On this page
- Departments (3)
-
Text (15)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Cfi &vt\#t foUrUigettce. _ ' " " ' .¦ ¦ | ,,l — ¦ ¦ ¦ .
-
j^tiow ai mwt Company
-
TO THE LABOURING CLASSES.
-
Untitled Article
-
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
THE PAUPER'S BUDGET , THE LANDLORD ' S PROTECTION . THE CAPITALIST'S DREAD . THE SHOPKEEPER'S SALVATION .
My Fjuends , As the leaders of all parties are propounding their financial schemes , I consider it my duty , as your accepted leader , to propound mine . And as all are framed for the purpose of improving the condition of all classes of society , I shall base mine upon the broadest and the most secure foundation—THE LAND . And I beg of you to bear the fact in mind , that God gave the land to all his children , and not to a few , while the few have made the possession of land the engine for oppressing the many without land .
Labourers , my views \ nth regard to tho land and its capabilities are not Utopian or abstruse , —they are simple , understandable , and easily explained ; and when an agricultu ral labourer hears or reads of the dissatisfaction and discontent of an allottee occupying four , three , or even two acres of land , he laughs scornfully at him , and says , "he wishes he had his complaint . " Jly theory has always been to cultivate the national resources to their highest capability by labour or machinery , insisting , that if the land was open to the poor , all improvements in machinery would then be a blessing , instead of , as now , a curse , because
Upon the principle of co-operation machinery would become man ' s holiday . For instance , although it would not be worth the expense for the owner-of a thrashing machine to bring hi 3 machine six , eight , or ten miles to thrash the produce of five acres of land , yet it would be well worth his while to bring it a greater distance to thrash the produce of 500 acres of land held by 100 occupants , and the occupants would have this advantage , that upon the principle of co-operation , the machinery would save them seventy per cent , in labour , —that is , tho machine would do the work for less than one third of the money that their time while thrashing it by hand would bo worth .
Labourers , even the most pious parson will not deny that God has given the land to all , and not to the few ; because all parsons pray , every Sunday , " that God may preserve the fruits of the earth to your kindly use , " so that in due time YOU , and not a chosen few , may enjoy them . Your title , your original title , is then based upon God's grant , and I shall now trace it from human law . There is no necessity for going back to the days of the adulterous Harry , who , to gratify his lust and take vengeance of the Pope , confiscated all the property of the poor , and divided it amongst the abbettors of his crime ? , His
daughter Elizabeth , not from a sense of justice or humanity ( for she was " a chip of the old block ) , but from a dread of the consequences , changed the old Catholic system of supporting the poor , and enacted a- law , which wa ? in force from the 43 rd year of her reign , to the first year of the reign of Whig Reform . The 43 rd of Elizabeth made the land liable for the support of the poor , and by that law , the guardians of the poor were compelled to find raw materials for the operative out of work ; thus enabling him to expend his labour , which was his capital , for his own benefit , and uncontrolled . This law remained in force till
the year 1834 , when it was altered and amended , after a very expensive Commission had made its report ; and from the compendium of that report , you will find that the neglect of duty of officers , guardians , managers , and magistrates , is made the pretext for altering the law ; while the poor , who were the parties most concerned , and who were tho greatest sufferers from this neglect of duty , were not only no party to the new contract , but , upon the contrary , were opposed to it to a man . Thus , you find that God ' s gift was taken away by Harry , restored by Elizabeth , and again taken away by the Whigs .
If , then , according to the theory of politicians , property is the thing to be represented , is it right or just that the original owners of the land should be the only parties that have no voice in the election of a representative ?—for mark , and mark well , too , that , by the law , if a man has received parochial aid within six months of the day of election , he { the rightful owner ) , with the first charge npon the land , is disqualified , and cannot vote . Labourers , even yet the poor have the first title io the land . If the tenant is not
abls to pay rent , tithes , or other taxes , he must pay Poor Rates , it is the first charge upon the land—and , therefore , the poor re present the first mortgagee , and their claim takes precedence of all others . The proprietor in fee cannot divest himself of the liability of Poor Rate 3 , and , in point of fact , he is the lessee of the pauper , because he holds subject to the charge laid npon the land by the law for the support of the poor ; and , however often the land may change hands—however complicated the title may be —whatever may be the necessities of the landlord , or the claims of mortgagees and solicitors—none can touch or disturb the legal claim of the poor .
Labourers , having thus shown you that this property ia yours by divine right and human law , I will now submit my Budget , basing it upon the just appropriation of the poor man ' s property—and from it I will prove irrefutably , and I defy contradiction , that the proper application o ? this fund to its legitimate purposes would make the rich richer , and the poor rich . With the several contingencies , I estimate the annual amount of Poor Rates lowly at seven millions a-year , and as they constitute the first charge upon property , I estimate the value lowly at thirty years' purchase—that is , that a majority of the landlords would gladly Teleaso their osfcates from the burthen of
Poor Rates by paying thirty years' purchaseand , in cases where landlords were unwilling or unable , capitalists would bo but too happy to give thirty years' purchase—thus receiving upon the best security in the world , £ 3 . 6 s . 8 d . per cent , for their money ; and the whole amount would be raised in less than three years—and mark its application . That £ -210 , 000 , 000 of money belongs to the poorthere is no mistake about it—and its misapplication imposes an indirect tax , of over forty millions a-year , upon industrious labourers , who , b y competition consequent upon destitution and dread of the Poor Law , are compelled to measure their wages .
