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TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAR . Sis . —In your paper of Oct . 1 st , appeared a letter , pgred W . P . calling upon the Chartists of England . and of ccmrse , all her dependencies , to join the Com Law tepeslera . " bs & means to gain the Gharter . " Whether W . P . be in earnest , or whether he baa pnt out fc . &t letter as a feeler , I cannot Bay , bnt I shall take it in good earnest , and , without afcuss , treat it accordingly . And , first all all , Sir , if W . P . was my ige , and had had as much to d 9 with that lying , cantinz . bypocritical , ard treacherous lot . as I have , he would as soob
join the infernal spirits as a means to obtain heaven , u join tfee Whigs to gain the Charter . It is ont of all character with us ; and if I -was » landocrat , I should suffer my feead to bo cut from my body before I ¦ Would submit to a repeal of the Cora Lswi , -without a repeal of tie Debt laws . The landlords hare sinned in contracting a National debt ; for eTery one knows that the expenses of the state on ^ bt to be paid yearly , just in the same way as the poor rates are pajd , yet I would not snbsut to his ruin , through a repeal of the Com L aws , any more than I submitted to the ruin of the manufacturers through the passing of Peel ' s Bill .
Did not we foresee the effects of Peel ' s BiU ? Did not we exclaim a ? 3 inst the injustice of that mea ^ nre . ' Did not we foresee the manufacturers ruined by hundreds , by that Bili ? and should not we have seen the farmers , after celling their cattle to put to the com and hay money to pay their rent with , trailed into ths streets , had not the Parliament passed them the Corn Law ? Ta be sure we should . Did not we see cloth and blankets fall one-ha ; f . and more ? and the manufacturers of tbose goods 511 the jails ? and what aid we say then ? Why . we said that the msn that could do such s tiling , tfc ^ t ; s , contract the circu sting medium , without an Equitable Adjustment of all contracts .. was worse tbaa a madman , and ought net to be in the King ' s council . "Well , then , will not a repeal of the Cirs Laws have juit the same effect on the farmers , aye . an 4 on the landlord too , as Peel's Bill had on the manufacturers ? To be sure it wilL
Sow , in the former case , the labourer did not get the profit of cheap cloth and blastets . No ; his wsgts -were lowered . Bnt the boys of fired income did we'l . I have no occasion to mention their names ; W . P . knows them all ss well as I do . And , Sir , surely your correspondent cannot wfsh to see the same game played over again on the farmer , because he hss seen it p ' : ayed on the manufacturer ? Ko ; that would be rank "free trading "—that would be real "Whiegery . But , Sir , without any " abuse , " I could not lite to see the American , or any other , come into the Hull market ¦ with good corn to sell at four shillings a bushrl until the Eazllsh fanner be put in a uos'tion to compete with
him . Dearer him frwm the one-tenth to kf ^ n W . P . a ctmrch ; from the expe&ce of a standing army , jr ~ . d all the rest of the thincs ; let him have foreign rents and taxes and no more , and adjust hi » debts , and tfcen you may throw the port 3 open when you please . Bat , for Gad ' s ssie , do not want to buy your corn of the American while the E -glish fanners are providing and maintaining you s force , not only to protect your mills and commerce , but to keep the workies in subjection , and gire yon an opportunity of tiking their work ont of their hands by ycur machinery , and reducing them in their wages , thir ^ decrees below the fretting point . ' ! Wait , Sir , can W . P . see in the Rtpealera th * t he wishes us to join them ? For my part I sever will ; and I am sura no rood and well-informed Chartist ever
¦ wilL If " W . P . wl * fs to join the Whigs , I advise him to go through Liversedge snd HecSmondwike to jiin them ; and be sure to evil on the Chartists of these places , and ask them to go and Join also ; but , at the same tizse , I would adrise him to bold the door in his haad , while be pets the question , lest the answer should not suit the nether end of his body ! Young men . Sir , like TV " . P . whose leve of liberty outruns - . heir judgment , and because they are honest , think the TThigs might be , if we were to try them again . Bnt , Sir , they ntwi shall , by my consent , be tried again ! 3 > ok at the promises they made before the passir * of theBeform Bill : "lay aside all minor differth
ences cf epiaien , " s ^ id ey : " help us this time ; do help us just to liy the stepping stone ; do help us to just put in the wedge , and then when we hsve got in we will open Each a breach in the partition wall of corruption , as will let yoa all in . " I told the Reformers of that day io ks ? p eff them ; bnt somehow they were Whig mad . Well , and how did it end ? Why , Sir , no sooner had they got the " whole Bill , " ( and I wish to God it tid been the worst thing ( bey got . j than they turned rc-und and said , " Well , Gestlesu-n , Rid : cals , good niebt , it is all over . " Now , juEt look at that I wish , Sir , that W- P . bnd been old enough at that time , to understand that affair ; but the Liversedge and Eeckmondwike peop ! e will tell him if he call .
Well , they got in , and they stopped in nearly ten years , and what did they do ? Why nothing but mischief . And W . P . Sir , may read at his leisure , their whole history if he ples * e , beginning with the Irish Coercion Bill , iscre ^ se of the army ad debt , Frost , ¦ Wil liams , and Jones , and right down to the attempted repeal of the timber duty , which- they offered in their dyiri ; breath ; and then he may ask us to join them , 2 * bw , by-the-bye , I have no better opirjon of t ! -e lories ; only thin : the Tories want your money , and they tell you they will have it , or else they will blow
your brains out ; but the canting WhigB are always telling you some fine tale ; tut when you feel in your pockets your money is gone ! If ever the Whigs be joined to me , it will be on the grounds of undoing their b—r-y deeds . It will be by their coming forth hand and heart to get Frost , Williams , and Jones restored to their families . And , when they do come , they shall come in at the front door , and take their stand as we order . And I do assure W . P . that they shall neither be behind cor before ; for , if behind , they will run away , and if before , they will lead us astray .
W . P ., Sir , says that " where men have a great object to attain , they ought to Lave means commensurate to the end . " Well , if these be the means , I give him the gocd of them ; tut I would be j sined to Lord Howick and Company almost , before I would be prevailed on to join them . Bat , Sir , W . P . thinks the Repealers are not s ncere ; and if the Chartists were to join them , tiey wonld give their agitation up , I have no doubt bit they would , if they saw that the Tories were likely to grant
the Charter ; and winch the Tories would do rather than repeal the Corn Laws , for tne following reasons : —First , they wonld see that if they repealed tte Com Laws , and let all other laws stand as taey are , they would get no rents ; and the Repealers for no other Repeal Secondly , the landlords see the fn ~ € ' ord and tr e mortgagee ready to foreclose ; thvy see the blacksmith , the wheelwright , the joiner , the tailor , the grocer , the shosnaier , &cd a many more come with bills in their hizes , ail wanting paying in Com at the American V-ee ; sav 121 . a load .
Now , Sir , <•« *» sxy one Fnppose that the landlords Will be such fools , or cm W- P- with them , whejs be must know that the Chartists offer them far more honourable and better terms ? To repeal the Com Laws without comirg to a complete Settlement , would kick the farmers' Hitn into ihe street ; thra the farmers , and thtn the landlord ; and ties , aa W . P . says , the manufacturers wili be trundled : nto the street f- ^ r want of customers . Xow , S : r , surely W . P . could not whh to see ail fcis . O jes , " aa a aeasuie to gain the Charter , " Bay , W . P .
