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Northern Star (1837-1852), 17th July 1841, Edition 2 of 5, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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    • TO THE LAlvDLORDS OF IRELAND. LBTTEfc It.
    • Cf)aritj3t $vcttX\i%tnte.
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      Untitled Article

      ¦• A true labourer earns Oret be eats ; get * that he wears owes no man late ; envies do nan * happiness j riad of other = bb *» P ** 1 5 c ^ t" 1 * under hit own privatoas -, and hia chief pride is in the modest comforts oi jui condition- "— Shakxpeen ,

      Mi Lords aSD Gkkilxmes , —In the outset I rtat ^ d that I had undertaken a diffieolt taak , yet 1 find that I had sot calculated spos one half the obstructions which power , custom , sodal and class organisation , ignorance of pairing circumstances , national ind religions prejudices , < not to speak of political bias , ) witti aS its train of-wedded absurdities , "had throvn in m y way ; eaeii tneefiBg me in my progten , o ? nannting me i » tb » boffr of refiecUon .

      Hy Lords and Gentleman , —An anxious desire to brinj the case of my client , the labourer , before you , at as early a period is possible , has induced me f tout , laudably , if not prudently ) to reverse the order of ebMneattoo , whieh should hare been : Firstly , raw material , or barren surface of the soil , representiBg foxr title to representation : Secondly , responsibility , expenditure of wpiial , *» a \ tensaey , representing ti » e ooeapying tenant ' s title to repreaentatton : and , Thirdly , labour , which renders the soO , by cultivation , iTailable to mani uses , and its title to representation .

      My Lords and Gentlemen , I trust that in tb « -word representation , yon win not recognise any infraction of nsy conditisn to beat my subject -without the introduction of polities . I do not use the word here in a political ¦ cuae-, an * bef « e I hare eoodnded , I hope to prevent *** wise , » -waOaX , » $ *** » *** beneficial exoroiae of your aodal power , and a honest exercise of your tens * , aslandlords , would baTe rendered political Kpnaeatatioa almoht an obsolete term . Adamandfor political representation has increasedin exact proportion with the abuse of sodal power .

      My Uords and Gentlemen , yon will hare learned by my quotation from " the great Poet , " that I mean to afcte (* theTerysiTongestofyoarprej « dkesatcKiee . And in this , my fire npon you Bust be hot . When the mind is weak the prejudice is strong ; and judging from the use you hare made of a loDg and uninterrupted possession of power , your mind must be weak indeed . Tear greatest prejudice is against the labourer . The 1-aal yoa can In some -wise fetter to your will ; bu *

      In the labourer of the tenant and in bis fomrn state yon recognise your own oppression and misrule , and shudder lest the victim should come at a knowledge of those eanaea which , make t" * n a stranger in hit own bouse , an sikn in hi * own country , an outcast from his own hem * , and a wanderer upon the face of the earth in search of some resting place , or market , where God's gift ; strength to labour ) may be converted into man ' s means of sustenance .

      Sow , if I , who hare only witnessed the injustice , feel Tery warm when writing upon toe subject , as 1 assure yen I do , what must be the feelings of ihose who are heirs to the same susceptibilities as myself , and w £ o haTe drunk deep of the cop ? What is your greatest folly ? Let me explan it to you . You fear to place the labourer in a comfortable lad independent condition , lest from that atste oi

      social comfort and independence shoaHA spring » desire to be politically great You mistake causes for effects . Ton Ettppose tbat the power at present wielded by the Roman Cathotic clergy emanates from popolai hostility to your order , your religion and your possessions . It does no such thing . It is an emanation from your neglect , your persecution , and your injustice , as well towards yourselves as towards the people . Semove the causes , and the remoral of the effects

      Till Tery speedily follow . Bat while you are thus keeping up a struggle between your social power and the priests' political power , you do not see that yon yoarselTes are aidiog sad abetting in the Tery change , to preTent which you haTe davobed all your energies , namely , a transfer of an poStaeal power from your hands to t&e band * of toe Roman Catholic clergy . Point rat a single popular rice and I will trace it k > Its parent aristoeratie folly ; indeed , I should reTerse the terms Tice and folly—the Tice is yours , while the attempt of the people to counteract it from failure , is oiled folly .

      HaTe you ever known a working man in Ireland , with certain employment at eightpenee a day , and paid , to be ehxrged with-aa Mel af dishonesty , -violence , or outrage ! I baTe not ; and my experience goes f » in that respect . I haTe heard scores of magistrates admit the suae . Do you not then , in the uncultivated state of your lands , and in the unemployed state of the people , discoTer all the errors of society , and aee just cause for seif-reproaeh .

      When I come to treat of a farmer , I shall show just and BuSrient cause for the poor man ' s preference of the priest to the landlord , in nine eases out of ten . Jfay , I will go farthfer , and assert , that oot of nine cases in ercry ten , landlords look with a jealous eye npon a thriTing tenant , especially if his improvement is convertible into an Increase of rent . My Lords and Gentlemen , I beg of yon to keep this

      one fast in fiew : it is that I haTe a meaning in every l " 3 ie I write ; and well knowing that your grand objection to a subdivision of land arises from a dread of creating a numerous tribe of agrarian suitors for political power , I haTe called ttie great naturalist to my aid , in the hope of conTincing yo * of the little cause you hrre to fear in the event of such a result and its realization , that your property would suffer damage , Of your position in society any inferiority .

