On this page
-
Text (6)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Untitled Article
1 HL HODSO ^ TS XETTEB . TO PEARGUS O'CCCJXOE , ESQ , ^ Sra , —Being deeply interested in the improvement ox tie condition of my fellow-being * . I feel compelled to address a few words 10 rcn , and through you , to iie Chartists of the TJnIied * Kii 3 gdoni . I ihould no :. Sir , have taken the liberty of addressing yon , but ~ behevai | r , as I do , yonare a sincere friend to the ¦ working classes—the only really "valuable portion of mankind , and knowing yon to be . actively engaged in defending their rights * and int £ fcts , _ I have made ttcsbold to solicit your attention to thefollowing observations . HE . H 0 DS 0 £ SXZ ^ ER PEARGU 3
We are bofh friend 3 to the producers of wealth—¦ we are boih de-irons of labour meeting its jnst re"ward . Bui the steps each of as are taking to accomplish imiversal happiness to oar race , are" widely dinerenr . whTtst . toe are congregating tbe masses in teas of thoasands , inciting xLeia by ihe moSi powerful oratorical appeals , toreSecten theniear . r at their disposal , to remedy the evils under which they and their girnVring wives and children - groan , i zm endeavouring to shew , by the union « f a fe ^ r individuals retiring from the -political contests of society , hovr the worlnng classes icay in a very short period emancipate themselves froiaihe iliralcloin of a set of heartlt ^ , avaricitm . monDy-gpsping t ^ TEsts , wao look upon lie labe-irrers as uoimEjj
better than animatc-d instrnmenia , to create fortune ? for ; heir inaolenc-2 and extravagant consmnptlei-. TLcngh I fcave taken no active part in politic-, 1 know and maintain my fellow-beings are robbed of tssr political rights ; I know this is a tax-rjdt . -country ; I knevr -pre have a « ar > ed incubus of a Chuci Establishment ; I know its clergymen are "Tnany of them iheiEorf accomplishes bvpccrii-es that t-r . T ? disgrac ? - ! the Esthers who l-ort ttein ; I ki ^ v Tic Corp . Laws are au evil ; 1 aa convinced thai these who have no voice in making the laws of a cotstrry should not be called upon to obey them ; 1 know that short Parliaments , Veto by ' Ballot , no " Property QnaliScaticn , and pa-iz ^ the representatives of the people for their services , are justly requisite "with the present 2 ixangeiu ? Ets of society ; I know the mass of _ the peonle have been design ^ Jiy mis-trained ; I know fhcylmve been taught by hoary deceivers , to believe that God . has placed inen ir >
Tanons situations—thai God aiEicis with poverty hi ; chosen vessels—that tiie more pious and re ^ gnci onen are -under their privations , and the brighter will ihine their glory in the Imd ' of saints . 1 knovr that alnost ail iha ; the clergy preach is humbug ; 1 inoTr all that iLc L-c-onomisis propose as remedies for tire JIr-rre ? ses of the coustr , * are " iiiv .-ffiracio" ^ £ and ^ bsin-d ; . I know ihai the followers of ilaXhu ? , \ \ ~ 1 mot _ Hoiton . and Pouleii Thomson , aretheparik"Frho ough : Srst to try the wScacy of the miser i ' s .-e dociriiiei they hive given to the vroril . Thc-c things 1 kaoTr—bave long known—have long deeply Tenscied upon : and the result of " ny reflection L- the ¦ snongeii conviction thai the producing nilii-jiij iave h in their power , whenever thty liav ^ \ h . e knovrledge . t-o ? 3 a " jcipni-i ihem- 'l-er anyh-ir , TfiLh oatresc'riiisg Zv physical fi-rc-e , J- ^ -t " 2 iion of pr .-periy cr pc-tinoiaiig i&eir lc-rulj xc-ercenary enslavers , in 2 Engla ia = iar ; ce .
Sir , the working elates have bees hitherto oppoi-eJ to each other ; " divide and connner , " Los long bte ; . Ihe motto of tyranny- " Unii-e and conqac-r" sLali LencefoTth bo the motro ef the pro-lndng classes . Uy nnion , the opc-ratives viz ? do anything and everything . Without it , they can d ^ nethlngi Ignorance is the real i ^ lSsh devil of sr-cl ny , going about ? c-eB 5 iig wnom .- "be- may ucvosr . Knowledge is ihe guardian ansel , before vrnom iiniorETJoe i ~ chnseu as the mofning- ' s mist by the F ^ ar bea ms . < Sive to tie working classe 3 correct knowledge , and ffhereisthe dolt vrho "vrill say that thepbj ; ica ! . insntal , and moral fr eedom of cur race , will not bo an inc-vitable consequence .
We have ^ ofran been told that u knowledge is ; povfer . ^ . Wiili this 1 agree : a more correct apho- ' lism "svas never nttered or exhibited . But if know- ledge be power , and the operatives have possession ] of a tm ; and genuine political descriptionof-knovr- ] ledge , hovr does it happen they are in t 3 : eir present : disrresied circumstances ! The answer is simple . ind clear—the labouring classes are nc : in the right . description of knowledge , or they vrtreld- long since ; tave lv > en , to a loin , cnisacipatcd from thtir dii- gra ^ sfnl fetters . i The real , the genuine , the practical information ; "Bxlii the abased millions of this as 5 of other countries nee-j . astheacqniremen : of thefee :-, that labour > is tL ^ - only le ^ idmate source of veahh—that i ^ di- Tidaalitr of interests is incompatible with . the ; greatest happiness of the greatest ausioer—iLat ma-: ciinery musr work for , instead of as at preseat as ^ ast , ths interests of the prcdnc-ers—thai the only j-i *; reniniiera . ting price of laboiir if the toh proda ??' of labo . sr ; and tne clearly developed means hj
¦ much a . superior system ma-y be establish-Td of producing and distributing wealth—of educating in the moat mGral and intellectual manner the rising geEexadon , " and of the most perfc-ct "harmonious mode ¦ of governing mankind . This , Sir , is the kr > owleuge inankiad are in need of—this is the infoiraation they le ^ uire , and which thev must pc » r > issbefore tlity cap feel a deare to really benefit thcm ? . elves , _ or perceive ih-3 sie 3 as of eSeciing thsir redeiapn-ja . Wlrere , I ask , ia the prssrn « i -criHi ? of calling men Tv ^ tnlici , aa < l eipatiating on the numerous grievons evils under irhich they are labonring , ansanding them home with no feasible meacs of redressingtheir wronga—with their passions inSamed bv the
exposiiion of their deplorable circumstances , and j the apparent heartleesness c-f the cormorants wno feiien ' on the blood and "ritals of those ^ vrho are ; forced t-o ^ beg for leave to t-oll , " when yoa have the , meani ! cf pointing om to them a certain unfailing j plan , by which , in a Terr sheri period , they who . are j now the poor and despired , nay produce ^ Terythiag j for their rational consumpaon , at an expense of a j Toy few hours ? daily lkbonr . Where , Sir , is the j Etility of wasting jour Talu&ble time and exalted ; abilities in contending for an ext « ns :-on of political Tights , as a means of erontua ! ly liberating voar fel- ; low-behig =, trhen yon haTe tiiie power of directing ¦ fee £ . Kention of tout ^ ast audiences to practical r o ?« ra ^ Oii 3 , bv Trtich ihej caa iiETcediat-elV : well -cJothe , well ieed , » nd well shelter their "nrtnuTOST ¦ mrea and ofepring . You have , Sir , a : the present ; mpmentj aa immense infi ~ ence aiyonr disposal—yoc i "wield a weapon of mighty power . If ambition or ' popularity ¥ e 3 , feeling of yon ? nature , yon mast be gratified to satiety . You We deservedly the most popular man of the " day with the intelligent opera"ares : yonr sincerity is nnimpeaehable—yonr perse-Tsrance indomitabl !! , and yosr abilities of a Terr eEaltcd kini . Of til men yon are the beat clrcmn- fcstanced and capacitated for tarrying out the following suggestions , whieh I wiih ' deiersnce mbiait to Ton . - I have for some inn « entertained the opinions of Bobert Owsn , not only as respects political and social snangeaents . but also &s respects wliat the world call 5 his anti-theelogic * l tenets . But I . believe I do notl ) oaEt wisn I ay I am not & "bigot to any opinions . I haTe often- thought Mr . Owen ' s benevolent Tiewa would hare met with the attention of many of the religious world , had he not giTen ecpr < s $ ion to hi 3 opini » ns on theology . The social Practicia he reeommendB were to * certain extent znhein ^ enring the ^ poiiod of the Apostles and the « erlj Quistjina , is maj be proved bv referriu' to fiie 4 th chap , of A * fa , 32 nd , 34 th , and 55 th verses and many other bewitifhl passages might be adduced , & neceEsary , to show that Christ and his disciples
