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©ijawfot smtiugtnce.
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•RULN* HIM WITH EXPBXSES.'-£or<I MtOmnt. 1 Ons enemy can do jba tnore harm than a thousand ciends can do you good. '—Lord Barryxtwe. . 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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5 lY FrJESDS , —I- thinfc the two maxims [ r iiU which 1 have headed this letter are true . [ received a letter from Sir . Christopher Doyle on Wednesday , in which he states that flic £ 85 P ai Q to ^ ty Mn Fbxherstox w-is lia ' . ided over to him by Mr . M'Gowan . Iu lookiug over the accounts I find this is correct ; hut he also states that 1 , COG—with wh ich I charge the Company , and which was borrowed from Mr . Boberts— is due by the Company , and not by me . Now , this
£ 1 , 006 is due by me , and not by the Compaiiy ; as it shall be paid out of the funds due to me , and not by the Company . I should also state that I received Mr . Fetherstox ' s account just as the "Star" -was goiug ' to pres , and which I sent to be inserted iu the « Star" by my secretary . Perhaps Mr . Dotle has not read Mr Gbet ' s accounts delivered to the Committee of the House of Commons that sat in 1848 ; in which he states that , although the accounts were IRREGULARLY KEPT , that that told rather against , than in favour of . Mr .
O'CosNoB , and the Committee reported ; that the affairs were condacfed ^ withv-peH ^^ Ki fides ( good faith . ) - * - " ^^ \ ' v ^ & ^ Y ' Now , if I had kept the accounts as ^ ottier persons would hare done , I should be able to prove that I had expended much , more money than I charge the Company with . Is not ' Mr . Boyle aware that there is not a word or figure of mine hi any of the account books ; and that when I-paid , the labourers every Saturday night , and the tradesmen , Mr . Doyle , Sir . Cullixgham , and Mr . Kixg , then the bailiff , inserted the amounts paid in
the books , they sat at one table inserting the amount paid , and 1 sat at the other table paying the money ? Mr . Doyle was , perhaps , not aware that , ¦ while he was bailiff over the labourers , I paid him 5 s . per week extra out of my own pocket , and lent him £ 10 : But however I may be reviled or abused , I snap my fingers at my opponents , as no man , * who has advocated the people's cause for thirty years , can lay such a character before the public as I can .
The agents for the Northern Star now owe me between £ 3 , 000 and £ 4 , 000 , and no other proprietor of a newspaper would allow them to do so ; and I tell Mr . Doyle and all my opponents that however I may be abused , that I am resolved to carry on another land company upon my own responsibility , and then lie and they will see that I have not lost the confidence of the working classes , to elevate whom 1 have devoted my time and -property . I suppose Mr . Doyle is aware also that although the ' Star' has been established for nearly fifteen years , that I have never looked over a lino of the books , and that one
GENTLEMAN , whose name I shall not mention , has defrauded me of thousands of pounds ; and perhaps he is also aware that the persons to wh in I have been most kind , and to whom I have given large sums of money , have been my greatest abusere . And does Mr . Doyle think that any other man , pressed as I have been for money , could say that he has never drawn ou « FRACTION out of the bank , and neyer received interest for money that he had paid into that bank to a large amount ? I do not think I need say more . Your Faithful Friend and Advocate , 1 ? E £ BGTJS O'COSNOR .
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DESECRATION OF THE MONUMENT IN VICTORIA PARK CEMETERY . The Committee met as usual at Golden-lane on fennday afternoon , and from information received charged the day of meeting from Tuesday , JnW 1 st ' to Monday , June 30 th . The Institution , Morpetbntwt , Green-street , Bethnal-green , being engaged *> n tic evening preriensly announced .
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CIIARTIST AGITATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS . The first of a serie . 3 of meetings intended to be jM > i ( l ,. . for the purpose of agitating the agricultural wstHcis in the neighbourhood of O'Connorville , "asLtld at Cfaorley Wood-common , on Monday e ^ ofo ? , June 16 th . - ¦ - : : , At r i ght o ' clock a large body of agricultural lar " " *** , and several of the neighbouring farmers *™ tradesmen having assembled , Mr . Ratdiffewas "Mm to the chair , and addressed the meeting at y rosi-kraule length , explaining how they were in-. « re . -te . i in political questions . —Messw . Sturgeon , •"" -. Griffiths , i nn ., and G . W . Wheeler , addressed ( x as ? cm *» ly upon the principles and objects of the artei-, and the advantages io be derived from its jKiou . Great interest seemed to be manifested , . » lac meeting broke np at dusk , votes of thanks otg ueeu gjvea t 0 tne chairman and speakers .
