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MR. FERRAND AND THE LEAGUE.
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Jzmnerial 25arltamnrt.
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TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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% -r deab Fbiesds , —Those who have light and justice upoB ^^ side > ^^ ^^ * the Jong run , ^ jiump l over tbo 3 e who rely upon might and their power to arrest or lo pervert jusriee . The cause of Qjjrtum ias triumphed over the united forces of jjj 6 Ann-Cora Law League , the Whig Local ExecugTe , » n ^ *^ Tory Government . Our cause was jji anomalous one . The League hunted us out of Ijre&a * . the Whig authorities caught us , and the Jwj GoTernment proposed making an example of ^ 3 , jnore for the purpose ofterrifying but tormentors ribs League ) of ¦ whom ihey ^ are afraid , than of
provfag thai we had violated the law . Oar crime being j desire to make a new distribution of property . 55 sey felt themselves secure in the hands of men of « operty , and therefore gaTe ns a special jury . jpijh taxes screwed out of you they dragged the jgjykennelsfor evidence . They brought policemen , f 3 gabonds , willing idlers , mad men , hired spies , Informers , and traitors , to support their case , "while * £ brought men of property , and the local authorises from the scene of devastation to answer them .
geranis the fault . The game being started , Mr . ftegoTj was sent down to Lancashire to get np a jjga . Tae authorises are "Whigs , the turn-ont was I "Whig turn-out , and the eoncoctora bsing disappointed in the result , set Gregory upon the Charges . WeB , he goi up evidence against us all , and woduced witnesses in support of his case , before the { onpaitung maigiFtrates , yea , a Tast amount of trideuee , while with the exception of the traitor , gjijfin , none of those "witnesses were produced at fie trial .
\ Afresh pack was got up . I blame those eaves-droppn $ , petty fogging , hedge attorneys , whogot up the jjse and presented witnesses / or examination to whom jkgy found it necessary to read their depositions jjj ibe Grand Jury Boom , while the trial was go ng ^ to refresh their memories . I do not mean to enter-ai any great length upon the merits of the jnaJ just now , as I am engaged in publishing & cheap edition of the whole proceedings , to be accompanied
inth a true history of the strike , and the whole jflustratedwith notes . 'I will publish this in nnmfcers , of sixty-four pages « ach number , royal octavo gzs . A 3 it would bB impossible in the space of any szwspspertogrreaverbatim report , and as 1 lave got & report of erery "word spoken lhron . gh . ont the —peee&ng , and as I cold it to be absolutely requisite gist this all-important trial should be widely circnkled and preserved , I hire imposed this trouble upon
BjsdL Ihe first number will be ready for publication on jlsmdsy week , 27 th March , and will contain a : * j £ Jaee , & dedication to Baron Rolfe , and a person of the irisL With the last number , will be presented an Engraving of the Judge , which may ieprefixed to the work when complete and all IJonnd np together . As I hare decided upon this jenrse , you will not require any farther comment spon the trial just cow , and therefore I leaTe that subject , to come to what is of paramount importance , 1 mean sie-eofl"ricfi « i 5 on the fourth count .
Ihold that no conviction can be had on the fifth tount , for more reasons than one , which 1 need not iere state , and which I regret being obliged thus publicly to mention , but you must be a&fied , I now eome to the fourth count , which charges the parties found geiltt on it ^ deinganls-JrfnDy that which those found fooli sh sndtr the fifth conn * did JotcfuU y . It ismyinienfion to moTe an arrest of judgment upon the whole verdict ; that is to show that , firstly , the trial has ieen irregular ; secondly , the eTidenee has been inadmissible ? thirdly , the Terdict has been illegal ;
ad , fourthly , that the parties convicted on the fourth cmnt were not legally before the court . If those * ljeenons were irregularities which conld be yet coxed , J should not state them , but they cannot , and % j reason for stating them is to sronse you to the amplfiQoa of that work which yon have so lobly commenced . As Treasurer to the General Defence Fund , it wSl be my duty to l » j "before you , when the trials are completed , i balance-sheet accounting for the expenditure of frery farfhing . This I shall do , and in it you shall fad so teem cosxEcm ) with mt derekck i that is
separate . But now , I ask you , —if M'Douall and the Executive , and some of obt best men , are to be acrificed for want of the best translation of the laic ? Bind me , talent is what we require to argue the Kraal points of law , and talent must be paid for . 1 oa take my own part ; I merely apply to yoa on i&alf of others , and I know of no such triumph spon record as that -which the liberation -of the liote fifty-nine conspirators would furnish . I have iiserefore to implore of you to transmit to John Ckave , 1 , Shoe-lane , Fleet-street , for the defksce told ; mind , for that fund alone , till the trials are liashed , -what yon can spare .
Perhaps it may not be amiss to state here that I jSfdge myself that the greatest economist will be -astonished at the prndent manner in which the funds bre been expended . Ton w 31 have Been that Jim Cbo"w Gibson smarts Oder the developement of the schemes of the leaguers , but when he comes to read the whole ase , he will have reason to smart- Had we not used « r every energy , we could not nave succeeded in joshing Chartism , as this prosecution has done ; ad , rely upon it , that the opportunity will not be lei . The Whig press is furieu ? . The scribblere nre in snxions expectation of removing the sanWiug blocks out of the way of the League .
as EQprincipled monsters had gone their full Ittgtb in creating prejudice against us , and that fosethey began to play the part of " Goody , " to ijopathizs with us , and now to abnse us . What 2 unk yen of " old obscurity , " the Sunday Times , firing a supplement of the four first day ' s proceed E £ 5 , wiih the Government charge against us ; and ¦» iat thmk yon of the same beastly pot-boy journal B > t giving a line of the last four days . The tboi-JHERismute as the grave . The duties which I owe i > those who have been found guilty on the fourth ssmt , aid the desire to make the trial as complete tod instructive a work a 3 possible will occupy my * hole time until the question of Grimr or sot ekitt is disposed of .