taught the principle of a onene * 3 of interest aud com- i jnonalty of propertr . The indefatigable persere- j lance of the social missionaries haa been prodnctire j of great good ; bat !> y connecting , as they mtforrn- j natdyliaTe in too manv instantei , tpeanhitiv * mat- j ters wiih the Jegitimat © and indepentlent subjects of J their lectures , &n impression , I believe , is too preva- s lent among the rcUgions world , that the social '; ameliorations adTOcatedhy Mr . Owen , can only be aiteajpted by persons who deny the trutks cf the I Chrirrian doctrinea . Y « n stand ' in an eminent posi- Mon - * j t-oaEteract the iufiaence of this baneful error . " ] I j I j j i s i I i
ud iwi von arc not charged with the crime of infide-. mdivi-jaal may have value received , where every lity , persons who wonld not listen to me or to ilr . . I n ^ aa ' hour ' s labonr i . ill be equivalent in value to Owen , would gladly lear you point out the-m » an 3 "i its : of every oilier . Thay liiast haro demonstrated for efiecdng nniver 3 al happiness . The principles of i io them the absurdity of ti .. ; praeiic * of buying cheap community arein operation id several phicesof Ame-1 and selling dear , a-ud it ' . 'adenuig infiuenco on the riea , where religion is the basis of the societies , s ^ i £ aest feciin ^ js of our ire .--.. -2 . fc-evidraced -bj TarioM travellers rd writtr 3 , ; ' That the worki ^ c }^ , 3 may emancipate th-mtosronc of whica 1 quote the flowing ei-i selTei bjJ 0 ? r ^ j ^ . , ^^ . evin = ed to my ^ V ^ ¦ -:- ¦ _ . f complite satisfajtion by what we haro alreadv ei-A considerable body of them reside in Kentucky ; i fectid on my es ^' . o , Mar . ea Fen , Cambridgeshire . One inihe Indian territory , one is the Ohio , one inj About six rcosth- a : ; o , being determined to carry Connecneat , and one in the province of Maine , be- ; iii ; vpracti £ ea ^ r 5 te .. ; . fiiiiitedeiertions , andequality mcies the three already mentioned in ] S " ew York ; of rights to enj - - ~ nt .: iu , i offered my land consistjni ; Stai-e . £ bsy a , Te ^^ sablishedupon the principle of a |' of " 200 acres f ^ r the t > n : 7 > ose of formins a communit \ .
Althsii ^ li our i » iiinycrj 3 are hmited , not more than from tMrty to forty , excluding the trustesa , to whom the Jaud is conveyed , -:-iadidate 3 and hiredlabonrcrs , asi " thcujja w- ; nave hsd great difficvilties to overvoscj yet € Tir prospects are most cheering . We have novr : ;; r * y iio'ises in the coarso of erc- ^ ion , and before the iirs : twelve months are expired , every working- "nan in onr establishment will to in posstssk'ii of a ' . y- .:-e ' jr'iis ovm , without dread of rent day , ii :: ? is" <; : ¦ . ' ¦ ocniakcra' bills . , shop debir , &c , as We Laveonroi . il tal ! : •;¦; , shoemakers , and baker , grow ' - u ? o . r ? : ? -j . a . potatoes and garden veictaU-.-s , feed Oi . r . -. n-j perk , muttoa , and oeef , and milk our own c ¦ sv ^ i .
V . ~ L . " ^ av rot tie ] ioi ; est , iaJnscricas Ciiariisis : ^¦ - ' r * " 'T ]> raetko \ Lc * t iliem" = 20 the means of ^ -sta ^ ii ; .: . ; c =..-opera : iv 3 arran ^ tiiiic-nts . a : iu wo shall ! - ' : •;«? v . - > i r-f 1 3 ; -, niingham riots . Ini ) ; aore will ! ' ¦ - ¦ ' " '• : ed ihe ulfgi-at-eful anomaly oi' "ivjiking ' -= - - " ' ' -g ^ u . eicseivec as policme" ::. to iiiaira their i •¦¦ - }" - I . j "« low beings . E ^ tallisii ci-ai : imi ! iuf = and 1 ?¦ ' " ' - } sii-ar liomor ^ uf truolers or tur :: k- s ili opiiig s . " ¦ ~* ht-: . pernii .=-r-Ici : " ihe head ? of-EiiJlan-T ' a . \ z .-irz- j . Bj . - iLe adepiioE c-f ihe r * ri : r :-ij > i ?? -of unitT ; - " - ¦ ' »¦? , tveryti-iug epv be cycled tor 1 L 2 eman-• : : £ : ^ n cf iiificring h ^ iianiv ; . . •' " — : T ° " f ^] ' : i r p 05-: ? d t-1 Z- ? t ; : riO ! l tl " .- ' — VZZC 5-' ¦ ' . ' - ur 1 j ; 'vc 32 ^ fro- ; - 10 i-H' ; voi :.-al- ] : -c : v- 'r ; i' ' " . lurrhcr 1 ::: jiiai . ' ou « - 50 -. < ¦ rj - _ ¦ ' . i ;}^>; o j ' - ¦ - ' -- < leiirul-lc ^ n oiJt-ct , 1 sL ^ ii I . ; j-.-. - .- ) -y to
comniTini : y of propertjj" on the Bvsteia of n ^ i : » d abosr and expenditure ; the advantages are equaP . r > tr 6 cipated by all , without aay distinction iThai--erer . iiey allow no Etranger to sit at mtal = v , i * h tneEi , ya their hospitality is great , and ea .-h .- mmnnirr has a room set ' apart for stranger , , v : th erery reqaia t * fortheir comfortable acconna ^ ds ^; - , Iney are neat and clean , nlmosj Trevor-i d « . -rj ^ - gon ; aud fiir convenienoos about their hon ^ . s L'r : « fctc ^ as , stable ? , &c , they cannot r . 3 xa . , l : ' Aimer , every article of food thai can l ^ pAi . " . ^ Tqp tnt .-Ei 3 is of their own growth ., as « l w--h -- v Eescssary and convenience of life" thevaro ubu ^ d- V-V «¦ - — -
¦¦ Kpplied . ' . " ^ They also manuiairire pearly all ih ? ir o-vra clothin ^ , and make many articks for sale , amon ^ v-hieh **" - -ttiitb-sr , lists , csr-ds , b ^ xe- of bciatifar "ivork-Eaufbip , measnre 3 , wireieve =. Sax eomW . T ar-o 3 = pissfhs ,. rails , wojden ware , :-id "broom ' s . Th-v carry to market most kirds cf kitca-:- ^ vegeiables * they also raiss for salo aban-Jance 0 : c-ir-ien sec- f- t ) crrc-j u ^ scrjption cuarsoa in . thvse Istiiudes , Th * citki aud vilhgeiof the state are moiilv ^ uu ^ Vod nv the ^ i . As they are a p&ople , perhaos , ab ^ ve- ^ il others to he depended tipon for TcradtT an-I sni ? : iuie ^ riiT . 0113 zns . y cny TriiLou ; fear of de ' cvilon . an'i thertrticies rreai ^ vays delivere-l wlar ih-v tr ai---pnictnalitv . * They __ -2 vo ! il lZ zn-aecss- ^ 7 > : : ¦• - r-.. J _ -r ^ . tri :: s Ctieis : iii-ji : ; a dv I ! n 2 ^ Er ^ -iln .: : . r .-- ¦ -:. ? . ! b O&iT pic-r-l-y ; ' . fee rcrj'J-msiijrt , - .-: ¦ . - ... . \ -ji •' ' ii ^ feisas Hiuch vi the road t-j repair a ^ ihc-y pki _ c ,
Untitled Article
and -rrork it as thrv please , and their share is always well done , and to ths satisfaction of the magistrates , ifiey will not scrre on a Jury , nor suo any person at law if they can avoid it . Their dress is " uniform , not costly , being rather of a coarse texture , but neatness pervade 3 every department ; their fields , orchards , fences , cattle , &c , afford proof of it ; and in their extensive gardens all useful plants maT be found , but for weeds one ; might seek m vain . Jheir political principles are strictly republican , viewing all hereditary distinctions in civD or religious GoverEment , as repugnant to the principles of Chris-^ - ^ it ^^ pi ^ e ^ d tl ^ sh ^ efealways
tianity , buchis the favourable opinion entertained of them , that the Legislature of New York , have by law exempted them from all military duty , and from any Sne or tax in lieu thereof . They have likewise paE « d a law , enabling individuals ' who desire to join them , io become divorced . The harmony th . r . t hs . s preyniled so long amongst them is greatly to iheir creuit ; and -whea we consider their Talus in a civil point of view , there is surely reason to hope that mankind will hereafter be wiser than to banish , ry fop 3 i ? L and impolitic persecution ? , a body of people from any country , merelv cbaccount of a few
sing . "The quantity cf Lind attached to one of their rc ' . . ! - . 3 oiiis 13 Taxions , from one to ten thousand :-. ¦ re ? . They buy up i . eighbourin « j farms as the enlu :: ? ment at' their nun ^ rs aud funds make it convc ::: ent . The boundaries of their settlements of L . anon aud Hancock , were formerly three miles spar ; , two farms only now separate them . A travv Her wholes heard of tliese woj'Je , can generally trll when he L ? come to their paisessions , from the excellent improvenients , fences , « xc . w A small stream of water come 3 dovra from the moaintan , noria of the town , near the source of whk-ii r , dam is erected for ihe u < e of the thrashing
mill . Or . e man snpplie ? the mill with slieaves ; it lic-n falls into a fanning mill , where ihe wheat is so com } - ' oic-ly separated , that in eight hours two men can tLra-h and clean eighty bushels . Below this stands the corn or grist-Eiill , and below that the savr-mill . From the saw-mill the stream is conducted by an aoueduct cniler ^ ronnd to the middle of the village , where it is made to pass under a hoilovr tree , for the purpose of turning a largo overshot wheel that serves to work their raat-hinery Prom ; Hs wheel the water is conveyed under ground to the washiEg rooms , and als-ofor watering the -rorK-t . itablc-5 , works , &c .
