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r ^ T etected under its auspices will also prove to HSmowI merely . Protection , old-fashioned pro-* £ * gone never to return , notw . thsfandmg the ^ UaUon of the Ministerial Journals at having a SSist Cabinet in office The men are in M but their policy is not . If they had any real Khin it . they would not have recourse to such Seme , dubious , and equivocating statements as to fcrir intentions ; nor would they speak with " bated h eath and whispering humbleness" about bowing Jith submission to the general expression of the publlC tti 3 possible that Lord Derby may , when using rtjeso words , calculate that the corruption , bribery , an intimidation , which will "be set in motion by the Carlton Club and the landlords upon the present limited constituency , may give him a small nominal ^ ^~ , * -4 «« j ™ Ua onBninaa will aleo prove to
majority , and hence enable him , under cover of that majority , to propose a restoration of Protection . That hypothesis , however , appears to U 3 improbable . It js ' more likely that the declaration is meant to cover a retreat from the Protectionist policy , and to retain power without carrying out the measures that were expected from him by M 9 own party . It is something new for the old Tory party , headed by the haughty SiASLEr of Derby , to speak with so much respect of ' public opinion' and the ' popular will . ' It recalls too forcibly the Premier ' s description , years ago , of a < thimble-rig Ministry , ' and suggests uncomfortable suspicions that what he then bo well described he is
tow about to practice . Supposing that the new Parliament , when it assemb ' es in the autumn , pronounces decidedly against Protection in any form . What then ? Ministers , if they act upon their present professions , will be bound to giTe the question up . Can they do that , if they have a sincere belief in the principles they profess ? Will they be allowed to do so by their party out of doors , represented as that party will be by the Duke of Richuosb , and a strong section in Parliament ? If so , what becomes of Mr . Disraeli ' s carefully concocted and venomous diatribes against
the ' traitor' Peel ? What of the chivalrous Stanley ' s repeated declarations , that a protective policy alone can maintain the greatness , or prevent the rain , of this great empire ? What of the indignation of the whole Protectionist party at the course by which they were 'betrayed' in 1846 ? Surely , that which was condemned so bitterly in Sir B . Peel and his Cabinet , will not change its real character because it is repeated by Lord Derby and his . Either the restoration of Protection is desirable and expedient , or it is not . If the former , it is opposed to all political morality that the men who profess to hold that belief , should remaiu in power with * ut
attempting to give effect to their convictions . If the latter , they usurp the places which other men should fill , and play the part either of hypocrites or traitors . There ought to be no shilly-shally with such an important question . Let us have the battle fought fairly and manfully out at once , and let whoever wins have * the honours , the emoluments , and the responsibilities of office . It is abhorrent , both to the Constitution of the country and the Englishman ' s love of fair play , to have a Ministry in office carrying on the public business upon principles to which they are in their own hearts opposed ; and if tbe honour and the reputation of our public is to be maintained unblemished , no such public scandal must be permitted .
These considerations are for the nation at large , the character and interests of which are deeply involved in the issue . But to the advocate of political and social reform the question wears a Btill more important aspect . While rival parties are squabbling over dead questions , the living and pressing problems of the age can receive no solution . The injurious result of the present state of political parties is to be seen in the manner in which all these urgent quest ' ons are thrown into the back ground . Representative Reform , Educational Improvement , and the
Labour Question , all of which would undoubtedly lave formed hustings questions hod . the present Ministry not been in power , are now thrown overhoard . Here and there they may be talked about in passing , but the real atrnggle will evidently take place on points totally unconnected with them . They trill be postponed to the ' Greek Kalends' of another Parliament , because Members elected simply to decide whether Protection shall be restored or not , are not likely to be competent , or , if so , to consider themselves called upon to take up the wider and larger questions of the Franchise , Education , and Employment .
Yet , if the Derby Cabinet acted upon principle , and wonld endeavour to devise a just , rational , and universal system of Protection , which would embrace all classes of society , instead of merely limiting their Protection to owners and occupiers of the soil , they would be less inconsistent in the abstract than a Free Trade Ministry . M . Bastiai , the eminent French Economist , has just addressed a letter to M Thiebs , a Protectionist , under the title of Protection and Communism , 'in which he seeks to prove that a defender of the principle of Protection cannot consistently denounce Communism . We believe that in taking that position , M . Bastial is perfectly
right—not for the reasons he assigns , but because Protection and Communism rest upon the earae principle . Both are opposed to the great dogmas of modem political economy . Let alone , CTery man for himself , and tbe Devil take the hindmost . ' Both rest upon the fundamental proposition , that regulation , order , and concert , are requisite in the management of human affairs , and that to leave them to chance or selfishness , or uuregulated competition , is , in fact , to establish social anarchy , and to give free scope to all the demoralising and destructive agencies in society , which thenational and practical Legislator would endeavour to remove or control , and limit in their action . The one looks
upou society as a battle field , in which the powerful tl a cam"n § have a "gQt to master the weak and the defenceless , and to carry off and enjoy all the plunder they can collect ; the other as an extended iamiij , to which there ought to be applied the same principle of subordination , forethought , and provision tor ' all foreseen wants , which characterises the well-regulated family . If the Protectionist Government act in this spirit , and rise above merely class-interests and questions , there are numerous social changes which they might Consistently introduce and promote , the carrying of * hich would have a marked , immediate , and most
beneficial effect on the condition of the masses . There is not a single practical reform , of any kind , at preseut agitated , which does not embody the fundamental principle of Socialism , and which is not in contradiction to the antagonistic , incoherent , and subversive p rinci ple of unregulated competition and selfishness . We can scarcely , however , expect , until these views become more clearly understood , that the men in power will either comprehend or favour them ; and , in the meantime , we suppose , must submit to the necessity of seeing the old party battles fought over again , and the energies , as well as the resources of the nation , wasted in contests which can leave behind no permanently beneficial result .
