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TO THE OLD GUARDS
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Cfwtitst Bite IHqnxcc
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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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" ^ o your tents , oh Chartiats !" Old Fmends and Comrades , The hour is come when the indusnous dasaes of this country must indisputably ad uneqaivocall y express their wants , and evelopeth . Mrresolution . Last year the Whig roveniment hdd office upon no better tenure nan the apprehension of a revolution , treagfliened—nay concocted—by government fficials , for the express purpose of alarming he upper and middle classes . Thathowever
, j a dodge which may secure the co-operation f themost . violentopponents once , and through ear ; but it has lost its charm , and we are low upon , the eve of a great and mighty hange . - The Landlords in the House of Commons , ind out of . the House of Commons , are mad snough to talk of the restoration of Protection ; rhile the Free Trade party attempt to tickle ropular feeling with a demand for a reduction
> f taxation , of which I was a most strenuous idvocate , as Hooted upon it as the means of lestroying aristocratic power by the destrucion of patronage ; and , therefore , I asked you lot to resist the movement But the propoaiion has been submitted to Parliament not as i demand to reduce taxation distinctly , and at race , by ten millions a year , hut as a proposition which the Government will take into its jonsideratidn , and pledge itself to , when feasible and practicable .
It was my opinion—and I presume it was onr opinion—that this proposition for a reaction of taxation was to have been " Yes , " r " No ;" . however , it merged into the more aoderate appeal to Whig sagacity , based upon ; overnmental convenience . Well , that has passed away , and Mr . Cob-IES , the author—or , at all events , the adopter f the proposition , has since paid a visit to as constituents at Leeds , where , no doubt , ricked by the smallness of the minority that apported him , he has come out for a large xtension of the Suffrage .
Now , for myself , I confess that I never can understand the construction that the several parties professing liberal principles attach to the extension of the Suffrage . Mr . Cobdbn does not define his extension ; while Mr Roebuck , the Candidate for Sheffield , and formerly a whole-hog-Chartist , would define it b y its extreme limitation , so that you will at once understand that as long as the House of Commons is constituted of members professing liberal principles , but maHng profit of limited representation—the most liberal constituencies , consisting of the middle classes , will endeavour
so to entangle , encumber , and trammel this question of the Suffrage , as merely toenlist the pressure of non-electoral power in aid of the half-and-half candidate of their choice , and they do this for the purpose of persuading the opposing classes in the House of Commons that you , the Chartists , are with them ; and thus it is that our weakness has been unfairly presumed . Wehavealways been looked upon as themere reserve foreeof jniddle-classliberalism , and the reason why I address you at this very trying and critical juncture is to ask you , for
the onehundredthtime , TO STAND ALONE , marshalled under your own banner , advocating your own principles . And , my friends , I think I have placed both you , and myself and our cause , in a better and more honourable position , by not resisting the plausible pretext ot those who might have used our opposition as a justification for abandoning their own project . We have now , however , seen the extent to which they propose to carry it ; we hare seen that they were not in earnest , and for these reasons I ask you no longer to rely upon their professions .
Mark me , and mark me well , when I assure yon that those who make merchandise of poverty and destitution , will be the very last to destroy their traffic in those commodities ; while , being more nearly allied to you socially than to the upper classes , they will endeavour to -use you for the perpetuation of their own power . If you are not more dull of comprehension than I give you credit for , you must
understand that you are upon the eve of great and mighty changes—yon must perceive that the Whigs are about to be kicked out of officeand you must be prepared with such a firm exhibition of National Win , national union and strength , as will prevent those out of power again using you for the achievement of power , as , depend upon it , in such case you will again discover the difference between men ieeeking power and men exercising power .
I The question of the Land is now the allabsorbing question—not alone in Parliament , or in England and Ireland , but throughout Europe and America . Both bantlings , as I have often told you , I have rocked and nursed jsrhen you were asleep and apathetic ; but both have aovr arrived at a giant ' s growth . \ The Trades , formerly our greatest oppo-Dents , have adopted Home Colonisation and the Suffrage—not , I presume , Educational Suffrage , which is amerebuggaboowith those ifIio , ignorantthemselves , dread the knowledge pf the working classes .
If the State requires soldiers , they do not rebuire the country lout , -with his lounging step , jto stand erect , heads up , eyes right , attention , taud at ease , right foot foremost , and the everal technicalities of discipline he is wholly gnorant of ; he need neither read , write , nor pdl , and he soon , from drill , walks upright tud becomes a disciplined soldier . And so it rould be with the most ignorant , if once enisted in the political service of his country . He rould be drilled and trained in better and more aaourable service , and would be a much more
send and honourable member of society , naed with a spade to feed , man , than armed it a musket to shoot him . Therefore , pay oattention whatever to this Knowledge Suf-»? e . When we were well united before , they nsd to disunite us , by outbidding us with Vanan Suffrage , and eighteen years as the fcudard . But do you stick to the whole anina ^ unchanged and unmutilated , and let me > eg of you no longer to be governed by that lesfructire policy ofchoosingthe BEST CANDIDATE THAT PJKESENTS HIMSELF , ° * nind your true and adopted motto , " HE
'VEO IS JJOT FOR US IS AGAINST US . " It is my intention , as soon as yon are prepare with " your petitions , to propose the whele aniaal to Parliament—or , rather , it is my saigainehopethatl shall be able to second the probation when introduced by Dukcombe , our iader , whose health—I rejoice to tell you —is © far improved as to enable him shortl y to taketnsseat . I © not know the price that you could name , thatl would not give for another national nwratcr ; jui , ^ despite of all opposition , it : « wul go in the Kennington Common : ™ i $ bal car to the door of the House of Caniong _ i Hojever , it is my intention once more to i ^ y he scattered forces of Chartism , and l ^ ifl tiat view I will attend public meetings
fcLoiion and the adjoining districts on Mon-^ aid Wednesday evenings ; and had it *< b&a . for the drain of my finances by the i ^ tioaal Land Company , I should traverse | fl kngdom once more , as after the last two ^( is' experience , and after twenty-seven i **\ agitation , both in and out of Par-^ nft I have come to the unshakable con-* M that no power on earth , save the pos-^ y ot land by the working classes—who ea nao £ herwige procure labour—will save this Wumifeom bankruptcy or revolution ; and I fe el airanncedthai ; nothing but the Chari er Traecure this ¦ wholesome , profitable , and otneffl distribution of the land .
