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TO THE WORKING CLASSES,
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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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r ' - " ^ ert ^ x ^ Mitioo ^ jnHJg ^ g ...:-. . ii ^ eni ^ oes -feU out , honeslmenoome to their
My very bear Friends , —It appears to foe almost ridiculous for one man to devote his time , his life , and his fortune , to theeleva * tionof a class , many of -whom are following old Brook's maam- " The Lord love you , ¦ vre are all for ourselves in this world . " However , as I have frequently told you , I am as dogged as a mole , when , upon reflection , I see any course before me which is calculated to elevate your order , and bring you back to the good old times of King Alfred , when no lock was required upon a door , and no dog to watch the house .
My friends , I -wish now to prepare you for the coining struggle ; and I wish to abolish the abominable system of idle land , idle labour , idle money , and starving , unwilling idlers . I before stated to you the effect that the present Papal controversy would have npon thjs country , in the ensuing Session of Parliament ; and I have also reminded you of the effect that the mind of the Irish emigrants would have upon the American people . I have stated to you the course which little John Cvsxezl , aided by the Irish Catholic people , would adopt in the ensuing Session ; and 1 now give yon a report from the Morning Chronicle of the proceedings at Conciliation Hatt , in the present week . Here it is : —
The Repeal Assocutioh . —The weekly meeting Of tins association wa 3 held on Monday , at Conciliation Hall , Mr . C . Ryan in the chair . Mr . John p'Connellread a letter , enclosing £ 20 , from the ihsaKiitthUuii&Qtflorence , Oaeida caaaty . State Of New York . He tneiTread a letter fchicOe had acdressed to several Irish members of "Krtiame"itii , and whiehsuggested " thatthe Catholic members do meet in Dublin one week before Parliament Opens , to decide on the best means of resisting any and all attempts tore-enact penal laws against thl Catholic religion andits ministers " After addressing the meeting at . considerable length on the sub . ject of the agitation in England , the hon . gentleman concluded by proposing the adoption of a petition
to the House of Commons , whicL prays that" your "honourable house , instead of consenting to outrage religious liberty and common sense , and to make a rettogade step in civilisation by enacting penalties against bishops or priests , or against the doctrine or discipline of their Church , will rather proceed onwards in your honourable course of religions emancipation , by repealing all remnant of penal Jaws and disabilities , on account of creed . And that you will be further pleased to establish thorough religious equality in Ireland , by abolishing the church establishment in that country , and devoting the revenues to purposes of general and national utility . " The petition was unanimously adopted , after which the rent for the week was announced to be £ 20 14 s ., and the meeting separated .
Now , when you read the above , you will find my two assertions , frequently repeated , verified : — Firstly , —That the Irish Catholics who have emigrated to America naturally hate and detest the Protestant tyranny to which their country has for centuries been subjected , and by which they were transported ; and , Secondly , —That the representative of the Liberator , who had never appeared in the last Session , would , if possible , marshal and lead the Irish Catholic Members against the Government in the ensuing Session .
Ever Bince the Eefonn Bill , the Irish Members have been the tools and lickspittles of the Government Dajjiel 0 ' Coxnell kept them together , and made every Member , except myself , obey his commands . He ruined Ireland—but I hope and trust that the Irish people will now ruin and overthrow : the vile and atrocious tyranny to which he subjected them . My friends , I have no interest , and take no interest in any question , measure , nor movement which is not calculated to serve your order ; and you will gee , by the report of the Repeal Association , which I have published , that I was perfectly correct in the conclusion I drew , as to the effect that that foolish
religions controversy which is now taking place would have upon the Catholic mind of Ireland . This is the struggle that I wish to prepare you forj and however the Government may base its power upon the political apathy which the Great Exhibition of 1851 is likely to produce npon the public mind , they will find that it will not have the same effect npon Parliament . I have said enough upon this subject , and I will nowcall your attention to the clearest proof of your apathy . In last week ' s Northern Star there is an account published of the number of persons who voted for members of the Committee of the National Charter Association ;
and the number who voted , —that is , if each could only vote for one man—only amounted to ELEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR ; whereas , if each could vote for nine members the number who voted would only amount to a little more
than ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED . Now , suppose that the largest number voted , it would not amount to oneihird of the number of qualified electors of the West Riding of Yorkshire . Now , don ' t you think that this fact will convince the Government and your opponents that yon are completely apathetic ? When the petition for the Charter of 1848 was signed by five million six
hundred thousand people , the Government referred it to a committee—a treacherous committee—to count the signatures ; and that com mittee reported that the genuine signatures were a few under two millions ; but supposing thenumbertobetwo millions , what will the Government think of the present state of Chartism , when only THIRTEEN HUNDRED VOTERS vote for the election of a committee to conduct their affairs ?
It is my intention to be amongst the Manchester men , and to address them on Sunday nig ht next ; and it is also my intention to address the men of Leeds , amongst whom I have spent many years , on Tuesday night next , and I do hope and trust that your class will abandon their apathy , and attend more to Chartism than to the Exhibition . If you are united for one month you could abolish tithes , poor rates , the army , and the nati onal debt ; then every man would be a soldier—but notapaid one-ready to risk his life orshed his blood in defence of his free country , bis liberty , and his family ; you would not have a pauper in the land , you would not have a criminal , drunkardwhile
and you would not have a , under the present system , Government bases its financial strength upon your depravity ana drunkenness . Thas I show you that your union would do more than the Financial Heformers propose : it would reduce the taxes UPON YOURSELVES by over fifty millions a year , while their proposed reduction ot ten millions a year would not confer one farthing benefit upon you . I have told you before that vhen the income tax was put on masters reduced the wages of their servants and their labourers , and manufacturers reduced the wa <* es of operatives , and not only exonerated themselves from the tax , but made * an enormous
profit by the reduction of wages . In the Morning Chronicle of Thursday you will fiiid—that is , if you read it—a flaming attack upon Sir Geoegb Gbey and the Government , for not prosecuting the brave and valiant men and women who attacked tho ttriY butcher Hawau at Barclay and PjaiKivs hrewerv ; and you will « 1 = ° and despondence between the Austrian and British Ministers , in which it u > « tutedthat if EngV . 6 l . inen go to Austria they may be treated in the e ^ iie way there as the mon ster
Bayxau was here . I do not give the Government any great credit for abstaining from prosecuting tiie valiant men and women who attacked tbe ruffian , as 1 base their non-interference upon tne vigour that a prosecution would have roused in the English mind ; but to show you the nstice of a daily paper , and the importance _ - .. ^ i _— i- P . .:-.. !„•¦ , * li « nivnnw . le ICIIS
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^ ¦_ mmm us , that the parties who attacked Haynau might have been prosecuted in his absence . Aow , does not this prove to you that there is ""« law for the rich and another for the poor f For suppose this ruffian Haynaxj had assaulted a man in the street , and that a person who had seen the assault , but not the person who was assaulted , had charged the ruffian in the absence of the assaulted man , then how could **« xL . i . jv : .. ¦ .