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COUIUJPT PRACTICE S AT ELECTIONS . ™ TJC M (! umctl& election has given rise to a correBpondencem which both parties have , as nsual in such « Tf' ? cbar £ es aud countercharges , which , if "" ""Mi wu ! d be merely another version of the old tT i-i r - KetfIe - In tfae undoubted drunkenrj ' n |> c »' . intimidation , outrage , blows , blooddiS * . , " £ trtlctJ «> u of property by which it was 80
infl-f ! . ' haTe asamPte of what ispreparttn ii Wh ° le countr 5 » * e course of a month or brit / domi « a » t classes affect to believe that a ™« ed constituency is the best means of preserving aX ? Ce' 1 lder ' niora % * the community , ^ stigmatise as anarchists and destructives all who need , T ^ Si ^ - ^ ed that belief is sc « Tt i £ ucn " lafitration 5 as that to which we refer , a « smcMn ? 4 i ri T < d npOn , ? arger 6 cale under the Wh f ? , theCarItonand the Eefom » Clubs . In lar ee « i . head 1 aarters of the " «*! factions , 10 DS haTe bcen to
^ ic ; r T entered int 0 provide ^ Portion ! r Warfor tue coming struggle ; and in tte demoraV exPenditare will be the extent of * y those Jr * ^ agencies let looge upon the people a 'ansoffU P , ? fess 3 at other times to betheguar-In an ? - ' uWic morality . S Par WeS Ipati 0 tt « f the approaching saturnalia , a bill fo " was occup ied jast before the rec ess with Jt Prevcnt ? n g' Corrupt Practices at Elections . ' J-iberal , " P S ort € d b y « w fete Vernier and the Iini 8 try ' *? t PparenQ y acquiesced in by the present 3 « xeast aU parties professed themselves
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favourable to its object—but it was easy to see that none of them had their heart in the work . It was only a sacrifice to appearances—a dod ge for deceiving the many into a belief in their political purity , at the very moment that both parties knew they were preparing for an almost unprecedented use of the very practices against which the bill was directed . Lord J . Russell must know by this time that all attempts to prevent corrupt practices at elections , or undue interferences with electors must fail , while the constituency is so limited aud so accessible , either by pecuniary bribes , or other sinister and impure influences . To extend the Suffrage , to group the electors favourable to Us obiect—but it w . ir nam tn caa that
m such masses as would render nugative any attempt to tamper with it , and to give in addition the protec * tion of the ballot , is too radical a measure for Lord John and the Liberals . They like to reserve the power of doing a little bribery on their own account , of course for the public good , and they therefore play with the evil they pretend to correct . The Bhade of hypocrisy on the Tory side is only a little darker . Mr . Walpole pretended to concur with the object of the measure , and then exercised all the ingenuity in his power to emasculate it ; and the probability is , that it will either not-pass at all , or come out of the committee as utterly worthless as scores of similar bills .
It is well to know , however , that tho games of bribery and corruption , if pla yed on a large scale in the Election of 1852 , must be so under materially altered circumstances ; and the real friends of purity of Election , have it in their power , under these altered circumstances , to punish those who tamper with the Franchise . Tho law has been allured in more respects than one—though without special reference to Elections . But it is now applicable to them in such away ai , if enforced , to render wholly impossible the wholesale corruption which formerly took place . Under the old Parliamentary system of inquiry
into controverted Elections , it waa the practice of the Committee to sit while the agents of the petitioning aud sitting member performed a tedious process of substraction from the number of voters on each aide . Those who succeeded in striking off most being declared winners in the game . The candidate who had been proved at least constructivel y guilty of bribery and corrupt practices , could not be touched or unseated , unless direct agency couldibe traced to him . That was almost always prevented almost by clever tactics ; and thus the really guilty party escaped the puuishment due to his malpractices .
By the change effected in the Law of Evidence by Lord Campbell ' s Act of 1850 , the state of affairs totally altered . All parties to a suit may be called as witnesses , and examined upon oath touching the circumstances of which they are cognisant . If a candidate is charged with bribery , therefore , and with having obtained his seat by that means , he may be called into the witness box , and compelled to state what he has done and said in the matter . Should he take the other course , aud decline to answer , on
the general principle that no man is bound to criminate himself , the practical result would be tho same , because such a reply would be equivalent to an admission . The same change in the Law of Evidence affects all the minor agents and movers of the machinery of Corruption who were formerly exempt from personal examination ; and thus facilities for the detection and punishment of corrupt practises are , perhaps unconsciously , by our Legislators placed at the command of tho public to a greater extent than at any former period .
As an immediate step , and one much more likely to deter candidates for territorial seats from spending either their own money or grants from the Reform and Chariton in bribery , than any sham act of Parliament , we suggest the formation of Detective Committees , with the avowed purpose of petitioning against every return which they have reason to believe has been procured by such means . By acting rigorously in that determination , and raising the
funds by small local subscriptions , for prosecuting these inquiries , we believe that such a blow would be struck against the whole system of corruption that it could not possibly stand . Ministers and Members would feel that it was hopeless to contend against such a mode of attack , and that they might as well grant at once a real and effective machinery for guaranteeing Purity of Election , and the free exercise of the Franchise .
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THE O'CONNOR FUND . Brought forward , £ 6 03 . 11 s . ; William Parkinson , Preston , per James Brown , 2 s . 6 d . John Bilsborough , Ditto , Is . ; Mrs . Bilsborough , Ditto , 6 d . ; John Taylor , Ditto , Is . ; George Pilkington , Ditto ! 2 s . 6 d . ; Collected at Ditto , 12 s . 6 d . ; Samuel Hudson , per J . Sweet , Nottingham , 3 d . ; Remitted by Mr . Sturgeon , Junior , O'Connorville , Mr . Sturgeon , 2 s . ; Mr . House , 2 . ; Mr . Gr . Wheeler , Is ; Mr . R , Smith , Is . ; Mr . Parris , Is . ; Mr . Tarry , Is . ;—Total ' £ 1 9 s . 2 d . Johs Arnott , Secretary . BECEIVED BY MR . B . O ' CONNOR . W . Darlow , Long Buckby , Is .