I * tfe digress to tell you an anecdote . I T otedjhthe Government for the repeal of &e legation Laws ; I voted with the
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Government for the imposition , or rather , the restoration of the sixpence in the pound upon Ir iBh landed property , to support the starving Irish ; and I voted for the £ 50 , 000 grant ;—m fact , I voted in five divisions with the Government—and upon the last division , a member said to me , "Well , Mr . O'Connor , how do you feel ? " I repU ^ , "Why , very queer , I have bad three violent spasmsand
, have scarcely slept for fourteen nights , and now 1 feel another qualm coming over me , and I fear it ' s a judgment for voting with the Government . " " What's that ? " asked Sir George Grey , and I repeated it . " No ;" said the member , " but how did you feel during these several nights' discussion upon the Bate in Aid ; have you heard anything throughout , that was not the STRONGEST
ADVOCACY OF TOUR LAND PLAN ?" "Yes ; " I replied , " even Peel and all have adopted it . I thought I'd instruct t ^ hem at last . " Now , Old Guards , listen to me and pay attention , while I tell you that you have no more chance of any improvement in your condition , while the present system of representation lasts , than you have of " catchinglarks when the sky falls . " If you -turn , " lo the old took of $ wpheeieKC the " Northern Star' — you will find that in Apr il last , in the House of Commons , I predicted two things—the one Colonial , the other Domestic . I told the Government and the
House , that this country would speedily lose Canada . Well , we have had a little foresight into this matter from the discussions in the House of Commons ; but last week I travelled with a most intelligent American merchant all the way from Paris to London . He told me that he had come over with two most intelligent Canadians , who made no secret whatever of the determination of the Canadians to serer themselves wholly and entirely from England ; and if you read my work on Small Farms , written in 1843 , you will there find it predicted , that England would be compelled to abandon the monstrous and hideous monopoly of Colonial Governments .
The system reminds one of a little old wizened mother , of seventy or eighty , whipping a big , two-fisted man-child of five or six and twenty , and putting him to bed because he was not home in time . Well , that was my colonial prophecy ; and my domestic prophecy was , that if the wet weather we had last April continued for a fortnight longer , we should have a deficient yield and bad wheat harvest in this country , and I think the result has proved that I was right .
Old Guards , I was in Paris , and at the National Assembly during the recess , and I never was more astonished in my life ; it was a complete bear-garden , and the only man who made a speech defensive of the policy of the Provisional Government , or upon any subject worth hearing , wasLEDRU Kouin , who made a most powerful and enthusiastic speech ; but , as I intend to confine this letter to the Land and the Charter , I shall give you a description of my tour next week , and it will amuse
you . Let me now ask you to meet in your several localities , and come to some wise and defined resolution as to the re-organisation of our forces ; for although older , and a little tinged with grey , I have vowed to my country , to my God , and to you , never to abate my ardour ia the cause of Liberty—never to abandon one bristle of the animal , and to struggle for the possession of God ' s gift to man , so that all may live independently in the sweat of their own brow . In conclusion , bear in mind that " God helps those who help themselves , " and that those who help themselves by your destitution are not likely to help you out of your destitution .
Old Guards , I am ready and willing as ever to march onward in the good cause of man ' s redemption and freedom ; and if you are not prepared to march with me , whj then you must take your own course . I remain , Your faithful and unpurchaseable Friend and accepted Leader , Feargus O'Connor .
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THOMAS CLARK AS CANDIDATE FOR SHEFFIELD . I have had many letters pressing upon me the desirableness of Thomas Clark going to the Poll at the approaching Election for Sheffield ; and some ask me what description of man he is . I do not like to praise men , because those I have most praised have generally become my greatest revilers ; however , at the risk of repetition of such payment , I will give his biography . He is a young man of very prepossessing appearance—of lively , animated , but inoffensive manners ; he is one of the most eloquent men in this or any other country ; he is a sound reasoner ; an admirable debater ; he is witty , but not sarcastic , and when he descends to sarcasm he is not ilhiatured . He is a teetotaller ; and as to his honesty , I would trust him with untold gold .
T . G . asks me , how it wfll be about his Qualification ? To that I reply , that Clark will have as good and legal a Qualification as any candidate that ever went to the hustings . I have often told my friend 9 , that a long and lingering agitation leads to apathy and slumber , and that the real and telling agitation is like the lightning that precedes the thunder ; and , following this opinion , as soon as the Writ for Sheffield is moved for , I will place myself at the disposal of the Democrats of Sheffield , to aid in the return of THOMAS ClABK ; for my friend ' s constituents must
understand , that , when duty calls , the tinsel of Membership has no charms for me ; and God only knows that I long for a good rattling , reviving , intelligent Chartist agitation , to take the rust and fust and dust of the House of Commons off me . This is selfishness ; for if I abstain much longer from addressing a Chartist audience , and hearing Chartist speeches , I shall lose my eloquence and my intellect , and become a mere spouter of twaddle and nonsense , and a listener to the folly of bygone ages , and barbarous times . Feargus O'Connor .
