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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . CCsrUinued from onr sixth page . ) , jia that the principles of Ms Government -were for oeing away with all restrictions upon trade—that the Toica had gone forth—that the hand-writing was on . ike sralJ , and that he who run could read it The electors did read it , and gave the Noble lard his jepij— ( laughter . ) What said Mr . Ba rnes , of the Leeds 2 Iercun / ] he declared that it "was not the landed interest , but the manufacturers who returned the present tun Honourable Members to the House as representatives of the West Riding of Yorkshire . The m » ufaeturers then had , therefore , declared in favour of a sliding scale—< cheer ? . ) They had declared in favour o ! a continuance of the Corn Laws , and not for a total IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT .
repeal of them—icheers . ) During the recess of Parliament he thought it his duty to mark the progress of the anti-Com Law League , who were agitating the country trirh the most violent and infamous placards , headed with the word " the base , bloody , and brutal landlords that were keeping the bread of life from the poor , " while they were sending forth agitators who were uttering falsehoods still more infamous than wfcat were on those p l acards ; and to pay the expence of which the l ^ gners -were , during the past week , " exposing" their vivesand daughters ai Manchester—( crits of " , oh , " jlid isn ? hter . ) Whilst they were agitating the country , je i 3 Ir . Ferrandi made an itqairy into the truth joifiiecied with their movements- He found that- sines the establishment of the Corn Laws , within the lait
thirty years , thb Messrs . Marshall , the great manufacturers , cf Leeds , had accumulated a fortune of -c ^ OOO OOP , and had purchased immense landed ^ iej i ;—( hear , hear . ) This firm appeared not to be jiti « Sed with the carrying out of the principle of free ta » 2 e in this country , but they were erecting large mills ja Belgium . On the 29 th January , 1 S-12 , there appeared ^ i advertisement in the Leeds Intetli ^ tncer , which stated that there was a person of great commercial experi € nee in Brussels who was desirous of meeting a partner . The advertiser had a splendid estate of 100 acres of land , ¦ which was situated upon the banks of the Dedel , and in one of the most picturesque- parts _ of the country , situated within about three miles frcm the railway at Lonvaine , that he would like a partner t *
join him in the working of a flax and tew milL There was also a corn mill upon the estate . Aye ( said Mr . fensnd ) there was a secret about this corn milL , The * ivertis £ msit went on to say , that there were numerous populous villages in the neighbourhood—that wages were considerably lower than in any other part of the country—that an exact estimate had been made of the number of operatives necessary to be employed in a arc-mill of 1 # , 000 or 15 , 000 spindles , at a saving $ f ^ 2 , 090 annually —; hear , hear . ) There was the great secret ; the saving in the amount of wages . He would jiow mention a few instances , to show the injurious ggict of the Com Laws on the manufacturers . The Bon . Member for Manchester ( Mr . M . Philip : ) itood as high as ever in credit on the Exchange at
Manchester . He was a man possessed of immense wealth— [ " hear , " and a laugh . ) Then there was the Hon . Member for Salford ( Mr . Srotherton ) who had Jong since retired from trade , having amassed an enormous fortune ; hnt so horror-struck was he with the crcelty and oppression of the factory system , that he Jad determined to spend the remainder of his life in trying to remedy it—ilaughter . ) The Hon Member for Stockport ( Mx . Cobden ) had spent his life in accumn-Uting monty ; and when , night after night , he was asserting that the Corn Laws had ruined the manufacturers in Lancashire , he iras rvrtning his mill nighl cmd day !! 1—thear , hear- ) Tfca Hon . Member for Bolton ( Dr . Bowriugi was remarkably urgent for s repeal of the Cora Laws—{ hear . ) He carried out
free trade principles to rach an extent against the public purse ,, that he had a right to be considered a freebooter —( loud laughter , and cries of " order . " ) He berged pardon if he had said a word too much ; but he wes quite ceitein that the working classes were much surprised that he should have accepted ^ £ 10 , 000 of the public isoney—( laughter . ) In his ( Mr- Ferraad ' s ) own neighbourhood he had made some inquiries jnio tiieEtate of trade , and of the injurious effects of its Corn Laws upon the Corn-Law-Repealing mantitiCtnrcTS ; and he would call the attention of the House to a placard dated the Sth . of May , 1841 . In the commencement of that month , ( when , her Majesty ' s lite Government were tottering to the fall ; a circular ¦ u issued throughout the country calling en their
