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Northern Star (1837-1852), 2nd March 1844, Edition 1 of 1, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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    • STratr** fBo&cincnds.
    • J Povlt)comms Ctjarttgt 3&**Un&0.
    • <£\&xX\$\ 3SmeHtgnw.
    • 10 EICHARD COBDEN, ESQ., M.P. ]
    • NEW WOOLLEN CLOTH AND TAILORS' TRIMMING ESTABLISHMENT, SI, BRIGGATE , LEEDS, AND MARKET PLACE, DARLINGTON.
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      1 VT H . DAVIS respectfully invites the attention of the Publio to his VALUABLE and EXTENSIVE STOCK OF WOOLLEN CLOTHS , Which he has purchased for Cash , and is determined to seU for a very small amount of proSt . The Goods are of first-rate Manufacture , and not made for sale only , but will ha ? o the good properties of wearing ' trail , and ensuring future orders . The Stock consists of DOUBLE-MILLED WATERPROOF TWEEDS , BEAVERS , PILOTS KERSEYS , CASSIMERES , SUPERFINE YORKSHIRE and WEST OF ENGLAND CLOTHS WOOLLEN and COTTON CORDS , FUSTIANS , &c . &c . Waistcoatings from Is . ( id . upwards , in tndless variety . IJ . H . D . takes this opportunity to thank the numerous body of TAILORS , who have patronized him eiuco ho dissolved Partnership with Mr . Culling worth , and begs to assure them that no House in the Trade shall undersell him in any one Article . , The Working Classes are invited to purchase Fustians , Cords , and Moleskins , at the above Establishment ; they will find it more advantageous to do so , and employ their own Tailors , than encourage the " Ready Made Clothes Selling Monopolists" who get rich at tho expenco of ' tho Working Man , by paying him one half for a Garment that other Masters give .

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      3-ETIBB III . j Slb—Aiihon £ h we may no ; be able to agree a 3 to ; Scares , ws may coma to some understanding as to ; probabilities . Lei us Fnppose then , that the Corn- ' l&ws were repealed to-morrow , acd that foreign ' corn ttsls admitted into this country free of farther in inan that imposed by freight , risk , and insur- j snce . I tbinfc -we nay agree that in snob case corn - could be imported into England from other countries , i noi so heavily taxed , at twenty-eight shillings the j caarter , or perhaps less . HoweTer as I adopted a )

      scale in my last , whereby I consented to £ 1 12 s . 6 d . j S 3 the standard price of com , in tha event of the ' present laws being repealed , I will give you the ; advantage of the additional 4 s . 6 d . per quarter in , the argument ; while I maintain that , if the corn ! laws were repealed , we should hare wheat at 25 s J the quarter , and even under : and I further main-, tain that foreign corn could be imported from many ; other countries into England , at a less expense than i from many inland counties of England , Ireland and ] Scotland , into the same markets . ] I think we may further admit ihe probability , if .

      not assume the certainty of the price of land . being i regulated , by the price of wheat—the thing prodnced ; and then , according to the standard that I have established , the price of land in the Free Trade market would be . reduced to fire-eighths of its present value . Heni , of course , must follow price . That is , laud which now lets , ay fcr " 24 s . an acre , would then let for 153 . an acre ; and what is still worse , the price c / Jaiour muiifallin a considerably greater proportion than eTenihe price of land . 2 s ow if reduction of our expenditure ? b . eceded Free Trade , the land at I 02 . an acre would be reallv as valnatte , and eTen '

      more so , than the same land now at 24 * . an acre . Bargains made nnder the then sjstem would hare lEe greatest of all advantages ; the advantage of e-eriainly- Uncertainty is piejndicial to the landlord ; more prejndical to the tenant ; but most prejadidal , Day destruction , to the labourer . When lie Free ^ Trade party bnilt upon the servility of the ^ English mind , their writers , their speakers , and their adTocates did not see the necessr . y of withholding the leal trnth ; and they admitted the real object . Clay , Torrens , Thompson , and others admitted lhai the object of repealing the Com

      Laws was , so to reduce the price of English labour as to enable the English manufacturers to compete with foreign manufacturers even in their own markets ; That is , you expected , with the same protection for foreigners that yon would now award to English agriculturists , namely , the imposition upon "English manufactures of freight , risk , and insurance , you would be able to driTs them out of their own znarkei 3 . I must i > e very plain indeed upon this paint . It is not only a favourite , bu ; a universal argument with Free Traders ; that released from all restrictions the English manufacturers would be able to undersell all others even in their own

      markets j and , ihbk well ; wiih . commodities , tbe-Eost valuable portioD of which onijh ; to coiisist of labour , end the labour too of a hu , Liy taxed country . Well , then , every man must admit tha ; if a highly taxed country is enabled to send its produce into the markets of nntaxed countries , at a lower rate than i ; can be produced in those countries , that the result joust be , the destruction of that iurerest in those countries . Keep this branch of ihe argument clearly in view ; because presently I shall contrast ij with ihe similar moce of reasoning relied upon by Free Traders , as to the probable result upon the agricultural interest of this countrv .

      "When the humane man , the philanthropist , ihe lever of his kind , whether black or white , Christian , Turk , or inSdel , inquired what was to become of the foreign operative ihus displaced , the answer of both lay snd clerical Free Trader—of Hume and Baptist ^ oel—nay , of the whole sect , was , they will be converted into agricultural labourers , to produce com for Englishmen , npon richer soil 3 and in more genial climates than their own ; that manufacturing was the natural work of Englishmen , and women , too , no doubt while agriculture was the natural PHrsuit of every other people in the world . How

      Sir , let us apply your own reasoning ; and from it let us dednee the probable—nay , the inevitable result . If a country wiih its labour taxed beyond the labour of any other country in the world , ' can nndersell all other countries in their own markets , does it not follow , las an incontrovertible fact , that the produce to which the labour of all other countries is applied , if allowed to come free into England , must , by a parity of reasoning , destroy that interest , and compel the labouring classes , who have heretofore been engaged ia that description of work , to look for employment in soae oiLer sphere 1

      The Free Traders propose an entire change of position . They propose that Englishmen and women ffrall become manufacturers for the world , and that in return the world snail become wheat growers and market gardeners for them . I contend , then , although the sum hixd of England has compelled your rhetoricians to alter their tactic 3 ; that if you , vnth taxed labour , are able to destroy all foreign operatives , the foreigner , by untazed labour , will be able to destroy all English agriculturists , and especially agricultural Iabouxer 3 , for it is for them I wri : e .

