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Northern Star (1837-1852), 16th March 1850, Edition 1 of 3, Page 5, Untitled Article

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      • TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NA- * TIONAL LAND COMPANY . G EKTtEMEN , —The present position of the Company , and the utter impossibility of continning . " its operations trader the disadvanta ges against which if has to contend , as well « s our own desire to rid ourselves of a responsibility mc ^ ** * **» $ se ' fallen to the lot fany public officers to bear , all make it im-« eratiTe npou ns to communicate to you what * re oar intentions respecting our connexion . yjfljit , and also what is our determination respecting the Company itself . the of

      Lo oting at disposition a majority of the tenants on the estates—Great Dodford , and 0 'Connorville , excepted—and the determination , in many cases , to make our respected coUeague ( Jfr . 0 ' Connor ) personaU y responsible for the return of money paid for ' shares , and ail of which has been invested in property , and the unwillingness of the Government to Walize the institution , ire do not see the remotest prospect of continuing it with either cjBdifc to ourselves , or advantage to you ; and therefore , we have determined upon bringing it to a termination , with all the speed that the law will allow . Mr . O'Connor has already , in his place in Parliament , given notice of his Intention , immediately after Easter , to

      introduce a bill for the purpose of winding up its affaire , so that without delay , all the necessary steps will be taken for that purpose . The nature and provisions of the bill have aot yet been decided upon , bnt it will be prepared by most eminent legal functionaries , and with a scrupulous regard for the rights of all parties concerned . Winding up , therefore , J 3 a fixed and irrevocable conrse , and to prepare for it 13 now the only duty which we have to perform .

      Beeently , in a very few instances , resolution ^ condemnatory of our continuance in office , have been passed ; the parties agreeing to those resolutions , overlooking the terms of your engagement with us , as well as the absojnte necessity for superintendence , even in this last stage of existence of the Company , and blowing , as they did , that the case of the Company had been introduced to the Court of Queen ' s Bench , for hearing upon

      the last day of thelast term , and was onlypostponed , because there was not sufficient time to bear the argument . We were elected by the 2 afe Conference , tocondnct the Company either to a successful issue in the Court of Queen's Bench , or to some ' other immediate and final fcnninataon . The phraseology and spirit of these resolutions , place them beyond the limits of controversy , and excite in our minds feelings akin to anything but respect . .

      However , gentlemen , the Company , in its entirety , have acted , otherwise , and with a forbearance and dignity , which our maligners areincapable of understanding , and have made proper and becoming allowances for the unprecedented difficulties of our position , and to you we one , and all tender our warmest thanks , and shall always remember with pride onr connexion and association with you . Gentlemen : Except for the purposes of sinding-npthe affairs of the Company , we no longer exist as a directory , and we pledge our words , that no delay shall occur in that transaction , and that it shall be conducted in a manner -which shall ? be creditable to ourselves , and under the circumstances of the case

      satisfactory to you . We are , gentlemen , with the highest respect , Christopher Doyle , Wiliiam Dixon , Thosias Clark , Phujp M'Grath .

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      LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE MINERS . TO THE EDITOR OF THE SORIHESS STAR . 5 ib , —Tie last county meeting of the miners of Lancashire and Cheshire was held at the Georgclnn , Lamberhead-green , when a cheering report was given of tbe prospects of the onion around Wigan , Aspul , -&C , by > r . Dennett , the agent for that neighboar-LooiL All the districts—with the exception , of two —reported in favour of paying an extra levy of twopence—lor once only—for the purpose of sending a depntation to London , in order to mate arrangements / or getting a Bill to protect the lives and health of the

      working miners , introduced into Parliament . In consequence of the districts generally reporting in favour of the extra levy , it wa 3 resolved : —" That a general levy of twopence per member extra be collected ia every district through both counties ; and to be brought to the next county meeting . " . On account of themeetirg only sitting one . day , several important matters Cad to stand over until the next meeting . Amongst others left was the election of the deputation to London—the question of a general restriction , &c , so that every delegate must coire prepared to stay two days at the next county neetin ; r .

      A tyrannical action of the manager of Tonge-Iane Colliery , Middleton , was reported at the meeting There have been three seams working at this colliery —two thin seams , known by the name of Neddy and Sally Mines ; and the Black Mine , a thicker s ° am ; -during the last fortnight the manager stopped the fcro thin mines , where nine raen were working , on account of trade being slack ; and about eighteen men wariing in the Black Mine . The Black Mine colliers Couldjnstsnpplyhis sale with thin coal ; the dismissed miners were desirous of working with the Black Mine colliera , and the last-named miners were also desirous that they should do so , but the manager ¦ would not permit It to be done . When the thin coal miners had played them a week , they asked their

      master what thry -were to do ; he cooly told them fiat he would set them the coal in the thin mines to get , if they had a mind , on the butty or charter-mastsr sjstem . They asked him at what price he wished ioseiit at , bat he refused to tell tkem , thinking thereby that in a short time they would be willing to take it at any terms . It was resolved at the county meeting— " That the nine men ont of work should bssnpportedfrom the funds of the union . " The men working in the Black , mine very properly sent to the county board for advice , as to the best plan for them to adopt , with a view of compelling the manager to let all have an equal share of employment On inquiry it wa 3 found that the present 'trade made the eighteen or twenty employed about three shillicgs per ° day . It was ordered " That the men now wording at the Tooge-lane Colliery ,

      Middleton , he requested to restrict themselves to two shillings per day , per roan ; so that all may have an equal share " of the work . What will make twenty men 3 s . each , will be 3 s . each for thirty 2 l £ n . The county meeting was adjourned until TKXt Monday , 18 th inst ., it the Horse Shoe , half way between Ashton and Oldham , Chorley . I attended a good meeting at this place on the 7 tli Jast , held as the George Inn , when it was agreed to Establish a aeir lodge ; the officers were elected , tod a namber entered , on Saturday evening , 9 th inst . Yours respectfully , D . Swailott . 25 , Sidney-street , Bolton . * - -T I have received several letters from friends at a distance this week , I shall be glad to receive otters .