But , SL-, if W . P . knew as much of the landlords as I Co tfc weald see that they wonld not have their land tfcken from them by a repeal of the Corn Laws , and the ffiicufscturera will submit to stiff duty before they will run is risk of losing their property , the workies . Tbe lar . diord , the f undlord , the mcrtg ^ gee , the ptn-Eoser , tte Hianufacturer , and all who live without working know the valne of the woikies ; and before they would lo * e them , before they would suffer them to be enfranchised , they would move both heaven and htlL Whnt , suffer the labouring cia =-s to BJate the ia-c-g : T \ "by , Sir , they know , and so dtes W . P ., ttat if the labouring class had the power of makirg the laws in thsir otto h&nd , they would not er joy that power s ' x mouths before they began to want to tat one
half cf the fic : ts of their own industry . Acd what , gir , would this do for the idlers ? why , it would just drive them mad . Before he would submit to such a etitfi of things * I will not Eay that he would bum up England , but Washirgtcn , Moscow , St . Dennis , China , Afghanistan , and many other places migLt tremble . The miBufacturers know that the Charter wonld gi-re the working man more food and clothes for his wa ^ es than be has ; ~ fJ they know if he got more , some f .-lis lEust have less ; asd they know that fixed incomes XBtLr t be paid ; and , beside , they wish one cay to sse tLeirs ' .-ns znd daughters fill those same places of profit and hoDonr as they call it ; ard how can that be dose
if you let the labourer hare his share ? It cannot . Why , then , Ehc-uld W . P . wish us to join them , when their iEtrrest and ours are diametrically opposite to each other asd as wide apart as Din is from Beesbeba ? Look not , Sir , for help to any one l- < nt your own cider ; tut , above all , never lock to the Whigs . They are money hunters . ' They have lsng belliee I They will refer bt filled ; and as they now crucify the poor man i ^ his wage * , so would thty do to Jesns Christ if he * ere Ltrecsain . I know we have a deal to contend * ii ; tat PtU ' s Bill is making Chartists as fait as Pitt ' s notes mzde Tories ; aye , and it is tumbling the " Bouses" dovn in nearly the same ratio .
Seme people despair because the land has got into a few heeds , aid because they see that they are forbid to *« kt , c ) i almost st any price . Tiey see the law made £ that few , and therefore there is no protection . But nev er rcicd r they are on their last legs ; we must not k ^ die them into the street before we are sure that * e csn fceep the canting Whigs ont . Whtn I say bundle , I allude to party : but I wish no man as a c ^ Z-a to be driven into the streets . ¦^ tat , Sir , does W . P . Bee in the repealers that he * &rb us to jsia them ? 2 > ses be see riches ? If he ti&es , he has no need to look to them . Do the repealers aetaiil y -want cheap com ? If they do , what am 1 to pDctrstanti by their organ the Mercury , which advises ^ * eil thy readers to go and bny up the corn lest it stools get tco low and ruin the com dealers ? I should *> ot wondsr after all their fuss about cheap corn , if they r ~ £ 50 , 000 , which they intended to I&y out in " *< te £ Ei agitation , and buy up com to prevent ruin , to 3 talk aloud about repeal at the same tute ! A nice
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set to join ! I would like W . P . to look at tbe best section of the repealers , the Sturgites ; and jost see wb . exb . er their plan of elect ing delegates be agreeable to his mind . Then , again , look at tbe plug plot Who can tell what the fellows would have done , if they bad not been put down by some one calling out tbe " -Charter" ? But no sooner was tkat word pronounced , than the Whigs , in every part , as if by inasic , flaw to the Tories t « assist , nay , to take the lead In pntting the plascin * * down . Jnst losk at the conduct of those rat-catchers at BuddersfielJ . I was there , and I feel them stink in my nose to this day ; and had it not l > ee . ' for the sneer of contempt they were bound to endure from the Tory magistrates , that gave me a litt ' e relief , I should have fallen on the spot . From Hodderefield go to Cleotheaton , Mill Bridge , nay follow them , every where , and you will find them all of a
piece-W . P , Sir . may join them if he thinks proper ; but icy tongoe shfiU cleavt to the roof of my mouth , and my hand forget its cunning , before I will . Bnt W . P . talks of more " honourable means . " So he thinks , it seems , that it wonld be a disgrace to him to join them . It really would , and a defeat too ! How could we join the Whigs and keep up our agitation too ? We cannot Berve two masters . Just in the same degree that we agitate for the repeal , just in that same degree we neglect our own affairs . What we have to do is as clear aa the sun at noon day .
We must agitate for the Charter . We must read the papers , and we most read them to others . We must explain to them . I know it is hard work to make politicians ; but now that Peel has begun , let naredouble our z ; al , and try if ws cannot make them aa fast by reasoning , as he can by giving two pounds of beef to the pensioners instead of one I We are very much , to blame in reading the papers to OareelveB , lDSte . id Of reading thtm to others . We should teach the ignorant to know their rights ; the nature and effects of money ; and we ought to teach them to read and write ; and though we are net allowed to teach them the use of arms and the theory of puimery , yet , I believe the law dota allow us to teach geography and arithmetic .
Bit , Sir , if you can but prevail upon W . P . to hold his hand a bit , and just give Peel a fair opportunity cf paying ths interest of the national detit in fiour at Is . 6 d- per stone , and beef at 3 d . per pound ; and to pay all fixed obligations at the same rate , he will have no need ta join ihe Whigs , to repeal the Corn-L'jws !! We shall have the whole country fi j cking to our standard like doves to the window . To conclude , if we were to jois the Rppealers band and heart , and if they were to stand firm , ( but with W . P . I think they would not , ) and the Tories from the bad opinion they have been trained to form of the Chartists , were to grant a repeal of the Corn-Laws rather than grant the Charter , ' would W . P . like to stop in the country either with " wreck , " or without ? except his heart was steeled ap to the brim to pay off old scores . If be wadld , ha is no Chartist .
Could , sir , W . P ., wish to see Tom Lambert , because Turn has been ignorant , or because he had been led or driven by his landlord , whose mind has been prejudiced arainst . tha Charter and all that is good , go to Wakefirld with oie hundred loads at corn to sell , for which he thonld bring home £ 140 to pay bis half-year ' s rent , and return with only £ 60 , only because Jonathan was there ? Could he like to see him etli his horse-corn and furniture to make up the rent ? Could W . P ., in the " depth of winter , like to see his wife and children trundled , into the Btreets by the bums , by order of tbe
steward , though his name be " J-jhn Bessie" ? He knows that that would be the case all over England . Thtn , loos at the sales almost all in one day to meet the rent tiay . Where are the buyers , sir ? Why there are none ; no , nor rents either . Then the mortgagee , then the . fundholder . then all the private bills j bat stop , there is the soldier , and he ne * ds no process ; he has that in hie cartridge box . Ay , sir , it W . P . ha « half an eye , by looking here , he will see as much in half a minute as I , in writing , could tell him in a week !
> ow , I think , I have said enough to » et W . P . a thinking . As Chartists we oncht not to wish to see others robbed and ruined , because they have helped to rob and ruin us : 5 tb . at is the doctrine of the Repealers . No , We ought to have charity and lova . It is our duty to do tbe best we can to pnt a stop to that system which first robs one and then the other . It is the robber's delight to hear those whom he has robbed say , " Well , damn " em they did not care for us , what reason have we to care for them "' T " Oar go » ds were lowered one-ba ! f , and they took no lotice ; then why should wejeare for them ?'" This is the tyrant ' s reasoning . Now , sir , let us mind our own business . Let us 9 dd to our numbers . Let ns e " aJighten each other " s minri 3 . L « t us shew clearly to e » ch other that it is enr interest to get rid of the robbers , and not to r > joice at seeing each other robbed .
