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Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th October 1841, Edition 1 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • ®o tteavevfi antr Comg^tttrmte.
    • ITHE JSOKTHERN STAR. j SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1841.
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      Untitled Article

      • MEETING US ST . AXD 2 BWS HALL , 2 C 0 ISWICH . The unparalleled destitution now existing in the British Empire , sad pixtieulariy in Norwich , induced tfce Chartists to present a requisition to the Mayor , requesting him to call a public meeting to consider and adopt some meant of immediate and permanent relief , that the direfoT effects of invohintary idleness might be averted , and comfort restored to the industrious ar ^ Bfrn Many question * -ware asked , but , ultimately , his Worship consented to allow ns the use of St Andrew ' s Hail , if we thought proper to convene the meeting ourselves ; we consented to embrace the opportunity , and were given to understand that a repeal of the Corn Xaws would be proposed as an efficient remedy , and that Sidney Smith would be solicited to attend , and , with other gentlemen , show to the meeting the benefits to be expected from their abolition .

      Nothing daunted , the brute Chartists went to work , Sparing neither labour or expense . The day arrived , aid on Wednesday aeon , Oct . 20 , they entered the spacious h&lL Order being obtained , Mr . Richard £ * £ aon was elected chairman , and opened the meeting fey reading the placard , and requesting that each and every gentleman , who wished to address the meeting , wottld ascend the platform , and express his sentiment without reserve . He then impressed upon the meeting the necessity of giTing a patient hearing to each speaker , and should a difference of opinion arise , allow 12 m arguments of each to be duly considered , and give their decision according to merit Two Reverend Gentlemen requested permission to address the meeting , and were invited to a seat near the chair . The business of the mating then proceeded . The Bev . Gentlemen waited fill near the dose , then rising , said they had no fault to find with file arguments adduced , and retired .

      Mr . Hpjskell , in moTicg the first resolution , relerred to the Duke of Wellington ' s declaration that the distress did not exist to a great extent , and that any man who was Trilling to work would be able to rise to riches . Sir Robert Peel , that very Joseph Surface of Cabinet Ministers , had acknowledged that there was Borne distress , but at the same time gave tira lie to his dedaaiion by quoting the amounts placed in the Savings' Banks in order to ehew £ ow rich and prosperous the eeoatry was . This was not true ; the living xoa&s before him , with their pallid cheeks , declared there was < Iistress . He knew the poor of Norwich well ; and tbeir homes bespoke their wretchedness . He knew there were hundreds whe rose in the morning not knowing where a find a breakfast Numbers had not a bed . but

      ware compelled to lay on straw . Ee asked Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington , was not that distress ? As he came to the Hall , he met a friend who was then going to the workhouse . He said he bad remained in Norwich for work until he had lost his all , and that he was now compelled t * co to Wioklewood . If they Walked the streets ef Norwich , they would © ease te hear the hum of industry—not a shuttle was to be hesxd . If they went into other districts , although they won bad , still they would find them weaving the work Norwich should da Distress was throughout the county ; thera was searely a person who did not in some degree feel it , except the aristocrat He had gone about with the requisition , and the shopkeepers universally declared they felt it ; that where they formerly took ten pounds , thty now received only one HarreU then

      referred to the numbers in the workhouse , on relief , and the hundreds subsisting either by charity or begging because they could obtain no relief , in proof of the distzess . Ho then read a long letter from a Stockport paper to shew tha great distress in that district All this he argued , proved that the country , was in a state of great misery . Was this to be borne , and wgre they to go on until the whole kingdom became one lump of degradation . The working men were fact failing , the shopkeepers would next go , and the rich men wouid then ba compelled to maintain thtm . It was time for ibem to see wb&t could be Gone . Measures would be Isoogkt forward in which he thought all would agree , and if any one did not , let him come forward and pro pose his own plans . He then read the fiat resolution : —

      " That this meeting is of opinion that unparalleled destitution and distress now exists in tbe British empire , and tfcat Immediate relief is absolutely necessary to stay its appalling effects . " Mr . - — HXWXTT seeonded tha relation . He quoted two casts of distress which he said be had seen . One a woman named Hone , in Thorpe Hamlet , who was laying in bed ill without furniture or food ; her tusband had been ill in the hospital for five weeks , and die had to work . The other person was a woman of

      ibe name of Hudd , who had walked to Smallburgh for relief , but could ebbdn nose , and was obliged to return the twelve miles , tbe Guardians having told her they did not care anything about her distress . He then referred to the numbers of poor compared with those of last , year . Was it not , fce a ? k « 3 , an-awful state to be brought to , for industrious people to be travelling tbe streets of the city unable even to obtain sufficiect potatoes ? Tbe speaker than read a long extract from the Dispatch to show the distress in various places . fie concluded by seconding the resolution .

      The &ECBBTABY ( Mr . Goati then read a letter from the weavers in the Weaving shop in the "woiVbon » e , complaining of their distressed state . After which hs went on to state wb&t lie said had occurred to himself when placed there . The men were not allowed more than the amount of relief—one nhflling per week per head , -which was not more than seven farthings &-d&y , and Wba-t Was thai , when oot of it they bad to pay for rent , light , and firing . When he was there , ha found that tks loom in which he was placoa , from its Construction , would be fatal to his existence . He told the overscsr it must be altered—that he was a practical

      man , and had worked roth doth . Te which the over-Beer replied , you do not expect to come here to have your loom altered in such a way as to add to your comfort ? as it is fixed so , you must work it Mzny were obliged to leave because they could not ; but he did sot say that there were not some who were able te work it ; but he was looking at the tyranny cf the masters , who would have compelled him . Whit , he asked , was the slavery of the West Indies to this ? These were circumstances of which be was sorry to speak , but they could be borne testimony to by many . He concluded by supporting the motion . Mr . Clabke

