On this page
- Departments (2)
-
Text (9)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Rational £aito company
-
j0 THE FUSTIAN JACKETS, tHfi BLISTERED HANDS, AND UNSHORN CHINS.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
Msrch ! uiaret ! Loni-. n and Wwchester , Wby , my lads , don't you march forward in motion , Jfarch ! march ! Dablin and Dr gbeda , All the poor Irish are over the ocean . My Beloved FitiESiDS ,
"These are the times to try men ' s souls , ' and I now appeal to every m ; in who lives by the sweat of his otcn brow and ask them one and all , individually and collectively , whether they find themselves equal to the pressing emergency . One united struggle and labour is free , but another short period of apathy ami labour it the bondsman of Capital . I have told v « u many and manv a time , that every i V
people will have precisely the form of government to which their owu virtues , self-confidence , and self-reliance entitle them . 1 have frequently pointed out to you the fact that the trades had been made the tools of cap ital and abettors of misrule by the pliancy and subserviency of their leaders , and no writer has more boldly and incessantly arraig ned the leaders of that numerous , mighty and influential class than myself . I have exp osed the treachery < tt" Democratic leaders , and have ascribed popular indifference to the people ' s pardonable w : mt of confidence in
th ose leaders . I have denounced the use made of Irish credulity ; md English confidence , and have justified popular apathy upon those grounds ; and I have watched with no small anxiety and interest the magic change that ha * taken place in the government , direction And management of the popular mind and labour cause . I have witnessed the verification of my prediction , that whatever form of Government we lived under , the struggle for Reform would be evinced in the first instance in the struggle of classes ; that the democracy
of each class would first be compelled to fight its battle against the aristoa acy of its own class , and that , out of cfess conquest would come universal victory . 1 have watched the constitutional struggle carried on by Duncombe against odds which would have cowed and broken the spirits of any other living man . I have seen all party differences merged in class necessities , but I have never found Duncombe quailing before their combined energy , or induced to surrender an inch of ground to the necessities of faction or ministerial expediency . But you hate attorned him to struggle alone .
Duncombe s p osition is such , that if he asked the people for a petition on any subject , the working man who refused to sign it within twelve hours should be branded as a willing slave and an enemy to hU order ; he has visited the captive in bis lonely prison cell , he has heard his wrongs and demanded justice for him ; he has arraigned the perfidious Minister , the unjust judge , and the prejudiced juror : he has exposed and denounced the hired spy and the perjured witntss ; he has convicted the cruel jailor and unchristian chaplain ; he has offered to tumble with jugglers , but has lefused to support principles by professions which could not be realized , and which were not intended to be realized : he has taken the helm
when the Democratic ship was being driven on the shoals by the torrent of class prejudice ; he has taken the command of labour s army when the forces were scattered and the service was dangerous . Now , I hope you understand the drift of this letter ; the object 1 have in writing it , is to show you , how , that popular apathy , once so excusable and pardonable , ( because occasioned by thetfreachery , apathy , and ignorance of popular leaders ) has now become culpable , injurious , and destructive , when leaders of every class and branch of the movement party are actually and undeniably in advance of the people , and whose exertion * are rendered inoperative , useless , and even ridiculous from the want of popular support .
1 have shown you the position Duucombe has boldly taken and powerfully maintained against the odds of combined faction and popular apathy , in fact , the positive and negative obstacles against which he has had to contend . I have disposed of the constitutional struggle being made for you in the House oj Commons , and shall now turn to a consideration of the legal battles that have been fought , and the astounding victories that have been achieved for you in a department which fsa » e for the purposes of oppression ) has beeu as a sealed book . 1 mean the legal department . 1
am a barrister and havehad extensive practice in my profession , and yet I have been astonished and surprised by the triumphs of Mr Robert ^ n ot only in a political sense , but , which is matter of greater importance to powerful capitalists , in a trading sense . What was the power of the law in the hands of mastei justices , before his appearance as Labour ' s legal adviser ? Is there an instance upon record , previous to his undertaking the office of poor man s legal expounder , of a poor man , not worth one penny , fighting the battle of legal right against old prejudice and long
custom and heaty purses ? Do we read of magistrates being consigned to that state of leisure from which they should never have been disturbed until his appearance ? Do we hear of such a thing as the legal construction of the poor man ' s side of the dispute , till he undertook the herculean task ? Have we heard £ f the battles of Hungry Gats ( they are the tyrant oppressor ' s words ) againit heavy purses till he undertook the management of the unequal forces ? When did fifty-nine political offenders
fight the combined power and talent of Government ' s legal staff , and finally triumph , until headed by him ? When did Labour receive the legal definition of what constitute .-conspiracy , till he , by perseverance—by superhuman perseverance , and great skill—had it expounded by those judges most celebrated for legal knowledge ? His name carries comfort to the immured slave who toils underground , and confidence to the slave who , till now , was compelled to look upon his employer ' s ««* as the law ' s command .
falk of the inventors of machinery , by whose operation your blood and sweat have been coined into riches for the idlej ! but of what value is it compared to his development of the powers of that machinery , which his predecessors either were ignorant of or dared not put in force , at least for your protection 2 He is the legal Hercules of the age ; and as a battle that he is now fighting has been a main object in causing me to write this letter , I shall return presently to that point when I have shown the bearing of my general observations upon the subject .