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      THE MIXERS O * AYRSHIRE . - " ^ emine masters in the neighbourhood of Hul-* or < ij l > yKilmarnock , have lately attempted to reunee the miners' Yfages from 3 Jd . per hutch ( tub ) , ™» sa desired them to send fourteen tuba P ^ daj instead of twelve , as at the present time . W Course this was not intended as a reduction of "f ages ; the principal object was to provide them ¦ fitb . more employment , which , generally , is the Galy thing that colliers inquire after , but this time &iufy was awake . When he came to reckon up what Srarteen tafo at 3 d . each would come to , he found &at it was 3 s . 6 d ., jnstexactly the amount of twelve J ^ s at 3 Jd . per tub ; therefore the only benefit « at could ~ arise to the miners from this proposifcto , Ttould be for them to send to bank two small J * s of fonr and a half cwfc . each for nothing . But y ? miners did not look at it in the same u > fi as ttmii .. pmnlnvera did . and the men

      s -opped working Their employers attempted ™ . / jut them out of their houses , in the *™* t of -winter , to rock their infants cradle in a warm ditch , bnt the miners again demurred , and saeee-sfull y defended themselves in the courts of *** i commonly called courts of Justice , at a great I *** * , which they are now paymg offat a certain ]??*« % . The result is that the men are stUl t in the same houses . But the richest and Iht P . « t of tue story » not yet told ; masters « a reduce wages when coate are reduced in | r market , but they wished to recover wages blJ ? 18 ca ! e ^ though an advance had taken for * *?" P ™ 50 of c 0 a * 5 m tne mar ^ I there" *> this is another proof that it matters not to tb « l ^ ara miner whether the prices of coal are being ^ J « ed or advanced in the market to them , for re-¦ T * J ° of wages i 3 the general rule , -when the men ««» Vun 5 tea . with each ofter . la this case , it hat

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      gained : the miners , a glorious victory . A public meeting has been held at Hoodstone Bridge , since the miners returned to their work . The chair , was taken at ten o ' clock in the morning by a miner ; who , as wellas all the other speakers , spoke greatly in favour of asational union amongst the miners of the united kingdom . The number of members in the union are on the increase every week . Tkere appears to be a strong desire through Ayrshire to join the union . Amongst other things agreed to at the public meeting , they resolved to assist in obtaining government inspection over mines and collieries , and also adopted the miners' petition , as published in the Star on the 23 rd ult .

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      Emiobation . —Nearly two hundred pauper amigrants from the Cheltenham union are expected to go out to Quebec in the Corsair , to sail from Gloucester ia the month of April , -

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      ' ^ ^ fe REFORM LEAGUE / M » vQ ^ $ , the P « &dent of thia Association , lectu » $ d ; a 4 jUie Institution in John-street , Filzroysquare , on Friday week , before a numerous audience Hft commenced by reading , from a large hand-bill , areaolution which was recently carried at a public meeting at Greenwich , to the iffect that all measures of free trade shall be accompanied by a repeal in the fixed price of gold , and also with a readjustment of a public burdens to a scale , proportionate to the fall of prices caused by foe trade . He stated that his address to that meeting was received with applause , and listened to with attention . although a few years ago he would have had no

      support in advocating such doctrines as be propounded on that occasion . Now , howe ver , people were coming round to his views ; and he lad no hesitation in saying , that the League would , ; one day , be the strongest party in England , because all other parties , not founded on its principles , must get weaker , while the League would be daily getting stronger . Mr . O'Brien then alluded to the ' Progressionist ;' , and called the attention of his hearer * to the last number of that publication , in whicb was reprinted the whole of the League prospectus , introduced by a commendatory paragraph , by thr editor , who had become a member of the League , and had promised to advocate its principles on everv

      convenient opportunity . He cordially recommended the 'Progressionist' to the support of his audience ; quoting a passage from the previous number , whic *> ended with the prayerful sentence—• From land lords , their robbery , and their rule , good Lord deliver us ! ' The lecturer , in refering to the reform movements now going on , remarked , that it was satisfactory to perceive that political Chartism was now seldom advocated without being conjoined with social reform aspirations ; and he was glad to notice that Mr . G . J . Harney had , on that platform the other evening , expressed the indispeiisableness of Chartists becoming something more than Chartists . In the course of his lecture he ( Mr . O'Brien ) descanted on the changes in public opinion which was going on in reference to the . estimation of the characters of

      great historical personages ; and especially instanced Kobespierre and Julius Csesar . A few years ago , be ( Mr . 0 Brien ) had been voted mad for defending Robespierre against the calumnies of historians , and against popular prejudice ; but now , apologists for that wise and good man were frequently appearing . Even Lamartine bad been compelled to admit tbai he had been grossly misunderstood and abused . Robespierre was one of the truest philanthropists thr world bad ever seen ; and the crimes which ban been attributed to him were the work of his enemies—who , dreading the influence which be had acquired over the working C 1 B 88 C 8 , through the wise and just measures of reform lie bad advocated , contrived by intrigue , slander , and treachery to get him murdered before those reforms could be carried into

      practice . The privileged classes , who wished to keep the working classes powerless , slaves to capitalists and landlords , hated and dreaded ¦ such reformers as Maximilian Eobeepierre ; and would sacrifice them without remorse . Refering to Paine and Cobbet . the lecturer maintained that doth these otherwise able men were totally wrong in their ideas upon agrarian justice , and money , which , indeed , was now very generally admitted , as was also the folly of throning all blame for the evils of society upon monarchy . A great deal bad been said and written about the patriotism inculcated in the letters of Junius , and much pains had been taken to discover who Junius was ,-but , for his part , he considered Junius not worth looking for . Legal and