Having said enough at this time to convince W . P . the . ; it -will be better to increase our number by instmct-: cS the ignoraDt than joining the Repealers , I remain , Bir , yours , T . Popplewell . Eiland Edge , November 5 , 1 S 42 .
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^^ TO THE CHARTIST COUNCIL . Nov . 3 rd-, 1842 , English-street , HulL Gentlemb>—I beg ta acknowledge tbe receipt of a It ' . t-t from your Secretary , dated October 3 I t , and sl--o to * ay , that not being aware of having piven any offrncp , tr shewn any inciviiity , I am sorry to fiad his 1-tter so UDg ? ntlemarj ] y and scurrilcus . I beg also to observe that it might probably have been as well had you postponed your flourish of triumph till a Hiore fitting occasion . Tbe foiiowing are extracts from his letter : — " When Mr . Beesiy ' s challenge was accepted , tbeir hepe was that i * had been done is good faith . " "Tney did not anticipate from your tone and bearing thai covert shrinking from ihe contest which they regret to find manifested in jour letter . " "Attempts to get away from the question . " kl Youro ject in Eeeking the eiebate , " tc .. To quote all your eeurrilous inuendcea I should have to copy a great part of your letter .
You -first admit "Mr . Btesley pave the challenge , and then you represent me as " seeking the . debate . " Becanea I submitted the " conditions ' ' to yonr
attention , were they therefore binding on you ? If not wby j be scurrilous ? You first desired me to appoint a com-. ' mitter ; I respectfully replied in a letter . Did I not ; treat yon with the respect which is due to a public ' body ? Why then fling around Hie so many unworthy ' motives ? Has my rar > nl courage been BritriH . ? Or i fcave yon a mind to imitate yjnr lecturer in his conclnd-; ii ; g address on my motives ? I have yet to learn that I you are the depositories cf public virtue and public principle . j You represent me 23 if I originated the question ot 1 deLatt—your lecturer save the suVjrct himself , namely , ' Tbe Repeal of the Corn Laws would not bent fit tLe ¦ - workiue c . ' n'seV' sc chifl ^ nEed either Mr . Aclacd or
! myself to d :. « cassion . Tbe ocly libtrty ( if it can bo i called a lilx-rtvi I took , was in putting the subject into an ! interrogative form , thus : " Would the repeal cf the corn ¦ Laws benefit the operative clashes ? " You have , however , ' changed tie question , hat ¦ sr-th all proper deference . I j beg to inform you and the composer of your letter . I that you , acting merely as a committee of management , , ' fca-re no power to make ? uch a change . That moment i you step out of your legitimate province , you r- more the f crcund on which the acceptance of the challenge rej-ts . i Tou may as justly i ' itroduce the Poor Law Bill , tbe ] Ten Hours' Bill , or any other bill , as the Franchise . It ,: is not for me to know the extent of power you may ; exercise over your lecturer , but I must respectfully j decline its recognition when extended to myself . If , ' therefore , your lecturer had undertaken to defend a
prjitron Bfat upon Chartist principles , it would have 1 betn m jre candid and honourable on your part to have ¦ at once said that fur tbe result your lecturer alone is i responsible . Instead of this yon attempt to exhibit me j as chooiicg my own ground , in order to elicit a refusal ; fioin you , and hei ^ y give me fin appearance of j tiiuciph . "Upon this Test all your Bcuirilcus attacks '< upon my motives and principles . ' , When your lecturer had vauntirgly given the chal-\ Icdpc I -Eccepted it on condition that he weald conSi . e ! his attention to the sulj ^ ct . If you doubt this ask y ^ nr
el : iirman . He S 3 id " his committee would be ready to nuke the arraDEements . " which reply I understood as nn ; farm . "tire that he would do so ; and therefore in my arraignments with you I hope you will not deem it disresp-. cifal if I confice y < jH also to tba ful-JLCt . In doiccso you fcr-. ve imagined yoursrlvts treated as children . If von think so , I eanrot help it , and 1 am sorry my niiar . ir . 5 Ehc-uld h-ve been bo much misapprehended . Your lecturer placed you in tbit position if you deem it derogatory , and I must leave you to settle thi 3 cricTaECS with him .
Yt-u do see , however , the horn of tbe dilemma on which be would have Veen impaled ; and i * i anticipation yon make a sudden plunge to avert his fate . On this subject I have oniy to observe that public challenges should be more carefully given , Bud then they would be attended with more consistency and less regret Mr . Beesley challenged me on one subject , you propose another . A m 1 to understand this as a specimen of good faith ? Yoa might have inferred , had y « u Tiflrcted a niwiient , that I would not allow myself to be thus ' " trailed . " Y . fifcther a repeal of the corn laws Ehouid be mixed np with party politics , is a question which may admit iati tude of opinion . On this subject , however , my own view . * are settled . Hence you will perceive , that I am disiL dined to allow you to dictate what course I am to purai / fl apart from the subject given by J «' r . Be ^ sJy in the Lode * .
The spirit of your letter y . ' ouW , if it could , froxen me into your will ; ai . d fcelocg e s Jovl exemplify this spirit towards those wfeo may not 1 «« . ive a ) I the nostrums of your lecturers , though yon process universal liberty , you practice the worst of mental de vpotiEin . Yon wish to bo treated with " gentlemanly courtesy . " This request is iu * dless ; though the animus of your letter dispbys lit . le of this essential ingredient to all friendly inteichange of thought and opinion , I am , gentlercen , A well wisher to yen , and all the" operatives cf this realm , ( Signed ) Robeb J FiETH .
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THE ANSWER OF THE COUNCIL . Hull , November 7 fch , 1842 . Sir , —I am instructed by those with whom I have the honour to act , officially to acknowledge the receipt of your last , and officially thus to reply : — The letter to which yours is in answer was net the letter of our Secretary , bat ; that of the body from whom it professed to emanate , namely , the Hull Conncil of the Charter Association , drawn np and agreed to at a regular meeting of this body , and signed on oar behalf and at our command by the person appointed by as for this purpoBe . Therefore , if that letter had contained anything either ' ungentlemanly' or ' scurrilous , ' it would , in our opinion , hav « been more genttern&nly on your part , to have attributed the want of oourtesy to the propar quarter , and not to tbe individual whose
signature was appended to the document . Yet , notwithstanding the isolated quotations which you make from that letter , and which you are pleased to cull' scurrilous inuendoes , ' yon have signally failed in producing a single ungentlemanly , ' a single ' scurrilous' expression . If the term 'Inuendo' be by us correctly understood , it signifies a distant notice , a hint , or an ivsinutttian , and these are commodities in which the Chartists generally do not deal , leaving this kind of traffic to their political opponents who claim to be ' the sole depositories of public virtue and public principle' as they are of political power . We consider , moreover , that the charge of scurrility comes with a peculiarly bad grace from a gentleman who can so
unceremoniously chaTge those who may differ in opinion from him and his ' nostrums , ' with ' professing univeTBal liberty , but practising the worrt of mental despotism ; ' and were recrimination our purpose , "we might justly eballenge yoa to produce any expression from OUT Whole correspondence , as ' ungentlemanly' In its tone , or 80 ' Bcarrilous' in its tesor as the passage to which Wb have taken the liberty of thus calling your attention . But recrimination is not our object . Oar wish is to get you' up to the scratch' upon terms so plain and tangible , tbat the merits of tbe qnestion , in all its bearings , may be fairly and honestly brought before the people , in order that they may come to a just decision .