      moved" That it is tbe opinion of this meeting , that it is j the imperative duty of the present Government imme- : diately to advance the sum of twenty millions ster- ! ling , for the porpasa of locating upon the land the ] industrious artisans of our country whose labour is i superseded through tke application of machinery , and that an address be presented to her Majesty ' s Governmant to that eftct" j In support of the resolution , he adverted to the state- i inents of preceding speakers , on the distressed c . jditioa of the country , and to ihe strange anomaly of extreme i Wealth and extreme destitution existing together in j Bo striking a manner &s is sffbrdwi by the different j classes of tax-eaters , tithe-eaters , profit-mongers , Ian 4-: lords , and tax-payers , tithe-payers , and workers of this '

      country . He referred to the black slave grant of j twenty millions , and then -went on . There is a portion \ of men in this country who get their bread without the j sweat from the brow . We a ? k £ 20 , 006 , 0 * 80 for the j people of England , who have been superseded by . machinery . Do we ask for it as a direct gift ? And I is there no land in England which you have a right to ? j What is becoms of tha land which belongs to the people ? Where are the Crown lands ? Where ars the Church lands that were given to you ? Why , they bave been swallowed np by men who have no right ko them . Let Government call upon them , and say , assist U to loote the people on thdland—to give them bread ; to eat There are other lands now lying waste which ,

      might be taken in , upon which the people might labour , and benefit themselves . The principle has , We find , worked well in America , where . by the magic touch of her industry , the barren lands had become fertile , and that the Waters had withdrawn . We know that that great Being who gave us existence , and all things suitable for cur waats , was ever ready to assist us , and if tbe rich legislators of the country would only so distribute their Wealth , there would be no such misery . They may cali tts anarchists and revolutionists , but first let them prove that the institutions , as at present administered , were lor the general happiness of the country , while others , on the contrary , Were starving for want The instit'ition in this ceuntry was like a little bey , who was grown out of his clothes and wanted to have a new suit £ 2 » , 0 O « , 000 was all they asked fer . and if thfe Givsrament , Sir Robert Peel and the Poke of Wellington . do justice to the people , they will grant it immediately .

      If we , in order to give relief , alter the sugar duties , file monopolist * will come forward and say , you shall not meddle with oar interest If tbe Corn Law , the landowners and parsons jump up and say you must not faxub oar rested rights . Tiiey then ray the country is in an alarming situation , of which be had no doubt . But to you who are powerless they turn a deaf esjtoyou , and as powarJess as you are , you have never yet righly BBdentood tbe might and power placed in your hands . ( Hear , bear . ) It is you who produce the temple and palace *—It is you who produce the clothing—it is you who produce all that decorate and ornament these buildings ; by tow iadnstry everything is made ; by you industry we see things travelling across the seas to exchange with all tbe countries in the world ; and if 70 s hare only tbe spirit to tell , them in plain and ^ M ™* term * that 70 s an prepared by your basest indastry to go upon the land , and as soon ai you eta 700 will return tha capital

      Mr . L . Jones tben came forward and addressed the Trmtftrr with gnat rapidity and length . Tbe meeting bad fivea him gnat pleasure , not in hearing the distress , not la seeiag their care-worn and haggard connteaaases , but in beating tbea discuss tbe question with a calm and constitutional voice , which must have its effect He knew that it had been aid that these meetings were now tbe result of agitation and tbe speeches of certain earning and interested men than of the distress . He would ten enctj persona tba-t a misrepresentation of distnss eould sot produce * ucb a cry of distress as bad gone forth , and that it could not be allayed until a win car was tented to tbe miseries of tbe poor . It was not tbe speeches of agitator * but tbe distress wh ' cii yon feel deeply , bat cannot divert your eye—for 70 a meet In very eon » r of the street , meet it at every board , you meet it at every hearth . It is as palpable as the sun , and neither the Duke of Wellington nor Six Robert

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      Pe . I can cbeafc yon out of the belief . In this distress yon call npo » the Government for twenty millions , that you may locate yourselves upon the waste lands of this country—that by the union of your labour with their capital yon msy place yourselves In such a position as had never beea dons before . This call should not be violent—should not arise out of » spirit of anger , that spirit is fast dying away . Hofc withstanding tbe bishopsnotwitstanding oor venerable institutions—good Institutions when raised—there is no doubt that they have allowed tbe mass of tha people to remain ia attar ignorance . Out of this ignorance , acted upon by severe distress , arose a feeling among the people of retaliation and revenge—that was what most naturally first arise when their suffering continued . They then asked , why

      they were suffering ? And sow came that wisdom which had produced th * result , aad bad created a voice and shout which could not be put aside . He thought they were right in demanding this money : He knew there was a great deal of benevolence in the country . Would there were equal wisdom ; he knew that benevolence was extending itself to every part of tbe country and in everyform Notwithstanding they had sent twenty millions to the West Indies—another half million for the saving of souls in other countries , and a third half million to the colonies of convicts—although they were caused by their own roismanagemjnt , still be tboagbt it high tims they should aak for a mm of money for tbeir owa nse , acd labour to divert the distress . There was so doubt that it was not tbe interest of society to support

      them without work . At present society bad done some thing for them , and it was better they should take to the woods and forests , if they could not go oa with better support If tbe rich oppress , the poor will bate them . If this bad not been removed , religion bad been a se « -ff , wisdom nothing , society not worth a fig , aad it wonld be far better to divide and separate at once . It bad been said that the evil had been caused by tbe introduction of machinery . He knew it was not a general evil , and that though ifproduoed distress , still it was beneficial to some societies . He should never say it was an evil—not that it must be allowed to continue to work evil—but as it is a new element , and baa only effected that evil during the last twenty yean , nothing could be more plain than to introduce new forms and rules for its better regulation . Machines were originally made to meet a demand—they were now w increased as to require an extension of trade . They were told that the repeal of the Cora Law would

