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Jnst published, No. 1, Trice Sixte.ce op
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THE NOR THE Ely STAB SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 34, 1S49.
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TO THE CHARTI S T S OF BRADFORD
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8P$ (StttTiKjKiitiratr**
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
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THE COMIOHWEALTH : A MONTHLY RECORD OF DEMOCRATIC , S 0 CP 4 . & INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS "THE COMMOXWEALTIl" will . be the Representative ef the < : hartists , Socialists , and Trades' Cnienists , in the Monthly l * i es 5 . CONTEXTS : L Gold Region of California . 2 . Pauperism and Poor Hates . 3 . The Spv Sjstem . 4 . Louis Blanc . 5 . The Epoch of the Revolution . C . Productiveness of SmaU Farms . Communications for the Editor , Books for Review , it , to be forwarded to the Office , i GREAT WrXDMILL STREET , 1 OOTOS . To !* Lad of all Booteelleiv ; in Towh and Country .
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SOUTH LONDON CHARTIST HALL , Corner of WeMrer-s treet , Blackfiiars-road . T WO ORATIONS will be delivered at J ?* 4 Sr « # a ' . ! £ a- « rtB CHAKTIST VICTIMS . . On W £ DNE « DAY EVEflXG , FEBBnABt 28 tn , bv rump migrate ; nd on Wm vEDAi- Evxsiso . Mabch 7 th , Bj THOMAS GLARE ; On tns following streets . — Feb . 2 Sth . The Impolitic , Unjust , and Anti-Christian Character of BBATJI nJXI 3 HME > TS . Mabch 7 th . Life r . 'id Character of THOMAS JEFFERSON , the Third President of the American Republic ; Comparison between TVasliir .: Tton and Jefferson ; Democratic Tendencies of the latter ; Jefferson considered as the Jirzt man of his time . and countrr . To commence at Eight o'Clock . Admissiox—Twopesce .
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TIYFi LA IIEPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE ET SOCIALE ! A DEMOCRATIC FESTIVAL , to consist of Tea , Concert , and Ball , in commemoration of THE FRENCH REVOLUTION of February , 1 SJ 3 , will take place at the Literary and Scientific Institution , John-street , Tottenham-court-road , on MoaJav , lVbruary - 'tfth , 1 < M » . The fullowing advocates of Democratic and Social Betbrm will take part in the proceedings : —Julias Bxbxet , G . J . UithroiSE , P . MGxxth , It SvcaxsAS , T . CiuUUJ , Thomas Ooopee , W . Dixon , and Wajlteb Coopeb . Invidious have lwen sent to MM . Louis Blasc and Cacssiwere , and F . O'Coxxob , Esq ., M . P . Tea on the table at Six o ' clock ; Dancing at Nine o'clock . Tickets admitting to Tea and Ball—Double , 2 s . 6 d . : Single ditto , Is . Cd . Tickets to the Ball [ admitted at half-vast Seven ]—Double , Is . fid . ; Single , Is . Tickv : sio bsaad uV the XorOiern Star Office ; of Jtr . Truelov * , next do-ir to the Institution ; ilr . Fenuell , H > , iong's-buildnigs , Whitecross-streefr ; Mr . Knowles , Globe and Fr : ends , . Morgan-street . Commercial-road-cast ; Mr . Side , 5 , 1 ' epper-strect , Vuion-street , Borough ; Mr . Keen , 7 , Poj . l . u--row , _\' e « v Eem-iond : Mr . Milne , X , Union-street , Berkdev square ; Mr . crassbj , S , Soali's Ark-court , Stangale , jl-imbetU ; Mr . Parkes . 33 , Little Windmill-street , Solio ; Mr . Fuzzcn , "> , Xoiihampton-buildinss , Clerkemrell ; Mr . Sin-.:- - , 11 , To ' i ' . iiH-slreet , Little Gray ' s-hin-lane ; Mr . TJvson , -Ji \ , Shorediieh ; Mr McVee , Two Chairmen , Wardour-Eticet , Soho ; Mr . Arnott , 11 , Middlesex-piace , Soniers Town ; Mr . J . Simpson . Elm Cottage , Waterloo-street , Camix-nveil ; and at the Land Office , 144 , High Holborn . t $ t A meeting of the committee will take l ilace at eight o'clock on Sunday cveiiin ? . February 23 th , in the Coffee Boom of the Institution , John-street The holders of tickets mist attend or send a report of the number of -tickets sold , pay over the monies received , and return the unsold tickets .
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FOR SALE , A POUR-ACRE SHxVRE , PAID-UP , ( £ ?< -is . ) , as also the Expense Fund , up to December 184 S , to be disposed of for £ 410 s . Apply to Mr . Porter , Xews-agent , Arcade , Ashton-under Irne .
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A FOUR-ACRE SHARE in tbe NATIOXAL LAXD COMPANY for sale , hi consequence of the parry goiiur abroad . Price , £ 3 . Address , J . ilolden , 34 , Lte-strcet , Kingsland-road , London .
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ALLOTMENT FOK SALE . EIGHT OF LOCATION on a FOURACRE FAUM , r . tSnig ' s End . with immediate entry . Terms liberal . The advertiser holding other engagement ! cannot necupy it ( any cliihns made in behalf of the Company iKud by the disposer . ) Offers and applications for the same , direct to 2 Ir . J . "Wilcus . Branch Secretary to the Xatiouid Land Company , Slcaford , Lincolnshire . ——
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TO BE SOLD , rpWO ALLOT 3 . IENTS on the CHARJL TERVILLE ESTATE , MEfSTER LOVEL : ONE THREE-ACRE , and ONE TWO-ACRE ; well and beautifully situated by theTii ^ h road to Cheltennam . The Land is of first-rat ; " quality , and the best and most pleasantly situated on the estate Inquire ( with postage stamp ) of F . Cacik , Minster LoveL If . B . The reason of the disposal of the allotments is , that tbe parties to whom thev belong arc otherwise engaged .