In speaking of the trials , it would be a monstrous tsisaon to forget the great , the gigantic service of Xr-BobertSj of whom I can only say that never did ** a work with more mind , more pleasure , and more Recess . Of the Judge , 1 shall merely observe , tfeat kla ? given to the workrag classes a practical illusftitipn of what is meant by the due administration tf the law , and that he las done more than a hunhe& thousand bsyonets conld tiLct , by prescribing &ose Iimit 3 beyond which langnage cannot pass with iapnnity . Of the Defendants 1 Eball say more here-* ter , but must here observe that their conduct , their fesse = s , taeit z ^ al , and their talent won for them
«* golden opinions of all , and elicited this ^ SiTiable tribute from the JrsT Judge : * - ' Gentlemen , I feel convinced that every Eng f uJi * £ SB 2 i « i fed proud of his country , and rrjoies in ^ rapid ffrou-Oi j > f tntelRgence so strikingly cshi-*^ » b the speeches of those working men who have ^ dressed youT Contrast this with the language of $ * modern Jeffries : — "You v ^ cabosos , "sou ^^ s ^ E ) tct ECOCXDBJXS , do you imag ine that ¦ ^ fuxov& xs , toc will be allowed to upset the *•»?* Bnt a few more such caricatures cf justice **** s exhibited in Chester and at Liverpool , would « ai down all legal barriers , and throw the starving * k open war with the opulent .
* J friends , lhave only further to observe , that 'S attempts to Btop Chartism or to impede its pro-P ^ amst now fail . MACHIl ^ EBY ia the com-^ enoiiy . It -jriD erentnally carry the Charter . iftceiTe letters from all quarters thanking me for * J aicht days' exertionB . I reply , send the funds Q e&Te , to allow me to oomplete tne good ttoxk . I hwe just laid down my pen to read the rattling ~** Brongham has given the , not What-ihaU-be ' I" * * hit ihe Who-shaU-do-il men . Now jastread Mad Bay if n ^ notthe language of the Star t g * the Lesgne got more Tree Trade than the 5 * % s Tentured even to promise them , and yet *^ T are grmnhBng , « wk my -wordB again , and let not this excite *** of the trials obliterate the fact from yon minds , ft nust Uat ihe League or they will Ual us . *>« fcx let the cat out of the bag . Let os lave but •** Parties , said the Leagne man , —the League and «* Tories , Kow , so say 1 ; so I have always said ,
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— That the existence of three political parties in a state is incompatible with the existence of peace , law , and order . " Let us then treat the League to a bit of their own policy , and have but two partie 3—the Chartists and the Tories , and then the struggle won ' t be long . We will leave the rest " to the God of justice ASD OF BATTLE . " Your faithful friend , Feabgtjs O'Connob .
Mr. Ferrand And The League.
MR . FERRAND AND THE LEAGUE .
Tee . League clique in Knaresbro' have sent a memorial to Mr . Ferrand calling on him to vote with Mr . VilLier 3 for a repeal of the Corn Lawa . The Hon . Member , in acknowledging the receipt of the memorial , thus addresses the party through whom it was sent : — Sir , —I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter , informing me that you have forwarded ts mj colleague , Mi . La-Brson , a requisition from a majority of the electrra of KnaTe 3 boron ^ h , requesting us to supf ortand vote for Mi . Tiliiers" motion for a Repeal of the Corn Lavs . If the intimidation and corruption "which were adopted bj the agents of the anti-Corn lav I ^ ag ne in your Borongb , At the last election , for tbe
purpose of securng the return of their candidatealter our Whig opponents had retired from the field , and had declared that they would not be justified in ^ JBtorbing the peace of the Borough—wteatell in opera **«»? laaaaofc atalLi&rprised at yonr Communication ; but if the signatures have been obtained by a real belief in the falsehood * which are circnlated by the anti-Corn Law League , andtheii hired agitators en the question of the Corn Laws , I shall have no difficulty when 1 visit the Borongh , in convincing the electors of their error . I beg you to inform the reqaisitionits that I have jnst joined The society for the Protection of British Iminstry , " "which holds its meetings * -n every Tuesday and Friday , at No . 59 , Pall Wall : —one of its ofgecta is to obtain a Repeal of the present
Corn Law , because it does not now afford sufficient protection to native industry , and to procure a law that will give more encouragement to the agricultural interest of Great Britain and Ireland , which alone provides a market for three-fourths of our manufactures : and I am the more fully co - vinced of the urgent necessity for this measure from the fact that Foreign Governments , instead of adopting our ruinous policy , have been earned by onr rapidly increasing distress , and are at this very time nursing aTd protecting their own manufactures by securing to capital and labour their just reward . If the Members of the Anti-Corn Law League were sincerely anxious to relieve the present distress , they won d turn their attention to the -wants and
sufferings of toeir starriBB operatives , from whose Miiiiwa they baTe extracted wealth , sufficient , as they boast , " to buy up all the land -. " if they -would contrast the enormous profits of theii capital -with the paltrj requital they give for the labour of their artizins . they might then grapple with the chitJ cause of the present stagnation in trade : —but the same selfish spirit "which indnced them to " annihilate by death from hunger * the race of Indian hand-loom weavers -with that engine of misery " the power-loom , " for the purpose of grring " free scope to British capital , " British ingenuity , and British machinery , " now
declares that * ' to give their capital its due reward , " Hie price of labour at home moat be kepi down ; - — and to enable them to effect this object , they hope to blind the manufacturing operatives "with the cry of " cheap bread /* In this they ha ^ B signally failed : the ¦ working classes knew too well that bad wages are the cause of their present sufferings , as is abiy shewn by one of their order ( Richard Crowther , of Manchester , a fustian cutter * , who , in a clever " essay on tbe causa of bid trade , with s plan of legal protection for -wages as a remedy , " observes , " that bad "WBges a » e a greater obstacle to eommerca thin all the tariff * in the world . ''
If Government would again restore adequate protection to agriculture and trade—if the " free trade" manufacturers -would be content with prouueing a supply proportioned to the demand , instead of entering into reckltS 3 competition ¦ with each other , nntil their profits can only be exacted from the -wages of theii operatives—if they -would adopt the golden rule -of lire and let live , " instead of indiscriminately destroying manual labour bj unrestricted steam power machinery—if they -wouIq render unto their artizins " a fanday ' s "wages for a fair day a work , " the life-blood of England's prosi ^ rity would again circulate in its former chancel , her trade -would revive , and her labouring population ¦ would-pnce more become contented , prosperous and happy . Mi- Tibiers' motion would , if successful , increase the present distress ten-fold , by sacrificing tho jBtoperty of twenty-seven millions of cur ftllo-w-countxymen for the uncertain and , at the best , transitory bei . eSt of three millions ; and I know no town that would more
immediately and more severely suffer from its effects than the borengh of Snaresborougb , My constituents art aware that befoke they elected me their Representa tive , I distinctly declared my intention to oppose a repeal of the Corn Laws , and I beg explicitly to inform them that I neither intend to forget the pledges I gaTe upon the hustings , nor to betray the interests of those who then reposed their confidence in me ; if therefore this my firm determination to act in conformity with the assurances 1 gave them meets -with their disapprobation ,-they will , at the next election , have the oppsitmiity of placing their confidence in some person whose principles may be more congeni&I with their own ; and If 50 , it will cause me no regret to bid farewell to a constituency -who consider tint deception and dishonour ought to be the chief qualifications of their representative . 1 am , Sir , Tour obedient servant , W . B . Fjbkrand . Mr . Richard Dswes , Junior , Solicitor , Kuaresborongh , March 6 , 1843 .