      Tour constant cry it , " Whit ! enfranchise the levellers , and thus surrender the power to other hands , a use of which would be sure to lead to our immolition , and a consequence of which would be that the sacred thing called liberty would degenerate into licentiousness and lead t « a complete social revolution . " It would lead to a rerolution , and a complete one , in the proper sense of the word ; that is , to a perfect one , and to cue from which you w » uld deriTe the greatest benefit

      I baTe said that an employed Irish labourer u always satisfied . I aTer tbat he is tycophautically so , and looks upon the contract between him and his master , by which the latter is th « great benefitter , as a faTour instead of a right . Iu a wholesome ttai / a of society the unemployed nnwilling idler would be entitled to s sufficiency of ererything to make life a blessing to render man ' s oppression inoperative , so far as food , raiment , lodging , fad , and liberty relate . But Irishmen , eTes when at full work , do not enjoy any of those blessings . '

      But let me new go further , and assure you that so far from the contented agricultural labourer envying year apparent superiority , be laughs at the foliiea cassed by your easy acquirement of luxury . He sees you attempt to do for yourselTes what he does better for you , and glories in his superiority . He looks at the fat face , clear complexion , and straight limb of his bnaUaftfl offspring , and contacts them with the pale

      faees and bandy legs ef pampered aristocrats . He delight * in seeing the huntsman taken from the cabin , leading the field , and beating the hereditary equestrians . He contrasts the hardihood of his own priestkood with tie effeminacy of your priesthood . " When bt bears of Mi master being sick , he observes , " Wisha , ij gorra , its too much of them doctor ' s things he dots be taking ; but if I had him for a week alongside a me , I'de soon cure him . '' He is miserable when hfi is idle

      » nd never bo happy as when at work . You haTe thrown him upon necessity for inTenfcion ; xpin idleness for mitrhiet ¦ ud now you wonder that he is dissatisfied , inrentiTe and mischieTous . You hare *» ed all your political power , and especially that power which the state affurds to an ascendant and hostile norea , for the purpose of crushing h '"* ; and then you * aader that he should struggle , under the guidance of to * men who orrer desertbim , for the means , the only ** n » , of combatting yon . If the Cbnrcb oppress l&m , you take part with the Church ; if the law ^ P »« s Mm , yoa taie part witti the law ; if the police ^ JTUUy aeea » e , or wrongfully treat him , you reject *> i * defero , and gire ear to the hired disturbers , ** k *» occupation would cease if your duties were ^ tfrteoBsly administered .

      show me an anneeessary expenoe in our whole syi ^ eai » od I will trace its origin to some one of your fctopoliea , You hare made between eight and nine mlTJiona of peo-**• » " surplus population , " in a land capable of main-** iaing in affluent baaltb and comfort more than four fcaa thatimtBbeT ; and tben yoa mercifully transport the *** £ generation with as little compunction as you thin J 00 eaWe from an OTerstocked farm j and these you W tie " industrious portion of society , " Bgypt reflecting

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      I- would make man to a certain extent bis own produeer , manufacturer , and consumer ; thus reiieripg the wholesale mark « fc of its slaTea , andat the same time creating avasUjr increased demand in the home market for those articles which the husbandman could not manufacture , and other articles which from the ad-Tantages of machinery , he could purchase cheaper than he could make . You mast return from an artificial to a more natural Btateof society . Yon must givo to the labourer the power of regulating the supply of hia own produce according to demand ; and , above all , if his elevation in society be in truth your object , you must let him see the sterling labour-stamp upon hia bandy-work , instead of finding it egaeed by the counterfeit enterprise and speculation stomp of oub metcbanta , " " our traders , " and " our slave owners . "

      My maxim to-day is the same as that which I laid down for you In 1881— " A fair day's wage for a fair day ' s work . " Give thai , and use your political power for the conversion of machinery into man's holiday instead of being man ' s curse ; and then , ) in the eloquent and statesman-like words of Mr . Butterworth , one of . my illegally incarcerated brethren , you may " go to bed by steam , r ise by steam , and drese yourselves by steam , provided steam does not take the bed front the po « r man , and leave him without clothes to dr « ss with . "

      My Lords , snd Gentlemen , many a half-witted fool has gained even a posthumous fame by one sentiment not containing a twentieth part of the philosophy ol the above . Search ali you * writers upon ' " free trade *' " political economy" and " commerce , " and I defy you to equal it Irom tho catalogue at their united folly , or from the heap to pick one such grain from the chaff . My Lords and Gentlemen , " political economy" has no " finality ; " and , believe roe , that the political economists will never rest satisfied till they make you tenants in your own houses , stewards to your own

      estates ; and beggars from the Pole , the Turk , the Russian , the Prussian and the American , upon your own land . They wish to place yon upoa the shop-board , making breeches and costs which the foreigner may or may not purchase , according to convenience ; while they would make you dependants upon the foreigner for that which you must have three times a day , or starve , or do that which I am quite sure you never could bring yourselves to , as you have transported thousands upon thousand * / or the tame—STEAL .

      Now , do not think the picture over painted . Do not reject the advice because it comes from a " Destructive . " Bo not despise it because it comes through the only paper in England which dares to support the labourer against his every enemy , from th « monarch on the throne wbo gives assent to laws for his ruin , down to the policeman wbo executes those laws—do fox . And ever bear tie alternative in mind , REFORM r TRANSFER . Tbat you may come to a righteous , a just , and a sound conclusion , is to * devout prayer of Your obedient , And very bumble servant , Fjuhgus O'Conxob . York Castle , Condemned Cell , ltth of fifteenth month of solitary confinement .

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      YORK . —On Wednesday evening last , Mr . G . J . Harney , the talented Advocate of the People ' s Charter , delivered s > lecture on the rights of labour , and the principles of the Charter , in the large room of th » association , situate in Fessgate . Mr . Dem&Jne in the ehair . The room was crowded to excess , and hundreds bad to go away disappointed , being unable to gain admittance . Mr . H . spoke for upwards of two hours , fully exposing both factions , and concluded by calling upon the men of York to uaite for the attainment of their political rights . The worthy lecturer was loudly cheered during his address . The following resolution

      was proposed by Mr . Cordeux , and seconded by Mr . Gil ) , and carried uuanimoualy : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting , tbat great changes are necessary iu the system of Government in this country , in order to improve the condition of the working classes , and we are of opinion that no confidence can be placed en the factions wbish at present misrule our country , and we pledge ourselves never to rest satisfied until we are fully and fairly represented on the principles of the People ' s Charter . " Three tremendous cheers were then given for the " Caged Lion ; " three for Frost , Williams , and Jones , and three for the Charter , after which the meeting separated .

