _ bot « nre _, _&« venal _eftsrlngiQi paid serv « _t 9 i You _preaohno-n
The 'Specials .' To »B Lihd1bt, The Eoit...
Interference with polities , far you know the _raaBoea are already too muoh exasperated . Bat when you fear the government will overlook , or underrate , your extreme loyalty , you stand forth as the marshal of that unfortunate class , whom yon designate as intelligent and peaceable , but whose intelligence and character you have hitherto repeatedly attempted to deny and injure . To marshal the gardeners of Kew , _Chlswlck _, Syon , Pine _Appleplaco , _< 5 io „ < 5 ro ., t o arms . What a gallant colonel they have got to be sure ! You are a political partisan , or rather , n government tool , and hope to lead the gardening class tobattlefor tbo continuance of & system which maintains you In a position from which yeu may cast obloquy and denunciation upon them . And they , poor , misled souls , marvel at your bravery . Bat , & s to these ' specials , ' who figure prettily in our courts of justice , as l . _iiXnunns _vrvlttl _fiStlltt _** 4 a « _i ftnn h-nrtn _6 tiA _vnnnana mm ft
_thodlstnrbert ofthe peace . You ate inclined to throw your editorial authority into the cause , and to offer , as the exponent of the feelings of gardeners , their entire confidence in the present system . Out upon you ! You _hootf that you ara not their organ , Yon know that the majority of them look upon you as their most bitter enemy , though they dare not say so , for patronage is still potent , and gardeners live and breathe by patronage . I have been denounced by the authorities hero for interfering in political matters . Yet the government official caa come and _lecturo me upon the horrors of Chartism , and the blessings of class tyranny , and , spitting venom upon the glorious principles of equality and fraternity , demand that I would swearallegiap . ee , not to tbe Queen , but to tbe troops of corrupt justices of the peace that are scattered about , for tbe honest individuals dreaded
no annoyance , I am no Chartist but I cherish their principles . I am no destroyer of property , but scruple to venture the destruction of my own property ( labour ) In the cause of those who deny me the ri ght which that labour should confer . I told the official that' I was one of the people , end not allied to the government . ' I did not enrol myself , but declared my intention to resist , to the bent of my ability , _onyattemptto destroy property , especially public property . Private property It another thing . I have none of it , as I support myself by manual labour . I held that any attempt to destroy property would lead to a deterioration of tho value of my labour , I ashed If this step was optional or compulsory . I was told it was optional , Therefore , not aware of the purpose for which my services as a ' special' might be used , I refused to ran the risk of being obliged to _for-Bireas * _mygalf , as would havo boen the _caso bad I boon called to attack my fellow labourers , except in tho
preservation _« f property . As to your statement about four bein j Irish , I am surprised that all the establishments about tho metropolis could not furnish more . What _dlsaffocted scoundrels they mast be . Kew furnished three of these . There was a _foreigner here , but he was not called upon to enrol himself . But tbere was not only an _EHglishmati _^ _e you state , wrong-headed enough , but a _Siotchmea ( do yoa think all Scotchmen are servile ?) who nobly refused to rank himself amongst the brawlers who went tip to the vestry table in v _< ew of the authorities—refused to comply with the form—and there were two other Scotchmen who demurred , but , by the fear of crucial persecution ' , they succumbed , aad swallowed the oath , and now curse tbe action . I will not allow you to misrepresent ma while there is a free journal In the kingdom , nor misstate facts , thereby giving false confidence to the tyrants who must , one day , be undeceived . _ROBBBT R , _Bcorr , _Ksw , April 16 tb , 1848 . of Belfast , Ireland .
#Dr Linclaj Lately Recommended >Ba Dlemi...
# Dr _Linclaj lately recommended _> ba dlemisial of certain ' evil _sniritp , ' whe sought to draw attention to the state of Kew Gardens .
The Way To Conquer The Bank. To Tbe Edit...