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Peobabiutt of a General Eiection . —Calculating on the defeat of the Ministerial measures in the Lords , certain influential parties are preparing for the contingency of a general election after harvest . It is believed that Ministers will resign ; and as no political party at present numbers sufficient votes hi the Commons to take , or , at all event 3 , now office , an appeal to the country will be necessary . —Sunday Times . Salaries is Pcbuc Offices . —An official return , ordered to be printed on the 23 rd of March , exhibits an increase during the year 1848 of the number employed in public offices ofl , 215 , anda concurrent decrease of 360 . The total increase of expenditure amounts to ^ i 063 , and the total diminution of the same to £ 83 , 772 .
Racing Sweep 3 asd Betung Lists . — At the Middlesex Session , on Monday , several licences were granted to public houses which had been suspended bj the magistrates , on their respective oraers promising not to feeeP facing Sweeps or Betting lists on ti > eJr premises .
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National REoiftininos as » Ejection Committee . —This body met at the " Two Chairmen /' Wardonr-street , Soho , on Monday evening , April 16 th . —Mr . John- Milne was called to the chair , when Mr . Grassby reported that the sub-committee had compiled and written the " Handbook to Registration , and Guide to Elections ;" that it was now in the hands of the printer , and would be ready in a few days for publication ; and that they had found , from the immense quantity of matter it would contain , that its price must be threepence . —Mr . Arnott reported respecting the borough of Lambeth registration ; 250 names had already been added to the rate book prior to being added to the electoral roll , Shbffzbz , d Election . —ifr . Gvasaby read
correspondence , including Mr . Clark's address to the electors and . non-electors , and a letter from the secretary of Mr . Clark ' s Committee , when it was resolved , — - " That the secretary should write to the committee in Sheffield , requesting to know what number of Radicals are on the register , and the number of those who have already promi » 9 d to rote for Mr , Clark in the event of a poll , " &c , after which the committee adjourned until Monday evening , April 23 rd , at half-past seven . Toweb HAMtsTs . —On Sunday , April 15 th , a densely crowded audience attended at the Mechanics * iistitnte , Commercial Hall , Philpot-street , Commercial-road , to hear Mr . Stallwood deliver a lecture on " The Life , Character . Writinga . and
3 ?» a ; c . iplfe 6 6 f- ^ w > iha 3 Pathe . " In a forcible and argumentative address , the lecturer pointed out to his audience tlie great good that had arisen from the adoption of the political principles laid down by Thomas Paine hi America , the advantage ^ that must flow should his principle of- " Agrarian justice" be generally carried out , and the vast knowledge to be acquired from such an inquiry into true and false systems of theology as that commenced by Thomas Paine . The lecturer called on his audience to adopt the theory of representation put forth by that " great Englishman , " whose life and writings 80 many had that night come to hear discussed , by returning a working man as their representative at the next election , in connexion with George
Thompson . The lecturer was listened to with breathless attention . At the conclusion of the lecture , Mr . Stokes addressed a few eloquent sentences in favour of the political principles of Thomas Paine . —Votes of thanks were then given to the lecturer and to Mr . Stokes , for the information and instruction they had afforded ; and Mr . Stallwood , at the request of several friends , consented to repeat his lecture at the Finsbury Rooms , Clerkenwell-green ( Deadman ' s Cpffee-house ) , on Sunday evening , in the Mechanics' Institute , Philpotstreet . We are happy to find that the committee have already collected a library of very useful books , which are in much request amongst the members , and that lectures on a variety of useful subjects are
delivered in the H&U every Sunday , Tuesday , and Thursday evening . A d ' scussion class is in course of formation . The registration is attended to , and the men of St . George's-in-the-East have just achieved a triumph—the parochial officers recently returned being Chartists and Democrats , replacing old Tories . Efence , the under-current of democracy rolls on , giving promise of a far brighter political future . We heartily trust the men of the Hamlets will find many to follow their example , and thus raise some bright and brilliant specs in the present dull calm of the political horizon . Hartiepooi .. —We have just had two splendid lectures from our friend Thomas Dickinson , of South Shields , and at the conclusion we enrolled seventeen new members to our association . We
are about forming a library , and have been presented with a parcel of books by Mr . Dickinson , to begin ¦ with . We iuvite the co-operation of all localities in this district to aid us in reviving our cause , and getting up meetings to promulgate owr principles , and also to send petitions to parliament . Secretaries of localities in this county are respectfully invited to correspond , without delay , with Mark Parkinson , secretary , Shire ' s-yard , Hartlepool . CjiEUENHAjf . —The Chartists of this place being obliged to give up their room , the Mutual Improvement Society met to dispose of the funds they had in hand , which amounted to 14 s . 6 d .- ; 9 s . 6 u . was roted to the Victim Fund , and the remaining 5 s . to the Defence Fund . It was further agreed to get as many as possible to continue their penny weekly
subscriptions , the proceeds to be sent to the Victim and Defence Funds , and to meet the first Sunday in every month . It was further resolved , — " That , while we duly appreciate the noble . and invaluable services Of Mr . O Connor , we likewise tender our heartfelt thanks to G . J . Harney , for his manly and talented advocacy of the cause of universal democracy . " Tower Hamlets . —A general council meeting of the Tower Hamlets was held on Sunday last , at the Commercial Hall , Philpot-street , Commercial-road , when the committee gave in their reports as to the places to hold public meetings in , to petition parliament for the People ' s Charter . The meeting decided upon taking the British School-room ,
Cowper-street , City-road , for the above purpose , on Wednesday , May 2 nd , and a sub-committee was appointed to carry the above into effect . The council at its rising , adjourned to Sunday next at three o ' clock , in the afternoon , when all members of councils in the Hamlets are invited to attend . Finsburt . —A public meeting was held at the-Finsbury Lecture-room , Clerkenwell Green , on Tuesday evening , to adopt the petition of the People ' s Charter . Mr . A . Fuzzon in the chair . W . Salmon moved , and R . Fuzzon seconded , the first resolution , " That in the opinion of this meeting the
present system of legislation is opposed to the rights and interests of the people . " —Mr . E . Nobbs moved , andMr . Cater , seconded , the next resolution , " That in the opinion of this meeting the monopoly of legislation by a class is calculated to further the interest of that class , in opposition io those excluded from the right of legislation . " —After which the meeting having " passed the petition , resolved themselves into a committeo to obtain signatures . A resolution was adopted relative to getting \> p a public meeting to sympathise with the victims now in prison . After which the meeting stood adjourned to Tuesday next .