I now turn to the consideration of the political question , and shall draw your attention to the character , zeal , and exertions of those with whom I have been united for many years in the management of that department . Of ^ four men—M'Gra th , Wheeler , Clark and Doyle-1 will only say , that , in my opinion , taking them for all and all , four better , more honourable , worthy , honest , and devoted public servants , Muld not be found of SSL , ?™!?* T - M * ° P inion « f their
when inmy absence I permit them the fullest use of my name in all matters brought under their consideration , and 1 have never had occasion to regret that confidence . Jealous imaces call these men well-paid ; but you and 1 recollect when we owed them nearly £ 80 , and when , to thtir honour and our disgrace , they worked as z ealously as if we were honest and punctual ; and yet , working men , will you beueve it of your order—many who were idle when they worked , and many upoa whose
with { we engaged them , are jealous of their position , when our improved policy and machinery promises a continuance of office . Always keep the drift of this letter in view . . i now turn to another branch—to the working machinery of theTrades'Movement—and I ask , who can read the speeches of Messrs Pee ! , Jacobs , Parker , —and , though last , not least , Kobson—as well as of many other * , without commg to the conclusion , that in a constitutional , legal , political , social , and managing point of view , the leaders are far in advance of the ftoplet I admit that past treachery may justify
Untitled Article
jealous confidence ; but , then , to triumph , you must con / wfe and co-operate . In no sin gle department of Labour ' s struggle i « a more rapid and pleasing improvement manifest than in that of the National Trades ' Association . Here we see Labour ' s cause rescued from the midnight secrecy so useful to the masters , and advocated in open day ; here we find the responsible * officers of the people superseding the servile slavish tools of the capitalist ; here we find men of genius , who have worked in chains , struggling to work without fetters , and making common cause with the less eloquent and thoughtful of their class . From these sons of toil we read speeches which would do honour to the Senate . I will , J ° . US co ! ? M ; b ^ then , to triumph , you
not create jealousy by individualising , but I protest I have been charmed with the eloquence and arguments of many of those engaged in propounding the princi p les of the National Trades' Association , ana yet there are many of their own order who write disparagingly of some of these men to me , in the hope of creating a dissension , by which crotchet-mongers and sectional leaders may make profit . Shame upon such vermin ! they hate all who propound a scheme by which the ' value of each may be tested , but they must learn and understand , that whoso fi g hts LaKfcrr « 4 > attle honestly ,
though differently frWh me , is mffnentl , and Labour ' s friend . I shall now make a few more observations upon the same subject . In 1833 , 1834 , : md 1835 , there were about seventy Members of Parliament much in advance of public opinion , and they very naturally made popular apathy the excuse for abandoning the popular cause . Sir Wm . Molesworth , Faithful , Gulley , Cobbett , Sir Samuel Whalley , Whittle Harvey , and scores of others , have often observed to me that it was useless contending for the rights of men , who were too satisfied ,
or too indolent , to contend for themselves . Coercion was passed , the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed , and many other bad laws , without a single struggle from without , while the battle was bravely fought in the House . Now to the moral of my tale . A great battle haa , been fought for Labour within the last few days , at Liverpool—you have gained an immense triumph , in the establishment of your legal right to conspire against oppression , and to place sentries upon the oppressor s camp ; but observe , and let this sink deep . into your souls , —The men through whose daring and courage you have been enabled to secure this exposition of the law , are now
hostages in the enemy ' s hands , and their freedom or imprisonment depends upon you . Be heedless and apathetic , each leaving his share of duty to another , and your triumph will be turned to defeat ; but rouse , make the cause your own , spurn jfour debasing , debauching , destroying pleasures , until your brothers are free ; and while enjoying momentary senseless gratification , recollect you are drinking the blood of your own martyrs—victims immolated at the shrine of Labour ' s indifference . I will set you the example : I will not drink of any exclseable drink until Labour ' s victory is
completed ; and I will keep an exact account of what the saving is . and give it all to Labour ' s Redemption Jfund . Time presses—the law will not wait . Next week the struggle will be removed to the Queen ' s Bench , where there is more justice than on the " Shallows'" Bench ; hut it must be paid for . Let us see , then , what a week ' s labour for labour ' s self can accomplish . Remember , working men , I have kept your eyes open upon this subject ; I did not iish to exhaust it , till the fitting time for the rush came , as I . have always found that
exertion is greatest when execution has followed upon the heels of design . If through your apathy the battle is lost , don't blame me , don ' t blame the' Star / don ' t blame the' Labourer , but blame yourselves , and if it is won , prepare to make the most of it , by joining the National Trades' Association , aud thereby enable your chief and leader to prove to your oppressors that he represents a national mind , and not a sectional movement ; and prove 10 your leaders that they stand in no danger , because they have that at their back which secures the law ' s definition , instead of the tyrants will .
1 have now shown you that the present move is the struggle of the democracy of each class against the aristocracy of its order , and when each has come to a perfect understanding upon the question of right , then all will be compelled to acknowledge , that the only possible means of upholding right is by the enactment of the People ' s Charier ; and above all , bear in mind , you ' the aristocracy ol trade , that we , the poor Chartists , the outcasts , always secured the ablest Counsel to fight our battles in the Queen ' s Bench , and that your Attorney General was our legal defender . We have always stood by our order . Your faithful friend , Feargijs O'Connor .
Untitled Article
propose to giv .- under the cn-operative mode wmilH eive general satisfaction , whereas , the price under the contract is a continual source of discontent , and the- occasion of much delay . Another unnecessary item in the building is the compo ; all that 13 wanting is the joints well pointed , and then the whole lime-tfhitcd . and a saving of about 50 s . per house would be effected . I have the authority of Mr Iloneychurch , an allottee , and wolj-ainker from Devon , to state as another instance of the degradation and insult mempropose to giv .- under the exonerative mode wnnM
bers a e subjected to . He had written five letters on the subject of the wells , not one of which Mr O'Connor had the courtesy to answer , and wheij he arrived at Lnwbands was consigned to the contractor , Mr Griffiths , who is pocketing aVout sixteen shillings out of every forty-two , for dotni ; nothing bot insult ami abuse Mr II .. which amounts to about £ 40 on the afty wells , and which sum might also have been saved to the company , or paid to a member to assist him in his new vocation , and who is now . under the notable Mr Griffiths , earuing'about twelve shillings oer week .