friends te agitate for a fixed duty on corn . One of { hese circulars found its way to Bingley , and a meeting of the land and mill-owners , and other persons interested in trade , was held in that town , We Ellis , Esq ., in lbs chair . It was then stated that the stocking ted woollen trade carried on in the parish , had been in » most depressed state for the last three or four years ; gist such depression had rednced to poverty and dis-Irees great numbers of tfee working classes , who were wandering through fee day in search of work in a state cf miserable despondency ; and that this was to be siiribnted to the Corn Laws . The petition , which was of considerable length , contained a vast quantity cf the phrases of the Anti-Corn Law League—[ laughter . ) Sere were thirteemignaiares Attached Jo this petition ,
cue copy of which was transmitted to- the- Houte- of Commons , another to the House of Lords , and a third to the Secretary of State for the Home Department , fat be used by him in a certain quarter in order to ofoin a dissolution , of Parliament —( laughter . ) The QMwn « m of that meeting had realised a large sum of noney , purchased a mill , as well as considerable kafied property ; and during ; the last three or four yeas , when the cotton and worsted trade were said to Vm rach a depressed state , fee had erected one of the kpst mills in the country , and taken another . The Mad signature was that of a gentleman , a member of ifaa which , during the last twenty-five or thirty years , hi been lOEningfonr very large cotton-mills ; they had toaght estates -worth , £ 18 , 000 a year . They were
posnsedof an income of £ 25 , 000 a year ; and were sti )} poeeeding in the purchase of property and the accuffinli&on of wealth ! The next signature was that of a peoon who was a linen-drapei thirty years ago , but , * ko , during the list three or four years , had purchased flee nuB and taken two more , which were fitted up with pcwer-Jooms . This person was . now carrying en what is Yorkshire was called " a rattling trade **—( loud taster . ) The fourth on the list was an operative isper-maker twelve years ago ; but he had , during the te three or four years , purchased one of the largest tt 2 fe in the county , some landed estates , kept his car-* ap and pair , and lived In a " rattling" Btyle—iconfcmed laughter . ) The fifth signature was that of a JBsocfscturer , who during the last twenty years had
awe £ 40 , 000 cr £ 50 , 000 in the worsted trade ,- and curing the time that trade wa 3 so deeply depressed he eraied one cf the largest cotton mills , and fitted it up * i& po-B-er-loonis . The sixth was a grocer in the town , *• & > had iccomul 3 ted a very nice income , and edncated MsfmDyin the first-rate style . This gentleman hap-Poisd tf be a dissenter ; and , to prove his haired of the church , he had brought up one of his sons to enter » > Ed receive a little of its wool !— ( laughter . ) The lEct iodividual on the list , three or four years ago pure * ttJed a very large mill in the parish , and a considerable Siantity of land EurroundiBg it . The mill was fitted lip with power-looms , and he also was carrying on a
rattling" trade—{ laughter . \ Then came the signature of j ^ csalac ttrer who had fitted up his mill with power-« omi , fed that cf a person who had made a large for-™« ni bads and then retired from it . The remaining E n £ toes were those of persons in some degree con-*® fed vith those whom he had already mentioned—* " *** hear , ana Isughter . ) He wished this was the ® ij matter connected with the parties to whom he » " referred . But he wonld now mention a fact which *|* prevent Hon . Members from crying " hear , «* V so readily . The chairman of that meeting , the **> Tho placarded the parish of Bingley with these JesoniUons , pointing out the landed proprietors as the P ®*> es who had brought misery and distress on the * ° Tfpeop ] e ; this man . at the time he occupied that