" It slso supplies ihe mill that savrs firewood , voniids ihe vracd that i « ?»! it for making basket ? , a ::-I : ; afterwards conveyed to different field ? , to vratrr the csttic , &c . Thus is everything under tiiiir control so managed , that nothing is wasted !" 2 sov . % if xe ! igieu 3 societies in America can live tojx-. lier and prosper as we u : c informed these peol > lc « io . will not the samo principles , when reduced t'i practice in this country produce similar eifeet < to tlr-.- ^ i : we heajj of in our transatlantic brethren ? Tbiie i = nothing in the nature of their soil , "i-ater , or anaosphere to give tie Americans an adralita ^ e over us : noriviilany j > er ^> n pretend that human uature in America is sucerior to the iuhabitants of this
couii-! ¦ tr > - . Then , should not ths religious , the coaseipn-, lions , industrious sober operauves of this empire . i be informed of the arrangements and practises oi " I ihv : r Ciirisiiau bretliren on the other side the At-; iautic ! With the talent you have in connexion wiih you , it wiil be easy for y ^ u to arrange laws -and rc-4 pi 2 ailoiis for a society of united interests , com-1 prising people of all denominations , vrho vrtnild ! soouaiiiajs a saiadency of funds to purchase a ? uit-. able estate , oa which the operatives might erect . their ovm houses , workshops , &c , cultivate their , own £ ¦»! Js and gardens , and manufarture their own ; ar-dc : * .- of consuBipiion , and build . suitable churches , \ in wlil ^ h to worship the power who is ths giver of : all th-ir counties . I repeat , you have deservedly the coikSdenca of the producing millions—iacrea / p it by the union of all sects and parties—point Gut to i them the means at their disposal for well feeding , I clothing , sheiteriug , and traiiihig every little boiiTi ? ; the power which farmed us sends iiitu existence . Unmask the j-riestly yillany of the day ; shew : h » ; s . rch hyp-.. jritc-5 of this blood-stained earth thai tiie hour of their dissjlutiou is ai Laiid ; defend the I yiiaracr ^ r of Gcd from the foul blasphemies heapeJ : np ? n i- by canting , lying ,-wretches ; who have ijired ; t-j cive utterance to the most frightful of aM iu :-' , p-saic-s ; who have dared to assert that God has £ ¦ : ¦ t ; some into uie world to be rich and others , to U .-1 poor ; who Tiublashingij ascribe cruelty to tho a ::-< uior of all existence , that God is pLi 3 ? d that some I inoclvl i-e In privation and distress in this world , to i-rare tiieni a joyful reward hercafitr . You , Sir , i ponies ample litarary and rhetorical powers , t « ¦ expose in all their nakedne ^ the cal-omaics so j uryfuselv cast u ~ ; h the conduct of Doi ; v h .
inei-¦ who pri , fe = s to be followers of the mild and charitable Jesus . By men who proftes to be careless 01 the morrow . "Who teach that the treasures cf this world are vaaitses . "Who heg of their listening dupe ? i : ot to lay up treasures of this life , wLere rust , m :: h , s . ad thieves may annoy , bat to think only of the realms bevoud the skies , where , in the ratio the puor have oorne with becoming content anil resignation the poverty and distress bfficled by sraspisK tyrairaical employers , the brighter wii ; bo their golden crowns in the heavenly mansions . Y ^ u , Sir , possess ample ability to lay bare the trickery of priestcraft as well as statecrift , and 1 hupiwij \ : itreat 70- to turn your attention to the s :: Vec ! , aud
¦ . : ¦ : \ ! - ; shew to ihe congregated millions you adorer , that God h ^ s not made nch and poor ; that the extinctions cf wealth and rank are cont < at ; iijnal , not ! natural , no ; intended , nor ever ordained by the 1 ChriEtiaa ' a God . Clear the character of tho great , j inysterious , Almighty giver of life from the mur- j derc-os charges tha priesthood of this vtor \ i have arraigned against him . Shew , triumpliai ;' . ly shew to England and Ireiand ' s dehghtsi li-ic-ni . ig males i and females , that God never sent a smiting little in- } no ^ -ent into the world without having i » nt ample \ prcvisioa for all its wants , aad wLercv .-r thje baoe , i mature age , or gr-oy hairs , are hungry , na . ked , or I -theherl ? -53 , shew that i : ia not an tSzji of thoun-i ktndaKs of God , but cf the ignorance of man , in i iilloTfijig th * bonniios which ProviJinse sends for j th * use of all Ms creatures 10 be moatpoihed by a few id : * , debauched , drone 3 of socieiy , vrho kill ] thrmsalves with an eicess of that for winch bo many } industrious persons are compelled to die i : i extreme ; want . Ask the most piou 3 in-IIvicaaln , if they ; can for a moment believe that a jnst aau benevolent : God would ever ordain that one articl 3 of furniture . plate , in the castlo of Windsor , possessed by a girl ! scarce out of her teens , should be tvorth tho enormous ¦ slim of one million seven hundred and fifij thousand ! sovereigns- —of 3 being who has never been of one ; farthing's service to the pooyle of t : iis kingdom , ] when there are thousands who hvre created princely I fortunes for tho indolent and dissolnio , who are con-; Etrained to experience the very tender mercies of a \ Poor Law Baatile . They who car . so believe of the jpovrer which sends 3 pring , se >; i time , and harrest , ; have ideas of the most derogatory kind cf the eha-! racter of omnipotence . The iniuds of the public ¦ i must he disabused of the errors whieh have been carefully instilled from earliest bildhood . Thev must be taught the fact , that G id sends the means I of producing more than we cai : naturally consume , j They must ba informed of in 2 truth , that the thon-; ' Ran us who are starving are not in want because God ; -ha 3 not sent enough for all , but because in their
! j ignorance they have not mada a right distribution of the blessings which have been sent . They must be taught thai machinery , vrhich is now a curse to -the-working classes , may be made into one of the greatest benefits which has ever been conferred upon man . They must be instructed a = 3 to the real Talue cf money , the nature oi' vomrEsrce , and genuine wages of labour . They m"ist bs -. hown the folly of taking gold and silver in exchange for their toil , and ! have developed to them tha arrangements by which the present monetary sy =-ieai may , vrith the- greatest 1 facility , be supercededby a system of issues , representing real , not nomii . il , wealth , by which every
Untitled Article
render you every assistance my experience may enable me to give . I ain , believe me , in the cause of human redemption , Yova coadjutor , William Hodson , Upwell , Cambridgeshire . 16 th August , 1839-™** 7 ™;*™ 7 distance my : experience ; may
Untitled Article
DISCUSSION ON THE CORN LAWS , Between Messrs . Fleming and .. Gbkiq . Question . —Will a Repeal of ihe Corn Laws produce those ejp ? cts which its advocates would had the People io expect ? This discussion , the result of an arrangement entered into on Wednesday week , at the close of a lecture o : ; the Corn Laws by Mr . Greig , took place in the large room of the Commercial Buildings , Leeds , on Saturday evening last . The time appointed for it j commencement ijras seven o ' clock , but it was half-past seven before anything was done , at which time the room vra 3 nearly fiill . /
Sir . Hobson , publisher of tho Northern Star , opened the business .-of ' the meeting by announcing that he had been appoiuted Chairman for Mr . Fleming bv that gentleman , and that Mr . Sunderlaud wouldofiiciate in that capacity for Mr . Greig . It was the particular wish of both the disputants that neither approbation or . disapprobation should be shewn . 3 Ir . Fleming would address the meeting the first half-hour and Mr . Greig the second ; the speakers would then alternately occupy a quarter of an hour till half-paet ten , when the discussion would close . Mr . Hobson then iatroduced Mr . Fleni'ng to the meeting .