You appear extremely wroth that we should have characterised you as 'seeking the debate ; ' hut if yom had not soujtht it you would not have found it ; for even Mr . Kobsrt Firth , Corresponding Secretary of the Hull anti-Monopoly Association , la not of sufficient importance in the eyea of the Cauifot public to be honoured by them with a personal challenge , unless , as in thig instance , it is ' of his own seeking . ' But if he thinks proper to 'piok np the gauntlet' whenever it may be thrown down to the anti-Corn Law Leagueif he thinks proper to become the champiou of the ' nostrums' which are palmed upon the public under the sounding title of ' free trade '—he tn 3 y rest assured , whether he opines it is ' of his seeking' or no , or that his moral courage' will be pretty often put to the te 3 c .
We are completely at a loss to know what your 'flourkhof triumph ' can allude to , unless it be by the vauntitg' boast of impaling * your opponent upon 'the horns of a dilemma !! ' which never existed save in your own imagination . To yoar term ' composer , ' which you have dignified with all the importance of half-text , -we have no objection , save that it ought in all fdixpeas to have been expressed in the plural . We shall , for this once , reply to yoitr queries ; gently reminding you , however , that although we offered to consider objections , we made no promise to answer questions . No . ' ' We deny if Yes ! ' ' We neither did nor intended ! ' ' Of tbat you are the best judge , ' or ' when did your trumpeter die V take either answer you may like the best But your next question , containing something like an ' inuendo' deserves a more lengthened reply . You aek , ' Or have you a mind to imitate your leciurer in his concluding addre&s on my motives ?"
Sir , we are always inclined to pass lightly over observ . itiong which way drop from a speaker in tbe hsat of debate ; we do not feel justified in too nicely weighing or in too severely criticising every expression which may fall from his lips ; but when we find a m « n aittiDg down deliberately to pen a sentence like this , there is no necessity for questioning bis ' motives . ' These become too apparent for questioning , too palpable for doubt Our lecturer aever ohm alluded to your motives ! but when he found you changing the question ; when he found you stepping out t > t your ' legitimate province ; ' when he fouDd you ' not confining your attention to the subject ; ' wht-n you travelled out of
your way foi no other apparent purpose than , that of accusing the absent and slandering the imprisoned , he did then administer a little de . « erved castigatiou , never indeed questioning yi / ur motives by giving a shrewd guess at your trade . If , therefore , you felt lore under the laih , yon may console yourself with the reflection tbat this also was ' of your own seeking , ' and that neither we nor our lecturer were in the least to blame . Having thus dismissed the charge of scurrility , and having thus replied to your questions , we now proceed to consider your rtasocing , if that terni can with justice be applied to asy portion of the assertions contained in your letter .
1 ou quote a part , ana be it remembered only a part , of Mr . Beesley ' s challenge , and lest you should infer' this also to be an inuendo' we beg to assure you that we bring it as a serious and positive charge . The words of the challenge so ' vaunting ' y' accepted , as copied by the short-hand writer who took notes on the occasion , trprn ¦ whilst the institutions of our country retain their present basis , I deny that the mere repeal of ths Corn Laws weald benefit the working classes ; and I defy and hereby challenge either Mr Acland , or this gentleman , or any other member of the anti-Corn-L . iw League to prove that it would . ' Here then is the challenge which Mr . Beesley gave and which you accepted . Have you the ' moral courage' to maintain your ground ? or dare you agala display ' that , covctt shrinking from the contes ' , ' that' attempt to get away from tbequestiun , * which your first letter evinced and which jour last confirms .
Sir , you shall not shuffic ; out of this difcuFsion withrut proclaiming to the world that you are destitute of that' moral cjnr&ce' of which you so loudly boast ; for even takiiig the question upon your own shewing , v : z : ' would the rtpeal of the Cora Laws benefit the working classes ? ' you have no right to clog that with conditions or limitations about what shall or what shall not be excluded ; for if our lecturer , in maintaining tbe negative of even that proposition , cocld satisfactorily shew that' the limitation of the franchise , " or * ven the New Poor Law BUI , or any other measure now in cp ration , would debar tho working casses from a participation of that benefit which , under other circumstances , they might hope to share , we have yet to learn by what law of discussion he can possibly be shutout from making use of this fair and legitimate argument .
As yon have not thought proper to orject to any of our other propositions , with the single exception of 1 the euVg . ct for iHscaBs : ' * we conclude tbat you have no objection to offer ; ard we a £ a . in ask you ' will you conic forward and maintain your ground on the terms in which the challenge was given and accepted ?' We h ^ reno desire that the word ' franchise' be introduced iuta the question , but we will never bo con-Erntin ? parties to :. nj proposition by wbch a legitimate arcum ^ nt fhcuUl be ixcluded ; and we ha 7 e a very poor opinioii indeed of tLat " guod faith" which would only allow one side of a sul j ct tube beard . In conclusion , we -wibli most distinctly to express that we havr r . o intention of giving periOHu / offe ' co ; but in this matter we can only i > gird you in the light of a polil cal opponent ; and while we treat you with all the courtesy due to this character , we cannot allow private feelings of personal r- gard to interfere with the discharge of a political duty .
I have the honour to be , Sir , On behalf , and by command of the Hall Chartist Council , Yours respectfully , W . J . HOLLIDAV . SeC To Mr . Robt . Firth , &a
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10 THE CHARTISTS OF SHEFFIELD . "He who allowsoppressfon shares the crime . " Brotheu a *> d Sister Democrats , —Wo consider it our iKip& . ative duty to ruake this appeal to you in behaif of the champious of our rights and liberties . The time is now arrived to prove how deserving we are of the privileges , for tbe attainment ef wbich we are struggling , by the snpport . \ ud protection we afford to the advocates of our common causa Despotism , assisted by its worthy colleague , base and black-hsarted treachery , hus made a boM and powerful
effort to crush the i / iovenient . by depriving tLe peopie of their best and tried frienda ; nsnonif othtrs , your two unflinching advocates , Cioorgo Julian Harney and Saml . Paikes , who , torn from th' ; ir homes acd families by the myrmidons of power , were committed by magisterial defpDtsonthe eviiiicce of the traitor andrenepaue Gr . fiia , to take their trial at tho late Special Commission on the miserably false charce < f conspiracy . These , your friends , ( ia common with their brother palriots chcrged as being " conspirators ") txercieed ths right allowed them by the law of traversing their trials to tke next March assizes
Fur exercising this , their constitutional right , they will be plundered by the harpies of the law , to the amount of from six to eight pounds each , in the scape uf traverse fees al » ne ! and this infdiuous extortion must be submitted to , otherwise oar friends will be liable to imprisonment for non-payment , before they are tried on the charge brought against them by the Downing-etreet " Conspirators . " Of course , there will be other unavoidable expeEces to be provided for independent of tbat , which , we think , ( whatever our persecuted brother * may decide upon for themselves ) viz the employment of counsel for the defence .
We would 110 % have troubled you with this appeal , relyiDR upon your patriotism to fiad the necessary fands in sufBcie&t time , bnt that our brethren are menaced with another Special Commfasioa I Well the factions iiiOW tbat the pwjnred eridence vpoa which they reBi tbeir case would not avail them , if unprejudiced juries were the arbiters between the accusers and the defenders of democracy . Well they know that as soon as Parliament shall meet , corrupt as tbst House is , it will be compelled to listen to the demands of our peuseeuted brothers for justice , and to witness tee unmasking of those iibertiiidial Judges who Lave polluted the judgment-seat , and rerdered " the luajtBfy of the law" a meeker / and a
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byword . To prevent as far as in their power lies the * nveiUng of the true conspiracy , and the real conspirators , the factions have given the rignal , and their vile organs from the daily Times aud Morning C / ironicU down to those drivelling thiuga the Independent and / m have joined in the yelping choraa , of "the likelihood , the probability , and almost certainty , " &c of a wmter aas- . ZQ—another " speoul commission" to be held before Christmas . The DubHn Monitor avows thnfc this additional Special Commission is to beforthepuiposa of procuring the conviction of " Feargus O'Connor and the other ChaitiBts who have traversed , " before Parliament shall assemble .