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HOUSE OF LORDS—Tcesdat , March 14 . lord Nosteagle , according to notice , moved " That a select committee be appointed to consider the operation of tbe act passed last session to amend the lawa respecting the importation of corn . " Lord Wsabsclipfe denied that the distress so extensively prevalent in the country ¦ would be in any degree mitigated by tbe repeal of tbe Com Laws , and attributed it principally to gambling speculations in corn , which the present act had done much to
diseoniace-Lir < l CLAEESDOS pifeBSfd for some immediate measure of relief from a distress -which he described as fast covng beyond the limits of human endurance , and ridiculed the opinion that an inquiry such as that proposed conld prove a * ' waste of time" at a period of the session when their Lordships had literally no bnsiness to go on -with . The example of every foreign nation showed llm a moi ? enaeni was in progress in favour of a free trade ; and it was time that we deserted the ground we had unwisely assumed , and commenced a mutual and profitable interchange of the commodities
¦ which each country conld best produce . He called for the committee , as the most satisfactory means of proving , if proof were possible , the beneficial working of the present law . H « enlarged upon the danger of delaying necessary reforms until they could no longer be refnsed , and tbe evils of tbe existing uncertainty as to tbe con-innance of protection ; and after an exculpation of his personal motives , conclnded by complaining that many of tbe pledges with which the present Government had entered xrpon tfliee were yet unfulfilled , and insisted upon the necessity of setting free our commerce as a m « ans of furnishing employment to our redundant
ponnlaticn . Lord ASBBtBTOK had dra-sra a very contrary conclusion "from the txtensive details ¦ with which Lord Monteasle ' s speech nafl been crowded , and -was convinced that the principal cause of manufacturing distress was the almost entire failure'of the American market . No argument , be contended , had been adduced to show that the distress , which al ] admitted , and which all lamented , had been caxised by the state of the Com Laws ; and he warned their Lordships not to attempt an alteration "which might sprtad "Wider the existing depression , until its connexion -with the alleged cause was clearly made out . Com Laws in some shape or other wers in force in every part cf Europe , and under their operation ow mannlicturiBg ^ prosperity bad grown up , and the price of food been maintained with fewer fluctuatiens than in any other country . statement
The Duke of Richmond , in answer to a by Lord Monteagle , denied that Lord Grey ' s Cabinet had ever been divided upon the subject of the Com Laws . He approved the firmness of Government in maintaining the present law , and -was delighted to bear that there was no present intention of a change . Lord FiizwiiilAX admitted that the present law -was an improvement upon ita predecessors , inasmuch as it in some degree approximated to a fixed duty . He supported the mouon for a committee , and from the constant "variations to "which the Corn Laws had been subject from their first institutioBs , and the constant disappointment and distress they bad occasioned , drew the condnsion thai it would be ever ao , until ihe true principles of commercial legislation ¦ were acted upon , and all artificial restrictions abolished .
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Lord Brougham contrasted the ability and the absence o ! party feeling with "which the question hail been brought before their Lordships -with the spirit of factious injustice in -which the concessions of last session—great in theniseWes , though , as be thought , insufficient—had been received by the League , and denounced in indignant terms the blind partisan violence which had led them to savil at tbe carrying oui even of their own principles . He defended himself from the calumnious imputation , that he had offered his services to the League , and explained the real chnracter of the conversation which had been thus grossly misrepresented . He exculpated the more respectable members of the League from a connexion with this
falsehood , as -well as -with the speech of the Dissenting minister who had hinted at assassination , but complained that they did not take pains to sever themselves from the pollution they must contract from such companionship . He supported the motion foi the appointment of a Committee ; and after showing by the example of the years in which the continental system was in fail operation , and in spite of which there bad been an fxte&sive importation , that the apprehensions of those who feared a dependence on the foreigner were unfounded , concluded by explaining , that although an advocate for frte trade , he would not oppose the levying of a duty upon foreign produce for tbe purpose of revenue ; he objected only to the principle of protection .