Mr . Fleming " said that in order to show the meeting that ha was not niiacquaiuted with the question proposed for discussion , he would commence his remarks by stating the fact , that , in conjunction with Mr . W . 'Weir , he had founded in Edinburgh the first Aati-Corn-Law Association which had been established ia that city—tho first , indeed , for ought he knew , which had been founded in Scotland . He did this because he then thought on the subject as Mr . Greig did now , viz ., that a repeal of the Corn Laws would confer great benefits on the working classes . -Since then , however , he had come into ctniuist with persons of more enlarged views , arid
tflis circumstance had caused him to abandon his former opinions ; and when Mr . Greig came forward to advocate the repeal , ho . felt . ' -bound to givo him credit for the same good intentions which actuated him ( Mr . Fleming ) under the same circumstances . He had not felt certain till that day at noon that the diM .-:: ss ; on would take place , since ¦ which' time lie baa 'jj-wn up certain propositions on the subject , T .-hicaiie would read to the meeting ,-and"to which he begged their serious attention , as containing , in Ms opinion , a correct view , of the subject under discussio : ; . Mr . Fleming then read tho following propo ^ ilious : —
1 . The true principle of commerce is , that each nat ' . oR t ;; a ll freely exchauge its surplus produce , alter all Us inhabitants haveDeen . fully supplied with its ;> eei . liar and staple products . Tiie remainder is th" wily legitimate surplus . * ' - : ^ llc exportation of absolute necessaries , such as the raw materials or manufactured prodnee re-^ " ! s :: e -fo r food , clothing , or shelter , while any of the hoiue population remain unprovided with any , or at :, of these , is an infraction of free trade , and do-Etrnctivo of beneficial commerce . . ¦ - ¦ " 3 . -Mutually beneficial exchanges can only take £ , ace between nations when these principles have been observed , and , further , when their civil , political , and other , burdens arc assimilated , or when h
su . exchanges , are valued , not according to a riucfiiating money standard , but by the labour mutually bestowed « u the goods exchanged . " 4 . The repeal of the Corn Laws , unaccompanied i- .- other social , political , and financial changes , * > r , ld merely tend to the short-lived benefit of the ; la-. uiacturing capitalists , and those with fixed :: comes , at the expense of the territorial or agriulrural capitalist . Such repeal , in connection ^ vith : no existing home and . foreign competition , would both immediately and remotely injure all . classes of operatives as well as the small farmer . The increased facilities which it would put into the hands of the large capitalists would enable thain to drive he . smaller into tha ranks of the labourers , and they , together with the disbanded agricultural operatives , would have to enter into competition with tho operatives in the alreadv overstocked
mar-J : et ot labour in manufacturing districts . " 5 . There is no sound reason for supposing that on an average of-yean , corn would hi . much , if any , cheaper in this country uuder a free corn trade than under a restrictive-one ; but if it was cheaper , the increased competition between the home and foreign manufacturers , and the new additions to the labour market at home , would speedily screw ' -the'difference out of the labourer , in other words , it would bring wages down to the lowest point . And this effect would , also be . " materially- aided and accelerated by the rapid increase of mochamcal productive powers ^ called into being by the activity of the . competitive principle , and which" by superseding manual labour would tend permanently to depress ' wages , to " tho level of mere subsistence , . while : the market being , through this cause , kept continually overstocked with manual labour , pauperism and crime would
. .. — - .-. " 6 . The repeal of tho Com Laws , therefore , in conncctiom with the present system of home and foreign competition is synonimous with lower wages , longer hours of labour , and increased destitution to the working class . It is no matter to the operative how low the price of provisions may bo if the price of labour or wages is lower . The Irishman who grumbled at paying a shilling for as many potatoes in England , as he could have bought in Ireland for three-pence , was asked why he Tiad left Ireland , His reply was , Bocanse there were no threopeuce 3 to buy tie potatoes . The Corn Laws repealers would take away tho thre « p « noea .
" 7 . If it be denied that wages would be reduced , it is asked—Where will be the advantages of the change to the Manufacturer ! Labour forma the principal ingredient in tho cost of production . The great object of political economists ia to ' produce cheap : that can only be effected by reducing the cost of production , that is—the price of labour . A roduction in the price of labour here is the only rray of bringing British goods on-a . par-with .-those of foreign countries , where lower wages , longer hours of labour ,, and inferior modes of living prevail . The British workman must be brought to the same level to enable British manufacturers to ' prosecute foreign competition ' successfully . Is it worth the trouble of British artizansto agitate for . ' su « h a T «?» llltl
" 8 . The repeal of the Corn Laws is adrocatcd upon grounds eminently fallacious , inasmuch as the repealsrs assume that thero is a greater population than there are Bie » n 3 of subsistence for . This is hot true . The unemployed labour and uriemploy « d land of this country being united and set to work , in connectioa with recant improvements in agricultural Bcience , -would produce abundance of food for four times the present , population . This method of employinc labour and capital would create a large substantial and profitable liome market . The demands of which for manufactured goods , would annually treble all that could be effected by a repeal of the Corn Laws .