Of all the curses that afflict oar country the existing newspaper preas ia the most horrible : it is , with two or three noble exceptions , the vile pander to despotism , the bitter and relentless foe of truth and justice . The efforts of its degraded conductors to afford a colourable pretext for the bold act of tyranny which they tell us is contemplated by the ruling faction , to procure the conviction of our leaders , must ; disguijt all honest men . Bat shall they do this non-opposed by you ? Your voices rassed in condemnation of bo despotic and unconstitutional an act , may yet scare them from their intended infamy ; but more than this must be done ! The necessary fuudu must be instantly raised ; so that if our friends are to feo brought to trial in December , they may be prepared with the pecuaiary means of defence . '
The men for whom we- plead are worthy of your support ; the name of Julian Harney is known wherever the banner of Chartism waves , and is associated with every struggle of the people for their rights during the last four years . Samuel Parkes ia known U you , the men of Statfaaa , for bh unflinching patriotism and steady ac'herenoe to your cause . When tbe day oi trial arrives—whan honest patriotism shall confrtn ' o triumphant tyranny , we have no fear that they will do their duty . Do you do youra . If a winter assize is-to be held it is expected to take place eaiij , in December . There ia no time to be lost Up , then , men and women of Sheffield—exert all your energies , and puove you are worthy of your rights , by supportiag those who dare defend themselves . Signed in behalf of the Defence Fund p Committee , Samuel Clayton , Secretary . Council Room , Fig Tree Lane , November 14 th , 1842 .
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— — ' TO THE TRADES , AND WORKING CLASSES GENERALLY , OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND Fellow Workmen , —Most , or all of yom are aware , that in the beginning of September last a committee was appointed by the Smiths of Manchester , to endeavour to raise a fund to conduct and defray the expenses attending the defence of Mr . Alexander Hutchinson . The circumstances originating his arrest bare been previously laid before you , so that any lengthy comment from us will be unnecessary . Suffice It to say , that at the Trades' Delegate Meeting , held iu the Hall of Science , Manchester , he was appointed by the unanimous voice of tbe meetine to preside over their deliberations , which , ultimately led to' , his-arrest and his
committal for trial at the late Liverpool asa ' x . 'S . To tho talent and influence of the counsel we employed , though at an enormous expense , we are aliitny indebted for the favourable termination of his trill , which , under other counsel and circumstances , would , we believe , have been attended with serious results . And as our treasurer has been obliged , by the necessity of the case , to advance a considerable sum on our credit , we take the present opportunity of issuing out report for your inspection , under the impression that yoa wili not stand still and see us sacrifice our means without one effort to assist us . '
REPORT OF THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE * Income . £ . b . d . William Epton ... 0 1 0 John B * nkB ... 1 0 0 Will ' mm ( Jerrard 0 10 Walter Phaup ... 1 0 0 A Friend _ .. 0 1 0 Thomas Child ... 1 0 0 Kobert Froggatt . 0 1 6 A Friend ... 1 0 0 A Friend ... 0 ' 1 0 John Child ... 0 10 0 Robert Stones ... 0 10 Charles Jones ... 0 13 0 Joseph Ciarfce ... 0 1 0 Henry Coffey ... 0 8 0 James Al'Donald 0 1 0 Wni . Me George 0 8 0 Wife of do . ... 0 1 0 EdwardRogers ... 0 8 0 John Roberta ... 0 1 0 D . ivid Roberts ... 0 8 0 John Franois ... 0 0 6 James Kulshaw 0 8 0 William Wood ... 0 0 6 Thomas Grayson 0 8 0 . William * Cook ... 0 0 6 Edwin Banks ... 0 5 0 Peter Llchtfoot .. 0 0 6
Dwid Lewis ... 0 5 0 Peter Johinon ; .. 0 0 6 T . Stanynought ... 0 5 0 Robert Price ... 0 0 6 Joshua Wormall 0 ' 5 0 John Goffjry ... 0 0 6 Wm . Coras ... 0 6 6 Peter Hart ... 0 0 6 A Friend ... 0 5 0 William Parry ... 0 0 6 James Crawley ... 0 6 0 George Davis ... 0 0 6 Wm . Robinson ... 0 5 0 Thomas Acton ... 0 OS RichaTdByrom ... 0 5 0 Samuel Hughes .. 0 0 3 Isaac Gillow ... 0 7 0 A Boy ... ... 0 0 2 Wolverton Smiths 0 10 0 The foregoing London do . 0 7 3 comprise : Edinburgh do . 0 5 0 Smiths of Man-E . Quarltroutrh ... 0 7 0 cheater , &c ... 18 . 1 . 6- 2 John Hardman ... 0 6 0 Beiihouse ' s Spin-Leeds Railway ... 0 6 9 ners ... ... 0 15 0
John Donlevy ... 0 5 0 Glass Makot : David Dick ... 0 5 0 Aaron Onadwiefc 0 0 6 Richard Wood ... 0 5 ( 5 Joseph Lythgoe .. 0 0 6 iMattbewDunn .,. 0 4 0 William Sparks .. 0 0 6 Daniel Me Avoy 0 4 0 GjorgeRowlanson 0 0 6 John Nelson ... 0 3 6 Richard Roattn ... 0 0 6 Thomas J « nes ... 0 3 6 Sharp ' s Brass George Stott ... 0 3 0 Room ... .. * 0 P 6 James Yates ... 0 3 0 A few Spinners , Henry Parr ... 0 3 0 Ancoat ' s-lane ... 17 0 Wra . Edgley .... 0 3 0 Society of Metal John Ashworth 0 2 6 Planers ... 1 6 1 R . Wilkinson ... - 0 2 6 Two Country James Haslem ... 0 2 6 Friends ... 0 0 0 Wm . Faldon ... 0 2 6 Geo . Ashworth .... 0 0 fl
Joseph Spa ... 0 2 6 Buller h Willi's Rirhurd Nixon ... 0 2 6 Shop .. ... 0 12 3 A Friond ... 0 3 0 Bolton RiUway ... 0 14 0 Henty Bedgood 0 3 . 6 -. A few Friends , John Ed |? ar ... 0 2 0 by J . R . ... 0 13 0 Wm Birtles ... 0 3 6 Sharp ' s Mule Thomas Gittens 0 2 6 Room ... ... 1 4 0 Dmifll Bittles ... 0 3 0 Dx Engineers ... 0 8 0 J . Qnaritrougb ...-0 " 3 6 Wheelwri g hts & John Yates ... 02 0 Blacksmiths ' George Wrigley 0 2 0 Society ... 1 0 0 Joseph Benton ... 0 2 0 Mechanics' So-Joaeph M'Cabe ... 0 2 fl clety ... ... 9 3 6 Wm . Seddon ... 0 2 6 Tailors' Society 4 0 0 Thomas Tickle ... 0 2 6 Painters' Society 3 0 0 Charles Nelson ... 0 2 0 — = Jitrnes Ryan ... 0 2 6 Total Income 43 13 8
John Metsom ... 0 2 0 Richard Rostern 0 10 expenditure . Thomas Naylor ... 0 10 Friend Mitchell 0 1 0 Book and Pen ... 0 1 0 WilliamRivon ... 0 10 Printing ... ... 2 5 0 Joseph Taylor ... 0 1 0 Rrtmned a few P . HicRinbotham 0 1 0 Spiutiers , An-Job Briekhail ... 0 1 0 ooat ' s-lane ... 1 7 0 Charles Greaves .. 0 10 Attorney and Jnmps Burber ... 0 10 CuUnsel ... 40 0 0 A Frknd . W . P . 0 1 0 Witneses ... 11 10 0 George D ^ akin ... 0 1 0 Dylee . ition ... 0 19 0 Henry Pattison ... 0 1 0 Mr . Hutchinson .. 4 11 9 James Russull ,... 0 1 0 Printing 2 , 000 Thomas Smith ... 0 10 Reports ... 1 16 1 John Brown ... 0 10 — : Joseph Robinson 0 10 Total .. 62 9 10 John Cooper ... 0 1 0
You will perceive , by the foregoing report , tbat there is an actual deficiency of £ 19 , which our treasurer has been obliged to advance , owing to the attorney , Mr . Bent , absolutely refusing to proceed with the case until he was paid tbe whole amount , which circiijnstance caused the extra expense of a jaurney t <« - 'Liverpool . The amount paid to the attorney for conducting the case through , yon will , no doubt , think far too mnch , bnt it is very far from the sum he at first demanded ; his first charge was near £ 100 , add to which , the time and expenses of fourteen witnesses to Lancaster , ( the aiirz'is beiag first announced for t . hat plaou ) for about six or eight days nt the sum generally paid on such occasions , and you will find tkat £ 200 would scarcely cover it , to say nothing of the very Hcrious loss sustained by our friend , Mr . Hutchinson . We succeeded ,
however , in reducing the attorney ' s expense / by Bending a deputation to explain to him our embarrassed position , and the trouble we were subject to in raising even tbe amount wo had then on hand ; he felt , or appeared to feel , for our situation , r . nd reuuetd his charge to £ 60 , and ut a subsequent interview to £ 10 , which sum wo were compelled to agree to , or whoilyto abandon the case , and which he ultimately demanded at Liverpool before he would proceed with the cruse . Tho subsequent announcement of the assizis being held at Liverpool was another great advantage to our cause , which together with tbe honorable and praiseworthy conduct of our witnesses , ( to whom we beg to return our sincore thanks ) greatly contributed to diminish the expenditure , so that with other economical arrangements the whole defence will be cleared off for about £ 02 .