      Discontinuing for a moment the main branch of my EEbject , I shall now touch upon the effect which this inevitable reduction in rents would have upon the franchise . Wheat gives the sterling stamp of valne to gold itself . By its price the rent of land—the thing that produces it—is regulated ; by its price the rent of the enfranchised , £ 10 hou = e is reflated . The effect of even the redaction of three-eights in the value of land and houses upon the present franchise would be this . A house which haa now a vote , because it 13 worth ten pounds a-year , would then have no vote , because it wonld then be worth only 6 5 s , a year , or five eighths of its present value . The house now worth 16 per

      annum would be the lowest standard of honse which nnder Free Trade , would be enfranchised j because £ 10 , the then rent , would be exactly five eighths of £ 16 , ihe present rent . In Ireland , where the narrowness of ihe franchise is complained of , every £ 10 TOter wonld be disfranchised , ai ) d nothing nnder a sixteen pound beneficial interest wonld guarantee a £ 10 vote . £ 20 leaseholders , under the present system , have a vote , the amount of which intereitj however , must be increased to the neces sary value of £ 32 interest , according to the present standard , to enable them to vote under the Free Trade system .

      The fencing , the quibbling , the sophistry , and the nonsense that yon and your party are compelled to resort to , for the purpose of frittering away a broad principle , even by the fortieth of an inch measurement of a sample of your trade , is very disgusting . Tha ; you advocated the necessity of a redaction from 703 . in 1833 , while you asserted that Free Trade wonld not reduce the price of corn below ike standard of 1843 , appears to aave furnished you with a little handle of which von have laid hold . I am now arguing the whole question . I am discussing what must be the inevitable resslt of the

      establishment of Free Trade . To that I shall keep you for a bit ; and when we come to hair-splitting , nailpairing , such as the probable result upon f ? 7-isch CS ' s , 6 s . to 6 s . 6 d ., and 72 ' s , 6 s . 6 d . to 7 s . 3 d , 1 shall meet yon npon the details . In fact , Sir , if you make a great blunder in 1843 , and a less blunder in 1844 upon the same subject , ycu consider the trifling correction of your own mistakes as a triumph for the principle of Free Trade . So much time has been consumed in discussion upon this sntject , that I shall not consider any amount bestowed in placing the subject properly before the people , as space ill occupied , or time mis-spent . So far then I have established the following positions . Firstly , if a

      country , whose labour is taxed much beyond thai of * ny other country in the world , is enabled to undersell all other countries in their own market , with "Wlai Free Traders tern its natural produce , other lataxed countries will be enabled to undersell her merchants in their own markets with their natural Produce i that is , —for you shall have it as plain as * pike sta £ ; if the effect of Free Trade wonld be to traiie the EBglish manufacturers to undersell , W iin other words , to make bankrupts of ihe manukchirers of the world in their own markets , inde-¦ p ^ denil j of risk , freight and insnrance "which was * ° constitute the protection of the foreign manufac- ***» > it foil © that the cheap producers oi corn all

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      over the world , would , notwithstanding the same protection for home-grown corn , be able to undersell the producers of that commodity in their own markets . The difference of bulk , risk and insnrance between the two commodities will not lessen your dlfficuliy in the least . Kisk 3 are undertaken , and lossej are only felt by individual sufferers . They are made good by other successful speculators , to the public , and th&' . ' s one of my positions .- —that if you break foreign manufacturers and operatives foreign agriculturists will break English agrienhuriststs and labourers .

      My second position is , that though land reduced by the operation of Free Trade by three-eights of its present price would be more valuable as security to the then possessor , than it is now at its " unnatural price to the present possessor , yet it would be less valuable to society at large ; because the low price of raw material , especially of land , must lead to an extensive adoption of the large farm system , as well as to the substitution of cheap labour or mechaniea

      power for manual labour . I am now amply speaking of ; he effect that the change would produce upon society ; presently we shall come to the effect thai it must have npon every one of our national arrangwwnts . Fifteen shillings an acre , without taxes , ; would be a better rent than twentj ^ four shillings an acre for the s | me land with . taxes ; and for this reason , because taxes always carry with them an incipient burthen .

      I am not now placing any two political principles in antagonism . I am not speaking of the great level by which the price of all commodities may be reduced by more than three-eights , without doing an injustice to any body : but , on the contrary , with tbe certainty of conferring a benefit npon all . While I abstain , however , from placing my political principles in antagonism to youra , you must allow me to ' compare Free Traders with themselves . At your recent gathering in Covent Garden Theatre , Mr . O'Connellmade the notable discovery , that class legislation was a consequence of Free Trade . I

      merely mention this political blunder as one of the vulgarisms of your party . It wa 3 perhaps the greatest piece of ignorance as yet relied upon ; and as that gentleman generally does rely upon tha startling effect of wholesale impudence as a substitute for reason , it will go for jusi so much before the improved hj . \ d of England . However , Sir , you and your party have impaediy used the same argument ; or rather you Lave contended for Free Trade as tbe means of breaking down class legislation . And this brings me to a further consideration of the great question of trs . cs . ds . xcz .