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CRUEL T REATMENT OF ERNEST JONES WHILST IS TOTOILL FIELDS PRISON . A public meeting was held at the National Hall , Uijfh Holborn , on Wednesday . evening , to petition the House of Commons to grant an inquiry into the snbjeet . Long before the meeting comiiienced , the galleries and other portions of the building were crowded to excess ; in fact , it was the largest gatherine for any political object which has been held since 1 S 48 . At precisely eight o ' clock , Mr . Wakley , M . P ., was called to the chair . Several other M . P . ' s had been invited , hut were not present . ^ CRUEL TREATMENT CIV ERNEST . Tnvpc
Mr . Wakcet , on taking the chair , was louded cheered , lie stated thafc the question at issue was , whether , by . torture , they should be prevented from giving expres 3 ioa , to their political opinions upon the governmeutcof the ' country . Ile / would-not preiudgeTthe ' qaestion , nor s ay ^ whethertorturef-had been inflictcdrdr not ; bus he would listen attentively to whatthe speakers had to communicate to th | . meeting-on-the ; subject , aad they could speak fronrtojowle'dge and experience . He { Mr . Wakley ) should shortly ¦ . have an opportunity , in another place , to speak his opinions [ upon this " matter . They were met specially to consider the ca « e of Mr . E . Jones ; who , they would have imagined , would have , received kinder treatment at the hands of those who
generally were considered tco tolerant to men of their own order . / Mn Jones was a gentleman by profession , as well as by habits and feelings ; but he had proved by his conduct that he still sympathised with those placed in a more humble position . ( Cheers . ) If there had been torture inflicted upon Mr . Jones , they ought not to rest satisfied without an inquiry , and the offenders ought to be brought to the bar of public opinion , and held up to public ignominy and contempt . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Jones had been accused of speaking sedition ; and no doubt he had expressed his opinions warmly and decidedly , as many others had done at the same time , but it was no offence to express dissent from the opinions of a government ; and , without a doubt ,
those who were liable to be punished by the laws had a right to a voice in the making of the laws ; and he trusted they would continue to . speak out boldly their political sentiments ; for those who were content without enjoying their political rights did not deserve freedom . ( Cheers . ) As for sedition , it meant anything which any body in power chose to consider detrimental to their interests . The Whigs , while in power , never spoke sedition , but when out of office , where was there a body of men more free with seditious speeches ? When in the larder they could fill their mouths with something better , but when out of the larder no men could fill their mouths with much louder vociferations of seditious sentiments . ( Hear . ) Such a course of conduct was most contemptible
they ought to allow to others the same freedom of expression of opinions which they exercised themselves . Mr . Joni'S had spoken his true opinions as to the things which surrounded him . He ( Mr . Wakley ) trusted he would continue to do so , but that he would use good judgment , so as not to give them an opportunity of again placing him in a prison cell , especially when he could succeed as well by calm as by violent language . Mr , Jones would give the meeting an account' of hia treatment in calm and unimpassioned language , so as to give them all an opportunity to judge of the facts of the case . lie trusted that the House of Commons would never be so atrocious as to refuse an inquiry j if they did so they would receive and deserve increased infamy . The Chairman sat down amid vociferous clieerinjr .
Mr . Holtoakk moved the first resolution , as folfows : - " This meeting , observing with regret that of late yearsi there has been manifested in the official proceedings on the part of thecrown . agrowing tendency in judicial sentences to confuse differences of political opinion with crimes , and to punish those differences with the same , or even greater severitv than the crimes , is a practice in the opinion of this meeting disgraceful to a civilised country , and calculated to infuse into political contests antagonisms dangerous to free discussion , and to the welfare of society ; and believing that the sentence upon Mr . Ernest Jones was one which presents that moral confusion of politics , and felony , so untenable in theory , and so reprehensible in
practice , ; and that the sentence was ^ . moreover , carried out in a manner at once inhuman and illegal : this meeting , therefore , resolves to petition the nouse of Commons to institute an inquiry into the treatment of Mr . Ernest Jones , during his two years'incarceration in Tothill Fields Prison ; and should our application to the said house he unsuccessful , we are determined to petition the House of Lords . " Mr . Holyoake , in a long argumentative speech , enforced the spirit of the resolution , and was loudly applauded . Sedition could not arise in a well governed country ; it was the conduct of the government which gave it birth . The government did nothing for the interest of the people , and never meant to do anything until compelled . While
wrong was being perpetrated as it now was—while the people were being worked as a people ought never to be worked—while men perished in a manner in which they ought never to allow themselves to perish—sedition was a natural consequence . The chief cause of alarm to a statesman should be , not that the people denounced such a system , but that they tamely allowed themselves to perish beneath its influence —( great cheers)—while they tamely submitted to it they did not deserve to he free . What man conld assert tbat a government was based on justice which pnt dotrn its political opponents by imprisonment , and that of such a nature as to endanger—and , iu some instances , to destroy —tne lives of its victims . The feelings that such
conduct generated were , that they must battle not only for their liberty , but also for their lives , and that retaliation in such cases was justifiable . ( Great cheering . ) No government ought to have the power to persecute its opponents ; whilst such a power existed it was a mockery to talk of free discussion . They talked of the necessity of a people being self-reliant ; this could only be achieved by allowing the utmost freedom to the expression of opinion . While the people were so divided this would never be obtained . The speaker concluded by entreating them to act with unity and prudence , and not let their enthusiasm expend itself solely on that meeting , but to continue their agitation until they had procured the desired result .
Mr . T . Host seconded the resolution . If they were to have progress the question was , whether it was to be peaceable or violent 1—tbat they must have progress no one could deny who believed the statement made by Mr . Holyoake , that men worked , perished , and died , as no men ought to work perisb , and die . If they did not have peaceable progress , they must have revolution , because society could not stand still . If they demanded great changes , they were called revolutionists , — revolution was the name always given to the first demand for ^ great governmental changes . Sedition was defined to be an attempt io resist , or bring contempt upon a government . Viewed iu that light . ErneBt Jones had not been the most effective
agent in spreading sedition—government themselves were the most efficient agents in doing that work . It appeared from their conduct that government did not wish for peaceable progression , dreading that it would be more successful and permanent than that brought about by violence . The speaker then showed , from the example of Canada , the Cape of Good Hope , &c , that by successful resistance they had achieved their demands ; and the inference might be drawn , that on the 10 th of April the . Chartists did not rebel enough , —that if they had rebelled a little more they might have had the Charter . ( Great cheering . ) The speaker tnen dwelt upon the manner in which the povern-Sir 00 1 ??? themselves btheir
^ L ^^' y S 3 « i ttB Pa Pf Ration , their treatment of political prisoners Ac . The weakness of the English people rested in their not standing sufintly Ss ^ JT ^ vT ^ 2 anted something to nspire aud ennoble their efforts , —thev were too ant to look at what the effect of ^ ny meXewoufd have upon their own individual intereflt-to CoS their views to what they termed practical measures —by which they in general meant those which effected their pockets ; jabey should seek freedom for others , even though it did not benefit themselves . It was in this spirit thathe wanted them to espouse the case of . Mr . Jones , not so much tor Mr . Jones' Bake or for their own sake , but for the mankin
sake of d , and to rid the criminal jurisprudence of this' country of the disgrace of inflicting torture upon those whose safe custody could be all that policy declared . Mr . Le Blqnd supported the resolution . He was proud to appear before them in defence of his friend Ernest Jone 3 . After three weeks' incessant trouble be had procured the rules of . Tothill Fields Prison . He" had also procured other documentary evidence , bearing upon- his treatment and prison tre atment generally , "ffere the statements made' by Mr . JoneB correct ?—if not , t he subject fell to . the ground . He felt convinced ttiey were ; and if so , i % was . their duty to investigate tne ' matter ; for , if bnermanWaB judicially murdered to-day ,, another man might be
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judiciously murdered to-morrow . Sharp and Williams bad been so murdered ; and so would Ernest Jones have been had ho not possessed a constitution like a horse . This was because they did not act with one heart and mind . Until they banded themselves together , awl got past the age when charity was doled out to them as aright , they would never become otherwise than they now were . Mr . Le Blond then read the rules of the prison , and commented upon the manner in which the rules had been violated . He had no doubt that Mr . Jones had ? n ^ in , v ,, » j j x . _ o . .