Labourers , while Sir Robert Peel based bii hopo in Free Trade upon anticipated improvements m the science of agriculture ; while Agricultural ? Societies , and Cattle Associations , and Land Improvement Associations are daily springing up , a 3 if by magic , and are paraded as the means—the only means—of saving all Glasses of society ; do not , I pray of you , reject that knowledge of the science which is most interesting to your class ; a 3 , rely upon it , to agricultuTe—not to tho cultivation of the soil by himself , but to reliance upon agriculture—the mechanic , the artificer , the artisan , the operative and labourer , all rftist come . And now for the result of my budget .
The seven millions a year of Poor ' s Rate would realise two hundred and ten millions of monev , and a the p hilanthropic economists scoff at the notion of a working man living upon two , three , or four acres of land , I wiU Jsi < m to each eig ht acres of land , a splendid cottoge , and £ 50 aid money , and this would fre the result : — Price of Rood land released from Poor * *• « Bates £ 40 an acre for eigHt acres .. ^ Expense of building cottage , &c . .. 130 u i Aidilooey 5 Q " _ I £ 500 0 0 Tb . ua I appropriate £ 500 to the location of
Untitled Article
a man upon eight acres of land of the best quality , £ 130 for a eottage , and £ 50 as aid money , making £ 500 ; thus establishing not what the Press and the Economists are pleased to call a pauper class , but a yeoman class ; and if you divide £ 500—the amount required to locate each into £ 210 , 000 , 000 , you will have four hundred and twenty thousand thus provided for , and , at five to a family , you will have two millions one hundred thousand taken out of the destitute Labour market , and constituting a Home Colony for the production of the best , the freshest , and the cheapest food ; and a home market for consumption of home manufactures , more profitable than the rest of the world .
Labourers , do not y ou mind if those who live upon your destitution and dependence , scoff at this budget ; their objection should ensureyour approval . The Poor Rate belongs to you , and I show its most profitable and honourable application ; and you must bear in mind that although I take tho seven millions a year nakedly , as the amount paid in Poor Rates , you must add some millions a year to it in the way of saving , as then you would educate your own children , no police would be required , and the court houses and gaols would very speedily be turned into colleges , or comfortable houses for the really indigent , the infirm , and the aged .
Mr Cobden , in his budget , proposes a saving in round numbers of Ten Millions a year , and if the cavillers in the Press see in the realisation of his plan the loss of patronage , and the extinction of corruption ; and if the Exchequer must be kept up to its present figure —five per cent , upon an outlay of Two Hundred and ten millions would produce a revenue of ten million five hundred thousand a year to the Government ; while each occupant—for eight acres of prime Land , a good and comfortable house , as good as I could
now build for £ I 7 O , as I presume that there would be no duty on bricks and timber when built by the Government ; and £ 50 aid money , —would pay £ 25 a year , at five per cent , upon the outlay . And how what I assert is , that if England was thus reclaimed , she might defy the world in arms . She would have four hundred and twenty thousand of an able-bodied National Militia , with a female and juvenile auxiliary force , with something worth living for , and worth dying for ; while I assert , that there would not be a single defaulter upon rent-day .
Labourers , you must understand thatlabour applied to Land is the principal expense of the farm cultivator ; you must understand , that agricultural labour and mechanical labour , and aU labour , is measured by the pride or the destitution of an unwilling idle pauper reserve , and , however you may meet , however you may chatter , however you may cheer , and however you may hug yourselves with a notion that you have hit upon a plan for Labour ' s redemption , I tell y ou now , for the one thousandth tune , that you must get rid of the idle pauper reserve by whose necessities , and not by its value , vour wages are now measured .
Labourers , if you multiply four hundred and twenty thousand by eight—the number of acres assigned to each—it gives three million three hundred and sixty thousand acres , or not a fifth part of the Land now grazed or badly cultivated in England , Scotland , and Wales . You take nothing from Government , but add ten millions five hundred thousand a year to the Exchequer ; you take nothing from the landlords , as you allow them to redeem the first charge upon the Land at a very reduced price , and you create a domestic colony for shopkeepers and manufacturers , of all grades and classes . And to show you that we are not overpopulated—apart from the spur that this system would give to every branch of trade and commerce—there is not a man with eight
acres that would not be compelled to employ a labourer , at good wages , every day in the year ; and three , four , and five at some seasons ; but putting it down at one , you have provided for four hundred and twenty thousand agricultural labourers , employed by the four hundred and twenty thousand allottees , their families constituting two millions one hundred thousand . Thus , besides the impetus otherwise given to every other branch of trade , you hava four million two hundred thousand , or
nearly a third of the population of England , made ' happy , indepeudent , and comfortable , upon three millions three hundred and sixty thousand acres . And now what do you say to the philosophers , who tell you that two , three , or four acres of Land will not support a man and his family ? Then , not to go at all nicely into the science of agriculture , and throwing the retail markets altogether overboard , the man who feeds five pigs upon the produce of his land from March to ° Christmas , will make more than his rent of the profit , if he haa to send them to the market town of his county once a year , or even to London . But perhaps the big-loaf gentlemen will tell you that food would thus become too abundant ; but I reply , better to
have domestic food in abundance than to have foreign food to repletion , with English destitution measured by the surplus . Labourers , I have joften told you that you represent the man starving in a cook ' s shop : I have often told you that the shoemaker ' s wife , children , and himself , are frequently without shoes , —that the weaver is without a shirt , —the tailor without breeches , —and the hatter with a " shocking bad hat ; '
that it is much better to have a surplus pig than a surplus pair of breeches , with a difficulty of getting a customer for them . And if we are told that this abundance of home produce would lessen its home value in the market , and that the rent would be too high as compared with the probable price of produce ; then as governmental and all other expenses should be measured by the same standard , the rents should he relatively
reduced . Labourers , this is the age of progress , and you may rest assured that , glossed over as every institution now is with the tinsel of reform , you are living under a modified feudal system . Nay , I cannot suppose that even the modification is a benefit to your order , it is perfumed barbarism ; you never heard of mendvingofwant under the old feudal system you never heard of the innocent babes of destitute but fond parents being farmed out to a human butcher and allowed to die of plague , pestilenceand famine .