" 9 . Home « olonization—he application of British capital and labour to British land and machinery —the ample and equitable distribution of it « products among the population , and afterwards , '" , tho exchange of the surplus with other nations upon the principle formerly laid down , is clearly deduciblc from these propositions as the only national anil effective remedy for the diseases which affect tho body politic . All others are " merely stop-gaps uu--worthy the attention of practical reformers . ¦ ¦ " ' " 10 . These measures would inevitabl y insure an abundant and safe return for capital of every description—yield an ample remuneration for labour —iuarease leisur * and the means of acquiring knowledge among tho whole population—abolish
pannerism and , ultimately , all enmo—and by remoriug the cause 3 of discontent , division , and acrimony from the : different-classes of society , produce a reconeiliation between them , and greatly augmont iudividual happiness and national prosperity ;" Mr . Fleming then proceeded . to illustrate these propositions by various arguments , and we regret that our space will not permit us to do more than brie 3 y to notice them . With respect to the first proposition , he observed , that in order to show that he " . vas correct in his definition of tho true principle of commerce , he would instance that apostle " of ' free trade , Jelinger C . Symons , Esq ., to . whose opinions he-was certain Mr . Greig would not object , as they had been quoted bythat gentleman himself as a . liigh authority during his lecture on Wednesday * Jir
Symons , in one part of his book ( Arts and Artis-:: is at Home and Abroad Jj and he regretted he could not lay his hand on the . passage in question , had givyii precisely the same definition of free trade ai ho ( Mr ! Fieniing ) had doae , viz ., tbat it . was the surplus produce of a country that formed the legitimate object of exchange with Giber countries . Till everybody at jioine was-supplied . with the neceiiaries prouueed at hoLj-. there was no surplus to s-.-ml-abroad . Let them look at th ^ example of IvcLiad . Produce . 91 every da « c ? ipuos , cattle , com , i : c ., was co . uinually Jeav j ii ^ - the shores of that ili-faied fouuuy for wtahii >• inglaud , v . hile it v \ -as notorious that the Irish yrore destitute of the cominone . > t necc-envies of life . This vras the same kiu'l of free trade wliicli , uuder the- present _ circui « 5 ianccs , v .-puld tukc j ) lace in Enclaiid if the schemes of tho n- 'litii-al ejoi > ii !; i := is
were carried nto onset , borne tune rnice a r . uni ; : e oecurrc- ! in « Shetland . -lii ' es . Appiications for assistance w , made to Jijj ^ lis- li cLariiy . The aypeal was responded to ; a ^; d v .-l ; an vessels laded v . ith j ) rovi ? oni for the starving po ^ ub'tion arrived at their port ; , they lir .-ito " > va ; t i ' vv pcveral uays vvlal ? the produce of that ? . i-Inv ] s was being ; : hipi > ed oii lor . ib'ir places . Tin ^ \ v » . ^ a " -i 5 .. L ; : i-i-preoloui-. w . iainpie of tbe bcnelits of free " iradj as uuder '^ tooil bv
Untitled Article
Mr . Greig . It > vas quite evident , then , froni theso examples , ^ that ^ until the staple ' . produce ijf a country had beeii equitably distributed among its / population , that each man should have enoughV that country Jiad nothing to exchange •' with ' Mother countries . He ^ did not get Mr . Symoiis' book till yesterday ^ and was rather surprised at part of ; it 3 contents ; He ^ had ; always understood tnat the prosperous . condition of Switeoriantl : < was shown by Mr . Symons to be the effect of free trade ; but he was delighted to find , on looking into the book , that his oWn views [ oil the , subject were completely borne out by it . ' The ' causo of the prosperity of the Swiss artisan was that he devoted one ^ pdrtion bf his time to agriculture and another to the loom , and before anything was exported , he W ^
was provided with iieceasarieshrmself ; Mr . Symons thus speaks on-this , subjects '¦{— * , 5 Che cantoji of Appenzel presents the maximum of prosberity and contentment among the peasantry of ^ yitzeriand . I had a favourable opportunity of examining them while visiting : my yonerable friend M . Zellweguef . to ' whose eminent philanthropy thij ^ canton chietfy ovres its 1 superior welfare ^ and to Whom Switzerland isiudebted for many of those vvell-appreciated principles of political economy arid social government which . have ' created the prosperity which signalizes her among the nations ot Europe . I visited mauy of the cottages 6 f the artizaris with Mv Zellwe < nier aud was invariably struck with the high : dbgre ? of case and peacefulness they ' exhibited-. - Tlio- ¦ ¦¦ cotta « w of
both these cantons , ( St . Gall and Appbiizel ) are scattered separately over tho vales and •; hills , each standing in the midst of its little estate , -. with the goats or sheep , with their melodious bells to their necks , -grazing oil the land , which is generally pjtsture ^ Tho interipr of the c 6 ttages , . wTiich ai'o built of wood , and cleanly beyond description , are well furnished with every article of cottage comfort . " This condition of the Swiss artisan , ( Mr . Fleming continued , ) > vas somewhat different , was it not , from that of the British haridloom weaver ? : They would now perceiv& that the secret of Swiss . prosperity was that their artisans lived on their own soil , and were riot huddled up in . tpwns as the English were If the advocates of a repeal of the Corn Laws would
propose measurea at the same time by which the workman should have leisure and opportunity to cultivate the soil , arid export such articles of -lnanu ^ facture as he did not require for his own use , they should have his ( Mr . Fleming ' s ) cordiai support ; but so long as their only object appeared to be to extend a foreign trade which already inflicted illimitable injury on England , lie should oppose them to the utmost of hi ? poSver . Ho did not accuse the great mariufacturers of cupidity ; but it was the false system ' they advocated -which compelled them to tyrannizo over their workmen . The only way the manufacturers could compete with , foreigners was by lessening the cost of production ,, and this they were compelled to do eithgr by making tho workman
live upon cheaper food or inferior food j and it did not matter to the latter whether he paid one shilling or two shillings ; for the six-pound loaf , if his wa ^ ess fell in proportion to the cheapness of the brpittl . But , as he had already stated in his fiftli proposition , there was no sound reason for supposing that , upon an average of years , corn would pe much cheaper under a free trade than under tho present restrictive system . In I 834 , tho average price . of wheat in this country wag 40 s . Id . per .. quarter ' .- ' Now'Daiitwc was the port 'from which this country ' obtained its greatest foreign supplies ; and according to an account furnished by Mr . Gibson , the British Consul there , it appeared that tho - average ; price of ^ hcat , for the ten years ending iHSl , bought from the .
granaries at that place , was 33 s . 5 d . per imperial quarter . The shipping charges amounted to about Bd . or 3 d . per quarter ; arid this added to the sum already mentioned , would give 34 s . Id . or 34 s . 2 d . as the average price of wheat , free on board , at Dautzic for the ten year ? .. Tho charges upon importation into EJuglaud , warehousing herb , and thon delivering to the consunicr , free ' - of duty , and oxclusiyo of profit would amount at a low calculation to li ) s . per quarter , aa appeared from a detailed statement furnished by one of tho most eminent com factors in London examined before a committee of the Hquso of Lords , in 1 (> 27 . ( This would make the cost to the importer 44 s . 2 d , on which ho would put a profit of sav
ten per cent ., virhieh would make tho .. sellingprice to the consumers 48 s . 6 d . This would be about a shil ' liiig a qnarter less than the ayerago price of 1 IJ 34 , viz . 49 s . Id . ; but suppbsing , for the sate of argument , thatit could bo imported at ten per cent , less than the general average of this country , then , as a quarter of wheat produced about 120 loaves of the ordinary weight , tub : saving to the consumer would be about one penny per loatV Mr . Fleming was about to show the utter inefficiency of such a reduction to work aiiy material , change for tho better in the condition of the working classes when it was announced '' . that his timo had expired , and he consequently sat down .