an action against the governor , and he had no objection to put down something handsome , if Mr . Jones would go to law with him . ( Tremendous cheering . ) He would not do this merely to do injury to the governor—perhaps a sprig of the aristocracy , ^ oo proud to work , and too poor to live without it . Mr . Uol ^ Jfe had shown them that the surgeons—the nieijL ^ ho stood between the prisoners and the grave- ^ did hot-dare to act otherwise than they did . Their bread depended unon it . The
people could not expect martyrs everyday . The treatment their martyrs received was not sufficient to induce them to do this . Mr . Le Blond then read , from a book published : by Dixon , entitled London Prisons , and commented upon the account there given of Mr . Jonea , and , by his happy manner , created immenso laughter . Tbe book concluded by stating that the account came from Mr Jones himself , andj as such , was valuable to the reformer of our , penal laws , and creditable to the magistrates under whose care he was place % » J " v
Mr . E . Jones next addressed the meeting , and was received with tremendous applause . He did not stand before them for the purpose of making & speech , but merely to givo them a plain statement of facts . He thanked Mr . Le Blond for having procured him the rules of the prison ; not only himself , but Lord Dudley Stuart and other friends bad tried m vain to procure them . Relative to the work from which Mr . Le Blond had read extracts , he had never heard of its existence before , and had never expressed himself satisfied and contented wich his lot as there represented . Mr . Jones then cdmmenced detailing the particulars of his committal and treatment by the authorities during the two years and ona week while he was in Tothill Fields Prisonnd exhite
, a bid a series of conduct on the part of the authorities , of the most mean , yet malicnant nature . During this narrative ( which lias been partly described in his petition in a previous number of this journal ) the audience expressed their sympathy with , him , and their detestation of his oppressor in the most unmistakeabio terms In allusion to tho -work quoted by Mr . Le Blond and written by one of the prison authorities he stated that , during the whole period of his confinement , he had only thirty volumes allowed him to read , excepting those contained in the prison library . That the library consisted , almost exclusively , of works inculcating passive obedience and subjection to the powers that beand works written
, in praise of military glory . Mr . Jonea enumerated a quantity of these , profusely adorned with woodcuts of a most questionable character . The prison was quite a hot-bed for raising recruits . The surgeon of the prison was also the surgeon of a battalion at the Horse Guards , and often boasted of the number of recruits he had drafted from the prison ; in fact , the prison library literally taught " the young idea how to shoot " He supposed it was apart of the Whig system of education ; for nineteen months he was not allowed the use of pen , ink , or paper , except for his quarterly letter to his wife ; after that period he was allowed them , but not allowed to write a line of original matter ; all "he was allowed to do mi to
make extracts from the works he had described . Mr . Jones then stated the manner in which the governor had refused him to . have the attendance of his own medical man ; they had also refused permission to Mr . Wakley to see him . He wished to see certain Members of Parliament , to consult his solicitor , to write to the magistrates and to the judge who committed him , inquiring whether his treatment was in accordance with his sentence all these requests were refused . He then requested to be allowed to petition parliament ; this was denied to him ; then , and not till then , did he refuse to pay obedience to the Prison Laws , and wa 3 confined to a refractory cell fornot picking the oakum ne at length , through his wife , obtained an interview witkMessrs
. O'Connor , Cobden , and Walmsley , but every possible impediment was thrown in his way , so anxious were they to keep from tho public tho secrets of the Prison House . He was fully prepared with proof for all his statements and , having lived through their torments , was determined , if possible , to prevent others from being tortured to death in prison—their lives under the present system being entirely at the mercy of the governor and the Home Secretary ; the public especially , in tbe case of their death , never hearing the truth upon the subject . Mr . Jones concluded by stating his devotion to the cause for which he had suffered , and returned his thanks to tho meeting the Chairman , and other M . P . 's , &c , who had kindly interested themselves in his cause .