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Jf O ilORE PILLS , nor any other Medicine for Indigestion , Irregularity of the Intestines , Flatulency , Palpitation of the Heart . Torpidity of the Liver , persisting Headaches , yerrouaiess . Biliousness , General Debility , Despondency , Spleen , 4-c . Price 6 < 3 ., or Sd . post-five , royal , gilt ^ 2 s ; or free l > y post , 2 s . Oi ( in stamps ) , Fifth Edition of T \ U BARRY'S POPULAR TREATISE i / ON INDIGESTION' and COXSTITATIOX ; the main causes of Servousness . Biliousness , Scrofula , liver Coihplaints , Spleen , ic . / a » : l theirlbuliealRemovaL entitled the " Natural Regenerator of the Digestive Organs , " without pills , purgatives , or medicines of any kind , by a simple , pleasant , economical , and infallible means ; adapted to the general reader . Bu Barry and Co ., 75 , 2 few Bond-street , London ; also , of ¦ Whi ttaker & Co . ; and all other booksellers . Sent post-free at the same price to Prussia .
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UNDER ROYAL PATRONAGE . PEKPECT FREEDOM PROM COUGH , la Ten Minutes after use , and a rapid Cure of Asthma and Consumption , ami all Disorders of the Breath ami Lungs , is insured by DR . LOCOCK'SPULMO ^ IC WAFERS . The truly wonderful powers of this remedy have called forth testimonials from all ranks of society , in all quarters of the world . The following have been " just received : — Important Testimonial from the Rev . Owen Thomas , Holyhead . Deib Sib , —Dr . Locock ' s Wafers do a great deal of good to my voice . I got a bad cold from a damp bed about thirty-five vears ago , and my voice had been very bad ever since , giving great pain to me when preaching or singingand I am very foud of singing . I used many different medicines , and some of them clid Rood for a " little time but
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¦——¦—^ i ^^^——————¦¦¦——T UMTS OF GOLD ! A DREAM OF -Li CALIFORNIA , dedicated to the Contented and the Discontented of every class , in No . 3 , of the -Famt ' -l Friend . Price Tiranacs . Jin WARREN , ^ w&bnted Artist in Fancy Needlework , has undertaken thesupermtelUbnceor the Work-table D ei * " } ™*_^* £ rf forth be "The Work-Table Fr . en . 1 "' of the ¦ «« £ * t ™» £ r 33 fcs « 5 = ? . 33 gJS miotvSx page ^ f close orig inal matter , m neat ilagazme fnrnii mav now be had of all Jtooksellers . form , roaj now nodston ^ d Stoneman .
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TO BE DISPOSED OF , A FOUR-ACRE PiVID-UP SHARE in A the XATIOXAL LAXD COMPANT . Value , £ 3 . Address to Y . B ., No . 43 , Constitution-street , Aberdeen .
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CHARTIST SILK GOODS . rpHE MANUFACTURER of the CHARX TIST SILK FABRICS begs most respectfull y to tender his grateful thanks to those friends of the Chartist public who have encouraged him in his efforts to supply them with a good and durable article , and solicits a continuance of that support so long as he offers to their notice an article which cannot be surpassed by any house iu the trade , and insures them against the possibility of deception and trickery too often practised in the manufacture of
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WEST RIDING MEETING . rTHE LEEDS COUNCIL are wishful to JL meet the Friends of Chartism in the West Hiding , On SUNDAY , 4 th op MARCH , to devise measures for it « befog more efficiently advocated , by establishing a Local Lecturers' Movement , < tc , eo that meetings may be held in each place weekly . The Meeting will take place at DE WSBURY , at ELEVEN O'CLOCK . Inquire at Mr . Robsiuw ' s , Good Samaritan Inn .
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flHARTIST TRACTS \ J FOR THE TIMES . ON TIIE PIRST SATURDAY IN MARCH , 1819 , Wfll be published Number One of the above Tracts .
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FREE DISCUSSION . A PUBLIC MEETING Avfflbe held at tho -Ti . LlTEEAEY AND SCIENTIFIC IxsnTUTIOS , JoHX-STREET , FiTZBOr-SQUAKE , on Tuesday Evening next , February 27 th , when many talented Advocates of the People ' s Bights will attend and discuss the several questions now occupying the " wisdom" of the Legislature . Chair to betaken at eight o ' clock precisely . DEMOCRATS . DO YOUft DUTY : Crowd the Hall and saow your rulers that you arc in earnest .