I would persuade myself , if possible , Mr O'Connor i 3 cutting men ' s wages down und < Bignedly , but the fact staring me in the face , I cannot . The best operaijve on the works gets but about Ids . per week , and out of this miserable pittance 25 per rent , must be left in Mr O'C . ' s bands , to insure the due performance of tho work . Why ! because Mr O'C . is certain men cannot do it . As was the case at Herringsgate , so itis » t Lowbands . I shall be sorry to have anything I have written
construed to Yindjctireness , my only motive beina the honour , stability and success of our glorious plnn , political and social . * Trnich , I fear , will be endangered by the veiy inconsistent conduct of Mr O'C . And why , in the name of common sense , should the competitive mode of operation , so expensive to the company , and _ in ? ulting and degrading to member . * , be nerscve-edin . in preference te tho infinitely more honourable and less expensive mode , merely to indulge an unworthy crotchet of Mr O'C . ' s ?
My fripnds , I do hope you will seo this matter in the light I do . Diacn s s it in your several localities , and jns'rilct your delegates , next Conference , to abolish this cursed and cruel aystem . at least amongst mirselve ? , that we be not upbraided and laughed at by the world for our inconsistency . I am , yours fraternally , John Pkrry . 1 C , Eartatreet , Kensington . Mr Friends , I shall give you the plainest and most satisfactory answer to the above letter . There cannot be a more
ridiculous object , than the man who attempts to enforce principles or pervert facts , by the use of frothy words . I never knew a man in my life who could notaseasily write "OUR GLORIOUS PRINCIPLES AND RIGHTEOUS CAUSE , " and "MAY I PERISH IF I EVER DESERT THEM , " as he could write a confession of his manifold sins and wickednesses . I shall now give you the history of my acquaintance and transactions with Mr Perry . He came to my house in London on several occasions to contract for the building of some of the houses here at Low . bands ; but from several conversations , and more specially from the PRICE be asked , I had brains
enough to see , either he that knew nothing whatever about his own trade of building , or he thought I knew nothing about my trade of contracting . I computed for him what a cottage would cost at his estimate for the mere building , and it came to nearly as much as I can complete one for , and turn the key in it . I told him he would not do . He then asked for work , and I told him that should rest with the contractor , but that I would endeavour to procure it for him . When the work was contracted for , he came to the Land-office , and mentioned his intention of starting for Lowbands ; when I observed , in presence of the Directors , and many strangers , and the
clerks , " Well , Perry , mind , if you come and are disappointed , you must not blame me ; Mr Cullingham says you will be disappointed , as you are not used to our description of stouc , and I will not have a repetition of Herringsgate plastering ; when you get there , you must deal with the contractor , and the price is Is . 8 d . a perch . " " 01 " he replied , " I can do what another man can do . " " Very well , if you come , you come under these conditions . " Shortl y after he arrived at Lowbands , and I induced Mr Griffiths to let him have two houses , upon the same terms the other men had them . I then asked him when he could go to work . He replied , " Well , not
immediately , as I went to have A GLA . SS OF GIN at Swindon , and the train started and took my tools to Bristol . " He went to work , and , wanting hands , the contractor could have no possible motive in finding fault with his work ; however , upon the second day he came to me , and said , " Sir , I shall he obliged to take all that London man ' s work down ; and I can t afford the loss . " I replied , " If you can ' t , I won ' t , so if he cannot work , you must not keep him . " The overseer then came and said , " Why , sir , as I told you , Perry don ' t understand the work ; he must take down every morsel of the PLINTH COURSE , it is not straight on the face or level . " I said , " Well , well , for God ' s sake let him try and mend it , as I like the man , and he came a long distance , and mav
mend . It is my custom to inspect the buildings every day , and upon one occasion I made a party pull down and rebuild a large portion of a house that was not properly bound ; another party I compelled to take down their arches and put up new ones . The next morning , as I was on my tour of inspection , the conl tractor ' s foreman , who works hard and well himself , came to inspect Perry ' s work , and when he plumbed it in MY PRESENCE , in less than 15 iucheg the work was more than an inch out of plumb ; so that in 10 feet we should have had the top course overhanging the bottom course by about a foot . « You must take all this down , " said the foreman . " Ah ! you nasty fellow , " replied Perry , " now I shall hate you for ever ; you came just because Mr O'Connor was here . "
He was not turned off , he gave the work up , and Mr Griffiths gave his comrade work till Saturday , but then discharged him , as he could not work . This was about 7 o ' clock in the morning . At breakfast time Perry came to me , and said he had not enough to take him home , and asked me to lend him 7 s . I said "No , Perry , but I'LL GIVE you 7 s . ; and I assure you I am extremely sorry you can ' t get on . " " I shall feel for ever grateful to you , sir , but I can ' t agree with Mr Griffiths , " and we parted .
1 shall now reply to Mr Perry ' s figures , by which he seeks to prove that 1 always act on the competitive principle . The following is the correct statement of my contract , and of the- ^ expense of materials , of which Mr Perry is wholly ignorant .