. The CnAmxiAN , in putting the resolution , suggested that , in the event of the petition failing in tho Commons , they should apply to the Lords , He feared that the House of Commons would be base and subservient enough to refuse the inquiry , but he thought it would be granted in the Lords and though they might not think highly of tho Lords it was their duty to try every tribunal in their power , for if that system of gagging was allowed all liberty of speech was at an end . If Mr . Jones ' s statements were true , and could be supported by evidence , and Mr . Jones ' s character as a public man was for ever damaged if he could not substantiate them ; there was no justice in this country , if those inflicting such treatment were not dismissed : and if Sir
George Grey called in the power of the crown to stifle inquiry , upon him would all the infamy rest . He had made application to see Mr Jones , though then unacquainted with him . Sir George Grey referred him to the visiting magistrates and they referred him back to Sir George Grey . If any one had told him he could have been refused such a request , he would not have credited it He could not inform them what he felt at the moment it was conduct he could not understand . From what he had beard that evening he was compelled to believe tbat if it was true their conduct had been low , mean , malignant , cruel and tyrannical in a degree he conld never hare conceived of , and there was a vaBt amount of crime to be laid at the
doors of some one . The government talked " of introducing a new Reform Bill . Was their mouths meant to be stopped in discussing its merits by conduct such ai that described . He saw much more importance in the question that was referred to the meeting of that evening . The conduct to Mr . Jones , during the prevalence of tho cholera , was mean and malignant in the extreme . Mr . Jones had alluded to the inquest on Sharp and Williams j they mu = t not imagine that he was coroner for that district . Mr . Wakley then described what a reform he had created in the prison in the district for which he was coroner ; they had so altered the diet in Coldhath Fielda that out of 1 , 000 prisoners not one died of the cholera , and it was now the
healthiest prison in the kingdom . Mr . Wakley then spoke of the steps lately taken both in ' and out of parliament to abolish the office of coroner , and stated hi 3 opiaion as to its detrimental effects . The Chairman , having an engagement elsewhere , put the resolution , which was adopted unanimously , and left the meeting amid great applause . Mr . T . Hnsr was then called to the chair . Mr . Bezeb , in a most excellent and telling speech , moved the adoption of the following petition . Seconded in a lengthy and much applauded applauded address by J . B . O'Bbikn , and carried unanimously : — " TO THB HONOURABLE . THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 18
rARMAMHNT ASSEMBLED . " Thepetition of a public meeting of the inhabitants of London in the National Hall , High Holborn , assembled , " SnBWETH , —That your petitionersobserve with regret , that of late years there has been manifested , in tbe official proceedings on the part of the crown , a growing tendency in judicial sentences to confuse differences of political opinion with crimes , and to punish those differences with the same or even greater severity than tbe crimes , a practice in the opinion of your petitioners disgraceful to a civilised country ; and calculated to infuse into
political contents antagonisms , " dangerous to free discussion , and to the welfare of society . . " That your petitioners learn with regrefc , that Ernest Charle 3 Jones , of the Middle Temple , Barrister-at-Law , was sentenced in July , " 1848 , to'two years and one week ' s imprisonment , in Tothill Fields PriBen , for the delivery of a political speech ; that during his incarceration he wa 3 , at periods , insafficiently clothed , compelled to exist on unsuitable , and to him unwholesome food , exposed to damps and fog ,, to the Berious injury of his health , that bis life- was frequently placed in Jmn" » ent danger , espeaially during the prevalence of the Cholera—from which two ofhis fellow prisoners I ™ ° f ° Political opinions ) perishea-that Be was reiused the £ rivilegs oi& single twU from his owa
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" ^• ft 'ii'ABS . ' K ltt ? = S ' p «^ = 5 Sr ? TSinnW . tborit 168 ' » ml Inenaced witl > S Jf tmE ™ . *» ' ° Pasted in theexertSSSnSdedS ; ? Ugllthe ' 010 ri « llfc of P roteo - iSS a P rl 8 t »> er-that ho was refused a ofvMS ^ ^ l Va [ CS ' ? tOymcdior tlie Su ^ ance h m Sitii 1 V ™ th 0 visitin S justices denied H Ip & ° ° p , etitioning y ° « r Honourable ' ^ he ™« refuae ( i by the Governor of the ShSL , interview with the visiting justices Li ^ P diV ?~ right which tho prison rules frnm ir , UZ ^ . I that he wasMntimidatcd If EV& U T lie Ht tbeir quarterly interviews « iK £ ° J th - ^ . received , and that the said governor of said Drisnnwrnm \ imoaif t * « , „
r ™^ iv 8 ald t- pn 30 nerintlmidating her from commubwatiog the , treatment of . her husband to me $ l y ° honourable house . ^ jhril Peti tjoners having learned the above facts , withvothers of the same serious nature ;; your petitioners , therefore , are of opinion that the sentence u ^ on ^ sajd ^ J rnest ,. Charles Jonea was not only one which presents a moral confusion of politics andfelony , untenable iu theory , undTeprehen - sible m-practice , but . that the said sentence was carriefeout with inhuman ' andjille ^ arrigotir . ' and y / JurMitioners . Hherefore . - pray •' your honourable heuse To institute aV enquiry into " the treatment of the said Ernest Charles Jones during his incarceration in Tothill Fields Prison . "And your petitioners will ever pray . " Signed on behalf of the meeting . " . The petition was then ordered to be sicned by the Chairman on behalf of the meeting .
vorea oi thanks were given to Messrs . Wakley and Hunt tor their services in . the chair , and the meeting , which was of a most enthusiastic character , adjourned .
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NATIONAL REFORM LEAGUE . At tbe usual weekly meetingof the Council of the National Reform League , held at tho Eclectic Institution , 18 a , Denmark-street , Soho , on Monday evening , June 23 rd , the report'of a meeting held at St . Leonai'd ' s-hall , Sboreditch , on Wednesday , June 18 th , inserted in the Northern Star of last Saturday was brought under their notice , and the following resolution was passed unanimously : — "That the secretary write the editor of the Northern Star to request the correction of some errors inadvertently inserted in the report of the above meeting , in which it is stated that the meeting was called b y the National Reform League , and that a resolution in favour of Protection was proposed bv Mr
OBnen . In accordance with the above resolution , I beg leave to state that the meeting was not called by the National Reform League , but by some of the inhabitants of Shoveditch , who invited Mr . O'Brien to attend and give his views respocting Free Trade and Protection , which nre embodied in the following resolution , which was moved by Mr . O'Brien , seconded by Mr . -A " . Campbell , and carried unanimously : —• ' That while we admit that nations , like individuals , have an undoubted ri ght to inter * change their respective surplus products free from fiscal or other restrictions ; , and while , consequentl y , we fully admit the principle of Free Trade , as that which should govern international exchanges between peoples enjoying freedom and being
proprietors of their own products , this meeting at the same time protests against the present policv falsely called Free Trade , as being unjust in princfple , and destructive in practice of tiie ri ghts and interests of the productive and action classes , including all tax-payers , inasmuch as it is not accompanied with reciprocity nor with an adjustment of public or private burdens ; and also because while we are compelled topoy taxes on those articles of foreign growth and production which it is our interestto import , duty free ( such as tea , coffee , sugar , from our own colonies , timber , wine , spices , drugs .