, Labourers of England , while all other countries are puzzled with the solution of the Labour Question , I repeat my words , delivered inStockport in 1835 :- " LOCK UP THE LAND TO-DAY , AND I WOULD NOT
GIVE YOU A FIG FOR UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE TO-MORROW . " Masons of England , Bricklayers of England , Plasterers of England , Carpenters of England , Joiners of England , Slaters of England , Xailmakers of England , Sawyers of England , Miners of England , Ironmongers of England , Timber Merchants of England , Painters of England , Glaziers of England , Shoemakers of England , Hatters of England , Tailors of England , Manufacturers , Merchants , and Shopkeepers of England—I ask
Untitled Article
you , whether do you think over four milli&rfa of industrious men , engaged m roprod ^ daye Labour , or a million paupers niiSialeined . by poor-rates , would be the best customers at your board . ? f . , ¦ ¦ ¦ Labourers of England , do not allQW ' y pur heads to be puzzled with fascinating and complicated details , connected with the Labour Question in its present phase : this is the age of reason and of progress ; you must divest your minds of all that political jugglery , which promises much , but gives to you nothing ; and you must instruct yourselves in the
real—the practical—the only mode of regeneration . As I tell you , again and again , that your National Debt , your Governmental Expenses , your Army , Navy , and Ordnance Estimates , your Placemen , Pensioners , and Idle Paupers , are but a mere flea-bite compared to the dominion , tho caprice , and power of the Capitalist . I , like you , am for cutting down expenditure to the standard of necessity ; and I tell you , that the fifty-three millions a year paid in taxes , is not a shilling in the pound , when compared with the amount ihe Free Labourer may earn in tho Free Markets
Labourers , mindthat , in France , Prussia , Austria , and even in fyjnine-stricken Ireland , the Land Question and . ihe Labour Question are the questions now puzzling stateamen , politicians , and bumpkins ; and upon those Questions you must keep your eyes steadily fixed . Their most profitable solution ia within your grasp , and , much as the theory and its propounder may be reviled and slandered , the Land Scheme must be adopted ; butthegovernment never will adopt it so long as your jealousy constitutes their title to distribute alarger amount of patronage under the present cramping and destructive system . I conclude in the memorable words of Mr . Harkort— " He who must take care of himself has no time to take care of you . " Your faithful Friend and Representative , Feargus O'Connor .
Untitled Article
REVELATIONS OF THE SPY SYSTEM . TO IHE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Mr . Editor , — 'Having been the victim of an overwhelming amount of calumny , I trust that fact will plead my excuse for requesting the insertion of the following statements , which have been made known to me since my incarceration in Kirkihile Gaol . It will also enlighten the public still further concerning the infamous method resorted to , in order to entrap the active members of the Chartist body . From the information I have received , it appears that a Bradford informer , called Emmett , having been forced to fly from that town , took refuge in Manchester , under the protection of Beswick , chief superintendent of police , and from the sums which he received from that worthv (?) functionary , was
enabled to keep a mistress in some part of Salford j and as Beswick found himself in an awkward situation through his illegal proceedings—having arrested a number of men without a particle of evidence , it was necessary to fish out something which should form a justification for his conduct , The informer , Emmett ,, was therefore selected ; and it is evident , from his proceedings , that ho received his tuition from the same ^ pure source that supplied the redoubtable Ball . Emmett commenced operations by proceeding to tie shop of James Leach , to "whom he represented himselfas Emmett ' s brother-in-law . He endeavoured to ingratiate himself into Leach ' s good graces by pretending that his brother-in-law , who was then in
Manchester , was very sorry for what he had done , and was willing to make amends for it , if the Chartists would befriend him . He presented himself again in a while after , and avowed himself to be the veritable Robert Emmett , the Bradford informer ; and , to satisfy James Leach of the fact , he producec a list which contained entries of the monies he had received from Beswick . He then told Leach that he had some important communications to make , in which the Manchester Chartists were deeply interested , and also expressed his willingness to go to America if the Chartists would supply him with the means , aa he felt sorry for what he had done , and having forfeited his previous good character , he would prefer leaving the country . Leach having
found the fellow out m one lie , he resolved to hear nothing from him , and referred him to W . P . Roberts , Esq ., as the proper person to receive any information concerning the Manchester defendants . He left Leach under a pretence to visit Mr . ltoberts , but did not go . At a subsequent period , he called on Leach and divulged the lesson which he had received from his employer . He told him that I was regularly in tho pay of the authorities , and was the head man over the spy system—that he had seen me receive ten pounds from the Bradford magistrates—that there was a regular row among them concerning my extravagant use of the monies entrusted to me for the purpose of entrapping men—and that Mr . Pollard ,
who defended me , had not sat on the bench since through it . He said , that I had purchased pistoh at Bradford , and given them to parties for the purpose of shooting the magistrates—and that , when ho was apprehended , I went to him in his cell , and insisted on him giving evidence against several parties—and that I declared , . it the same time , that I had all the leading Chartists fairly in my net . Ho also informed him that I was to appear in tho witness-box against them at Liverpool , -and offered , for a consideration , to attend at the assizes to confront me with the above , and a large budget of similar statements , in order to destroy the force of my evidence against them . He afterwards waited on Mr . Roberts , and made a similar statement ; but it seems he utterly failed in