      I have shown you that the reduction of voting property to five-eights of its pre 5 ent value , must have the inevitable tendency of reducing the present constituent body by three eights of its present amount- Nay more ; in English boroughs , and in Ireland , where the required value is measured by a mere shaving , it would cause a rtduction of more than three-fonrths . Then , Sir , have 1 not a right to ask you , ^ your party , and especially the Complete Suffrage detachment , why , without enenmbering yourselves with the whole principle of democracy , you do not methodize , harmonize , and arrange all

      the machinery for at least insuring us against so laTge a reduction of the constituent body , as must inevitably follow if you do not put tbe horse before the cart , by giviag tbe settlement of the Suffrage the , Ipbetedevce of Free Trade 1 O , you say , we don't admit your premises . Then if you don't , your own conclusions are moonshine . My premises wero your premises , My premises are , that by cheap labour alone can English manufacturers undersell other manufacturers in their own markets ; my conclusion is , that to insure cheap labour you mast have cheap food ; if yen have cheap food you must have

      cneap land , and cheap houses ; and if you have cheap land and cheap houses , cheapened by ? he amount that 1 have laid down , you dtprive thai land and those houses of three-eights of their present franchise . I go fnrtBer , however ; I not only aFsert that allow , ing tenancy and occupation to remain precisely in the same hands as at present , that Free Trade would cause a reduction of three-eights in the constituent body ; but I further contend that the effect of the transfer of land from its present proprietors to the mortgagees and jobbers , and its reduced price in the market would be followed by the almost universal adoption of the large farm system ; of the eubstitotion of mechanical power for manual labour : of the ousting of tenants : the

      clearance of cottagers ; tho levelling of their houses , which , in the moment of chaos and confusion , would be rendered less bitter by the flattering invitations to come to tbe newly-opened and ibex ? r > pnoT £ . crBD labour mart . So that , in fact ,, what yon seek is merely a transfer of political power from the bands of the landlords to those of the capitalists . The lower the price of land , the loweT the wageB for tilling the land ; the lower the price of manufactures the lower tbe price of operative labour . If you lower the price of one , you mu tt lower tbe price of both ; and I defy you to nndersell the slaves in their own market with goods , the raw material of which is brought from America , wiibout reducing the price of the manufacturing operative and the agricultural labourer .

      While your party admits that the landed and manufacturing interest are identical , and must stand or fail together , you rely upon the prejudice and support of the manufacturing operatives , and the igDorance of the agricnltnral labourers , a * your machinery for achieving a triumph ; not for both interests , or even the majority of one interest : but for the large capitalists connected with one interest . The improved mi > t ) , however , has Eeen through the veil , and once more yon are compelled to play Goody to both parties .

      You and your party keep eternally blowing us out with . " cheap bread , " " cheap bread , " " cheap bread \ as if it was the best , or indeed , the only article of consumption : while yon fail to mention , " cheap beef , " " cheap mutton , " cheap pork , " " cheapbacon , " " cheap fowls , " " cheap cheese , " " cheap milk , " " cheap butter , " cheap vegetables , " and " cheap fruit "; all of which would meihinks be an excellent substitute for " cheap bread . " Nor do 1 think that a workingman , with a good beef-steak or slice of bacon or Hi 3 ows production , with milk , eggs , butter , and potatoes , woula care much about the absence of foreign grown

      bread from his breakfast table . Before I enter upon this subject , I must lay down what my notions are relative to those comforts that an honest workingman should enjoy . And without going into detail , I will state them in a word , to consist of every thing that ean conduce to happiness , health , and comfort . Machinery 3 look to as God ' s intended mean 3 for enabling him to enjoy them ; while you and your party have used it as the means for his destruction ; of his starvation through a life of wearisome and illrequited toil , and of his premature death when his labour was no longer required .

      1 resume the question of " Cheap Bread . " Now , Sir , will you inform me , how it is that your party have been wholly silent upon the amount of Free Trade prodeced by Sir Robert Peel ' s Tariff » No yon dare not . But I will do it for you . While tomorrow you woold vote for the free importation of Corn into this country , you would , with the same breath , vote for a prohibition against the importation of live stock , cured provisions , cheese and butter

      1 , i j j ; tallowj hides , and lard ; and why ! Because whil . home grown wheat requires domestic labour to pro dnce it , cattle and cured provisions are producec ' with comparatively so labour at all . A tillage farn j of one hundred acres of land will require aor < "than twenty men and their families to cnltivatei 1 properly ; while flocks and herds upon 200 acres o ; tbe same land may be tended by a herd and a boy i What you desire , then , is—to allow all that produci j which requires labour to be produced by " cheap

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      labour in other countries , and sent free into this lased country ; while you would devote the land of this country to breeding , grazing , and feeding , which would require but comparatively little labour ^ Throw England out of cultivation , and yoa throw her agricultural labourers into your " cheap" labour reserve . You " cheapen" wheat , and make it constitute tbe sole food of those who can ' t boy it j while you would place the protected stuff , the better . thing raised with Jittle or no labour , out of their reach altogether . The Times newspaper is now lying before me , in which I find a repetition from Borne

      Berkshire paper of the old absurdity , that because there was a diminution in the past year , as compared with tho previous one , in the importation of live stock , that therefore the English feeders had no reason to apprehend danger from that source . This is a very ignorant view of tho question ; because while the first experiment was likely to bring us , not only tho surplus from all foreign countries , but a portion of what could be inconveniently spared as well , as I have before stated four years with machinery perfected for the trado ia the shortest period in which even three-year old cattle can be brought

      into tbe English market . Cured pork , hams , and bacon , however ; and cheese , butter , and poultry , which require % shorter time fo * maturity ^ w begin-te ^ mp ^ and ^ B ^ M *^? silver would i&ie " cheap" gold , so will those thing 9 " cheap , " make beef , mutton , lamb , and veal " cheap" in the interim . This wa 9 Sir Robert Peel ' s policy . He placed the distant danger before the short-seeing clodpoles which could not affect them much for five years ; while , had he presented then with the immediate danger of the one year ' s growth , —wheat , —he would have alarmed their weak senses . Now I tell yon again , as I have more than once told you before , Sir Robert Peel ' a Tariff , with his Canadian Corn

      Bill , is a much more sweeping measure of Free Trade for the middle and operative classes , than the total repeal of the Corn Laws would have been . The total repeal of the Corn Laws would have instantly ruined the agricultural labourers , the manufacturing operatives , the landlords , shopkeepers , and tradesmen , * while , as sure as God rules over us , the effect of tbe Tariff will be , either to compel the landlords , as legislators , to reduce expenditure to the nation ' s capability of bearing' it ; of transferring their estates to the mortgagees and creditors ; or of waging war 3 gainst the Government to compel an impossible result—that of discharging "National Faith" and personal debts with reduced means .