      conventional plunderers of the working classes were in tbe act of attributing public distress to anything but their own injustice , and artfully managed thereby to divert public attention from bad social institntions to mere political institutions of comparative unimportance . The power of the crown had often been egregiously exaggerated . What power had Queen Victoria , independant of her ministers ? Although , nominally , she reigned over such vast possessions as now belonged to England , yet this mig hty Queen ivas as politically impotent as a babe in swaddling clothes ; and even her personal independence was so infringed upon by an oligarchy that she could not even marry whom she pleased , nnr choose her own bed-chamber women ! Yet

      popularity-hunters went about denouncing kingsthose mere puppets in the band 9 of crafty landlords and money » lords 1 Revetting to Julius Csesar , the lecturer said , it was usual to hear his murderer spoken of as the ' noble Brutus ; ' and it was currently believed , that he killed Cawar under the in . fluence of the patriotic motive of saving the republic , from what the conspirators , called the despotism of Csesar ; whereas , the real cause of their hatred of him was , that be had made himself ton popular with tbe lower orders of the people , by his laws for the restriction of usury , and other measures instituted for tbeir benefit , against the interests of the aristocracy , and the pretended friends of popular

      rights . Mr . O'Brien , afterwards ' , ' alluded to , and-illustrated the enormous power of England ' s commercial aristocracy ; and , he said it with sorrow , he believed that power to be tbe most insidious enemy to popular liberties the wtfrld had ever known ; and that too , all the while the parties exercising it were pretending to be actuated by nothing else than a desire to benefit tbe people , whom they would , nevertheless , shoot down like dogs , didjhey ever attempt to take their just rights by force . Now , the National Reform League were bonded together to dispel these popular empiricisms—this political and

      social cant and hypocrisy . Theirs was tbe only neutaal ground on which all parties might take their stand ; theirs was the only party who consecrated the past for the benrfit of existing interests ; but at the same time consecrated the future for the benefit of the whole people . AH parties , therefore , ought to belong to it—Conservatives , Free Traders , Liberals , Chartists , Churchmen . Dissenters , and Catholics would find tbeir interests fairly treated , and their claims justly balanced , however paradoxical such a statement might at first appear ; which paradoxes Mr . O'Brien solved to the audiep . ee in hit usual lucid and humourous style .

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      THE TEX HOURS ACT . MEETING OF DELEGATES IN LONDON . On Saturday evening last a meeting of the factory delegates now in town , sent up for the purpose of promoting a declaratory act or bill to amend the act of 1847 , was held at their committee-room , Northumberland-court , Strand . There were dclogates present from Manchester , Bolton , Blackburn , Leeds , Bradford , Ashton , Dukinficld , and other places . Mr . Thomas Pitt , of Dukinficld , chairman of the delegates , presided . The chairman , in opening the business , observed that the circumstances which had rendered it necessary for them again to leave their homes were of the most distressing character . Many of them

      had been struggling for a Ten Ilours Bill for nearly a quarter of a century , and after a most patient and constitutional agitation , tbeir labours , as they th . iught , had been crowned with , complete success when the bill of 1 S 47 was carried , under the leader ^ ship of their late Lamented friend John Fielden ; but , to their utter disappointment , and tho disappointment of the whole of tho factory workers , they 'were- 'deprived of the whole of its contemplated blessings by a clerical error , or the omission of two or three words in the twenty-sixth section , and they were now scat up by the working-men of the north to assist Lord Ashley in completing the good work in which the noble Lord has so long and so zealously laboured .

      Mr . J . Mills , of Oldham , moved tho first resolution , which was seconded by Mr . P . Hakoraves , of Manchester , and carried unanimously : — " That the decision of the Court of Exchequer being at variance with tbe intentions of the Legislature when'the Ten Hours Act of 1847 was passed , and further legislation having therefore become necessary , we aro resolved , at whatever inconvenience to ourselves , to maintain inviolate the principle of ten hours a day continuous labour exclusive of meal times , and having been sent to London for that purpose we pledge ourselves , by every tie that binds us to- the future welfare of the women and young persons in the factory districts , to use every legitimate means in our power to prevail upon , the Parliament of 1850 to correct tho errors of the Parliament of 1844 and 1847 , believing that the system of working' by shifts , ' which extends tho faotory day over a period

      of fifteen hours out of the twenty-four , was never intended by tho Legislature yhen tho bill was passed , nor by tbe Queen of England when Her Majesty addressed tho Lords and Commons in proroguing Parliament , and congratulated them on the settlement of a question which was intended to limit the hours of factory labour with a view of affording the hands an opportunity of improving their religious , moral , physical , and social condition . " Mr . M . Balmb , of Bradford , moved the second resolution : — " That the system of working by shifts , ' as now practised , is fraught with every imaginable evil to those females and young persons who aro subjected to its influence , and entirely destroys the wholo of the contemplated advantages of the Ten Hours Act , and is in our opinion a gross violation of the intentions of the statute , and therefore we appeal to our friends and supporters in Parliament once more to lend us their wulwg aid

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      and rally round Lord Ashley in the effort he is now making to amend the law . " Tho resolution was seconded b y Miri J . Katk , manager , of Blackburn , and carried unanimously . Mr . KiciiAnD Umswortb , of Bplton , moved the third resolution , which was seconded by Mr . Isaac Bottomly , of Bradford , and carried : —• ' That inasmuch as our present application to . Parliament involves no new principle of legislation , but merely seeks to " put all upon an equal footing , we believe that the adoption of a bill defining the intention of tho act of 1847 would be as acceptable , to our employers generally as it would be advantageous to both masters and workpeople ; this meeting cannot seo upon what grounds such a . bill can be opposed ,

      and venture to express a hope , for the honour and credit of Parliament , that no obstacle will be thrown in the way of a final settlement of the question upon the basis often hours a day , and thereby spare the people an expenditure of time and money in promoting a law without which , in all its integrity , they will never rest satisfied ; and further . that we believe that any extension of the hours of work in factories by act of parliament , ! wuld create great discontent amongst the people , and lead to a widening of the breach between masters and men , which the delegates how assembled are most anxious to avoid . " " It was agreed that a ' petition founded upon the resolutions be prepared , and a vote of thanks having been passed to tho chairman , the meeting separated .