furs , hides , wool , and raw material generally ) , our portBare moBt unwisely and unjustly thrown open to such foreign manufactured aud agricultural produce , as our own .-territories can supply , in superabundance , by the employment of our own people , and upon the production of which the subsistence of our population depends . ' This meeting , therefore protests against such a system as being neither , Free Trade nor fair trade , but a system cunningly devised to cheapen home labour , in order to enrich the monied portion of society at the expense of the slavery , pauperism , and ruin of tho productive classes of this country . "
TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —In the first pago of your paper of Saturday last appears a short paragraph headed "National Reform League , " which purports to be an account of the public meeting held on Wednesday preceding in St . Leonard ' s-hall , Shoreditch . The reader is thereby led to suppose that tbe meeting was held by the "National Reform League ' ' and Mr . P'Brien , and that it was exclusively Protectionist in its objects . The resolution is not given , as that would expose tho truth , and falsify the statement in the paragraph . As ' chairman of that meeting permit me to inform you—1 st . Thatit was not a meeting of the Rational Reform League , but one convened under the auspices , of the " Associated
Trades , " through their secretary—Mr . Delaforce , 2 nd . Protection , as it has existed for landlords , and does exist solely for capitalists , was denounced in the strongest terms ; and real Free Trade in the fullest sense advocated , without fiscal or excise duties on importations of any kind ; but the prosent delusion , called by that name , being in operation , it was the opinion of the assembly that the / iome jKarfojshould Je ^ reserucd to the British operative for such manufactured articles as he could produce in excesi , while he remained an over-rated and taxed wages-slave , living in misery , or starving with his famil y , as capitalists saw fit to doom , by giving or withholding emp ' oyment . I am , Sir , your obodient servant , The CnAinMAN op the Meeting .
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•«» - — . — RUSSELL'S REFORM BILL FOR 1852 . "We are given to understand , on what we deem reasonably good authority , that the measure which Lord John Russell proposes to introduce next year for the extension of the parliamentary franchise will recognise educational and literary standingapart from all other considerations—as electoral qualifications .. Surely tho common-sense view of the question points at once to persons so intellectually certificated as precisel y those best fitted to take this indirect part in the government of the communities among which they live . What is needed in all constitutional countries is , the best representation of jts intelligence that can be obtained ; bj # hitherto the . problem how-to get
intellect represented in the national councils has been very imperfectly resohed in England . Why should money be made the test of intelligence , when it is . open tp t be tested- by itself ? Obviously fallacious as to theory " ,, the-present system is monstrously erroneous when reduoed to practice . In a country like . this , ; a ten-pound rental is a test neither of property nor of education . In London especially some of the very beBt classes in both respects are shut out from the exercise of a right of votingsome of the least worthy enjoy it . Thousands of authors , artists , barristers ; and other professional m ? S t- ! £ Ot USTSi ^ to exercise this important civil rightwhich is not
r- denied to the lowest class of lodging-house keepers . The man who lives in furnished rooms-though he may have written an epic poem or ft great history , —though he may have carried away the highest honour * of his Un vemty , and though his name may stand on tberollsof half the learned Societies in Europeis not privileged to add the approval . of his voice to that of the elector who cleans bis boots and dresses his hair ? This is-an anomaly so serious , that it would be wonderful if any Minister could think of reformingtne electoral constituency without taking measures to bring these important elates into the possession of this great civil rieht . For the higher
grades of intelligence and social position , the now arrangements > could bo easily introduced . A clause which should confer on all members of Colleges . Inns of Court , Loarned Societies , Scientific Associations , Literary , Artistic , aad other Corporations , now existing or to be hereafter founded , a defined character-on all persons who have obtained scholastic or literary honours ,. heads of schools , diploma-ed teacherB , professional men , such as surgeons , solicitors , officers of the army or navy , civil and military engineers-rand on all persons employed in the civil service of the State , a right to be immediatel y inscribed on the voting l T 7 t ^ M Ca 8 e ' - ? ^ "eve . in Belgium-would effect the change quietly , ensilv . nnri nn ^ uiv i \
neath these ^ organised : bodies—if ' - the education claim shall be allowed . to descend-still lower-it would be meredifficulUo apply . the testa . of inteMgence , and the trouble of . . applying them would fall more directly on the State . ' Had ' . we-a national ayatem of instruction tbe difficulty would bo slight ,
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The examiner ' s more ' certificate of proficiency would in ovory case be . como cho scholar ' s electoral qualification , on aitainingSxhe n « e of twenty-one fcven with our present machinery we think this is to a certain -extent practicable . -Wo do not premT Rt \ bat Lord J ° hn Russell means to attempt nkL thn ?* he Po'rt'cal emancipation of the higlu-r tht « ™ . of to « ary and leawied persons , but while Jh ! n ? ° V . undep consideration in the Cabinet anTnmfirv » wl '" - ay arise ' which would ' ««»* o an mqUlry whether it may not bebotter to adopt a larger basis for the contemplated changes-
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NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION , Offices-14 , Southampton-street , Strand . The Executive Committee of this body met ? Ll u-TA ™ ning kst > a * the National Hall , High Holborn , but as there was no business , ot particular importance or urgency to transact , the Committee adjourned to Wednesday evening , July 2 nd , then to meet at the abov ^ . opicef ' : ' ¦¦ '¦^¦ ' ui ^ c ^ : ^¦¦¦) h ;^> r \ -:. , ¦ * N . B .-A detailed Balance' Stie # ft ^ tng quarter- ending June 24 tb will be published uex t ^^^^ i ^ 6 HN Arkoit , ; ;•" ' ' ' ' -- " - " -- : . ";? . " •'' "GeneralSecretary , ,
Worcester .-The Guildhall of this citv was filled by a large audience on Tuesday evening last , to hear an address on real parliamentary reform . Mr . Harding was called to the chair ; and after some appropriate and pointed' remarks , introduced Mr . Ernest Jones , who was received with long-continued cheering . Some Middle Class Reformers , who dissented-from his advice , were silenced by his arguments , and when called forward several times by the chairman at tho conclusion
of the lecture to advance any objections , they had t 6 make , not one of them shewed himself , A resolution pledging the meeting to the Charter in its entirety , and to oppose any candidate going for a less measure of reform , was passed without one dissentient amid thunders of applause ; and such was the crowd of men stepping forward to be enrolled as members of the Charter Association , that Ernest Jones was obliged to assist the society in filling up the cards .