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TO THE ELECTOES AND NONELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF SHEFFIELD . Gentlemen , —The efforts which my Friends and myself hare made to effect a Meeting before you , -with a view of discussing in your presence the important matter of UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE , for the purpose of procuring harmony and unanimity of action amongst the several sections of Reformers , at the approaching Election , having failed , there is but one course open to me , and which , in j ustice to the unrepresented millions , I am bound to adopt , and that is , again to offer myself as a CANDIDATE fof . your suffrages and support . '
Having upon a former occasion , stated fully in a published address , and also from the hustings , my views upon the general questions of Government , Commerce , and Finance , it will not be necessary for me , in this paper , to do more than briefly recapitulate those opinions which , upon a former , occasion , I had the honour of urging upon your attention . I am for a " full , free , and fair" representation of the people in Parliament ; by which I mean , that every man who has attained the age of twenty-one years , who is of sane mind , and not undergoing punishment for the violation of law , shall exercise the right of voting in the election of members , to serve in the House of Commons .
I am opposed to all State Endowments for Religious purposes , and would therefore vote for the immediate separation of the Church from the State , at the same time making provision for the present ministers and other dependents of the Church of England . I am for the most perfect system of Free Trade and would to that end vote for the abotion of all taxes , as at present levied under the title of " Customs , " " Excise , " "Stamp Duty " &c , &e . ; and would , propose , in heu thereof , a direct tax , to be imposed upon the property of the country , thereby freeing industry from those trammels and impositions which at present afflict the community . . I am opposed to wars , armies , capital punishments , . and to all those remnants of bar-
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> arism and ignorance , which serve to degrade and to keep alive those feelings of antagonism which it ought to be the firsfcobjecfc of all human institutions to repress . . - I am opposed to the principle and practice of the present Poor Laws , and think their alteration and amendment a subject of the greatest magnitude . As I shall shortl y have the pleasure of appearing personall y before you , I will delay any further statement of my opinions until that time , when I will be read y to answer such questions as may then be proposed to me . lam , Gentlemen , Respectfully yours , April 13 th , 1849 . ThomIs Clark .
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Mk . BLIGH AND THE GREENWICH CHARTISTS . TO TUB TSDITon OF THE yoUTWERN STAR . Sir , —We , the undersigned persons , having seen in the Star of last week a letter signed James Bligh , in which the writer states he has been scouted as a spy by those men who ur 2 ed him on to take a leading part in the agitation of last year . It is true that Bligh . was strongly suspected of jtfther being a spy or a tool of Davis , for he was more with him than any other person in the movenSent , and from ¦ their intimacy , we must say / the one knew well the actions of the other . So farfrom urging him on we were always opposed to his harangues . Our opinion of Mr . Bligh is , as ever , that if he wag noi a snv ho
was the tool of that base and designing knave , Davis , and this being the case , how can we , as democrats , recognise or associate with him ? It is surprising to us that Mr . Bligh should have delayed writing to the Star Upon this subject for so long a time , but we suppose the reason is because his principal accuser , Mr . John Robinson , has left this country for America . In reply to his assertions , that he did not know anything of the vile plots of Davis until he was subpoenaed by Mr . Itoberts ' s agent , we can bear witness to the fact that he was publicly accused , before a meeting of Chartists , ia company witK 3 >» t 5 s ( six weeks previous to his being subpoenaed . , SlMMOHDS SWEETLOVE , SAMUEL BHEWERTO . V
, George T . Floyd , Thomas Entecott , Thomas Lbwer , Joseph Morgan , Thomas Pahis . P-S . —We wish all our old friends to meet on Monday evening , April 23 rd , at Jenny Lind ' s Coffee Houso , Greenwich-market . Greenwich , April 17 th .