«•*» , was on the point of taking a mill . Soon after-* HQ 3 that mill -was fitted up with power-looms . But j ^ thii gen tleman go into Bingley market-place and ?/ » the people ,- " Why stand ye idle all the day ^¦ V "PThyeat ye the bread of idleness ? Why do JWnot ccoie into my mill and work ? " Did he do ™* - Ko "! He went into the county of Lancaster , ^ fioe that icfamous conspiracy existed between the tC *^* Co utinissioEerB and the cotton spinners for "pnpese of equalising wages , and reducing the 10 £ *« nt that had been advanced upon the wages of the smni 3 f Taa- Be "B"ent Uiere » and picked np a large 7 ™*^ of poor families , whe had been rednced to such BlmT * ° * « 7 and diitress by their former emthT * , that J Trere gkd t 0 «** t * 1651 focd k 0111 off Jr * " UfcEfhiils l Hs 'hwwio'ht . thpjui twit -npnnla ts
frrrnC Ci Bir ^ y > ibeK to amass another fortune "wn their sinews in his new mill— ( hear , hear . ); * fcrsot tbe daisos of the working classes cf ) ^ SlQ '—he forget tht » e men whom he oafl excited to j thhi d - Peration— he forgot that ho along with I ^ "t orufacturers bad reared and bred them in the j jS ^ r ^* ' * ^ - &em cf ! and they were now in a state j "aecbiKi wretchedness— he had left them to " wan- j r tkfottgh lhe day in search of woik in a state of j £ *?*« despondtEcy . " The fact was he dare not ask i ^• Batley people to labour for Mm for the paltry sum r * 8 ot thttfe starring leavings of the Lancashire mill- j ^ eaiwiliiug to taie 1 Hon . Member s did not now ; r * ' htar , hear , " and " laugh- " Xo , they blushed at j ^ a disclosure ; and they ongh t to tremble at such an SPoswe ? This man had sprung the mine too soon for ] ^ as tiCorn Law League at Manchester . He had let 1 r . . Eecret of the great anti-Corn Law excitement j the he had ltt the ' , ' ; i [ \ ]* i . ! ' ] , j j i
^ ugnout country ; w orking classes tte nonb of England know their motives , and what ^ a be the consequence of the repeal of tb e Corn fn . That craseqnerice would be the reduction of ? L **§** -ieteers }— . to the Esme level as wages on ^ Continent . tbe filling of the mills with powe r ?»» and the " easting t-f * of the workpeople to < f » Mtr thiouijh the day in search of work in a state Jfeserible despondency , "— ( hear , hear . ) The anti-?* iaw tidvcciies assert that the great number of the ^ actcrtra in the country ware insolvent , and that ( i ™ Laws are the cause of that insolvency . He luj -y ' itquire& into that assertion , and he was g v to fcy it was true as far as the insolvency went . ij ^ , Llws , however , were not the cause of that *^ ?" 7 " Tte * = 2 son was this—they never were ^ ** in their lives—dond laagbter . ) He would i ^ fcBI to detcribe to the house the manufacturers Wj * of England at the present day . There m a temnatt ltft of tbs bish-mindedland"fhon-
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ourabledass of men who formerly had raised the trade and commerce of the country to the highest pitch of respectability . There were but the remnant of those men who walk * ed about the streets with honesty depicted in their countenances . There were bnt few of these men left now . There were a few , he admitted , who tried to tread in their steps ; but the remainder were men who knew no bounds to their insatiable thirst after wealth ; they were gamblers in trade . They were a set of men who had been set np in trade by the joint-stock banks—( heir , hear , and cheers)—and many of these banks were little better than stores for the protection of swindling . They got their names entered on the jointstock bank books ; they ihen w « nt to a woolstapler , and offered to buy a quantity of wool of him . They onrabledass of men who formerly hadraised the trade and
referred him to the joint-stock bank . The answer was , "Oh , they are highly respectable ; they have their names on our books . " They purchased the wool at three months * credit , then tamed it by their power millB into goods , and by the fallowing week they had it in the market , and sold it in the market for ready money . But they were forced to selL The consequence was , they had to sacrifice a large amount to the merchant who bought to Bell . They did not pay for it at the end of three months—they had two months fnrther credit , and they had to pay five months' interest to the woolstapler . The consequence was , that these men seemed to go on very prosperously as long as there was a call for the foods in the market ; bat when there came the slightest stagnation i » trade , they