After a few words from Lord St . Vincent and Lord MOENTCiSHEL in opposition to tt > e motion , Lord MOMEAGLE replied , and their Lordships , upon a division , declined to appoint the proposed Committee by a majority of 122 .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Tu £ Sdat , March 14 . Mr . T . Duxcojibe stated , that he would postpone until this day fortnight the motion of which be had given notic 9 for Thursday next , relative to the manner in ¦ which justice was administered by a portion of the magistracy during the disturbances which took place last year in tbe manufacturing districts , Lord ASHLEY gave notice of his intention to move on Tuesday , the 28 tb of March , the following resolution : — " That it is the opinion of this House that tbe continuance of the trade in opium , and tbe monopoly of its growth in the territories of British India , are destructive of all relations of amity between England and China , injurious to the manufacturing interebtB of this country by the annihilation of legitimate commerce , and utterly inconsistent with the honour and duties of a Christian kingdom ; and that steps be taken as sqpn as possible , with due regard to the rights of Governments and individuals , to abolish ; the evil . "
Mr . Wabd moved for a Special Committee to inquire what pecuKar burdens are borne , and wbat peculiar exemptions esjoyed , by the landed interest . Be considered stability to be the great essential of any Corn Law ; and there could be no stability without the ascertainment of the points to which this motion was directed . He did not believe that any peculiar burdens were really borne by the landed classes ; on the contrary , he was persuaded that the peculiarity was all on the side of exemption to them ; but be bad put bis motion in its present shape that they might have an opportunity of making out their case if they could He commented upon and disputed various general propositions in divers speeches of his opponents , particu lar ] y denouncing an assertion © f Lord Stanley , tbattbe
general policy of this country required protection to land . He would admit the necessity for that special protection , if special burdens could be shown ; but be denied tbe existence of any such burdenB ; for he cjuW not consider as special burdens the cost of buildings and improvements , or the fluctuations of prices , there being in every trade outgoings analogous to tbesa Nor wa .-the Income-tax a peculiar burden on the land . But there were tbe poor-rates , the county , highway , and church-rates , and the tithes . Now tbe value of house property was less than that of land ; yet bouse property paid more than half of the entire poor-rate . Land was always gaining by every public improvement : thus he knew of a parish where a railway , passing through , defrayed half of the rates fer the poor . As to churcfe-rates , the common argument uatd against the Dissenters , that they bought their land with that ineumbranee , deserved to be remembered here , for it was an argument fairly applicable to all burdens
on land . With respect to tithe it was not a bnrden , but a co-proprietary right . That charge was not being borne by the rent , but having existed from time immemorial , independently of and collaterally to it . He then went into the bistory of the land-tax . At the Revolution it bad been imposed at the rate of lour shillings upon the value , as tbe value would be from time to time ; but at the present day it was still levied upon tht low valuation which land bore one hundred and sixty years ago ; and in many parts of the country the levy did not reach to anything like four shillings , even upon that low valuatien . If , however , the fall four shillings , were actually levied , and this upon the real valuatiun , still the proportion borne by the land would not be larger than in most of tbe continental countries . In the imposition of general taxes , the agriculturists ha .. constantly contrived to get special exemptions , as upon probate and legacy duties , and even tbe minor items of farm servants , husbandry berses , sheep-dogs , and
so on , Mr . G . BaNKES , though about to move an amendment on a subject more interesting to the landed classes than tho subject of this motion , -was fully prepared to meet the motion itself by a direct negative . To appoint a committee for the purpose now invested ¦ would be peculiarly dangerous at this period of anxiety among the sgriculluraUsts , by leading to tbe apprehension that Parliament ¦ was about to derange them bj still further interference . The object professed by the mover was to abolish all protections ; aad , that being the case , why -was this motion levelled against the agriculturists alone ? He defended himself from Borne attacks which were made upon him on a former night by Mr- Cobden , and -which , on that night , tbe lateness
of tbe hour and the interposed speech of Sir B . Peel had prevented him from answering . Mr . Cobden had then as 8 ertea that tbe Dorsetshire labourers were paid at the lowest rate of weekly wages , and were the most ignorant , neglected , and miserable peasantry in ail England . Mr . Bankes now read various letters showing Ihe wages of the labourers on his own estate to bt ample , and theii condition comfortable . The writeis , he said , who were his tenants , had sent him those letters in answer to inquiries which be ha < i made witbont apprising them of the purpose for which he wanted their answers . They expressed their fears , however , that if the price of corn should fall further , they eheuld not be able to continue the present remuneration . Some person , using Mr . Cobden ' s name as Ms authority , had lately visited every cottage in the quiet village in which he I Mr- Bankes ) resided , telling the cottagers how miserable they were , and leaving with each a packet from the Anti-Corn Law League
That visitor , he said , appeared to have reported the mere money wages of the labourers , omitting to state the allowances and advantages given , to them in rentfree cottages and lands , wheat , fuel , and other articles . Mr . Bankes , after mentioning other particulars respecting the state of the poor is his own neighbourhood , and tbe exertions which , as a landlord , be bad made for their benefit , and exposing the injustice of his assailant In having made these charges agaiDSt him without'having ascertained them to be true , desired not to be understood , however , as expressing himself wholly satisfied wiih tbe condition of the Dorsetshire poor ; on the contrary , he anxiously wished and not without hope , for some improvement is tbat condition It had struckhira with some surprise tb » t , substquent to the former debate , when large bodies of persons thought fit or necessary to congratulate the Hon . Member ; for Stockport as to the figure which he had dis played in that House , and en tbe impression which he bad made , that it was rather infelicitous tbat the first
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ground of congratulation to the Hon . Member was on bis stern regard to justice—( laughter , and heav , bu&r . Was it . be would ask , from a stern regard to justice that the Honourable Member proceeded to censure before he collected even the evidence ?—( hear , hear . ) Was such a proceeding consistent with any equitable or Christian feeling , or was it a way in which tbe debates should be carried on in that House , involving such serious charges against the characters of individuals ?—( hear , hear ) If such were the Honourable Member ' s notions of a stern sense of justice , he ( Mr . Bankes ) hoped that it was a description of justice with which be should n ^ t often be brought in contact . He flattered himself that he had now sufficiently disposed of all these charges ; but there were still a few
other points with respect to whioh hi wished to make some observations . As for the line of conduct taken by the Hem . Member for Stockport , who had been elected by a large constituency , and who was distinguished for bis eminent talent , be ( Mr . Bankes ) would only say thai he felt called mpon to give an answer to all the questions which applied to the altu&tiou of bis j property . There was one question which the ! Honourable Member , 'however , bad put to him , j which be did not think : was altogether fair , be meant j when the Honourable Member asked him what be , : Mr . Banks ) would say at , the next agricultural dinner j at Blaudford . In reply , however , he would observe that I he could not exactly tell , for the Honourable Member ; for Stockport might be there himself . The Honoura-1 ble Member bad said in his speech on the former oeca- j awn , tbat at the next dinner one black sheep would be i thtre , and be bad told the House what be would say ., Now be ( Mr . Bankes ) would just state what he would I say in answer , if the Honourable Gentleman did maKe ! his promised observation . The Honourable Member j had alluded to what he said about the eua gilding the spire of the church , and tbe dome of the palace , and the thatch of the cottage ; and the Honourable Member added , that the black sheep be alluded to would get up and observe tbe chimney of the landlord . ( Hear , I hear . ) Now , if he ( Mr . Bankes ) heard any such ] observation at that dinner front the Honourable Mem- { ber , he would say yes , and tht factory chimney too , — daughter , )—that tall , gawky , ugly chimney , winch poured forth volumeB of smoke—that chimney , to which might appropriately be applied the