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TO THE CHARTISTS OP THE WEST RIDING . In consequence of a number of inconsiatent reports having been circulated with an intent to injure my reputation , I beg leave to say , that as 1 had been appointed at the last West Riding Delegate meeting to be on the plan as a lecturer , auch towns in the "West Riding that I am appointed to attend this quarter must not expect me . I think it is very hard for a man to labour strenuously in the cause , so much so that I have materially injured both my constitution and circumstances , . and then be repaid by calumny . I am charged with neglect for not giving publicity to the lecture that was to bo delivered at Birkenshaw , by Mr , Harris , of
Leeds , on Sunday evening last . How , I ask , could I give publicity to the lecture when it was at halfpasfc eleven o ' clock on Saturday night , that a person accidentally got one of the lecturing plans and put it into my hand ? I likewise saw upon that plan that I was to lecture in Bradford on Sunday evening . Now how could I conscientiously lecture in Bradford when I knew nothing whatever , of the circumstance until the time above specified ' not only thai , Lufc I made arrangements with my Bingley friends at the commencement of the week to lecture there twice on the same Sunday . Whoever was intrusted with the lecturing plans to distribute in this district , is to Uame , and not me . I am also charged with neglect for not attending an appointment of Mr . North , at Leeds ; I promised Mr . North on
Saturday that I would go , but I had no directions where to go to , except that the meeting was to be on Woodhouse Moor . The day wa $ very wet ; the rain descended in torrents , even atihe time the meeting Bhouldbe held ; my . BivkerishaV friends requested me not to walk eight miles in the rain , as they believed there would be no meeting . I acceded to their request , and staid with them all day . I am informed that I went half way , into a public-house , and there got drunk . My Birkenshaw friends can prove this to be a fabrication . The above are the circumstances which cause me to have my name struck off the list . Another cause is , that some would-be conscientious Chartists want to gag me at meetings and lectures , but as I resolved not to be gagged by the government , I never will be gagged by men like myself . I am still an unflinching Chartist , Edward HuaifcT . Bjrkenshaw , near Leeds , Apr il 17 . ii ^
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MR . TH 0 MAS 0 N . TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAB . Sib , —Having seen a statement in your valuable paper of the 14 th instant from Mr . Thomason , stating that he has suffered a loss by the Chartists of Wednesbury , we beg to state that with regard to the school that nothing but his own negligence caused the breaking up of that establishment . The number of scholars was near one hundred , besides the district subscriptions to him as a . lecturer ; while so engaged we supplied him' with . food at our own expense , till the district would not subscribe any longer . We hope the men of Manchester and other places will not be taken in by the artful dodger as we were . I remain , Sir , youvs respectfully , Bekj . Danks . Wednesbury , April 18 th , 1849 .
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN " STAR . " Sib , * -The re-organisation of the Miners' Union in Northumberland and Durham , continues to progress . At a delegate meeting , held at the sign of the Cook , Newcastle , on Saturday last , there were additional delegates from Triradon , Castle Eden , and Wallsend collieries , The number of miners enrolled at present is upwards of two thousand , and as the employers throughout the entire district are attempting reductions , it is anticipated that in a short time the whole of the miners of these important counties will be once more in a position to secure " a
fair day ' s wage for a fair day ' s labour . " The delegates , among many resolutions calculated to forward the extension of the organisation , adopted a petition to the legislature , praying . an enactment For the better protection of the lives of the miners from explosion by fire damp , and to compel a more healthy system of ventilation . It having been also resolved to hold another meeting on Saturday , April 28 th , at eleren-o ' clock in the forenoon , the meeting was duly ' dSSolved , all parties being in high-spirits at the position achieved in so short a time . ' ' Yours , iic ., M . Judb .
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ADVANTAGES OF HOME COLONISATION . LOWBASDS , SNIG'S END , AND MOAT ESTATES of the NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . At the annual meeting , on Thursday week last , of the parish of Redmarley , in which Lowbands is situate , the business was conducted in a straightforward manner , by calling on the allottees to investigate the accounts and scrutinise the vouchers , as well as nominating one of them , Mr . nenry Porter , to act as parish constable , when it w » s deemed prudent not to disturb the harmony existing in the parish , more particularly as those selected to fill offices have given satisfaction . As a portion of the Snig ' s End Estate is in Gloucestershire , and the residue , with the Moat , in Worcestershire , battles had to be fought in two parishes—Staunton and Corse . After some skirmishing at the Staunton meeting , Mr . Boswell proposed , and Mr . James West seconded ,
Mr . W . Coulson ( late of Derby ) as Churchwarden . This was carried by a large majority : a poll was threatened but subsequently declined . The un ity of action amongst the occupants was truly pleasing . Messrs . John Clarke , Kinross , and others , replied in good style to the arguments adduced by their opponents . The Chairman ( an intelligent one ) , the Curate of the parish , acted with impartiality , except in one trifling instance . It was then proposed to build a bviuge , which would cost the parish over £ 200 . This proposal was likewise quashed by the efforts of the allottees . At Corse parish meeting , . on the Rector taking the c' . iair , a young farmer , possessing more land than sense , and who said it was strange of men who had only a few acres of land contending with those who had hundreds , protested against Mr , O'Brien having anything to do
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vita the business of the meeting . Mr . Dewhurst produced an act of Parliament showing that Mr . ) B . was entitled to take part in the proceedings . It was then resolved that Messrs . Dewhurst , Lambert , and O'Brien audit the books . When they did so . they ftmnd that they had not been audited since 1833 , and not even cast up since 1843 , and they could not refrain from condemning the slovenliness and carelessness apparent in them , but at the same ; ime remarked that the last year ' s expenditure relected credit on the Churchwarden , Mr . Wilkins . There is a sum of ovor £ 20 due to parish . Messrs . Culliiigham and Lambert were severally proposed as Churchwarden for the parish . Mr . Cullingham declined ; on which Mr . John West proposed , and | Ir . Rogers seconded , that Mr . John Crofta ( late of Leicester ) , be the parish Churchwarden : the last
named person was carried by a great mnjority . They then commenced about a church rate . Mr . Cullingham showed that no rate could be laid for the liquidation of old debts ; that whatever was made must be in perspective . The largo farmers then agreed to pay the old amongst themselves ; though talking of a sixpenny rate , they then considered threepence would do . Eventually , they proposed a penny rate , but even this they could not ob-^ I ™ ^" the > ' ? llow that a 11 ww illegal ; tor t Dr . Phlllimore would grant them a rate despite ttie Allottees . Mr . Crofts is a local preacher of the Wesleyan Society . The Rectov acted -with the # &ct ?_ s 1 i impartiality in the ohair , and very kindly granted * request , made by Mr . O'Brien on the part of the Allottees , fov three months' indulgence in the paying of tithes now due .
