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THE JT OETHERN STAR. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1842.
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Co Meabevs antr €ovte0$QYtoeni0
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Socar atrtr 0mevol 3Etrtell^enctv
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
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MH , 'CONKOR TO MR . O'BRIEN . London . , April 25 ih , 1842 . Deab . O'Bbies . —The ve * y unaccountable and uncalled for manner in w ^ icb . jon have endeavoured to mis my name up vr . ' tn TT . hat you term an intentional attack upon you , demands some notice from me . I shall be ^ tief and shall strictly confinettiyself to dates and f- ^ f * About il >> ea yssrs a . go , just -when the Biieringham men desf ^ ted the Convention , yoa made the following ob- ^ mtion to me , " By &—d , Feargns O'Connor , if th . s aeit&tion noes on , and if you are in earnest , the
middle desses uriil murder you . " I replied , " T-aat ay I had commenced it , I wtmld finish it , even at that iaz » rd . " 1 merely remind you of this fact , in order to strew yon that their attack upon me at BirjniBgham and Manchester prove yoa to be a good prophet , inasmuch as all who do stand np in support ofcopular rights in the hoar of danger , and is opposheonto eTery direct and indireet&ttempt at disunion aside by the middle classes , are sooner ot later in jeopardy : and to assure you that even Euob anticipation shall not seduce me into dishonourable safety for again I say , that 1 Trill go on straight forward , should I fall & sacrifice in bo doing .
I shall now show you , that you state what is not correct , in the very first paragraph of your letter . You Eay that it was not your intention ever again to have troubled the editor of the Siar -with any communication . Yon appear to have forgotten our Tery last conversation , which took . place on the day that the Birmingham Conference broke up , m which you spoke as follows : — ** FeargU 3 O'Connor , I -wish to -write a series of letters in the Siar , if you will alioTT me space , them . " I at once acquiesced , and said , " I was glad to hare it in my power to afford you the opportunity of doing so . "
Before I coma to the main questioaj aa to the misrepresentation of your speeches , allow me to dispose or * the objection-which you now make to my letters ; mind , not wishing to enforce a belief that letters may not be written at one period meeting ¦ with yonr approbation , while at another period the same writer may incur your displeasure ; but my observation bears upon the charge of denunciation . On the way from Eccles to Manchester , oa the day of the Manchester demonstration , and which was the first time we had met since our respective liberations , you said to me z " Feargus O'Connor , your letters from York Castle , especially those on Ireland , iave done us great good ; but 1 hare iwo great exceptions to make : first , you should hare denounced the Scotch
Chartist Christians as well as the English ; for Deliew me the humbugs will do us eonal damage ; _ -and , Secondly , you should hare backed Watkiss in his noble attempt to destroy those London ruffians ; for by G—d their aim is to get hold of the people , and th / n to destroy you and me , and every other man connected with the Chartist cause . If 1 had a paper as you hare , I would have despatched them in six lines , likecommonpU&pockels" I mention Jhis faot for the purpose of reminding you , that you do not always object to denunciation ; but on the contrary , that yon denounced me for not denouncing ; and also to remind you that the very men whom you designate * s pickpockets , are the Tery men who are now at the head of the new move .
I now come to your complaint of misrepresentation ; and I trust , npon reflection , you will feel yourself bound to confess taat if you have been misrepresented , that you , and you only , have been the cause . In order to lay the whole question plainly before the country , I feel myself compelled to revert to the whole week's proceedings , during the sitting of Conference . On Tuesday , the Conference met , as did the Dele gates from T&rions parts of the kingdom , appointed by the people for the defence of our cause . A meeting was announced , by large placards , to be held in puddesion-row , to back us . You were announced in the bills as one of the speakers . You did not attend . On that night we had a glorious meeting in the Hall of Sdence . You did not attend . After the meeting , the Delegates met at ten o ' clock , when you were present ; and , to our delight , reported the Conference proceedings of the day as follows : —
Well ' they hare acknowledge the principle of Universal Suffrage , and to-morrow the six points are to be discussed seriatim ; and I promise you they shall swallow the whole hog , bristles , and ' all , and wash them down by gulping the name . " Wednesday we sat night and day . You did not come near as ; bat you attended a meeting at CNeil's Chartist Church at night . Thursday we sat night and day . . You did not come near us . On Friday , Both Conference and the Delegate Meeting broke np , without the delegates seeing more of you . After all the proceedings had terminated , I met you in the street . You accompanied me to my lodgings , and did me the honour to dine with me . And now 1
come to the most important portion of my communication . T then understood from you , for the first time , that yon were not a , mere visitor at the Conference ; but that you had been elected by the people of Wotton-under-Edge . You said : — " Feargus O'Connor , I w \ sh to lay my exact position before the country ; if I furnish you with an outline of the course I took , will you write an article upon it ! " I replied , ** Indeed , O'Brien , I will not , and for tins simple reason ; because I should be sure to do wrong But I tell you what ; wriie an article yourself , send it to me . I trill be at the trouble of copying it—a job I hate—and il shall appear in the Star . " ¦ " * W . ELI . 1 ¦ win . ix ) that ; perhaps that ' s the best "way , " was jour reply .