Iinea" The ' tasteless' column pointing to the skies , Like a tall bally lifts its head and lies . " daughter )—It might be his ( Mr . Banke ' s ) duty as chairman of tbat dinner , to propose a health . He might have to say be bad to propose a toaut in honour of a distinguished individual who was present , and who was no personal friend of his , bat as he was the son of a farmer , and was descended from a long line of Sussex yeomanry , be came among them in sheep ' s clothing —( laughter ) . The Hon . Member bad also said tbat he would put the agriculturists on their defence , and should call upon them to show the benefit which protection bad conferred on agriculture . His answer was , that protection bad brought thousands and thousands of acres into cultivation , which never could have
taken place but for protection , and the labourers who tilled it , therefore , never could have been employed . The culture and enclosure of waste land bad been going on rapidly for years , until the present check was put upon it , and until means were f . uud of inspiriting the agriculturists a stop would be put to its progressihear , bear ) . He recollected travelling from bis father ' s houBe to London , which was about 100 miles , at a time when there was 40 miles of waste land to be seen , and now there was not 10 miteB—( hear ) . No land could have formerly looked more unpromising and more hopeless thau this laud in Dorsetshire , Hampshire , and Surrey , but in travelling this road now , it would be seen that villages had sprung up , and thousands of husbandmen were employed ou it —( hear , hear ) .
If the Honourable Member had been in Dorsetshire , ho must have been much struck with surpise at the desolate state of some of the land on the entrance of that county , but it was not worse than much of that now under profitable cultivation . In the union in which he lived he knew that a few weeks ago there was not a single able-bodied labourer ou the rates , and this was the effect of the enclosure of waste lands , which it was the object of the Hon . Member for Sheffield ' s motion to put a stop to . To-morrow night that dan £ erou 3 body the anti-Corn Law League were to remove to a larger scale of agitation , and were to appear at the first theatre of the town . On that occasion the Honourable Member for Stockport was to take his benefit , and was to be
the lion of the show He wished to call the attention of the Chancellor of the Exohequer to the money collected by this body . He should like to know where it waa lodged —( laughter)—as it would enable the Chancellor of the Exchequer : o apply for tho Income Tax— ( laughter ) . — They were told that this y » ar the fund collected was , £ 50 , 000 and next year it would be £ 100 , 000 , which , lateen at the medium of the two years would give £ 75 ( 00 to be rated to the tax . With respect to associations generally , he would not give any opinion of his own , but , would refer to some expressions which he found on the subject in a debate which took place in 1825 . Tho first quotation was— " Tho House would bear in mind that this association , though a
public body , differed from most pubho meetings in this point—that they were all of one mind . There was no competition of opinion ; no opposing voice was heard . Every speech was previously arranged , and every decision was unanimous . Indeed , if any unhappy adversary had the hardihood to present himself , he would most probably get a reception which would prevent any repetition . Formed as such a body was , there was a danger in the indefinite duration . Under different oiroumstances the fickleness of the multitude might operate as a check to the probable evil results » f such an association ; but he waa compelled , with regret , to say , that a most influential body , whose duty it was to impart relii : ious consolation , and to keep themselves apart
from political contention , not only encouraged , but assumed a part of its power . Next , in upholding that association wore to be found men of disappointed ambition and considerable talents , who exerted themselves , no matter whether on real or imaginary grievances , in exciting the public feeling against the government ; and in inflaming the population against the laws , and what they described a prodigal and corrupt administration of them . " And again , subsequently was the following passage : — "Now , he thought that no man who understood the constitution of the country , could contemplate the levying of money upon his Majesty ' s subjects by an irresponsible body , to toe applied to objects not previously defined , but at the discretion of the selfconstituted authority by whioh Bucb money was called for , with any other feeling than that of unequivocal disapprobation , " This was the language of his Right Honourable Friend the present
Chancellor of the Exchequer , in introducing the bill against illegal associations in Ireland . The next opinion he should quote was tbat of the Right Hon . Baronet now at the head df the government . ** He would first notice an argument that had been made use of , in the course or this disoussion , by . an Hon . member , the effect of which , if it were well founded , woHld be to takeaway from government , or from Parliament rather , all right of interference in the case of Associations that might be deemed illegal . The Honourable Gentleman had expressly said , ' he would not vindicate the acts of the Catholic Association ; he thought them to be , in many respects , indefensible , and he could not stand forward as their advocate . ' But still the Honourable Gentleman conceived , that the hands of the House were tied up—that these people laboured under such a grievance , as took from the House all right of iuterfereiice with their proceedings ; those proceedings being admitted , by the Honourable Gentleman him-
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self , to be indefensible . Why , if tjiia were so , there was an end of all their deliberations in that House on this or any other subject . IftHat doctrine was , to prevail , it most follow that the subjects of this country , if they should imagine themselves to be suffering under a grievance of this or any other kind , might resort to unconstitutional measures for their redress ; which measures , however , Parliament could not interpose to check , until those grievances should have been first jremoved . Now , he maintained , that from the moment Parliament recognised such a doctrine as this , they would abdicate their legislative functions altogether . It seemed necessary to approach this argument in tbe first place , before he proceeded to any other
observations ; for if the principle were once ! accepted where was its application to terminate ? Where were these associations to end ? There were many persons who considered the representation of the people in Parliament to be so bad and imperfect , that & large portion of ths people were deprived of their rights . Now , that might be considered a grievance , and a grievance of a very heavy kind ; and , if ' the argument he had alluded to was to be admitted , ! why night not the country expect an association for the purpose of obtaining Parliamentary Reform— . ( ones c 4 " hear , hear ") I Wbat would be the consequence of such a system he bnew not ; but he called \ upon the Hon . Gentlemen , who expressed by their cheera their willingness t » have such associations , tbat if they
admitted the principle in one case , they must espeot associations for the removal of every rsal or supposed grievance ; and if Parliament should afterwards think wf putting an end to them , the answer would be , that the subjects of the country , and sot its legislature , were the proper judges of those grievances , and of the propriety of the measures to be taken to redress them . That , however , was not lisa reading of the law . He conceived Parliament to be the sole constitutional judge of these ! matters , and if the Parliament thought a Jaw ought to be continuedv those who fancied themselves aggrieved by it ruudt not resort to unconstitutional measures io . procure its abolition . They might petition , they might represent their grievances to Parliament , and their petitions and