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TI 1 E AMALGAMATED , SOCIETY OP ENGINEERS . THE STRIKE . The concessions which have been made by the Council on behalf of the society not having been met by a corresponding spirit of conciliation on the part of the employersbut , on tho contrary , the declaration is still continued as a condition upon which only employment can ho resumed k conference of delegates from eleven of the princi pal towns surrounding Manchester met on Friday last at Manchester and after a full consideration of the question , the following resolutions were carried : — " That no further concessions be offered , bull that every district represented here , and the society generally , be requested to use all possible means to procure the necessary support for the men out of employment who are determined to withstand the signing of the declaration ,
11 That an appeal be issued to the branches and to the Trades generally , setting forth the present condition and prospect of the workmen , and the duty incumbent on every Englishman to assist the men at present out of employment in obtaining the withdrawal of the obnoxious declaration , and that the appeal be based on the concessions already made by the Executive Council in their circular dated April 5 th . 1852 . " The " Daily News" has the following : — " It is shown now that many of the Operatives begin to feel the effects of the Strike severely . That which was at first mere inconvenience soon became privation , and the long duration of tho contest , together with the reduction made a month since in the allowance to the society men
has at length involved a largo proportion of the strike hands in positive misery . It is not improbable , therefore , that many of them may be induced in despair to accept the " declaration ; " but the jinference is inevitable that a reconciliation thus effected cannot in its results be perfectly satisfactory to either of the parties concerned , and it is tobe hoped that the employers will , if only for their own advantage , be satisfied with the unquestionable triumph which they have achieved , and devise some method of reopening their shops to their former workmen without insisting on their signing a declaration which , as the men affirm , would involve an utter sacrifice of manly independence upon their part , and which , we fear , must necessarily keep their minds in a constant torment of brooding discontent for the future . "
Although the strike hands on Saturday , received their thirteenth weekly strike pay without any further reduction , at the rate of 10 s . per man , the amount of assistance contributed by the trades has sensibly declined , the contributtons being fewer in number and smaller in their itemsthan formerly . The following societies have contributed during the past week , viz .: —Rope-makers of tho port of London , £ 5 5 s . ; Western Friendly Society of Co-operative Plasterers , Pine Apple , Westbourne-stree , Pimlico , jfilO ; Friendly Society of Carpenters , George the Fourth , Leicester- ? quare , £ 15 ; Plasterers' Friendl y Society . White Horse , Half Moon-street , Borough ( weekly levy ); Painters' Absoowtion ( weekly ); Stuff Hatters ( weekly ); Tin Plate Workers , Bristol ; Bricklayers' and Masons' Society , £ 10 Poplar Association , £ 11 an-l £ 13 ; Silk Hatters , Lord Nell son and Black Bull , ( weekl y ); Tin-Plate Workers , Black Jack ; Carpenters , Silver Cup ; Staffordshire Ware Potters .
AlUMype-toundera ( weekly ); Tobacco trade in general ( weekly ); West End Bootmakers , £ 20 ; Curriers , Coventry ; Curriers , York ; Carpenters , Running Horse , Dukestreet , Grosvenor-square , £ 15 ; United Trade of Silversmiths , £ 2 o ; Jewellers ( weekly ) . Another conference of Trades delegates was held on Wednesday evening , at the Bell Inn , Old Bailey , but no pro * gress was made towards rendering effective and immediate pecuniary assistance to . the engineers , who , without such assistance , as it is apparent that their own funds must have been nearly if not entirely absorbed in the contest , cannot hope to maintain their present reduced rate of allowance to strike hands ( or even , any approach to its amount ) , involving as it does , in addition to other and important society expenses , an outlay of upwards of £ 2 , 2000 per week . Under the former rate of allowance , the strike outlav amounted to the enormous sum of £ 3 , 400 .
The followine letter , addressed to the Editor , appeared fnthe "Times " of Thursday : — "Sib , —Allow me to thankjyou for the general tone of your article of Saturday last , in which you recommend the Employers' Association to withdraw the declaration which they call upon the workmen to si gn as the condition of allowing them to resume work , now that the Amalgamated Society have withdrawn the circular of the 2-ith of December , 1851 . It has been noticeable that neither the " Times , " nor any other of the organs of public opinion which have advocated the cause of the employers , has ever justified this declaration . Indeed , on the principles laid down in your own columns , it was totally unjustifiable , for it struck at that right of combination which you recognised , and which is sanctioned by the acts of the legislature .