Untitled Article
EXPENSE OF ONE PERCU OF WORK , s . d . Stonei at qnarrj ... ... 16 Carriage of stones , which I EARN 1 6 Lime and sand , which I DRAW 1 0 Mason ' s work ... ... 18 Less os stoue ... , „ 0 2 Cost of perch of work 5 10 Now , what I give per perch is not . 7 s ., but a mere trifle over 6 s . I made the contract for 7 s , but by that contract the face and sides were to be of
chisselled stones and the corners all jointed , and cut quoins and cut arches ; however , I soon discovered that the operation would be very slow , and I reduced the contract to little more than 6 s ., and determined upou putting Roman cement on fronts and ends and chimneys , and which , besides enabling us to build six houses fur one , will not cost ONE SHILLING a house more than if they had been finished according to the terms of the orig inal contract , while they will all have a beautiful and uniform appearance . 1 must here state , that I save more , than 6 d . a perch by having wells dug for water to , make
Untitled Article
mortar at eactf $ bose : sometimes it epst me jE 4 IOs a week for drawing water at Herringsgate , and { must also s tatin justice to Mr Griffiths , that there is not in Worcestershire a man who more , thoroughly understands his business . I have given you a ™> a reason for having the weljs sunk b y Mr Griffiths s it s because he has n » allowance- for drawing water or-mortar . but I will give you yet a better reason . I annour ™ thftt j mM ™ sinking welh , and had many offe rs-cone from ! SHAREHOLDER to sink them foTs Y AND SIXPENCE a yard , I FINDING STOMs t 0 * all them up . Mr Griffiths' proposal was- & a ^ ir "!?!^ ' »" . lbat <™¦ * q «« ry he mortar nt > . Bffii ! a .. ' .... ^ . ^ -...... :. ' C ,
, STONES SHOULD COME . I should state that Mr . Griffiths is himself a working man , and every one of his 8 o » s are engaged in the building , and 1 never met wiHi better woikmen or wore decent men in my life . I should also state that Mr Griffiths has bought an immense quantity of stones from a neighbouring < juarry at 2 s . a perch , and we drained the three quarries in building .. I get 2 s * 6 V 1 . a square yard for drawing sand , Is . 6 d . a square yard for drawing stoaes , 4 d . a load for drawing lime . I can earn 9 s . » day drawing stones with eachhorie , 7 s . 6 d . drawing sand , and 8 s . 4 d . drawing lime- , so tbat ^ I ^ felnk I am part profitmonger with Mr Griffiths .
Now , a word or two about Mr Honeychurch and the wells . Mr Perry says he sent me five letters about them ; HE DID NOT , and if he had , the probability is , that I should not have replied to them , and certainly would not contract with a man in Devonshire , without any proposal whatever , and I as certainl y would not delay the work for his inspection ; but the fact is , I knew nothing whatever of the man till he came here , and then he told me he was sorry he had NOT KNOWN THAT WELLS WERE TO BE SUNK . I found him a very respectable man when he did arrive , and treated him accordingly . Now , it is natural to suppose that Mr Griffiths would have a partiality for his own neig hhours , and yet , at my request , he gave
Mr Iloneychurch twenty wells to sink at 2 s . 9 d . a yard ; Mr Griffiths getting 4 s . for sinking , finding and drawing stones to wall them up . And now , as to his not being able to earn more than 12 s . a week . A man named George Wright has taken the other twenty at the same price as Mr Honeychurch , and , men don't often exaggerate their owu earnings , especially to an employer . I went to him this morning , and asked him what he could earn . he said , from nineteen shillings to a guinea . I replied , " How ? Iloneychurch says he can only earn 12 s . " " No more could I , " he rejoined , " if I came to work at nine o clock ; but , " he continued , ' -if he ' s tired of the job I'll BUY it OFF HIM , as I can make it do . '
Now , for the 25 per cent , slopped . That was my agreement , and in all contracts SH LL BE MY AGREEMENT ; but , when I found the work progressing to my satisfaction , I did not enforce it , as Mr Griffiths being a working man should suhject the masons to the same rule ; and here a word about the competitive system : a week ago one of the masons came to complain that they could not manage with the deduction of 25 per cent , as they had two houses going on together . " Well , " said I , " I will not stop the 25 per cent , as the work is going on well , " and on the following morning thev
were paid up . The man who complained was , cf course , against the COMPETITIVE SYSTEM , and was a great supporter of our glorious cause ; however , he had scarcely left me , when a lad about eighteen years of age came up , and said "Sir , l wish you wouldmake - — -pay me . he engaged me for 7 s . a week , and I have worked three weeks , and now he says he'll only give me 4 s . ajwesk . " Now a word about the poor operatives , not one of whom earn more than 15 s . a week . Not a carpenter on
the estate earns less than 35 s . a week , and they rieWy deserve it ; the labourers working task-work earn over one pound a week each ; a welUdigger cams a pound ; the head carter earns 16 s ., and the seven others 14 s . a week each , the sawyers hare averaged £ 1 12 s . 6 d . each for five days in the week , and I never had a complaint from any man but Mr Perry , and I think those who know him will give him the character of never being satisfied with any man in the world but himself .