THE WAY TO CONQUER THE BANK . TO TBE EDITOB OF TBE _NOtTEEIlK STAB . Sis , —About tbe year 1810 wo had in this town of Rjmford , a bank carried on in the ] name of ' Joyner SurrMgo . _tnd Co ., ' both very high , consequential Tdries , of great tyranny , looking on every one but their _6 WH friends , as so much filth . At tbat time a _' person ofthe name of Jacobs , & tailor , commenced business opposite this said bank , be was one who was always for a ' spree , ' very much te the annoyance of tbo high church bankers , Having to take a ohecque to this said bank , be was taunted and jeered at in a manner quite uncalled for , and thereupon took tho following method of revenge : —Having a £ 10 note of theirs , he went back instantly , and demanded gold fer it , which was paid directly . He then went to his neighbour , and asked him to oblige him with a £ , 10 note for gold . He took that to tbe bank , and so continued nntil he drew between £ 200 and £ 300 in gold . This compelled these Tories to beg the tailor ' s pardon .
Cannot you make auy use of this anecdote in reference to the bank that was so prepared last Monday week to pay us in a different manner ? I remain yours , die . Romford . ' T . S „ A freeholder of the counties of Essex end ' Hants , and fl ten _yoars' subscriber ofthe Nobthkbn Stab ,
The Special Constable3. To The Editor Of...
THE SPECIAL CONSTABLE 3 . TO THE EDITOR OF THB NOBTHEBN STAB . Sjb—Tbo lies so abundantly circulated on this subject demand some notioe . If these men enrolled themselves for tbe mere purpose of protecting their own , or their neighbours' property , they have done what w » s perfectly right , and what the Chartists , I presume , would he very tar from condemning ; but it in to be feared tbat a large majority of the special constables havo much worse designs , and that their object is to put down , if th e ; can , an ; expression of political feeling hostile to the government . That this would be the _casse with very many in and about London , there caa he no doubt . The baseness and servility of shopkeepers to those whom they think above them , Is only tobe equalled hy their Insolence and tyranny to those whom tbey suppose below them . I mean this , however , to apply chiefly , to those who call themselves { Treat shopkeepers , for I am well aware tbat there are many thousands of Httle ones as eager for a reel political reform as the Chartists themselves , though they may not be enrolled formally among them .
Of the class of clerks It Is almost superfluous to speak ; the slavery of the negroes in Brazil , is hardly more degrading than that in which they live , and , as may readily be believed , its natural consequence is , that you rarely indeed can had a man of independent thonght among them . They _se & _rn tt > glory in the shame of their _servUity . If this be generally true , as it is , of mercantile and banking houses , what can it bs supposed to be of the Bank , the Castom House , the Excise Office , or Somerset House f As to the poorer _otass , let me ask if it can be thought , that workmen attached to the Italian Opera House , and many large establishments that might bs mentioned , were free agents ? Ono young man of this elass , owned to me that he had expected to be paid ; so , [ no doubt , did many more ; not excepting the coalwhippers , with whose devotod loyalty the honourable House of Commons appeared to be bo enraptured a week or two SCO .
I allow , then , that large numbers wonld make themselves special constables ; but that the lying press _HeB upon this point most audaciously , is evident . The great liar of all , the T \ _mes , says there were 150 , 000 special constables , and only 10 , 000 Chartists ! I will just observe , that living in Kennington , as you will see by my enclosed card , and witnessing all that passed during the whole of tbe 10 ih of April , I hesitate net to affirm , that & more Insolent falsehood tban that of tho Times , was never published . My calculation ( and I am not a Chartist yet , though approving the Charter ) , would be that there were 100 , 000 Charlists , and if I * rr , for I am not accustomed to estimate the numbers of largo meetings , I am sure tbat my error is is under and not over calculation _. As to the special constables , I was told by a medieal gentleman , who was himself one , that in the whole district ( that of the very place of meetins ;) , there rrere but it > 9 . We may _) _udge'b y thb of tbe J 0 » , 000 ,
If a collision had unfortunately taken place , I leave It to any one to say what tha physical strength of shopkeepers and clerks is , tn comparison with that of mechanics and labourers ; were I to guess , it woald be that one of the latter class would beat five of the former ; the hands that have been used to nothing but the pen , or the cloth yard , would fare but ill when contending against those accustomed to much heavier articles . The Great Liar also says , that the countenances of tbe women and children at the windows were full of alarm ! My son , aged sixteen was on the Common , and one of my daughters , twelve years of age , was delighted to accompany an elder sister to the road , to see ths procession , where they met many of the ladies and children of the neighbourhood . Zm .