"With regard to myself personally , I might , without complaining , BUbmittobe Charged with folly , but I cannot remain silent when I am charged with insincerity . I admit that you have a perfect right to form and express a judgment upon my intellectual calibre , but motives Ho deeper , and ought not to he lightly questioned . I am perhaps as well known as any man to the working members of the engineering trade ; for many years I have advocated , always peacefully and legally , the discontinuance of the practices of piecework and overtime , without reference to any scheme of Socialism or Communism ; for that advocacy I have often suffered without parading my personal complaints before the
public . Through all I have steadily endeavoured to gain what I considered a benefit to my fellow workmen , and I am not yet without hope that , when the animosities of a contest have died away , employers as well as employed will recognise the necessity of modifying , if not abolishing , a system from which much of evil appears to be inseparable . " With regard to the Council of the Amalgamated Society and the members , I wish to eay that no single individual has pecuniarily been benefitted by the struggle , a fact which any one may verify ; while on the other hand proofs of aincerity seldom equalled by any body of men have been given by the expenditure of more than £ 30 , 000 , and by tho unmurmuring endurance of privations
" Hoping that you will insert this letter , and continue to recommend tho settlement of this protracted dispute by the withdrawal of the Employers'declaration , I am sir your obedient servant , " WlLLUM KkwTOS . " 35 , Arbour-square , April 12 th , "
WOLVERHAMPTON CONSPIRACY CASE . Carlisle , April 13 th . —I have this week been engaged in waiting upon the various trades of Carlisle , to solicit their aid in defraying the liabilities incurred by the London Defence Committee on the above important case . 1 have had interviews with the Curriers , Cotton Spinners , Tailors , Shoemakers , Block-printers , Moulders , &c , &c . My mission to Carlisle may be considered ns successful , though not
to the extent I anticipated . Several causes may be assigned for this . The Trades generally are in a very disorganised state . The Cotton trade is the staple trade of Carlisle ; but neither the Spinners nor Weavers have any union whatever , and all the efforts to bring them into union which have been made for the last twelve months have proved abortive . This is a lamentable state of things , but such is the fact . The other trades are not in a much better condition , still they have their societies , and , though small , have the power of retarding \ the downward tendency of wages .
Another cause which operated against me has been the Eiister holidays . In times of festivity and merry making there is considerable difficult y in getting a meeting of the trades . It is right that men after toiling the year round should- have a week of rejoicing and healthful recreation ; but one thought should be bestowed upon our suffering brethren , who have sacrificed their liberties , their homes , their wives and families , to vindicate the Rights of Labour , and to uphold the honour and dignity of British industry , lo the credit of the shoemakers and tailors of Carlisle , I must say they abandoned an hour ' s pleasure to deliberate upon tbe claims of our incarcerated friends , and to devise means to secure their liberation . The shoemakers , though poor and few in number , voted £ 1 . The other trades have agreed to make subscriptions , as soon as the holidays are over .
_ Messrs . Graham and Beeby have rendered me great assistance , for which they deserve the thanks of the Defence Committee . Iain , yours , dec ., Edward Humpiiiues . Maxciifster . —A strong impression is now generally prevalent amongst the men that the declaration is about to bo withdrawn , and several of them have intimated to their late employers a desire that tho views of the Executive Committee on the subject should be announced . Wo have been requested to state that , so long as the Employers' Association exists , there is no chance of the withdrawal of the declaration , as it is one of tho fundamental rules of the association that each member shall require all his workpeople to sign the declaration on entering his employment . The Amalgamated Society have withdrawn their two demands respecting piecework and overtime , but we are informed that tho rules of the Amalgamated Society , and several other engineering Trades' Societies , contain rules
which are equally objectionable—and it seems indispensable to the proper adjustment of tho relations between employers and employed that these rule 3 be rescinded . There has been an increase of workpeople in the works belonging to tho members of the employers' association , in ti : e Manchester district amounting to about 300 , and it is said that the proportion of skilled men is increasing . We understand that when all the workshops are filled with men who have signed the declaration , or when all the objectionable rules and bye laws of the Amalgamated and other Societies which interfere with the mutual arrangements of employers and workmen are removed , then the dissolution of the association may be expected . In our last publication we stated that we hud been informed that twenty men were about to commence work at one establishment without signing the declaration . We have s ' nee been assured by the secretary of the Employers' Association that this was incorrect , and that the men referred to did sign the declaration . —Mmchetter Examiner .
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As Amkmcan Crichtojj . —Some time ago the editor of tho " Jonesborough Whig " ( Tennesse ) announce . ! his intention of starting a new religious periodical : —• ' Wo feel competent , " he says , " to the task of editing and publishing a work on politics , one on religion , one on science , and another on anything else , all at the same time . Our genius is bounded on the east by the rising sun , on the west by the horizon , on tho south by tho shores of time , and on tho north by the farthest limits of astronomical imagination , "
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NATIONAL CHARTiilL ASSOCIATION The following items have been received n-i Locality , per F . FarrAh , 4 s ., Mr , 12 [ 7 ?^ Farrab , Is . ; Mr . Dickson , Is . ; Mr . MoriV bd Mr . Strange , 3 d . ; per Mr . Ernest Jones , 8 s !' . fi r ' Stringer , per Mr . Keynolds , Is . ;—Total , 16 s ' fld ' The Committee feel thankful to those who have contributed towards the liquidation o f the debt and earnestly call on all who have nofc dono so , having any respect for the cause of Chartism , to forthwith send in their subscriptions , so that the accounts may bo honourably wound up . James Grassby , Secretary Q 6 , Regent-street , Lambeth .