the prosecution against Haynau be carried on ? Again reminding you of the present state of all parties , and imploring you to unite your minds and have a Conference before Parliament meets , to be able to define your union to the Government in its present ticklish state , I remain ,. Your Faithful and Uncompromising Friend , Feargus'O'Connor .
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m — THE MANCHESTER COUNCIL TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Fellow Couhtrtmes , —In the performance of the solemn duty of attempting to inaugurate a great movement of the democracy of England , for the establishments the political rights of the people , we again feel it our duty to address you . We are most solicitous to keep prominentl y before your eyes the vital importance of the forthcoming Conference , and to invoke every effort of your patriotism , to excite every aspiration of your souls to render that body , as we are sure you can , an honour to yourselves , and a powerful auxiliary in the divine cause of human freedom .
We ask you , fellow countrymen , whether this work , in which we invite your co-operation , is either ' an idle or an unnecessary one ? Let the present circumstances of 'Chartism answer the question . Every day brings forth an additional in-CHDtive to us to perfect the work which we have began . Our humble , but sincere , efforts , are devoted to that glorious end . and , if it be not gained , no man shall be able to charge tho failure to the indolence of the Manchester Council . In what a lamentable condition do we behold the result of years of labour and anxiety at the present moment . We see it , in sorrow , scattered before the whirlwind
of that persecution which the folly and recklessness of professed friends mainly contributed to raise the blighting influences of the apathy which supervened is manifest wherever the eye is turned . Oh ! what a humiliating fact , after all our toil and trouble , to find in our own newspapers of Saturday last that only 1 , 800 persons—men , women , and children—the aggregate of fi ty-three public meetingB , could be found to interest themselves in the once powerful and honoured cause of the Peoples' Charter . This shows the existence of some canker-worm preying on the vitals of tbe movement , which must be sought out and destroyed ere health can be restored to it .
Brother Chartists generally , hut men of Yorkshire , Cheshire and Lancashire particularly , colationrers in the struggle for human redemption , we implore you to cast away every selfish consideration , to come forth at once from your inglorious seclusion , and strive to make the British liberty movement what it ought to be—the terror of the oppressor , the hope of the oppressed , and the admiration of the world . The materials for a mighty movement exist in profusion , the will alone to build them up is wanted . The necessity for doing this is engraved by the ruthless hand of Oligarchic power
on that helot-badge with which the breasts of the millions are degraded . May that galling insignia of slavery be speedily trampled under the feet of an intelligent people 1 To all you who have even had a scintilla of Chartism glowing in your bosoms we address ourselves . We conjure you by all that is near and dear to you at once to place yourselves on the alert , to assume that dignified position which beseems the votaries of freedom to inagurate a new movement of mind and power , which shall convince the upholders of corrupt , tyrannical , and vice engendering institutions .
Fellow-countrymen , we propose , as the incipient step in this pood work , that a Conference shall , as Boon as possible , assemble in Manchester . Further on will be found a programme of such business as seems to us necessary to come under the deliberations of that body . It appears to us to embrace the chief topics connected with the great object we have in view , namely , the revival of a truthful , substantial , and powerful organisation to promote tbe enactment of the'People's Charter . MuchhaB been done for the weal of Chartism , yet much remains still to be accomplished . We have seen it
pass through many phases , wo have seen it endure many shocks , as well from the fatuity of professing friends as open foes , but , notwithstanding , all the good eld principles must still live enthroned in the hearts of the mighty British people—aye , and is yet , we venture to predict , destined to invigorate every vein and artery of the body politic with the life gush of liberty and independence . We aim in calline a Conference , to give embodiment and form to those glowing impulses of the heart . These now constitute the patriot ' s hope , and in the future will be found to work out for him a glorious triumph .
In prosecuting the purpose which constitutes the subject of this address , we have , we believe , encountered all the opposition that could be arrayed against us . Efforts have been made to nullify our nr /> eeedineB , suspicion has been insinuated against our motives ; for this we were prepared , and are not therefore astonished We think it somewhat relative to the point here to refer to our experience in the political world—some of tbe best years of our ivfis have been spent in its busy turmoil . The devotion
Chartist cause has had our warm , our strenuous support , from the days of its initiation to the present time . We have anxious ' y watched its progress , and noted its adversity and prosperity . The movement in which we are now engaged was not embarked in capriciously or hastily , but after mature deliberation , and a th / roujih conviction alike of its necessity and propriety . We are , therefore , resolved to abide the issue , regardless as to the vehemence with which denunciation may wag its tongue , or the industry with which calumny
may point its shafts . Fellow countrymen , we see , with much p leasure , that several important localities have , within the last fortnight , resolved to aid in reviving Clmtisra from torpor , and raising it from degradation . We compliment them on their devotion . In it we recognise a bright pressage of the future , which awaits our united exertions . We submit to the friends of tbe Conference a programme of business . Discuss seriously at your local meetings , and send vour delegates fully instructed with your views which must be solved
hereon . It contains problems ere the successful path can be pointed out to the warfares in the political wilderness . We must endeavour not to waste another ten yeaw of our-lira in anxious solicitude and almost ceaseless efforts , without being able to point to some more beneficial Inrf ibid ' ni ? results than a prostrate cause , poh-J £ ri v etinfs , public indebtedness for their defence , » 5 m Sy of the direst kind to such of theirfom .-Zl £ Sine dependent upon public sympathy for Kt " » Srt which their natural protectors were i
i /? Ah from rendering , ucneem-m , «» »» - ^ I S&a vx ^ sz must " be made to ¥ ? 't Xiti mh . d temper , and dispositions of the British mmd . Itmnrt adapt itself , by the tap . w cf ijg and common sense , to the calm , calculating faculty of that analytic power . It must , by facts andI arguments , arouse the nation to a J ^^^ lm , right and wrong , while it warms the heart witri a gloiring enthusiasm for the liberation 01 l » e human race .