Case Of Tyranny. To The Editob Or Thb No...
CASE OF TYRANNY . TO THE EDITOB Or THB NO & Ta & BH STAB , Sib . —You wonld oblige me very muoh by the publication of this short letter , a copy of which I sent to Mr Thomas Cubitt , after discharging me , because I refused to be eworn as a special constable , He has not replied to It , and for this reason , I think I am justified in making it publio with a few _romarks upon it . You will _aoe , by tho letter , that I had several interviews with him and his foremen on the day of swearing in . One of them , a Mr Porter , engineer , said to me , that he was given to _underetacd that I was _continually agitating and influencing the re & t of tho men in the employ , which ho said I ought not to do . I told him that I was only doing my , duty , and that , whenever I had an opportunity , I wouid do so still until all men wero _acknowledged citizens .
_Another asked mo hew I got my living , and who employed rae « I said , of course , Mr Cabitt but , sir , I said , how does Mr Cubitt get capitnl to employ men with ? Such men ae the ono you arc talking with , create tho capital for him . Another commenced an attack upon me , and asked me whai we wanted . I told bim that _waaught to have a gventar share of what wc produced . Sa said , he thought thirty shillings per week was capiSal remuneration . 1 said , sir , why should you bave three pounds per wee * * , merely for wutching , aa it were driving me at ms worl £ > _like a ca _- _? Awe th'i horse , deficient only of a whip 1 DoeB uot my child _require as good a coat , as Sine * ! victuals , _asgoodeducs . _iiou _, and as good a house | to live ia as jours 1 I _asked him why all this _difference ? I aud his reply was that this _wrm foreign to tho _queBtiou . [ I said , it was the very < _- . 0 ul of tbe question . I fairly beat | them , and _tluy all p- Vo It up , Th- ro Is one thing I with , , to _rimark , before 1 ooncludo thia letter , and tha * - is ,,
WtfVt «** i * a _«> _£ * a _iam . -, **? - »_ _ _ w ' with regard to _itnaa ef » y mates , who . I mast _»& y _aetedft very _unmauly part , because they swore bitter * * i they would not be _swora ; bat the moment they came in contact with Mr Cubitt and the magistrate thev forgot their _pramlsss to ns and their oaths , ahd al lowed _anothsr cSaln to be pat round their necks and tn fond did some of them appear to be of kissing the book iu the gentlemen ' s presence , that the magistrate had a hard matter to get the took away from some of them Some _ofthsse mea say , thej are as good Chartists as I am ; but let me tell them here , as I told tbem to tlfiir faces , tbat tbey are as gnat enemies to tbe _oanss _sa Hr Cubitt , _beeauio he that ie not with ns most ba against as . Great Sod , when will ' working men act honestly to one another 1 But after all , Mr Cubiit Is not everybody . Neither has he all tfce work in the kingdomaHd I hope the day is not far distant , when by our glo . ' _rfous Lmi _ethtme , we shall bid defiance to all mono _, _polists , of whatever cast or colour . April 18 tb , 1848 . Aw Oid 6 _uaid ,
Letter To Mr Thomas Cfbitt. Sib,—Will Yo...
LETTER TO MR THOMAS _CFBITT . Sib , —Will you condescend to allow onr , wbo has for the last two years helped to enhance your property , and who caa defy your foremen , who bave bad the superintendence of me for that time , to say that I ever shrunk from my duty at any time to you in the slightest degree—I say , will yoa allow me to ask you , why you refused me the exercise of my own opinion as to whether I would be sworn as special constable , when I told you and the clerks , who _accestad mo in your presence _, that I objected upon political grounds _altogether ? I said , jou io not allow me to exercise ray own judgment npon any case as regards _legislation , while I thought it very strange that you should think me qualified , all of a sudden , te be a special coaetable . I tbes said , if yoa would give ms tbe vote , which all now acknowledge ) to be right aBd just , I _would then gladly fill any _aitna . _tien in the shape ofa national guard , & e , but I would
not otherwise act . You tela me it was not a political question , when , at the same timo , a magistrate must swear ns In . - You knew well it was political , but yoa dared not acknowledge the fact , tbat if workiog men had their political rights , you would not dare to coerce them , nor monopolise trade as yoa do . But the particular question I wish you to answer is this , why you should have acted ss ungentlesanly to me in discharging me , after my foreman , Hr South , declared it was optional , and I might return to work ? Now , sir , placs yourself in my position , or f « ncy yourself ' treated as you bave treated me , merely for exercising my individual opinion , and yea must como to the conclusion that a more tyrannical act could scarcely have been , But wbat use is it to talk to men who won ' t reason with you . I feel justified in sending these few lines , hoping yeu wiU favour me with a show reply , for which I will wait a day or two , I remain , _yonrs . & e ., _CHAiLES GwiLUAM , April 13 th , 1848 . Bricklayer .