his object of getting money , and also of obtaining information for his base employers , as there was none to give . Now , tho worst part of the affair is this—the lying and infamous statements ' of this wretch have been circulated , not only in Manchester , but throughout England . The whole of the parties against whom this ruffian has been employed , have suffered nothing by his falsehoods , whilst I have been held up as the b ' asest of the base , in an underhand manner , without the slightest chance of defending myself . The substance of Emmett ' s statements concerning me has been retailed at private parties and delegate meetings ; aud to such an extent has it travelled , that the governor of this prison informed the Chartist prisoners of it ; and even a man . who resides near
Birmingham , whom I always looked upon and respected as a friend ; has added to it—before a number of delegates in Birmingham—a string of falsehoods of his own manufacture , and claimed credit for the clever manner in which he had escaped from the trap which I had set for him , and thus added strength to the general rumour . It may be very well for some easy , plausible people to exclaim , " Do not mention those matters—let bygones be bygones ; " but I consider it necessary , not only for my own vindication , but for the future safety of public characters , to expose those matters . . Few are aware , or can imagine the suffering which I have endured through these proceedings . It has formed the chief stock in trade of small
coteries of Httleminded , and unfledged praters who set themselves up as oracles in various parts of the country , and who thought proper to dissent from my policy But , let my views be what they may , I have stood by them manfully , and no man can say he has been injured by me . I have not shrunk from my opinions through fear of what is termed law ; I have not crept behind a lawyer ' s gown to shield myself from any responsibility which might be attached to my actions , and am now again undergoing twelve months'imprisonment as a proof of my sincerity . I have not only suffered in personal circumstances , but my family have known what it was to want food , whilst I was held up as an instrument in the lands of the L'overnmentkand at the same time , it is
well known to hundreds in Bradford , I was hunted by those very authorities , and dare not sleep m my own house . ' The result was , that I was ultimately compelled to part with my furniture , break up my home and send my wife and children to her father , for that shelter which I was no longer able to g iyo » "d finally reduced to hear , in prison , the humiliating fact that the poverty of my family was made the subject of ft leading article in the Star , no doubt through sincere kindness on the part of an esteemed 1 substance of this letter will , therefore show your readers why my family were in that state ; and were it only to explain the cause of their being in such a situation I should consider myself justified in asking for the insertion of this letter as it is well known tuat I always had as comfortable a
Untitled Article
Shome as most working men , and was not indisposed . to tfork for it . ,. Ii . ij » grievous to be compelled to make such statements , Imt justice to myself and the cause of truth demands it . I have held a prominent position in the ChiVRtist ranks fo * many years , and I wish to hold the character of a sincere > and unflinching friend of man s political and social redemption , and prove by my acts that I deserve it . From tins gaol , then , I now put forth my final answer to all calumniators . Surely they must bo now satisfied , for if they merely desired to injure me , I have got my share , as it is not in the power of them , or the-government , to do any man a greater injury , than break up his home and place him in prison . But thare is one thing beyond the power of mortal
man , which is , they cannot destroy mt /' . principles . I have read this letter to my fellow ' prisoners who are all agreed in the correctness of this statement , and I trust it ¦ will have the desived effect , by exposing stHl further the infamous spy system , and placing the propagators of the above falsehoods in their proper position , in conclusion , I have to state , that time will prove me to have acted the part of a devoted friend of liberty . I am Mrl- Editor , yours fraternally , . . " George White . Ko&dalo Gaol , near Liverpool , Jan . 15 th , 1849 . P . H . I hope the parties to yrhom I have alluded , 3 » ul take the same trouble in circulating the subg&&fi » 'A £ < thi 3 as they have in propagating the false-SifiHfe relewfcd to . —& . -W , , - ,: .
Untitled Article
;— i ^ . THE LAND ! TO FEAROUS O CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . Dear Sib , —You "will much oblige the members of the Rea-street branch , by inserting the following r esolution in the Northern Star . Proposed by Mr Packer , and seconded by Mr Clarke : — " Ilavin " heard a copy of a letter read that was sent to the Star for insertion , addressed ' To tho Members of the National Land Company , ' and signed ' G . P ., Birmingham ; ' and which letter Mr . O'Connor promised should appear the week after , but which has not appeared y « t ; we request it may be published iu the next Star , and that we do now pass a resolution according with that letter ; and vosnootfullv
request Mr . O Connor and the other directors to carry out that cheap plan of building the cottages for the fiture . Your ' s truly , \ Ym . Henry Rudhall , for Ciuri . es , GOQDWIH . Birmingham , hn . 10 th , 1819 . [ Ia answer to tho above , I beg to ' sny , that nothing but pressure upon my time , and upon the columns of the Star , has prevented the publication of Mr . Packer's proposition referred to in the Birmingham letter ; it shall appear next week with my comment upon it , and at all times I shall bo most happy to receive suggestion from the working men upon the Land Plan , and tlie most economical mode of carrying it out , while I will be no party to a parsimonious economy in the erection of cottages for the poor , as one of my principal objects is to see them comfortably and respectably housed , as I feel convinced as
I do of my existence , that ere long , when the Company is completely registered , my whole time and that of many others who now revile the Plan , will be occupied in carrying it out ; and I beg to tell the members , that much as I am otherwise occupied , time hangs heavily npon my shoulders , and I long to go back to the fields . It maybe some consolation to the members that we have now got the opinion of oni of tho ablest cowreyancers and also of the ablest common law lawyers , both agreeing that the Company must be registered in its present shape and form , and that the Registrar will bo compelled to register it . However , where law and caprice interfere those thinga arc not done in a day , and what I state I base upon long but simple-written opinions of those two lawyers , who have given the matter their most anxious attention . Feargus O'Connor . ]