I beg to remind you that the above conversation took place on Friday . That in the Star of thai week the Editor announced hi 3 intention of waiting for the report promised by ihs Nonconformist , the &ceredited organ of the Conference , before he ventured to comment upon proceedings of which he had no report . On the following day the Birmingham Journal came cut with substantially the same report as the Nonconformist ; and althooga you had a week's notice of me Editor ' s intention to make his commentary , and although yon had the Birmingham Journal on Saturday and
the Nonconformist on Wednesday , which should have rendered your determination to ri ^ ht yourself more necessary , yet you never correct one word of the " misrepresentation" which appealed in either of those prints , and upon which the Editor of the Star was bound to found hi 3 reasoning . I ask any sane man whether or not it was yon who led the Editor into wilful error , and allowed him to remain in interested ignorance , for the express purpose of an attack ; or , whether the Editor , in the discharge of his duty , is liable to the gross , and I must say , unjustifiable imputation sought to be cast upon him ? i
I was at Leeds on Saturday , the day after the Conference broke up ; and my last words to Mr . Hubson , my pnbiisher . who accompanied rce to the train , were these : — " Hobson , if any communication eonies from Mr . O'Brien , see it put in hand inimedistijv ; and should I haTe anything to say upon the Conference —( this had reference to your promised communication)—look to the sense ; I write sonuiuteliigibly when I am hurried . And the . first moment you have time , look carefully over all the type we have sot in use , and pick oat the best that may do again , as I promised it to O'Brien . " Now , this does not look like a conspiracy , on my part , to icjnre you , or thwart you . or destroy you . *
But I return to Mr . Porter's bouse , where you dintd with me , aa 1 before observed , on the Friday . I tola you of our contemplated demonstration on the foliowicg Monday ; that your name was in the bills ; ana that I considered it a glorious opportunity for our meeting once more before the public . "Now , " ? aid I , "O ' Brien , I tell yon what . I propose that yoa should head the Birmingham procession on Monday , and meet me and the Sou ; h S affordshire demonstration at half-past ten within a half mile from the town . " Your answer ¦ wa =, " Well , well , well , I don't care . " " Well , " said I , " but will yon do so ? " and yon said , " Yes . " Mr . Porter , and Mrs . Porter , and myself , were all delighted ; and iir . Porter immediately said , "Well
dons ! by G—d . that ' s the way to make the tyrants tremb : c" Yon accompanied me to the railway £ tit on ; and said thai " the Conference were a set fcf r ^ -. dui ^ -class hu mbugs , trying to get rid of yon zud me , to destroy the Chartist movement . " You said thai "You were not astonished at Ar . hnr O'Neil , as he was puffed up with vanity acd conceit ; bar you were astonished at Vine-eat , who , yon ha ** slsrays considered a good-natured feilow . ' - This was with reference to ' the meeting a ? the Chartist church . Well , I left Birmingham on Friday ; travelled all night to Manchester and Leeds , and returned to Wolverhampton and Bilsion en Sunday , where I announced the glad inieUigence feat you wonM meet us with the Birmingham profession . When we arrived in Birmingham , I asked
where you were I and no one knew . When I arrived at Mr . Toner's , after the meeting , I learned that you had said that you wonld attend the meeting if a deputation waited npon yon at eleven o ' clock , at Mr . Porter ' s ; and that you were very angry at your name bemg in the bills , although it was done with your perfect consent , as stated by Mr . Linney , who was deputed to ask you , lest you might consider it 3 , liberty . I learned also that a deputation had come to Mi . Porter's ; and another came ; arid another ; sad that you were not there to meet them ; neithei did yoa attend our meeting , for which you were announced ; but you did attend & ticket meeting , eonreaed for the Tery same evening , in the Town
Trusting that jou will not attribate to ms a desire to misrepresent you , I here transcribe one passage from your speech made npon that occasion , as reported , not in the Nonconformist or Birmingham Journal , but in the Statesman * who appears to hare had a special reporter present . You are reported as follows : — * Mr . O'Brien then said , " That tfcon ^ h he tad " private acquaintance whateTer -with Mr . Sturge , he solemnly declared his belief t&it tiers was not , on Srttifh son , a msa better suited to lead TUTS
MGVEXXST . " Now , O'Brien , I ask you , in plain and simple language , whether or not this is tautamauut to handing per moremeat orer , neck and crop , to tie p ^ r-
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poses o f that party which you w would have despatched in t < ix lines like common pickpockets'' ? I ask you . more ; ¦ whether or not your countenance , co-operation , and aid , -were not absolutely necessary to keep up the drooping spirits of our lingering clients—to inspire thorn with confidence m themselves , instead of paralysing ns in the eleventh hour , by the delusive hope of an honourable union with a party "whose machinations ! views , and motives you have so ably exposed ? With respect to denunciation , either by private letter , in conversation , or in the Siar , I defy yon , or any other man , to point out a siDgle ipstance in which I have , directly or indirectly , denounced , weakened , or injured the character of a singlo
Chartist leader . On the contrary , the general charge against me has been that I have been too lavish in my praise of undeserving individuals . O'Brien , if you could lay your hand to your heart as I can , before God , and say that " throughout the whole of life , since I knew you , your happiness , popularity , and independence have been matter of fond and anxious consideration , " you would be a happier man than you appear to be . Ere I close , lei me assure you , that no power on earth shall ever force me into the false and wicked position in which you seem to wish to placa me—as one of yonr revilers ; while , upon the oiher hand , no dread of your wrath , your satire , or anger , shall ever deter me from discharging any single duty which I owe to the bravest , the noblest , the honestest people upon the face of God ' s earth—the working
classes ! To them both you and I mast leave the dnty of distinguishing between their friends and their enemies . They are quick to praise , and slow to censure . They look to the straight walking of those who profess to lead them . They will not tolerate a wabble without a warning . I see no reason why I should meet you in angry controversy , or heated discussion , while you yourself have been the wilful cause of all that misrepresentation of which you complain , and which you would now saddle on innocent parties . Had not the Editor of the Star commented , fearlessly , upon your conduct , equally as upon the conduct of any other individual , I , for one , should have considered him highly deserving of censure . He did so comment ; and I think , mildly ; -while you have thought proper to reply in a most indecent strain .
O'Brien , you have yet to learn that the world was not made for you or me . Not a word in this letter is intended to annoy ; while all of it is necessary ; and , in conclusion , allow me to say , that should the world frown upon you , you shall ever find a welcome from Your sincere Friend , Feabgus 0 'Co : wor .