Jnst Published, No. 1, Trice Sixte.Ce Op
Jnst published , No . 1 , Trice Sixte . ce op
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My Friejtds , Again I thauk you for Laying , according to your means , evinced your love of justice . There is nothing more common than to call all solicitors rogues , which , I suppose , leads to the belief that you despise one when you find him honest . If , however , the millions professing Chartist principles were as honest in the defence of those principles as I was in the defence of their advocate , Mr . Vekson , the national disgrace of allowing one to suffer great pecuniary loss in the cause of millions would not be attached to the millions of Chartists , while such dishonest treatment scares thousands from the ranks , justly enough , not believing in their integrity . Believe me to be your faithful servant , J . E . Nixon .
o *****^** - ****~^^^^**** + ******* **¦*•* Wicked Waste of Wixes . —For some days past a number of officers in the Custom House have been engaged in spilling into the river very large quantities of unredeemed champagne , claret , Lock , port , and sherry -wines , -with Lrandy and gin , for which prices have not been offered sufficient to pay duty and storage rent . In many cases the rent exceeded fourfold the first cost of the article . The bottles , casks , and cases are returned . —Cork Constitution . St . Luke ' s Hospital foe Lunatics . —On Wednesday the annual general meeting of this institution was held in the George and Vulture Tavern , ttornhill . Henry F . ShawLefevre , Esq ., in the chair . The secretary read the report , from which it appears that 325 persons have been under the medical care of the hospital during the year . Of these 106 were completely cured , and twenty-two relieved . The number of deaths which took place during the year was nine .
Flight of a Banker ' s Clerk to California . —It is with pain we have to notice the flight of a young man , nineteen years of age , teller in the Clydesdale Branch Bank in this place , who went oft' by railway on Friday week last , leaving his employer , his father , relations , and friends , in utter ignorance of his intentions . It is stated that he has abstracted £ 5-50 fi-om the bank safe , of which he had charge . The hank agent , to the time of his exit , was highly satisfied with his conduct , and had lately offered him an advance of salary to £ 70 to continue in his employment . Uor has any other charge of improper conduct been brought against him of any kind whatever . It is suspected that he and two other lads have had their imaginations so fired by what they have read about the treasures of California , that they have set off for that new El Dorado . —Fife Herald .
Charge of Peiuubt against tiie Marquis op Chaxdos . —A pending indictment against the Martniis of Chandos , for perjury , excited much interest hi the Queen ' s Bench Nisi Prius Court , during Monday , Tuesday , and Wednesday , in last week , the days on which it was expected to be brought forward : the charge arose out of proceedings in Chancery connected with the pecuniary embarrassments of the Marquis ' s father , which lately ended in the sale 3 at Stowx ? . " Interesting revelations" were anticipated , and the court was crowded by tho curious . But , at the calling of the witnesses on Wednesday , the prosecutor ' s solicitor was not at his post— "he was gone for papers" —and , hi his absence , the prosecuting barrister did not " feel justified" in opening the case . On Lord Denman ' s direction , the jury immediately returned a verdict of " Not guilty . " On this triumphant acquittal ,
the Marquis rose from his seat , shook hands with his three eminent counsel , and left the court . Good JSxwa fob the Jotesileb . —Very large arrivals are taking place of sugar candy from the Dutch ports , the manufacture of Holland , and in consequence of the reduction of the duty on the article a very considerable quantity of it is cleared for home use . The steamer Camilla , just arrived from Ifeiu Diep , has brought the large quantity of 918 cases of the article , in addition to 222 barrels of crushed refined sugar , as a portion of her Cargo , the produce of Holland . A Silexcbr . — On Sunday , a lady called to her little boy , who was shooting marbles on the pavement , to come into the house . "Don't you know you should ' nt be out there , my eon ? Go into the back yard , if you want to play marbles — it is Sunday . " "Well , yes , but am ' t it Sunday in the back yard , mother / ' '
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J . Sweet acknowledges the receipt of the following sums ( sent herewith ) viz . - . —For Defence Fund—From Bulwell , Ss . Cd . ; Afr . Chipindale , Gd . —For Victim Fond—From Bulwell . 2 s . 6 d . The iLLvciiESTEtt Victims . —Thomas Ormcsher acknowledges the receipt of the following sums : —Coventry , per George Freeman , os . ; Rotherham , per John Turner , Jt'l ; Surneshead , Clough , near Todiuorden , per Kieharc Barker , £ 1 . Mr . J . BcciusAif , Selkirk—Yes . Send eightpence , and cost of carriage . Mr . J . Ridge , Croydon . —Twopence each to agents . Mr . Obmesiiaw , Manchester ; Mr . W . KiaKBv , Leeds ; and Mr . IIoxe , Banbury . —Your notices would be charged as advertisements . Mr . Tnos . Ormesheb has received the following suras for the Kirkdale prisoners : —Coventry , per G . Freeman , 5 s . ; Kotherham , J . Turner , £ 1 ; Todmorden , liiclid . Barker ,
£ 1 ; Hull , G . Barnett , 4 s . 4 d . Thomas Goode . —Members may reduce the number of their shares , but they must first transmit to the office of the Company the general expenses due for last year , upon all the shares held by them . —Thos . Clajik . Laxd Member , Tower Hamlets . —There is more than £ 40 due to the Company on account of the two-acre farm held bv Mitchell , at O'Connorville , and which sum must be paid before the right of location can be made over to any other party . Erbatcm .-1 ii the paragraph of a letter signed «; A . Walton , " which appeared in this journal on the 10 th iiist ., commencing with " That as Great Britain , &c , " for " comparatively" read " comfortably . " John- Aenott , Soniers Town , acknowledges the receipt of the following presents , for the benefit of the wives and families of the Chartist victims : —Per Mr . Green , Leicester , one pair of velvet slippers ; presented by Mr . Bradsworth . one nair of cloves : Air . Binriey , tno
lacecorered cushions ; Mr . Oulley , two stands of stuffed birds ; ditto , three pincushions ; Mesdaines Triekey and Moody , six pair of hose ; Chartist Co-operative Society , one worsted coat ; Mr . Thos . Lucas , two spencers , one shirt and shawl ; Mr . Jos . Lucas , six pair of socks anil two pair of hose . ; Mr . Thos . Armitage , four pair of ladies ' shoes ; Mr . John Parker , a Model of the School-house at O'Connorville , in glass case . The committee hereby return then- sincere thanks to the numerous friends who have presented them with gifts , and as the above were received subsequent to the disposal on Monday last , the committee are in contemplation of getting up a more extensive sale . Full particulars will be duly announced . Presents for the same in books , fancy articles , &c , will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged , if forwarded to the secretary , John Arnott , 11 , Middlesexplace , Soniers Town , carriage free . The friends-in the country who have sent lists will please to state ( by letter , pre-paid , addressed to the secretary ) , how the gifts that have been awarded shall be forwarded . - ~—
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TO AGENTS . Many Jfews Agents iu the country having complained of the want of Bills oi Contents , we beg to inform those that are not supplied direct from this office , that they may have such bills forwarded , free of expense , by sending a line to our publisher .