Untitled Article
THE COLLIERS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM . About a month ago the owners of Seaton Deleval , Leghill , Cowper , and Percy Main Collieries , noticed their workmen for a reduction of wages , averaging from twelve to thirty-three per cent , So large a reduction roused the dormant energies of the miners , and a few courageous individuals having judged it proper to resist such reductions , convened a fpublic meeting at the Seaton Delavcl , on Saturday last , when the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to . On the motion of Mr . Bell , M . Judo , of Newcastle , was called upon to preside , who briefly noticed the objects of the meeting by a cursory glance at the position of the miners when united , and contrasting their present condition when divided . Mr . T . Hell moved the first resolution , to tiie effect : — " That if the miners would be relieved from slavery of the deepest dye , they must again raise the standard of union . " The second resolution
was moved by William Bell : —" That this meeting calls upon all presont to resist the reduction offered by their masters , " In elucidation of the necessity thereof he warned all present of the deep design of the owners in only making the reductions in a few collieries ; but if such reductions were complied with , all the other collieries would soon be reduced to the same level ; hence the necessity of all uniting for mutual protection . It was then arranged to hold a delegate meeting directly after the close of the present ono , in order to ascertain when and where to hold tho next general meeting . The proceedings were closed by three hearty cheers for the revival of the Union . The utmost cordiality aud unanimity of feeling characterised the whole proceedings . Delegate Meeting at the Hastixcs' Arms , Skaton Dbleval . —Mr . Knox in the chair . The chairman briefly noticed the objects of the meeting ,
and called upon any delegate present to State the amount and nature of the reductions offered at their collieries . The reductions at Seghill are upwards of lid . per ton . There is also one penny of the double working . The price for turning lifts was 6 s . 8 d ., which is wholly taken off—likewise sixpence per yard for siding over . The Seaton Deleval reductions were calculated at thirty-three per cent . ; Cowpen , about twenty-five per cent . The other delegates had not any detailed account of the reductions offered , but all the delegates present were convinced , that the collieries noticed for reduction of prices ought not to submit to it , believing , ma they aid , that all collieries would be obliged to suffer in duo course . The delegates then resolved to hold a general meeting of the miners of the district , on Saturday , the 20 th instant , at the Scaffold Hill , near Benton-square . The meeting then separated .
Untitled Article
A Republican Heroine . — Early in the war , Governor Rutledge sent a quantity of arms and ammunition to the house of Colonel Thomas to be in readiness for any emergency that might arise on tho frontier . These munitions were under a guard of twenty-nvo men , and the house was fortified to resist assault . Colonel Thomas received information that a large party of Tories , under the command of Colonel More , of North Carolina , was advancing to attack him . He and his guard deemed it inexpedient to risk an encounter with a force so much superior to their own , and they therefore retired , carrying off as much ammunition as possible . Josiah Cuibertson , a son-in-law of Colonel Thomas , who was with the little garrison , would not bo with thn
others , but remained in the house . Besides him and a youth , the only inmates were women . The Tories advanced , and took up their station ; but the treasure was not to be yielded to their demand . Their call for admittance was answered by an order to leave the premises , and their fire was received without much injury by the logs of the house . The fire was quickly returned from the upper story , and proved much more effectual than that of the assailants . The old-fashioned " batten door , " strongly barricaded , resisted their efforts to demolish it . Meanwhile Culbertson continued to fire , the guns being loaded as fast as he discharged them , by the ready hands of Mrs Thomas and her daughters , aided bv
her sou William ; and this spirited resistance soon convinced the enemy that further effort was useless . Believing that many men were concealed in the houso , and apprehending a sally , their retreat was made as ( niickly as their wounds would permit . After waiting a prudent time , and reconnoitring as well as she could from her position above , Mrs . Thomas descended the stairs and opened the doors . When her husband returned , and knew how gallantly the plunderers had been repulsed , his joy was only equalled by admiration of his wife ' s heroism . The powder thus preserved constituted the chief supply for Sunter ' s army in the battles at Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock .--27 < e Women of the American Revolution ,
Untitled Article
NATIONAL VICTIM AND DEFENCE FUND . Sums received by the General Committee 8 . F . Reading , 13 s . ; per Win . Rider , £ 1 12 s . ; per Mr . Kydd , £ 1 12 s . yd . ; Ernest Jones Locality , 10 s . ; Westminster , 2 s . 2 il . ; A . Friend at John-stroct , 5 s . ; pei « Mr . Knowlcs , 2 s . ; Iloxton Locality , per II . Stunner , 7 s . fid . ; Cripplenatc per Mr . Fay , Is . ; per Mr . i Merriman , Gd . ; Brunswick Hull , per Mr . Bailey , 2 s . Cd . ; Liverpool , per Mr . Colling , is . ; Coventry , per Mr . Freeman , 4 s . 3 d . ; Mr . M'Grath , as per Star , 12 s . Cd . ; Collected nt the Barley Mow ,
Uethnul-j'reenroad , per Alien , 2 s . 9 d . : Hall Locality , Crown and Anchor , per ditto , 5 s . ; Globe and Friends , per Thomas , 3 s . ! M . Commercial-road H ; iU , per ditto , 4 s . 8 d . ; John iCoudrick , per ditto , 5 s . ; Ho . tton Locality , per Cox , 5 s . OJd . ; Sinners Town ditto , per YFyatt , lls . 2 d . ; John Aruott . ' as per Star , £ 1 7 s . 3 d . ; 6 . Beck , South London Hall , per E . Rtalhvood , 3 s . ; South London Hall , per Egerton , 15 s . 8 d . ; Crippleffate Locality , per Fay , ad . ; Brunswick Hall , Limchouse , per Bailey , 2 s . lid . ; Ernest Jones Locality , per Hurrup , is . ; Mr . Greenslade , 2 s Jous Abxott , Secretary . —Laud Office Jan . ISth .