immediately broke , and what a scene there was in the Court of Bankruptcy—( hear , and lond cheers . ) They had had exposures in the Court of Bankruptcy , which shewed the effects that such a state of things produced , when the honest merchant and manufacturer were broken-hearted in consequence of the losses they have to bus tain from , such men- It often happened , also , that such men spent the money that had beea confided to them by their unsuspecting neighbours or workpeople , and placed in their hands in . trust for their families . This was not unusual ; and the result was that the unfortacate families were reduced to beggary . These men were scarcely beyond the verge of the Bai . k ruptcy Court before they were enabled to start in bnsiness again . They got some friend , if they could pay
Eome Is . or Is . 6 d . in the pound , to come forward and prove for a large debt , and probably to become the petitioning creditor , and thfcy soon managed to get their certificate and start again , and run the same race over that they did before . He now came to what were the designs of the Corn Law League . The commencement of this Corn " Law League toek place three years ago ; they attempted at first only to try for an alteration in the Corn Laws . . They soon found they had very few supporters in the-country . They then held out terms to the enemies of the Clmrch , and said that if they would join them , as soon as they had carried the repeal of the Corn Laws , then the Established Chnrch should be attacked . After this offer had beenmad © to the country the Hen . and L . arned Member for Cork was invittd over to take his seat at their dinner . He then declan i
in the presence of these manufacturers , that they were possessed of sufficient wealth in Mancbvs ter to buy up all the landed estates of the nobility of England . He also asserted that " the" landlords' venison was mixed with the widow ' s tear , and that their claret was died with the orphan ' s blood **—a rather cool assertion of the Hon . Member fcr Cork , when it was remembered that he had existed for many years out of the pence extracted from Mxb poor . But he would ask what had the farmers of England to expect from the cotton lords who were able to ' purehase up the landed interest ? It was their principle , when they purchased an estate , immediately to have it re-valued . They carried the principle of the ledger into their rent-roll , the rents were
doubled . He had known many familiss in his part of the country ruined by the oppression of these men , when from tbe proceeds of the workpeople in their mills they had amassed sufficient to enable them to purchase an estate in land , and become landlords . He remembered an" instance which took place many years ago , where a poor fanner had his rent donbled . He Struggled on for a few years to try to mwt it , for be could not bear to leave the spot He had to pay a few hundreds which , he had saved , as increased rental to his landlord ; and when the time came that his cattle were seized for rent , he died of a broken heart His wife was not long before she followed him . Their eldest son , just bursting into manhood , endeavouied still to keep the family together ; but the hut which he
( Mr . F . ) had heard of him was , that reason had loit her empire over his Drain , and thai he bad become the inhabit in t of an asylum . He would ask what the members of this Corn Law League wanted ? They wanted to increase their profits by reducing the price of labour . That was the secret of their " grand boon . " They wished to become the corn merchants of England-They wished to convert one part of their mills into a granary , and the other part into machinery to grind the corn—ia laugh . ) Hon . Members might laugh ; they could not deceive the working classes ; they had tried to make them believa differently ; but with all their agitatars they could nc t do it Thus the poor of England were to go down to these men , into tbe manufacturing districts , with money in their sacks , to buy
corn . That was part of the system ; but what came next ? Had Honourable Members never heaTd of the truck system ? ( Hear , hear . ) Had they never heard ef labourers having their wages paid in goods ? That was part of the system . But he would now refer more particularly to the treatment of the poor by the manufacturers in the North of England ; and he would produce before the House . such a system of tyranny , oppression , and plunder as was disgraceful to a civilised country . When the poor went to receive their work of the manufacturers , they found it ' now consisted of a very inferior article . The wool , and the warps , which were dealt out to them , was so poor that they scarcely could comb the wool , or convert the warps into pieces . On the Saturday came the period which ought to be the sweetest of the week for the working man , —when he ought to receive the price of his labonr , the reward of his toil . He went with his work , and who received