representations would be taken into consideration ; but Parliament would abandon its < faty , if it allowed any body of men to act independently of its authority , and only according to their own ! free pleasure . " These were the words of the Right Honourable Member for Tamworth ia 1825 , and they exactly described the association now in quest ion . Tne Noble Member for Sunderiand chee ' red ; in reference , perhaps , to the circumstance that thn association thus censured by Parliament , in 1825 , did in the end succeed . ( Hear , hear . ) He would beg , then , to recall the recollection of the House m another association , which did not ' succeed in tlio end , though it produced great excitement and popular commotion in its progress , j That
association was a Protestant Association , formed on principles intended to be entirely in conformity with tho law , and by men of respectability , of good talents , and of honest intentions . Of this association , Lord Georgo Gordon was chosen to be the head , for the sakeof the weight which hisexcelJentlpriFdtecharacter would give to any association with which he was connected , ho being , to use the words of Lord ( at that time Mr . ) Kenyan , " a mail of blameless life and conversation , not mixing in the vices of the age ; a man irreproachable in his moral and religious conduct . " ' It was not necessary for him ( Mr . Bankes ) to relate the transactions which followed , in connection with this Association , in the year 1780 ; he would only
observe , that though its Members had meetings in all the large halls in the metropolis , it never occurred to them to hire DruryJane Theatre * for their purposes . On the day before their petition was presented to the house , they assembled in St . George'snelds , to consider of the most prudent and proper manner in which to attend its presentation ; and Honourable Gentlemen were aware , that on tho day it was presented , hardly any Member who was present in the House thought he should leave the House alive ; indeed , the only public man who showed real courage on the occasion was the Sovereign , whom the anti-Corn Law League described in one of their papers as " Stupid George the Thirji . " The anti-Corn Law League was pursuing the same course
now , which had been pursued by the « Association of 1778 in its outset ; meeting in large rooms , and collecting petitions to be brought with great effect before the House ; but the present Association was certainly going much beyond that of 1778 , in thus announcing a public meeting iu a public theatre—( hear , hear , bear ) . He ( Mr . Bankes ) would put it to the House and to ! the Government , whether this was not a subject fit for the consideration of Parliament , seeing , as they did , that from day to day some new attempt was made , somo new experiment for getting up public interest and public excitement—Ihear , hear ) . ] Publio excitement was what tho League professedly and
publicly desired ; their complaint was , ! that hitherto they had not been able to produee this excitement , and , accordingly , first one scheme and then another was resorted to , and now they were about to try a publio theatre . One thing was quite certain , that until they had produced it , they would not come before the House practically with a proposition as to the corn laws—( hear , hear . ) It was . the absence of the required excitement that had occasioned the postponement of the Hon . Member for Dumfries ' notice—( hear , hear , )—it was this that had caused the postponement of the Hon . Member for Wolverhampton ' s motion on the corn laws ; for the League were conscious that at this moment there was no
feeling in unison with theirs throughout the metropolis , and very little throughout the country at large . He could not refrain from humbly submitting to his Right Honourable Friends that this iwas a matter not unworthy of their consideration , ' and as far as regarded the subjeot publicly , he was ; quite content to leave it entirely to their opinion , j As to matters affecting those who , like himself , desired to live quietly and safely among their tenantry ia the country , the ministry had not the power of knowing , as he and other gentlemen in the country had , tbe enormous extent of mischief which jmight be produced—which was attempted to be produced , at this present time , by the emissaries of this League—( hear . hear ) . He did not complain that the
emissaries of this League , in his own neighbourhood , had endeavoured to shake any influence he might have there , or taken steps to prevent , if possible , his future return . He cared not for that , and he would further tell the Honourable Member for Stoekport , that if he could influence publio opinion against gentlemen who' differed from him , there was no seat so much in : danger & 9 hia ( Mr . Bankes' ) own ; for his seat depended entirely on public opinion , and he desired to retain it only so long as public opinion went with him . j ( Hear , hear . ) He had no reason for any ministerial support in the county which he represented ; but he looked to Ministers for the peace of his private life—for the comfort , happiness , and welfare of the peasantry who lived around him . He looked to them to drive away , by some moans or other , this bew mode of sending emissaries throughout the country , paid
emissaries ; for such were avowed and boasted of by the Hon . Member for Stockport ( hear , hear ) . It was of . this he complained ; and it was from this he entreated the Government to protect the country ; as one of their fellow citizens , as afaithful and dutiful subject of the Crown , he asked , he besought , he demanded this at the hands of her Majesty ' s Ministers . Tbe Hon . Gentleman concluded by moving tbe following amendment : " That it is expedient , as a remedy for a state of anxiety embarrassing and unfair to tbe agriculturists , and injurious to commerce , tbat tbe attention of this House be directed to tbe continued existence of associations , which , ia matters affecting agriculture and commerce , pretend to influence tbe deliberations of tbe Legislature , ani which , by their combination and by their proceedings , are at once dangerous to the public peace and inconsistent with tbe spirit of tbe Constitution . " i
The original motion , aa well as ibe amendment , having been put from tbe Chair , i Mr . Cobdsn said , that when he stated the wages given on Mr . Bank ' s estate , be did not mean to tax tbat gentleman with paying to his labourers less than other people ; but be charged , as tbe vice of the system upheld by Mr . Bankes , and others , that it prevented the possibility of well providing for tbe poor . He wanted to know , not wbat was paid to particular labourers in Dorsetshire , bat wbat was ; the average of their remuneration throughout the county . Even on Mr . Banke ' a own estate ia the isle ef Purbeck , there were cottages so miserable , tbat medical men had denounced them as actual causes of disease . Throughout that county one person in every seven of the whole population waa a pauper . j
Mr . Wvkeham M&Jtiin showed the large proportion of legacy and probate duty born * by the laid . Be corrected some statements of the xaovex respecting tbe history of the land-tax ; aad ] reminded the House , that when tbat tax was settled by the act cf William and Miry , the charge was made to aSect But land » lone , bat money , goods , debts J aud j&toek of every kind , and was in truth very much like au income-tax . In our times , however , all these other kinds of property had ceased to contribute to the land-tax , and the assessment was now left wholly en the land . Gentlemen who insisted 1 en tbe heavy charge borne by the whole community for the sake of the landed class , thould remember bow large a
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proportion of tiat lag was borne by the linked class itself . : Mr . Williams ( Coventry ) complained of thel advantages enjoyed by the rich under the presenfsystem of taxation . The amount of the stamp duties was not progressive in proportion to the value of tbe transactions ou wbicu those duties were imposed . A mortgage for £ 300 , 000 paid only on a duty of £ 25 ; whereas , if it were taxed in proportion to sms ler transactions , it would pay a duty of £ 5 , 000 . Tithes were no burden on land . If tbe voluntary system were introduced tomorrow , the landlord would not get 6 d . of their value iuto his rents . The great bulk of the taxes was paid by the working and middle classes . The poor were taxed for tbe articles of their consumption ia a ranch greater proportion than tbe rich ; and the taxes' so paid by poor men were spent in salaries to placemen , the connexions of tbe aristocracy .