We have therefore to appeal to your benevolence in behalf of our deficiency—not upon any political grounds , because our case is entirely a trade question—our delegate was not sent to ths meeting to represent the Chartist smiths of Manchester , nor any other particular party ; he was sent as the representative of the general body , who , like all other public bodies , profess all shades of opinion . And as the trades' delegates elected him as their chairman , we feel tbat we have a strong moral claim upon the sympathies of the working classes , and particularly the trades , to which claim we hope you will give a heartyand cheerful response , so thatby honourably clearing off every liability , and reinstating our victim in hi * former position amongst us we may Btlll secure bis valuable services , and stimulate others to follow the 83 me praiseworthy coarse , until every ^ abase of which we justly complain be swept from the face of the e 2 rth .
You will also' perceive , upon examining the report , that hut few of the trades who had delegates at tlie meeting have yet come forward to assist us ; so tbat the expense has fallen heavily upon the members of our own boi < v , to whom we beg to express our grateful ftcknowledg&ntents , and hope that by their praUeworthy exaco ^ e the tr . vies who have not yet subecr . bed wili
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be stimulated liberally to cooperate towards liquidating ourdebt In conclusion , we beg most respectfully to return our heartfelt thanks to the trades who hftvt so liberally supported our case , and also to tbe various woikshops whose names appear among the contributors ; and hex to assure them , in the name of our constituents , tbat should aay public calamity or similar mibfortune b .-fal them , the support which they have rendered will be returned with cheerfulness aud gratitude . Your ' s very respectfully , Thb Committee . Committee Room , October . 30 , 1842 .
N . B . —The committee will in future Meet every Siturday evening only , at the Olympic Tavern , Stephenson ' s Square , from half-past seven to half-past ) nine o ' clock , when the delegates appointed by the other trades are requested to attend . Each trade subscribing to tbe fund is requested to send & delegate to sit on the committee , at tbe conclusion of whose labours a filial report will be issued .
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ESSAY ON THE PRESENT SYSTEM , BY JOHN WATKINS . PART IV . " The time is out of joint 1 O cursed spite That ever 1 was born to set ik right" ' - ^ Hamlet . The present age may be characterised the selfish age —it is the most mercenary—the meanest . Every man seems to think but of himself alone . We ate ephemera —beings of a day . To lose money is to lose fritnds , heaitb , reputation , everything—what wonder that parents thcm £ elYea should love their gold more dtar than their children—that they should see them starve and without relief 1
Poverty is rendered criminal by law—it is also bylaw rendered the inevitable lot of the industrious manynot a chance is left for their escape , and when they are driven into the toil , tbeir condition ia made more unendurable than that of an Alg « rine slave—they are treated with an inhumanity of which the Turks would bo ashamed . The Turks ! why theyjireat their dogs much better than we treat our aged and infirm fithers an-1 mothers . Pleasure or profit is all eur pursuit , and can we expect those who are bent on pleasure , to stop ut the cries of pain ? no , they will increase another ' s pain if thereby they can increase their own pleasure—and those who pursue profit are still more callous , mure brutal ; the groans of the victims may annoy them , may vex them , but will never soften tkeui . They have
no consideration for their own souls and bodies , Dot even for their own business characters . Our manufacturers have done much by their dishonest practices to dishonour the credit of the country , to forfeit tho custom of othercoantrks ; but what cara they?—so long vi they gobble np a hasty fortune for themselves they would ruin trade itself , and forestall the fortunes of all who have to follow . They are devoid of patriotism and of philanthrophy . All principle , all feeing , they sacrifice to the love of pelf . The bloom and innocencei of ' childhood , the strength and spirit of manhood , the very peace and resignation of old age—all are made merchamiissa of . Great was the outcry against the African slave trade , while all the while a slave trade was rising up . was tyring carried on by those who were
loudest in that cry . A slavery of the whites , enough to niako black turn white in comparison . Surely the first duly of every siaccre slave-emancipator was to emancipate the slaves at home . But these were the slaves that they themselves bad made , and instead of doiag that , they next mads heathens of them , while at the same time they were sending cut missionaries to convert the heathen in foreign lands , who indeed are the better Christians . Was it not of sneb as these that Christ spoke wfaen he said , " Ye 1 hypocrites I first cast out the beam from your own eye before you can see clearly to'pluck out the mote fromyour brothers . " Send your missionaries hot to the plains of Hindustan , not to the wilds of Southern Africa , but into your own factory miUs ; let them prevent the sacrifice of children to your
idols ; send them into your mines ; but they durst not venture there ; the very police daTe not descend into those hell-holes , where boys and girls , and preghani women crawl on their bellies like serpents , amid darkness and damp , where rabbits could not ' -burrow , nor blind moles creep , where no living creature but the toad in its cold stone is ever found . Money is not raised to emancipate them , to convert them ; no , bat rnon ^ y is made of their slavery , their heathenism ; and hundreds of thousands of pounds are sent across the sea to be spent in waste time ; for what better can we call it when we read that no convert is made but at the cost of a thousand pounds per man ; and how are converts made ? Why , they are made drunk , and then they acknowledge themselves Christians , but relapse into
Hindooisni again as soon as tbey becorao sober . Our privileged classes ( fine folks !) lavish all their love , all their religion , all their charity on other countries—not on their own . English charity is never found at home ; it roams all the world over ; it is a vagrant charity . Oh , call it home ; let it visit the unfurnished hovels where industry sits naked and famishing—its very tools pstw&ed for food—where piety broods over its wants and woes , its very bible sold—where innocence is suffering worse famishment than ever guilt endured . See the once happy family leaving a once contented home , and wandering desolate despised into the streets , exposed to the cold wind , aud to the colder sneers of tho world-going wealthy . In vain do they crave the refuse of tho rich man's tahle . There are brmrrtu hung up
in every direction , not like tho crosses which in former times pointed the pilgrim to the monasteries where Vie was refreshed without money and without price ; but these boards are more like gibbets , and , in direct opposition to the Word of God , they request , eamssily request the public in no case ( mark tbat I ) to give alms —where then -must the destitute go ?—what refugo is for them?—the bastile!—they enter , and the husband is sundered frem his wife , the children are torn from their parents , the ties of nature are rudely rent , and the whip of authority is put into the hands of brutal men , who think that they best do their duty , that they most fulfil their office , wh 6 n they act with the greatest inhuniauity and cruelty . What wonder that many actually prefer death to such a life , for it ia a life of