The Nor The Ely Stab Saturday, February 34, 1s49.
THE NOR THE Ely STAB SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 34 , 1 S 49 .
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PARLIAMENT AND THE PEOPLE . Lord Bolingbroke has truly asserted , that " England would never bo ruined except by her Parliament ; " and the acts of that Assembly during the past week , go far to convince us that the realisation of the prediction is fast approaching . The Government of England relies not more upon its brute force than upon the antagonism of class interests , to uphold and preserve that dangerous olig&rchical ascendancy , against which tho industrious classes have so len ? contended . But
passing events prove that this undefined and injurious policy must end in so complete a centralisation of power in the hands of the fortunate and privileged few , as to excite the wrath and indignation of the unfortunate and outlawed many . The policy of every Government , since the substitution of an artificial for a more natural state of society , has been to make the thing last' their time , by feeding class upon class , the weakest and powerless being selected as the repast of the strong and powerful ; until at length , the evil lias gone to such an extent as to render the national store inadequate to satisfy the appetites of expectants .
There is sometimes greater danger in silence than in the most violent language , and the total absence of appeals and petitions from the people to the Commons House of Parliament is an ominous proof of the fact—that the people no longer rely upon those means for tho redress of grievances . They have at length discovered , that while the discussion upon some private bill , introduced by speculating jobbers , will ensure a large muster of membersthe Assembly being constituted of that classa proposition to violate the Constitution of England can command but a sorry muster , and requires but the appeal of the Minister to insure the acquiescence of Parliament .
The English people have been systematically arrayed in dangerous and desperate hostility against their Irish brethren , for the mere purpose of weakening that democratic power , all resistance to which would have been otherwise ineffectual , until at length the people of both countries have discovered , that though different in blood , religion , and language , their interests are identical and inseparable .
It is an undeniable fact that the tourist will make himself better acquainted and more familiar with the institutions , the manners , and customs of those foreign countries which he may visit , than with the institutions , manners and customs of his own country ; and this truism equally applies to Parliament : as a question put to the Minister for Foreign Affairs , or to the Colonial Secretary , will excite more interest in the House of Commons , than any domestic question—nay , than even the destruction of the British Constitution . Upon such occasions , gentlemen on both sides
of the House appear to be familiar with , and interested in , all foreign and colonial questions ; while an appeal to a Minister as to the cause of the deaths of one hundred and fifty pauperchildren , of national suffering , and general want , is evasively met by a flippant official , and , however inconclusive the answer it is sure to give general satisfaction . As Mr . O'Coxnoe well observed in his speech upon the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Actthe discussion upon the Southampton Small Tenement Hating Bill insured a large attendance of Members , while that upon the destruction of the British Constitution was
looked upon- as a waste of time , as it interfered with the debate upon the Jewish Disabilities Bill . If . a measure to remedy an English or an Irish grievance is submitted to Parliament , the Minister sees the impossibility of adopting it , lest it may interfere with the vested rights of some honourable gentleman upon whose support he depends . It then requires the nicest consideration of that House , the review of a Select Committee , and the re-consideration of its recommendation . The anticipation of dangerous results , which may be in the distant
horizon , but which cannot be immediately contemplated , are urged as good and sufficient grounds for its rejection or postponement , while there is no such difficult y—no such necessity for revision or re-consideration no such remote contingency , or even possible danger , when tho liberty of the subject is to be destroyed . This system forcibl y reminds us of the manner in which Martial Law was administered in Ireland in the year 1798 when the commanding officer of a district decided that a culprit should be shot to-ni ght , and tried by Court Martial to-morrow .
Can anydevelopement of tyrannical practices be more revolting to the feelings of a free-born Constitution-loving Englishman than the revelations made by Mr . O'Connor , and not denied by the Home Secretary , as to the treatment to which the six gentlemen now confined as criminals in Kilmainham Gaol , unfler the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act , have been subjected by the High Sheriff of Dublin , and , as admitted by Sir Geoiige Grey , with the enttre . concurrence of the Jailor-General of Ireland .