      La . nd , and its capabilities , have been so whimsically used by your Free Trade spcakeTs and writers , that it is no wonder that I should be obliged to dwell upon them at Eome length , to insure for that important part of the question its duo weight in the whole argument . You have before , Sir , adopted the " non-petition principle" of the Chartists ; while I find that at Gloucester , after shooting an immense quantity ! of rubbish , you threaten your opponents irith exclusive dealing . Accept my thanks , Sir , for this further adopsion of the " Chartist means to an end ; " but beware how you give fashion to a practico which , if really carried out by the workiug classes , would compel both landlords and cotton-lords to bow meekly before their order and their power .

      1 am resolved , Sir , to join issue with you , not upon a mere quibble , but upon tho whole question of Tree Trade : and while I would reject , with bocoming scorn and contempt , those " gratuities" upon which you gay my opposition to you is based , I shall nevertheless continue that opposition because 1 am not prepared , notwithstanding tho immediato fascinations promised by the accomplishment of tho measure , to place the English and Irish , Scotch and Welsh , men , women , and little children , at tho mercy of tho most heartless , soulless , remorseless set of men that ever disgraced humanity .

      I commenced ihi 3 battle , Sir , with the poorest of the poor ; and will fight it through without the aid or co-operation of their oppressors . Tho lustful eye of the capitalist , not satisfied with the deformity of infants of nine years tof age , is now gloatingly fastened upon the unkauted frame and unformed limb of infants of ninety-six months old . But shame upon English fathers , upon English mothers , English citizens , and English slaves , should they acquiesce in so fair an offering at such a polluted shrine ! Talk of the increase of childmurder , indeed ! where is the parent wiih the

      common feelings of humanity who would not rather have the consolation of following the remains of his infant child to the grave , there to deposit it once and for ever , than be a witness to his own dishonour and disgrace twice a-day , by carrying it at morn to the slaughter house , and returning at night , with his sleeping burthen , a portion of its infant gristle , sweat , and loveliness , coined into gold for tyrants Yes , Sir , as you candidly confessed at Aberdeen , to luxuriate upon !!

      I thauk God I have been tbe greatest obstacle " in your blood-stained path . I have sustained an unequal combat for eleven long years ; sometimes single-handed and alone ; and now that another opposing ho 3 t has come into tbe field , I will neither join them nor you ; because you are both , but not equally , the bitter ensmies of that class for whose rights I struggle , and whose liberties I will sooner or later achieve , though my life , so often threatened , should be the sacrifice

      I am , Sir , Your obedient Servant , Feabgus O'Cokmob .

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      BRADFORD . —On Sunday , the Chartists of Little Horton met in tbe School Boom , Park-place . Tbe lettei of tbe Executive was read from the Star , when it was unanimously agreed to make arrangements for the nomination of a person to represent the Horton Chartists in the forthcoming Conference . The meeting elected Mr . Smyth as delegate to tbe Wast BidiDg meeting , to be held at Halifax en Sunday . One shilliag was agreed to te sent as their share of the levy . The meeting adjourned to Sunday ( to-morrow ) nt ten o ' clock in the forenoon , and will meet also at six o ' clock in tfce evening , to receive the report of the delegate—On Thursday evening , Mr . West addressed the Cnartista of Bradford in the Large Room , Butterworth-buildingF . The Lecturer , in his asual style of argument , exposed the fallacy of the Free Traders ,

      and contended for tbe adoption of the Charter as the only means of secmring to the operative protection for his labour . Sir . West received the thanks of the meeting for bis able expose of the crotchet-mongers . — On Sunday , Mr . Joseph Alderjon leotured in tbe Council Boom on tie present position of political parties . An apology was made for Mr . West , who had suddenly to leave Bradford en account of the illness of Mrs . West Tbe thaiiks of the meeting was tendered to Mr . Alder-Bon for his lecture—The Chartists of ths Central Locality met in the Council Boom , on Sunday morning , when they molvcd to continue their exertiens to raise a fund for Sir . Samuel Kydd , to permanently establish him in Bradford . The meeting adjourned to Sunday next , at ten o'clock in the forenoon . A full attendance is requested .

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      BOJiTON . —In consequence of a report that appeared in the Bolton Free Press , relative to some questions csked by Mr . Joseph Crook , on a late visit to tbta town by Mr . Leach , as to how he would deal with machinery , and haw he would protect labour , to which it was sBuerfnOr ; Leach bad not given satisfactory answer * , be agreed to deliver another lecture ; but in consequence of Mr . Leach being engaged in a discussion with Mr . Mackintosh , Mr . Dixon attended in his stead , and delivered a clearly argumentative aid powerful address , in which he convincingly proved the impossibility of labour being protected until the Charter became the Jaw of the land . His lecture lasted an hour nud u half .

      and was received with the greatest marks of approbation . Mr . Joseph Crook , a factory master , and a member of the Corn Law League , naked Mr . Dixon several questions , to which be gave plain , convincing , and satisfactory answers . Mr . Crook afterwards moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer . Mr . Howard moved , and Mr . Sullivan seconded—" That the best thanks of this meeting are due to Thos . S . Dunconibe , JKsq ., M . P ., and to Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., and the majority of the meoting held at tbe Crown and Anchor Inn , London , for their honest and manly conduct in atnnd ' wg up the People ' s Charter . The motion was carried with the greatest enthusiasm .