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      THE MEMBERS OF THE WORCESTER BRANCH , TO THE LAND MEMBERS GENERALLY . Gentlemen . —Ilaving seen with deep regret the desire evinced by some branches , to have the operations of the above named company wound up , we beg to enter our protest against any such ; proposition being acted upon , 'for . the following reasons : —First , has it ,, or < fan it be , reasonably dis puted , that the principles and objects of tlie Land Company are incapableiOffrealisation ? Practice answers no . We hold ; itVtp ^ be . no argument , because some individuals have , failed , tbut all must of necessity fai £ , MPA .. fhe . " contrary ,, some of the allottees assert their capability of earning a subsistance on the Company ' s . estates ; and if sueh can be that

      proved to be th « case , wej ^ hink a sufficient reason for its continuaneoi Secondly , we ask , what confidence the members generally have in the assertions made by such persons as those who gave evidence on the trii >) of'O'ConnorversusBradshaw ? We ask , can it be beliefed ^ tliat such gaunt misery as that depicted . byithjep ^«« Hy exists , seeing that they . so pertinai ^ o'ijsi ^ i ^ pt'e to their holding . Wo apprehend ^ lthapf | "t | j iir woo begotten tales were full of truift ^ e y ; $% ld not givo the directors so much wubTe ^ tb get possession of their respective farms , ' b ut } Wpu , ld at once return to the high ' wages and ' comfortable homes , from which , as alleged , theyin their simplicity have been allured . Thirdly , on the . petition presented by Sir B . Hall , Mr . O'Connor is reported to express

      adeterminatjpn' to wind , up : the Company , no -doubt , much to the . satisfaction of the aristocratic ears on which it . fell . We thank Mr . O'Connor for the able and en % ctive answer he gave to the many calumnies attempted to be cast upon his conduct in connexion ' . with the Land Company ; but cannot refrain from expressing our opinion , that the resolution of the last conference , authorising tho directors to prosecute the registration of the Company , should'first be obtained , if it can be obtained , before the directors can , or should , be permitted , to suspend those benefits which it is calculated to confer . Are such men as Beattie and Company , to be permitted to ride rough shod over the best interests of those members who are wanting to have possession ? What similarity exists between their case and tho

      case of a member who inquired about the registration last week , when , on being told the position of our efforts to obtain legal protection , and the alleged condition of the occupants , replied , I wish I could change places with some of them , for I am paying £ 5 per year for an old cottage and nine MjreheB of land , and have to pay poor rates , yet have not a privy or pig stye attached thereto , all my wife , family , and self , have to subsist upoE is icven shillings per week . We . think , had such persor . s ' as these possession of some ot those places , occupied by members who will neither pay nor give up possession , we should s . oon hear some other than the dolorous tales now . fold . An agricultural labourer declared his willingness to give a bonus of £ 20 , when the Company shall be in a condition to give , through tho legal protection now sought , security of tenure . In the face of such declared truths , and opposed as many of the members are to winding up the society , until every ray of hope

      ia dispelled as to the probability of legislation being complied with , we beg to enter our protest against the winding up of a company , the capabilities of the principles of which it cannot be disproved , and which , if properly applied , will be sufficient to fulfil the great objects its founder intended . In conclusion , we request the members of the several hranch . es to ask their representatives to the late conference held at Ship's End , whether they ever beheld finer crops than that estate presented ; the answer must be conclusive . We , therefore , earnestly entreat a calm consideration of this important subject ; and although we admit the ingratitude of some , and those not a . fevr , would , by many , be considered sufficient cause for the abandonment of dur ' darling scheme on the part of Mr . O'Connor ; yet thegrateful hearts of thousands beat with fervent admiration for his devoted and disinterested desires . We maybe permitted to add , that the members hero have the fullest confidence in his

      integrity ; hoping the members generally will calmly consider this important subject , I beg to subscribe myself yours devotedly—for the Worcester branch , James Harding .

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      NoRwicn . —At a ; meeting of members on Monday , the 11 th of March , the . folio wing resolutions were agreed to : — " That the thanks of this meeting is due , . and hereby given , to Mr . O'Connor , for his noble reply to Sir B . Hall in the House of Commons , in reference to the Land Company . "—" That it is the opinion of this meeting , that in the present state of the Land Company , it is inexpedient to continue the 8 esvices of the Directors any longer ,- as there can be nothing for them to do , unless it be to travel the country at the expense of the Company . We therefore call upon those gentlemen , namely : Messrs . M'Grath , Clark , Doyle , and Dixon , to resjgn thoir situations , ( is they ave holding it in opposition to the will of the . members of the Company ; and if they decline we recommend their wages to

      bo stopped . — " That tins meeting is also of opinion , seeing , the ingratitude and scandalous conduct of the ; aUottGos on ' the several estates tow . irda Mr . O'Contjor , their benefiictoi , also in refusing to pny rent- ^ the determination of government , and the powerful influence of the press in opposition to the plan , we consider it absolutely necessary that tbe affairs of the . Company bo immediately wound tip , seeing the impossibility of prosecuting it further with any hope of success . "—The meeting was then adjourned till Monday , March 18 th . Tower Hamleis . —At a meeting of the Whittington and Cat branch , tho following resolution was oarricd : — " That we do enter into a subscription , for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred in the action for a libel , and we call on all members of the-Hamlets , to do the same" A subscription was entered into , and it was ordered to lie open foi

      a month . The business of the . Charter Association was then considered , and it was resolved that a general meeting of members should take place on Sunday , the 17 th , for the purposo of electing the necessary officers to audit accounts , and to discuss the local plan of organisation . The meeting then adjourned . LiiiEiiousE Volunteer Biuxcij . —At a spesial summoned meeting of thi 3 branch , held on the 8 th inst . —Mr . M . Scatchardin tho chair—the following proposition was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously : — " That this meeting , considering the position of the National Land Company ' s affairs , is of opinion that they should bo wound up as soon as possible , and respectfully veque&t Mi . I \ O'Connor to use his best endeavours for that purpose , feeling confident that it cannot be brought to a successful issue if carried on ; and further , that it is superfluous to continue tho services ef the whole of tho Directors . " Tr-i-u-.-. i j-r _ rj ~ iijjfr ~* - *>^ m * - " *** fc

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      THE LATE TRIAL FOR LIBE 5 ., AKD TES LAND PLAN .