      produce that benefit—that trade could be doubled—but the supply would soon overstock the market—Mr . John * son and Mr . Thomson do not know how much the market exactly , required—and soon overstock tbe market , and they were forced to lay by their stock in tbeir ware houses , for however cheap their bread may be , they must compete with each other . Just so long as the market is overstocked must tbe working man remain out of employment , for he had nothing to depend on but his labcnr . These were the facts which came before him , and he defied any one to contradict them . The question then was , were they to cast them off , or were they to listen to them ? Were the working people of this country to suffer , and while they were clothing all the world to be compelled to walk about with none oa their bocks ? Were these the evidences of tbe policy and wisdom ef the Government ? No . Were these tbe proofs of our greatness as a nation ? Were these the things that made them the envy and admiration of tbe 'world ' When \ fb look to the condition of our own

      people , we come to tha conclusion , that if tbe world knew -what we were , they would not think England so great ? s she would have them . The labour of tbe working man was most valuable , and tbe greatest next to that of tbe intellectual man , which points ont to them how to use it They b&d beard of the large tarns received by the Bishops , but what did they do for it ? They preached a sermon which be could go and buy printed for twopence . Therefore we give them tent of thousands for what competition would produce as for twopence . You who produce this are thousands ef you living upon twopence . Was this ration *! f Bat * o long as you speak of violence , so Ions will tbe rich walk away from you ; when you talk on the subject of distress , bo long will they try to stifle the publio voioe and keep

      down the working man . If you ihnr that you under , stand tbe subject , and when you speak , speak with a voice of a determination , that moment will they manifest respect for you , and be as willing to assist you as they were to give freedom to the bl&ck * . Let as tbea ckoose for ourselves . There are tbe means ia onr bands . - ~ housandB of acres ore uncultivated , aad hoadreds of thousands occupied by gentleman ' s parks which produce nothing . Let us teU the Government that we can do much for ourselves , and that we are ready to employ them for the benefit of ourselves aad KmiH ^ This will do more good in the country than any political party . Having made these few remarks , be hoped they would show the gentlemen that they were also the gentlemen of the land , and were determined to be the freemen al&o .

      Mr . Marshall , in seconding . the resolution , said . it -was a question of importance that was before them , and he hoped that Great Britain would respond to tbe call , for who could resist that cry when put in the right spirit . You s&k Government for your owa land—land , which if they put the unemployed upon with capital and industry , will prove available to the poor man . Will yen be starving ? No ! my friends ! you will not ; and I say we must call upon the Bishops aad Daaa to come out like Christians ; and ask the Government to aid us . He felt it his duty to express bis unanimous concurrence in tbe resolution . The resolution was passed unanimously . be

      The Sechetauy ( G ^ at ) said was confidently of opinion Lhe ohserva . tions that h&d fallen from the various speakers were useful , and were objects ef tbe most ritil importance , and more necessary of co-operation . But he hod one question to put to them , which wai , the probability of success . It is a general maxim with me , when any object is in view , first to consider tbe means which ought to fee exercised for tbe accomplishment of that ebject , and then to consider whether those means are at my disposal . I feel confident with many , that what you ask for , you have no chance of obtaining , while tbe Government is constituted as it is , who exercise tbeir utmost power to benefit themselves and crash the working classes . If we consider the position

      which we hold , and the source from whence it springs , it is not probable , however humble might be the requisition made to tbe Government , that they would concede , for I assnre you that UBdertbd existing circumstances of this country it is almost needless to attempt it He then read the resolution , and said that he entirely concurred in the expressions which bad been uttered that day , but he felt confident that it was useless time for them to throw away in petitioning Government- You will this day have an opportunity to show whether the People ' s Charter is au instrument of unfairness or illiberality . I fear not any antagonistic oD 3 £ rvatiot £ from any one present , and I now beg to prep&se the resolution which I hold in my hand ;—

      " That this meeting is of opinion that however requisite it may be for the legislature to protect the sons of toil , aad restrain the fiendish avarice of tbe monopolist , it is useless for this meeting to expect such au act of justice under tbe present representation in the Commons House of Parliament ; in eontequencs thereof it resulve to assist all virtuous men in their endeavours constitutionally to obtain those right ! specified in the People ' s Charter . " ilt . Benbow seconded the resolution . A petition was then propoesd by the Secretary , but as it would occupy half &a hour , was not read , and it was carried . Thanks were voted to tbe Mayor for the use of the Hall . The meeting broke up about four o ' clock .

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      HYPOCRISY OF THE WRONGHEADS . THE F 0 XE 3 CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN TRAP . It is somewhat difficult to exhibit good humour after disappointment , and courtesy after defeat ; and where the human mind does rise superior to such circumstances , we are naturally led to imagine that its training must have been in some of the superior schools . We are not , therefore , at all sarprised that the Leeds Foxes having failed to * put salt on the people ' s tails" find themselves , mauRre their philosophy , "in a most towering passion , " and that their worthy ally , Mother Goose , should hisa aad splutter vastly like an offended gander .