      DTOSSLEY . —A splendid tea-party was held here on Saturday evening last . Addresses were delivered by Mr . Doyle , of Manchester , and Mr . W . Aitkin , of Ashton . Singing and recitations were kept up until a late hour , when the company broke up , highly pleased with the evening ' s entertainments . NOTTINGHAM . —At tbe weekly meoting of the Drury Hill Locality , held at Sw . idd ' b Coffee House , on Saturday evening last , the following persons were appointed as a Committee : —Messrs . B . 8 . Morrison , J . Wall , S Bojunbam , J . Barber , J . Brown ; William Squiiea , Secretary ; William Swann , Treasurer . At thu conclusion of the business , several new members Were enrolled .

      TAViSTOCK — At a meeting of the Chartists of this town , holden at Mrs . Horswell ' s coffee rooms , it was resolved , " Tfcat Mr . T . Clarke , of Stockport , would be a fit and proper person to represent either lucality in tbe county of Djvon , in the forthcoming Convention . " The friends of Devon in favour of the above , wonld oblige the Tavistock friends , by immediately corresponding with John B . Ellery , West-street , Tavistock . KNAttESBRO ' . —On Saturday ni ^ ht last Mr . J . Harper lectured in the Old Assembly Boom , Savageyard , on tbe Corn Laws and Free Trade . He exposed the fallacies of Messrs Plint and Prentice , who had lectured there on the previous Wednesday night , but who positively refused to discuss tho question with

      Mr . Harper , or to allow him to speak . Mr . Harper treated the question of machinery at considerable length , and shewed up Plint ' s arguments in their true light . Mr . Plint had stated , on Wednesday , that machinery bad not hod the effect of depriving men of employment : an argument fo notoriously falsa , that he even could not draw a cheer from bis own supporters . Mr . Harper » trongly censured those working men who could be found to listen jto tbe absurdities of Plint ; eipecially wben be boasted of having done bis utmost to destroy Trades Unions , which are the only defence of working men against the tyranny of their taskmasters . Mr . Harper concluded a long and argumentative lecture , amid the cheers of a highly respectable and numerous audience .

      COVENTRY . —A meeting was held in this ancient town , the emporium of the Ribbon trade , on Monday evening last The meeting took place in St . Mary ' s Hall—a most remarkable relic of antiquity . Coats of mail , portraits , and armour are hung rounrt in all directions ; and a splendid tapestry , upwards of 400 years old , decorates the wall near the hustings ; various curious inscriptions , in the old English style , are to be seen on various parts of the walls . The windows are of bsatuiful stained glass ; and the building as a whole is a excellent specimen of tbe architecture of former ages ; and a more satisfactory proof of the progress of Chartism could not bo produced than tbe fact of this ancient depot of bigotry being

      granted to the Chartists by the present Mayor of Coventry . At eight o ' clock , Mr . William Hosier was called to the chair , amidst loud and long applause . The chairman delivered an appropriate address , and after ehowuvg the benefits to be derived from Chartist principles , and pledging himself to give every person a fair hearing ; he introduced Mr . George White of Birmingham , to address tbe ' assembly . Mr . White spoke at some length on tho evils of class legislation , exposed the fallacies of the anti-Corn Law Lsaguo , and exhorted all present to join the National Charter Association . Ha retired amidst lond cheers .

      Mr . M . J . Jones of Camberwell , London , then Rddressed the meeting . He was warmly greeted by the meeting , an delivered an able address in explanation of the principles of the Charter . He was loudly cheered at the conclusion . A vote of thanks was unanimously given to Messrs . White and Jones for their services . Thanks was unanimously voted to the Mayor for granting the use of the ball to the Chartists ; also to the Chairman , and the meeting separated . The Chartists of this district are actively engaged reorganizing , and there is little doubt that this part of the country will perform their duty .

      CARRINGTON . —At a meeting held on Sunday evening of the Caning ton locality , the Executive address was taken into consideration . It was resolved to solicit the co-operation of Bndford , Arnold , Calverton , Latnbley , Old Basford , New Basford , and Carrington localities , to send delegates to the Flying Horse Inn , Arnold , on Sunday , March 11 th , at two o ' clock in the aftornoou , to consider the propriety of sending a delegate to the next conference .

      OLDHAIVt—On Sunday last , Mr . Ambrose Hurst lectured in the Chartist Boom , Greaves-street . On Tuesday , Mr . Samuel Kydd , of Glasgow , delivered a very instructive and argumentative lecture , on Education and Republican Government , which gave general satisfaction to the audience . —On Monday last , a general meeting of shareholders of the Working Man ' s Hall Association was holden , when twenty-six persons were nominated and appoint ad as trusses in addition to the former ones .

      SWANWICK .-Nationa . l Charter Associa . tion . —At our weekly meeting held on Sunday lest , it was resolved unanimously that -we should , one and all , exert ourselves to raise subscriptions for the victimized coal miners . Tbe number that has t : en turned from Mr . Jessop'a works is between two and three hundred , for being Unionists . MANCHESTER . —Messrs . Duncomt 3 and O'Connor having complied with an invitation to f isit Manchester on Good Friday , the Chartists of Manchester have determined upon giving them a public entry . There will also 13 a tea party and ball in Carpenters ' Hull , tea on the table at five o ' clock in the evening .

      CarpektersHall . —Mr . Christopher Doyle delivered a lecture in the above ball , on Sunday evening last . Subject—the Irish State Trials . The spacious building was densely crowded , and the lecturer gave general satisfaction . Bath . —On Monday , it having been rumoured that our friend Mr . Roberts had arrived in Bath , and would meet the Chartists at their rooms in the evening , a goodly number had assembled at the time mentioned to welcome that gentleman : but Mr . Roberts not making his appearance for some time , a call was made for Mr . O'Connor's letter to be read , which having been done , as also was that of the Executive , both being received witb approbation .

      A large number thinking that some unforeseen circumstance had prevented the possibility of Mr . Roberts attending , left the room . At nine o ' clock , however , Mr . Roberts arrived , and after expressing hia gratification at meeting his old friends , commenced an interesting conversation , upon the state of Chartism , and also described his success in connection with the "Colliers' Movement . " At tho close of this interesting and gratifying meeting , Mr . Roberts promised to send notice previous to his nest visit to Bath ; and we doubt not but many will welcome the announcement who had not the opportunity on this occasion of meeting their friend and late oilizdn .