      At the weekly meeting of York Chartists , held on Tuesday , the 6 th inat , a committee of twentyone was elected to carry out the demonstration , to take place on the release of Feargun O'Connor , Esq ., which is to consist of a procession aud public dinner , which there is no doubt will be carried out is a manner worthy of the martyr f » r whom it is intended . On Sunday , the committee met , when an election took place by ballot , for six Marshals , whan the following irere declared duly elected . *—Messrs . Burley , Croft , Demaine , Inglis , and Williams . On Tuesday last , being meeting night , seven new members were admitted , the effects of Mr . Hartley ' s address . Mr . Matthew Bateson was elected a member of the General Council , in place f Mr . Charles Stewart . After which Mr . E . Barley read the letter of Mr . O'Connor in the last week's Star , te the fustian jackets , which elicited loud applause , and the meeting broke up , highly delighted with the night's proceedings .

      ASHTON-UNDER-tYNE . —The cause of Chartism is progressing very rapidly in this town . The members of the Association held their usual weekly meetiag on Sunday last , to hear Mr . Storor , who had been delegated to the County Council Meeting ; but it being late before he arrived , the election news and O'Connor ' s letters were read from the Star , with deep interest , and all present were struck with astonishment on hearing of the base treachery of Dorer and Edwards . Andrew Newton was elected to the Council , in room Of John Slater- About nine o ' clock , Mr . Storor entered the room , and gave a very satisfactory account of his mission ; after which , the meeting broke up .

      ABEROAvEnkt .-The cause progresses here steadily . The weekly meetings are well attended , and considerable spirit is manifested . The cards have not been yet received from Manchester , At the last meeting Mr . Thomas Howe stated that the infant son of Mr . Haines had been christened a few days since , Henry Feargus O'Connor , to commemorate that unflinching champion of the people's rights , Feargus O'Connor , Esq . The statement was received with thundering applause . The father rose , and in an appropriate manner , returned thanks , and said , that he w » uld use every means in his power to bring him up to the cause of democracy .

      BRADFORD . —Th « Chartists of this place having learnt that threats are held out by a few Whig hirelings against their leaders , called a public meeting on Wednesday evening last , at which the following resolution was adopted : —That this meeting regrets the misconduct of certain misguided individuals during and subsequent to the election ; bat the Chartists of Bradford , determined to maintain that respect for tkeir character accorded to them in the Commons' House of Parliament by Fox Maule , that they are both intelligent and forbearing under oircumstanees of the most extraordinary excitement , do recommend every effort to be used for the restoration of that general good will which hitherto has existed in the borough . "

      DUBLIN . —The Universal Suffrage Association of thiB place held their weekly meeting ou Sunday last , in their great room , No . 14 , North Anne-street , Mr . Thos . Lee in the chair , who , in a neat and forcible speech , argued the necessity , utility , and right of the producers of wealth to a voice in the making of the laws by which they are to be gorerned ; that nothing short of the spread of political knowledge , and' » onion or sentiment and action between the people of Great Britain and Ireland , cottld ever emancipate them , for as the one rises or falls , so must the other . The meeting was also addressed by Messrs . Wood , Bropby , and Patrick O'Higgina , In support of the principles of

      Universal Suffrage , Votie by Ballot , Annual Parliaments , Equal Representation , No Property Qualification , Payment of Members , and Repeal of the Legislative Caion , which are the objects of this association . The meeting was a crowded one , and never was there more anxiety evinced , by any meeting , tor their principle * , than at this , on account of the defeat of O'Connell and Hutton . Several went a-way exclaiming , " Sure that ' s the very thing we want ; what fools we have been . If those are the principles of the Chartists we are all for them . " Several new members were enrolled , and notices of others , who magr be enrolled on Sunday next , were given . This asiociatioa meets ererf Sunday evening , at six o ' clock . i ¦

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      HfiANOR . —Mr . W . Dean Taylor lectured here on Friday evening , in the Market Place . The ra « e of Yettovrism and Blueism was so strong that it was considered mad t « attempt to address the people , bat oar leotarer would have no nay . He said be had come to lecture , and he would not go away without ; we therefore accompanied him to the ground , and , we acknowledge , not without seme fear . We had an attentive and numerous audience , who listened to ( he clear exposition of our eternal prin - ciples—several of whom , at the conclusion , cried out In rapture , who would not be a Chartist J BEWPER . —Mr . W . Dean Taylor preached in the Market Place of this town , on Sunday evening last , and we only say w < 3 wish such discourses could be preached in every part of England every Sunday .

      TODMORDEM . —The weekly meeting of the Chartists was held on Monday evening , when several came forward to bo admitted as members , aud the following resolution was carried : — 4- That two shillings'worth of the ' Addreaa to the Electors and Non-electors of the County Cork' be sent for to the Star office . "—Any person can have one by applying to Mr . Samuel Barker , Toad Can * . GLASGOW . —A . meeting of the diroctors and others interested in the Lanarkshire Universal Suffrage Association was held in their hall , College Open , on the night of the 9 th instant , when it was unanimously agreed to use every possible exertion to have all the Coactist electors registered by the 20 th of this month , when the registration-courts close

      here . It was also agreed , and speakers were appointed to attend the various districts ir counectiou , for the purpose of getting up a new and powerful agitation against the faction which , by the result of the receufc eleotions , will shortly be in power ; and for uBing every legal step to carry the Charter into law , in accordance witb the above agreement . — A large public meeting was held at the comer of Dale street , Bridgeton , on the 12 th instant ; Mr . Johnston , grocer , was unanimously called to tho ohair . It was the largest out-door meeting ever held in that densely populated suburban district and stronghold of Whigined ten-pounders ; and notwithstanding the rain began to pour , literally speaking , in bucketefal ) , at the commencement of the

      proceedings and continued throughout , still the dense and enthusiastic mass stood the pelting of the pitiless storm without flinching . The chairman opened the business of the meeting with a brief and appropriate speech , and concluded by stating that Mr . Moir , the people ' s representative for Glasgow , would address them . After a short delay , ( Mr . Moir not having arrived , ) he was seen wending his way down tho main street , and was greeted with rapturous cheering , waving of hats , hankerchiefs , and umbrellas , until he ascended the platform , from which he delivered a cutting , satirical , and powerfully argumentative speech on the present position of affairs , carrying along with him the whole soul of his attentive and numerous audience who cheered and recheered his