Frojwsitions sugjciudfor Delate in Conference . 1 st . —To consider what is tie actual condition of Chartism at present in the United Kingdom . 2 nd . —To consider what causes may we justly attribute tho past failures in our movement . 3 rd . —To decide what oughf . to be the present and future policy of tho Chartist nartv .
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Shall we seek the Charter pure and simple , or shall we allay it with social rights ? What means ought we to pursue as Chartists to ensure the accomplishment of the People ' s Charter ? and what policy ought we to pursue in regard to other political reform movements ? Shall we stand aloof from them altogether Shall we meet them with public hostility ? Shall we give a cordial co-operation to all liberal associations having political reforms as their object ? 4 th . —To consider the best means of adopting cooperation in each locality , to free ourselves from the avaricious capitalist , and thereby promote the interest of the maBS of the people , in creating capital for themselves . The above are our views , not to the exclusion of any other matter .
Fellow countrymen , we have now placed before you the . work which we think should be accomplished , and we wait with anxiety and hope to see the result . Our faith in our principles is greatbur hope in your re-kindling , devotion is strong . We appeal to the Bires of England , who now stand on the shore of eternity ' s ocean , ere its silent waves pass over him , to jjfhre to hia . eountry the blessings of m lastaspiratioaa . Weifipeal to the Briton enjojiegthe meridian of manhood , ta bestow an effort ^ work ing < M - * gujjMjoYddcountry ' eemaroiflatioar We appeal to tne ardent youth , whose vivid' imagination picture * a future radient with happiness , to strengthen with the freshness of their energies the cause of their fatherland . In conclusioh we invoke the neighbouring towns of Manchester—the glorious patriotism of whose people aforetime won the
admiration of tho world—those who have poured , periodically , their tributaries of patriots to Kersal Moor , and Blackstone Edge , till they have swelled to myriads—once more to rally round the Charter , and make that noble theory of representation what it ought to be—the Palladium of British Liberty ! Signed by the Manchester Council , James Leach , Daniel Donavan , William Foster , HbnRT NuiTALtr , JAMBS WaINWRIQHT , Samuel Jones , James Moody ; John Suttou , Chairman ; Joshua Gutieridok , Financial Secretary ; James Alcock , Corresponding Secretary , 12 , Byrom-street , Upper Duke-Btieet , Hulme , Manchester ; where all correspondence must be addressed .
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MR . ERNEST JONES , THE MANCHESTER COUNCIL , AND THE CHARTER IN DANGER . Fbllow-Cocntrtmen , —We had fondly hoped that the controversy that has too long occupied the columns of the Star between Mr . Jones and the Manchester Council would , ere this , have been at an end that the personal abuse , the covered slander , and open falsehoods , that have previously emanated from that gentleman's pen , would have exhausted his stock of such unworthy missiles . Our fond hopes , however , have been again disappointed . In the Star of the 21 st insfc ., there appears , from the pen of this gentleman , over two columns of worse , and more trashy matter , than any that has previously emanated from the same quarter—worse , because more malignant in its intent , ' and false in
its composition , and which compels us , however reluctantly , to notice and expose . Mr . Jone 3 baa discovered that there is morem the present dispute betwixt him and the Manchester Council than the mere question of where and when a Conference shall be held . The Manchester Council have , from the firat , endeavoured to make this matter so plain that all who might read their address should understand it to be as Mr . Jones has said ; and if he had bad as much of tbe lawyer's sagacity , as he has proved himself in his last epistle to have of their ounning and quibbling , he would have been under no difficult ? in discovering that we were anxious that all
should understand that which Mr .: Jones has now discovered . Had the Manchester Council no higher objects in view than that ' of calling a Conference , or going through : the mock form of electing an Executive under present , circumstances , they would never have been beard of in this niat ^ f-i- ' if Mt . Jones has aided us in making that object more clear than we were able to do , we are obliged to him for his aasiatanae . To us , it is a matter of very little importance where a Conference be held , providing it be not held in London , and that it be held soon . As a Council , we have higher and more sacred duties to perform than to quibble
about Conferences . We are anxious to do what we can in wresting the principles and the name of Chartism from the filth and mire into which it has been thrown by those who still vapour land blaster about that which they know has no existence , but which , at times , serves as stock-in-trade for those whose over-weening vanity and self-conceit leads them to display their ambition to the world , and , dispite themselves , let the truth ooze out , that all other objects , whether of national or local Importance , sinks into insignificance when contrasted with their own self-sufficient and silly conceit .