So much for his letter , and now for a few trifles . 1 paid a London gentleman £ 1 15 s . 3 d . for putting chimney-pieces in three-roomed houses at Herringsgate , and here the PROFIT-MONGER , Mr Griffiths , puts them up for £ \ the three , and in point of beauty , value , and appearance , they are not to he compared . In fact , those here are most beautiful . Now , Mr Perry , just a word to you . You have been an idle , quarrelsome fellow all your life , and if you write till you arc black in the face you won ' t drive me for my purpose , and if all the shareholders in the company were to pass a resolution that none but members should be eniployed , l would NOT EMPLOY A MEMBER who was not able
to give me twenty shillings of work for a pound , and I'll tell you more , that neither you , nor your Kensington friends , who are disappointed in not getting the job , shall ever MAKE THE LAND FUND A REFUGE FOR THE IDLE . But just hear another word : I believe every man working upon the estate IS A MEMBER , and some have deposited LARGELY IN THE BANK , which they would not have done , but for the confidence I have inspired by setting fellows like you at defiance , and , what is stronger still , the major portion of those working here worked at Herringsgate , and I refer
THE MEMBERS TO THEM FOR MY CHARACTER . No struggling hand-loom weaver shall pay interest during his life for my easiness or folly . I have promised them the retail thing at the WHOLESALE PRICE , and it shall not be burthened with WHOLESALE PLUNDER . My balance sheet for this quarter is like that for the last , no charge for my travelling , or other expenses , no sundries , and all the MONEY SAFE ; and I will not work for nothing that idlers may live upon my labour , nor shall all your "GLORIOUS PRINCIPLES , "AND « YOURS FRATERNALLY " INTIMIDATE ME . '
My friends , if I had not contracted for all th « work 1 could not complete it by day work for more than five times the amount . I don't care how much a man earns at task work ; the more he earns the more pleased I am . In fact you know that that is the very princi ple for which I am contending . I now give you an exact return ] of the PROFITMONGER'S profit on the first twenty wells sunk , as well as a return , of the cost price to him for three perches of work : — Pricss of Three Purches of Stone Work at Lowbands . 1 ton of best stone for quoins and arches ... 0 2 « 1 ton of stoue from Besle Coopers .. 020 1 ton of ditto from Herberts ... ... ... ... 0 1 6 Hauling a t 0 ug at u . cd ... 0 4 6 3 barrels of lime , and hauling , « tlOd , , 0 3 ( Sand and hauling , quarter of a too ,,, , " 0 0 9 Mawna ' workataod . perpereti , 0 5 0 Tor three perches . , 3 ) o 18 9 Caah price per perch ... 0 6 ; Baa i mm
Untitled Article
. . ¦ ,... * T » M 6 * MlCT OP MNK 19 O WEll * Thr « r « t 30 ' weir « , 6 y « rd 8 enoli , average 4 s ... s « n * Bonded In lahour , 120 yards at * * o * W- ... iel 0 0 2 toi » of stone to Bteen each well C 00 3 wells steened from tlft bottom , 9 tons of ston « extra , 3 j . ... ,.. 1 7 0 — 23 17 0 Profit for the contractor on 20 wells ... 0 5 0 I now require an answer from the members to this question : — , - ~ -
Am I ta manage the working department of the Land Company , or am I to be subjected to the constant attacks of parties who hope to turn the funds into a fund for the comfortable support of ENTH 1 J S 1 ASTIC INFERNA L IDLERS ? I had nearly ' onattcd to state one fact with reference to Mr Perry s love of our "GLORIOUS PRINC IPLKS . " I told Mr Griffiths that , in all cases , I would prefer a Chart * bung employed to persons of any other political frntb . Mr Griffiths asked Perry if he WAS A CHARTIST , and his answer was . "NOT I TN DEED . [ am , my Frknds , Your faithful and watchfut Bailiff " , Feabgvs- OTonkob .
P . 8 . —Now , Mr Perry , if you want any more of it you must go to the REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE , Lloyd ' s , or the Manchester Examiner , but not another word from yon shall occupy space in the Star . You have had your SPIT , and I have had my say ; and as to your confidence in me , and your blarney , I would much rather be without it . "The censure of slaves is praise ; " and for your further satisfaction , it is my intention to take Mr Grifli-U with me , wherever I may be engaged in building , so entirely satisfied am I with his work . F . O'C .
Untitled Article
Chepsiow . —On Friday a meeting was held at the Greyhound Inn , Chep « toar , for the purpo . se of hoarin ? a lecture delivered by Mr T . Clark , of the National Land Company . Handbills havinsf been freely ¦ tirculated , at the time appointed ( seven o ' clock ) tho room was crowded by persons anxions to have an explanation of the Land Plan . Mr Charles Walters ( who wns condemned with the brave patriot , Mr John Frost , and who suffered four years and six months' imprisonment in tho Millbank Penitentiary )) was called to the chair . Having hriefly stated the objects of the meeting , he introduced Mr Clark whs in a-forcible and lucid manner explained the objects of th » company , and the benefits to be derived therefrom . The lecturer gave great satisfaction . At the olose of the lecture ( which lasted nearly two hours ) t . he following resolution wan proposed by Mr hh Luff , and seconded by Mr James Taraplin , and car ried
unanimously—That it is tlie opinion of this meeting that tho plan , as now propunded b y Mr T . Clark , of the National Land Company , U not only deserving of the approbation but also the support of all persons who ore frfcnds of the working classen , und this meetinif pledges itself to do all in its powar t . further the objects of the Company . A rote of thanks having been given to Mr Clark Jbr his very able lecture , and the same compliment having been paid the chairman , the meetine separated . Several new members joined on Mondav evening .
Ckoid > n . —On Monday evening a discussion was held at Lovediy ' s Temperance Hotel , Surrey-street on the question— ' * Sliou . d the Land be held as pri-» ate or common Property ? " Mr Macarty having been called to the chair , the debate was opened liy Mr Frost . He contended that political equality could not produce social equality . While the land reronincd private property , the possession p f the suffrage would prevent some men frnm becoming poor and others rich . If the land of this country was equally divided among the existing population it would give twelve acre 3 to | -ach family ; then the six suns of one man would inherit only two acres eaoh ,-while the only son of his neighbour would have twelve acres . Mr F . then quoted several pa « gages from the New
testament , proving the assertion of Prudhorn , that 11 Christianity is Communism , " and that community of goods was practised araons ; the early Christians for nearly 300 years , lie held the principle , that , as no roan overbad , or could , create a single atom of matter , he had no right to claim anything as his own exclusive property . Mr Beare replied , that he was not prepared to advocate an exclusive right of possession . He thought that the land should be na . tional propertv , to be cultivated individually , not as private property , but as a trust . At the demise of the cultivator his land should revert to the nation , and thus the evils of heritage would be prevented . He thought the people were prepared fer thiB step ! but not for Communism . He th .-ught that indivi . dual possession and private dwellings would give more satisfaction to the present ceneration of work .
ing men than the system advocatod by Mr Frost . Mr Frost said , his opponent had not attempted to controvert his argument , and though the plan he had proposed was decidedly in advance of tho present state of things , he could only look upon it as a transitionary measure . The evils of private possession were innumerable j inequality of property was a greater evil than political inequality . While private property existed there would be a constant clashing or" interests ; the doctor had an interest in the ill-health of his neighbours ; the lawyer in the contentions of his clients ; the pnrson i « the ignorance of his congregation . Communism would reconcile these jarrina interests , and equalise rights and duties , by the institution of common suffrage , common labour , and common property . The debate was adjourned till Monday , April 28 tli .