MAMCHESTEn . — -On Sunday evening , June 22 nd , 1851 , Mr . William Bell , of H ^ ywood , gave lecture in the Peoples' Institute , Heyrodstreet , Ancoats , on "The utility and practicability of Industrial Co-operation . " The experience which Mr . Bell has had in being treasurer to the Heywood Co-operation Stores , hi ghly qualified Wm for tho subject , which-was much appreciated by the audience , in the marked attention paid to the lecture , andthe approbation he received at its conclusion . A vote of thanka was unanimousl y passed to Mr . Bell , with a request that ho would soon meet them again on the important subject of ¦•• Industrial Co-operation . Hanlet Potteries . — -Ernest Jones
lectured in the People ' s Hall on Monday evening last , to a large and delighted audience—on " The duty of the working man at the present time . " At the conclusion of his address , which was received with enthusiasm , Mr . Merriman rose to defend the Financial and Parliamentary Reformers . Mr . Jones replied , bringing down loud cheers , produced by the arguments advanced , and announced that he would assist the secretary in enrolling names . for tbe Charter association , A crowd responded , to . the . call , _ ind it was with difficult that the named could be entered with sufficient rapidity for the demand .
SHEFHiap .-. The weekly meeting of the Woman ' s Rights Association was held on the 18 th inat ,, in the Democratic Temperance Hotel , 33 , Queen-street . Mrs . Bradbury in the chair . The financial business being disposed of , Mr . George Hows , author of " The Four P's , " was duly appointed the accredited agent of the society , his mission being to estab lish Woman ' s Rights Association in every town in the United Kingdom , the same to conform to the rules of the parent society in this town . It is in contemplation shortly , ( in connexion with the above ) to send out two eminent ladies—who are members of the
council—as missionaries in this laudable undertaking . The secretary being instructed to enclose tbe necessary accompaniments to the above gentleman , the meeting was duly adjourned . Westminster Locality .-, On Tuesday evening last the ' members of this locality held a meeting , when the committee informed them that tbe meetings at the Assembly Rooms , 99 , York-street , Westminster , were for the present suspended , the agreement with the proprietor having expired . After voting five shillings to the Executive , the meeting adjourned .
Cheltenham . —Mr . Ernest Jones addressed a meeting on Sunday , June 22 nd , at half-past two o ' clock , in the open space on the top of Rose Hill-street . Mr . Wilks being called to to the chair , observed that Sunday was a day kept apart for hol y purposes , and no cause could bo more holy than teaching all men their duties both towards themselves and their maker . He theu introduced Mr . Jones , who laid bare the present rotten system , and dissected the land and labour question—the relative position of employer and
employedthe mischevious effects of capital and competition over labour under the present system , and what might be done by unity to remove the present evils . Mr . Jones was received throughout with marked attention by a well conducted audience . The meeting adjourned at half-past four for half . past six , when Mr . Jones concluded his eloquent address . A vote of thanks was moved b y Mr . Glover to the speaker , which was seconded by E . Sharland , observingthat the speaker ' s eloquence claimed a response from all who heard him . The
proposition being put , received the unanimous acclamation of the meeting . Mr . Jones briefly replied , that the people ' s enemies , in theu imprisonment of him , had not altered him in his duties—but that he had come out a republican , to work with renewed vigour in the people ' s cause . A vote of thattka was moved by Mr . Adams to the chairman , for the moral courage he displayed as one of the shop .
keeping class , in presiding over the ' meeting , as so much cowardice and cringing was displayed in this town by professing democrats aiding corruption and strengthening " the enemy . Seconded by Mr . Jones . In conclusion the " People ' s Anthem " was given out by Mr . Glenister . The meeting broke , up , evidently gratified with the address delivered by Mr . Ernest Jones . ' ' .
John-strebt Locality— On Tuesday evening last , the adjourned discussion on " The relative merits of Free Trade and Protection , " was re = sumedin the Coffee-room of the Institution . Mr . John Milne in the chair . Mr . Brinsmead conv menced by stating that the gist of the question was , which of the measures would confer . the greatest good on the greatest number of the people , and having , at considerable length , stated hia ideas on the subject under discussion , gave it as his decided opinion that Free Trade , was calculated , to ensure to the people the greatost amount of harmi .