      Goosey opines that the Chartists have committed mortal wrong in not standing quietly to have their tails salted . Bat Goosey should not be so very angry if the " bird" was a little shy ; perhaps the salt" might have been more effective , if a little more M savour , " —a little m ? re evidence of sincerity—bad been infused into it . So far , however , as any cordial wish for any kind of " union" save a union for themselves was concerned , the meeting in the Commercial Buildings on Monday week , which issued in the triumphant defeat of the Sham Radicals , afforded ample proof of the atter insincerity of that tortuous

      aad wretched party . On the faoe of it , the first resolution proposed—tho salt for the birds' tall—was deficient in ha expression of principle ; and where the principle is bad , the practice is not likely to be good .. It vaguely acknowledged the de fective state of the representative system , bat contained no plain assertion to the effect , that oar political grievances vrero traceable to the want of unitebsal saSng o ? as if a mere extension of class legislation might not , — nay , must n » t , —in reference to the people , be still more " defective" by increasing the power of the AilSTOCRAeV . OP IBS LOOM over the DKKOCBiCT OF

      LABOCB . Bat this bit of " salt" was a mere introduction to the quick lime that followed—a wedge to make an aperture for resolution number two—in the hope of bo u uniting all grades of reformers" as to make them all serve the * Plague . "

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      But alas for the poor foxes ! The bird was too wide awake . It whisked away its naughty tail aad turned round to peek at them . And sorely aghast do Mother Goose and Mister Muckery alike stand ; Goosey is at its wit ' s end—an end soon reached—and laments , in a long doleful ditty , the untimely end " of all its hopes aad aspirations . It tells the "Geese " , its readers , that the Chartists hare lost the good opinion of the middlemen—ihos t who ape the pride , while ( hey bow to the power , of the loom or land-ocBAcr . "They hava disgusted these 1 "

      Qaoth Goosey ? " They have lost , by their irrational conduct , the support of the patriotic and intelligent shopocraoy ! " A hint to the wise is sufficient . If the Chartists ( by which we mean every honest man who seeks not to legislate at his neighbour ' s expenoe ) quietly withdraw their support from the shopoorats , the Bhopocrats will quickly bring their support to the Chartists 1 The brains of the shopocracy lie in their tills ; and reason and right are to be taught them only in one way .

      Goosey gives us another version of the fallacy propounded by the American hireling Squire of the M Plagne "—that the Cora Law was the sword for enforcing class legislation . Mr . Lees exploded the fancy , in showing that thtB " sword" had been itself first manufactured on the pre-existent anvil of class legislation—that it was an effect , not a cause , of tbe greatest of monopolies—the monopoly of making laws . Goosey demands to be informed how we intend to get tha Charter , if w » persist in refusing to cooperate with the Anti-Corn Law and " extension " men . " Yon array yourselves , " says she : —

      "Against the middle classes , the great body of Anti-Corn Law men , the manufacturers , machine employers , machinists and tradesmen , tbe fondboldew , and the great body of possessors of property of all kinds , whether merchants or landowners . " Well , and what then , Gooteyl If all these be against us , are we , therefore , to " sing small , " and ask for less than our full right by way of conciliating them !! Our fight is against all villany ; and we point to the array of forces that are marshalled against us , and , with the old General , we say to oar brave brother Chartists , " There is the enemy ; if we don ' t beat them , by G—d they will beat us !" And what should hinder us ! Why , says

      Goosey" They have the Suffrage , they elect the representatives , and Unless tbe representatives elected by these pass the Charter , it will never be passed by moral and legitimate means . " Granted ; and what then ! There is no need to concede anything ; and yet we may obtain their consent to elect such men as mil obtain tho Charter for us by legal means : and for the following reasons . There can be no action without a motive ; every motive xb induced ; and the working classes possess tbe power to induce the motive and beget the action . How ! Because their opponents are

      perfectly insignificant , as compared with the masses , in point of numbers ; and equally insignificant whan compared with them in point of mind and morality . All that is necessary is union among u tbe workies " . This once obtained , who or what can or dare resist their lawful and constitutional demands 3 The terrors of the Almighty would be in their voice ; the puny opposition of the " property' * men wouid flee before it ; the oppressor would lose courage , and faint for very fear ; and the shackles would drop

      from his hands . At the roar of the king of the forest—at the united demand of the Sovereign People—all threats of coercion on the part of Government , would cease . They would evaporate like the morning cloud before the son ; and long before the mid-day of their full union and power , this same Government , as her only protection and safety , would throw open her wide embrace—place them " within the pale " , and proclaim them parts of the one great whole .

      The people know this ; and hence they laugh at the stale salt" which Doctor Goosey would fain " place upon their tails . " Not even the good Colonel can get near enough to manage it . Gootey says : — " Tbe Devil and the Tories will enjoy this . " We wish them joy , and the Whig 3 to join them . They may laugh , if the ; think proper ,

      but" The tale applied , May make them laugh on t'other side . " At all events , we have taken tbe laughing out of the "Leeds Reform Association , " so called . And when their scribe next prates of his attachment to the Charter ; and of the landowners being arrayed against us by their fears , we warn him not to lie bo fast ; nor to misrepresent the conduct aud language of those whose arguments he cannot answer , as is done in the following paragraph : —

      " The fears of tbe possessors of land have been often appealed to ; nor is Mr . Feargta O Connor ' s recent promise to divide the land 0 / the country among his followers ! allotting a five-acre paddock to each , by any means likely to allay the distrust of this powerful class of individuals . " ! ! Was ever misrepresentation more base than this \ " Divide among his follow : > s" ! I t is a bad cause that requires lying like this to protect it ; it out-Neddv ' s Neddt . " m Allotting a fire-acre paddock to each" 1 What for ? That working men may feed on grass !

      O , Goosey , Goosey i-tiiis is surely the full stretch of thy " lang craig S" This iB not merely " driving the nail through the moon , " but " clenching it on the other side . " We must , however , just look at the unanswerable questions with which Goosey winds up her cackle : — First— " How the prevention of all measures of practical reform aud improvement ean in any respect advance the cause of the People ' s Charter ?" Answer . — " You beg the question , Goosey ! Your measures are not ' practical , ' but wild , wicked , and visionary . Their professed object carries with it no certainty of being realised by those who most need it . "

      Seeond— " Haw the Charter is to be obtained so long as all the classes in actual possession of political power , and having at their command the armed physical force of the country , are arrayed in direct opposition to tho Chartist party ?" Answer . —By the united efforts of the people . The people—the working people—can command all the armed physical force in the oountry whenever they iritf it . Third— " How the Charter is te be obtained without the aid of the middle classes , who are the only portion of the people whose sympathies and interests are with tbe Chartists , and who are at present in possession of any portion of political power ?"