      home and forcible thrusts at the pitiful position of the Whigs . He w » a followed by Mr . John dodger , one of those master minds which the present extraordinary movement has dragged forth from the obscurity ofdomestio life to act his part in the glorious regeneration of his country . His sincere and impassioned manner of speaking , combined with his well-krfown benevolence and purity of character , carried the hearts of his audience along with him . He concluded amid great cheering , by proposing the following resolution : — " That this meeting is satisfied tbat the Reform Bill has failed in the object contemplated by the working classes , inasmuch as it has conferred the franchise on parties who are utterly

      regardless of the interests and wishes of the great body of the people , aad resolve to continue to agitate until the principles of the People's Charter shall be tha ) a w of the imnd . " This resolution was seconded by Mr . M'Kay , and on being put by the chairman , was carried unanimously . One of the fustian jackets then called oat for three cheers for Feargas O'Connor , which was responded to by the whole meeting , taking time from the Chairman . Three cheers were given for the Charter , three for the other inoarcerated patriots , and three for their patriotic and intelligent Chairman , when the meeting dissolved with wet skins , though warm hearts in the cause of liberty .

      LEEDS . ——Now that the elections for the borough of Leeds and the West Riding are over , the Chartists are preparing for the coming struggles . With the Whigs losing ground , as they hayo done , we shall have them agitating the country to its base , ( if they are not met by the Chartists , ) with a repeal of the Corn Law ^ , Vote by Ballot , and Household Suffrage . The Chartists here will meet them with " Universal Suffrage , and no surrender . " Now is the time for the Chartists to act with firmness , for the Whigs will endeavour again to cajole the people , as they did with the Reform Bill agitation ; but only let the Chartists act upon principle , and we shall have no foar of the result . The Council desires that every member would attend tho weekly meetings of the Association , and give , by his presence , countenance to its proceedings , and let every member bring one or more persons with him , so that they may have an opportunity of hearing what Chartism really is .

      NOTTINGHAM . —At a meeting of the counsel held in the Democratic Chapel , Rice-place , Nottingham , on Sunday morning last , it was resolved to call a meeting of delegates from the various towns and villages within the county of Nottingham , to assemble in the chapel , Rice-place , on Sunday the 25 th instant , at 2 o ' clock , when business of importance will be brought forward for consideration . It is requested that , each place will send a delegate , that is within the county , where there is a body of Chartists meet .

      BERMONDSEY . —At the weekly meeting here , a vote of thanks was passed to the brave Chartists of Manchester for their forbearance , when brutally attacked by the Corn Law Repealers and their hired ruffians , when seeking discussion ; and a subscription was entered into to support an enquiry for the purpose of obtaining justice . Our moiety to the Executive will be sent this week , and we hope , with the assistance of every Chartist of Bermondsey , to go on and prosper . HUDDERBFIEItD . —Chartist Lectdre . Mr William Martin lectured here on Monday evening , in the National Charter Association Room , Upperhead Row , to a large and respectable number of his brother Chartists and others , who listened throughout the lecture with the most marked attention . He commenced in a very animated strain , congratulating them on the elevated position they had so successfully achieved , by

      wtaicb . they bad driven the two great factions to the acknowledgment that the Chartists had become the third great party in the state , holding the balance of power betwixt each faction . He then called upon the Chartists to strengthen their cause by increased union and numbers , and requested all present , who had not joined the Association , to do so immediately . Suffice it to eay , he delivered a lecture in his usual animated and impressive style , to the great satisfaction of all present . At the conclusion , a vote of thanks was most cordially given to him , when the lecturer observed tbat should be join In the vtte of thamks for himself , he would OBly be doing as my Lord John Russell and the rest of the Ministry had done in voting a vote of confidence in themselves . A vote of thanks to Feargus O'Connor was also given , amidst the most enthusiastic cheers .

      LEICESTER . —Mr . Cooper delivered a political sermon in the room at AU Saint ' s Open , on Sunday night last , the weather sot permitting the usual assembly in the Marketplace . Many-went away , unable to get in . A larger room is much needed . Two or three defections to the Whigs have taken place during the electioneering excitement ; but the renegades have only met with the contempt of the Chartist body . The demand for cards has been unusual since the close of the elections ; a proof that Chartism is not sinking in Leicester . MANCHESTER . —PROGRESS OV THE CAUSENotwithstanding all the fpersecutions which the Chartists of this town have sufftred , the opposition of the anti-Corn Law "Plague" and the misrepresentations of a corrupt hireling ; press , they seem determined to

      persevere in their undertaking . Persecution has had the same effect upon that cause , as history Informs us it had upoa every other good one , namely , that instead of putting it out , has invariably tended to fan it into a flame . Not a week has passed since the affair in Stephenson ' s-square tbat the lecture rooms have not been better attended , aad numbers have been added to the association . An additional degree of enthusiasm ha also prevailed . During the last week it was given « ut at the conclusion of the lectures in the various io » ms that a capacious room would be opened in Salter-street No other means were used to give publicity to it ; and on Taesday evening last , the time announced ,, the room was crowded to excess . Mr .

      Phillip Knight , a veteran in the cause of democracy , was called to the chair , who , after making a few appropriate remark * , introduced Mr . Wm . Butterwarth to the meeting . Mr . B . addressed them for about twenty minutes on the justice of the catue , and the necessity of proceeding with it until their efforts should be erownad with success . Mr . Leech afterwards delivered a lecture upon the three subjects put forward by the falling Whigs , which he handled in bis usual able and manly style , for which he received the plaudits of the assembly . A vole of thanks was tendered him at the conclusion . This room is about the same size as Tibstreet , and bids fair to become equally as flourishing . Hurrah for tho Charter 1

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      ^ fe-e-V- ^ & 2 * % , PORTRAIT OF O'Brien . —The hard hs ^ s / Tustiii jackets and unshorn chins of Manchester , finding thai the ever-to-be-respeeted fcnales of that towi had stolen a march upon them in gttting np a pain'in : ; of Feargus O'Connor , Esq .. for thiB approaching » i' moastration , have liberally subscribed and putchnsed canvass , the same size as O'Connor ' s , and engai : u \ th * same artist to paint a full length likeness of J B . O'Brien . It is now nearly finished and it is said that it is a striking likeness ; he sits in the auitud * he sat when In the Convention , in his study , with library , papers , pens , and ink before h ' m , fully rc-presenting what he in reality is—a literary character . Th # picture in the whole does credit both to the bonnj lads of Manchester , and the artist .