      TO FEAKGU 3 o ' cONXOK , ESQ ., M . P . Sin , —The very extraordinary decision of tha-jury in your case against Mr . Bradshaw , proprietor of tho Nottingham Journal , when H reached oiar city , was felt not only among yoar warm friaads , but even by those who do not rank as youtf 2 ealors supporters , as if they had been visited bjt the shock of an earthquake What las puzzled aathsmost is , how any jury could have possibly arrived at the conclusion , that Bradshaw—who charged you with dishonest practices—was not guilty ; and , at tho same time , upon their oaths , affirm you , to have been vpright in all your dealings witi the-Land Company ., It ia a positive contradiction of terms to find- for

      both parties , for if you had committed no roguery , and the jury said so—then Bradshaw wa&guitly . I am extremely happy to observe tho spirit which is every where evinced in your favour among tho members of the . Land Company , and considering all things , it bids fair for the future . Among usalthough it must be confessed we aro rather Blow in moving when money matters aro concerned- —Ihaye good , reason to think your situation in this most extraordinary case will not bo overlooked . Although not a member of tho Land Con-pany , have ever been watchful of its progress , yet dreaded its immediate sucoess , and this because the existing laws fetter an open and fair field for ^ peculation in the soil . Tho laws aro framed with tho intent to hiuder tho millions , from « Kltog on the land ; hence

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      o real , no general , nor good results can now to tho people , until those obnoxious statutes are first repealed , and tbo incubus of taxation—which grinds the industry of the people to atoms—is removed . But dol say that a beginning should not bo made with tho view to proceed in the right direction , ui ; tu every obstacle was removed ? No ; ibr the sooner that willing , industi'ious , 'and honest men are put m the way of providing for themselves and families , so much the better . It roust be evident to every one , your progress has been retarded by tho bitter opposition , wnioli , in every direction , lias crossed your path . Not only have you met it by tho government , and the Public Press , but less or more , by the shareholders from the first ; and now , most shamefully by a portion of those who have obtained

      comfortable homes through your labours and the expense of others . I think ' tho existing difficulties will all be overcome by using a little patience ; and when once the door is so far widened as to enable you to exercise your judgment freely , it is impossible in the meantime to calculate the extent to which you might carry out the Land Scheme . The better tho scheme , tbe more likely it would be opposed by those who feed upon the labour of others ; for they artfully plan to keep the labour market over-stooked with unwilling idlers , from whom they can pick and choose at any price ; and amoug this class you can trace your bitterest enemies ' , I Iiaro had some experience of tins for some years past , in my own person ; for no sooner did my book appear , which advised the people to club together , ar , d build small

      decked vessels and fish for themselves , than the fish-curers took the alarm , and denounced me as a visionary , possessing notions at variance with com « moh sense . However , I have not fought the battle sin"le handed ; and having been aided by the most experienced fishermen in Scotland , who obtained along with myself , a ready insertion in the local newspapers , we bare beat down all opposition as far as argument is concerned . If oven I shall conio with my fishing scheme to proof by labour ,. I shall not adopt the ballot in the appointment of labourers ; and this because idlers might eat more than they would prodnee , and eventually give a

      good occupation a wrong diameter . I Im ^ e known Bcotch proprietors , who cwisiimeu " , year after year , the whole rental of their estates , and accumulated debts intt > the bargain . Knowing this as I do , and haying witnessed the wasteful expenditure of thousands of working men , which , when coupled with an idle inclination } I do not feel surprised when I am told some few of your occupants at Snig ' s End are in poor circumstances , proEabiy they are of that stamp ; and we may readily believe like spoiled children—they will neither confass nov amend their errors . Respectfully yours , Aberdeen . Joh . v Smart .

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      TO . MR . W . BIDKR . - ¦ Sib ,--I hoarwith send . 2 s . 6 d ,, in st amps , for the Honesty Fund , trusting that all tho Lajia memben will come up to t «^ sratoli like men , and prove thoir confidence in their leader , and their love for him , by sendingjhim the valuo of a half-pint p « f day , for one fortnight , and then he Mill ba abte to snap his finger * at the Judge and Jury , ancUitQ Wasp that hns got in . tho ^ h eifield , Ui yo , Lion Inn , Newtown , . ' T , MARW Mongemerysajro . ;

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      —* 1 -ii- 1 - 1 w » .. ^^ iij . n _> * miAi-innr-LETTERS . TO THE WORKING CLASSES . LXXIX . " Words are things , and a small drop of ink Falling—like dew—upon a thought , produces That which makes thousands , perhaps millions illinV . " . ' - BIBOS .

      THE FRENCH ELECTIONS . Beother Proletarians , Since the " 13 th of June , " the foil of Rome , and the betrayal of Hungary , not an organ of the Ordermongers , ¦ whether , newspaper , magazine , or review , but has iterated and reiterated the comfortable assurance that the reaction had completely stifled the Revolution ; that " anarch y" was crushed , and " Order" securely established throug hout Europe .