hard toil and hardwire—that man jr .-prefer a prison to a bustile , ami break the law to qualify themselves—and that consequently there is a supposed necessity for more new prisons , or for the enlargement of the old—that madhouses are on the increase , and that the corner ? of churchyards are filled with suicides ? Some enlist , some emigrate , some are transported for forced crimes ; but the great majority die heartbroken in the land that gave them life , but denied them a living—in a land that abounds with the means of supporting life , but it is a land which the accursed system is fast turning into a Golgotha—ft Jand of skulls . How many die of diseases induced by 'famine ! They pa 38 under tSe name of ( ow fevers '—bni they-are deaths by -starvation ; and Eugluud is the only land -whew such deaths Knowingly occur . How many , t > ven now while I tall it . are dying in despair—murdered by the system that should succour and tustain ? Lwt us select one case , — not tli-a case of one , but of thousands—I might eay of million *
—the case of a honest , hard . -working man with a lar ;; o family , who having spent nil his strength , bestowed all his skill in the support of Church and State , is left at last in his hour of need neglected by both , and laid on bare boards , without clothiag or covering ( all bavin ? gone for food , and gone in vainl , fevered with care and anxiety , ' wanting medicines—but not able to obtain tan common necessaries . * of life—wanting rest , but evermore awakened by tho cries of his suffering children , he sinks , with no prospect before him but damp walis , dirt , and ¦ vermin . Instead . of .-Gospel consolations , be hears the sobs of his little enes , and the wailing of a helplui-s , hopeless wife : he cannot aieep ; he cannot die in peace , for his la&t moments are troubled—aro tortured with the agonizing tliuught of what must btcome of his widow and orphans , aud as his eyes grow dimmer , a 3 his breath fcasps shorter , as his pulse beats fainter , shapes arisu to bis delirious view , —his own children appear like spectres dancing and howling around his corpse .
Ah . England , with all its wealth , ia but a desert island to the unemployed poor . They suffer like men besieged in a citadel with all supplies cut off—like men at sen in a ship out of provisions ; but in those cases ail are &iiffc . rtrrf alike , tbe last biscuit is shared equally —with us , on the contrary , one class , the idle , is ribtiujt amid every supei fliiity , while another , the industrious , is famishing before their very eyis . Tne conduct of the upper , classes iu this country resembles that of wild Indians daucing and singing around their victims
at the stuko . Our class legislators have grasped all and they firipo all—tho more their means increase , the Iesa consideration have they for thosa whose means , by a natural consequence , decrease—and yet thtsy can tide ia tlieit earrings to ckurch and putting on a demure aspect repeat the responses and say— " He who hath an abundance of'this ' world's gool , and knoweth his brother to be in need aud yet ehutfcth up his bowels of compassion from bis brother , how dvvelletb the love of God in him ? " Y > : s , our /' pious aristocvacy can "knetl and pray" —I've s « en ' em do't ( To be continued in our next . )
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NOTTINGHAM COUNTY GAOLNotwithstanding the charges publicly made bv th « debtors in Nottingham County Giol 3 gaiatthe gaoler and nngiatrates , the castigalions that have ieen bestowed upon them by the press , the voluntary cifers of the editors of the NtMngham Review , that their columns were open to receive any counter-atat . uicnt these authorities thought proper to make to the grave charges against them ; they still mrtintain a determined —we had almost said a criminal—silence , t . > the chafes of extortions and other illegal practices of tho gaoler , and the sanction and protection afforderttu tliat fdntionaryi dealings with one portion of the prisopers and oppression of the others , by the visiting magistrates .
If tho charges brought against them are false , why not rebut them ? If they are true , how long is ju « Hca to be delayed , or denied to the . saffering de :-N > rs ? Their first . msmorial bears date the 23 rd of Septemoet ; their second , oh tha 30 th ; tbeir remonstrance on t&e 16 th of October . Still the intolerable grievances are allowed to continue . Debtors are crowded together In felons' cells—their health impal . ed , their lives-pluced in imminent peril . ' -the surgeon debarred , as he spates , by the existing rules , from suppiyiog necessary food and restt / rutives ; and the poor debtors are deprived of air and exercise , which the more u-eal hy are ailov- < d to take without restriction , as all undoubtedly ous . ' it to be permitted to do . The visiting magitrates shrink from the specific charges brought against there , bnt what have tkey done in lieu of meeting them ? Let their annual report , made at the Nottirgham * hir « adjonrncil quarter sessions , holden at Sonthweil oji th& 27 th Oct . answer the question . We copy tho folio-wing from the Nottingham Review , of the 4 th instant : —
" The visiting justices reported the mauasemtit , of the prison to be excellent , and the discipline tood . Tracts are distributed amongst the prisoners , ( il ? ine Bervice rf gularly performed , and the rules prescribed by law strictly adhered to . " Amazement stands aghast , to find such a statement made in the face of the unredressed complaints of the poor debtors ? 7 . The management of tho prison is « xctllent , with felons' cells crowded with poor and eUrving debtors 1 The discipline go . id , with extorticu and illegality depriving men of their health and placing
their lives in jeopardy !! Tracis distributed in p ' . ' ioe of food !! f and divine service regularly performed to men whose minds are writhing under a knowledge and conviction of " tha .. wrongs they are enduring •' . !' . A pretty state of things certainly . What must have been the feelings of these injured men on reading such palpable fal 8 ch » od 8 ? From the very men who sileatiy decline to redress or rebut the maaifold grievances they have so repeatedly . and respectfully set forth ? They may better be conceived than described , and gave rise immediately to tho following requisition : — -
"TO TUE VISITING MAGISTRATES OF THE GAOL O * THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM . "We , the undersigned debtors , confined in the above prison , respectfully request an interview this d * y with tbe visiting magistrates on matters concerning the rules and regulations enforced herein , and on other businesB . . '¦¦ ¦¦ ' ; "William Ke ! k . Eiward Leax : h , John S . hillcuck . William Bicharda . John Black . Thomas Colton . James D . nham . John Harper . William Boot . Thomas Maxfleld . Henry Stephens . John Wass . Richard Hanker . Robert Patterson . " County Gtaol , Nottingbam , Nqv . 6 , 1842 . "
The required intervisw did not take place , The magistrates were not to be seen . No , they knuw well that their anuual or quarterly report , whichever it might be , was a uroas aud scandalous imposition ; and instead of " the rules presented by law being strictly adhered to , " they are unblusbingly evaded , and tbe violation of them by the gaoler openly sanctioned by the visiting magistrates , inflicting thereby great part of the grievances of which the debtors so justly , but , at present , uselessly complain . The debtors buve taken another step towards obtaining a redress of their grievances . Tkey have
transmitted a memorial to Sir James Graham , the Secretary of State for the Home Department , in which , as is commonly the case when justice is denied , and such denial pertinaciously persisted in , redrt&s of further grievances ia required , than those which have hitliert * met the public cje , and shows the ti-emendous stretch of irrtispoaaibta' . power - ' that ia exfeicised lay country justices , unrestrained by any fixed law , and calls loudly for the humane interference of Piirliamant , to ciose the door by a geaeral legislative enactment against the temptation that exists for the exercise of the viudiotiveness and caprice of magistrates , gaolers , and turnkeys . .