Patrick ; O'Higgixs— than whom a more uprigHt gentleman and sterling patriot does not breathe—is one of the remaining six vic-
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tims under this tyrannical Act . No man went further to resist the evil teaching of the Irish mind and the prostration of Irish liberty , and in a perfectly constitutional way , than Patrick O'Higgujs ; and the reader will naturally conclude that these circumstances constitute his guilt . t The effect of the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act will be to make every Protestant iu Ireland a special constable , with license to
oppress his Catholic brethren without the power of complaint , as complaint would furnish the strongest proof of guilt . It will constitute every tyrant middleman one of the Executive Government , and prevent the possibility of tho victim comp laining of any , the most unconstitutional or ty rannical assault upon his rights or liberties ; and the result will be , that all fabricated representations made by interested desperadoes will supply lrretutable proof of ministerial sagacity and the Irish
gaoler ' s divznation . But can we blame the Whig Government , or its supporters , for this liberty -slaying and tyrannical Act , when we find the liberty-professinf Hume—one of the six who signed the PEOPLE'S CHARTER—and the freedomloving high-priest of Free Trade ( Colonel Thompson ) , not only voting for , but speaking in favour of the measure ? Save us from our friends , and we will defend ourselves against our enemies . But when the professed friends of the people—enemies to Whiggery—supporters of Free Trade—Financial Reformers —Liberals to the back-bone—quadrupeds , sexipedes , Chartists—and all but Republicans , owin" their seats to the most liberal
professions , based upon the assurance that they would resist every assault upon popular rights —how , we ask , can we censure the Whig Government , or their Tory supporters , when we find two such professors of Liberalism increasing the ranks of the Liberty-slaying faction ? We live in excited times . All around us is unsettled—all before us is in chaos ; and the most sagacious and far-seeing man cannot tell how soon those two liberty-professing gentlemen may stand before those popular and critical juries who Mill be called upon to decide as to their guilt or innocence—as to their faithful or faithless discharge of- duty—as to their fitness for being again entrusted with the defence of their c ountry's liberty .
We cannot answer for tho men of Montrose , but we will vouch for our brethren of Bradford . This vote will not bear justification , and we rejoice to find , that , while Cobden refrained from supporting the Whigs , Bright voted against the measure . There are not a few other liberty-professing gentlemen who will be called to account npon the day of reckoning ; but we have selected
the most prominent Liberal agitators for comment , and with tho people we leave the question of guilt or innocence . And again we say to the English people— " Follow the example of the people of St . Pancras : make England , now that the voice of Ireland is suppressed , the arena for discussing Irish and English grievances ; " as they may rely upon it , that the blow struck at Irish liberty will be followed by another at the little that still remains of English freedom .
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of the most painf ully interesting character , and quite conclusive as to the case against the Co-10 Lord ° ToRRiNGTON , a relation of the " governing family , " being a needy man , was " pitchforked" by his friend , Lord Grey , into the lucrative office of G overnor of Ceylon , with a salary of £ 7 , 000 a-year . Of course , he was as ignorant of Ceylon as he is now about the geography , inhabitants , and language of Saturn , and in his case ho did not carry _ with him the small counterbalancing condition of official aptitude—even to the extent of redtapeism—hia hig hest appointment , in this country , having been that of a Lord of the Bedchamber . This new-fledged Governor , by
the grace of Lord Grey , on arriving at the seat of Ms power , found himself , iu fact , elevated from a mere Kentish farmer , and Director of the South-Eastern Railway Company , into an Oriental Despot . A large and fertile realm was subject to his rule—there were no representatives of the people to annoy himthe parties by whom he was surrounded were all of the same kidney as himself , quartered upon the revenues of the Colony—the only responsibility and subordination to which he was liable was his " relation , " Lord Grey , and , of course , under the circumstances , the burdens thus imposed were of tho lightest kind .
The despotic and taxing propensities of the new Governor throve amazingly under such influences . He found that the Colony—ruined to a great extent by the policy of the Free Traders—was suffering severely , and that the income , consequently , was not equal to the expenditure . Thereupon , like a true Whig , he resolved to increase the taxation—not diminish the expenditure . He , however , was better off in one respect than his " relations " at home . When they propose a new tax , it has to run the gauntlet of Parliament ; but in Lord Tokhington ' s case , all that was
necessary was to issue an ordinance , and right royally he fulfilled that part of his duties . In the beginning of-1848 , he issued " ordinances , " imposing a variety of new taxes . An annual tax of one shilling on every dog , and two shillings and sixpence on every gun , was ordered to be levied , and all guns and dogs—not registered—were ordered to be destroyed . Those in any degree acquainted with the state of the island will know that dogs and guns are necessary to defend the natives from wild beasts , and that the average earnings in money of these persons is not more than thirty-three
shillings a-year . A tax o £ tln'ee shillings and sixpence on these necessaries was , therefore , a very heavy one . But that was the least onerous , harassing , and disagreeable part of the matter . They had to go long distances to get their arms registered ; and when they got to the place , the staff of officials was inadequate to the effective performance of the duty . The natives had cither to remain for days waiting the convenience of the persons appointed to register , or tramp home again , having to repeat the journey another day . Another " ordinance" compelled every adult male , under
sixty years of age , to give six days' labour on the roads , or to pay three shillings annually . Taxes were also imposed on boats , carts , palanquins , and other conveyances , and , at the same time , a census was taken of the population , which gave rise to a general apprehension that it was to be made the basis of new exactions . While these unpopular " ordinances" were being attempted to be enforced , an " insurrection" — at least , an emeute dignified with that title—broke out in the district of Matelle among the natives . It might have been put down by half-a-dozen policemen ,