Thk Executive Committee met at their rooms , 144 , Hig h Holborn , on Friday evening , Jan . 12 tll , when the following members were present—Messrs . Dixon , Stallwood , Kydd , M'Gi-ath , Ross and Clark . Mr Dixon was called to the chair . Letters of ; t very encouraging nature were read from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Bradford , and the local agents were duly confirmed . Application was made by the Camberwell friends through Mr Stallwood , for two members of the Executive to attend a free discussion in the Camberwoll district , the subject— "What Ies 9 on does History teach ; " the Camberwel ! frtenda believing that by so doing great good would , be done in spreading Chartist principles . Messrs . Dixon and Stallwood were duly appointed to that mission . —Mr . M'Grathgave notice that at the next meeting of the Executive , he would raise the question : — " What shall be our future policy , as regards the proceedings
of other political parties . —Parliamentary Bemo . ystiutiox . — -The Executive , with the deputies from each district , then formed themselves into committee on the demonstration business . Mr . M'Grath said , circumstances had caused him since their last meeting to come to the conclusion that the soiree should consist of a tea-party and public meeting , and that the public should be admitted after tea , at the usual admission charges . Mr . M'Grath moved a resolution in accordance therewith , and the motion was unanimously adopted . It was also unanimously resolved : — " That the following members of Parliament be invited to attend the soiree : —T . S . Duncombe , T . Wakley , G . Thompson , "W . g . Crawford , John William : ! , Charles Lushington , Charles Pearson , Feargus O'Connor , R . B . Osborne , W . J . Fox , Lawrence Ileyworth , and Colonel Thompson . " The committee then adjourned .
Crows and iVscnon . —On Sunday evening , Jan . 14 th , " The Land—its capabilities , and its possession by the people" was discussed . Mr . Styles opened the question in a masterly manner , showing the benefit of tho people obtaining the land as a means of removing the distress now existing . Messrs . Illingworth and Fordinando also addressed the meeting ; on the motion of Mr . Davies , the question was adjourned to next Sunday evening , Mr : O ' Connor ' s letter was then considered , but there being a diversity of opinion , the consideration of tho letter -was adjourned to Sunday evening . Ci . vgi . ev . —A grand banquet was held at the new Odd Fellows' Hall , on Saturday evening last , to ¦ welcome Mr . IckringiU , on his liberation from Wakefield prison . Mr . IckringiU was met at the railway station by the liingley band , and a large concourse of his Chartist friends , who formed into
procession , and accompanied him to the Hall , amidst the cheers of the populace of Bingloy , About 500 sat down to tea , after which the public were admitted . Mr . W . North having been called to the chair , the mooting w . is addressed Ivy Mr . W . Pirth , of Keighloy , and Mr . E . Hurley , of Bradford . The evening ' s amusements concluded with singing and dancing . —Mr . E . Hurley delivered lectures on Sundav afternoon and evening . The Hall was so crowded in the evening that hundreds could not gain admittance . Norwich . —At a general meeting hold in the room , St . Mary's , on Monday evening last , a vote of confidence was given to Mr . O'Connor , and a resolution to carry out his p lan adopted . It was also resolved ; — " That ten shillings be sent to the Executive , to assist them in carrying out the agitation for the People ' s Charter . "
lIoLMFiimi . — At a meeting on Sunday evening last , a resolution approving of Mr . O'Connor ' s letter in the Star of . Saturday , and a vote of confidence in that gentleman , was carried unanimously ; after which Mr . Henry Marsden delivered an interesting lecture on the Labour Question , and at the conclusion , a collection was made for the Victim and Defence Fund . BnioiiTOX . —A concert was given at the Artichoke Inn on the 9 th inst ., to commemorate the seventyeight anniversary of Mr . Flower ' s birthday , which was well attended . A variety of patriotic songs were sung , and the proceeds , £ 1 12 s . 9 ( 1 ., in accordance with the wish of Mr . Flower , has been forwarded to tho National Defence and Victim Fund , and six shillings to the Executive Sow Yn . ir ' s Oiift .
Hull . —At the weekly mooting on Sunday last , it was resolved , " That Mr . P . M'Grath , be requested to allow himself to be put in nomination for the representation of this borough , vacant through Mr . E . T . Baines having accepted the presidency of the Poor Law Commission . A letter was read from Mrt . Theobald , promising to deliver a temperance lecture on the 22 nd mst , in the Temperance Hall , Paragon-street . Glasgow . —At a meeting , held on tho 13 th inst ., after Mr . O'Connor ' s letter had been read and discussed , a resolution was passed to the effect , " That plan proposed was premature and dangerous to the Chartist cause , because the general mind of society is only awakening to the subject , and beeauso there is such diversity of opinion on the Labour Question . " It was also resolved that meetings should be held every Thursday and Saturday evenings . Wiisden . —At a meeting of this locality Mr . O'Connor ' s propositions , contained in his letter of Saturday last , gave great satisfaction .