it ? JTot the master of the mill ; no , but an overlooker . The overlooktr examined it , and found fault with it . He said " You have done this work ill ; I must deduct so ranch from your combing , or your weaving ;'" and the poor weavers , who were only receiving 3 s . 6 d . or i i . a week ; were constantly mulcted by these overlookers , who had their wages , paid from what they deducted from these poor people and a per centage on the amount ! Then whrt came next ? The poor people had not the small remnant paid in moneyit was paid in goods , in Totten iiour , and " cheap com . " When the poor man carried it home to his wife and family , tf ; er , in vain endeavouring to induce his master to pay him his wages in money , he found that tbe flour which he had taken home the week before and given to his family they had not been able to consume . It had made the children sick . He asserted that ( his teas tridh He bad" it fi-om the mouths of hundreds of the
working classes . And tbe men who treated their labourers in thi 3 -horrible manner were the men for whom the 'anded interest of England were to be destroyed 1 These were the mtn for whom the yeomanry were to be trampted under foot ' . These were the men who were to become the possesors t f the English soil ! These were the men who were ruining the character of British merchants and manufacturers on the Contitent ! These were the men who moved and had their being for money alone i' They cared not how they got itwhat cruelty and oppression they inflicted , so long as they amassed wealth from the sweat of the p&or man ' s brow . They refused him the price of his labour ! They looked for nothing but enormous profits j They declared there was no religion in trade 1 They were , to
use the language of Mr , Burke , a set of men " who made their ledge ? into their Bible , their code ting-house into their church , and their money into their god . " He had heard a great deal said about the principles of free trade , aid that they were to Bave the country . l \ tad happened that during the recess two Noble Lordi —the Member for the city « f London and the Member fer Tiverton—bad been something like the poor of tbe parish of Bingley . They had been " wandering in search of em > loyment , and could not find it . " iLoud laughter and cheers . ) There were kind and humane persons at Bridgenoitb . who had drawn them up an address of condolence . He had not a copy of the Neble Lord ' s reply , but he ( Mr . Ferrand ) remembered that he asserted tbat the principles of free trade were sound ,
and that the Bight Hon . Baronet ( Sir K . Peel ) had an easy task before him . He ( Mr . Ferrand ) supposed the Noble L * rd had been trying to prove his assertion in the lsBt few days in that House . ( Laughter . ) The Noble Lord the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs stated , in answer to an address presented to him from his supporters , that he had endeavoured to apply to the commercial legislation ef the country the principles wiich bad long been acknowledged as f orming the only sure foundation for the permanent prosperity of tbe country . He iMr . Ferrand ) confessed he was a very dull person ; but had tried to find , out "What were tbe sound principles'of free trade . If gentlemen opposite were tobe believed , Smith , M'Culloch . Ricardo , and Huekisson had only seen the subject through a glass darkly ; it was reserved tor tbe Son . Member for Wolverhampton to dispel the deads . The Hon . Members for Bolton
and Stroud were to become bright constellations m the science—{ greatlaughter ) The Hon Member forDumfries ( Mr . Ewart ) would be the evening star—( renewed laughter . ) Thetwo ^ Noble Lords opposite would be the sun and moon in this expanBive , well-defined social syttem . The Hon . Member then proceeded to read several extracts from the -woiks of Adam Smith , M'Culloeh , and Malthus , with tbe view of proving that their views were at variance with those entertained j by the Hon , Members to whom he had referred , and ¦ that they were favourable to tbe protection of domos-| tic industry . He concluded by saying that he wonld i appeal to the landed proprietors of England , and ask j them whether they would assist the anti-Corn Law i League of Manchester in carrying out their tyranny , ! oppression , and wicked designs for the reduction of the wages of the working classes . Mr . Clay moved the adjournment of the debate .