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THE LATE FESTIVAL AT CHARTER 7 ILLE . TO THE EDITOR QF . THE NORTHERN 8 TAB . Sib , —In your account of the proceedings at the tea festival at Charterville in last Saturday ' s paper , " m the report of the short speech I made , I observe an omission , which appears to me of some importance . In the beginning of my speech , I begged ; o disclaim any participation in the political part of the sentiments oppressed by other speakers , not being yet prepared to give an opinion on the question of politics . An insertion of this explanation ¦ will much oblige , Sir , your humble servant , Minster Lovel , p . w . Bryan . near Witney , Oxon , April 17 .
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CO-OPERATION . TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —Your broad sheet being literally a working roan ' a paper , I am sorry thai eo long a lapse has occured between my last and present report , resptct . ing the Rochdale Co-operative Society , ' The Equitable Pioneers . ' The society , after a few years ' experience , finding it necessary to alter and amend its laws , sent the new laws to the Revising Barrister for his approval ; but so accommodating to the wants of the labourers have been the law-makers , that it has taken our people smd the law dWpenser some six months or better to understand each other . Being in this fix , and knowing that applications for copies of our laws would be the result of a notice of our society appearing in your paper , we held our peace until our laws were arranged and printed .
Tracing the causes of failure in co-operative societies to a system of credit , and leaving the management of business in the hands of an agent or storekeeper , who , through incapacity or dishonesty , involved the society , and determining to make a mace equitable division of profits , by giving a fixed rate of interest—five per cent . —to shareholders , and the remainder to purchasers , in proportion to the amount expended b y each , not giving all profits to the money holders , and thug keeping the poor man eternally so . In the hope of evading the evils noticed , and effecting the following objects—namely , the establishment ot A Store for the supply of genuine articles of food clothing , &c ., at cost price to the members ; A "Working Man's Savings Bank , where 6 UH 18 ( torn threepence upwards could be deposited at five per cent , interest , and withdrawn in cases of distress ;
The fostetino , of pYiidesift and ; economy amongst working people , by induefng them to abstain from petty shopping and debt contracting ; And of giving to those , whose limited means or large family prevented them horn saving money , a fair share of the profits arising from their trading transactions . The society commenced operations with very large hopes , but a very small Btoek , the sura total ot its possessions being £ 24 worth of goods and chattels-, its weekly receipts JE 14 ; and balance in treasurer ' s hands dS 5 ; at the close of its first quarter , March , 1845 . But the elose of the quarter , ending March , 1849 , shows the increase of stock and realisation of hopes , as follows : —
Value of stock ( cost price ) , £ 385 ; cash in hand , £ 120 ; cash withdrawn , £ 49 ; weekly receipts , £ 105 ; number of members , 220 ; admitted during the quarter , 80 ; dividend per pound , purchase money , Is . 8 d . Such is our present position—and , next to the free labour and enthusiasm of some of our members , I think we ewe our present prosperous condition to our rigid adherence to buying and selling for ready money ' only , and weither intrusting nor tempting any individual with the sole management of our business . Parties desirous of possessing copies of our laws er further information can receive such by sending six postage stamps to Yours , &c . James Daiy , Secretary , Pioneers' Store . Milkstone-road , Rochdale .
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adopted by which tho Houso of Corner ..-,.- * h .- » uld be enabled to , see what were the prospacu (••> .- the future , and some of them expressed their how * that no further grants would be required . I w . ii ; wked especially by a gentleman who is the len ^ r Uil tha . opposite sule of the house ,-to state that -this \ r ; : * intended to be the last grant . I said I certainly > -juld not pledge myself that this should be the ln « - ' » " -ant proposed by the government , because wo " uuA ' aot according to cn-eumstances , and in anv o ^ . . ¦ ordinary degree of distress which could not !; . otherwise relieved , we would not preclude ourseU .-s from asking for a grant for that purpose . IlowV . 'Y the opinion , I think you will allow , in the Uvuls of Commons generally was that there ought i . y be . loine
course adopted by which grants having W- made for soToral years , und the prospect hem * tv .-y uncertain as to the sufficiency of local fun « X < r .-. i- the next year and the year after , there should lx- .-mine contributions made from Ireland more tl : «» > va » made in the last year for tho purpose of the i-eJi ^ of Irish distress . Now there were two ways by \ vhich this could be effected ; the one wa ? , pntiine on a special tax or a special rate on Irrland for the occasion , hiaking it limited , in point of time , limited in point of amount , and leaving tho country at the end of that timo with the iinm ^ iate want supplied , and without at all raising a :. vvcedent that should be injurious for the fururo ! Oa the other hand , it was said that such a wvivient
would be most injurious—that it would he - .-. : » .-j . ' ; iration of Ireland , which was contrary to r !<• .. - iin ' nciples of the Union—that the way in whi-: ! i iilo rate was proposal to be raised would make it [•!••>• . ¦ more severely upon one class of persons and ' i . 'po . M on © kind of property than upon others ; and th ; -. ? the better course was to consider whether thoro were any taxes which were paid in Great Britain , : ind wore not paid in Ireland , to which Ireland migbl befairly called on to contribute ; anil thun in the contemplation of such taxes to make such grants a « were required iu peeuli . ii' exigencies , who ' thcr ihey occurred in the west of Ireland , or wk-tiiar they occurred in the Highlands of Scotland , <•> . hi anyother part of the United Kingdom , from th >
Imperial Exchequer . Tho proposal which * tta irovt-rnment made was founded upon the first of the . ™ two views ; but , upon the proposition being made , an . amendment -was moved by Major Blackali thai there should be a property tax instead of thai wh / u > h \ m proposed . There was a very considerably ) division . The amendment ' was supported by , a gmifmiinbev of Irish members , who were in favour of ihni view ; while , at the same time , I think many ** explained afterwards that what they wished to infer w ; m , chat they were against the rate in aid , and not in favour of a property tax . Major BiacKAi . li . ~ -Might I interrupt your lordship ' i , The question was , whether a rat « in aid should be fixed upon all descriptions of j . -roporty above a certain amount .