ness . Mr . Bezer , on the contrary , contended that Free Trado , as at present oarried out , had and would cause , agreat amount of misery . Mr SamuM Kydd . jn a long and vjery . eloquent a ^ ress , ex plained his-views on this important ommHn ' n Jr . resumed hia seat amid g&t " { fig * % ^
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fnonds having briefly addressed Hio ' DUMUng , Uet ciT ^ ion , ' , n T " > a the arf J ° urilI »<™ of thodisgifon ? Wllh the iDStructirf » which had been ton finr £ ' o ° ^? IIoL ' ' Tine ^ trcet , " Hat * author of «? " Fnday c'on ««« Mr . Womldine , merous otueVSoifi t Hff 1 ' " d of nu " Tragic Muso of Gr «^ > Tt ut ^ T on tha had ever boon coeval wiHwf ; - ! lilt tllG drama keep pace . fth tKi ^ SBa ""}^^ part of that proposition was Twified bl ' til - mousi testimony of hittory and thei ttl "" T the other followed as a logical inferriS M' J ? l tho drama , and yon circumscribe the asp ' iratim * the mind ; set on foot the wild fire of fanntUs " Mid you usher in a dynasty hostile to tho righti w
uocrtios of mankiml ; . lor it irw during tho pristSn * - days of the Athenian drai »» that rhetoric , poetry history , soulpturo , and pliiJosophy were at their zenith ; whilst justice and liberty were tlio basisof the laws and institutions . of Greece , lie said 1 that the modern stago h ; id , under a jisucdo , iri 3 to cr S llti ' y fali . ' n from its former elevation ntid dignity , so that it did not propound to tho public tno 8
, " r .-To ^ nS' *^« y « W . u ^ iBtotla A ? o ° tl 10 P assl 0 "s by pity and terror " OCoN-NonyiLus .-A public mooting of the allottees and neighbours , was held at thescl . oohS , ta ««! y eVe " tohenr a lcctuvo from Mr John Sturgeon , jan ,, on the Life of Mr . O'Conner and us connexion with the Lund Plan . Mr Georra SbSS M CilI S ' t 0 " " ' b * od « 3 f £ 5 S- . vr - , . S «» treated his subject with great ability , tracing tho career of Mr O'Connor from his commencement in publie life unto the present time , and demonstratinVhis coT sistanUdvocacy of the rights of man . The ectu " m ^ TOs highly nppldudedT A gentleman from the east end of London > l « dfS % aAI « i ^ S tKud £ ? no * S- » H * Msolutionwas passed ; im-itU , * twL
Z * « Ti -r v ? ° T or ttf a PuWio noting fa the neighbourhood . - Several other speakers addressed the meeting and it was announced that Mr Sturgeon would lecture on tho ensuing Mondaysubject , " Home Coloniza tion . " y FissBURY . —The Democratic Association met afc 21 , \ me-street , north end of Uatton-sardon . last Sunday . Mr . Philip Johnson in the chair . SovenI new members were enrolled . Mr . II . Ilockley reported that tlie council had made good progress in ; repairing the abstract of the People ' s Bill of Rights , which is designed for the suhiect nf th «
future a i tat ion of this Association , till it bccome 3 t io aw of Great Britain . The secretary announced that the council had been disappointed in securing the building for the New Democratic Hall for this Association . Moved by Mr . William Jones , and secondtid by Mr . William Thomas-. " That Mr Philip Johnson , the assistant treasurer , be empowered to receive at his residence , No . 2 Lambeth-square , Westminister-roan , tenders for a building , suitable for' the much-required Democratic Hall for this ¦ borough . " Carried unanimously . Moved by Mr . llulidny , and seconded by
Mr . Ilockley— " That tho council bo instructed to take the Hall of Science , City-road , as soon ( after our excursion by canal boats on the 20 th of July ) as possible , to convene a general meeting of tho members and friends to hear read and explained the now abstract of tho "People ' s Bill of ItMits " and to adopt a petition to the British Parliament for its enactment . " Carried . Moved by Mr Cater , and seconded by- Mr . Hackloy—That tho council bo instructed to draw up a requisition for the signatures of the rate-payers of this borough calling a public meeting Qn Clevkenwcll-jrreen . to
test the right of such open air meetings , when convened by that legal process . " Carried unanimously . A gentleman present gave two shillings towards tho obtamment of tho new hall , and recommended that a public subscri ption be made for the same purpose , and that tho assistant treasurer , of "West-S ini , n te « road ' and the seo " > tary , David Cater , of f « o . 12 , Compton-strcet , Olerkcnwel ) , be empowered to receive the same . The secretary reported that in accordance with their request , lie hud sent copies of the first address of this Association to the considered leading stamped papers friendly to the people's interest , and not , one ( except the Northern Star have hadtUe kindness to insert it . nor taken : mv
notice of it . The secretary concluded his remarks by urging tho newly-enrolled members to use their best exertions among their friends to get tho Aortnern Star more extensively patronisedin London . On tho motion ot Mr . Cater , it was agreed that , in the event that the call on the lecturer of tho metropolis ( which appeared in last week ' s Star \ is not responded to by Sunday , tho following question will bo discussed : — "Will the Show-shop scheme , iu Uyde-park ( commonly called tho Exhibition of nil Nations ) , counteract the Manchester Free Trade prqieot of bringing labour ' s remunera .-of diet «" ntO d Broush ! Un > s sta"ation standard Finsbdrt LooALiir . —Tho members met nn Sunday last at the Albemarle Coffee House , Albemarlestreet , Clerkenwell . Mr . Lee in tho chair Mr Fuzzen reported that tho deputation MMLJi £
engage the Hall of the PiDsbury Literarv and Scientifie Institution , had succeeded in that object ; and that they had also obtained the consent of the committee to the use of their room on Sunday evenings . It was then agreed that in future the members of this locality meet every Sunday evening in the Committee Room of theahove Institution and that a public meeting take place every Tuesday night at eight o ' clock , to review the proceeding in parliament , and the political events of the week ' On the motion of Messrs . Batchelor and Fuzzen it was agroed- » That the Executive Council ho ' requested to assist as far as they eau in giving effect to these meetings , being fully pmuaded that this
may oe maae one of tho most flourishing localities in the metropolis . " Mr . Lee gave notice that on Sunday evening next he should niovo that a subsenpton be opened at this locality for Mr . Ernest Jones , as a testimony of respect to that gentleman for his untiring zeal in the cause of liberty , and as a triHing reward for tho many sacrifices he has made . It was announced that on Sunday evening next one of the members of this locality would deliver a lecture on tho Nature and Properties of Light , in tho Hall , of the Finsbury Literary Institution Leicester-place , Little Saffron-hill . In accordance with previous arrangements a meeting was called at the Finsbury Scientific Institution , in order to adopt a memorial on behalf , of Louis Kossuth , and the Hungarian Exiles ; but in consequence of some mistake in getting out tho bill there was a very thin attendance . Mr . Wceden , as chairman , expressed his regret that sufficient
puoucity tiaa not been given of the meeting lie observed that they had met for a noble pSrposo , and it was a great pity tbat the evening should be wasted . It was sufficient for those present to know that they had done their duty in , attending but , under all circumstances , it would be best to adjourn the meeting to next Monday evening afc eight o clock , which was accordingly agreed to .