but the Colonial Government wanted an excuse for displaying its teeth , and hence , though warned in time , they refrained from meddling in the matter until something was done by the tumultuous assemblage of natives which would warrant them in interfering with the strong hand . Thus encouraged the natives declaredtheir leader King , attacked and p lundered the Government offices in Matelle , and some four or five plantations , the owners of which had deserted them ; but did not venture to attack those who remained to defend their property . The most exaggerated reports do
not give more than four thousand persons engaged in these riots , some say not more than one thousand . The only personal injuries they inflicted were , to tie a Government Agent to the railings of a verandah , and very slightly to wound one soldier . Two hundred soldiers suppressed the "insurrection , " in a few hours , almost without a scratch . A similar outbreak took p lace at Komegalle , about twenty-five miles distant from Motelle , where also the rioters proclaimed a King , and were equally summarily put down . It is clear that there could have been no concert between these two
parties , and the documents show that none of the most influential and leading men of the island were implicated ; yet , upon such a paltry affair as thisLordToRRiNGTON declared martial law . A considerable number of persons were shot , and a great number of estates confiscated , and sold with breathless haste . One man was shot by mistake for one of the socalled Kings ; the other was ordered to be shot , with many others , but the Chief-Justice revolted at the bloody tragedy , and recommended mercy , to which Lord Torrington
most reluctantly submitted . Byway , however , of compensating himself for the enforced humanity , he caused the King to be publicly whipped before transporting him , which was the commuted sentence ; and transported the others for life , and fourteen years . One priest , who was accused of being in communication with the pretenders to royalty , was , in despite of every remonstrance , shot in his priestly vestment—an indignity which was deeply felt by the natives , who are devotedly attached to their faith—that of Buddh . Here is the
language—wo might justly term it ferocious—in which Lord Torbington speaks of the trials , even after the first paroxysm of angry fear has passed away : — " I regret to have to state that before the Civil Court the convictions have been fewer than I could have wished , and certainl y less numerous than the clearest evidence appears to warrant ; but I have taken every reasonable precaution to prepare a fair and respectable
jury beforehand : and , as the actual juries empanelled have shown a disposition towards extraordinary leniency , I can only conclude that cither they did not entirel y comprehend the importance of the cases brought before them , or that they were scarcely satisfied as to tho credibility of the witnesses . On the other hand , the cases brought before the courts martial have always led to conviction . "
Lord Tormngton seems to have formed his ideas of constitutional Government on the model of Whig government in Ireland . Packing juries is a common practice there , but his lordship frankly avows a preference for the shrift , and Turkish celerit y of a Court Martial J The case of British Guiana , like that of Ceylon , resolved itself into a question of taxation . The Colony is overrun with a swarm of placemen , who , like beasts , eat up the whole produce of the soil . A quarrel took place between the Government and the Combined Court with respect to the enormous amount annually wrung from the Colony for these scions of the English aristocracy , who are
thus quartered upon it , and the stoppage of the supplies was threatened . This led to the retirement of the Governor , and the appointment of another , ( Mr . Barklt ) who has gone out to try to settle matters ; he himself , having stated in the House last aesaion , that these colonists were the victims of fraud and oppression at the hands of the Colonial Office . Mr . Baillie in concluding his speech , made a slashing attack uponLord G kby , whom he said stood " convicted of adeliberate attempt to deceive and mislead the House of Lords , as to the condition and prospects of Jamaica . " Who " perverted truth to serve party purposes , " and systematically prostituted his immense patronage to advance the
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private interests of his connexions , W ith reference to the public service . ' ° ' Mr . B . Haves , the Uuder-Secretaw * « State , defended himself and his chiefL ^ i , by the way , was present in the Peers' p-ili during the debate . Of his defence little S bo said . It was weak and incou sis tenJ in argument , barren in fact , and bull yin » tone . A mixture of the " red tape , " an < i t i "injured innocent" dodge , seems to bo t \ Z gentleman ' s forte . But the Whigs were too well aware of tho inherent weakness of their defence to trust to that
. They therefore in duccd Mr . Ricakdo to become cat ' s paw—ami drag a red herring across the scent , in the hoBe of luring the House from the real game . ThL thought , by endeavouring to make it app ea that the Committee was asked for the purpose of restoring Protection , that they might raise a Free Trade debate , and cunningly framed an amendment with that view , which thev in tended to stultify the House ; and , if adopted ' the Committee afterwards . Mr . Osbouxe ' who has a knack of calling things Vy tlioir right names , stigmatised this as " a divtv manoeuvre to hoodwink the House . " It dij not take , and—after a defence from
Lord John Russell , the most notable feature of which was , that it contradicted that of Mr . Hawes in several important points—Peelites , Protectionists , and Free Traders united iu a motion , which ' as we have said , is virtually a censure upon the Colonial policy of the Government . The Whigs did not dare to risk a division . They would have been beaten by a large majority , and they had to withdraw their '' red herring " amidst the contemptuous jeers of all parties . In this case , SirR . Peel ' s cautiously-expressed censure was even more damaging than the outspoken condemnation of Members less mealy-mouthed .
The next question of general interest , introduced this week , is the Admission of Jews into Parliament . Wehave already so frequentl y placed this upon the unmistakeable grouud , that no man should be deprived of any civil or political rig ht on account of religious opinions , that it is unnecessary for us to do more than allude to it . We have no particular affection for the Jews , and heaiiily despise many of the arguments used by tho gold-worshippers in support of their admission , but that shall not make us waver in our support of a great and just principle . The mode in which Lord
J . Russell proposes to admit his colleague this year , differs from that of last Session . Instead of bringing in a Bill , he refers tho oath to a Committee of the House , with the view of , omitting the objectionable words " onthe true faith of a Christian , " but retaining tho "So help mo God . " Lord John is not afraid of Jews , but his toleration does not include infidels . Well , we shall , by-and-by , find courage to carry the principles of civil and religious liberty even that far , and learn to avoid the commission of civil injustice , under the pretence of reli g ious scruples .