Mr . Pembertox obtained leave to bring in a Bill to enable his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to grant leases of the Duchy of Cornwall . The Bill was read a first time , ana ordered to be read a second time on Friday . The other orders , of the day were tbendisposed of , and the House adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock .
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' SOWIRBY .-On Shi ove Tuesday a ball was holdcn at this place , tbe proceeds of which were to go to the forthcoming Convention . ^
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NATIONAL PETITION . TO THB PEOPLE OP SCOTLAND . We . the undersigned Delegates of the West Midland District of Scotland take this opportunity of addressing you at the present time upon a subjeet of some importance to the success of the common cause in which we " are all engaged—the Peple ' s Charter . The Chartists in Scotland looked forward to the meeting to be held in Glasgow upon the 3 rd of January , 1842 , as one of great importance in its results to the cause of Chartism . A united course of action in pursuit of a common object , the people expected as the lnbonrs of tae Convention . In this , we think , the conntry have not been disappointed—their proceedings , with one exception , being characterised by prudence , firmness , and conciliation—the exception to which we NATIONAL PETITION .
have alluded being the discussion and the vote in the Convention upon the National Petition . This discussion showed more of local feeling and national prejudice than might have been expected ia a body of patriotic and intelligent men struggling against class legislation . Union of action with both England and Ireland all who took part in the discussion admitted to be nece&sary to our future success . Why , then , it may be asked , oppose the naming of two great grievances complained against by the working population in these countries , and determinedly upheld by those who profit by class legislation . Such conduct was neither wise nor dignified on their part If the discussion upon tbe subject matter of the Petition showed a proud and narrow spirit , the vote upon the Petition in the
Convention ought to have consigned the idea of a new petition to oblivion . The casting vote of the Chairman makes sy legal decision in a meeting ; but when the Chairman claims a vote as a member in t ! : e meeting , the casting vote in a popularly convened meeting in such circumstances makes its legality doubtful . In this case it makes tbe Petition his petition , and those who sign it a ' . ong with him . It can claim no higher authority . It cannot be looked upon as tbe petition cf the representatives of the Chartists of .-Scotland . But there are other objections of another kind to be stated . The delegate from Arbroath , Montrose , Brechin , and Forfar voted for the new Petition , while the towns he represented in this Convention had , six wt e « s previous , adopted tbe National Petition entire , and had largely signed it , and are doing so still . It is reported that other delegates in this
Convention have acted a similar part upon the National Petition . For these reasons , and others which might be biooght forward , we think the newpititiou cannot be regarded as the act of the people of Scotland , dene through tatjir representatives in the Convention held at Glasgow , 3 rd January latt . Those who might be inclined to sign this new petition upon the ground tost it was one adoptod by the representatives of the Ccar tif ts of Scotland , will now know upon whnt authoriJy it mt ? its claim to be considered a National Petition , and they will act accordingly . Tbe people of England and Ireland will learn from these facts the real feelings and sertiments of tbe Chartists of Scotland , and the amount of signatures to the old and new petitions will prove the extent cf sympathy felt for the wrongs of Ireland and England by the people of Scotland .
As one of the six Central Committees of Scotland , we have ever taken an active part in Chartist agitation , Chaitism being the public voice throughout the whole of our district . In all our pist struggles we have looked to England and Ireland as our fellow-labourers in the same glorious cause—the emancipation of the people from class legislation in the three kingdoms . Under the old nationality , local evils peculiar to the country must exist ,- these will be best known to the people themselves , nnd we think they ought to be stated in every petition praying for the Charter , as the remedy to remove these evils . These considerations induced the people in our district to adopt the National Petition , and we call upon all ether Committees to be active in signing the National Petition , and to make known their sentiments to the people of Ireland and England upon this interesting subject , and shew there is no division among tbe people of the three kingdoms , this being the only way to teach cur leaders to represent the people , not themselves . George Rattbay , John Drummond , Andrew M"Kenzie , Thos . Bensie , Da-vid-Harkoweb , James Pat * rson , John Manshall , John Harrower , Wji . Ca"meron . Coalanaughton , Sth February , 1842 .