Mr . Jones has further discovered that " in our address and resolutions there is treason against the . principles of democracy , and the whole of our future movements . " Reason against democracy , as far as it has exhibited itself in the prostration of all that was good , valuable , and manly , in the devotees and martyrs to the sacred principles the name implies , has long since done its worst ; and we are resolved to render every obstacle to its hideous and desolating career for the future . We are charged with the intention of electing an executive , at what Mr . Jones pleases to call a party Conference , and the working men are warned to have nothing to do with a " hole and corner Executive . " We , too , caution the people not to be led
into the follies and dangers of the past with any committee who may choose to dignify themselves with the name of Executive . Look at the miserable exhibition in tbe Star of Saturday last , under the head " Chartist Intelligence "—there the votes are recorded for the Executive of the National Charter Association . Out of a population of twenty millions of people , not to mention the whole kingdom of Ireland , there are not three thousand men who have thought it worth their while to take any part in the farcical and humiliating proceedings ; all the fcigh-soun ^ ing phrases about the working people , the minorities , and overwhelming majorities , are answered in the above three lines . Mr . Jones is floundering after a shadow , and exhausting foolish
his eloquence and perverting his logic in the attempt to make thinking men believe it is a Bubstance . To this end , there is nothing unfair and dishonourable in discussion he has not resorted to even bhe misfortune of a friend , known to most of us , and whom all of us respect , has been disgracefully lugged in to serve a disgraceful and unmanly purpose . But whilst we grieve over the misfortunes of that stern and honest friend to liberty , William Cuffay , we have a verv different version of the cause that lead to his ' banishment than that which Mr . Jones haB given . In our resolution we declare what we believe to be true : — " That platform bravado and private cowardice might mainly be attributed the ailure and disgrace that has overwhelmed our cause " but not one of us evor thought of attribuihe
ting to the firm and manly courage of Cuffay , sins of commission and omission that we know belong to others . We are asked to name whom we know to be guilty of platform bravado and pnvate cowardice ; we answer—there name was legion . If we were asked to point eut those whoso wilrt and foolish harangues gave importance to such criminal folly , then , we should point out Mr . Jones as one of tbe most prominent of that mischievous and visionary band ; who that does not remember Che thrilling and patriotic strains wherein ho announced to the electrified Gods in the Convention gallery that if government dared to touch an hair of his ' head , fifty thousand stalwart armed sons of freedom would 'jaaroh upon the metropolis from the hills of Yorkshire , to revenge the insult ., and to retrieve the wrong done to their
warlike representative . " Well , the government notwithstanding this fearful announcement , did touch a hair of his head , and no doubt London was shook to its centre with the martial tread of his fifty thousand Yorkshire warriors . Ah , fellowcountrymen , the government knew as well , or better than Mr . Jones did , how far the people were prepared to obey the call of " ginger bread" generals , and mere " spouting" bravadoes . They knew it from their Bpiea , that such diegustmg folly and falsehood h * i . riuPi , eniDlovment to . Mr . Jones still persisted
, in this line of wild enthusiasm and trash , after boinir repeatedly warned of the injury he was doing the cause , and his miserable misrepresentions of tl . c parties he professed to represent . Joseph Barker ind William Brook , both from the centre of Yorkshire declared in the Convention that Mr . Jones s etatements were untrue ; that they bad both come from the imaginary encampment of bis imaginary anrv but had not been able either to count its numbers or learn its destination . In fact , it was nt the armies on the hills , but the vapour on the Mils tot Mr . Jones represented . It is to these , and the like proceedings , we attribute the rnisfortunw Sit have overtaken some of the truest and
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finest friends that democracy" had . No ; doubt , ! ^ hen he talks so glibly , qOhe -people , of minori-i % ?*! and overwhelming " majorities , he > as .-anl oje to the same rule by which bi found o ' ufcl 'P , . length and breath of his -Y , ork ' fihirp invi-j sibles \ - and , no . doubt , they will ¦ iVahIahi " as " vfiiijl visionary army did , wheh the " rays--of truth-an ' di common sense dawned upon ' . them .. ' * Mr . ¦ Jones knows the profitmongers , . anddesDiae ' s . ' them ; '' We are not aware that in any part-of- " our • addj es 8 ; ^ e said anything in defence of . ipriSntniong ^ rjngj We have been taught to know , fromHtferieipm- ' ence , what tho profitmongering class asi ft Body are ; : but we can distinguish between the noble arid manly ; exertions of tho co-operating" producers and ^ the ' idle ]
usurers his cunning seeks to ailloy them withi He tells us , " the pedestal of libeMj ^ ever yefc ^ waW the ^ punter of a grocer ; " ha ^^ daedr of ^ he ; . portfolio ofa lawyer , he woulff } i | pt have , ¦ outraged ' ; truth mi-obi ...,, One of his class , pugRt iobe , the fast ' in the world to provoke compariaon betrffixt the trades and professions of m ^ n . If " cbjhmeroial piicumstance 3 and professions change the'iiatura ^ men , then there is the leasfcto be hopodvfor frbi&i t . b * lawyer-class of any ifetfie world . The Bighwaj / i i jffijjg miiy have . aomfjgijLHte-of conscience " when : WmMiM ^ mmW ^ S ^ SP ^^^ -i ^^ ' ^" SifeiS ^ R ^ iaMi
chiSKrer ^ S ^ Lle , ¦ fal eToTJ ^ arSWiorS ^ f »* d acting under the influence of his educa ^ on / he robi upon principle , and fattens' on the 'dissentions and miseries of - bia unfortunate victims . No donbt Mr . Jones woiild claim exemption from this rule for some of his order ; we grant it , and claim the same for those he has made the object of his slander and abuse . "IfCobden , Bright , and Walmsley were behind the screen moving their puppets , they could not be more effectually served . " Wo have met some of these men in more stirring and trying' times than the present , and should not shrink from doing so again , did circumstance * call for our interference ; and , we would remind Mr .