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THE PEEL TARIFF .- " FREE TRADE . " The measures of Peel are sure to pas 3 . The Income Tax Bill is progressing through the House of Commons at a pretty good rate : for the wind of the opposition inside seems spent for want of popular pcfis outside . The Tariff is the next in order , of Peel's measure ? , to be entertained by the House . The discuisions upon it will shortly be had . No doubt
that it , too , will pas 3 , and mainly in the shape proposed by Peel . Somo slight modifications may be determined on by Parliament : but Peel having staked the existence of his Ministry npon the principles of the Tariff , there can be no doubt but that it will pass . Peel ' s party cannot do without him : and however much they may object to his "freetrade" concessions , yet they will suffer him to drag ¦ them up to the neck in mud—nay , gouse them over head and ears—before they will lay aside their party warfare , and . make common cause with the working people .
The Tariff , then , may be looked upon as * carried ; for carried it isitire to be . What will be its effect \ What alterations will it make in the condition of the people 1 These are questions upon which none can do more than merely speculate . The old adage that " the proof of the padding is in the eating , " fully applies here . The proof will be in the eating !
Meanwhile speculation is rife . One party is promising great things to the nation from its adoption , inasmuch as it is an acknowledgment , as far as it gees , of the principles of "free trade" ; while another party prognosticates ruin to many interests in the state who hare hitherto enjoyed protection , and disappointment and loss , instead of benefit to the nation at large .
Time will soon discover which of these two opinions is the most correct ; which of these two parties has studied and applied the true principles of political economy . The revision of the Tariff , is , no doubt , a concession , by Pzel , to the " free traders . " It is a sop to them ; and in our opinion , it it ill jjrov e to be a sorry sop indeed ! The cry of" free trade" has been raised and kept
np mainly by the manufacturing interest . But what they have always meant by that cry has been , a " free trade in corn , " and rsoTECTiON for mannfactnres . Every one of the bawlers has been far " free trade" up to himself . Pbotect his business or calling , and ** fiee trade" was right and proper for all the rest ! This is the meaning , when you sift it to the bottom , of the manufacturers' cry for "free trade . "
Peel has , however , very adroitly turned the dootrineB of the " free traders" upon themselves I He has reduced , but not removed ^ the protection given to the agriculturists by the Corn Laws , while he has behoved in many instances , and greatly reduced in mar . y more , the protective duties upon several branches of manufacture . He seems to have formed the purpose of letting the " free traders " have M free trade" amongst themselves , and afterwards asking them "how they like it V
They will not like it I The operation of the Tariff scheme will cot suit them . They will get a surfeit of "free trade , " and will be the first to call out for a return to the protective system !
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This would be all right and proper , were there not others to be affected by the measures . But there are others ; and tbbt will hare no cause to thank the " free traders" for compelling Peel to grant a modified free trade . There are the working people ! On them and their interests Peel's free trade" will have a most destructive influence 1 True , the Tariff will reduce the price of food ; true , that it will reduce the prices of nearly all articles of produce ; true , that this will be one of itB effects : but another of its effects will be to kedcce wages ; for wages are the " PRICE" of labour , and are reduced along with other " prices" whenever a general reduction takes place ; and IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF TAXATION !!!
Already are the manufacturers at work , to meet the anticipated " altered circumstances" ! Ten per cent , here ; fifteeD per cent , yonder ; and twenty per cent , in the other . place , are already being deducted from the PRICE of labour I and by the time that the new measure comes into full operation , that " price" will be * generally reduced as much ( and in many instances more ) than the reduction in the prices of provision ! Small indeed will be the benefit that the working people will receive from the reduced prices of food 1
We formerly showed , clearly and unanswerably , that , wtyle the taxation of any country remains at the same fixed money amount , every reduction in the prices of produce entails upon the community a real increase of that taxation in exact proportion to the decrease of priceB . Taxes can only be paid in produce . It is the wealth we cause to be that pays all , —taxes , rent , profits , and wages . And as long as the value of that wealth is measured by a money standard , and aa long as the taxes are fixed at a certain money amount , so long , and inevitably , will every reduction in the money value of -wealth causa more of that wealth to be necessary , and given , to pay the taxes !
Whatever , therefore , be the reduction of prices of produce consequent on the "free trade" Tariff of Sir Robert Perl , in exact proportion to that reduction will the working people hare to produce MORE for the tax-eater . ' IJ Then , look at its effect upon several of the trades of the kingdom ! Want of employment is said to be one of the cause 9 of the horrible amount of destitution everywhere prevailing . To remedy . this , Peel is going to Bet the FOREIGNERS to work , to make shoes , and boots , and furniture , and beef , and pork , and leather , for ns ; while our own artizans and labourers are to continue idle ! And this
is the "free trade system ! This is the K free trade" way of providing for our own population " PLENTY TO DO" ! ! Foreign boots and shoes are to be admitted to this country at a greatly reduced duty . Foreigu furniture , and foreign vegetable produce , are also to be admitted at a reduced duty . The operation of this portion of the Tariff scheme will be , upon the shoemakers and cabinet-makers , and ( to a certain extent ) upon the market-gardeners , just what the reduction of duty upon foreign Bilks has been upon the SpitalfieldB and Macclesfield silk-weavers ! Shoemakers 2 look out . ' Cabinet-makers ! how do you like free-trade ?! You can answer us this question very feelingly in two years from this date . ' . »
Foreign silks have nearly superseded our own manufactured silks in our own markets . The prices ot English silks and the wages of English silk-weavers have been driven down to nothing . Precisely such will be the action and consequence of the operation of "free trade" upon the English shoemakers and furniture makers ! French boots and shoes will super cede our home made ones ; and German furniture will drive our own cut of the
" cheap" market . Foreign fruits and vegetables we shall have in abundance , six weeks or two months before our own is ready for the market ! Of course the English market-gardeLer , when he come 3 to market with his produce , trill not find his customers supplied ! and of course he will be able to command the price he formerly obtained !! Aud this is Peel's method of finding remunerative employment for the unemployed !! This is " free-tradb" ! 1 ' .