      National Executive . —This body met on Tu"s « day and Wednesday mornings , and west through the preliminary business . Their sittings have been hitherto private , and tkey have been principally engas ^ a in examining the accounts , dec , which will be pub ];?! ed . After this has been done , they will commence bus-new of a more important nature , in giving directicm fo > the carrying « ut the plan of organization . Prejtnt , — Dr . M'Douall , Mr . James Leech , and Mr John Campbell .

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      PUBLIC FESTIVAL JN HONOUR OF MB . H . VINCENT , AT BANBURY . On WedBe » day , the 7 th instant , a public tea party was held in Mr . B . Austin ' s spacious malthouse , f-h ^ u , notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the wea . uer , nearly 800 ladies and gentlemen were present to pay a tribute of gratitude to their able and uncompromising advocate , Mr . H . Vincent The room was splt-iidi . / Jy illuminated and beautifully decorated , some hundred of paintings , && , having been kindly lent and a greai profusion of flowers supplied for the occasion . Mr . Coleman was called to the chair , and after th * tea was concluded , Mr . J . Osborn , moved that the following address be presented to Mr . H . Vincent , which ¦ wa s seconded in a very able speech by the Rwv J . Clarke , and unanimously adopted by the meeting * : — " Mr . H . Vincent ,

      " Sir , —The Electors of Banbury , Nelthrop . and the Hamlets , take t ^ e earliest opportunity of songratolatingyou on the honourable position you mainuinid . at the poll during the late severely contested elect- > n , and when we look at the number of respectable , inu- 'lfc . gent , and honourable iadividuals who recorded tLait votes in your favour , we cannot but look at the rief ; at , if it can be so called , but as a preface to thn certainty that awaits you of your being most honourably returned as the representative for Banbury , when we again h : v « the honour of accompanying you to the poll . Ou looking at the variety of circumstances that have at this time operated against you—the comparative few wu «

      knew you , or the principles you have so nobly and honourably advocated—and tbe prejudices , that liave now for ever vanished , that once clouded the mmo-. of some of the electors of Banbury , we bail your minority a triumph , and your defeat « victory . Thecloudb xloX appeared in the political horizon when you entered tha independent town ef Banbury as a candidate for our suffrages , have for ever disappeared , and the glorious sun of political freedom has arisen in the power . tad splendcur of bis majesty , and has sent the mighty rays of democratic government amongst us ; based upon the « nly true foundation , the political rights of tha people .

      ** In congratulating you on the noble stand you have made on democratic principles , and the philanthrop i * zeal with which you have so nobly advocated those mighty principles in Banbtury , we point you to the people's House of Commons , —thither will we tend you—to wield your powerful talents , and your sterling integrity in the ever-glorious cause of demovrrtia liberty . - " We beg to thank you most sincerely for coming amongst us a candidate for our suffrages—for the % n at moral principles you have so talentedly dissemu < ur « d

      amongst us—for your honourable and gentlemanly conduct during your canvass , at the hustings , ami at the poll—and the noble feelings that actuated to enforce upon the mino > of the assembled thousands the prepriety of preserving the peace ; and we beg to bear our testimony , in conjunction with every inhabitant of Banbury , to the perfect tranquillity of the town during the election , attributed by parties of different political opinions to the influence your very powerful appeal has had upon the minds of the people , to keep sober , and receive an insult in good humour rather than resent it

      "In conclusion , wo beg to request that when anothei opportunity offers , you will again come amongst us to solicit our suffrages , and we have no doubt but wa snail be able to place yoa At the head of tha poll . " Mr . y in cent , then addressed the party in a speech of nearly two hours' duration , of which the following i « a brief report : — , Whatever my feelings were during the contest , they are nothing compared with my feelings on the present ccasion . I feel a pride that , though the green flag waa smitten down , my friends have not deserted it . . I feel I am not wertby of the respect you shew me . I hope you are not come to congratulate me only , but that yoa look further—to God and to our cause . This shall ga on until every slave shall be made free , until the

      distressed are made happy . I have drawn the public mind to the great principles we advocate . If you feel any attachment tome for the part I have taken in this contest , let us reciprocate this feeling . Though driven back from the poll , yet we have obtained a victory . Was it nothing t « see the great mass of the people —artisans , mechanics , ladies , all ranged on our side !? Every man , woman , and child prayed' for my success . We bave achieved a victory which has put , freak spirit into the Radicals . By whatever name we are called , our principles are the same . We hold that every man shall be prepared for those great national privileges which God has intended him to enjoy . Look at our country—at that part of her population who have fought and toiled for her good . Are they treated as they

      ought to be ! What are the principles upon which good Government is founded ? The first principles of Government are to promote the happiness of society , to protect the unprotected , to relieve the distressed . The proudest spirit which could actuate the ancteut Baron was , to take care of the poor—to take care of the serfs . And he was then accounted the best man who performed this duty best , who rendered the hearthstone of the cottage as secure as that of the palace . Then ? is a mass of misery existing in this country which few ave aware of . Few Christians are aware of this ; were they they would , as one noble army , come forward and attempt to alleviate it . The duty of government is to provide not only for the temporal , but for the spiritual wants of the community . The great body of the