Jones , that we stood in opposition to the whole of the fallacious economists , when some that made loud professions of unswerving integrity to the cause of democracy ¦ shrunk from the contest at the very time the people had the ball at their feet . With regard to Sir Joshua Walmsley , wemuatconfeaathat we have seen nothing in him as a man and a statesman that would not stand very favourable in the contrast with anything we have ever seen or heard of Mr . Ernest Jones ; and , we shall prove to him , and those he would make dupes and fools of , that we shall neither be the puppets of Cobden , Bright , or Walmsley , nor yet of E . Jones , Esq ., Barrister , of the Middle Temple . We have , all of us , braved the ¦ dungeon ; some of us have been' within its walls
more than once , and , although earnestly pressed by professing friends , to compromise with the government , and slip through the prosecution , shorn of our political integrity , wo resented the overture with indignation , feeling that the sacred cause of liberty and humanity demanded at our hands some token of manly firmness . That which we had taught from the platform we had defended in court ; and though our names were not adorned with the "Esq ., " nor had we received the education to qualify us for barristers of the Middle Temple , we disdained , when manhood was required , to crouch behind the whig and gown of an hired pleader . So much for our integrity of principle and firmness of purpose . " They talk of the stigma of Redism . "
When and where did they talk of the stigma of Redism ? Come , now , sir , be honest ; and tell us if this is not hooted in to give you an opportunity ofintroducing j our transparent use of the names of Garribaldi and Mazzini . How dare you , sir , couple the names of these men , whose high commanding talents and patriotic singleness of purpose , prove them to be the world's leaders , with the low , grovelling , political insanity of which you have elected yourself the leader and champion ? We have a higher respect for these men , iand a higher esteem for their noble and generous aims , than to use their aims for tbe mere purpose of demagogism . But we will- not Waste our time in going through thewho ] e of ike jargon with whioftyou hare
managed to fill two columns of the newspaper ; your production , from beginning to end , is a tissue of false assumptions : you have been acting the play of the schoolboy , who , in the winter time , turns out to enact the theory of warfare ; they set up generals of snow , and then exert all their talents of military genius to knock off the heads of their own childish productions . This game you have been playing with us ; you knew it were easier to answer arguments that had no existence but in your imagination , than meet , as you ought to have done , the difficulties that beset the question of the people ' s rightc You tell us , " it is perfectly useless to talk about preparing the people
for the coming struggle until we have established union . " True ; and is it not equally foolish to talk of establiahing union until the people ' s minds are disabused of the prejudice and ignorance that past follies have warped ' round them ? Wo tell you , the people never were united , nor never will be , sufficiently to accomplish their politic il and social emancipation , until they see something of a more encouraging nature than anything that has yet marked our advocacy of Chartism . We are , sir , without any regard for your members knocking at " 14 , Southampton-street , " or your half million of men waiting legally and constitutionally on Eennington Common , The Members of the Manchester Council .
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; - *» - THE O'CONNOR DEFENCE FUND . TO THE EDITOR OP THE NOMnERN STAR . Dear Sir , — I beg to inform you that , upon ap . plication to Mr . Price , of the National Land and Labour Bank , you will receive £ 10 towards the fund for defraying Mr . O'Connor ' s law expenses . I will briefly state to you the source from which the money has been sent . In the spring of 1848 , Mr . O'Connor attended a tea party in Preston , got up by the members of the National Land Company . The proceeds were intended to be devoted in assisting the balloted members in this locality to take possession of their allotments . The unexpected ; ni unforeseen position in whioh the Company ia now placed rendprs it impossible that the money can
ever be applied to the purpose for which it was originally intended . The committee who conducted the business have met to consider the most appropriate purpose to which the funds ought to be applied , and have decided that £ 10 of the same should be sent for the purpose of assisting Mr . O' Connor in meeting the enormous expense to which he has been put in defending his character . It would require a more able pen than mine to convey to you the feelings of indignation which animates our breasts at such conduct as that exhibited by men whose characters ought to be above suspicion , and who have not hesitated to make the sacred tribunal of our country the ground upon which to gratify their vindictive anil malignant dispositions .
We trust that Mr . O'Connor will be able to bear up against the apparently insupportable difficulties with which he is surrounded . If there be any honour or public spirit left in the Chartist or Land movements , this is the appropriate time for its development , in saving from ruin one who has sacrificed his time , talent and fortune , in defence of tho rights of the industrious classes . I remain , dear sir , yours truly , James Brown . 2 , Upper Lawson-street , Walker-street , Preston , Dec . Sth . 1850 .
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An English Ciiild of South African Parehts . —The birth of a female infant , whose parents are aborigines of South-Africa , took place in the New Hall , Leicester , on Saturday , the 21 st inst , The father is of that wild race the Zoolus , of whose barbarous habits so much has recently been written by African travellers ; and the mother was of the isolated Amapouda . The parents seem much delighted with their offspring , and express their intention of naming her " England . " In company with a ^ affir , they have been five months in this country , and are attached to an " African Exhibition . "
Abolishment op Christmas Boxes in Government Officks . —On Monday afternoon circulars were sent frm the Home-office to all the police courts and other office * connected with the government , directing tlint no Christmas boxes shall in future be given away to tho > e persons who have fOI ' many years been in tho hi'bit of receiving them . Many merchants and tradesmen m the City have publicly signified their intention of discontinuing Christmas boxes this year . The Great Britain . —This steam-ship has at length been sold by tho directors of tho Great Western Storm-ship Company , to Mr . Patterson the eminent ship builder of Bristol , for the sum ot £ 18 , 000 , being about the seventh part of her original cost . Mr . Patterson is now building in tho dook in which the Great Britain was built a steamship for the Royal West India Mail packet Company , and she will be six feet longer that the Great Britain .
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[ t llfl ^ EJflji ^ T ^ , . / NATIOiJAIi ; CBAaTER , ASgQCIATiQN i ; ¦ H eld : a ^ ^ specia ^ meeiing ^ oh , ¦ •^ huwrfa ^ oyelriinir , jast , at > their .. office ,-: l ^ BQuthampton- s ^ eet , strand Mr . J , ohn-MilriQ-to i the ohair . The . whole of the qqjp-¦ mUte' 4 'ifere ^ esenti ; : ^ fr .. Re ynolds mo vefciijnA ¦ Mr / . llrnfew'J ^^ aipppiritea secretary ; ' * :: It was then agreed . that'Mr ; 'Robert EexBlwid ^ be Bblicitied to act as / treasurer . Jb > was' also -agreed' . that- the committee Ynieetfat business every / tyednesday . evening , ' at seven o ' olock pr ^ fily r ^ a ^ flve fbi-ni aVquovum , ; Jind-thatrlbe narnojj , of thosei attending bo dujy published : * -Tiie following address warread and discussed clause by ^^ i ' ^ 0 ^ f ^^ 'Wgiinima ^} iii '' tf ^ ia ^ f ^ bate , was > adopted . by a ; majority of ; Seyen . ' ^ q : |;^ p . " THE EXECUTIVE ; r COMMI 3 ^ Et ; d ^^ Hiii ! NATIONAL' CHAKTER . ASSOCIATION * TO THE PEOPLE . - : : . ¦ ¦ .-T .