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      QtJEEMSHEAD . —It is the intention of the Chartisia of Queenshead to gather together tha broken fragments of Chartists , and form another Association . We intend holding weekly meetings , for th « purpose of admitting members , and reading the Northern Stir . Mr , Clarke's Toua . —On Sunday Feb . 18 th , I lectured at Macclesfield . The notice was short ; consequently the meeting was not a large one , 1 pointed out at some length tho position of the various moving parties , as well as the position ia which they should all unite to placo ours . At the conclusion the thanks of the meeting were voted me . On Tuesday I went to Duckonfield . Here a variety of

      causes combined to prevent a meeting , and I had to leave without having an opportunity of testing the spirit of the place . On Wednesday I held a second night ' s discussion with John Allinaon , at Stockport , who had undertaken to prove the Chartist policy to be Anti-Democratic . In support of his position , he brought forward opposition to ithe Anti-Corn Law League , and argued that such opposition was contrary to Democratic spirit . He likewise put in the pamphlets of Messrs . O'Connor ; Hill , and Watkins , as evidence of the want of union amongst ourselves . He read a long list of names of parlies who he said had been driven from the Chartist movement "

      because they differed from the policy laid down by the Northern S / arand Feargus O'Connor . " He also made a personal attack upon Mr . M'Grath and myself . Of course I replied . Firstly , justifying our opposition to the " League , " at the same time proving that my opponent himself had been only a few months ago one of the most active in enforcing that policy , which had ( since the raising of the £ 100 , 000 ) all at once been discovered to bo so erroneous . I also replied to all his other positions seriatum , and succeeded so far in satisfying the people of the worthlessncBS of both himself and i his arguments , that when it came to a division , there wers at least six to

      one « n my side of the question , notwithstanding that the emmisfaries of the League had been several days previously engaged canvassing and mustering up tho " free-booting" brigade , in order to crush Chartism ; but alas ! the animals were doomed to disappointment ; for never was there a more miserable failuro than tho " Plague" and their " Man Friday " made upon this occasion . I was moro severe on Allinson on account of hi 3 degenerate apostacy , in trying to sell tho only party : that succoured him when an outcast from all other societies . I never witnessed anything so like a " condemned criminal " as this poor tool , when his fellow-townsmen were

      called upon to register their opinion by vote , as to whether he had proved what he had advanced . He stood pale and petrified as he gazed upon the immense forest oC uplifted "blistered hands" raised , as a pledge to continue that line of policy which he had been paid to denounce ^; and the indignant shout , of triumph which met his ear , as . he retired from the platform , will serve as a lesson to teach others the value of consistency as well as convince the sceptical of the importance working menlattach to the services of those who honestly struggle for the rights of labour in spite of the taunts , jeers , and persecutions of faction . On Thursday evening I visited Hyde . The extreme inclemency of tbe weather caused a slack attendance ; however , those present were of the right stamp , and I had the satisfaction of learning that

      tho Association was in a much more healthy state than it had been in for some years . On Sunday evening J addressed a largo meeting at Stockport . Mr . Joseph Carter in the chair . My subject was " Tho Necessity of union amongst the Chartist body , " in support of which I quoted largely from Mr . O'Connor ' s letter in last week ' s Slar , in which he clearly proves that an important cri .-is is at hand . I would most emphatically recommend the serious perusal of that letter to every Chartist in the empire I also reviewed the Parliamentary talk about Ireland , from which I contended it was quite clear the Whigs want to make Ireland a stepping stose to power , and further that tho League wished to attach the " Liberator" to their crazy bark . — Thomas Clark .

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      London . —A General meeting of the Shareholders ' of the Political and Scientific Institution , Turnagainlane , will bo held in the Hall , On Sunday next , for ; the purpose of electing a Board of Directors and Secretary . The chair to be itaken at two o'clock precisely . ' Westminster . —Mr . James Mee will deliver a lecture at the Golden Lion , jDean-street , Soho , on Sunday evening next . : SoMEHSToww . —Mr . Ruffy Ridley will deliver a lecture at the Bricklayer ' s Arms , Tonbridge-street , Cromer-street , on Sunday evening next . City of London—Mr . Gardner will deliver a lecture in tho Hall , Tumagain-lane , on Sunday evening next , at seven o ' clock . Hammersmith Road . —Mr . ; Ruffy Ridley will attend at the Black Bull Inn , on Saturday evening , ( this day . )

      Marvlebone . —Mr . Stallwood will deliver a lecture in the Mechanics' Institute , Circus-street , New Road , on Sunday evening next , at half-past seven . South London Chartist Hall . —Mr . P . M'Grath will deliver a lecture on Sunday evening next , at seven precisely . ; * Tower Hamlets . —Mr . Skelton will deliver a lecture in the Working Man ' s Hall , Mil © Eud Road , on Sunday evening next , at seven o ' clock . Mile End Road . —Mr . Skelton will lecture on Sunday ( to-morrow ) evening : at seven o ' clock . A Tea Party will tako place in the afternoon on tho same day , at ha , lf-past four o ' clock . A General Meeting of tho members of the above locality will be holden on Tuesday March 5 tb , rnt business of importance will be brought before the meeting . It is hoped that every member will deem it his duty to attend .