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Bristol . —At the general weekly meeting , on Tuesday evening , the following resolution was / adopted : — " That while this meeting records its unabated confidence in the justice of the People ' s Charter , we have long observed with deep regret the apathy and disunion that years of blighted hopes and bitter personalities have produced amongst its former advocates and adherents . This clearly demonstrates in our opinion , the necessity of the popular party adopting a more amicable and conciliatory policy for their future operations . Believing that the reconstruction of such a movememt at the present time is urgently required , as much
for the purpose of guarding the popular mind against the allurements of sham friends as to combat the retrogressive policy of open foes , this meeting respectfully beg to call the attention of our Chartist and Democratic friends to the policy proposed by our honourable friend , T . S . Dmicomhe Esq ., M . P . , in his reply to our address on that important question , hoping it will receive at their hands that calm and deliberate consideration which tbe magnitude of tbe subject and the patriotic integrity of that gentleman demands . " The discussion on the merits of Mr . Duncombe ' s programme was adjourned to next Tuesday evening . —W . Shkeham Secretary . '
Conference op the Friends of TnE Working Classrs . — The third of this series was held on Wednesday evening , at the Tailors Association Rooms , Castle-ssreet , Oxford-street , lrofessor Maurice in the chair . The attendance , especially oi the gentlemen connected therewith , was numerous , including Lord Godericn and others whose names have been previously mentioned . -Mr . Hughes , of tho Temple , opened the subject for discussion , viz ., " . Trades' Unions-their ettects upon the past , and probable influence upon the future , especially as regards Co-operation . " The speaker gave it as his impression that their effects had been , and were , likely , under present arrangements , to prove injurious to the best interests of the working class . —Lloyd Jones , in an elaborate address , showed that , though much of evil had sprung from their operation , that on the whole their tendency had been to keep up wages , and thus to prevent a large increased amount of misery . —Mr . Poster , a manufacturer of Bradford , was inclined , from practical observations , to think that Trades Unions , move espoeiall y aB leadln ' c to
striKes , were injurious to both employers and employed . —Mr . Lewis was inclined to adopt an opposite poiition — Mr . Washington Wilkes thought that unless conducted upon a large co-operative scale , they tended to restrict human liberty , and set the interests , not of the masters alone , but of society also against those of working men The discussion was adjourned until the followinir Wednesday evening . South Lancashirk Delegate Meeting . —A meeting of Delegntes , representing the Chartists of Manchester , Ashtonunder-Lyne , llochdale , Stalybridge , Stockport&c , was held on Sunday , April 11 th , at Mr . Leonard Haslop ' s Temperance Hotel , Marketplace . Oldham . Mr . Thomas Clews , of Stockport , presided . Tho preliminary business having been disposed of , the following resolutions werfl weeA to
without a dissentient . — "That Mr . Edward Ilooson bo the county treasurer for the next three months . " "Mr . William Grocott , of Manchester , be tho county secretary ftr the next three months . " " That , after mature deliberation , we consider ourselves bound to publicly avow our unqualified disapproval of the programme recently issued by Thomas S . Duncombe , E » q ., M . P ., as the basis for establishing a Feoplo s Party , believing , as we do , that the policy therein propounded willhaveatendency to weaken the popular cause , by increasing the dissensions alread y too prevalent and exciting in a still greater degree , the disgust beginning to be entertained by the people for the diversified nostrums of men , whose present conduct is so utterly at variance with their former professions , and whose recommendations of adherence to principle by others , has been followed by the most glaring dereliction therefrom themselves . That wo deeply regret the course Mr . Duncombe has thoueht nroner to
pursue , and hope that a little reflection will convince him of the absurdity of attempting to form a People ' s Party unless it is based on just and equitable principles ; That we pledge ourselves to promote , by every justifiable means in our power , the prosperity of Chartism ; and , in accordance w th this determination , we request the Manchester Councilto cull a Conference , to be held at Manchester , as early as convenient . We also call on the Chartists generally to give the Manchester Council all the support in their power . Ih nffhfh e W f cetingbeheld on Sunday , May Otih , atthehousoofMr . J . B . Horsfall , Roy ton , near Old-Metropolitan Dmeoate Cowwt . -Afc a meeting in the Fnsbury Literary Institution , on Sunday afternoon , Mr . BUgn in the chair , credentials were received from Mr . Fowf ^ Jn ° L ? ' * ft ' " Messrs . Pinlen and Thompson from the nevfly-elected Soho Locality . Mr . Jones reported favourably from the O'Connor Committee . Mr . Wheeler reported ftom the Observation Committee , and an address from that body was adopted , advising the Chartist bodv not
to connect themselves with the new People ' s Party suggested by T . S . Duncombe . It was also decided that a public meeting should be got up in the borough of Finsbury , to which that gentleman should bo invited . Correspondence was read from Professor Oliver Byrne , of America , relative to a Convention being called to sympathise with European democracy . Considerable discussion took place relative to the best means of promoting the liberation of the political exiles , but the subject was adjourned . The following motion , after considerable discussion , was agreed to :- ' That if any member of the Council should be found to advocate political franchise doctrines short of , or hostile to , the Charter , it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Observation Committee to report tho same to " the locality he represents . Other subjects were referred to the above Committee , and the Council adjourned . Ship
Inn , High-Street , Whitechnpel .-A meeting was held at the above place on Sunday evening . After hearing reports from tho delegates , the locality resolved itself into a committee to promote the return of Mr . Newton for the lower Hamlets ; Messsrs . Wheeler , G . Newsome , and G . Smith were appointed to represent them on the Central Committee , SiiKFFiBLD .-On Monday evening a preliminary meeting of electors and non-electora ' was held in the Democratic Temperance Hotel , Queen-street , to consider the propriety of soliciting Mr . S . M . Kydd to become a candidate for this borough at the forthcoming election , and the secretary was authorised to write to that gentleman , askin * his vie « 3 upon tho question . A committee was appointed with power to wW ; o their number . Knowing well the number of electors , and also the number of votes obtained in 1847 for Mr . Clark , and , believing in the probability that there will be seven candidates in the field on this occasion , wo fed sanguine of success —G . Caviix .