1 ) Alston . —A special general meeting of the Dalston branch of the National Land Company was held on Sunday , Aoril 4 th , for the purpose of considering the question of members disposing of their allotment . Mr Wm . Riolet was called to the chair , and opened the business of the meeting by obssrving that he did not so much objeet to members selling th « ir shares , providing that the purchaser could purchase the allotment out and out Mr T . Sowsn » r then rose and said : Tho subject upon which we have met to express our opinions , and to give a decision , is a subject of vital importance . It is not only important to those who have drawn priz'a at tho late ballots , but also to the members of tho National Land Company in general . Tho selling of
allotments I hold to be unjust in principle , nnsound in policy , arid a notation of the principloon which the National Land Company was established . When Mr 0 Connor hrst propounded the Land plan , did he intend that it should be made a system of speculation ? No ; hia aim was to make the working classes independent of their tyrannical masters , by placing them on the soil of their native land , and showing them the difference between free labour and slavelabeur . ( Hear , hear . ) The plan propose * to make us Happy , comfortable , and independent . Now di-esanyonesupposethatb ydiBposineofhisallotment . that he can hate those blessings conferred upon him ? It is utterly impossible . I hold it to be unjust on the part of thoBO who have , and may dispose of their al <
lotmente , for filthy luore , to persons who may be in good circumstances , and perkaps altogether opposed to the principles of Chartism and the Land , except so far as they have secured for themselves a place of retirement , purchased by the co- operation of the pounds , shillings , and pence of nine-tenths of tto Chartist body . I don ' t mean to say that Messrs Wheeler , Knight , and Gamble are opposed ta the Charter and the Land ; on the contrary , I am aware that they are in favour of both ; but then tbia does I not justify their right to act as speculator ^ although there is no rule to suppress it . These men are in comparatively good circumstances , and coasequently 1 would have had no difficulty in waiting until they were fortunate enough to obtain their own prises But although these men are decidedly in favour efi the Charter and the Land , we ave not to aupposJ that speculation will be confined to suob . men . ( Hear h , If t »* ? *? i ° » « erj estate wiU be pestered with locusts , who aw , too proud to work and fir ? -tft moytotown industrioSgh ' - hours , with the final objeotof destroying the National Land Company altogeth er . Millions of mw « 5 hSS been spent in apeoulation to uphold a badsvstem and mfthons may be * pent to destroy a 3 ylZ \ ? he 18 tte -ff "J « f i * Ow&IS the 18 th rule will be enforced as it stood previous to S ? . t Twir ° ? t « r i * G : wd I hope and trust that those who have drawn prim , ani have . not disposed of them , will retain them f ., r their own advantage ; and if I could persuade myself that those who have disposed of their allotments , did . » q for nc t Miter purpose than that of receiving filthy lucro , 1 i would unhesitatingly declare that tticy don't desert *
Untitled Article
liberty . Tho Chairman l . a * observed , lhat liffuwi nr > t object to the selling of allotments , provide that the purchaser e : in purchase it out and out . Now I contend that any member who has drawn a prizs , and declines to take it op , that the person whose number is nearest the person who declines , has an undoubted richt to the allotment . Mr T . Sowcrby ttien cun- ^ eluded . Other members having spoken upon thc subject , the following resolutions were agreed to :- — Moved by T . Sowerbjr , and seconded by P . Johnston—That it ii the opinion of this meeting , thnt tlie gvjtom of members selling their allotments is unjutt ; ' this \ meeting ie , therefore , of opinion that the 18 th rule should \ be sprain enforced < o suppre »» a Ajstera that otherwise will provo dnneerous to thu society .
Moved by > V . Ridley , and seconded by P . John- \ j n ton—That the secretary he requested to send o report of the BMetini ? to the Star for insertion , in onler th ^ t ' -thv l , various branches of the National Lnnd Company / Way ' . .. speafc out upon the Bubjcct ; an * that the Editor be re V \ querted tn insert it . ' . vA Moved by T . Sowerby , seconded hy W . Reid— f < Tbat this meeting do strongly recommend tlie mretinj ' ^ i Of Conferences * Limbands , on ihrl « tof July . Jv , At the conclusion , a vote of thanks wns given to ' ' the Board of Directors . h IIwBtRr . — The shareholder * have appointed a \ scrutineer , auditors , and other officera . They approve of the Conference meeting , at L wbands . in . Julynext . The committee will , m future , meet at J . Bowtfen s from two to five o ' clock every Sunday , to receive subscriptions and enrol new member * . Y
PersHns can have prospectuses- or rules of thff \ National Land Company by applying to Joseph Bowden , Dndhurst-brow , Sandy-lane , Hindley . NBTOnirr . —On Thursday evening a- public meeting > \ was held in the Odd Fellows' Halt . Old Bush Inn , ^ Commeroial-strept . to hear the principles and objects ^ of the National Land Company expounded by Mr Utlark , of London . Mr Williams was-called t » tin chaw , m * after briefly addressing the meeting , called on Mr Clark , who wag received with great applause . II » very able address . hated nearly two hour * ,. confirming the wavering , and * convincing all present that they must look to theVland For wVial redemption . A vote of thanks having been ni * en to tlie lecturer and chairman , the meeting dispersed , many declaring they would immediately joiwtUe L » nd Gnm&nnv . PemiitE * . —A few friends of the Hanley Branch assembled at Mr J . Yo . itcs ' , TemDcranco ll . itek on Friday evening , April 9 th , for the nurwise of reual .