      Answer . —What brought them , now , to seek extension" and the repeal of the Corn Laws ? Their aid will come , when the till shews them that it must ; and not a jot before . Fourth— " How the removal of any practical grievance would lessen the people ' s chances of carrying tbe Charter , or place the working classes in a worse position in respect of political power aad influence than that which they now occupy ?"

      Answer . —The same amount of agitation required to remove this same " practical grievance'' would obtain for us the Charter . Moreover we have no desire to strengthen the bands of our enemies , for without Universal Suffrage , the repeal of the Corn Laws would increase the opposition to the Charter , and perpetuate fox many years longer the wioked factory system . AU , all must go together , and , therefore , we say , "Ou for the Charter 1 One thing at a time—the Charter !"

      So much for Mother Goose ' s long cackle on tbe defeat . But who would have expected to find the defeat of the Household Suffrage party lamented by the ministerial Mercury ? Yet , so it is . The Mercwy reciprocates the woeful *• Smiles" of Goosey and is evidently mortified atthe defeat of the Foxes . As usual , the herriug-soup man keeps up his character . The logical and philosophical address of Mr . F . R . Lees , which was based upon no personality , such as disgraced the Corn law Repealers ' speeches , but on general- principles , is selected for especial injustice , because it was especially hated and feared . The lying record of " the Liar of the

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      North" is this—that he indulged in personality and imputed mercenary motiues to the manufacturers !! This is a positive and ma ] ioioua falsehood , doubtless designed to injure our advocate with the readers of the Mercury ) ior the address had no reference either to ' the motives of one party or another , but great principles aid , interests . The speech of Mr . Lbss ia most carefully burked , that the lie may not appear ; while the false , personal , and impudent remarks , of the enraged Whigling who succeeded him . and . ' which deservedly received a check from the indignant assembly , is inserted at fall length ! by which the lie is perpetrated over

      If the canting scoundrels of the Whig and Mongrel-Whig-Radical factions are thus to take advantage of the liberty to lie—( asking to be contradicted afterwards , but suppressing the speeches and explanations of the people ' s champions , )—we shall recommend the people to hiss them offixn future . The reptiles have the mete pretence of fair play , and riohly deserve to be hooted off the stage whenever they appear . ^ The dat of reckoning will come j and even now it tarrieth not .

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      THE PLAGUE PAID JN THEIR OWN COIN . We direct the attention of our readers to the report of a meeting held in the Carpenter ' s Hall , Manchester , on Monday evening last , in whieh we have another instance of the blood-thirstiness of the M Big Loaf" gentry and their penchant for ** physical force , " which now appears to be the only argument from which the " Plague" can hope for support in its expiring moments .

      The old adage says , that " whom the gods design to destroy they first infatuate , " and we think the proverb was never more palpably verified than in the conduct of the Corn Law Repealers . Their infatuation has been evinced in the attempt to hoodwink the people by representing the Repeal of the Corn Laws as the panacea for all the ills under which the body politic now groans . It has been

      manifested by a blind perseverance in their Utopian projects , after the complete refutation of their untenable fallacies . It has been shown in their own expoitot their objects , namely , to cheapen food that wages may be reduced , and the profits of the capitalist be thus secured . And now it is demonstrated by claiming their right and title to all the dark deeds with which the factions were ever ready to charge the undeserving Chartists .

      Surely onr opponents will now' * place the saddle upon the right horse , " and henceforth crown the " Plague" with the laurels they have so valiantly won . They cannot now have the effrontery to declare the Chartists the advocates of physical force , seeing that it is now entirely monopolised by the powers that be , " and the power that would be—the large loaf and more work fraternity . We are not advocates for physical foree . We

      have contended , and still contend , that the great body of the Chartists repudiate the idea of wresting their rights from the grasp of tyranny by means of physical force , until every other means has been adopted and proved ineffective . It is the dernier resort ; and '' whoever he be that recommends its application , under existing circumstances , is an enemy to the liberties of bis country . Oppression may load men beyond the possibility of endurance , then nature will dictate her own remedy .

      Bat this is not the doctrine promulgated by the "Plague , " for , lacking all argument , finding themselves bewildered in a labyrinth of difficulties from which no artifice can extricate them , and seeing that they must make their exit tiom the stage , they resolve to go ont of the world in an honourable manner , bullying , blustering , aad breaking heads . Well , let them go , with "all their blushing honours thick upon them . " Peace be to their manes , and may they never be disturbed by a resurrection .

      But alas I what a falling off since the Stephenson ' s Square tragedy ! The " Prepare to meetyow God" troop have dwindled down to suoh an insignificant number as to be kicked out of the door of the Carpenter ' s Hall , and well they merited the eastigation they received—they were the aggressors . The Chartists desired order—their weapons were argument and unsophisticated facts ; these were too powerful for the crafty Lsague , therefore their hired ruffians must be brought into action—tho preconcerted signal wa 3 given , and the onslaught commenced ; but victory smiled not upon the assassins . No , the Chartists , though lovers of peaoe , showed the cowardly ruffians that they could fight and conquer when driven to the point .

      We cannot blame the Chartists for the part they acted in the affair . Self-defence is neoessary , and we are glad they gave the drunken blackguards a hint to find thoir way home . It gives us great pleasure to state that the Repeal Association denounce such brutality on the part of their deluded countrymen , and we trust that they will ever discountenance the wretches who would orcate and perpetuate animosity between Irishmen and Englishmen . Even the Manchester Guardian says the fight was promoted by those " who ought to have known better" and does not attempt , in this instance , to charge it on the Chartists .