Mr , Greig , in commencing his address , said that he concurred heartily with much that Mr . Fleming had that evening advancod . But he had made a mistake with regard to . Switzerland . He , Mr . Greig , was firmly convinced of tiie benefits that country derived from free trad p ; and when- lie found his opinions upon that subject advocated by such a man as Mr . Symons , itpaused him to Vo more firmly grounded than ever in the vie . vs ho . entertained on that subject ! Mr . Fleming b-. d giveii them to understand that the prosperity of Swit ^ ailaiid was owing to their not-exporting thoir manufactures till all at home were supplied ; but Mr . Symons , - Miv Fleming ' s- ' o- * tn . . authority , was clearly of a difterent opinion , and attributed it entirely to a system of
freo tl'ade . After Having stated that Switzerland did not produce more than a third of the food necessary for her population , that she was placed under every topographical disadvantage , and that her soil scarcely produced the' raw material of even one manufacture-in which she excpl ' . ed , Mr . Symons wenton to say : — " 1 know of no 1 country 30 flourishing as Switzerland , arid there are few in Europe less so than _ Franco , and that whiU she possesses abundant 'facilitiesior commercial wealth . . I trace the cause of this signal difference to tho fact , thai whilst the shores and frontiers of France 'bristle with custom houses , and . she possesses tho highest protective tariS in Europe , Switzerland has not a single customhouse—levies not a single duty . and has not one iiro ' -
tectiori to commerce among her-laws .. . The roeult is that capital and iridustrv flow , solely in the most productive channels . Skill and enterprise seek tne field in which they have the greatest natural capacity to excal ; and not being weakened by having to furnish protecti t « props for trades which cannot snpport themselves , they realise a far greater amount of exchangeable prpJuco than could possibly be effeeted , werp they obliged first to purchsso tho other comniodities of life at a protected pricey and secondly , to have their foreign market cramped by tho custom-houses which bar oiit tha foreign purchaser . " Mi-. Syinons then went on to shbrr that France , with her custom-h'buses-, preBcritssd a romarkable instance of the evils resulting froni monopoly . Mr . Grei . ii' then proceeded to pronounce a
panegyric- - -on " . Air . Symona , and said it was well known that gentleman was not a political partizan . llr . S . had visited almost every manufacturing town in Scotland ; . and the rosult of his . jabproua inqmries was , that b ' oth mastcra aridNyorknien . vTithsoWcely a single exception , concurred in stating that they considevedtheonly effectual remedy for the manifold evils under which they laboured would be tho ropeal of the Corn Laws . Dr . Hardingwas sent into another part of Scotland , and his inquiries produced the same result . Mr . Greig then said that the greater part of the propositions Mr . Flemirig had read had very Ihtleto . do with tho question , arid that ho thought the 5 th proposition would be the sum total of any opposition he' could oifer to the repeal . Nowho CMr . Groig ) thought that so far from reducing the condition of the working man , as assured by tho proposition in question , a repeal of tho Corn Laws would raise his wages . And who did they suppose he would bring forward to support his-yiowsf Who ; , dui tno Air
very man . JMeming had quoted aa his authority—Mr . Symons himself . —( Mr . Greig here read a passage from Arts amlArHsnns which fully proYcd . Mr .. Symons ' opinions coiuci'lodAvitliliisown . ) Mr . G . then went on tp show that the present Corn Laws subjected the price of corn to great . variation , aud put it to Mr . F . whether the repeal would not at loast remedy that , ovil . Ho . ¦ ¦ then adduced many arguments to Wore that the price paid for labour depended on the demand ^ and that the ropeal would greatly increase that demand . tle ' . neSfc » ceu . se'd tho J ^ W . ° f prance and wank of spirit , andutributed . ftoir inferiority to the manufactures in i fpyPo ^ to ,. *^ . monopol y they enjoyed -and quoted Mr . Symons tashow tW foreign cornin ^ t bo paid for by English produce ; and that consequently tne demand for it would create an increased demand iorlabour Mr Greig then SLndSS the superior natural resources of this coi ^ trv ™ ,, i ; l
set the Br , t , sb manufacturer above ^ ihe reacirof iQreigu . competition , rf he was only allowed fair oliy for J ^ exertions ; and then sfetei it was aSSy , wiiHsh was held even by many of the Corn Law lepealers themselvea , that arepeal Svouldbefollowed Smv ? f > ' ° . v ' Se 3- Ho then argued that the demand for foreign corn for this couniry would be so great abroad , as to raise the wages of the peasantry in the corn-growing countries ; and that tho < aine increased 1 denjroidfor manufactures would produce a similar effect at homo ; so that tho result of the repeal would bo ai » increase of wages both at homo and abroad - . owing to flio : increased doman Ufor labour . (« ew Mr . Greig ' a time bein ;? up he conciuded an able zd * lms of ^ vliieli we rogret our limits bare not allowed us to do more tliiuf dve a mere outline . ) : . a ¦
I Mr . l-LKMiN ' G said Mr . Greig had commonood bv miputin- co-lum a ffi : s ; ako " rospeotinff ¦ X' -.. r . Symoua " ; ! but ^ c F : cnia < : ? re -oikctcu thaf-ho . ( Mr . F . ) jiad'iot I 9 ^ -v ^ moiis ' s theories or opinions , but his ; mclK . lie would now give th « ya . more fact ? from ti-c [ fame J-OUJV .-C . ( Here Mr . F . read aii ' extract in v .-lii ' - ' h } lr . Symo ; : s disiinctly states that is . v . - onld . Ko ri ^ cci sarv ¦ . c : vo the hnifiish v ,- orknian oO . . a wonklo ? -t . ,: •¦ : ; : i } . on . the' ¦ -ame footing 61 innu ^ -vioii I as-th ^ avcra-jie of tho Swi ^ . a ^ icidca- al ^ Uaa " ) : li viic v . > -nmo : i cl v . ha oo : 3 i ; tvy v « -ore pI ^ cCu In fi- ' r : sa . uOcoiiditiott astho ' Sv . i . warti 2 aur . ' i . V , ( ho ar * ii .
Untitled Article
merits iFor repeal drawn from the condition of those artizans would meet the case , But not otherwise . Almost all the consumers ithere were producers , and little was produced that was not of use to mankind '; while the staple-of Binninghsm was guns , pistols , jewellery ^ &c . j articles of no use whateveV , while thoi'd were millions in England jrho prpduced nothing and ^ ved upon the labours of those vrho produced every thing . Sweden and Norway , ' as they hadbeen described by Mr . Laing , completely bore out . the propositions he had road . In Sweden , where a state of society similar to that of this country existed ,
Spverty arid ; crime ; Trent hand-iri-hand ; while in lorway , where one in every twenty-two of the population was a landed proprietor , and ; wealth was more equally diffused , tne misery and" . crime were comparatively unknown * Mr . Fleming then argued that Mr . Syjnoris and hij brother commissioners in . Scotland , by putting leading questions ; &c ., to the Scotch , had prompted their replies in favour of repealj aiid then quoted tho following opinions as being much more sound and conclusive on the subject . Richard Isfeedham , a weaver , from jBolton when examined before a Committee of the House of Commons , was asked— :
It' the price ' - -of tho necessaries of life were reduced as low as they are in other countries , would it not be a source of relief to the liand-loom weavers . ?—Yes , as far as it went ; but my-.-opinion is , that until the price of coals is lowered , arid cottage rent very materially , any advantage we should get for grain being lowered would be ) ost . "' " "• " f hen you think that a mere reduction in the price of provisions , without a corresponding reduction iii the charges that the workmen have to pay , would npt be a very great relief ?—That is my conyictibn . " Would it put them in as good condition as they were in the years 1824 and 1825 ?—No ; ifthey had their provisionsi given them it would not "
Another operative weaver from Bolton , William Pilling , was asked :- ^ - " Do you agree in the opinion that your situation in 1814 was so much better than it is nowj that eveuif the Corn Laws were abolished it would not make you amends ? " To which he repliedj " The general opinion of the weaivers of Bolton arid of Lancashire is , that if Government Was to to remit everything , and give them every thing they have , the principle of competition would "¦'' hinder them so that they could neither pay rent nor fire . " He was again asked :-r- " Then yoii think it is a bad principle of political economy to break down wages for tho purpose of soiling goods cheap abroad , and you think it is better to lift up wages so as to secure a great and certain market for our manufactured
and . agricultural produce at home ?—That is my opinion ; and it is the opinion of the most virtuous and intelligent part of the weavers of Lancashire ; and it is the general opinion that tho other is the " m # st mischievous doctrine that ever insulted the humaii understanding . " Here ( continued Mr , Fleniirig ) is a wholesale -condemnation of Mr . Greig ' s favoHrite system by the operatives of Lancasliirc ; and as to \ yilliamPilling . ' s idea of the evils of the competitive system , he would call his opponent's attention to the arguments ; and . opinions of Sir Robert Wilmot Horton , was delivered on the Gth hist , at a meetirig at tho Crown an ( i Anchor , arid reported in the Afoming Herald newspaper , the truth of which , he thought , could riot be controverted .