      people-—the labourer , the tradesman—are borne down by the character of the times . The plague is abroad ; and every one knows the plague must go on , unless arrested by a power greater than , that which produced it Is it nut much more difficult to obtain employment now than it once was ? Is it not mote difficult now to make payments goed ? Every one must bear testimony to the fact , that things are getting worse and worse . The Conservative says " things are wreng ; we want a Tory Government to make them better ; we wauk a good war . " A , good war ! we want no war , we want peace and plenty . Oar sufferings have been occasioned by war . The Whig Bays , " you are right ; this country is in a bad condition . " I say to him , then , " You have been in power , bat you have not bettered this

      condition . " He is obliged to acknowledge this , but pleads many excuses . Sometimes the King opposed him , and he durst not take a step in opposition to his sovereign will . But when they had the Queen and hsi Chambermaids ¦ with them , thty did nothing . Whig and Tory are alike , both are interested in keeping things us they are . The man who advocates liberty when ont , how different is he when be gets into tbo House of Commons . You should endeavour to understand the meaning of party . The , Radical party is as prejudicial t » your interests as the Tory , unless prepared to give you your share in the representation of the country . I wish to upset all .. attachment to party , and to endeavour to form one great party , founded on the principles of justice , of universal intelligence . Let us cast

      off the swaddling-clothes ot political babyhood , and fctand forth as men to advocate those principles . If Lord John Russell , Sir Rebert Peel , or Mr . Tancrtd advocate those principles , I will give either of them ray most cordial support . What are our principles ? A Radical is a man who wishes the Government of the country conducted upon the best principles possible . He advocates cheap government , a government which shall protect every niau in the exercise of mental and bodily labour , and throw especially- the shield of its protection over the worn-out part of the community , and mnke their deaths as easy and happy as possible . The Radical reads in bis Bible tbat God made of one blood all the nations of the earth ,- he believes , therefore , that the prince and the peasant are alike eaual in

      the sight of God . Reasoning on these principles , the Radical cannot see why a few Peers should govern this great nation , or that a few thousands should govern thirty millions . He asks how , in every age and country , have the few exercised the power ? And whether he looks to this country , to Sparta , or to Rome , he finds that the few have wed the power they possessed against the interests of the many . They have ever been reluctant to concede to the people their rights . If they have sought the interests of the people , it hat genenMy been when they bave been seeking their own . During the reign of John , the Barons said to the serfs , " Let us take prerogative by the beard . ' * They took prerogative by tee beard , aad shook from his ealleus heart , in the field of Runnymede , that Charta which is the base—the framework of all our great national privileges . Lard Grey Conceded the Reform B 11 L Yoa are told that that

      measure is a final measure . Final ! in that which must continue to progress J Bow atrociously absurd I What we yo * promised by the Whigs a * wf Cheap bread and cheap sugar . Why do they come forward and promise you that Beeastse they feel that they have not a peg on which to hang their political hat . So they pat in these two pegs , and label one of them " cheap bread , " and the other " ebeap sugar , » thinking thus to have a peg to banx their fcaU on ; bat tkey w © shocking bad hats after all © air nrinolplee are these-Justice for all , Injnstloe . for nena ; happinew for the labourer , the artizan , the ahophwper . I feel that the spirit of RadicaliBuvmust fee afltftntood and ita principles triumph . What I have stated to you is true . U there are any who think tbii % aji * Mi « b > me they are at liberty to come forwardBWj&MckBtat refute me , let them cast away all dESSfi 5 ai ^ ltt& \ and lend we their aid , — £ « n , jSri ?? fr ^> ^ - > - / ' \ ¦ \ fe # * # ^ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ '¦¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦; ^; -. ;^ S ^ S '

      To The Lalvdlords Of Ireland. Lbttefc It.

      TO THE LAlvDLORDS OF IRELAND . LBTTEfc It .

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      that tb « commendation is a stigma upon yourselves , for having banished honest Industry fro ™ it * native shore . ' I shall conclude my comment npon the cheerfulness with which an agricultural labourer bends to his lot when fairly east , by once more respeati » g the last sentence from the passage of the great poet . " And his chief pride is in the modest cemiorti of his Condition . " Now , my Xordsand Gentlemen , in order to raise that honest prfde by placing him in a proper and comfortable condition , I shall proceed to anew you tbe loss ,

      the mighty loss , to society , by your foolish and injudicious management of your estates . With a view to the perfect illustration ot mj subject , I propose to take a email estate of 1 , 000 acres , let to ten tenants , in farms of ltO acres each , to anew the litUe benefit which society kas , and also the bad security which landlords have , from such an unprofitable distribntioa of land ; amd then to shew the great benefit which society at large , and landlords in general , would derive from a m « re equitable division of land , corresponding with tbe capital , industry , and requirements , of the people and the interests of society at large , from the very highest to the very lowest My Lords and Gentlemen , yon will have perceived that my object is % o bring your estates from a heavy wholesale market into a brisk retail market Do not mistake me , -and tuppose that I hold you to be ignorant of the vast benefit which the change would confer generally npon youi order . I kn » w that yon are perfectly aware of it ; but your apprehension is , that land cannot be advantageously divided for agricultural purposes , without bringing aboui a corresponding subdivision of political power ; and you prefer the loss of about ten millions MinqVHy in rent , to the loss of more than a hundred millions in political patronage to your families relatives and dependants , made paupers by yoor cruel conditions annexed to leases and exclusive dealing in land . To those then , most especially , who augment the great political patron's power , by adherence to the vicious system , do I address my

      observations . Again , I say , that I can very well nnderstand the reason why my L « rd gives up £ 5 , « C 0 a-year in rent for a bisboprick , a judgeship , aaadmirals or a general ' s commission , the lieutenancy of bis county and appointment of magistrates , with seme fat livings and minor pickings for bis strongest supporters ; but I cannst for the life of me reconcile with comm » n sense the blind following of the retired country { enUenun , not requiring any of those pickings ; and , therefore , to him I appeal .