Mr . Woodhouse quoted tabular returns , to prove the raucti greater amount of taxation borne by the landed than by tha commercial interest ; and to show tbat seven persons in every nine are dependent upon agriculture . Mr . CochraWK made an animated attack on tha League , whose organization be considered highly dangeroos to the public" peace . They professed to seek equafity -, but it would be equality of wretchedness . The real cause of the evils they complained of were overproduction and tha advance of machinery He appealed to tbe House is favour of the classes who ba 1 alwara . rallied round tfrs Crown and constitution .
Mr . Gibson hoped the House would not suffer an amendment , attacking men ' s characters , to be withdrawn witbots a vote marking their general sense upon it . Much was said of the Anti- € orn Law League ; did so corn law leagues exist ? Had the cimntry gentlemen never countenftsced proposals for robbing the public creditor ? Such projects were goiag on even now . A Mr . Brown , the honorary secretary to a central society for tbe protection of agriculture , had written to tbe Leagne so lately as I& 39 , to propose- that the League shoaftj ceise to agitate against tbe com law , and join to procure an issue of bask paper , wbicb would have been nothing less than a robbery of tbe pubJfc creditor . Tne landed interest , by voting for Sir K . P&sl ' s measures of las * , year , bad admitted that up to tbat time thsy had buen enjbying wbat they had no right to ; which eBjoyment was a fraud upon tha publto : He com * plained of the sneering tone taken on the othai aids against manufacturers , antfsccuaed Sir R- Peel of abetting it .
Sir R . Phxl agreed tbat Mr . Ward bait a right to a separate v . cte on bis motion . He should * first negative , though the ( orma ot tba House would make the negation au indirect » &e , the amendment of Mr . Bmkes , because be thought it an inapplicable amendment as raised upon this motion , and because he thought it inexpedient to proceed on such a subject as the suppression of these societies by way of abstract resolution . Wfaere the existing law is sufficient , the House may address the Crowa to execute it , though this isay imply a censure on tha Ministers ; if , on the other band , the existing law ia defective , tbe House may proceed by way of legislative remedy . To tbe original motion he should li&ewisa offer bis resistance . Mr . Gibson hod most unfairly taunted the landed classes with
having admitted themselves , by their support of tbe new Corn Law , to have been previously defrauding tbe public . What would Mr . Gibson have said if tbe same taunt had been thrown upon tbe manufacturers tn consequence of their declaration , just now made through Mr . Gibson himself , of their willingness to abolish their own protections \ He afrongly denied the charge of having ever aneered at tbe manufacturing interest , wbicb would hare ill become him , either in his political or in his personal capacity . Though ha should object to a committee , he should not , on any consideration whatever , object to returns on the Bubjeet for which such a Committee was proposed . It bad been alleged that the land was altogether exempt from wobate and legacy duty : tbe law waa not so
the laud bore a great portion of both thess duties : let a return of the amount of these duties , and ef the duties oa conveyances , be called for , aud then the House would see whether tbe land enjoyed the exemption * alleged in these particulars . So with respect to other taxes , from which tbe land bad been erroneously represented to be exempt . Tbe profits of stock had lately been relieved from poor-rates , and the land had been left to make up the difference ; let all this be seen from returns to- be printed for tbe House . It bad been said tbat tbe highways kept np by tba land were necessary for tho transport of its own produce ; but wire not tbe highway a equally useful to those who bad no land at all ? Then , as to tithe . Tithe fixed by the way of commutation was less a burden on land than variable tithe , bat both were burdens . For bis own part , he had never rested the defence of protection on the mere difference o £ burdens . Ha had grounded himsslf in great measure ou the considerations
of general benefit , and of the dangers tbat must arise from a rash destruction of existing interests , so vast in amount as those of , and connected with , the landed classes . He bad never applied the general principle of buying cheap aud selling ( ' ear , without this qualification of it Even if a committee -were granted , tha mover , whatever might be ita result , would no doubt be prepared to vote tbe very next day for a repeal of tbe Corn Laws ; and if that were carried , the subsequent equalization of burdens would be left to take ita chance . So complicated a subject might occupy a committee for a ' twelvemonth . He would not , after the arrangement of lust year , consent to bold ont an idea tbat be was prepared to concur in a further change , tbe necessity of which ha did not discern . Believing , as he did , tbat the arrangement was a prudent one , be thought it his duty to stand by it , unless be could ba convinced , which he wan not , that the circumstances of tbe country required a departure from it .