. . feLO-y-Co . USTi-iVMB-j , - ; Jfyij . . s uffrages . have elected us W ^ theM portantviya&of ^ mittee ; . of ^•' . the' -, National ,- Charter js 8 b ^ li » tioo ; : We accept ' the , antles that electiMlJhas ^ Pfrosea ^^* hOTB ; dtttie 3 ;^ : ^^^^^^ M ^^^^ M ^ crftcyTat ft"tmhtbsathe : < iMmm $ &Z 6 ffis stances exist , both within the ranks of Chartism , and throughout the political world . . , A reaction has followed the feverish excitement of 1848 . ; The public mind , wrought into enthusiasm then by external wants , was suddenly checked , and thrown back upon itself . The inevitable result was that disorganisation , apathy , and despondency , which always succeed all violent but ineffectual
exertion . During two years , Chartiam has been feebly recovering from the blow ; but we wish you to observe the evidence of its increasing strength from the fact , that , whereas it took five years to recover its vigour after the events of ' 42 , it has already resumed activity and power since ' 48 . The poriod of prostration has been short—tho reinvigoration more complete . The amount of members voting for the election of the present Executive is four times as large as that voting for the Executive elected in 1847 by a general poll . In the ranks of our enemies we find division , both religious and political . In reference to both , we intend taking no part , but strengthening ourselves to encounter the victor , which ever he may be . When our opponents fight , it is our duty to abstain from the strife , It is nothing to us whether Papist or Royalist triumph in the Church—whether Whig or Torv triumph in the Senate .
In the ranks of the middle class certain reforms are being propounded . They do not satisfy us . We intend keeping our policy distinct from theirs , and going onward without heeding them . They cannot exist without Financial Reform—the people without political power ; we well know the day of bargaining for our support must come : —our price is inn Charter . We feel convinced the way of Obtaming that price is not by compromise or present alliance—but by becoming strong enough to dictate the terms . There is but one means—organisation . In our own ranks a small amount of disunion exists . It is only local , and is beginning to disappear . It shall be our study to eradicate its seeds » y holding the hand of brotherhood' to all who honestly advocate our principles . We recognise no private or personal hostilities—we tolerate no individual ambitions ~ we obey no authority but that of the democracy we have been called to represent .
In accordance with the desire' so generally expressed , we have resolved on summoning a Convention , to meet in London on Monday , the 3 rd of March ensuing , The Convention will consist of forty-nine delegates , and we shall submit to you , next week , a ' list of places required to send representatives . We shall shortly submit to you a programme of the business we purpose bringing before the Convention , as far as it is independent of intermediate evonts . It is proposed that two members of our committee proceed op a tour through the principal towns , and all localities prepared to make arrangements for thoir reception are requested to inform us without lobs of time .
Fellow countrymen ! In carrying on the movement for the Charter , we intend keeping our organisation inviolate and distinct . We believe that the guarantee of success lies in the simplicity of our machinery , and the oneness of our purpose . At the same time we believe that tbe connecting link between the Charter and the public heart has too often been untouched : —that Jink is self-interest . Once show the people that tho Charter will do them good , once show them that it is their interest to be Chartists , and they will be Chartists to a man . We , therefore , hold that the people must be instructed in their social rights , and they must know
that their leaders are instructed in them , too , before they will have confidence in the leadership , or take i nterest in the struggle . We desire to rally all social reformers in one phalanx , and we desire to do so , not by breaking up , altering , or weakening our association , but of showing them that we , too , are social reformers , like themselves , but that we understand the only way of obtaining social reforms and political power is through Chartist organisation . We shall carefully abstain from appealing to the passions of the people—for we intend to keep the movement as far as in us lies , alike distinct from violence and vaccillation .
Special attention ia needed for the agricultural counties and tho West of England , —too long neglected by our advocates ; and we hope , by sending our missionaries to unite the democracy of Ireland with our own . Brother Chartists ! In entering on our office , we make you no promises . Wo mean to work , and to work hard . To enable us to do bo , you must support us . Our own services , ( excepting the secretary , ) are rendered gratuitously , but we need funds to carry on the movement . Now is the critical time . If you let it pass by unemployed , for want of money , do not wonder , should you fail , and be trodden under foot in the coming shock of parties . We would suggest that all localities hold public meetings in furtherance of the funds , at whioh to adopt an address to the inhabitants , and to appoint collectors . Let them iasue collecting books , and forward the subscriptions weekly to the treasurer of the association .
We need not tell you , it would be a mockery to place us here , and leave us without the means of action . We have found your exchequer wholly destitute ; till you replenish it , we can do nothing . Recollect— -we make you no promises—we do not tell you when the Charter will be carried—we do not tell you of any wonderful progress to be made this year—we certainly believe progress , and that great may be made , but the solution depends on the support we meet from you . Re will do our duty , j / oh do yows . William Davies , James Giussur , G . JrarA \ IlARNEY , G . J . HOLYOAKE , ERNEST JONES , John Milne , Fearous O'Connor , G . W . M . Reynolds . JonN Abnott , general secretary , 14 , Southampton-street , Strand , Dec . 26 th .
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MANcnnsTER . —On Sunday evening , Deo . 22 nd , Mr . James Williams , of Stockport , lectured in the People's Institute . His address gave general satisfaction , and a vote of thanks was given to the lecturer . —On Monday evening tbe council assembled in the large ante-room of the People ' s Institute , and , after transacting the weekly local business , an address , and also a reply to Ernest Jones ' s letter in last Saturday ' s Star , were adopted . Carlisle . —A meeting was held on Sunday evening last , at No . 6 , John-street , Caldewgate , at which it was agreed to open a snbacription for the Honesty Fund , and the following persons were appointed to receive subscriptions : —Wm . Coulthard , grocer , Caldewgate ; James Ileaton , printer , Cummeradale ; Thomas Roney , weaver , Botchergate ; James Montgomery , Kingstown ; James Murray , shoe 1
maker , * Rickergate ; Nathaniel Pavr , Duke-street ; Seth Huntington , Queen-street ; John Hudson , Caldewgate ; Alexander Mulholland , Parhambeck , and John Gilbertson , Bridge-street . Several persons enrolled their names to beeome regular subscribers , and agreed to meet every Sunday evening , at half-past five o ' clook . BunMONDSEY . —At the weekly meeting of members the following resolution was adopted : — "That tho members of this locality independently deny the assertion made by Mr . M'tirath that the Bermond-8 ey branch of the National Charter Association Uooa not consist of a dozen members , as , by referring to the Secretary ' s books it can be proved that between seventy and eighty memberc , are enrolled , of which nearly fifty are paid up . " A subscription wag also opened , for the Honesty Fund , Vernon Fund , and Winding up of the Land Company .