Let ns just see what the protective system would have done in this case ; or or rather let us see what the protective system did do , when many thousands of the working people were formerly thrown out o f employment through the operation of a partial" free-trade . " We have now lying before us on our table six large folio volumes ; each one as big as a family Bible ; containing all the statutes of this realm ham Magna Charta down to the end of the reign of Geobge II . ; and amongst them we find some very curious and admirable laws , that oftentimes induce us to think that , in this age
of " science" and " learning" and " crime , "' we have not much IMPROVED upon the " wisdom of our ancestors . " On former occasions we have given one or two of these laws verbatim from the old book , and applied them to the questions we have been discussing . Our readers will , of course , judge for themselves with what force this has been done ; and whether the inferences we have drawn from them are correct or not : and they 'will also judge as to . their relevancy to the respective subjects in hand . Having detailed the method adopted by Peel to provide the unemployed with " plenty-to-do , " we shall now quote from our black-Ittter book , a whole Act of
Parliament passed in the nine-and-thirtieth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth , being Chapter 14 of the Statutes passed by Parliament in that year , 1596 ; the reader c&n then contrast the mode adopted by the Parliament of that day , to provide means whereby " many thousands" of working people were " to live and well maintain themselves , their wives , families , and children , by the benefit and use of their trade , " with the plans that are resorted to , now-a-days , to remedy the distress and privation endured by all classes of artisans and labourers in the country , arising from want of remunerative employment ! Htre is the old plan : —
" Whereas many thousands of woollen card makers and card wjer drawers of the cities of London , Bristol , Gloucester , Norwich , Coventry , and of many other her Highness cities and towns -within this realm , have heretofore lived and well maintained themselves , their wives , families and children , by the benefit and use of their trade and faculty of card making and drawing of card tcyer within this realm : and now of late time , BY REASON of the commoii bringing in of foreign cards for tcooli out of France , and other foreign parts , the ea \ d card makers and card wyer drawers have been so much impoverished , that scant the twentieth person that heretofore lived by the said trades , is now maintained and set oil work thereby .
"Be it enacted by our Sovereign iady the Queen ' s Majesty , and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled , and byauthoiity of the Bame , that no person or persons whatever , from ot after the feast day of purification of the blessed Tirgin St . M » ry now next ensuing , shall bring , Bend or convey , or cause to be brought , sent or conveyed into the realm of England or Wales , from the parts beyond the seas , any corde for wool ! , to be sold , bartered or exchanged within the realm of England or Wales , upon pain to forfeit all such cards for wooll , so
to be brought , sent or conveyed contrary to the true meaning of this Act , in whose hands Boever they , or any of them , shall be found , ox the very value thereof , the one half whereof to be to our said Sovereign Lsdy the Queens Majesty , her heirs and successors , and the other moiety thereof to him or them , that will stiza the same , or sue therefor in any Court of Record of the Queen ' s Majesty , her heirs and successors , by action of debt , bill , plaint , information or otherwise , in which actions , suits , plaints or information * , ao wager of law , essoign or protection shall be allowed . "
Now , what does the reader think ? Does either Peel or the " free-traders" poEBess all the wisdom in the world ! Are they the Solons they would pass themselves off for ? Do they go the best way to work , to get the nation out of the difficulties into which they have plunged her ? Whether does " free trade , " or the protectite system , care most for the labourer that produceth ! Peel's Tariff will augment the national distress amongst the labouring ( jjasses and the shopkeepers J It will entail upon the former less of employment , lower wages , and an increase of taxation ! It will entail upon the latter lose of custom , and less profits
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npon the business they do . Low prices are not what the shopkeeper makes the most by . Low prices brin £ lower wages ; and the great consumers of the shopkeepers' Btook buy lessingwintitp than they did before with high prices and higher .. wagM ; The shopkeeper has a per-oentage upon the money he turns over . If he turns over a large amount , his profits are commensurate : if he turns over a smaller and smaller amount , ; Ms income dimmisheB 11 Peel ' s reduction of prices will reduce the shopkeepers ; but it will ADD to the income of the annuitant , the pensioner , the salaried man , the sinecurist , the deadweight recipient , and all those who possess fixed incomes 1 It is only another taking from those who produce ! and a . giving to those who produce not' !! ¦ '¦ ;
Here , then , is our registered opinion of the famous Tariff scheme ! Wa have thus given it , and thus registered it , that it may be referred to another day ; A short ., time will shew whether we are correct or not ! A short time will serve to shew whether the ' free trade" measures of Peel will have the effact anticipated from them by the "free traders" ; or whether they will not be found to sicken the nation of all "free trade , " and all" free trade" advocates !!
To Time , then , we commit our opinions V our prognostications ! To Time the Tariff will soon be alBO committed : andif PEEL / or any other Miniater , can manage to squeeze from this people £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year , either by indirect or direct taxation , or by both ; if Peel , or any other man , can manage to do this , with the reduction of prices consequent on his Tariff , without producing misery and destitution throughout the length and breadth of the , land
compared to which the misery and destitution already existing ( horrible and appalling as it is ) would be happiness and plenty Ueelf ; if Peel , or any . . ether Minister , can , with a reduction in the prices of produce , raise the required ^ 60 , 000 . 000 a-year , without breaking up society from its very foundationa-r-tben we shall be willing to be accounted ignorant indeed , and confess that we know nothing of either politics or political economy !
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Crow and Tyrrell's Breakfast Powder . —We have received a letter , signed by twenty-five Chartists of Nottingham , who have tried this Chartist beverage , and speak of it in very high terms . We have notroom for the letter ¦; but we cordially second the recommendation it contains , to allI Chartists to patronise this beverage , as the manufacturers contribute handsomely from the profits of it to the support of the Executive . This beverage and Finder ' s blacking ought , if properly supported , to produce abundantly sufficientt » pay the Executive ; the Convention , and all the public lecturers . Siockport . —The paragraph about the " unknown " would in all probability bring onus another prosecution . This we suppose our friends do not wish .