The other business up to the time of writing , we have already commented upon . After a last but ineffectual attempt to defeat the Coercive Act for Ireland , on the part of the gallant minority who have resisted that piece of tyranny , it was finally carried on Monday night through the Commons . Mr . O'Connor took the opportunity of making a powerful defence of his country , and an equally able attack on the despotic and unconstitutional course pursued by tho present administration , which our readers will find in full in another
page . Sir John Pakington ' s Bill for preventing Bribery at Elections , despite of a Conservative Opposition , passed the second reading on Wednesday , but it is to be sent to it Committee upstairs , We shall wait till we see in what shape it comes back before giving an opinion as to its merit . The question of Marriage , raised in both Houses , will supply materials for future comment .
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RECEIPTS OF THE NATIONAL LAND GO MPANY Foit the "W eek Exdixg Thursday , February 22 , 1819 .
SHARES . £ 3 . d . £ ? . A . Devizes ,, 8 7 0 Dewslrary ., 0 ( J 8 Dundee .. 2 5 0 Kettering .. 1 12 6 Aberdeen .. 1 12 0 Zewes .. .. 3 U 0 Lambeth .. 0 2 C Crayfbrd .. 1 ! la 11 Manchester .. 2 17 0 Bisliopwearinouth 2 15 2 Malton .. 2 U 8 C . Mawl .. 0 ' i 0 Winchester .. 1 5 0 T . Wilkins .. 0 10 0 HebdenBridge .. 0 10 0 IL Swatshall .. 0 10 Peterborough .. 4 1 6 M . A . Allen .. 0 '„> 0 Nottingham , J . B . Merry .. 0 ' 2 0
Sweet .. 16 3 M . Faller ; . 0 7 G Hull .. .. 1 15 i T . Devonport .. 0 4 0 Headless Cross 110 D It . Pattison .. 0 10 Brighton , Arti- W . M'Lean .. 0 2 0 choke .. 3 5 8 C . Vigurs .. 0 16 Bochdale .. 1 10 10 J . Vigurs .. 0 16 Bath .. .. i 19 C J . CoUison .. 010 0 Wolverhampton 2 0 0 — Bristol .. 1 15 9 £ ijl ( i 3
EXPENSE FUND . Dundee .. 2 15 0 Lewes .. .. 0 19 S Aberdeen" .. 0 8 4 Crayford .. 0 i 6 HebdenBridge .. 0 10 Bishopwearmouth 0 4 0 Peterborough .. 0 3 0 James Felsham 0 10 Nottingham .. 0 C G T . Kennvard .. Did Hull .. .. 0 1 C Dewsbury .. 0 11 C £ . j 14 ID
TOTALS . . Land Fund 61 6 9 Expense ditto ... 0 1410 Bonus ditto 10 17 1 Loan ditto 1 171 ' ) Transfers ... ... ... ... 0 15 0 £ 80 13 J Erratum . —In the Star of Saturday last should lia « s 3 IU peaved , Helper , per Gregory , Cs . 6 d . ¦ VV . Dixojt , C . Doyle , T . Clark , Cor . Sec . P . M'Gratii , Fin . Sec .
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EXECUTIVE FUND . PerLAXD Office . —Wellingborough , 7 s . ; Mr . M'Lcan , 6 i I rtrs . Heath , Is . ; Derby , 14 s . 2 d . ; J . Skcvington , Is . . er S . Kvdd . —George Norton , Is . ; John Coleman , Is-: Bristol , per — . Clarke , 6 s . 6 d . ; Oxford , per It . Warren . 5 s-Todmorden , per J . Cmilifte , 11 s . 7 d . ; Derby , IQi . VICTIM FUND . Vev Land Office . _ Nottingham , Is . Cd . j Wolfe ' borough , 7 s .
DEFENCE FUND . Per TV . Rides . —Leicester , collected after lectiirw "J Messrs . llarney and Kydd , per II . Green , 12 s . ; BulwU , F J . Sweet , 2 s . Gd . ; Mr . Chippendale , per J , Sweet , w-i Mr . Goodwin , per T . Ormeslmw , Manchester , Od .: Slicffiw collected at Democratic Heading Hoom , per G . Cavill . ' < B . Lee , Sheffield , per G . Cavill , Is . ; Birmingham , rW ' Hall , per II . ltudhall , 2 s . Gd . ; A few Friends , Kiiisr-oi *' near Halifax , perW . Drake , ( towards Sir . Nixon's account . 14 s . 4 d . 1 » . Elliott , Clapham , 3 s Per Land Office iristol , ( id . ; Wellingborough , 7 s . Per John Abso tt . - Middleton , per Mr . Bates , 3 s . FOR WIVES AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMSPer W . ttiDEB . —Barrowford , per J . Gray , 2 s . 11 ( 1 . ! ' well , per J . Sweet , 2 s . Gd .