Lord John Russkll . —I q uite admit that it Jiiighfc be considered that it was not in favour of mi income tax , but in subsequent debates that view of the question has been very much pressed . Several gentlemen have s . Vld tlicy should bo ro : niy to support nn income and property tax , it k was thought advisable to extend it to Ivwaud , to be imposed upon the same persons and to tho <^ me extent as it is in England , though they should not be willing to agree to the rate in aid . " I may mention another suggestion which ha 3 been thrown out—indeed , I think a division was taken on it in the House of Commons—namely , that there might be a tax which would not-be completely an income and property tax , but which would require
contributions to bo made from the funds and from the salaries of persons holding official situation ? , nnd not requiring any contribution from tnuU-s : md professions . Now , I should say with regard w tliat ) roposition , that it lias been always held , I believe , from the first imposition of the income and property tax by Mr . Pitt in this country , and at all subsequent times , that you can take nothing in the natureof a tax from the public funda , without a brrviob of faith , and that therefore the only way in which you . can reach the public funds is by imposing a rax upon all kinds of income—income derived from tho public funds as well as other sources . ThercfW .,- whatever might be the expediency , and -whatever mi ^ id ba the reasons in favour of such a tax as I h ; ivb
mentioned , it is one which I think no minister could propose for Ireland , indeed not for any purl of the empire without immediately incurring on the pa efc o the fundholders an imputation of a breach ofSuth . and such objections it would be impossible to over , come . I therefore conclude that tho altowuit-ivc is either a rate in aid of the nature we have propped ,, or some such proposition as I see notice ' hn » been given of by Mr . Herbert , the member for the comity of Kerry , When vre propose a rate in aid . ho proposes to leave out all the words svftw tho words "distressed unions in Ireland , " in order to ncM tli * words , " And in consideration thereof , tli : u an income and property tax be assessed on incoiuca and property in Ireland not liablo to income and
property tax under the act 11 and 12 Victoria , chap . 3 . " That is , that there should be a grant , and Uiat that grant should not be charged on a i .-iM » lW income and property tax for Ireland , but that : u > there is such a grant to be made the income i . ivl property tax shoulu be extended to Ireland . Thai I conc'ive is the moaning of tbAt proposition . > : ovr , if this were a general tax affecting the United . Kingdom , supposing the exigencies of the public service required that there should be either a land tax imposed , or an income tax and property tax , it m tylifc be very fairly put before the House of Ctanwjons , they agreeing generall y that the exigencies of tho pub * lic service did require a tax to a certain amount , whether ' they would agree to the one proposiiiwi . or
whether they would take tho other . But m chis peculiar ease what I feel is that there might be a great majority of tho Irish members in favour of Mr » Herbert's proposition , that that might in fact bo the sense of the representatives for Ireland , but thatthe other proposition being supported by the government , being the government proposition , Utos-c whoplaced their confidence in tho government voting for that proposition , there might be a majority of the House of Commons against that gonevjil sense of the Irish members . Such being the cns > e , therefore , I wish to obtain from you some intimation * not immediately , but in tho cow 3 e of the next twetityfour hours , as to what would be tlic coursts of the Irish members , or the majority of the IviaU « i <* m-
bers , in respect to this proposition . I should ;; ot however , act fairly , and tully explain the in ten lions of the government , if I were not to sny th ; it , according to all the information which wo have- collected , both in the past year and the present y 5 > ar , with respect to an income and property tax upon the same classes and to the same amount as in England , if we wero to make that proposition we should feel it necessary to accompany it with other propositions with respect io taxation in Ii'oluud . When I so speak , I may at once declare that I do not conceive that there would bean objection in jioin : of justice to the extension of the assessed taxes to ireland , but I do think there would be an insupmble objection in point of wisdom and expedient * , i think
the reasons for which Lord Ripon thought it ntvessary to repeal the assessed taxes in Ireland were reasons which were very powerful at that time , but I think they are far more powerful at the i > res »> nt time . Therefore the proposition I should ni : ike would not be an extension to Ireland of the a ^ ossed taxes , but we should , if wo proposed to assent to Mr . Herbert ' s proposition for the extension of the income and ' property tax to Ireland , hold ourselves at liberty to propose an extension to Ireland of other taxes which are now paid in Great Uritain , and which are not paid in Ireland now , to a certain amount . The whole amount would not lie more
than we now expect to raise by the rate in aid . I have stated generally the view which the government take . I do hope by eleven o'clock to-morrowmorning , I may be informed of what the course i » which at five o'clock the Irish members would generally tako with respect to ifr . Herbert ' s motion , I shall now retire from this room , but it may occur to you that thoro may be some questions which you would wish to ask me , or some further explanation which you wish to have , and therefore 1 shall be in the room next to this , and if you will send me a message that you wish to see me any further , I shall be ready to attend you . An Hon . Member . —There is an answer at once to be given to your lordship . Lord J . Russkll . —I think it Better that I riiould retire .