      An Harmonic Meeting Will be held at the Feathers , Warreu-itreet , Tottenham Court-road , eu Monday , March 4 th , at eight o ' clock . The pro-, ceeds to be giveuto the wife of poor Linney . < Great abgregate meeting of Chartists . —A publio meeting will be held ! at the South London Chartist Hall , Blackfriars-road , on Monday next . March 4 th . The Executive Committee , and other i talented advocates , will address the meeting . Golden Lion , Soho—A special meeting of mem- ; bers will be held at the above house , cu Sunday : evening next , March 3 rd , at soven o'clock precisely . » j Hammersmith—A public meeting will be holden ; at the Black Bull Inn , to nominate members for the , ensuing Convention , on Tuesday evening next , at ' eight o'clock . ... „ . meet next

      The Ciiy Chartists will on Tuesday , at eight o ' clock , at the Dispatch Colfoe House , Bride Lane , Fleet-street . j Tower Hamlets . —The general councillors residing in the Tower Hamlets , are requested to meet at Mr . Drakes , Standard of Liberty , 171 , Brick Lane , ; Spitalh ' elds , on Sunday afternoon , at five o'clock . Lambeth Locality . —The members of the above locality are requested to meat on Sunday next , at three o ' clock in . the afternoon ; on business conneoted with the forthcoming Conference . Leicester , —Mr . J . R . H . Bairstow will kcture in the Town Hall Lane Chartist Institution , on Sunday ( to-morrow ) evening , at half-past six . Subject : —j u Duties of the Working Classes at the present ; crisis . " ' i Bury . —Mr . William Bell , of Hey wood , will leo- ; ture in the Garden-street Lecture Room , on Sunday j next , at six o'clock in the evening .

      Mb . Ciark ' s Route . —On Sunday , at Todmorden ; Monday , Macclesfield ; Tuesday , Coventry ; Wednesday , Northampton . M » . Dorman ' s Route : —Longton , Monday , the 4 th ; Hanley , Tuesday , 5 th . ( subject : the Life and Character of William Tell ) j Fenton , Wednesday , 6 th ; Tunstall , Thursday , 7 th ; Hakley . —Mr . Dorman will preach a sermon on Sunday next . m the Large Room , Trumpet Inn Yard Hollinwood . —Mr- Peter Foden , of Ashton , will deliver a lecture in the Chartist room , Pew Nook , onlSunday next , at six o'clock in the evening .

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      Sil ^ den . —Mr . S « Kidd from Glasgow , wili lecture at Silsdun on Friday iha 8 ch of March . Rochdale . — . Mr . Miller will deliver two lectures on Sunday next , in the Chartist Association room . ISOTTrNGHAM .---SWAN ' s COFFEE HOUSE , DaUBY Hill . —The subject for discussion next Saturday evening , will be " The Cora Laws , and the effects that would arise from their Repeal under existing circumstances . " Mr . Pepper will preach in the Democratic Chapel on Sunday evening ( to-morrow ) . at six o ' clock . Mr . Doyle ' s Route for next week . —Oa Sunday the 3 rd . of March , Lytherlaud ; Monday 4 ; h , Prescott ; Tuesday 5 lh , Warrington ; Wednesday , 6 th , Lambcrhead Green ; and on Thursday the 7 ih , afc Hind . ' ey .

      Mb . Dixon ' s Route . —Burnley , the 4 th March ; Bacup , 5 ch ; Haslingdeu 6 : h ; Blackburn , 7 th ; Preston , 3 th ; and Chorley , the 10 th . —Mr . Dixon will also lecture in the Chartist room , York-street , Uu&eroe , on Saturday evening , the 2 ad , at half-past seven . Subject- " W . U a Repeal of the Corn Laws Oaaetu the bhopkeepmg and labouring classes !" Mr . D . will lecture at Sawley , on Sunday afternoon and again in the Chartist room , Clitheroe , at six o clock in the evening . Huddersfield District . —A district delegate meeting will be held ou Sunday , March 3 rd , at one o ' clock in tho afternoon , in the council room of the Hall of Science , when those' p laces which have lately had the services of Mr . West , are specially requested to send delegates . It is hoped that delegates will bo punctual to the time , that the meeting may be coiiCiuded before the afternoon ' s lecture .

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      Dundee . —Tailors' Meeting . —A special meeting of tho United Journeymen Tailors of this place was Held on the evening of Wednesday se ' nnight , to ascertain the opinions of their employers relative to an address presented to them by that body regarding tho ultimate object 3 of their Union . The meoting was an excellent one , composed of journeymen , with a good sprinkling of masters . James Drummond being called to the chair , commenced the business of tha meeting by reading the address , as also the rules of the Association ; after which , Mr . M'Donald came forward , and said he was sorry that ail their employers had not felt it their duty to be present on this occasion , for he could assure them that the objects the journeymen had in view

      were for the benefit , of the masters as much as their own . However , he was glad to perceive that amongst those present he could discover the most influential and respectable of their employers , to whom the greatest amount of thanks were due ; as by their presence there that evening they had given proof that they were not to be deterred by prejudice , but to examine for themselves , and decide accordingly . He then explained more fully the objects contemplated in the address , and entered into the subject of unprincipled competition , and read copious extracts from the Star and other papers , showing , the degraded position in which the journeyman tailors of London now stood ; but ( said he ) to those whose narrow vision cannot penetrate beyond the

      precincts of thrir own locality , such things as those may bo foreign and far removed from us . True we had not as yet felt its effects in their full force , but was it not self-evident even to the most casual observer , that such a state of things was not confining itself to the Metropolis , but fast verging towards the Provinces ? as a proof of which he would direct their attention to the shops of some of the clothiers . Did they not resemble moro the shops of cheap advertising tailors than that of respectable drapers ; aad where , he would ask , were those garments made I In Dundee I No ; but in London itself . Thus showing that we were now about to have to compete with the more wretched of the journeymen tailors in London . Mr . M'Donald then concluded his address , by calling on both masters and men to unite , in order to defeat the common enemy . Mr . Ross , a master tailor , said that in remedying grievances we should begin at home

      and suggested the propriety of drawing up a new statement of prices , as the one now in use did not comprehend in its dctuila the prices of a great many articles of dress now in use . A committee was then appointed for that purpose . Another resolution was then proposed by Mr . Thomson , to the effect that a committee , composed of masters and men , be appointed to examine into the grievances which moro immediately affect tbe tailors of this place , and to lay the report of their proceedings before a public meeting of tho tailors , to be called on an . early day for that purpose . A committee was accordingly appointed . After a somewhat lengthy but most agreeable conversation as to the best and most speedy method of working out the objects of the Association , the meeting separated , pleased in the anticipation th&t their honest endeavours to protect the rights of labour would ere long be crowned with success . —Correspondent .