M'DOUALL'S CASE-FOR WRIT OF ERROR . ( OR OTHERWISE . ) Per W . RiDER—Deinocratie Club , Edinburgh , if ' . ' Gray , 5 s . 4 d . ; A few Democrats , Tutburv , per C . MK ; 3 s . Sd . Per Law OFFic ^ -Derby ) 3 s . « .- —ri ? John Abnoit . —Kentish Town Locality , per Mr- Lun ' . " NATIONAL VICTIM AND DEFENCE FUND . _ Per S . Kibd . -Leicester , per Mrs . Collins , 2 & ^ - ' ' ^ tangham , Mr . Hayes , a Pair of Stockings . -rer ni Arnott . —Chartcrville , proceeds of Star , per John IW '" J 3 s 04 d , ; WelUngborough Shoemakers , per Mr . 0 *^ £ 1 a « s . ; l ' adiham , per Mr . Bradshaw , 6 s . ; WO&Mfy , Mr . Bates , 7 s . ; Cripplegate , , Golden-lane , P " , , Biwn , 2 s . ; City Ladies shoemakers , per Mr . 6 t « w " 4 s . 6 d . ; Ernest Jones Locality , per Mr . Harrap , » . » 2
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-- AD Monster Visit op Englishmen to Paris . e 0 { association of gentlemen is now in the cou formation , and will be speedily formed , for U ^ J \{ , '' pose of returning , on "the most extensive s the visit of the French National Guards to w ^ In less than a month , several thousand , *' ° 3 men will proceed to Paris , and remam tne . week . In order to secure the neces sary » ^ dation and regularity , whole hotels wui «« ^ Paris , special trains on the railways in doi t y tries engaged , and steam-boats cnart erea occasion . . . , ; tiiK High Lira .-A married Peer , connected * ^ land , has had lately a liaison with a W " rC s « near Lowfcn , wliich has p lunged many Wn "' pecta ^ te e « y ? ttxion 3 into misery ,
To The Charti S T S Of Bradford
TO THE CHARTI S T S OF BRADFORD
8p$ (Sttttikjkiitiratr**
8 P $ ( StttTiKjKiitiratr **
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SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT . Our paper will be read by , and , to , over six millions of the working classes of this country within a few hours after its publication ; and now that the struggle has commenced between the Democracy and the Whig Government and its supporters , we invite the close attention of tho working classes to the speech of Mr . O'CONNOR , which will be found in our first page ; and as it is the custom of the people to have the most prominent part of the " Star "
read at their several meetings , they will be able to judge of newspaper justice when they contrast the report of that speech as delivered , with the report in the "Times" newspaper . Up to the time that the honourable Member for Nottingham was reminded by Sir George Grey that he had exceeded his hour , the " Times" devotes thirty-five lines to the speech , or little more than a line to every two minutes , while the reply of tho official ( Sir Cfr . Grey ) , which did not exceed two minutes , occupies fifty-four lines , or twenty-seven lines to the minute .
In order that the people may judge for themselves , as to the accuracy of newspaper reporting , we extract the " Times '" report , which will he found at the foot of Mr . O'Connor ' s speech . We have laboured zealously and continuously to prove that the prostitution of the English Press is the greatest difficulty against which the English people have to contend ; and never was it more aptly illustrated
than in this instance . A member of the Government , or a partisan of the Government , delivers a rambling rigmarole of unconnected rubbish , it is received—or at all events reported —with " hears , " "cheers ; " is pertinent , analytical , and to the point ; while that of an independent Member—which never strays from the subject under discussion , and is pertinent in every point—is discursive , rambling , and cannot be analysed .
When the working classes read the speech of their Representative , they , as shrewd and discriminating men , will be able to distinguish as to whether a single passage in that speech was foreign to the subject , and their English spirit will rise when they understand that the greatest bulwark of the English Constitution was destroyed upon no better grounds—or , rather , pretext—than tho most flimsy , lame , weak , incoherent , discursive , inconclusive , and rambling speech—if speech it could be calledof the English Home Secretary . And when they read the debates , they will find that not
one single sj > eech , with the exception of Mr . O'Connor ' s , was at all pertinent to the subject . One party launched into Protectionanother into Free Trade—another into Foreign Policy—another into an attack upon the Prime Minister , upon the Appropriation Clause and the Anns Bill—another dilated upon agitation and its consequences—another indulged in an incongruous attack upon tlio policy of Ministers—another indulged in a modicum , of remedial measures , to ensure the successful working of which the suppression of public
opinion was necessary—and they were , one and all , connected , pertinent , coherent , analytical , and to the point . We ask , then , if the working classes of this country can require more positive and conclusive evidence of the position of an independent Member of Parliament , and the venality , prostitution , and corruption of the English Press ? But , though foreign to our subject , lot us establish a proof upon a fact . We select the following passage from the " Dispatch" of last week , extracted from the ? Cheltenham Journal . '' Here it is : —
We hear that the effect of the O'Connor Laud Scheme i beginning ; to be feltint Uromsgrove , Worcestershire , three of the located families being in the greatest distress , and already applying for parochial aid . —Cheltenham Journal . Now , what is our answer ? That not one 8 ingle individual has yet been located upon this Estate ; and what will our readers say to the veracity of tho Press ?
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PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW . The event of the week has been the virtual condemnation of the Colonial policy of the Government . On Tuesday night , Mr . Bailue , the Member for Inverness , brought forward a motion for the appointment of a Select Committee of Inquiry into the grievances of Ceylon and British Guiana , with a view to recommend measures for the better administration of Government in theee Colonies . The speech by which that motion was prefaced , and the still more able one by which Sir W . Molesvorth supported it , embodied a mass of facts
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THE NORTHERN STAR ¦¦ FkbhW 24 , 1849
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 24, 1849, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1511/page/4/
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