The Edinburgh Western Localitt met in Mr . Burkett ' s Reading-room , 108 , Westport , when the propriety of joining the National Charter and Social Union was taken into consideration . It was moved
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! ' Edinburgh /—The membersi ; heldfa meeting on December : 24 th , in ; MfeBucbanan ^ a : Cpftee ? house ^ .: fligh . -stree , fcrto ; ' « ssist ^ Company , and ; also to consider •' tbeXbvConnpr . Defence : J ? und . Walter Pringie wascailedto the chair , aiiii ? after . Etatlpg . . to the meeting the '' . ' pause .. ' w'hioh ^ h'SSr kept than !' , front ' . mfe&ic ' g , and especijiil y the fonjg illness of Mr . James Cuinmin « 4 ^ bcir secretary , that something ftfust . be done , or Edinburgh . would . be utterly"disgraced . 'Mr . David " Chefney moved , seconded by Mr . Clark : — «•; That afcommittee of
nine be elected for the purpose of arranging theL winding up . of the . 'Company * and ¦ other , business . connected with the branch . " The . following persona ; vvere eleoted : Archibald WaJker ,, Geprgo . Briinner , J . ohn-Pen . dulton , William Fu ' zzeii . g Jftmes Clark , George Willis , Gepi-ge Gall ; David ; . Chennay , treasuver ; Walter Prihgle , " secretaryl ^ 'MoTCd . by Mr ! Frnzer , 'seconded"by Mr . Willis : — "Tliat ; the scrutineer and-. ' seorotiiry " I > e deputed to M . i' . VOuinmings , to get'ali . books , papers , and money belonging to the ibranoii ; and to report on Monday . evening to the . committejB at the Land Corqpany . ' -JKallj . Nethet ; - row ,, the 30 th of December . " . It , wa , sv : then moved
iiy Mr . •'¦ Willis ,. seconded by Mr . Gowan : f ? T " vThat the comtnittce call upon each' niember toi ' pay Cd ,, or . morp , for the . winding up of the . Cpitypany , anil thn't ' . he committee would wait at thaSand Hall pa Monday evening , to receiv . e ) the levy . " " Moved by , Mr . R ; Heridehon , seconded by Mr . ' John Go wan : rr . " That the committee : ; be entrusted to use means to jjetoip a , public- meeting , to ^ raise funds for the defence of . Mr Foargus O ^ Corinor as speedily , as pos « sible ' . " Eijjht shillings waB . oolle 6 tedfor . the winding up of'toe Company ; . •] . ;¦ : ' - •* / "' " ;> ,.
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m ^ Jli ^ S ^ fe&R ^ feVsilENT AST ^ 'IhE . ^ 0 ^ v ^ P ^^^^^^ GE FmD - ' w ^ lto ^ , TO THB EDIT ^ l OEj ^^ S&il'iPHJBR-J ^ -. STArI ^ ' ' Sir , —It is gratifying : to learn the . progress bljnig made by the miners of Nottinghamshire and Derb yshire in the organisation of their union , several lodges having be- n opened since the Miners' Conference was held in September last . From a letter now before the worthy secretary , Mr . Goulder seems to have but one complaint , viz . —that the harvest is ready , but the labourers are too few .
It would appear that competition has , by its long continued and uninterrupted swny , done good service in practicably dumuustrat ing to tho great hody of miners , that when unprotected by union their labour is increased , and their pay diminished , until there ia a surplus of hands , an : ) tiie masters cry out— " Work for leas wages , or l > -av it altogether . " There is now , in that district , eleven lo'lges , and but one lecturer or agent , who uunnot possibly atr tend to them , properly , and open new ones at the same time ; indeed , there is work for three more agents there , and th « y appeal to the miners of Northumberland and Durham to send them an agent or two , that the wanderers may be gathered in , and the full fruits of the harvest secured .
Sir , it is with equal . satisfaction that we record the progress mad * in Northumberland and Durham ; each week the agents announce the enrolment of members and the wringing of tho " lost ebeep" again to the fold . There are six agents employed in this district :, a ; ut r , !; e advantages of the union being kept up will tie apuurent when the fact is stated , that the average amount of extra wages , realised solely by tho * o coilu-ries who have supported the union , ia about five shillings per fortnight each man , whilst th" ¦ ost . has not been more than sixpence per fortnight per man , thus leaving four shillings and sixpence in every man ' s pocket each fortnight . Thus , suppos ^ ni / 10 , 000 miners enrolled , the outlay to support the union would be £ 250 , whilst they would be advantaged to the tune of £ 2 , 250 . Surely , coniniyreinlly considered , to iointhe union is ever preferable to going to
California , and surpasses any spet'uhtion of the day , in its immediate and certain benefits . Yet , strange to state , there are thousands of Kimws who dare not joiii tho noble band , who ai present devote their time and their money to the support of so good and so just a cause . But the aiiv . iiitage above alluded to is what the union lias dene in the shape of an actual advance of wuges ; and whi .-n it is considered that the masters roused tli < - men up to thus unite together , by proposing ;¦ r-iiuction of prices , amounting , on the average , t » sixpence per man a day , or about five shilling's p . r iVtiiigbt ; then we are bound to give' the union >¦?* it . for saving this reduction , and turning the seaie exactly the other way , arid making tlm royl aOviintntes to the workmen double tbe amoujii ft ; itc 4 j or 44 , 300 per fortnight , and allowing twi .-iv ,: ' uwitiis' work in the year , the amount will iKiiry reach the astonishing sum of £ 120 , 000 per annum .