ISKwcASTLE . ON . TYXE .-At a numerous meeting of the shareholders of this branch of the National Land Company , hod m the Joiners' Hail , nigh Friar street , on Sunday afternoon , at two o'clock , the following petition and resolutions were adopted : — " To J ' ??! ™?> *«•> <>»« ?/ th * triers in Chancery in the matter of the Wmdiwj-v p of the affairs of the National Land Company , "Tho Petition of the Committee and Shareholders of theNewcastle-on-Tyne Branch of the Land Company •¦ Respectfully Showbtii , —That tho sudden and abrupt termination of the examination into tho affairs of tho Com pany , arising from the incapacity of Fearcus O'Connor '
lisq ., M . P ., the chief promoter of the Company , to recollect dates and figures connected with the expenditure of the money received on behalf of the Company , seviously atfects the interests of your petitioners by prolonging the time as to when tbe Land Company ' s affairs shall be wound up . Your-petitioners believe that this incapacity on the part of Mr . O'Connor ,, is solely owing to a deranged and disordered intellect , and to the mind of that gentleman being seriousl y affected . Therefore they are anxious that the state of the Company ' s affairs should bo ascertained as near as ifc can be by tho examination of the other directors and officers connected with tho Company ; that whatever deficiency may arise from tho want of the evidence of Mr . O Connor , to properly state the actual and detailed expenditure , your petitioners are willing to look over and to lose sincerely believing that nil is ri ght in the nsr-n-egate . That it is likewise to the interest of the shareholders to have the affairs speedily wound up , and the division of the prooeeds apportioned amonest themnlthnmrh * umnii sum
, m ? l / . u txu accoun for > IIence they respectfully submit that the examination into the Company ' s affairs be im-E n ! S rC 8 Un ? M' ih ° , l ate of tho funds ascertained oLlnLnf P , lbIVnd , the dividend declared with all convenient specd .-Siqt . ed on behalf of the meeting , Peter Mimim- Chairman ; Thomas Forest , Secretary . " flutVL Hf ° ^ l ~;; Th - lhis meeting Veils iteelf in duty bound to call the attention of all branches of the Companj to the necessity of taking similar steps , it being quite apparent that the funds of the Company will be frittered S ^ fv , ^ 0 ; 3 of this nature , if the shareholders do not best ? themselves . " It was also resolved — " That this meeting adjourn to this day fortnight , and th . ifc regular
iortnigniy meetings be held to watch the proceedings of the parties connected with the winding-up of tho Company ' s TmsueT * ST > Se" et Martin Jude ,
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TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM . w ^ Tr , S ™ .- ? i X weeks havo now elapsed since mpmhPrRnfnn ^ Capa ° i '
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' r ^^ v ^ pv ^^^ m ^ HH ^ address , have come to the conclusion that nothing but an interchange of sentiment , through tho medium ° f a Conference , can now savo tho movement . This is the more manifest , when wo take into consideration the many strenuous efforts made at " Constitutionmongeriug , " by parties who formerly occupied a prominent position among the Chartists of this country , but whose Snorts have only been productive of discord and contention , ^ nanism , however , is not yet extinct . All thiil is required oarr Til onorffotic and better concerted action on tho miVnU-L ° » rtists themselves . This onco shown , tho ¦ luoiuoom napf . ir . o •»( . / , «»« > n , l / .. n / . limnn «/ tli' .. ffl . i in niif fllU DIIUUHIUUlllI IV HU'iiJ "
POflUlilMfv "" - " I II UV ^ ««* thepeoDlcJ ' J m . tlle government itself , will be convinced thafc and fiimL m s countl ' y will not be satisfied with stunted the peSarS , ^ m ° rm > Wc are P cllt " cctly aware of . ire now libouv sun ' w "' 00 many of tllelocalities attendance of P \ ' Wo donot therefore expect a largo localities who h , 5 atea : 8 tilIo « t ^ mon > than thirty of a Conference h ° in i !" . " du (! with U 3 on tho sul 'J ecfc demurred thereto "'• Jjti i m Manchester , but six have of perfect concurred % l'esol « tions and expressions courages us in the imJ ^ T , , otlie 1 ' ' not on ] ^ on nponlis , but give us st ? onl duty ffhic ! l ? ws dev ' o ! ved thcr Chartis t * , suppor ed b f thf 8 f ^ 0 futiuv > - ^ ' of tho localities , and consciouS onf ° Ty Ot" * rai or " , truth , seeking only the reSSK ftV " ™* P ° *« and the establishment of a"S uJ niif T DomofiI' « y , . would be criminal in us to dlffy ? ny ff ! J , W 0 focl ifc ing a Conferences the most cflbotuil ml ™ 1 P' ° sm m ™' our beloved Chartism to its former ott ° V'Tl -1 voice may once more be heard above th « ch ' n f Ita tending factions-its claims admitted aui t 9 [ Ifl achieved in the happiness and prosperity of M „ " " i
we community . We therefore oil upon you tluov -SZ your respective localities to immediately prooomi to ? h « election of delegates , and to tho subscribing of me In , r , ® Unferenco to be held in tho People ' s Institute , Uevrod . street Manchester , on the 17 th of May , IS 52 . —Signed on nehaif of the Manchester Council , William Grocott ttiiiirman ; J . Edward Lewis , Secretary ; Edward Ilocson ' Ueorge Bailey ; Business Committee . '
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PARLIAMENTARY REFORM . Bf tJ [ 5 j ° ? ing docutaent appeared in tho " Daily Sows " „ - . " London , March 11 , 18-52 . hm , o i V an m'nister 9 , whose names are hereunto ah ' laeneu , having long been deeply impressed with the evils of * ° " ™ V 8 electoral system , feel it to bo our duty , at tho fhTmnyr iIOture ' t 2 calUh « attention of our brethren to the moral aspects of this most important question . of thtft ? W l U j tlmttho question of aImsjoextension ? nd in 11 W , i l 3 d ^' cotmeoted ™ th tlie n" >™» . » oolaj , u " tv f ? ri « , ° r Ulon of the 6 reat mass of th 0 ™» « theI ' m M '• " future generations tho real strength of 10 nave claims upon us as ministers , which or . lin . arv