A Woolwich Cadet must excuse us . His letter looks a little too much like kicking a dead ass . J . B . Smith must have read the Northern Star of last week very carelessly if he did not see the column of ** Forthcoming Chartist Meetings , " in thefifthpage . The Sundebland Meeting , and the " Cheers foe Mr . Sturge . "—We have received a communication signed by a number of Chartists contradicting the letter of Messrs . Monarch and Mowait , of Sunderland , and affirming < that the cheers were given . Aw Old Radical . —Thanks . Mn . Griffin wishes to inform his brother Chartists
who write him , for the future to address M > . 8 , Robert-street , Bank-top , Manchester . James B . O'Bsien .- ^ We have received a blackguard letter bearing this signature , with an intimation that we may either put it into the : Star or Jhe fire . We [ shalldo \ neither . We shall preserve it as a choice specimen of the ravings of an angry man who has " put his foot in it . " While it suited the purpose of James B . O'Brien to write on matters of public principle , we readily afforded him the use of our columns , on any subject and at any length . For Billingsgate he must seek some other vehicle . J . Sweet begs to acknowledge the receipt of 2 s . 6 d .
from Bagthorpe , Nottinghamshire , for the Con vention , and also 2 s , 6 d . for the Petition Demonstration , from the same place , which sums have been duly forwarded to Mk Cleave , London . J . PiIjLISg!—His communication announcing the lecture of Mr . Leach , and the intended lectures of Messrs . White and Bairstow , was not received till Saturday . Mb . John Watkins . —We are happy to learn that this gentlemen is much recovered . He wishes us to state that letters for him should be addressed to him at Batteraea . Caroline Maria Williams writes us to complain that having recently opened a school for infants
at Bristol , with a fair prospect of success , the parish clergyman took the trouble to go round the neighbourhood and advise people not to se-nd their children to her as she was a Chartist , by which her school has been very seriously injured . We can only say , that if it be so , the parson is a busy , dirty , meddling fellow . Philanthropia writes us to say that the Chartists of Truro have sent 10 s-, by post office order ; to Mr . Cleave , for the use of Mr . Powell , their delegate in Convention .
Trowbridge Chartists . —We have not room for the address of the Council to the inhabitants of Trow * bridge . A . M'Gregor . — We have a perfect reliance on the honesty and truthfulness of our Sheffield Correspondent , and we think it quite likely ( hat he , vpon the spot , would be able to judge of the facts , speeches , or other proceedings of a meeting dl Sheffield , at which he was present for the purpose of reporting , more accurately than any gentleman at Edinburgh , who may reasonably be supposed not to have been present .
Mr . Bairstow must excuse us inserting his letter . The mistakes are not very important ones , but our space is very important at present . We have sent his teller to our Correspondent . Eccles Chartists . —Had better write to Mr . Barrow . George Lindsay . —The case is one among thousands of similar ones . We have not just now space for its insertion . A . Real Democrat . —The letter of the Chartist shoemakers of Northampton was received three weeks ago , and was not notiped because we received : by the next post another letter purporting to be from the same parties requesting us not to notice it . The Readers of the Northern Star many ' town in the East and North Riding of Yorkshire who
have not yet joined the uniori , wishing to have the services of a lecturer > mayciinmmuhicate with Edward Bur ley , 19 , Billon-street , Layorthorpe , York , staling the amount they can pay weekly towards his salary . A Poor Artisan will get all the requisite information respecting Hie trades , employment , labour , and prospects of working men in the United States from Chambers ' a Information for thei People , parts 5 and 6 . J . Brook , Bradford . — We have some recollection of the sixpence , but realty dan ? t know what it was about ? Will the party who sent it say ? Mr . Wh , Auty , of Ifaw Green , is the Agent for the sale of Roger Pinder ' s Chartist Blacking .
MR . DEWHIRST S motion of thanks to the working classes , in the Slurge Conference- ~ llr . Smyth writes its that " Vie number who voted for that motion tods tenen , name <' i / . Deuhirst , Brook , Smyth , Burrows , Hodgson , MCartney , and ; Cooke . Agwinst Mr . Parry ' s amendment five , namely , Dewhirst Brooke , Smyih , Burrows , and M'Carlaey . "
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FOR THE EXECUTIVE . From Ipswicbvper ^ W . Garrard ... o 10 o — Plymouth , per John Kodgera 0 10 8 „ Joseph-Morgan , grocer and cheesemonger , Deptford , being £ proceeds , at the rate of 2 | per cent , upon theartiolcs purchased at his shop by the Chaitlata ... 0 j a .. Montpelier TaTem , Camberwell locality , J . Parker , sub'; j £ Secretary . / :.. ; ... ..: ....- ' .- ... . Ill $ ; FOR MRS : PROST . From J . W . Smith , Mansfield # i . p 0 4 „ a few friends at Fenton ... < J 3 o „ " ditto , Iiongton ... 0 4 n . ' , .,: FOR MRS . FROST , MRS . WILLIAMS , AND MRS . JONES . From Marple , per T . Parker ... 0 5 0 FOR THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF tltE INCARCERATED CHARTISTS . From London , per Edmund Stallwood , being proceeds of a ball aad roncertheld in the Temperance Hall , Chelsea ... ... 0 5 9
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BRAJDFOBX * . —Manok Covbt . —Clarkson t . Whitney . — -In this cause , tried on Friday last , fof recovery of money received by the defendant on account of the Bradford Victim Fund , in 1840 , and ; not paid over , a verdict passed for the defendantf which being contrary to evidence , notice has been given of an application for a new trial , LEICESTER . —Our borough is in a state of military occupation . Two troops of the TJiird Dra * goon Guards have been marched into the town * Several hundreds of special constables have beea called out , and are beheld parading the streets mingled with the ) police . xThe cause of all the alarm , into which these threatening circumstances have