Sir , however desirable it may be to place tbe question thus clearly iCore tlie great body of miners , and appeal , : is it were , to their cupidity , in order to induce them to m ; ike common cause with their brother miners , thruujrumit tho whole of the mining districts , yet this is not the only ground on which the utility of union rests . No , happily we have ample experience ot tim great advantages secured to them in other piviiits oi view . When the union exists , however weak ninl circumscribed it may be , even when confined t > a single collierr , will you find the workmen atteuijitiii ^ to improve ' themselves intellectually and morally—there you will see those able to read and write amongst them , gratuitously instructing their fc-llow men who may be without such acquirements : ami another advantage is likewise secured , viz . —tlmi , tbe march of knowledge thus going on provides , i goodly number of patriotic individuals to perpetuate and keep alive that organisation which enables them to reap such desirable results .
Sir , it is now nearly two years since the men of Seaton Deleval resuscitated the union by resisting tbe attempted reduction then being made on their wapjes . For two years have the miners here been enabled to resist successfully ( or with but few exceptions ) all attempts to reduce their prices ; and many of the colliers that have enjoyed the advantages thus obtained have never {> iU \ any tiling towards supporting the union , thus sel fishly partaking of the benefits arising from tbe same , but which , had entirely a , rose from the labours and endeavours of a portion only of tho worUmen . But it may perhaps not be amiss to warn those who have thus
acted , that before long they will have the cry of reduction again sounding in their ears , and that of no slight character ; ami as they hare laid no foundation for sympathy or iie !| i for their brother miners , they cannot expect to be supported , if they should feel themselves necessitated to stand out against such reductions . Th < 'n , now is the time to make up for past apathy . Let all who have nofc taken apart in this causo set ; ibout it at once ; there is no time for delay , for tho employers are sure to mark out the weak spots of the citadel , and , by taking advantage of their state of unpreparedneaa , will necessarily secure an easy victory .
Sir , the mining body in this country are , porhaps the worst paid class of all labourers , yet they have ample experience that without union amongst them , their piicos will have a tendency downward , and tho few remaining comforts are gradually slipping away fro , m them ; but irraspective of their present diminished pay , it is but right to remind them , that they have duties to perform which , if left undone , draws them very _ closely within the charge of ingratitude ; and " it is also right to hold up to them what is meant by the above allusion . Sir , unions make but slow progress without tJiciid of the pu Ww pirss ; and it is needless to say that the Northern Star has done its duty towards the working classes gc-nerallv , and the
miners in particular , by allowing them tree scope to detail their grievances to tho world ; whilst the other newspapers , with an exception or twonamely , Iieynolds ' s Weekly Newspaper , Ac , —not only refuse to aid them iu the cause of progress , but very often pen articles to stultify any efforts others may be making to emancipate themselves . Such then being the case , I apprehend that it is of the greatest utility to secure fcde permnncy of & paper which is " a friend in need , " and which hna d me such good service in the working men s cause . Hence I would appeal to the working classes generally , and to the miners of the North in particular ,
to set about a penny subscription to meet the liabilities of Mr . O'Connor , and thus afford , by their mites , the means to extricate that gentleman , from tho difficulties which have been entailed ia defending his character , against the slanders and calumny propagated by parties who are hostile to the welfare of tho people , and who expect , by crushing him , to submerge the principle of progress amongst the working classes . It is gratifying , to see the example set by tbe committee ot the National Trades , Ac , in last week ' s Star ; and it is to be hoped , that that example in * -p irit will be followed out by the great body o . unionists throughout the country .
Trusting that all who have read in tho columns of the Star , from time to time , tho able articles published and set forth !>} ' the secretary of that body-William red-will see thnt the manifold advantages of having « W whwh alloros sooh ample space , weekly , to the cause ot progress , must N not be suffered to fio down nor us worthy proprietor bo allowed to be ruined-i » no doubtit is inten dcrJ—« rirf » expcu . es .-l ftm , JMi ' . yonvs &e ., Dec . 24 . M - jLDE '
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A SiioriiEEi'En , in recommending apiece of goods to a lady , remarked , " Madam , it will wear lor ever and make you a pelticout afterwards . ' .
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V WINDING UP OF THE LAND COMPANY . The Bill ft * the yifadlng-np of the Land Coippasy is now ^ epareii . i Uth ^ to attend a consultation at half-past two o ' clock to-day , ( T hnxBday ) , upon the subject , and the Bill must be printed and placed in the hands of the Clerk of the House , according to the usual form , before the 1 st of February ; and , therefore , I again state to the paid-up members , that if the amount required for winding-up the Company is not paid they will blame themselves , and not me . Feakgus O'Connor .
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« ' ¦ ' ' « & •• ' .. ¦ . ? * & % : : . ••; . . by ^ LUurkelt , seconded by Mr . ^ Usi . r- " . Tiiii -JtfgSurooti countenancotthe 'Natlo ' nij ^ jj atterr and ^ stfcial '^ Union as contained in the , ptfBpainmG of the London ;' Conference '; " An amen $ f ? nt was pro ^ posed . & £ ¦ -j : hat we do jpin the saidriinion . " And a " . ^ - long and able ^ jflcuasibii , the original motion waslobt . ¦ ¦¦ ' MiA ' % -Vy ¦ ¦¦ _' ¦ ¦
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To The Working Classes,
TO THE WORKING CLASSES ,
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; ' ¦ * ' - . ' - , . ' -, ' * . ¦'• - ¦ S . AND NATIONAT . ^ lAM ^ J ^ ily'lll
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VOL . HV . p . 6877 LONDON SATURDAYllECSo 9 « IRW ¦ " ¦ ' " '" ^^ } ; : " - ' : " " i ^^^^«^ a ^ iw ^ ^?^ : 7 ; r ¦ ' HVllUWf , OaiUIWill-JIgVjUttggfli 48 , lOgy . , ^ , ; > m xtShillin g *^ ffifa 6 u&pet" 4 iiavtw ¦ ' .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 28, 1850, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1606/page/1/
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