      If the readers of those papers , &c .,. are so brutally besotted as to have swallowed such assertions , and believed them for gospel truth , what must they feel now that the mutteririgs of the revolutionary thunder are again audible even to their dull ears ? And what will they feel when awakened to a full sense of the terrible crash ¦ which will , ere long , engulph thrones , hierarchies , and all the organised hypocrsies which have so long cursed the human race ? This anticipation of the not distant future is no idle dream . All over the continent the propagandise of Revolutionary principles is incessant , and most successful

      And that propagandism is carried on less by the Revolutionists themselves , than by the tyrants who , by madly attempting to force hack the tide of progress , are thereby most admirably accumulating the means of their own destruction . The perjuries , the desolating deeds , the bloody enormities committed by the friends of Order have , in two years , done immensely more to advance Republicanism and Socialism , than had been previously effected by twenty years of popular propagandism . As regardsFrance in particular , theprogress of Red Republicanism is most striking and unmistakeable . The elections -which have

      this week taken place to suppl y the vacancies caused by the condemnation of Ledru Roixis and his fellow exiles , leave no room for doubt that the Republicans—the veritable Republicans , democratic and social—are stronger than ever ; are , in fact , the destined masters of the fast-coming fature . Every possible effort has been made by the Ordermongers to secure the triumph of their candidates , but in vain . Although the votes

      will not be declared until twenty-fours after the writing of this letter , there is no longer room for doubt that Carnot , Yidal , and De Fiotie—the Socialist Democratic Candidates have been elected . Nothing accurate is yet known of the departmental elections ; but —although the " Times " p retends that the Moderates are successful , my readers may anticipate that at least a majority of the seats contested , have been obtained by the representatives of the Red Republic .

      The importance of this glorious victory is enhanced , -when the circumstances under which itrhas been achieved are tafcen into account . For about twenty-one months past , the French Democrats have been subjected to a system of prosciption , espionage , and terror . First in the list of victims came the multitude of Republicans butchered in the insurrection of June , ' 48 ; then the victims of thecourts-martiil ; then Bakbes , Blaxqui , and their fellow sufferers ; then Ledru Roliin , and the condemned participators in the affair of June , ' 49 ; and to all these must be added

      innumerable public -writers , publishers , democratic s -ldiers , and a mass of other citizens , condemned , under various pretexts , by the ruling oppressors . For months past , not » day ' s mail hut has brought intelligence of journals suppressed—or , at least , prosecuted—mayors suspended , schoolmasters dismissed , National Guards disbanded , and regiments of the line punished , for their disaffection to the Government , and adherence to the principles of Red Republicanism . Fines , dungeons , and exile chains and death , have been the means employed by the " honest and moderate" ruffians , to establish , their power . And , behold ! that power is crumbling to dust !

      In addition to this system of terror , which it "was hoped would have prevented the pro gress of lied Republicanism , othermeans have been tried to turn Universal Suffrage against tho Republic . The old dodgesof Buonaparlism , and " family , property , and order , " having become worn out , exploded , used up , the suffrage itself was attacked in the only way it is as yet open to assault . The elections which have just taken place , were deferred until the electoral lists had been put through a " revision . " The result of that revision was the expnnedng of the names of some forty thousand

      voters—chiefly Proletarians—who , had they been allowed to Tote , would undoubtedly have added many thousands to the Socialist majority . "When the time for the elections was fixed , Cablier , Prefect of Police—the Fouche of the day—issued instructions to his emissaries to wage an unceasing war against Socialism , and employ themselves in " enlightening" the people as to the blessings ef the present system of society . This same

      Cariiee while permitting the ordermongers full freedom in the placarding and circulating of their appeals to the electors , tore down and destroyed those of the Democrats . Police spies were employed to attend the Socialist electoral meetings , and excite confusion . An attempt was even made to prosecute one of the members of the Mountain , for a speech delivered at one of those meetings . The member in question , Michel ( de Bourges ) was rereported to have said that

      The people are everything ; the rest nothing The people only are rig ht ; t he rest is but a lie . The time is approaching ; the people are about to reign ; I already see on your brows the diadem of royalty . . On the day following its triumph , the people will examine into the origin of fortunes and of capital ; the people will settle the accounts of the bourgeoisie—as thev have the same rig h t t o do so as they had to settle those of Royalty—unless , indeed the bourgeoisie of their own accord do not first to doit , and which I strongly counsel them to do . The people produce everything , and it is to the people tiat everything belongs .

      The accused representative proved , to the satisfaction even of the Committee appointed by his enemies , that the speech imputed to him was a lying invention of the lying " Constitutionnel ; " and the charge fell to the ground . But had Michel ( de Bourges ) delivered such a speech , he would but have expressed the sentiments of every honest manevery defender of Labour ' 8 ri ghts—every enemy to those who prey upon the working and wealth producing classes .

      Another move of the Ordermongers was to get up a riot as a pretext for placing Paris in a state of siege ; which could they have accomplished , would have enabled them to have prevented all electoral meetings , accompanied with a suspension of the Democratic journals . Thanks to the steadiness of the people , the move failed . The Trees of Liberty were cut down , but the people bore with the provocation without offering resistance . The Ordermongers may , however , assure themselves that that little exploit is noted down , added to the long list of greater crimes , and will not be forgotten when arrives the people's day of judgment . Yet another dodge was tried to influenceflie elections . Two scoundrels were hired to write

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      pamphleta ^ purporting to be revelations of the Republican Barty , but which really were col * lection ^ of groundless lies , and most atrocious calumnies . One of these villains—a certain Chenv—had been known to , and tolerated by / some of the Republican party , previous to the Revolution of February . . After the June- inl surrection—if not earlier—lie turned traitor , and invented the most absurd accusations directed principally against Caussidierk , The other wretch—by name De La Hodde—installed himself as secretary at the Police Prefecture , under Cavssidiere , but had not filled

      that place many days , when evidence which he could not deny , was brought- against him , proving that he had been a regular spy in the Republican Clubs for some years previously . The lucubrations of this worthy couple were eagerly purchased and circulated , by the enemies of the Republicans , and warml y recommended by the Anti-Republican journals . The " Times" —and other papers of the same stamp on this side of the channel — translated some of the most disgusting portions of the libels ; and when

      Caussehere demanded the insertion of a few lines in self-defence , the " Times , " in accordance with its base and brutal character , refused even that poor act of justice ; at the same time adding to the insult and injury previously perpetrated . Let me add , that pamphleteering libellers are not confined to French soil ; there are Chenus in England , and villanous journals read y to back them in their calumnies against the veritable friends of the people .