      Let the canting hypocrites fight their owa battles , and let the oppressed form one mighty phalanx , and direct all their energies to the annihilation of the parent evil—class legislation . In conclusion , We conjure our brother Chartists to continue their onward course in the same pacific and praise-worthy manner they are now doing . They may depend upon it that every means will be resorted to , and every artifice employed to induce them to violate the law . Five hundred victims have not satiated the monster , despotism—it still pants for the blood of patriots , but let it thirst in vain . Be

      not the aggressors . When attacked , be not slaughtered like sheep , but shew yourselves men who will not brook the unprovoked insults and assaults of designing knaves and their hired panders . You have a power—an invincible power—use it with prudence , and success is cortain . The peaceful and moral demeanour evinced by the Chartists throughout the country , is winning the esteem , the admiration , and support of all the good and true—it is hastening the anihilation of despotism , and laying the foundation of a new order of things which will secure the happiness of all . Be peaceable—be manly .

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      UNITED WE STAND . " Take heed that ye fall not out by the way /' was the warning of an - ancient patriarch on the departure of his children ; and , in the sacred name of freedom , we would now reiterate the injunction * The success of our cause demands a strict observance of it . We . stand in a most important and most critical position ; a position , from which the combined powers of faction cannot remove us . Faction has now lost its once boasted potency : its every attack

      serves only to demonstrate its imbecility and accelerate its final overthrow . The apostates from our own ranks—the sowers of discord who mingle among us—and the proud and . envious , who , for sinister purposes , arrogate to themselves the now honourable name of Chartists , are alone to be dreaded . The actions of saoh characters are far more baneful than the open hostility of avowed opponents , inasmuch as they not only retard our progress , but furnish data for the enemv and food for corruption .

      Though it ia the duty of the Chartists to rebut every false allegation made against the cause , and to repel every attack of the foe , yet we sometimes find that there is Much Ado about Nothing " performed on onr etaga , as well as upon that of St . Stephen ' s ; for instance , Mark Cbabthbjb meets a few Devrebury Chartists in a tap-room ; they disagree ; angry words are bandied about ; and then the half-dozan patrons of " mine host" must bring the matter into the Chartist court , to the exclusion of more important causes . Well , the cause is heard , and the whole amounts to an alehouse squabble !

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      Now , this ia not well . It Js a derelictKSi . of the Chartist's duty . Amongst ourselTea we ought to cultivate amity sod brotherly lore , and then , but not till then , will the National Charter Association become a mighty magnet , attracting into oie focus aU the gdo ^ ine ^^ .. , the Chartifitfi have to pursue high game , and keep up an iaeessant warfare ^ ith the antagonist faction * We have no time to waste ! but must direct * U our artillery against the citadel of Wrraption , W « 3 b » ve no ammunition to epare for child ' s play . Thfe is known to all in ont ranks , and , ought to be attended to .

      We have watched the career of Mr . Habnet very closely . For some time his youthful impetuosity gave us some uneaaines 3 , but we consider him , now that ripe age and a little experience has matured him , an honour to our cause . His starling rectitude and adherence to principle render his character in * vulnerable to th « shafts of slander . We trust that we shall have no more of these puerile squabbles , and that all our energies may be engrossed by the on © great point of action and attraction—the establishment of the Charter .

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      THE MASON'S STRIKE . Wb refer attention to a lengthy report elsewhere of * most important delegate meeting on this subject . We do hope and firmly trust that not merely the masons but the operative classes generally , throughout the whole empire , will take care that these good men be net beaten in their , righteous struggle . If working men be their own friends they need fear bo enemies : botit too often happens that they display b » much apathy or folly in the upholding of each other and themselves , as creates for them many difficultiesthat might have been averted ; of which we cannot altogether acquit the masons in regard to this struggle .

      We have this week received in reference to them , the following letter : — 17 , Grantham-street , City Road , London . Dear Sib , —Feeling deeply interested In whatever concerns the interest * of what I and the great body of Chartists have been accustomed to look up to as our " national organ , " I cannot consider I should be doing my duty to the Editor of that organ if I neglected to call bis attention to facts of importance on which the prosperity of the Star must necessarily depend . There have been of late several complaints made against the Star , with what degree of truth it is net for me to decide ; I win only refer to oae fact of very recent occurrence , I mean the strike of the stoM masons' at the House of Lords .

      Now Sir , tbe Northern Star , without Identifying itself with the Noble Poatian Petition canters , without taking any active part on behalf of those men who bad sacrificed tbeir time aad money in the attempt to draw the trades of London into the Charter agitation . The Nvrikem Star , week after week , copied tbe opinions and statements of the bribed Whig press of London , which were decidedly opposed to them , and the injury which has been dene these nee , by . the weapons of the treacherons press , having been picked up by the only stamped paper advocating tbe cause of the toiling millions , aud re-burled at tbe men wbo aad at first been assailed with them on the ground of their

      being Chartist agitators , aw . ) will take some time to efface from their minds ; and indeed bo keenly have many of them felt it , that I have it from the best of authority , that twenty-four of these much injured men have relinquished the Star , who bad before been the stauachest supporters of it and its principles . Where tbe error rests I know not I am unwilling to believe with you . I know it Is Hot Mr . O'Connor ' s wish . , 1 am nob » mason , or in any way connected with them , except as brother Chartists ; but as « subscriber to tbe Star from its commencement , as a humble worshipper of its principles , I am grieved , to say the least of it , both with tha oanse and the effect

      Hoping you will attribute the above remarks to the true motives which actuated the writer , I beg to remain , Your obliged , humble Servant , J . Watts , sub-Secretary , National Charter Association , Finsbury . October 25 tb , 1841 . « Now , we thank Mr . Watts very cordially , for this very proper expression of his feeling ; while we must beg entirely to disclaim all blame in the matter ; and to say , that if the masons have - experienced any want of due attention from the

      Northern Star , it has been solely and entirely their own fault . We are always ready to receive and to attend to everything in which the interests of the workman are involved that may he sent to us . The first week of this strike , having received no communication from the men , we took no notice of it . The Becond week we waited for the last post , in expectation of receiving some intelligence ; but , none coming , we were compelled to have recourse to the only source of information open to us , the London papers , taking care distinctly to

      specify our authority as a Whig official print . Our Sub-Editor then wrote to the Masons' Seoretary , expressing our surprise at hearing nothing from their body and wishing to have correct and authentic information . We have since then received some communications from the Masons' body , and every syllable has been inserted . We have omitted nothing that has been sent to us . We have looked to every source of information for authentic statements , and have inserted everything which we thought likely to serve the men .