noliiff r ? J , f T PreSent ' administration of public andtlPvl i eera !? - The masses of the people sec this ; thekS kt ^' ^ , ' !!* ' if tllCy lwd that influence on remid » fffi -iVW ^ ^ entitlec 3 ' tll (? y coM SXll T of ' ¦ luch they com P | aiIU ffc <« y ««»«« uy thansmnS , r 11 " 0 " . ? ' , feel th ; tfc t ! iC 1 > e is '"> m <»« hS a ffP , H tlle Claim of every Gnslishman , who has a home in the country , to share , directly or indirectly , Li , ma nagGmenfc of P ublic » ffi » i ' - Wo believe that , ni ™ Jr « r J * nced * ud wide-sp > -e . id intelligence , the working T , ! ' ! ^ " y " - a 3 a bod y » in CTel'y sense , as fit W « fcS t ? f » r ! tl 10 franchise as tho men who hold it now . \ ll ! fi ««„?! V ? desu ; improvement would raise tho work-£ ? ft ? ? Ie of society . and that this in turn would ^ iTnf ? lyOn r ^ ewelfare of onr charche * . and the oxelevation of the whole body of the working people for tho increase of our usefulness ; and , on this ground , we ear-ChriSr ^ JGCt t 0 «» "k *» * -7
There is another aspect of tho question which very forcibly strikes us-tho ensnaring temptation to which the people are exposed in the present limited constituencies , many of them offering great facilities for- intimidation , bnbory , and corruption , and thus demoralising the community to a melancholy extent . We aro persuaded that wo need not dwell on this . Many of you know , by your own , observation , - the sad scenes of vice , and its attendant misery , which an election on the present system often creates . _ " We are firml y assured that nothing bub such an extension of the suffrage as we havo indicated , and tho protection which would bo aiforded to conscientious electors by the ballot , will clear away existing evils , and purify our electoral institutions . '
"We cannot of course overlook the fact , that the bill introduced by tho late Prime Minister , and which professed to be a measure of Parliamentary Reform , admits the vicious nature of the present system ; but his lordship ' s bill , while it contains some provisions of which we approve , appears to us to be defective , inasmuch as ita leading pvinciple is to preserve the balance of interests , supposed to bo conflicting , but which we believe to be identical , instead of extending the franchise over the country . The constituency wiil be increased by this measure ; but the increase will be found , in the actual working , to produce little practical improvement ; for the whole measure i 3 restrictive in
its character , and entirely overlooks the large and rising communities of our great towns , although these aro tho chief centres of our national intelligence , and the principal sources of our national prosperity . " On the whole , we would earnestly recommend all our fellow countrymen to adopt vigorous , constitutional , and peaceful means to secure a full , jusr , and safu measure of real Keform , instead of the delusive sohcino which has been laid uefore parliament . To carry this object , meetings must , of course , be hi'ld , resolutions passed , and petitions adopted , all which modes of action are open to every British subject .
" Ihe friends of this cause will find much to aid thorn in , the publications and efforts of the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association—a body which , by its untiring energy and perseverance , under the presidency of Sir Joseph Walmsley , has done and is doing much worthy of its patriotism , and calculated to vindicate and secure the rights of the people , and to entitle it to the cordial sympathy and support of the public . " The Franchise is a trust bestowed by Divine Providence as a means of securing the welfare and good order of tho community ; and every man has a solemn " duty to perform in the discharge of that trust . But ths Christian , above all , is under special obligation to contribute his share of activity to every movement calculated to bring at once glory to God , peace on earth , and good will to men . " The names of several influentiftl clergvtuen were attached to the document .
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BiniiiDAV of RoBEsnunnE . —A public tta party was held on Sunday evening at the Literary Institution , Ray-street , Clerkenwell . —Ernest Jones presided during the early portion of tho evening ; the chair was afterwards occupied by Mr . A . Grant . The following sentiments were enthusiasti * cally responded to , the speakers being Messrs . Eezer , Loonies , Finlen , Wheeler , Murray , Leiio , and Down : — " The memory of M . Robespierre , and nil martyrs , exileSi and prisoners , who have suffered and are still suftering for the cause ef human progress , and the overthrow of the ' divine right of lungs and the right divine of priests : " " The holiest alliance—the Fraternity of natk-ns ; may they unite , and march together , until all despotisms are overthrown , and the true soverei gnty of the people become paramount : " The speedy ^ enactment of the People ' s Charter , and the social and political rights ot the entiie people ; may they prepare the way for the establishment of the Republic , universal , democratic , and social . "— 'I ho entertainment was diversified with appropriate songs&c .
, Suttee Revived . —The night of the 1 st of this year witnessed one of those fearful tragedies to the suppression of . which tho philanthropists , both in England and India , proudly point as one of Lord William Uaiitincb ' s crowning acts in the cause rf humanity . Tho following is pretty near the truth : —Tho Rajah died at Paehete on tho 1 st of January at about itp . m . ; a wild cry w ; is raised by tha women of the zenana that tho Rajah was dead ; this waa soon silencod , and a guard placed at some distance round ! the rajbarry . On the death of tho Rnjah being made known to the heir , he proceeded to the apartments of his mother , received the ticca , and was told to er . joy his dignity , foe that her mind was maic up . The present llnjah left his mother and saw her no more . A pile was hurriedl y mada within tho precincts of the rajbarry . At about ton o ' clock volumes of smoke told that the horrid custom of tliaihousa
was being carried out . The ltaneo walked seven times round the pyre , and then threw herself from some blocka of wood into tho flames which had been lighted for thafc purpose . After a fen- convulsive struggles to escape her ashes mingled with those of her idiotic hustand , who detested her in life . The farce of sending a lon « procession , to Cutwa , said to contain tho body of the Ria l' andhig siick wife , was then carried out . They managed to reach Cutwa at a convenient hour of tho night , burnt eoiiio wood , made some presents , and gave information to tho police ! Ihe sick llanee was to havo proceeded to Juggernaut !) , and Ucrc die ; but the suttee having got wind , the lnttcr pnifi could not be carried out , and it became r . ecessmy to personate the llanee , which is now being done in the person of « -i Rebee ' t 0 tbc no small profit of the subordinate . Official . — Cacutta Enqliilmian .