ing themselves with a good , heartyy and substantial supupp , which was served up in " excellent stvld by Mrs-Seates . Mr Wm . Maitland was called to the cliair , who congratulated his friends on tho present meeting , and introduced Mr Joseph . Stubbs , who proposetf thefollowin . ' toast : — " The People , the Legitimate Source of ail Power , " which wag cheei-f . illjr responded to with a bumper of cold' water and ( jo d lemonade . Mr II . Foster then gave , " F . O'Connor and the directors of the National Lnnd Company . " Mr J . Yeates , on being called ; said , he had great pleasure in proposing ?• Tho People ' s Charter r may it speedily become the Law of the Land' . " ( Applnuse . ) Mr E . Humphries was then called , who proposed Duncomhe , nnd tha National TraiW
Association . " Mr James Oidham then proposed 1 lie northern IStar , and the Democratic Press . " Mr Kenyon then save " Proaperitv to the ner * ccu ± e ( ' lovers of Liberty . " Mr J' . feerington than proposed " Mr J . II . Evans- and the " America * A " » ? l n u ( A PP la «? e . ) Sons , "Exile ol-Lrin , bythe Chairman . " OConnorvillo , tha People 11 first Estate . " Song , by Mr Joh n Moreton , "Spread the Charter . " Votes- of thanks were then , given to the chairman and others for their services . 'I he supper was good and tho speakina excellent Pkkston . —At a special meeting at Mr Hod ' s Tern-: pe ¦ ance Hotel , Lime-street , on Monday evening , Mr Wm . NoJIard in the chair , it was unsnimoMT agreed , — " That tin ' s maeting approves of Air O'Connor s suggest on for holding a conference in Julv next , at l . owband < " '
Saifobd —Thc monthly meeting was held last Sunday . Mr Richard Catterall in the chair , when the followin « resolution-was passed unanimousl y . — That this meeting roaoroineiul tho Directors of tha Land Company to issuo sh < -et « containing the nume 9 and number of those shuroltolilers who are oligible to th « b » l ! ot , nlgo the numbciv of their certificates to be taken while the ballot i « ffoing on , and that the localities pay for them when received 1 . SiiKFriELD . —On Sunday last Mr Brings delivered an address in tlio Democratic Temperance Riom , 33 , Q' « een-strcet . on the subject of the National Land and Labour Bank , a * established by the directors of
the Laud Company . On the motion of Mr Hi » "inbottom , seconded by Mr M'Keiuie , the following resolution was unanimously passed : — That , after hearing the able addrew of Mr Brings w <> are of opinion that the National Land and Labour Bank , as established by the directors of the Lmd Company , is the on )? means whereby tho working classes can redeem themselves from slavery and oppression ; and further , that this meeting pledges itself to further tho objects of thu said Bank , believing that the land is tho bast security that can ba t-Won . " Thanks havinc been given to the lecturer and chairman , tho meeting dissolved .
TowF . it Hamlets . —Globe and Fri « nds , Morgan * street , Commercial road East . —On Sunday evening last a respectable meeting assembled to heai a lecture from Mr C . Harrison , John Shaw in the chair . The chairman read a very able articlu frem the Star , and endeavoured to impress on the minds of all present the necessity of immediately rendering every support in their power to strengthen Mr Duncorobe in his forthcoming motion for a Repeal of the Katepaying Clauses of the Reform Bill . The worthy lecturer then came forward and nddresscd tho company for of hour
upwards an , in a speech replete with much valuable information , consisting 0 } statistical facts and figures , drawn from his own personal experience on the Land , showing the immense superiority of spade culture over that of the plough , extolled very much the Hand Company ' s Plan , and the exertions of Mr O Connor , and confidently predicted that tho introduction of tho Land Society would pr « vo one of the greatest blessings ever conferred on the people of tlm country . His lecture was listened to throu « hnut with great attention , and , at the conclusion , ha received the unanimous thanks of all present .
Messrs Whittall , Knowks , and Shaw aho addressed tho meeting , and hoped that the metropohtan committee would have the support of every Chartist in London on the occasion of their forthcoming benefit , at tho Royal Pavilion Theatre , W hitcchapel-road , on Wednesday , April 28 th . Working men , to your duty ! Worsbro * Common . —A public meeting was held on Sunday evening last , at the house of Mr Henry Swift , when tho following resolution was unanimously carried : — That a tea party and illumination talio place on Man . day , the 5 rd day of May next , in celebration of the allot . tce » taking possession of the people ' s first estate . "O'Connorville . "
Untitled Article
forthcoming meetings . Abkbdekn . —This branch will meet every Friday night , at half-past seven , in the Union Hall , Blackfrinrs-street . Dbrbt . —A general meeting of this branch will be held at No . 4 , Urcen-street , on Sunday evening next , April 18 , to adopt means to carry out the su" - geetion of Mr Tapp . " GAiMBimoueB . - The shareholders will meet im Bnggs . Schoo Room , on Tuesday , the 20 th of April , at eight o ' clock 111 the evening .