thrpwn the public mind , is the erection of a hand corn mill at the bastile , at which out-paupers are compelled to worki at two-pence half-penny per dayi to be deprived of all relief for themselves and families . The mill has been broken twice while the men have been at work . The first time the men were charged with the damago . They were acquitted by the magistrates , after the bench had listened to the able advocacy of Mr . Wood , attorney , who has taken a Chartist card , and avowed his conversion to democratic principles . On Friday week , four men were arraigned before the bench charged with tho the second damage of the mill . . Air . " Cooper secretary of the Shaksperean Association , having taken the office of clerk to Mr . Wood , appeared
before the magistrates , to plead the cause of the men . The miller , however , had finished his evidence before Mr . C . could get into the court , and could hot be cross-questioned . Owing , chiefly , to thig circumstance , the cause was lost , and the four men Were sentenced to four months' imprisonment each . An exasperated crowd hooted the miller all the way to the bastile , and broke upwards of twenty panes in the bastile windows . Last Monday morning three persons were tried for this last offence , ' under the name of " riot , " before the Borongb Magistrate ? Mr . Cooper defended them ; but , after four hours ' trial , they were committed to the . sessions . Three more men were then : charged with participating in the act of breaking the mill the second time . Mr
Copper entered on their defence ; and , after three hours' contest , in which he clearly convicted the miller of perjnry , and also of wilfal and malicious neglect in the management of the mill , the magistrates determined to adjourn the case till Wednesday morning . The Mirkct-place was crowded during the day—the police and special constables were on duty , and a few foot-soldiers on recruiting service in the town , were called out to display their arms . A crowd followed the miller to the Bastile } again hooting on the way , and some threw stones . In the evening all was peaceable , although thousands thronged the Market-place . Mr . Cooper : and Mr . Beedham , from a waggon , addressed the multitude on the Charter , and an address to the Convention
expressive of the resolution of the working men o £ Leicester to abide by the Charter , and the name , and to support the Convention and the Executive , was carried by acclamation . On Tuesday afternoon the Dragoons arrived , raising increased exasperation in the town ; and at the present moment of writing ( Wednesday morning ) the magistrates have not yet pronounced sent « noe on the adjourned case , and it is uncertain what may be the next stage of public opinion , or resolution . Mr . Peter Brophy , of Dublin , gave us two stirring lectures , in the Shaksperean Room , last week ; and Messrs . Cooper and Beedham preached to attentive and excited audiences , in the Market-place , on Sunday afternoon and evening .
BXRlYXINOrHAM . —( From our own Corres ' pondent . j—There is a thorough steeple chase in Birmingham amongst the clergy . It seems " thai there was a vacancy in a fat living ( about j £ 600 a-year ) . Three of the clergy put up for the place , which ia at the disposal of the parishioners , but ^ one of them has since resigned . The election begins to-day ( Wednesday ) , and ends on Thursday , at six o ' clock . There is as much bustle and noise about the affair as if it was a regular election . Gar ? are driving about with large placard * stuck upon them to induce people to vote for this or that candidate , as the case may be . There has been a great deal of recrimination between the parties , and altogether it will open the eyes of the public to consider well the character
of those men who pretend to take care of their souls . ^——Wednesday Evening ; . — -The steeple chase of the parsons for the fat living of St . John ' s , Deritend , has terminated in the return of the Rev . Mr . Smith by a majority of 298 over his opponent , the Rev . Mr . Stdrer . A more disgraceful affair could scarcely have taken place . The rival committees of the two candidates very liberally distributed ** tickets of refreshment , " which entitled the holder to a certain amount of bser and : tobacco ; and some had gotten bo beastly drunk that they set on to fight in the street ' s . There seems to be but one opinion amongst the thinking part of the community , and that is , that it was most disgraceful , and would open the eyes of the people more than any speech-making could do .
• The Mining Districts . —Birmingham , Wednesdat Evening . —The town of Dudley is yet free from any marked violence , but I rather fear there are some grounds for supposing that things will not end without some unpleasant r disturbance . The Magistrates are apprehensive , and have taken every pre * caution to keep the peace . Lord Clive has arrived , and is in constant consultation with the Magistrates . This morning , about two o'clock , one hundred yeomanry marched into tho town , and soonafter two pieces of artillery arrived , so that it would seem that the authorities had eome cause of alarm . Nearly a troop of the Enm ' skillendragoonsare alsestationed in the town
and therest of the two troops are quartered in the neighbourhood of Lye Waste , Sfcourbridgoj Hales Owen t < and other places . All , as yet , in these parts , are quiet ; but if the men cannot be prevailed upon to go to work , how long it will remain so is uncertain .: It is a fact that the colliers arc expected to turn out on Monday next , and they are a powerful body . A reduction of their wage 3 is said to be the cause ; indeed , the whole district is , as I before wrote you , in the utmostdistress , and there is no immediate prospect of relief . I am sorry to know that one man , named George Gill , was severely wounded , on Mdnday eveuiag , in Dudleyyhis nose being nearly cut off bya sabre wound .
Child Murder . — On ; Wednesday , an inqnest was held at the Ashsed Tavern , on the body of an infant child , alleged to hare been borne and murdered by Mary Ann White , a servant in the house of Mr . Henry Jacob , of 142 , Ashted-strect , accountant Several witnesses were examined , soms of whose evidence is utterly unfit for publication ; and from the whole it / seemed that the girl had for formerly borne an excellent character and was much liked by her mistress ; that there was no suspicion of her being pregnant until the morning of her labour , and that she had borne the child in the- privy , beaten it to death with a broom , and then thrust it down the holeintothe soil . The broom was found in the privy ^ tho handle being bloody . There was also blood in several niches m'the place , though water had been used to wash » t away . A verdict of Wilful Murder was returned against the mother .