      A thousand acres of land in Ireland , then , I suppose to be held in the most beneficial way ; tbat is , direct from the proprietor , and upon lease . I should be justified in arguing upon the system from a thousand acres held by a middleman , whereof eight hundred was sublet , and two hundred held in his own hands , the labour of which is gratuitously performed by the tenants of the eight hundred acres . This course , however , I shall not take , as it is my iatention t * give you

      the best of the system , and to use the most unprofitable results of my system for my argument I lay aside science , and come to plain digging at ones ; and , therefore , fcnVw one thousand acres , dirided into tea farms » f one hundred acres each . Now then , let u m bow this is cultivated ; what it produces ; how many it supports ; and what surplus , after cultivation and support , it leaves for expenditure in the manufaetariag and trade market

      In Munsttr the September rent is paid with the harvest ; and the March rent is paid by the sale of butter , pigs , aad some potatoes . In Leinster the September rent is paid by a fat eew , a veal calf , and a snail psrtioa of tbe harvest ; and the March rent is , for tke xnoet part , made up by the Bale of Wheat , and Oatmeal , each farmer either taming what is called a meal " eumper , " ( the g pronounced harsh as the g in bang , ) or grimier of a portioa of his own corn into meal , or , having at the door a ready sale for oats U those who are more extensive in that traffic . Here , " stir-about , " is the general food ; in funster , potatoes . In Conn&nght , large tract * of feeding ground are held by breeders of sheep and cattle , and the system of serfdom still exists there to ao awful extent

      There are comparatively few cultivators in Connaugfit npon a small scale , that is , tenants ; and the poorest class of harvest men to be seen in England , and in parts of I « inster and Ulster , are the mis » rable cottiers who hold a sty for themselves and the pig . What is most disgraceful to Irishmen , is the fact , that this class ot their countrymen are scouted and hooted in Leinster and Ulster , while they are invariably kindly treated by the English people . They are called " Bpalpeens" ( penny mowers ); and are maltreated for competing with the resident workmen in harvest-tim « . They pay the rent of some potatoeground and of tbe » ty , witb the pig , and what they can

      s ^ re bsrrest w « rk , leaving the potatoes to the family during their absence ; and when scarcity occurs , tbe mother nails up the door , and "with h « r little bag , accompanied witb the young blood of Ireland , ( perhaps seven or eight younglings , ) takes to the road , barked at by tbe rich man ' s dog , and fostered by the charitable of her own class . In Ulster , the small farmers are much better off . My Lords and Gentlemen , I have thought it necessary to state so much of customs , for the purpose of exhibiting Ireland to your eye at a glance . Let as now dispose of a fanner holding one hundred acres of ground . I will select the county of Cork ; Limerick

      being mere of a grazing county , and Tipperary , Clare , and Waterfordbeing feeding , and corn-growing counties . Kerry , very much resembles Cork ; and some parts of it seed forth their emigrants is harrest and potato-digging time , in the « &iae manner as Connaugat Ten farmers then , holding one thousand acres of land in the county of Cork , and living upon those farms for twentyfive years , ( a time when the family becomes marriage able , ) will not , unitedly , have spent £ 2 t per annum in the manufacturing market They live very little , if anything , better than their labourers , with whom they breakfast and dine six days in the week ; breakfast being potatoes , and thick milk , " blue , '' from sixty to eighty-four hours old , sometimes boiled into curds and whey , and sometimes cold ; aad they have the same for dinner , from the 1 st of January to the 31 st of December .

      If the farmer can hold possession , and keep the stock together , and if , in tbe twenty-five years , be has scraped together £ 25 * for his children ' s portions , at considers himself right well o £ We will suppose him to have three sons and two daughters . To the daughters he gives £ UQ each ; the second sou he marries to another farmer's daughter , with whom be gets his one hundred pounds ; the eldest son remains for some time unmarried , and when his parents meet with a suitable match for him , in their old age , they , with toe gossoon ( the youngest son ) give up tbe farm to tbe heir , ( with his Honour ' s consent , and tomethinp more , ) sad live themselves upon a few acres of which the son pays tbe rent ; axd tbe fifty pounds spared after the daughter ' s portion remains for which ever shall be survivor , to live with the youngest , who seldom or never marries daring toe life of the old couple .

      My Lords and Gentlemen , the law » f nature , which thus implants the duty in the child of taking care « f his aged parents , is in my mind far preferable to the law of primogeniture settlement and tntsil , which makes the son dread M » mother brothers and sisters , and quarter-day , k letter with a black seal and mourning edge from the family mansion , is a G * d-send to th « pining heir , made idle from expectancy ; while death is an unwelcome messenger to tbe poor man's house , froia which , thank God ! ^ ytf ii | - ™^«» r"ffla" »« Tn has not as yet banished all natural feeling .

      We now come to consider how these on * hundred acres are cultivated . They aw , for tke moat part , disposed of as follows ; potatoes , ten acres ; wheat , ten acres ; oats , ten acres ; remainder in a transient state between weeds , and their next turn for potatoes . Fpon seventy acres twenty wretched cows and four horses , pr three horses acd a poJJ , are rapported ; it is

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      cultivated in the very rudest manner ; I mean roughestfor spade culture is literally the rudest , but yet the most excellent , mode of cultivation . When I come to write a plain system for the poor mam ' s industry , and show exactly wherein his inheritance lies , you wUl be astounded at the Igoorasoe of your system , and your consequent loss . The potatoes are good ; no better ; tbe best in the world , because the flavour is not destroyed by sharp manures . The wheat for the most part is good u to produce , but miserable as to sample ; the produce depending * n the land , tbe sample

      upon the tenant , or rather upon the landlord , whose duty , whose especial duty , it is to see that above all other thing * , sound , clean , and suitable seed be sown ; by suitable , I mean that upland seed from a distance be sown in swampy and stiff ground , and vice c « rsa ; by dean , I mean tbat a peck of weed seed should mot ba sown with a bag of wheat seed , thereby exhausting the land and producing an expenditure of much unproductive labour in weeding ; not tbat labour is unproductively expended when crops require weeding , but it might be altogether saved , and more beneficially applied .