Mr . Greig said that lir ^ F . had contented him self with producing tho evideiico of one solitary Lancashire Weaver —( cries of " two ")—wel ' V two Lancashire weavers to the effect that the workmen of Lancashire were opposed to repeal . But they had only the words of theso two men for it ; while ha had referred to the universal concurrence with scarce a single exception , of both masters and men in ^ all tlia manufacturing towns of Scotland in the efticacy of such repeal . This eSidence his opponent had rejected ; but ho thought the meeting would consider it nioro valuable than that produeed by his opponent . Mr . F . had appealed to the « xample of Norway arid Sweden ; but lie ( Mr . Greig ) would contend that those countries had nothing to dp with the All
questions . they had to do was to consider Whether the Corn Laws were not the cause of certain evils , and whether their repeal would not remedy tlip 3 e evils . He was not disposed to deny that many evils existed in society which were not produced by the Corn Laws , and which would require other remedies for their extirpation . Let the Lorn-Laws be first repealed , and the evils they produced be done away with ; and then let others , find remedies for other evils , and he Would support them m their endeavonrs . There was another evil resulting from Corn Laws to which he had not al » iuaed viz ,, gambling speculations in grain by which tiie price was often raised 15 s . a quarter . It was ll 1 1 sppculators oftcu turned their firigersbut
^ , that did not prevent others from following the same practices ; and he would ask Mr , Fleming whether a tree tradein com would n 6 t , at all events do away with thss evil ? Mr . Greig chiefly occupied his r . ema . ining time in contending that the Corn Laws trequentl y produced scarcity ^ nd always nuctuations in trade ; that they prevented thousands of working men Irom obtaining good wages , and prcyented many ironi exercising their labour at all j while free trade would give every man three-quarters of wheat instead of two . . Mr .. Flejiivo begged the meeting to oonsider that tiie advocates of the repeal themselves allowed that it would not cause com to be cheaper thaii in 1834 . Let them go back , then , to that ' time . He thori ^ M
no need riot ask the working classes whether they were better off then than now , He \ vas himseit a working man then ; and he was sure he did not benefit by the corn being cheaper . Really to n » va listened to Mr . Greig ' s lecture on Wednesday night , one would have supposed England was to havpbeen transformed into ai perfect El Dorado by repeal : and that the air was to Refilled with roasted fouls crying " Coino and eat inc . " ( Laughter , arid cries of ¦ " . Question , q uestion . ") But Mr . Greig had taken care to say hothing about machinery ; and in case of any ; increased demand for labour , the iron and steairi coiinp « litors of flesh arid boric would sbou wear out the latter . ( Hero great interruption took place , the repealers evidently fancying they were getting the worst of it ; but the firm- and decided
interference of Mr . Fleming ' s chairman arrested the growing disorder , which was not renewed during the evcuing . ); Anew machine had just been introduced into Leeds which would performWorkhitherto donb by manual labour ; and with the proof daily before them that machinery-was gradually throwing the workman out of employment , ' he Would ask therii whether a repeal of the Cora Laws , which hehad shown would at the utmost make a difference of a penny a loaf , was worth contending for in the face of such gigantic evils as those by Which they were oppressed . But Mr . Grei g had argued that a free corn trade would increase the demand for manufactures abroad , and so benefit the workman . Now he had . » few fact 3 connected with this which he would read ti > them : —
" In the year 1829 , the ofScial value ( or quantity ) of our exports were ( in round numbers ) 52 , 006 , OUO ftLoh n ° ^ u " 8 a ( terward 8 ' 183 ' 2 > t » ey v -ere b 0 , t > 90 , 000 . Here then was an additional quantity pf ods ex P ° rted amounting to upwards of eiohl mtlhom and a half , and yet the condition of the operatives remained much the same . And why Because that spirit of competition , which is tlieCTand cause of the miseries of the producers of wealth had , m those three years , reduced , the price of the exported goods to such an extent , that we obtained as much within half a million sterling for the lessor 1 ^ % } n 1 , ?' . wo did for the larger quantity , in 1 H . 52 ! The declared , or real value of the 52 , 000 , 000 'J £ rh !? n ^ fft y - ¥ , ^ 3 b- , 152 , 000 , aud that cl SjSaW ia thC lattCr ^ ^ ing o nlj
Now if through a repeal of the Corn Laws they exported eight millions and a half more— ( and as the annual consumption of wheat in the united kingdom was 12 , 000 , 000 quarters the reduction of lOs . a Quarter would only eSect a saving of vefi . 000 . 000 to be exchanged for food ind again r . tumc * for re s )^ ut suppcsin g they exported ei ^ ht and a halt millions more of goods , and only , got lialf-amillionmoro in . exchange , wliat would that better eitliei-themanufacturer orthew orkingman ? Would the labpurer get . it I Ha hadalroady shovni he could not . get it . The British ' , would icpmpote \ yith the foreign manufacturer , audas machhiery increased at homo so would it increase , abroad ; and as the m&nufacturer at homo ground dov . n the wages ¦ of .. his workmen , spthe foreign manufacturer would grmd dowu Ins workmen ' s too . A ilepeal of the Corn Laws , unaccompanied by social , political , and financialI changes—unaccompanied by a better distribution of and
capital labour—una ^ coinnauied by the possession of land by thepeopleasin Norway andSwitzerland , would turn out a delusiou . It vrasriieroiiam ^ erehumbup . ^ them to TOtb their advocacy of chea ^ ) food ? Mr Jackson , of Sheffield , who visited the eontLntin connexion with the hardware trade , waTa ked bv is'i ^^ 01 ^*** ^ mmssiBm fave i .. th 3 morning uli nine at iA % hL £ „ ^ ii ^ l ^ SIiS : iiliii ^ i iliosoiniu ^? ^ PVi » n -sis compared , with
aSt inll ^ gy . ° tlling 3 ' »** ^ Wng ^ SidS w ? S ^^ 4 ^ tIlin s ** i « - LaW A' - -, o' -v . *™ V .: i ^ .. ; "l 0 ! ' ^ cu an AntJ -Corn " ¦ ¦ : ' - - - ' ' - ¦ flM £ litprcpcr to ulWIo
Untitled Article
those laws , ho wa 3 fbrc 6 d * o arrive at the conclusioa that : fliat gentleman wai . ^ i . ser the 11 than he was now He ( Mr . Fleming ) had jc ; contended that- 'free trade with ' - . the continent woula * : reduce ' *> ui workmea to ^ the ; condition of the coritinentai producer . Bui a f ^_ trade ; : ha ' d long existed betweeu ? country and Ireland , and yet ho one pretchdCft that our pc . pulation . were . reduced to the level of ib * Irish people . . JWiat righty then , had : Mr . PJeinii ^ to assume tfiat the same circumstances would , in tto case of a freo trade with : the contiuental nations produco a different result ? Mr . F . had enlarged upon thagreat benefits he ( Mr . G . ^ iii * is lecture of Wednesday , had held ? out as tUe certain ; Result of 'he repeal-but he was not aware thai he had mada ^^^ J ^ i ( y ^^ ^ C 0 I , V ^
any ; exaggerated . promises in this respect . Mr . ureig ihen . attacked Mr . Fleming for the ^ ^ allusioiw liehadmade to the effects of machiuery , and gaid thatit was not a questiou to-night of machinery bni Q r" laW 3- ^ Mr . F . % ished ; tavdiscusa the ettects ; of machmery upon labour , 1 he would find : man ^ in Leeds : ( arid Kniself ibr one ) to meet him on the subject , and show him big errors-. . Mr . P ., m speakin ^ of the com petition between . this country and foreign natlona , had assumed through , all his arguments that all countries ^ were situated alike as regarded their advantage for production ; but he ( Mr , G . ) Contended that foreign trade would benefit that country most winch hid « ieniost natural advantages and the most capital , vyere they to deny themselves the advantages rtf Mr F .
repeal ^ and . himself would allow : that somd advantages ^ would arise-for ten , tweutyVor even fatty years ,-because other , evils existed which tha * repeal would not cure ? Therewasa mistake in the statenientread by Mr . Fleming of the average consumption of corn in this country . Did its author torget that we lately received five milliona quarters trom abroad ? Mr . Greig then again adverted to tho fluctuations arising from the Corn Laws ; cohtenAlng that they caused . a great superfluity at one time and great want at another ; and then went OU to argue , that , owing to them , the people of this country had , for weeks past , been alternately plunged into the deepest despair , and raised to the highest pitch of ^ satisfaction , by variations of the weather ; Mr . FtENiNG said that the great point on which he wished to fix the attention of the nieetin <* , and the respectable party with which Mr . Greiir was
connected was this : ; that the repeal ^ aftet an enormous outlay of time and energyi wbuld not produce the effectsiits advocates anticipated from -it * - He was notygping to talk to themabput Variations of tha weather , &c . Most of those present were aware that ^ sometime back agreat noise was madeabout the immense increase of trade which would arise from tho openine ; of the East India market . WeH the markethad been opened j and who felt the better for it to-day 1 They had gained an additional annual trade ; to the amount of £ 30 , 000 , 000 > and did masters or men feel themselves any better for jt 1 Mr . Fleming then adduced other arguments to show that free trade , unaccompanied with other social and political changes , would prove a curse rather than a blessing ; . ' / -. "" ¦ " . . Mr . Grei g again occupied another quarter of an hour , without , Tipweverj advancing any new argument iVfavour of repeal , v
. Both gentlemen then . successively addressed the audience for the last time , summing up the arguments , they had previously used , and endeiiTouruig to enforcei them on the meeting ; which broke up after ; a vote-of thauks had been passed to the chairman , having , with one interruptibn only , listen * with the deepest attention to both speakers ^ and behaved with the greatest decorum throughout tha exciting discussion . ' ; . ¦ . , " . " ... : ; --,- .-.