SUNT > EHX . AWJ > . -Teetotalism . —On Thursday evening there was an extraordinary largo meeting of . the teetotallers of Sunderlahd , held in the Arcade Room , It was generally understood that some members of the Society intended to bring before the meeting the general conduct of the committse . ¦ ¦ . . , After , some of the usual hacknied speeches from the "Adults , " a "Juvenile" rose to address the meeting . This was the event of the evening ; at hisrising , the meeting gavehim a simultaneous and enthusiastic round of cheers . This struck terror to the chairman and the members of the committee , who Were on the platform . The chairman rose to stop the juvenile speaker , because he said the committee bad not appointed him to speak , and hone were to be allowed to speak but those who had been so appointed . The youth , however , With great presence of mind , and sound discretion , appealed from
the decision of the chairman and committee to the meeting , by requesting all those who wished him to speak to hold up their hands ^ immediately nearly every hand in tho meeting was held op , and the chairman , after a little further opposition , sat down , and allowed the young man : to procseed . The speaker then stated , that he was a member of the Juvenile Total Abstinence Society ; that it had done a great amount of good amongst the young of the town , and its labours had the approbation Of most of tho leading members of tho adult society , but the Committee hid displayed a most ungenerous spirit towards them ; first , masking them an exorbitant rent , for the room , while the iduits had it free of charge ; and , next after they had let them it at a moderate rent , thpy raised frivoloaR objsocions against letting thum have it al ; and after their second meeting had deprived them of the use ,, of it .
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THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES . TO THE SUFFERING AND STARVING . Fellow-Countrtmen , —We have received many important communications from various districts , describing the excitement and disaatiifiction which prevail in the minds ef those who harre been driven into poverty and starvation by political causes , -which they have no power to destroy , &nd Bcarcely any liberty to describe in Parliamentary petition . We have decided on petitioning Parliament on Monday , the 20 th of May , to be heard at the bar of the Hcuss of Commons tolaybefere the world . A full and honest atateraentof the cause of your grievances , the extent of your sufferings , and the grand remedies to be proposed for the immediate and permanent removal of all natural suffering and social wrong .
We wait ¦ with patience and snbdned feeling the Tesult of our mutual prayer . We are fuily sensible that it is almost a mockery of justice to asfe the starving to be submissive , and the injured to bow their famiahed bodies to the footstool of oppression , still the sacredness of our cause , and the hopelessness of all attempts at violence , are sufficient to guide us in now calling upon you to abstain from any act likely to bring our principles into diBrepnte , and dye deeper the red bannera of despotism with the blood of our brethren . We deeply sympathise with yo * . We have expressed onr hostility to the system which has stripped you , misled yoa , repressed your Hiurmara by force , subdued your complaints by a demonstration of steel , and threatened butchery . You ask ns for advice . We counsel you to watch the decisive answer of the Government . The month of May will bring the intelligence to yon .
You asfc us how you are to act Await the decision of the National Convention . Your delegates will carry with them the results of our deliberations ; and rest assured that we are too much alive to the danger of collision -with an armed Government erei to advise it , and we possess too much experience ever to recommend violence as the course to be adopted in our struggle for justice . Fellow Cocntrt 3 iex , —We have heartily , jet deddedly , adopted this course , out of regard for jou as well oa out of Tespect f ji those principles which have progressed by the aid of reason alone , and needs no other argument , greater than present necessity , to enforce them on the legislature .
We hare placed it in the power of the Government to appease the rising indignation of millions by granting their advocates & hearing . We now await the resnlt , and all we desire from you is , to sacrifice feelinj for a time , and imitate ns in the practice of rational patience , at the Mice time tiat we prepare to advise yon on tie future csnrse to be pursued the moment the legislature have given their negative or affirmative to a nation ' s demand . ( Signed ) Abram Dckcan , Chairman . Joh . n Campbell , Secretary-
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VALUE OP TORY SYMPATHY FOR THE POOR . THEIR PARTY OUTCRY AGAINST THE NEW POOR LAW , When the Whigs were in . and the Tories were out , it Was the cue of the latter party to be horrorstruck with the enormities of the Naw Poor Law . Now that they are in , small indeed ia the song they sing to thkt tune J Of the sincerity of the cry raised upon the hustings by many of the Tory followers , we shall have > directly , a good opportunity of judging . The Tory Secretary of State / or the Home Department , on Tuesday night last , gave in the House of Commons the following notice : —
" Sir James Graham gave notice that on Thursday , the 5 th of May , he should move for leave to bring in a bill to continue the powers of the Poor Law Commissioners for a time to be limited . " Ministers , then , have determined to continue the New Poor Law abomination ! Will they * in this , be supported by their Tory followers V Weshollsee ! Dare they rebel against then : leader ! We shall see ! Will they leave him and the Whig opposition to saddle the atrocity upon the people ; or will they help both him and them ? We shall see !
On Thursday next , then , the Minister for the Home Department moves for leave to bring in a Bill to continue a law which robs the poor of their right to the first take , a living , from the soil ! And the Legislature of England will aid him in his purpose . ' ! And yet they dare to prate about maintaining the institutions of the country !! ! dare to prate thus , when they are abrogating , knocking down , the most famous and the most necessary institution of all !!! an institution in the absence of which all private property is a Wrong !!!! Verily our Legislators are curious Conservatives !
Thia Poor Law quettioh must be a , little better understood than it now is . The poor , at least , must be made to comprehend it in all its bearings . Next week we shall endeavour to give them the benefit of our readings and reasonings on the subject ; and , amongst other things , wo shall print , entire , the original Poor Law of England—the famous 43 rd of Elizabeth .
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«* -yyvy' / s ^/* . fl ^^ M ^^^^ v ^ Jvsn * THE NATIONAL PETITION . Ere we again meet our readers , the Petition will have been presented ' . The Nation ' s tongue Will have given utterance to the Nation ' s griefs ! and we shall have heard the answer of the chiefs of faction ! ' . Let , then , the quiet and the patience of expectancy abide , until that answer shall be known . After it shall have been received , the people ' s delegates will doubtless issue their instruction and advice . We shall , if necessary , throw our mite into the common
tr eaEury of council , and consider , with pur brethren how we may best make good our vantage , orcontinue to uphold the struggle . One thing let the people be assumi that whatever good ia to be done for them must be done by them . If they hold not them selveB in readiness to aohieve the redress of their oWn wrongs , they will never have redress from those who have inflicted and are seeking always to extend and perpetuate them ! The address of the Couvention in reference to the petition and the position of the people , will be found elsewhere ; let it be read , and carefully !