      Feeling conscious that we have in this , as in All other matters of discussion , consulted , simply , by the best means afforded to us , the interests and rights of labour , we think , and we know that every reflecting workman will agree with us in thinking , it unfair to withhold from us the means of service and then complain that we do not use them . :

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      i ^^^ ' ^^^ lNV ^^^^^ Wj -J-rtJ-JijiUUT , THE WHIGS AND SWING ! The dr . stardly Whigs are at their old game again , striving to incite the suffering people to acts of outrage and incendiarism . Some of their diabolical agents last week csmmitted two or three incendiary fires in Warwickshire ; and the Whig press is endeavouring to mislead the labourers of other counties into acts of the same kind . The Chronicle says the incendiary fires result u from a feeling of revenge against the bread taxing landlords ; " ^ and the Globe calls them " the beginning of a fearful organised system of destruction" Did any one ever read villany like this ?! Did not O'Connor speak truly when he said , " that the Whigs in opposition

      would soon throw the torch and dagger Chartists into the shade 1 " Thank God ! the monsters are too well known for their appeals to have any effect upon us . But we must be cautious ; one outrage ob Acr of incendiarism , by a member of the Association , would injure the cause more than ages of persecution . This is what the Whigs are aiming at . Brother Chartists , and especially in the agricultural districts , beware ! spies are abroad I villains are lurking about striving to incite you to outrage ! Spurn them ! Cast them out from amongst you ! Remember the last hope of the expiring Whig faction rests upon your violating the law . Keep within it , a * d disappoint them !

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      ecarceiy eetJn . wedible , however , -that an amonai so enomous could actually have been prepared and soldi wevw todf ^ a ^ afost nioney ^ y ajieeg , without ajmctft ^ detection ; nor fa the improbability -diminished bj tho positive belief that these wiKeenVed issues have , hejen syste . matically carried o » i for several years past , in order to cover stock gambling transaction 8 v « nd losses . The public musV for the present find conso lation in the fact that a svrict investigation is going on into all the circumstaaces , bat there is no hope held ^ mt that those , whose infittention to the details of basinets ( except on quarter day ) has opened the door for the commission of this knavwy , will be made to refund from their ill-gotten ga&u the amount which the public most certainly lose .

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      tThe following notices are of communications received but not noticed in our last . J John Brown , York , I * desirous for every member of the National Charter Association to pay one halfpenny per week per head , for one month , to the Executive . •** Supposing " sagt he , that v * had 60 , 000 members , it would realise £ 500 at the end of one month . The Executive might engage fif ty lecturers to take a tour through the country that each town , village , and hamlet might hear the sound of Chartism . ' * Brighton . —Inaccurate Reports . —A correspon dent who signs himself "A Lover of Truth ? but off ers to give his name i f required , thus writes us : — "Dear Sir . —I have waited expecting to set

      a statement in the Star ef October 2 nd contra dieted ; but as no one has undertaken to do so , I feel bound in duty to do so , althoug h , with great reluctance . In referance to the said report ^ the first part is quite correct ; but howpourreporter could be guilty of such falsehood as to state * that the meeting voas , if possible , tM ) re crowded on Monday that on Friday—that there was scarcely standing room" when it is well knowri that the roam would have comfortably stated at least double the number that was present . Now such base falsehoods only tend to injure the cause which you advocate : First—by holding you in a position which you ( or us ) do not occupy , and to

      deceiving our friends in other localtttes ; secondly— -by giving a very cogent reason for those in this locality to disbelieve reports from other places : for I have heardout'friends in Brighton say , 'O , very likely these meetings are not half what they make them out tobe'in other plmces ! I hope you will write to your correspondent , and endeavour to obtain correct reports for the future . " Our correspondent also says , that previous reports from Brighton have been muck exaggerated . Of course we can Irjtow nothing but what is sent to us : and we do hope that thorn t » ho 1 tend reports to us will adhere rigidly to jfoefc , and rather under than over state our

      advantages . Cmr er CoBK .-r-John O'Rourke writes . —* I takt the liberty of trespassmg a little en your valualtt space , my object being to call the attention afthete of your kind reader * who have been supplying us here with Stars to the change which I deem tf desirable to make from the places to which thy have been hitherto-directed . It will , in fuivrg , be mere convenient to send them to Wm . Fokf , of No . 1 , Stephen-street , Cork . Therefore , I trust this announcement will meet the eye t ] every reader who has sent the Star to No 4 , Cookstreet , or to No . 5 , Sullivan ' s Quay , and that it will be kind enough not to direct any hencefw ward to those places . I should , indeed , Mr . E&

      tor , be guilty of a great omission did I not acknowledge the liberal supply of Stars which at have been getting . We are distributing then ; and , believe me the principles of Chartism an spreading hereto our heartfelt satisfaction , andl think vnll fructify beyend expectation . Men « England Wales , and Scotland , but continue k send , and , i f possible , to increase them ; and tin day is not far distant uhen Irishmen will lean the true meaning of freedom , and join heart and soul with you—from whom they have been studiously separated—for the full and equal enjoyment of British rights and liberties . " Stars to Ireland . —James Collier writes : — While I acknowledge that great good has already ben