Halifax . —Shareholders belonging to the first and secondsectioos ol the L * nd Comply are requested to attend in the large roons , Bnllclose Lane , on Wednesday the 21 st of April , at eight o ' clock in £ evening . fn « n and there they are expected to . pay nil their arrears of local expanses . IluDPBitsFiBLD DisiRicT . ^ -The secretary and-tttfe surer ol tlws district sit every second and last rifeday in the month , to envoi members andi «» ceiva contributions for the 3 rd ! section at IbbwoWITem . perancft Hotel , frnm eight to ninn o ' clock ' in tho
1 evening , loose members of the 1 st and 2 nd section who have not paidjDlioir directors' levy , arc requested to do so whhoafc delay . Members of tha Almondbury district »>« also informed that tha HuWcrsneld secretory is appointed ta transact all tn « business of tlmfc district . U » ll . — The National Land Company meet ewv ? Monday evenin * ,. ai « ie Shi p , Church-lane , at half-£ st seven o ' clock The members * e nquetixlto pay « P *« . flM *« JWM « in advanre . AV a » ty ? h « H r * - ***™ «»• 3 rd ofM » y , to celebrate the first location , of the allottees . of
erhviuKlTir " ™ , meet ^ tho « 1 »«*» 1 * - era win be heldiattheir placo of !» eetiii » nextS « adav toSssa * ruie § > *•• sws ? hl *? . ^?™ - " */ . * S ^ wmBton withlecturo on Waid a Lnd , at half-past sawn in the waning : sftec wjoh th * members of % « Land Company in the njHghbous 5 > ood of LougV&orough , artf those wu <> may wish tojwn tho same , will meet at { foe house of Mr ¦ Mevenswi , New-street N *?* ° ~ Tne Wffiwbers of tip Land t'omp « ny I in tha locality mccA vtety MoRiiay evening at rights 0 clock . at tho how * ot Mr Tb , « nas Williams , Fountain , CommerciaV&bfect . JwAD » o « d . — Tfhe shareholders are rtquested to attend in thft Christians' aieet nR-housc , Dcnman . 1 street , on Mwalay evening , April 19 th .
Sauforo ^ .. A special meeting of shareholders will be held in their room , Bank-street , Great George . Htroot , oh Sunday next , at two o ' clock . So \ j * h L' ) s » oa Ham . —A public meeting of tho Lawheth district of the National Land Company wiU ba held in tho above Hall , on Sunday evening next , at half-past six o ' clook , to take into considmtion the 13 th yule , and on other general business « mmcted with the Company , # Towsn HAjji . ro . —A Rcneral meeting of tho Whit . tin : ; ton and Cat hrnn-Jh of the Land Company will bf held on Sunday evenin « at seven o ' clock . Mt U Doyle will icctuvo % t oijhto ' clock , precisely .
Untitled Article
THE FOLLOWING IS MR PERR 1 "S LETTER , AND MR O'COSNOil'S ANSWER , PROMISED LAST WEEK . TO THE DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS UF THE CHARTIST LAND COMPANY . Mi FniENus , —I am anxious to make yuu acquainted with the injurious effects occasioned by a departure from , or perversion of , the fundamentals of our system . You will recollect the wish expressed by the Conference of December last , quite in accordance aud consistent wiih the principles of co-operation we profess— iha $ shareholders should take precedence of all others in the employ ot the Company ,
I have been a Social Reformer the lart sixteen years , and , 1 believe , I know what Social Relorin means . 1 know , also , the privileges conferred by thu constitution of our union , and I km > w abuse of those privileges will cause decay , aud ultimately , lailure . Therefore , it becomes wy duty , as well as of alt who claim the same title , to guard thosa privileges with a watchful and zealous solicitude . 1 am second to no one in awarding to Mr O'Connor fall credit for all he has done , and an honest sincerity iii what he is still doing , and I do give him my moat sincere aud heartfelt thanks , aud my confidence iu him still remains unshaken .
But , my friends , let us remember he is human , and liable to err like other men , and I will not palliate error even in Mr O'C 8 nnor , but expose it , that it may be redressed . Now , Mr O'C . has committed the most egregious error of preaching union aud co-operation , while he is , all the time , acting on the competitive principle . I huTe lived half a century in the competitive world , and I never saw it carrieJ ; to a greater extent ; in . tact , it is carried tosuch an extreme , that it is , as to pecu <
mar . matters , the dearest , as 1 will endeavour to demonstrate ; and wherever there is a member employed , he is degraded in liUown eyes , aud ill-used . Aud I do firmly believe Mr O'C . would not , if he could help it , employ * member at all , for some reasons best known to himself . I wiil now prove to you the competitive principle on which Mr O'C . is acting , ( and nutcb . U in opposition to our professions and wishes ) is the moat expensive , principally the building . as r » cohtbact , SKY ** sanuaes feb renca . a . d . Allow itoae and mortar , per perch ... ... 3 6 Labour , do 1 8 l'wfit-monget ' i fee for doing nothing 110 7 0 KMPlOTIHa XEKSEms HI CO-OKlMTIOtr . » . d . Stone and mortar , per ptrch 3 e Labour 2 0 Superintendent 0 2 5 8 Now , here is a clear saving in money of one shilling aud fourpence per perch , or £ i . 12 s . per house , containing eighty-four perches , to say nothing of our reputation and consistency , which I think is not the less important . The mn fourpence for jjabour
Rational £Aito Company
Rational £ aito company
J0 The Fustian Jackets, Thfi Blistered Hands, And Unshorn Chins.
j 0 THE FUSTIAN JACKETS , tHfi BLISTERED HANDS , AND UNSHORN CHINS .
Untitled Article
AND NATIONAL TREES' JOURNAL . *
Untitled Article
V 0 Lj- N - 4 . 95 . LONDON , SATURDAY , APRIL ^ I 847 ~ ~^* m * « ^~ —¦ T ~ ' - ¦ . - . . ' ••'? - >' ¦ Fire Shillings and Sixpence p ( , r quarter I , ¦¦¦ -- ¦ ¦ .. ^— ? L
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), April 17, 1847, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1414/page/1/
-