The Cause Of Disaffeqtios, To Joseph Bcu...
THE CAUSE OF _DISAFfEQTIOS _, TO JOSEPH _BCUE , ESQ ., M . J ? . s _« . —I * is defective lerialation that has brought the eountry to the present peculiar bat critical predicament . It is the extravagance and bad management of the cor * rupt _portion sf our rulers , which have raised a spirit of discontent , and kindled a fi _* me which , if not promptly attended to , by timely concessions , may terminate even in the overthrow of monarchy _itsrif . It le tba pressure of avarice and arbitrary _law » of whieh the millions complain . It is the want of a fair representation in tha Commons of England , and of disproportionate taxation , at whieh the working _elassee chiefl y feel aggrieved . The _eonstquence of evil is always ealomitous , and never did a people in the remembrance of man writhe under the effects of despotism , or more peacefully endure their sufferings , than the working classes of Gnat Britain at tha present period . There are tens ot thousand * in tha
empire whe are peacefull y pining ' away their miserable existence by the dint of misrule and tbe withering effects of nnnatural laws passed by the influence of dot signing men . It Is heart-rending to see the amount of human wretchedness , which our large cities and towns at the present moment present . Men willing to work are idle in multitudes , and the streets , lanes , and alleys of our manuf » oturinx lownB , present _seenes of misery beyond human _deecrlption . This is more remarkable as it happens in the midst of plenty , and ia a land said to be tho most humane and _Csristlan in the world . Yet these individuals in their sad extremity , are compelled , by vicious legislation , to pay as much for the ordinary necessaries of life as the richest in the land . Tha principle of _Indirect taxation may be human law , but it is bad philosophy . It is neither founded upon reason , nor in conformity with ths law of nature , or of God . It is only from such men as you ihettbe people can expect a redress of their injuries , for the corrupt party in " thej
state have no sympathy with their wants or _ieellngs ; they seem infatuated before their fall , for they _willnos hear the voice of the charmer , charm he never so wisely _. What an amount _efbnman perfidy is presented to tba pubiie , by almost every act of these destroyers oftho human _ffiaily , A poor man may pine , hunger , and die , while the sons of the aristocracy are pensioned upoa tho public , and the earth , the property of the Great Creator , appropriated for tbe benefit ofa few , who misappropriate its proced in deeds of folly , or squander it In superfluity " or vice . And is It to ha wondered that God should visit far these tbiags f No ! forhe hath declared , — ' I will proceed to do a marvellous work among ; the people , even a marvellous work and a wonder , for the assumed _wlseom of the wise men shall perish an * tbe understanding of ones thought _pradent shall be hid- ' Thus , In every age , perish the workers of iniquity . Tana comes suddenly the _retributivo justice ef Sod . I remain , Sir , _yoorebedicBt servant , _AroLoasoUAi .
Jthe Way To Get The Charter. Birmingham,...
_JTHE WAY TO GET THE CHARTER . Birmingham , April 19 th . Sib , —At I have seen hints from different _oarreapoa . dents in the _Sias as tothe best means of obtaining the Charter , suffer me to _offtrmy humble opinion . Itis this—aB our noble chief , Mr F . "O'Connor , has cemented a union between the Euglish Chartists and the Irish Confederates and Repealers ; I would propose that a card of union be struck , bearing tbe Chartist and Confederato motto , or whatever emblem the National Assembly think fit . T hat each member of the United Chartists and Confederates take tbis card of membership , fer which ho shall pay one shilling . Eaeh card shall bs numbered , and each man ' s name and address taken , as by the _National _Caar'itt Association . The proceeds to be at the _disposal ef the National Assembly . I feel no doubt in my mind , that if thia is carried out with spirit , it would secure ample funds to support the National Assembly . Yours , truly _. One of tbe Old Guards , 205 , Bradford Street . Edwik _Afuaisss .