South Losdon Hall . —X very numerous meeting assembled at the above hall on Wednesday evening , to hear Messrs . Thomas Clark and Samuel Kydd on the subject of " Ireland and her Government . '' Mr . Richards was called to the chair , and briefly introduced Mr . Clark , who traced the miseries of Ireland to the conduct and misrule of her governors in allowing her lands to lie waste , whilst her people starved . Were her lands duly cultivated , and their products wisely distributed , they would afford sustenance to those who were now starving , and bring ultimate comfort and happiness to her whole people—but lie much feared this would never be accomplished until the people of both nations laid all preliidices aside , and made common cause . ( Louc cheers . ) Mr . Kydd ably supported Mr . Clark , and said Ireland and ' lrish misery was an English question—it affected England very greatly—and , as a remedy , lie would say—tax the uncultivated land
of Ireland . Xot Pnrlinmont pnss . a ] nw imposing five shillings an-ncre on all uncultivated land , giving its proprietors the option of cultivating or giving it up to the government for the benefit of the people . ( Loud checra . ) If the land was cultivated , the people would be employed ; if the land remained uncultivated , its proprietors would be bound to find the means of supporting those people whom they caused to be unemployed , or res \ gn it to government , vibo would cause it to be tilled for the benefit of the people . Hence , he said , the land for Ireland ; and civil liberty , under the People ' s Charter , for both England and Ireland . ( Great applause . ) Mr . Kydd incidentally mentioned the name of John Mitchel , as a man who had sacrificed all in an attempt to elevate Ireland in the scale of nations . The declaration was received with the most vehement applause . The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday , the 24 th inst ., to discuss the question— " Revolutions—their causes and effects . "
South Shields . —At a meeting held on Tuesday , it was resolved : — " That we do our best to respond to Mr . O'Connor ' s generous offer , and that we call a meeting of trades next week , to test them on the subject , "
Untitled Article
Lamblet . —At a meeting of the Land members and others , on Sunday last , Mi O'Connor's proposition was approved . of , and a resolution passed to carry the same into effect . Leicester . — At a general mooting of members on the inst , it was resolved : — "That the allottees should not have their rent g iven thorn , but that it should be paid after a certain time . " A resolution waa also passe d to the effect that shareholders who do not pay t heir local levies shall be expelled . Manchester . — The monthly meeting of members was held in tho People ' s Institute on Sunday last . Mr Sutton in the chair ; when it was resolved * — " That the allottess ought to pay the rent due to the Company , in c onformity with the resolution of the Conferenco . " .
Untitled Article
' - ***> J ^ pf ^ Z . AN APPEAL TO THE WORKING CLASSES OF LONDON , AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL , ON BEHALF OF JOHN DRURY , MARSDEN , BULLOS , AM ) HALL , THK FOUR SIILTF 1 ELD RAZOR OUISDEHS , Who wore convicted at tho York Spring Assizes , 1048 , on a charge of instigating men to destroy machinery , and sentenced to ten years' transportation , upon the evidence of two men who were under sentence of
transportation for destroying tho said machinerywhose testimony was unsupported in any material point—and who ( it is believed ) ' made this charge against the officers of their Trades ' Society , in order to got their own sentence mi * tigated ; as a proof of which , since the conviction of John Drury and the others , their sentonco has been commuted from seven years ' transportation to eighteen months' imprisonment !
We , the Committee , knowing tho character of tlieso men , ami believing them to bo innocent , have resolved to let no opportunity pass to restore them to their wives and families ; and in consequence of the sentence being heavier than the Jaw lias awarded in such cases , namely , seven years' transportation , whereas a sentence of ten years ' transportation has been passed upon them , that is , three years more than the utmost
penalty of the law , —a writ of error haa been obtained , which has already cost the Trades of Suemeld upwards of 400 / . Their means having been exhausted in consequence of the depressed atate of trade , this appeal is made to you , to enable them to carry this expensive course to a successful ' issue , there being no court of appeal in criminal cases , however innocent tho parties convicted may be .
By tho exertions of the working classes , the Dorchester labourers were set at liberty , and the innocence of the Glasgow cotton-apinnera was established ; and we , believing theBO men to be equally innocent , and who are now suffering the horrors of transportation , coniidontl y make this appeal to you on their behalf ) certain of being successful . Fellow-workmen ! Bach is inquiring , " Who will be safe / if the liberty of the subject is made
dependent upon tho will and caprice of the Felon ?"—and how strikingly does this case prove what kind of evidence is sufficient to secure a conviction against a poor workman , whose views , sentiments , and feelings arc not in accordance with tho powors that be ! Signed , by order oi' the Committee , Benjamin Riguort , Sec . Committee Eoom of the Trades' Delegates , Bell Inn Old Bciiley , Pec . 13 th , 1848 . Subscriptions received at the above place .
Untitled Article
THE CHOLERA . AMONGST THE PAUPER CHILDREN AT TOOTING , OFFICIAL REPORT FB 0 M THE POOR LAW BOARD On Thursday a numerous special meeting of the Board of Directors ef the poor of St . Pancras v » a 3 held in the new vestry roots , adjoining the workbouse , King ' s-road , Camden-town , for the purpose of receiving a report which had been forwarded from , the Poor Law Board , Somerset-house , concerning the outbreak of cholera amongst the childien farmed out at Mr . Drouet ' a establishment at Tooting , and a 9 to the disposal of the children ! which had beta removed therefrom . Prancis HeaVy , Esq ., churchwarden , having been called to tbe chair ,
Mr Pitt , the acting clerk to the Board , read the repoit which , after alluding to tbe calamitous occurrence at Tooting , states that the Poor Law Board are desirous of turning the attention of . the Directors to the provisions for the relief and managemeat of pauper children that have been recently incorporated into the liwa for the relief Gf the poor , and especially to those which are contained in the 7 th and 8 th Vic , cap . 101 . The provisions which the Poor Law Board refer to relate chiefl y to the establishment of district schools . After some conversation , in wiich the tone of this report , as well as the suggestions it contained , appeared to meet with general approbation , the motion was agtesd to , and the Boaid adjourned .