In this memorial , not only is it prayed that the 2 ad and 3 rd of Victoria , cap . 66 > be enforced , in order to abolish the gaoWs dealings with the prisonero , and the 4 th Geo : 1 Y . chap . 64 ., that the dwbtera shall occupy one ward , distinct from criminal offenders , but it presents also in detail many of the grievances which result frem the non-observance of the laws now in force , from which we make th 6 following observations : — It appears that . the surgeon is prevented , or states tbat he is , from ad minuter ing such food and restoratives and
to i ' nvalicUt s * tt bo lino ^ va -lioy scq . uivo and ought to have ; without subjecting them to twenty-one , out of tbe twenty-four hours , solitary confinement in an inhospitable garret , dignified with the title of a hospital though , in fact , more resembling a sepulchre to receive their dying breath rather than a place calculated foi their restoration ; and iliis , too , in cases where air and exorcise are allowed to be imperatively necessary , aa well us more and better food . One of the memorialists , V 7 ho has experienced this treatment , truly obaorves , it ia a course of proceeding calculated to increase rather thaa ameliorate their sufiFerinsrs .
They require also a revision of the dietary table , stating , as their reason , taut tbe oj'ly food nqv allows , viz : —one pound of bread per day to each tiebtor , is insufficient to sustain life for a lengthened period , or to preserve htalth under any circumstances . They pray , if it is ultimately found expedient to annex the misdemeanour-war-i in future to the debtor ' s prinon , aud to rcaliy constitute a part thereof , that tho transport and other criminal offenders be removed thrrefrom , tbeloffcy walls that now divide it from the debtor ' s yard be removed , that the inmates have access to each other in tho night to tLe common room , lo assist iu case of illr . Ks . and to be locked up at the same hour , as is now tbe practice iu the debtor ' s prison , and not ao an earlier hour , as ia < n&w the case , and that it may form , in fact , essentially a part of the debtor * ' prison , aud- subject only to the piv-if . rtBtrictioua .
It appears that the day room where the poo . debtors lira .- couUinid in the inisdenitant-nr ¦ ifuxd , is a riiom © illy ioaiUeu ' itit by twelve feet , und . at Vm time -of . ihe ravm 'rial being signed , no k-sa than tighteeu or" theso unfortunate men were crowded together in tbat small space . Necessity * has ttirce caused tho removal of nine of them to a aimiiar and correspontlimr ro . in above . This day-room beta two atone bti'ybes fixeii , one on either side , for seats . Its only furniture consists of a table and four old stoois . It . is covered with semi-elliptical grained brick archer Btsidts the cioo . - , the entrance is further protected by a niiissivu iron j ; ate . Each of the sleeping celis is secured ut the entrance with both doors acd iron gates in the same ' munntr , - and the passages or galleries , as
they aro bore termed , are secured by doors and iron jyitea across them at intervals , in the same way . In the sletpiDg celis , the only article , ( for it would be a libel upon language to call it a bedstead , ) is a cast metal plate fastened 011 the top of four iron supports / which are again secured to the stone floor . This metal piate is only twc . ftet six inches wide , on whieh two of tho poor dfelt <> rs uro frequfcntiy compelled to paaa the night at the same time . Not so in the debtors prison . It mny be rs well to remark , that the part of the prison we ore describing was feuiit iiimiediatfely eubsaqu ^ nt to the destruction of Nottinahfim Castle by fire on the memorable r-jsction of t ' u « B-. ?< 'rm Bill ; tho period of its rejection , in coajunction with that circumstance , seems to point out
pretty clearly-the reason of its being made so doubly secure in every part , the want of necessary accomia dation ¦ ¦ wi ' wiiia it , ar-. d the '' class of ofiwndeis it waa originally intended to receive . It is the gaoler ' s dealings V 7 ith tbe-moro wealthy debtors that is th cause of tho poorer clasa being crowded toijother , and deprived of niv and cxerciao therein . The misconduct of t ? ie senior "turnkey , William Lounds , is also reported . One debtor , sixty years of age , is , in continual excruciating pain , from blows and other iujuries received from this menial ; an invalid has also been brutally treated by him , and his disgusticg conduct to the visitors ami friends of the debtors , acd their admigaion depending upoa his capriciousness , even in the hours allowed by the rules , is acutely dwelt upon . They
also require the privilege ( if dissenters ) -of . . being attended by the minister of their choice , and that such dissent from the Eitablished Church shall te conbitieved a-reasonable ' ground for thsir non-attendince cf Divine Service , within tho meaning of the ninth rule . We have not space for further remarks , but to state that the prayer of their memorial to tke Home Office concludes by praying the enforcement of tbe 2 d aud 3 d Victoria , cap . 6 ( 5 , and that ench alterations and a code of new rules may be framed in accordance with the suggestions of their memorial;—so fax as in the wisdom of the Home Secretary , by and with
tbe advice of the law officers of the Crown , may seem mc . f et , but more especially that the dealings of the gaoler with the prisoners may be totally abolished , and tbe whole of the debtors now and in future may be placed in every respect upon one and the same footing . It is to be hoped their lawful and reasonable demands may be complied with by the Home Secretary , withou * occupying the time of the legislature on the meeting of Parliament on this long neglected subject j and that Sir James Graham will feel it to be his duty to issue a general order to gaolers to prevent the recurrt'Dcd of such palpable grievances ia debtors' prisons in future . — Everting Star .
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¦ Anti-Malthpsians . —Last week , eight persons accidentally met at the New Inn , Helsion , whose children , when added together , amounted to the extraordinary number of ninety-HX . None of them had fewer thaa eight children , and tha highest uomber was sixteen . — West Briton .
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Figures of Speech . —At a festival recently given to a-few friends by Mr . Ronse , the enterprising and worthy proprietor of the Eagle Tavern , City-read , Mr . Campbell , of the Grecian Saloon , made the following witty allusions to the newspaper press : — ** May * the very Age and body of the ' . Tunes , ' be the Advertiser aiid the Herald of the best News to ' the great Globe itself , and all that it inherits , ' and particularly to the -Subjects , of the British Queen I May the Post bring a Courier with the Dispatch of liyhtuing to each rising ' 9 *» , ' -with intelligence to gladden the heart of Old England ! May the
Evening StAn ( recently risen a ' Star of Hope' to an oppressed people and be-diramed country ) ever be the pride of honest , straightforward , worthy hearted John Bull ! May the British Standard of benevolence , with ' Argus eyeB , ' see and Record this as an Era of trnth , virtue , aad univeraal philanthropy . May charity be an Examiner into , and an Observer of poverty and distress I May the Polar or Northern Star continue to shed its illuraining influence on this long-benighted land . ' —shining with its evening contemporary , the ' Gemini' ot thB political heaven of freedom ! And may the Charter be as it were , the Tablet-on which the Spectator may gaze with delight , while our Patriot shall for ever Chronicle the glory and liberty of the British Press I "
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THE NORTHERN STAR . 7
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1187/page/7/
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