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WHITECIIAPEL COUNTY COURT . COHEN V SIR 0 , GREY . —TIIE CENSUS , This was an action for the recovery of 10 d ., brought by Mr . Cohen against tho Home Secretary . —Mr . Philpot for the plaintiff , said Mr . Cohen had been engaged as one of tho enumerators in taking the census under tho 13 and 14 Viet ., Cap . 53 . Tho second clause of the act gave the Secretary of State the superintendenceof theexecution . The late census was different from preceding ones ; the plan was more detailed , and required more efficient agents . No legal man would engage in it under a sum of five guineas , yet the enumerators employed had to collect 300 names with their particulars for 18 s . If more than 300 names were oollected Is . was to be paid for every 60 extraand the point about to
, be raised was , whether if the sixty were not collected , the enumerators could or could not claim for ^« J [ * ctio " P « t 8 . In the present case the plaintiff had collected fifty extra names , for which he claimed 10 d ., not for the amount of moneyf but for thegsubtantiation of a principle . If , at the end of the 300 an enumerator saw there was no likelihood of making up his sixty , he might stop short there , and then what havoc would be made , and how nugatory would a measure be rendered which wa » considered of so much importance , and were so much exactness was required . —After some further observations Mr . Philpot / called Sir George Grey Bart . ' —Mr . Welsby , the defendant ' s attorney said Sir George Grey was not in attendance . Ort
his behalf , however , he ( Mr . Wolsby ) would admit the facts relating to the rule on which the enume rators had . been paid , and that Sir Georgo Grev had sanctioned the instructions . Sir Gwreo Gn £ ffi ! as a : aatsa asS 5 SsSlF ^ iS -IHH ^ H ^ IS of the Treasurl ? f e r i " paid ' ^ -going officers Mi s £ S Ppllcd t 0 ^ eirremuneration . ^ infpnffi ^" ^ 8 aid he would reser-vc his judgment on tho question until Tuesday next . .
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The , Cape F RCB .-The force , including tho regiments now under orders ; that will be at . Sir Harry omitu s disposal , will exoeed by about 300 men that u th / command of Sir Peregrko Maitblsnd i * 184 G . 7 , in the height of the last Ka « r w » r , —l *«« t . wrwra Gazettt . ' ..
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TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OP THE NATIONAL ' LAND COMPANY . BnoxiiEK Shareholders , — Parliament having at length granted a bill for winding up the Company , it would be well to consider the position in which we are placed , in order to make the best of our property . Iu the first place , let us try to ascertain how lar , au < l Ut what extent , the directors themselres hare claims upon vs . It is well known that , for the past eighteen months , they have had but small service to perform on our account ; in fact , some of them have been employed by other parties , and , conseqneatly , ought not to charge for time devoted to other pursuits .
Secondly , —The directors are bound ( if they set up a claim for compensation for their services during that period ) to give us a balance sheet of receipts and disbursements , including the sale of office furniture , &c , which , I presume , was purchased with oar ftinds . If they set up the plea , "that they have not been legally discharged , " and on that account ought to be paid , " the sooner the shareholders them-Belvcs convene a Conference for that purpose , and for the examination of the before-named balance sheet , the better ; by which means the expenses may be lessened in amount very considerable
Thirdly , —The statement made by Mr . M ' Grath before the committee , " that there would be about two shillings in the pound dividend , " must be . erroneous , if justice is done , and your property is properly disposed of . On what data does he found sach an opinion ? I am prepared to admit that much money has been spent upon the allottees , in the shape of Aid and Loan Money , that a considerable portion of this money ' is sunk lost —irrecoverable : at the very outside , it will not amount to more than seven thousand
poun < is . On the other hand , many of the allottees have paid portions of rent ; no interest whatever has beengiven to the shareholders ; while thousands of pounds have been paid into the Company ' s funds in small sums not exseeding ten shillings , for which the parties y dl not be at the trouble or expense of claiming . A large amount was also paid to the 'Exjiense Fund . ' ? How , then , can the
property of the shareholders he reduced to a dividend of two shillings in the pound ? Will not the bondsmen of these defaulting allotteeB be called upon to pay ? If I am wrong , perhapB the directors will pnt me ri ght . There can be no wish either on the part of myself or brother Shareholders to place any difficulty in their way ; bat common justice demands that the real state of the case should be known . Youra respectfully , . James Sweet .
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A IVijk BCTCHER at Nottingham supplied , a few | gys 5-in .: e , above a ton-of pork pies fora single ,, ? * consumption , in the refreshment rooms of the tr Edition . - - . - wjV m ^ of ^ extent of steel pen manufacture in « " * fo"ned from ihe statement ; that nearly 150 « -s o . ; teel . are employed annually " for tffia pur-« ° * i prefacing upwards of 250 , 000 , 000
©Ijawfot Smtiugtnce.
© ijawfot smtiugtnce .
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^ 4 /^ Ua ^^^ « Z £ , * 4 ^
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_ AND NATIONAL TRADES' . TOTrewA T
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VOJ ^ HV . P . 712 . LONDON , SATURDAY , JDl | 8 , S 85 r ~~ ~ r" rs = s » mB ™ —" " ' ; ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ '— ^ —~ ——— : _ . _ . . Fire ShHIfgg , and SixpeHcv . per Qunrirr i : -j ^ -y ¦ ¦ """ - —— . —__
•Ruln* Him With Expbxses.'-£Or≪I Mtomnt. 1 Ons Enemy Can Do Jba Tnore Harm Than A Thousand Ciends Can Do You Good. '—Lord Barryxtwe. . To The Working Classes.
• RULN * HIM WITH EXPBXSES . ' - £ or < I MtOmnt . 1 Ons enemy can do jba tnore harm than a thousand ciends can do you good . '—Lord Barryxtwe . . TO THE WORKING CLASSES .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 28, 1851, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1632/page/1/
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