      But"Thnce are they arm'd , that have their quarrel just . " And the men on-whose banner is inscribed "Justice for each and for all , " are—despite , fraud , and force , calumny , and violencemarching onwards , " conquering and to conquer . " For about a month past , the correspondent of the "Times' * has supplied the readers of that journal with a daily dish-up of what

      purported to be accounts of Socialist electoral meetings held in Paris and the neighbourhood . In his attempts to follow up his instructions , the said correspondent has managed to make such aprecious mess of his handiwork , that even the densest blockhead ( and thousands of such read the " Times" ) . must have become disgusted at his outrageous lying and slandering . Is ot contented with ordinary mendacity , the " Times' " man must needs overdo his

      work , and so utterly spoil it . Pretending to report a . democratic meeting , ho invariably represented . the speakers as idiotic , or drunk , or fighting with each other . Sometimes he improved on his usual story , by representing the Democrats as invaded and thrashed by a band of workmen , shouting "Vive Napoleon ! " and " Down with the Reds ! '' Had this beast of a correspondent written some such story but once a week , he might have had a few believers ; but -when the same sort of thing was supplied every day , not even a reader of the " Times" but must have seen through the shallow and disgusting fabri cation .

      The importance of the victory gained by the Parisian Democrats , is well shown by the avowed disappointment and rage of the "Times , " and similar journals . " "When , " says the "Times , " "it is considered what these candidates ( Carnot , Vidai , and De Flotte , ) are , we recoil with mingled disgust and dismay from this spectacle of a nation passing a sentence of destruction on itself , and

      consigning all the interests of a great people to the acknowledged champions of ignorance , plunder , and sedition . " Admitting the present union of the Republicans , it adds that " the movements of that party are . directed with the utmost uniformity and vigour ; " that each succeeding incident exhibits more clearly the want of capacity , vigour , and union on the side of the Government—the increase of

      strength and daring on the side of its enemies ; ' * that the further application of the means of repression , is a policy " extremely doubtful , when it is found that a very large proportion of votes in the army is given to Socialist candidates ; ' * and anticipating the next popular hurricane , the " Times" mournfully adds : — " next time there will probably be no Lamartine ready to check the revolut ion , or to win it back with airy words from its prey . " The " Chronicle" deplores the

      serious intelligence" received from Paris . It denounces Carnot as " the apostle of ignorance ; '' Vidai as " the lacquey of the audacious theorist" Louis Blanc ; and De Flotte as " the most reckless and most lunatic of the combatants of June . Finally , it acknowledges " that the cause of the Red Republic is the winning cause . " The article in this evening ' s " -Globe"is utterly contemptible—a mere exhibition of Undignified spite and impotent rage .

      . Carnot denounced , by these libellers as the champion of ignorance , is a son of the great Carnot—the colleague of Robespierre , and " organiser of victory . " So far' from being the apostle or champion of ignorance , he attempted , while Minister of Public Instruction , to ameliorate the condition , and promote the efficiency of the primary instructors . The ground on which the Press-gang base their

      calumny is , that while Minister of Public Instruction under the Provisional Government , he issued a circular , advising the nomination of staunch Republicans to the National Assembly- ^ -tbeir Republicanism to be the first consideration ; the Minister wisely deeming scholastic attainments a matter of secondary importance , compared with public virtue . That circular has been distorted into a

      recommendation to tbe electors to elect none but ignorant men ! Vidal—described by the " Times" as the representative of " plunder "is in fact a man who has devoted his talents to the holy work of protecting the labour of the workman , from the system of plunder , which at presents denies to the wealth-producer the bread he earns in the sweat of his brow . De Flotte is a man who , though by birth an aristocrat , and formerly a naval officer , has

      given ample pledges of his devotion to the people . He was Vice-President of BtANQTJl ' S Club , and a combatant for the Social Republic in the insurrection of June . Condemned by Court-martial to transportation for life , he was included in the first list of the amnestized , and liberated after a few months suffering . His election is the legalisation of the June insurrection , and the condemnation of the system , which , in those disastrous days , achieved

      a temporary victory . The Ordermongers are in consternation . The Buonapartists accuse the Legitimists of betraying the cause of order . The Legitimists return the compliment , and fiercely denounce the " Special . '' There is a report that the Ministers have resigned , and that Buonaparte is about to send a messago to the Assembly explanatory of his intentions , under existing circumstances . One thing is certain , the money-gamblers are in a state of alarm . It is stated in thiB evening ' s papers that the departments of the Lower Rhine , Saone et Loire , Loire et Cher , andNievre , have elected Socialist-Democrats , to the number of fourteen . In the Cher two supporters of the Government have been elected .

      On the consequences of these elections I may say something in my next letter . I will now only observe , that come it slow , or come it fast , the downfall of the Ordermongers is certain . Then will the RadFlag make the tour of Europe , and rally all nations round Libert y ' s Tree J L'AMI DU PEUPLE . March 14 , 1850 .

      I&Ational Llanu Companin

      i&ational llanu companin

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      ^ Jp e&m . JilgSd ;; . „ ., ,-- ¦¦ —¦ --, T - - .... ,: - ' ^ ¥ L'J , 8 jH ^ jjy ^ ^ iU , »• ¦ - ¦ - ¦ - : :::::: ^ - .-, ¦ ¦ , . . , , ¦ ¦¦ ,. . ... . .. . fi-jL .