      done to the Chartist cause by the circulation / A * Northern Star in Ireland , I cannot help thinking that much more might be done if ilt importance was more strenuously and reptatedlji impressed upon the attention of all your readm . Mr . O'Connor will he in Ireland very shorty , and by every one of your subscribers sending their Stars , they would serve as a powerful any of pioneers preparing his way for a glorious md successful campaign ?' A M * K . writes . —** As a traveller , my routelayng through Wilts and Berkshire , I beg to ob * cnt in the eastern parts of the former and the centrt of the latter county , Chartism is hardly kacim even in name—what is the Executive about ? I

      can assure you there are plenty of materials ( 0 work upon . " H . M . Mat . —Declined . A Livery Servant sends us an appeal to his fel lows ia and out of livery , on behalf of the Stock port Spinners , and of the Chartist cause . Wi have not room for its insertion , but wouldvei cordially " support its prayer . " ' Robert Holmes wishes to learn where several ( corn which we have reviewed in the Star may 'fie purchased . We have often before had like ingwrvs It will be well for all parties who feel interested in works thus noticed to observe what London publisher is named in the title , which we aluna /

      give . Any bookseller can get any work from the London publisher . A Subscriber at Longpobt is informed that the Arthur Blackburn spoken of in the Star of the 16 th instant was doorkeeper of St . Peter ' s Wet ' let / an Chapel , Leeds . If a "Sincere Chartist" at Ashlon-under-Lm had read the Star of the 16 lh instant he worn have seen why his communication was neither inserted nor noticed . His present note is a most insolent one . Samuel Wilkinson . — We have not room for the address sent , but he will see that we have notum the school . . Thomas Clabk must stand over . We are too Jup-

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      THE OAXX . T BRSAD PIAGUB . —We have »• eeived a very long communication , addressed w the Proprietor and Editor of the Northern Start professedly in reply to our article of last weei on this illegal conspiracy , from a person w » states himself to be the author of ¦ X >« 9 Bread ? "The Bread'Eaters ' Advocate , ; «« , aud who attaches to it the impudent corulitKffl ) that in case of our refusing to insert it «* communication , " weshall give it as an advertisement , and state that we have first bulbed ana then robbed him . This alone might be considered a sufficient reason for refusing to insen either this or any other communicationfrxua W » afc all . At oresent he is informed that *

      have not enough of plague metal" in oor composition to "sell justice" in the form of » advertisement . Any communication m / TOto our own strictures , which would be foserw in this paper with an advertisement fee , wpa » be inserted without it . His communication «» reply to our article . It is a long tirade of paw insinuations about Feargus O'Connors incite * the people of Newport to riot , and then # » J * into Scotland out of the way—about M « P ^ prietor and editor of this paper wishM * ° jr " the people thinned by famine—and a » ° ^ teaching and advice of the Northern ow * having caused the prisons of ^ fi * l to be filled with law breakers . »^ ever , it shall appear ia our next , ana w » its own story . It should bave appeared in »» number if it had come in time ; but we «? »»• receive it until that part of our paper wnicn » appropriated to " original correspondence **» filiod .

      Our numerous Correspondents will oblige «« ** all cases , if they will for the future -W ^ -JS one side of their , paper only . We ««** " ?* to be adopted as a general rule , in no case » » departed from . Thk National Petition . —We announce wlhjw sure that our publisher , Mr . Hobsm , has P ™"" the National Petition for 1842 , on a neat t j ** h for the purposes indicated in our short learn v last week . He is ready to supply' the ^ . fjz associations and to individuals at the fwow charges :-100 copies for 2 s ; 1 , 000 / or lfc . $ * tition sheets , of good strong paper , ruled mjo * Mlttmn . i l and hnldina turn hundred WtnUS »»¦

      filled , may ako be had , price 2 d . each , or crettaiet and persons who need them * & '* : * to send an order addressed to Mr . H ., eMotm a postoffice order , or stamps , to the amotenf t ^ they may hate sent to their address angina "" they require . A Republican , York . —We cannot insert his <*•* munication . We feel the truth of all M « FJ and whenever we can do so effectively never / to say it ourselves ; but we have [ no / f"&Lj provoking prosecution unneeessartly anAWw ^ ^ benefit to the cause . This we should VJ > 2 * j \ f we inserted his letter . Is the conscxomf % that the reason why > ' ie withholds hu name •»•»

      address ? , , , « . »« 4 A Friend to the Press -The paper about «/*» he writes has not reached usof some teeeKS . believe it to be dead . f tPanif A Chartist calUupon his brother Chartists of " *^ worth , and the country generally , to ufJrfa exertion for raising the * f ^** *! & * ¦ supporting of the approaching Convention .

      ®O Tteavevfi Antr Comg^Tttrmte.

      ® o tteavevfi antr Comg ^ tttrmte .

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      WHIG OFFICIAL KNAVERY . A discovert has , within the last few days , been made , which has caused a sudden and an unexpected panic in the money market , and led to an expose of official villany , resulting in the apprehension of a person of high standing in the Exchequer Office ; but whose name , owing to the peculiar delicacy of the Whig and Tory press in these-matters , has hitherto been carefully withheld from the public . The circumstances are , that % number of Exchequer Bills were lately deposited in the City

      as securities for loans to a large amount , and these being hastily wanted back , led to the discovery that there were other bills bearing the same number , and signed in the same manner , in circulation , to the amount of from £ 150 , 000 to £ 200 , 000 . The bills , of course , bear the signature of Lord Mo » teaole ( to seat whom in the Exchequer office the country was saddled , by a peculiar Whig job , with Sir John Newport ' s thousand a year pension ) , which signature , it is stated , has been surreptitiously obtained ; so that it is delicately hinted the offence does not quite amount to forgery . It would

      Ithe Jsokthern Star. J Saturday, October 30, 1841.

      ITHE JSOKTHERN STAR . j SATURDAY , OCTOBER 30 , 1841 .

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      4 THE NORTHERN STAR . . . " . ...: ^ / --Y __ _ ^^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 30, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1133/page/4/