Untitled Article
ADDRESS OF THE INH ^ BtTA ^ TS OP IRVINE , FIJLLARTON , AND HALFWAY , TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . ^ HpNOCnED Sir , —We , the inhabitants of Ity&j , tuUarton ,-. . Half way , in puhlic meetin g asseiribfecL proudly embrace this opportunity of again testifyimr our undiniinishea attachment to you , audto the priic pies which you have so long , so arduously , and so eloquently aavocated and supported ; and , while we behold , with disgust , a Gbverninentpledgoa to cconosiy , retrenchment ^ and reforiai sWerving from that jatti whidi they had taught us to expect they would folbw , With pleasure do we behold you , Sir , though surrounfled by Dangers and difficulties on every hand , holding 01 ^ in . the " even tenor of your way > turninz neither to the
right hasid nor to the . left , no : matter whether on the hustings ,, the platf trm , or combating With the Attorney-Geiieral at the bar of justice , with all theppndexaifl weight and influence of a corrupt faction against rou , and > vho are endeavouring , by means the most baseand cowardly , to annihilate you and that voice wiiicli called them into political exiitence . Still , Sir in the midst of all these untoward circumstances ,. we are losi n admiration at beholding the patriot struggling fc the emancipation of hi « couutry , regardless though he innself should be the victim ; and while the 2 » af or iidlscretion of others may have thrown . therii into the fenis of our enemies , we rejoice to know that there is yelbaa master-spirit abroad in the land to whom w 6 can look up for couns . il and advice in theaa perilbua and
^ And now , Sir , in conclusion , permit us to reguert that . ou this your Tisit to Ayrshire , you witf hare th * andnesa to honour us with your presence * that from the fountain of pure deriiocracT we nifty taste of those refreshing springs which will ever strengthen aad support us m ! our onward course for liberty , which obUmtion win be long and aifectionately remembered br ^^ HououredSir , ' Your humble but obedient admirers ; ,: In the name of the meetin " , irrtWiroi Abe- : ^ Sr W '"|* . <* - "« - >
Untitled Article
"SSISS ^ * ° Brave O'Connob ,- ^ Enlightened patriot of modern < times , we the Radicals of Pertly hare heard mucll of your woU-earried famb , of yoM talents and qualifications as a leader in . the cause of tiie people—hence our auxiety td . seeTou in this ournativo city . We have often read with wonder and admiration devour unparalleled exertions , yonc disinterested zeal and untiring persoveranco in the cause of the millions now struggling for liberty . ; ^ JVc . hsTo > nlr >> look back a few years ; and W beheld you single handed and alone fighting the enemiee of freedoraj and awakening the people from their : unbappy delusion , conviheing them of the poriderow yoke tne Reform Bill had hung about their neck , and the utter hopelessness : of that system everworkini oxit their political redemption . We beheld the whole ^ , TC 8 » of England , Scotland , and Irelind , either aiming to extirpate your dbciiines from the face of the earta ^ r t * pnefi . vouDj with silent contempt . l '
At length a « iH- arose in the hemisphere of ow political honzon , aria ww hailed bj many as a precursor of better days ; it was the Northern Star J It continued to shine ttlmost alone till the commericement of the lato mighty movement : among the oppressed classes ol society . When they began to see tho necessity of snn . por ting a press to advocate their owi cause ; then did a few other helivriiatia arise ; and are ndvr also in a commanding position as regards their influerico on tbe morals arid improvement of the working , classes and we cannot forget with how much disinterestedriess ti * Star -welcoined them and cheeked them on in tbe mighty cause of human liberty ; till our native hills and glens from John O'Groata House to the Laud ' a Endi now rings -with the cry for t ^ niversal Suffra" -c ^ i
But Sir , we cannot banish from our . rite the dar * . side of the picture and exhibit only , the bnriit--v * cannot shut our eyes to the fact that an extraordiriart amount of chc ^ r , patience , p ^ verariceV aSS ^ eftect , will yet be necessary ere weaccomplish our ob / ec and we cr . nnot but rest satisfied that you Sir wiU rtfl contmne that san-. e imaannt ^ ct , Uetermincd ; uricomSa imsnig friend- « id champion of tho pcop ^ SS you . have evor been . TUlthe iron chain ^ of dea SS be burst asunder , the captive slaves iiborate ^ Sd groaning and oppressed people set free . . , Tj lat this , the consummation of all your hopes tW fruits of all your labours , riiav soon hl « aiS ^
may you live long amidst the smiles of a happy p ^ opli enjoying equal ^ ghte and pri vileges , honoured will thore ^ ard of iii -y ourtoils-a Wns ciousriess 0 fha vbi devoted , your life , to the service of the people ! ab ! having 8 een the triumph ofyourlow labour , may yoj rest ^ in peace , is tha lieartfelt wish of the Radicals k the fair city . . ¦ ' ..- ¦ . - -.
Untitled Article
fatiSil ^ f + ^ ^ "y ' *» record -anoiha to ^ thft \ U vV tnnn f at the summit helonginf Kir ^^ > nd Leeds Railway Corn ^ nj ^ ™^<* ° UtetingmNo . 7 shaft , 4 ud . ihi Ji tt wera airkiUed ^ pojv the . spot . On the * san > nj- ^ T- - M near Small Bridge ; bv i gd en cart passing over his h ^ i ^ Bhwlclmrn Si ™ ' jJ-SS ^^ 'T ^ On Fridav am iii / iiioof -htos i »» iii ¦¦ u ^ a ^
Mr . Wakley , ^! . P ., at the North : London . Ho ^ ta : on the body of John Henry , aged 21 , wh ? was kill * on \^ ediicsday eyeniri o- last ' on tho Hue ;/ of tht iliaiaes Junctjou Et > il-, vay , ! ier , r Wovinwoou ScrubM in tiioiollojvins mariner : :-Johu Beardsvoocl , a fel low . , laoourer , said dcdeaseJ v / as emn !" . ved at t ' a time-aftd' place just mcr . iioncd , iri "" bre ' iikir'f ' tin wheel —v > z - chticking ^ a s ^ riTof a vra ^ n " ladei wnii three tons of clay , which vraS u ^ c ^^^ ri mclincaplari-. In doing so lianas obliged to " -M on tuc hnidcr pnvi of ; tl > o wa ^ -a % ;; , ] tLmvi repeatedly caut ^ ue ; d during thft'Sav tl-a ^ io a" -m it to wscGud too ¦
* rapidly relying Wira orai-aekuUw iecUjc d skill , ho continued heedless of a Ivisc \ , last , theclasps " that . held ¦ the bod" of t ! ' « v-a > ' ^ - - u . iie lovverpart , unable to bear t !; a coiiihiu ^ ^ sure , broke , and the Wei * - ] , * 0 ^ ^ " : j . " "' ;^ \ . th , b ^ ody over ,. ^ drew ; feteV k \ v , ^ ar Srf ^ l u ^ ased v-asstanding , ; He xr ; a il ., 0 ^ ontho ^ ft ^ ^ . tlie ^ vheelsand otlier purts of tho Lwe ! media ! ii , in of the ^ yehicfc mi ^? i i- w- ,. * - "i-iwr . vvasno one lobkmo b ^ Ljms , If . ^ 'r ' om-xs il- ^ - ^ d-c ? ecca-od-fl ; C'J t > h . TlVliiteV £ : t » bh- " of invo ; M Uo « ., u u - the . chC 3 E , : Vild tMoi ^ ' ^ r- ¦ ' >' < l I f & Aceidea . al dcatir . "
Untitled Article
6 - ¦ ; . _ ' ~ . V •¦ th : & : Mo ^^ TO j ] : ;;
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 7, 1839, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1073/page/6/
-