Lord HowiCK wanted to have the balance struck between the burdens on one Bide and on tbe other ; and if after that the greater weight should be found to press upon the laud , he wonld say eqnalias it , but still in some other way than by a corn law . If the subject were ao complicated tbat it would occupy a eommittea for a twelvemonth , how could Sir R . Peel think of recommending it as a matter to be considered by tha whole House upon printed returns ? Lord Hewick then entered into tbe effects of tithe as a burden on land before and since the Commutation Act , contending that since tbat act the tithe was a burden on the land no longer . He gave no credit to tbe argument about maintaining tbe present settlement ; it was clear that tbe existing law would not survive even another rotation of crops ; and ft would be best for tbe agriculturists themselves that the intermediate uncertainty should , be determined . He admitted the evil of the anti-Corn Law League ; but it was an evil attributable to tbe present state of the law .
Mr . Blackstone , as one of the committee of the Society for the Protection of Agriculture , positively stated tbat tbe Mr . Brown whose letter Mr . Gibson bad quoted had uev r been , though he bad attempted to intrude himself aa the secretary to tbat society . After some further conversation about the supposed Secretary to the Agricultural Society , Mr . BROTHERTON moved au adjournment , which , however , be did not press to a division . Mr . Villiers stated , that an agricultural society in tbe country had sent delegates some years since , when corn was low , to a general meeting of agriculturists in London , with instructions worded in strong terms , respecting the inutility of mere petitioning , the expediency of stopping the supplies , and the necessity of a change in the currency . He would , therefore , ask the proposer of the amendment to look at borne . Mr . Ward said a few words in reply , and the House , after rejecting the amendment without a division , divided on tbe original motion . Against the original motion ... 232 For it 133 Majority against it 09
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MOSSLEY . —Mr . Thomas Ibbotson , of Bradford , delivered a lecture in the Association Room , on Tuesday evening last . BRADFORD . —Mr . Peddie lectured on Sanday evening , in the Council Room , to a crowded audience , on the " State Church , and Policy of a State Religion . " He gave general satisfaction . On Mondat evening , Mr . Hurley lectured in the Association Room , White Abbey . Mr . Sutcliff occupied the chair . The meeting was well attended ; this locality is again on its legs , it being broke up by the August league plot . The lecturer received the thanks of the meeting .
The Committee of the Co-operative Store met in their room at the shop , Chapel-lane , and finally arranged the rules to be laid before the body » n Saturday ( to-night ) , at seven o ' clook . The shoa is well supplied with provisions of the best quality . all being purchased for ready mosey . The Bradford Council met in the large room , Buttemorth Bnildings , on Monday evening . Thos Smith paid 6 d . for the Defence Fund ; Park-lane * 6 a . contribution . It was resolved , " That tK » question to be discussed on Monday next , to chaagetba meeting of the , Council to Sunday evening . " Tho members are all requested to attend on Monday , at eight o'cleok , to take part in the discussion .
The Chartists ob Little Hoeton n » t in the bchool-room , Park-lane , ou Sunday moraing , when L ;^ v ^ . f iected « w Mr . Brook , lataly liberated from TVorthallertou prison , after tore * years' confinement . The Chabiisk of the Central Ideality met ia their room , Batienvorth Buildings , on Sunday morning , when it was recommended tbat every Ciartist should use his inflaense to Bupport the U ) -operative Store , in Chapel-laae . The me « tiag adjourned to Sunday next , at tea o ' clook , a . m . Paddikgton . —A new loeality has her © been opened , and several membeja enrolled , and cwanoillors appointed . . The causa looks well . ToDMOBDEN . —Mr . R . jN ^ $ ^> defeired two lectures here on Sond ^^ lasvTd ' .-wirJbvSerous and respectable audier ^ e ^^ fef 5 EffjSSP 3 ^! tsro he reviewed the trials alWLancafet ^ ajfetwittajk leo « tare was upon the nfce ^/^^ rifeg ^ iw ^ MteT , and the manner in ^^ fto , fWJJ ^ oiad > 5 dt to gain their object , I \ + >; C 3 i . fvS ^;? 3 R ! j > iSrI VCv V j& ^ i— h ^ - ^^ l
Jzmnerial 25arltamnrt.
Jzmnerial 25 arltamnrt .
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VERBATIM REPORT OF THE CHARTIST TRIALS AT LANCASTER .
IN THE PRESS AND SHORTLY WILL BE PUBLISHED , A VEKBATIH REPORT OF THE BECBNT TRIALS OP FEAKGUS O'CONNOR AND 58 OTHERS , AT LANCASTER , FOB RIOT , SEDITION , TUMULT , AND CONSPIRACY . THE above Work vrill be Published in Weekly Numbers of 64 Pages of Royal Octavo , Edited by FEARGUS CVCONNOR , E-q ., Barrister-at-Law , and to which wi 3 be added A SHOET ACCOUNT OF THE CAUSES OF THE DISTURBANCES OF AUGUST AUD SEPTEMBER LAST , With Notes upon the Trial ; aho a Dedication to Baron ROLFE . A SPIiENDID PORTRAIT OF THE JUST JUDGE WHO PRESIDED , WILL BE PRESENTED WITH THE LAST NUMBER ( GRATIS )
To those who have been Subscribers to the Wo ; rk . The Portrait will be Executed with a view to its being placed as a Frontispiece , aud when completed , which will be in about four Numbers ; the whole will make a valuable work . Price 6 d . a Number . The Portrait gratis-Subscribers and Acentsare requested to give their Ordera to Cleave , J , Shoe Lane , Fleet Street , London ; Hetwood , 60 , Oldham Street , Manchester j an *«* HpBS 0 M , Northern Star Office , Market Street , Leeds . ¦ ^ ^ t , \ , Th efl ^ , , Number wiU be Published on Monday , 27 th March , and the subsequent Numbers will be Published Weekly ,
To The Imperial Chartists.
TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .
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TOL- TL NO . 279 P SATURDAY , MARCH 18 , 1843 . * " VCS " « \ ™™ **™*
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AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVERTISER .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 18, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1204/page/1/
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