Extraordinary Longevity . —Died at Lewis ham , Kent , on the 5 th instant , Ann Kelly , aged 103 years . From early youth she was a member ot the theatrical profession , and acted at various theatres in England , Ireland , and ScoNand S > he was in the same company with the Jai » Eumund Itean and also with James Sheridan Know lea during his brie ? career as an actor , and it washer proudest boast that sha had often played AJicia to the Jane Shore of Mrs . Siddons . About the age cf sixtv she lost her hearing , and wag obliged to relinquish the stage , and as she was residing in tho samo town with Mr . Knoivles , ho , learning he «
destitut e situation , took her from compassion , into his family , and from that time to tho hour of her death she has been solely dependent on t hat gentleman ' s bounty . Sheretained all her faculties to the last , and was oi » ly confined to her bed three days previous to her decease . She waa then buried ot Svdenham on Good Friday . It wag somewhat singular that though she was twice roniried aha had never occ asion to change her maiden name , both husbands bearing the name of Kell y . Phomotios io tue PBERiG E .-Tho Right TTon . Sidnp . v Herbert , M . I' ., obtains a seat in the House of LoinIs bv tha death of his brother , the Earl of Pembro . vf , in Paris . * Mr Fox Mades elevation . to the same dignity cannot lo ong deferred ; his father , Lord Panmure , W spoken of as b < yon the hope of recovery , r
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MlSIATURE OP Ceomweix . —At the last mcetiDg of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries , a curious jewel , belonging to the Earl of Leven , and entailed iii his lordship ' s family , was exhibited by the Hon . Leslie Melville . It is believed to have been transmitted by the Speaker of the House of CommonB to the Earl of Leven on the occasion of the surrender of Charles L , when the Earl was in co mmand of the army at Newark . The jewel encloses a beautiful little miniature of Oliver Cromwell . —E . N . —Notes and Queries .
The Miutia . —A meeting of young men was held at tho Public Room , Broadmead , Bristol , on Wednesday night , for the purpose of agreeing to a petition to parliament and an address lo the young men of England against the Militia Bill as introduced into the House of Commons by Earl Derby ' s government . The chair was taken by Mr . Thomas Matthews , and the meeting was addressed by Mr , E . II . Matthews , Mr . "Wilway , Mr . Stokes , Mr . Pillers , Mr . Powell , Mr . Butcher , Mr . Short , and others , in condemnation of the measure , and also by 51 r . W . Tamlyn and Mr . Kesterman ( formerly an officer in the army . ) who depreeated the strong and , as they contended , un-English language which was used in the address in reference to the army . A petition to the House of Commons against Ihe measure was adopted , as also an address to the young men of England , calling on tuem to declare their sentiments with respect to the bill . Thrbb Children Poisoned By Gusauested Cakes . —On Thursday Mr . Wakley , M . P ., held an inquest at the
uunier a Arms , Uompton-street , Brunswick-square , on Bridget Tyreby , aged four years . James Tyreby . deceased s father , deposed that on Good Friday deceased received from a relative , amongst other Easter presents a large cake surmounted by varigated sugar ornaments of ditterent colours . Deceased divided the cake amongst two other of his children , who with deceased partook heartily of the cake and its ornaments . Soon afterwards all of them became dangerously ill , and were seized with vioient retchings and spasms . lie instantly called in Mr . IIopton , surgeon , who exerted his utmost skill to save
their lives ; but despite his efforts deceased died in dreadful ngony last Monday . The other children , although better , continue very HI . —Mr . Hopton , surgeon , Judd-street , said that he found the three children suffering from all the symptoms of an active poison . He applied every possible antidote , but without effect as regarded deceased , who had eaten more than the others of the poisoned ornaments , and she died on Monday . Upon a post mortem examination he found that deceased had been very healthy with the exception of the effects prof ^ h P h - ° ? ' ? tllch " » Mif « ted themselves in the stomach and intestines Be made an anal ia of tUo stomach , which led him to the conclusion that lead was the poison that destroyed hfe-The coroner , in summing up , regretted that many similar cases of death , caused under such circumstmces , had come before him , and expressed a hope that a stop would be put to the sale of Xs orna .
inented [ by sucn poboned materials .- V , rdict , "Accidental Death . -Uopesare entertained by Mr . IloPton of the ultimate recovery of the two other children On Wednesday evening Mr . Wakley held an inquest in the Gray s-inn-lane workhouse on Robert Thompson , aged seventy-two . Deceased was a native ot Ayrshire and served m the Sappers and Miners fift y years . On one occasion he was a wnole day engaged at a bastion , under the p ersonal inspection of " the Duke . " Although his breast was adorned by clasps and medals he had not a farthing claimed the honour
pension . He of inventing the Archimedian screw and other inventions . Latterl y his only support was derived from the Scotch Hospi tal aud chance charity . On Mon day morning his landlord , not having seen him for several days , foraed open his door , and found him Iving dead and partially decomposed on a bundle of ra « s which forme d his bed . > ear him lay a phial containing some laudanum , and 2 * . < d . was found upon his person . In tlso room were 200 pairs of boots and heaps of bones he had collected . He had not a friend to own him . Mr . Whitfield , surgeon , opened the body , and found that be died of disease of the heart . Verdict accordingly .
An Is terbstiso Easier Offeriso . — On Sunday last , April 11 th , was presented to William Kaye , Esq ., of Broughton , Manchester , by his lady , tha extraordinary number of three daughters , who , with Mrs . Kaje , we are happy to Btate , are doing well .
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^ 8 ^ 17 ^ 85 ^ . THE STAR . ——
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 17, 1852, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1674/page/5/
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