      Tha cows produce scarcely a hundred weight of butter a head '; they are made to calve unseasouaJAy for want of sufficient shelter ; and thus much is lost y ren ewing the stock . A farmer tries to send his cow for service , so as to calve when the season will suit him ; But tbe cow is obstinate and will only be in calf when she thinks pr » per . By this arrangement seventy acrts , which would support thirty-five cows well , merely keeps twenty miserable things alive ; tbe land , while

      in grass , being a mere cajmt mortuua , and may be considered as Bicriflk'd to the thirty acres of badly cultivated crops ; in a state of probation , waiting for its turn to be ploughed , having "seven years ' akin upon it , " which is necessary for producing good potatoes and wheat ; the necessity being created by a want of the best manure that ever was , or ever will , or ever can be applied to land , man's arms and feot , with a spade at the end of it

      Our next consideration is the number of penons which the lit acres supports . We will estimate the farmer ' s family at five , and he will have five labourers ; bnt you know , as in Scotland , tbe practise is to get single men , or one man and his two sons , and a man and one son ,- however I will give you all the advantage of five families , consisting of a man , his wife , and five children each ; thus d « miciliating six families , of seven to a family , or forty-two persons , upon the 100 acres , living in rags , m I baTe described , like pies ( but not

      like fat oneti from year ' s end to year ' s end , resting at night upon a top ot straw npon an earthen floor , without one single particle of furniture , or any one thing conducing to man ' s comfort—not one . Is that right treatment , my L » rds and Gentlemen , for those who coin the barren surface of you Boil into down beds , costly mansions , a well-stocked larder , and a fine wardrobe ? Ah ! beware how you longer maintain political power at the expence of social disorganization and a reversion of all nature ' s laws !!!

      Let us now see what surplus after such support the farm leaves for traffic and supply In the consuming and manufacturing markets . We take a year ' s produce ;—£ « . a . 50 bags of wheat at £ \ &S . per btg 62 10 0 is cwt « . of butter , seconds and thirds , at j £ 3 5 a . per ewt 53 » 0 20 barrels of oats , spared from horses , at 10 s . per barrel 10 0 0 20 fat pigs at 2 ^ cwt per pig , at £ l per cwt 28 0 Spared potatoes 21 0 0

      £ 170 16 0 £ s . d . Rent , say IOb . per acre ..... lot 0 0 Tithe and county rate 10 0 Paid to five labourers , besides diet 20 0 0 Renewal of cattle for dairy It 0 t Wear and tear , smith ' s work , and additional men at harvest 21 t t Laid by for children 10 t t Spent in manufacturing market 0 10 t

      £ 170 It t Now , what interest has the farmer for his capital employed as follows ?— £ s . d . Price of 2 » cows at £ 7 a-head 140 0 t Four horses at £ 10 tach 40 0 t Carts , tjiz-yiing , ploughs , harrows , ice . 2 t 0 0

      £ 2 t 0 0 0 What Interest has be for that which requires £ 10 a-year to keep it up , by the renewal of dairy stock to its original value ? He has just the £ 10 a-year , which be lays by , if all goes well . And what is his remuneration ? Just the amount of comfort that I have shown him to be partaker of ; and thus , for twenty-five years be and his family undertake great risk and responsibility , and at the end of that time are more than happy if remunerated with his Honour ' s bond for £ 250 .

      Come , can you deny my position ; and will you say I do not considerably exaggerate my statement in favour of the farmer t It so , take stock of that class ; and I pledge myself that for one farmer holding let acres wbo has saved £ 250 after twenty-five years toil , that I will find four at least in arrears , with their cattle marked for rent , and without a fraction in the world . In fact a farmer with £ 250 is a " rara avis "—you call him " a ttrovg man . " My Lords and Gentlemen , this is the week for trying the system-made-rogues and murderers in Yorkshire ; and as the paper for which I write is expetccd to

      chronicle their trials , I must now take my leave , with a caution to beware how you allow your brains to be haunted with the new science called " political economy . " It is , believe me , but a phantasm which haunts the unpractised fool in his airy dreams of artificial beatitude . It is a delusion all ; a proposed corrective for soda ! disarrangement ; a substitute for social economy ,-which means the most pleasant , the most easy , and the most beneficial application of man ' s labour and ingenuity to the couversion of raw material , and above all of the land , into produce for man ' s sustenance , support comfort and entoyment

      My Lords and Gentlemen , believe me , that you most take the whole system into calculation , before you can arrive at a just conclusion as to the probable result to be produced by passing events . You must look at all the circumstances , and from the whole , and not from any nattering or fancied portion of them , you most draw your conclusions . Let me Mssist yoa . Take Class Legislation and gvkpowdeb for your dividend , and Political Economy for your divisor , and tbe result in your quotient will be a large surplus of fictitious money ; a large surplus of manufactured goods ; a large " surplus population , " rendered useless by machinery ; a large surplus ot non-consuming , unregulated , producing power ; a large army ; a large navy ; a large

      church-establishment ; a large law establishment ; a large police establishment ; a large regal establishment ; a large poor law establishment ; a large oligarchial pauper establishment ; a small centralised , gorged slave-owners establishment ; social ruin ; an empty exchequer ; little trade ; discontent ; crime ; insecurity of property ; gaols full of " political offenders ; " starvation ; and revolution . As a superabundance of fictitious money presses hard npon and reduces the value of real capital , so does fictitious labour preu hard upon and reduce tbe value ot real labour . And as the bankrupt fails in tke midst of surplus wealth , se does the perative starve in tb » midst of abundance , neither having the means of acquiring the drug . Thus you see merchants failing in tbe midst of affluence , and tbe people starving in the midst of plenty .

      In my next I shall shew tbat the 1 , 000 acres subdi . vided into the too-large allotments of ten acres each , would "' firfafn in affluence two for one , compared with your present system ; would increase your rents ; and in twenty . five yean , those 1 , 000 acres alone would cause an expenditure of more than £ 50 , 000 in the manufacturing market , after having furnished to society a much larger quantity above consumption , than tfco same 1 , 008 acres now furnish altogether-

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      AND LEEDS GENEML ADVeMsEIL VOL . IY . NO . 192 . SATURDAY , JULY 17 , 1841 . g " ^^ SfB ^ n ^ '

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 17, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct388/page/1/