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PARLIAMENTARY REFORM . We extract the following from the BuchAdvertiser and Aykslury News of April 14 th;—" The agitation for Parliamentary Reform has ceased at present . Mr . Hume and his friends find they have enough to do in fanning the flame for th * reduction of extravagant expenditure . As a matter of policy ,, wo think he is wrong in not taking tht bull by the horns at once : the reform of the legislature is the only measure which can effectually establish justice to all classes of the community . This gamed , everything else would follow . Besides , no movement could be half so popular as one which proposes to regenerate the legislature by bestowing full suffrage upon tho people . All reformers have the sense to see that this would suffice ; and is it not reasonable to suppose that a well conducted agitation for Parliamentary Reform would rouse the whole land more easily than the organisation of
narties to work out certain details of financial , le » aL ' * - and ecclesiastical amendment ? We perceive that many genuine Radicals have , in other towns , determmednot to let this great question slumber Th « following is a copy of the petition which they have adopted , which wo insert chiefly for the sake of the ™ w ™^ form ation and opinions which it coniary Reform r thCCbartiStpetiti ° forParliara * *
fefcp ^ Jffi x NtJm
To The Old Guards
TO THE OLD GUARDS
Cfwtitst Bite Ihqnxcc
Cfwtitst Bite IHqnxcc
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DEPUTATION OF IRISH MEMBERS TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL . A numerous attendance of representatives from Ireland took place on Wednesday at Bowning-street , pursuant to the request of Lord John Russell , to hear the views entertained by the government on the subject of Irish taxation and the rate in aid . Among those present were Lord Kildare , Lord Castlereagh , Sir D . Novreys , Sir A . Armstrong , Lord Milton , Sir J . Young , Lord Newry , Sir R . Howard , Colonel Rawdon , Sir E . M'Naghten , Lord J . Chichester , Sir W . Somerviile , Sir L . O'Brien , Sir E . Hayes , Sir T . Burke , Messrs . Sfteil , Herbert , Monsell , Arcbdall , Dawson , R . Bourke , M'Cullagh , Tenison , Cole , French , Maxwell , Bateson , Tennant , J . O'Connell , M . J . O'Connell . Devereux , Moore , Ffolliot , Keating ' , St . George , Bruen , O'Flahertv .
M , Power , Blackall , Jones , Sullivan , Dunne , BuJler , Bellew , Fox , Browne , Magan , Sculjy , Alexander , Green , Lawless , Meagher , Sadleir , Leslie . At a-few minutes after eleven o'clock , Lord John Russell , accompanied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and Sir George Grey , entered the room . Before entering upon the business for which the deputation had been called together , Mr . J . O'Connell complained of the treatment a deputation on behalf of Mr . Duffy had recently received from Lord Clarendon , and also of the report of the meeting which appeared in the Times newspaper . Lord J . Russell , however , declined to give an opinion one way or the other . Mr . Tennant , and Mr . O ' Flaherty , supported the views of Mr . O'Connell , and Viscount Castlereagh added : — . With reference to what fell from Mr . O'Connell , I believe people are now getting pretty well aware of the one-sided nature of the reports hi the Times with respect to Irish
matters . Lord J . Russeli/—I will now refer to the object for which I have requested the gentlemen present to meet to-day . It is an extraordinary step which I have taken , thus to ask Irish members of all partics to attend me here . I have to apologise for any trouble which I may have given to them ; but I really thought it might be of groat advantage to them and to their constituents that we should Snow as members of the government what the views of the Irish members are . You will recollect that in the earl y part of tho session the Chancellor tta Exchequer moved for a grant of £ 50 , 000 to relieve distress in certain parts of Ireland , in which there was great suffering , and in which there did not
appear to be local meansi sufficient for the relief of those districts . In doing so we followed the course whieh had been taken in 1822 , and some subsequent years , and which had been taken in 1846 , 1847 , and 1848 . It was objected , and objected not solely by members of one party , but objected by gentlemen whose names will occur to you , to whom I do not wish to refer as not being present , but members of the House of Commons of very different political parties , that it was plain that the evil was increasing - ^• thflti it vrus n ot an occasional relief which was sought , but that it was a relief going on from year to year , to be paid out of the imperial exchequer for Irish distress . They therefore thought that there should be some explanation given , or some course
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A Sharp Look-out for the Loaves and Fishes . — inere are nearly one hundred candidates for the perpetual curacy of Hanley , the right of presente d ^ *< TT ?^ tion to which ig yested in trustees . ^/ T > & 5 ?\ ftUSi ^ A * ,
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> 4 JfaU- 7 P ~ **"<* " *** AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL .
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VOL . XII . P 600 I AND AN SATURDAY APRIL 9 . 1 I&M pricb fitefence o / fuij . jm . a . ovv . LUlUlUfl , &A 1 UIVUAI , flrBlh M , iffff , rirc 8 MW , ttnd Slx | > ei . ce Pcr «*» . „ , ;«
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 21, 1849, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1519/page/1/
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