Untitled Article
^¦¦^^—MIDDLESEX SESSIONS . Wed ^ esdat , J ^ n . 17 . Thb Oasixos . — This morning the grand jury brought in three bills against Henry Laurent , J' > hn Adaras , and James Thompson , foe illegally al / owing music and dancing at the Ad jaide Gallery in the Lowther Bazaar , not being licensed ; against tho pioprittor of the National Hal' , in Ho born , for the same offence ; and ag . iin-t William CJcmpiits . for fche like offence , at a certain room in Theobald ' s * road . The informations were laid by Th' -mas Stowell , of No . 11 , Church-street , Trinity-square , Soutlnvark , who stated that he was emp'o > eil by a societyof persons who had a l ' mcence tor lvuisio and dancing granted to them by the magistrates . A true bill has also been found against the Wulhalla Roonn , in Leicester-square .
VILLANY PROTECTED BY THB I , AW . W . Smart was indicted for having stolen a quantity of furuituve , the property of a person of ttie name of Grovea . It appeared from the statement of the prosecutor t liat the prisoner had taken a lodging in his house about four months since , but he had left in consequence of some unpleasant woros having passed between them . A fortnight ago he went out in the morning as usual , leaving his wife and four children at home , and on his return w » s much astonished at finding that his wife and ono of his children had gone off , and that the whole of his furniture had been
removed . In the course of a day or two he ascertained that his wife was living with th ^ prisoner at No . 5 , Duke Street , and upon going there he discovered that not only had his wife gonethere , but that the place was fitted up with his furniture . On his arrival he was informed that his wife had left ; but by further inquiries he learned that they hud just taken up their abode at a house in Tabernacle Walk . Thither he wtnt about ten o'clock at nig ht , lie found his wife in a bedroom , and she denied that the prisoner was with her . He , however , searched the room , when he discovered him concealed under the bed . By the advice of hi * brother he gave the prisoner into custody .
Cross examined . —lie had hoen married nine years but his wifeand himself h ad not lin-d happily together ; so much so , that they had lived a part on several occasions , The learned Judge intimated that the question , was , whether the prisoner had committed the felony with which he wa s charged , After some further cross-examination , The learned Judge told the jury that the charge of felony against the prisoner could w-t be sustained upon the evidence which had been brought forward , for doubtless ihe furniture had been removed with the consent , and in all probability by the direction of the wife-The Jury therefore acquitted the prisoner .
Cfi &Vt\#T Fouruigettce. _ ' " " ' .¦ ¦ | ,,L — ¦ ¦ ¦ .
Cfi &vt \ # t foUrUigettce . _ ' " " ' . ¦ ¦ | ,, l — ¦ ¦ ¦ .
J^Tiow Ai Mwt Company
j ^ tiow ai mwt Company
To The Labouring Classes.
TO THE LABOURING CLASSES .
Untitled Article
Employment ov thu Poor . —On Tuesday evening a meeting of the rate-payers of the parish of St . Andrews , Holborn , was held at the Red Lion Tavern , Red Lion-street , for the purpose of inducing the Paving Board to give employment to artisans out of work , and to the inmates of the workhouse , as street orderlies , instead of cleansing the streets by the present expensive and unproductive method . Mr . T . Smith in the chair . Mr . Pearson , a churchwarden and guardian of the poor , in proposing the first resolution , adverted to the number of persona then in , the workhouse a charge upon the parish . A fair trial had been given to the system of Keeping streetorderlies in the parishes of St . James , St . Anne , and St . Martin , and the inhabitants were so pleased with the various benefits which arose from it that they had subscribed a good sum for the maintenance of these orderlies , besides offering to pay any
reasonable sum which might be required for carting away the refuse . Several other gentlemen tben addressed the meeting , dwelling at great length upon the crowded state of the metropolitan prisons , and the enormous expense which the maintenance of those prisons required . Poverty was the great incentive to crime , and it was actually the fact that 50 , 000 artisans were now in London unemployed . Would it not be better to endeavour to employ even a part of that great r . umber in cleansing the streets than having them driven to the workhouse or to ajpiison by famine ? A resolution was then agreed to , calling upon ( the Faying Board , to adopt the plan of employing these men in cleansing the streets instead of continuing the present method . Other resolutions , expye 3 aive of satisfaction at the results of the experiments set on foot in reference to street sweeping , were then agreed to ; and , after a vote of thanks to tbe chairman the meeting separated .
Thb Ministerial Circular .-Lord JotnRuisell has issued theusaal circular to Members sitting on the right of the Speaker , announcing the approaching meeting of Parliament , and requesting their atttndtnei at tu « opening of ths union .
Untitled Article
¦ , . / if ^ Urjfc . ' ^ t ^ AND NATIONAL TRADED JOURNAL .
Untitled Article
YOL . XII . P . 586 . LOSDON , SATOEDAl JAMST iO ?* 49 . Ilr . ¦ 5 SFJ 72 S 2 S ,, - *—___^___ , . ^_^__^__ } ^ ¦'¦* ' ^ . lt- *¦ . " " " — __^ ¦¦ ¦¦ '
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 20, 1849, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1506/page/1/
-