Opera Palmerstonii , Qrj.E Superspnt (.'...
OPERA PALMERSTONII , Qrj . _E SUPERSPNT ( . ') OMNIA . ( From a German Correspondent . ) The rumoured intention ofthe British Government to protest against the aid afforded by Sardinia to tho emancipated Lombardo-Venetians , offers a good opportunity for _reuieioini / shortly the opera of the above noble diplomatist . Well may , we think , Italy say to _shle protest what _Metternleh is reported to have Bald to that entered by England against the Incorporation of Cracow ' Protest and bo d—d J * However tbe thing bears a realty ominous character , and wo shall treat it as such
That no treaty provides fer , and authorises such & procedure has been shown by others . But let us conelder tbe _morale of the aft * ilr . It was certainly Lord _Palmerston , who , on a very late occasion , praised in the _Heuse of Commons 'the wisdom and _pradence oi AuBtrin . ' What could a geatlemaa like M . de Metternich do hss , in return for sueh & compliment , than pas Lord Palmerston—a visit ia London ! Aside thia and similar tirades , his lordship ' s own _personalperfemances were rather restricted of late . Mr Robert Peel ia Switzerland , Sir Robert _Siiymoar at Lisbon , Lord Canning at Madrid , and a Cabinet Minister In Italy—could scarcely be considered appertaining to the personnel of a Foreign _Oifiee , beaded by Lord Palmerston . Still , tbe tenor of tbe activity of ths above diplomatists was , either » _o » Interference , or interference for the liberal eause . The Turin protest would ba of a quite different character _.
It la not a parly , & _ollqae ef conspirators , or even tho mob , who eject Austria , from Italy , it is the _MAajoir—tha universality of the population . And is It the province of free Eogland to back a pack of most samsainary and stolid tyrants and oppressors f Since Pio IX : gavo a froa press to Italy , now nearly two years ago , a heat of journals have sprung up over the whole _surfaced the penin . _snla . Was there any one of them—was there ever one _singloarticle written in favour of Austriaa rule ? No ; not one . As long as the Iron tola of _secatt _polloe dnn _! geons , chainB , the careers duro , spies , aad _Byoophanta
, was paramount , the nation was silent— £ he _mwnent » h » least vent was given to national sentiment , the people _, break the Imperial ensigns , not only _if _tMilan , nnd _Veaice , but at Rome and Florence ; at tke . _Jatto- .-place expel Baron Neumann , formerly _Aujtrlaa , Minis' _^ r at London , who induced the British government to violate the se-Gret of the letters of brothers _Baadiar / _A to Msszlni , aa event which led them to _thesoaii ' oWt Thirty-three year * 1 ( a mysterious number ) Austria haa ru ' Ud over Italy . Do not ask _Tww ? The shout of _rnrlpg a / id despairing people is u sufficient answer .
It becomes an oppressive task fro vrrito the history of such times , of buoU _mlsdeoca , aa Austria haa been guilty oi iato . Bat let Britain a . taad , _rv » loof of a catastrophe she bas neither provoked , vw encouraged . Tae flood gates of Hia ire and puni _^ _hmsiit v e open ; let none interfere , but soothingly and rsiVtty _i-j such concerns . The diplomafic _covreBpotdenccteur _jd in the Rao des _Capuclns , at Milnn , and elsr . _wbtra , v . m hs soon printed . Wo fear lhat Lard _Falaveision . V articles will occupy somo of tha columns of _tUis _^ _PBa _^ _aLDO Monde . We appeal to the sense and humaalt . v of the people of these _Isl"" _-
Siuitomui, Llth Aj.Nl.—Irritation Is Con...
SiuiTOMUi , llth Aj . nl . —Irritation is continually on the increase . The workmen and _townspoopia assume ' a moat hostile appearance one tnwarda another—the farmer partisans of a republic , tha latte ; - of a constitutional monarchy . SeriouB COB filets haye OQOurred , and Wood haa flowed .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 22, 1848, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_22041848/page/6/
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