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THE GOOD FAITH OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES WITH THEIR VICTIMS . The times are now most critical ; and the people never needed more of caution , of prudence , and forbearance . Tho factions have , by misrule , brought us to the very depth of degradation and destitution , and in the spirit of that misrule are yet preparing to open " Beyond the lowest deep Btill lower deeps " of misery into which they seek to force the people , out of whom they live . We were sorry , but not surprised , to find in the Sun of Tuesday evening , the following statement from irom coi
a correspondent : — a reaponaeui : — " Dudley , A plil 25 . — -Thi 8 morning a body , consisting of several thousands of nailers from the surrounding country , came into this town , for the purpose , as they stated , of remonstrating with the nail masters against the reduction in their wages , amounting to not less than 20 per cent . The poor creatures appeared in a most wretched and famishing condition , many of them , carry ing in . their countenances undeniable attestation to their declaration , that they had not eaten a morsel of food for the last two dayp . Up to the time of the reduction , the most expert men of the body could with difficulty
tarn four and sixpence a week each . But the proposed diminution , should it take place—an event most probable , from the condition of the masters themselves—will lead to suffering hitherto unparalleled in this district . The Magistrates met for the purpose of consultation , after which a proposal was made to the hungry multitude to select twelve of their body to confer with their employers on the subject of complaint . It is much to be lamented that from some cause , not yet made public , ' this eonference did not take place , as the people readily submitted to the proposition regarding
it , and waited with exemplary patience the result . Meanwhile , a detachment of the 6 th Dragoons arrived from Birmingham , and proceeded at once , with drawn swords , to disperse the people- ^* task they found no difficulty in accomplishing . Large numbers of the nailers are still in the neighbourhood , and as they suspect that the proposal for the conference was only a trick to obtain time to send for the troops , they are highly indignant ; and the inhabitants of the town are in a state of great alarm , lest the multitude may return when the soldiers are removed , and , under the influence of irritated feelings , proceed to violence .
" The magistrates deserve all credit for their prompt attention to the ciroamstances , bat it is thought by many that matters would have ended better , had argument and expostulation , with , if possible , a promise of some concession , been employed before the troops proceeded to the 6 usihess of dispersion . Though tho town was grtatiy excited , the shops being closed , and business entirely suspeHued , yet the as ^ embleol multituo ' e showed no disposition to riot , and an address suite * to the occasion , expressive of sffmpaihy with the pfople under their heavy sufferings , delivered by the Vicar , ( who unfortunately v / its on horseback amongst the nilitary J
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would have done more to allay irritated feelings , and to produce tranquillity , than any coercive means . . - ,, " i » i «' v n "Trade is in a . most lamentable condition m the neighbourhood , and an irruption of the colliers , a far more dangerous body of men than the naUers , when stimulated by the panga of hunger , ia anticipated with great alarm . " 'Tisthu 3 , that by the middle clashes whom they sustain with their sweat and with their blood the
poor havebeenever treated ; their confidence haa invariably been mocked and taken advantage of ; and we confess that we have little hope that this classof necessity the kites and ravens of society—will ever act otherwise : we have no faithrin any promises made by them , and attach , consequently , little importance to any preposals coming from them ; since all experience , in much and in little , shows them to be , as a class , oharaoteriaed only by rapacity and insincerity . The exclusive power afforded to them by class legislation of directing the energies of steam and other inanimate agents , and of thus
increasing , at their pleasure , cheap production , has enabled them to create a surplus population ; that is to say , it has enabled them , to a great extent , to do without the people , who are now only so much vermin upon the land , which they are glad of obtaining any pretext to " clear off ;'' and hence we doubt not , that a pleasure truly diabolical , would be experienced by a great many of them , if the people could be goaded into open resistance it sectional detachments ; knowing that , from the same circumstances , whence they derive power to
oppress , they derive also power to destroy ; It is this very thing against which we have had mainly to combat during the whole existence of the Northern Star ; and it is because of our constant warning to the people , upon this head , that the wretches , hating and fearing us , are continually bellowing out about "the violence of the Northern Star " aad ^^ about our incitements to physical force : while our whole life and labours are ' expended in counteracting their diabolical schemes to entrap the people into collision with their armed myrmidons .
Thanks to the people ' s good sense , maugre all the bitterness of their oppressions , they have hitherto , generally speaking , baffled the foul , fiendish , tempters ! and we implore them still to continue so to do . Most heartily would we re-eoho the excellent advice of their own Parliament given to the whole people ; and we would especially recommend it to the poor nailmakers , colliers , and others of the neighbourhoods now so fearfully disturbed by middle-class tyranny and treachery . They will find it elsewhere in the address of the Convention to the industrious and starving , and we intreat them , to read and pon der it most carefully .
The Jt Oethern Star. Saturday, April 30, 1842.
THE JT OETHERN STAR . SATURDAY , APRIL 30 , 1842 .
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James Thompson , Dundee ;—Yes . An Old Subscriber , Leicesteb . —The fault is with the Agent : if he order Plates when be orders bis Papers he will get them > T . G . Hibbabd .--Write to the ^ Postmaster-GteneraL Thomas Cook , Ouston . —It cant be done . Ji A . HOGG , HAWICK . —Xhe division of the 10 s . » notloed in the last Siar , had reference to ^^ Hawiok : Carlisle never sent anything . T . S . Stoke must ref « r to the notiees of cash received . VOn THE MXSCUESTES . SUFPBREJIS . ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦'¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ . ¦• ' . ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ £ b . d . " ¦ ¦ ¦ From Loughbro per T , Eveleigh , „ o 2 19 %
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4 ' THE NORTH ERN STAR . : " - ; ' ' ¦ ¦ : •; . " - >¦ , - . ^_ I- ^ - 'V . . ^ :- ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 30, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1159/page/4/
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