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      THE HONESTY 1 OTD . TO TEAROUS O CONNOR , KSQS , M . P . Honoured Sir , —Wo , the residents of Great Dodford , in public meeting assembled , do hereby testify our esteem for your noble and disinterested efforts in the great work of human redemption ; and as a proof of our sincerity , we herewith enclose a small order for the sum of £ 1 ds . ltl .,. which you will please accept ,, to assist in discharging the heavy expenses you have been again subjected to by the enemies of the toiling millions . We regret that our limited roeana will not allow us to make the sum pounds- instead of shillings ,, for wo are- quite sure that a more scandalous affair never transpired in what is- called a court of justice ; -but , sir , we can only regard these unheard of persecutions as so many proofs of your integrity and iioblcmindedness , and we trust the day' will come when you shall see the eaiuse of right triumph over might .

      We are exceeding sovrj that any of tho Land members—especially those who aro located by the ballot —should turn round , and endeavour , by their puny efforts , to destroy theii' benefactor ; and we can not account for sucb conduct but by means of bribery . We are certain , however , that'the time will come , when they will see their error , and regret that they were ever made the tools of suchbase parties , whose only object is the complete enslavement of mankind . We call upon ail lovers of 1 freedom—and especially the Land members—to come forward at once with their mite , and aid youto defeat thoso who are determined to " ruin you with expenses . " If this is n » t speedily and promptly attended to , we are certnia that our cause mustsuffer , and our cnemios rejoice , for it can only bo regarded as a hlow struck at our political liberty , and social progress . On behalf of the meeting , Jams 3 Finmt , Chairman .

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      TO FEARGUS 0 COKNOS , ESQ ., M . P . Respected Sir , —I enclose the sum of 5 s ., in postage stamps , from four members of the Land Company in Rutherglcn , and I am instructed by tnem to state that they have full confidence in you and the Land Company ; and if necessary , rather than see the scheme destroyed by the machinations of the enemy , they are willing to subscribe more to tho Company to enable it to go on . Their names are : Alex . Gilles , 2 . * , ;' George Drysdale , Is . ; Alex . Gilles , jun ., Is . ; John Gilles , Is . ; to be applied to paying off the debt incurred in the Jatp libel case . I am , respected Sir , yours faithfully , GlaSgOW . D , SllERRlNGIOIf .

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      fTO FEARGUS O ' CONKOR , ESQ ., M . P . Dear Sin , —It is upwards of two years since I became a member of the Land Company ; and so satisfied wns I in the benefits that would arise from the carrying out of the glorious Plan you had profounded , that 1 at once paid the full amount of four shares . My opinions are stillthe same , knowing full well that the great evil we have to contena with is surplus labour ; here was a remedy , and , in my opinion , the only practical one in the present day . It has not been so successful as I anticipated ; but who is to blame I—not yow Sir , but the many members that have not stood to their post ; therefore , whether you carry on , or wind up tho Company , I shall be satisfied . I hopeyou will yet live to receive the reward of your labours ; but if not , bo assured tho men of the future will honour your name . Those who take up the people ' s cause , are doomed to persecution and slaader ; and methinks there is scarcely another man in the country that

      would have withstood the many furious attacks and diabolical conspiracies that have been concocted to drive you from the people ' s cause . A jury , com . r posed of your enemies , have again been compelled to proclaim to tho world that your character is still unimpeachable . I thank them for that much ; . bub it appears to me a direct contradiction to the former part of their verdict—being a just one . Hoping the friends of progress will come forward , and prove to their and your enemies , that they will not allow you to be rode rough shod over , by each and all subscribing according to bis means , that their true friend may be enabled to thwart thoir enemies in their many schema to ruin him with expenses . 1 enclose Is . worth of postage stamps along with the iamo amount from a ^ friend , towards the expenses , of the late trial . I remain , sir , yours respectfully .. Walworkh , March 5 th . B . II .

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      TO FBABSUjj O CONNORS ESQ . Sir , —A few friends of our village have seat you their first subscription , through the hands of Mr . Jmnes Sweet , of Nottingham , towards defraying tho expenses of middle class prejudice and imbecility . We hope wo shall be able to make thoso ponce shillings ,, and that the country generally will be of the same mind , and ulso that you may be in a capacity to triumph over your and our esvemies . A FKW ClURIISIS Of L . AMBLST . Nottingham , March 9 th . TO MR . V ? M . RIDER .

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      Sin , —At the meeting of this branch , of the National Land Company , held on Sunday the 3 rd inst ., among other business that came before the members was the very important considsration of subscribing to ths Indemnity , or Honesty Fund , 2 n connexion wish this matter I lmo to state , that there Boomed but one feeling ( that of indignation ) to pervade tha breasts of all persons present ,, which was fully evinced by tha liberal amount subscribed , viz ., £ & 5 s ., for which I have enclosed a Post-office order . The members

      present—though few in munbcr-=-agreed to appoint a committee t . » look- after the subscriptions . Tho secretary was-instructed to iss'ite for a few collecting books far that purpose , . Trusting tho good men and true , in all districts- nud localities , wilirespond to the call of duty ko . w made upon thesj to indemnify— -if that were possible—our friend , and patriot , Ulr . O'Connor , for ihis , among tho other losses to which the advocacy of our cause has sucjected iim . I semain , tours , &c , Newsastle-upon Tjne . . M s ¦ ? t ' '

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      TOj VR . W . IJIDER . Sis , — . Hearwith I send you a Post-offiie-order for the sum of 10 s ., to bo placed to the Indemnity Fund , which has beea contributed by a fett members of j the National Land Company , and other democrats , I who wish to express to tho revilers of Mr . 0 Connor , that the mere they stnvo to , impugn the hoesty of that gentleman , the moro we are convinced of his integrity ; neither their slanderous calumny , nor vile machinations , will oxer alienate us from him , so long as he continues throve himself worthy of our esteem , ChicRonley , March 12 ih , John Ben ^ et .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 16, 1850, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1565/page/5/