      Bradford Shoemakers . —On Monday evening the shoemakers of Bradford , held a meeting in the King ' s Arms Inn , Westgate . The object of the meeting was to make arrangements for drawing up a statement of wages ; whereby the workman should be able to ascertain the amount he would have to receive for bis work . One of the men observed that they were met to perform a most difficult task . Whatever opinion the meeting might entertain , it was evident that the great eril lay in an abundance of labourers in the labour market ; and however they might frame a statement of wages , this difficulty would be in the way Were they to draw up a statement of prices to be paid by the masters in general , it would have the effect of either driving

      some of the masters out of the sale market , or reducing % part of the wages they already bad . The fact of fire men being employed on three men ' s work , was a serious obstacle in their way , and called loudly for some protective power . Competition in labour had gone on to so fearful an extent , that unless some means were adopted , it would end in utter degradation . and poverty . The honest trader must either adopt the present mode or give up altogether . The employer who gave the highest wagea had to compete with him who paid the lowest wages ; and the result was a fearful competition , aided by machinery , which caused the unemployed to seek for a means of Using on those trades not seomingly affected by it . Tho trade of shoemaking was a fearful example

      of this . Employers were enabled to get boys of fifteen , sixteen , or seventeen years of age , for five or ^ ix shillings per week . In a short time those- boys were ablo to supercede the journeyman , and compel him to work for what the master thought proper , to give . For pxample : one master having no apprentices will pay 3 i 6 d for making a pair of men ' s shoes . Suppose the man makes one pair per day , his week ' s wages will amount to 19 s 6 d . Suppose a master has three apprentices , and each of them makes four pair per week ; the wages of the three will be 18 s per week . The work they make will amount

      to £ 1 193 . leaving the maBter a clear profit of £ 1 Is . But this is not all . A system of inferior work is adopted , to learn the apprentice in a short time . Then other masters , in self-defence , aJopt the inferior work ; and thus the power of competition ruins the honest trader , and throws a serious obstacle ; in our way . How are we to overcome this 1 By union Let every workman in the town in any way connected with our trade come forward , and thus will a heavy burden become light , when spread over a number of shoulders . Finally , a committee was appointed to draw up a statement of wages , and submit it to the next meeting of tho trade .

      The Stone Masons in Bradford have had several meetings , with a view of putting a stop to the practice , of pifco work . Tbe masters have , by placards , announced the wages to range from 21 s to 24 s per week . The workmen deny this , and affirm " that ia conspquence of piece work , the average wages does not amount to more than 14 s per week . " From the active preparations for building , the stonemasons are in a fair way to obtain their demand . Bristol . —Cabinet-Makers . —A publio meeting of the , Bristol Operative Cabinet-Makers duly con * vened by the Builders and Cabinet-Makers' Society of the Manchester Union , was held on Tuesday eveing , February 27 th , at St . John ' s Porter House , Quay Head , to report the progress of the society , and set forth its

      advantages ; also to devise further means of benefiting the trade generally . Mr . J . Broughton was called to the chair , and having read the circular calling the meeting , he then , called on the secretary to read the report , after which the following resolutions were severally proposed and seconded by Messrs . J . Davis , W . Jones , S . Samuels , H . Merridith , J . Cole , and S . Jacobs , and carried unanimously . 1 st— " That this meeting is convinced that the continual reductions which are attempted by many employers , renders the existence of a cabinet trade ' s society necessary , and that every cabinetmaker should be a member thereof , to enable him to resist those unjust encroachments , and to assist by his mite his fellow-workmen that may be so oppressed , or out of employ . " 2 . " That to fully carry out the principle of mutual assistance , it is necessary that all cabinet societies throughout the country should equally bear the

      expenses legally incurred in support of the trade ; that the Manchester Unity of Operative Cabinet-Makers offers the means of thus justly sharing the burdens , and of perfect mutual assistance ; that , therefore , every cabinet-maker in Bristol should , as much for his own benefit as from his duty to hia fellows , join the Bristol lodge of that Union . " 3 . " That for the farther benefit of the trade , it is advisable that a union of all trade bodies in this city , and ultimately throughout tho empire , should be effected on the principle of mutual protection , having for its first object the furnishing of employ to those members that may be thrown out of work by strikes , or any other causes over which they have no control ; secondly , the increase of iho trade ' s funds with the profits ; and lastly , the relief of the sick . " After a long and temperate discussion on the above propositions , with the members of the old body , and the entry of candidates for membership , the meeting separated .

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      TO THE EDITORS OF THE GATESHEAD OBSERVER , BRADFORD OBSERVER , THE LEEDS TIMES , AND THE NOTTINGHAM REVIEW . Gentlemem , — As you have been "liberal" in your extracts cf , and comments upon , tho several charges against me by Mr . Hill and Mr . Watkins ,

      and as you have published the fifteen 'Articles of impeachment of the latter person , together with a copious commentary written by himself , accompanied , in some instances , by your own editorial remarks , I have to request that you will publish my answer to those charges . You will find them in a twopenny pamphlet , a number of which I have poBted free to each of you ; and , should you decline to perform this act of justice , I trust that the parties whos « cause you proless to espouse will call upon yon individually , and in great numbers , and require your reasons for declining . I am , Your obedient Servant , Feargus O'Co > t « ob .

      10 Eichard Cobden, Esq., M.P. ]

      10 EICHARD COBDEN , ESQ ., M . P . ]

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      TOL- YIL " ls 0 . 329 . SATURDAY , MARCH " 3 , 1844 . " r ^ SSS . ~^ S ^ "

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      AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVERTISER .

      New Woollen Cloth And Tailors' Trimming Establishment, Si, Briggate , Leeds, And Market Place, Darlington.

      NEW WOOLLEN CLOTH AND TAILORS' TRIMMING ESTABLISHMENT , SI , BRIGGATE , LEEDS , AND MARKET PLACE , DARLINGTON .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 2, 1844, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1254/page/1/