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ADRRESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL LIVING IN BRIGHTON TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION , BRiTHRE . N , —Tbe time having arrived in which it is our duty to yield up the authority with which we have been invested , as a portion of the great Council of the National Charter Association , we cannot give up our effice without addressing to you some few observations as a retrospect of the past year . In this refroipect we " shall , of course , confine" ourselves to events more particularly associated with our immediate locality . Whatever opinions may be entertained of us by our fellow members in Brighton , we feel assured that we have done nothing to forfeit the confidence that was reposed in us at the first ; if we have not done as much as might have been wished for , we know that tbe members generally being folly aware of the restricting circumstances under which we have been situated , will make every reasonable allowance for what we have not done , in furtherance of the great object in view .
We have been , and are very much restricted and cramped in our exertions in this town . The greatest of our restrictions is , of course , the general poverty of teat class to which we are nevertheless proud to belong , namely , the really industrious class of tbe people . The next restriction we bave had to experience is , the want of a larger and more commodious place of meeting . This is a restriction which we bavo ioBgand Beverely felt , and we sincerely deplore tbe fact that a spacious room for meetings and social entertainment ,
to which the members could at all times have access , is yet , and mutt for a considerable time , we fear , be a desideratum . It has been our wish , and tbe wiBh too of our friends , to see an establishment made where we should not only be able to hold large and frtquent meetings , and get up social entertainments ; but also , to provide reading and coffee rooms , and a home for the best tried veterans whom we have the honour to possess . Most sincerely do we hopo that the time will come when arrangements of such a nature can be entered into .
Other restrictions upon our energies have arisen frcm the prejudice and party spirit that have been exhibited towards us . But in proportion as our real objects become understood by the other classes of society , a great deal of that mistrnst and jealousy will die away . We have but to adhere stedfastly to the path we have hitherto pursued , and we shall find that onr own strength will increase , while the fercta epposed to . us will diminish . Having thus alluded to tbe mistrust and prejudice that have started up to thwart our purposes , we cannot but recal to your mind a meeting that was convened by the High Constable , in the beginning of 1841 , to adopt measures in opposition to the introduction of the Poor Law Amendment Act into Brighton . We , as your Council , considered it expedient to attend that gTeat and important meeting , and the zial manifested
on that occasion by all the Brighton Chartists , produced results that must never be forgotten . More sincerely opposed to tbe tyrannous operation of the New Poor Law Bill than the other political parties , despite their great professions of sympathy , we f- It a strong conviction that a petition praying for the withholding of the operation of the New Poor Law Bill from Brighton could in no way be invalidated by a forcible statement of the cause of all oppressive enactments , and the real means of arresting the evil complained of . The opposition which we experienced yonall remember ; but you will rememcer , too , that the triumph was on our side . To that event we attach great importance , for it was on our part an exhibition of moral strength that nont bad given us credit for possessing . From that time we have , as a party , gained ground ; if we cannot achieve what we desire , we have shewn that we are not so miserably weak as we have been said to be .
With this we are led to associate , though happening more recently , namely , the election for this borough . There are , unquestionably , a great many who affect to ridicule the position we assumed on that occasion ; but while we are sensible of the goed effectB of our exertions at that time , in the business of the election , we can ifibrd to tear the ridicule that may be levelled at us .. We had long borne the credit of being able to " make misebief , " as it is called , at our town meetings ; but it was reserved for the election of 1841 to shew the aristocratic patties that working men were capable of taking a prominent place on the hustings , and that they could secure & degree of courtesy and attention not always paid to rank and wealth . By this event , and our own exertions on the occasion , we established ourselves as a political party , and it will be our own fault if we do not retain and improve our position .
While on this topic , we feel it our duty to express tbe esteem and gratitude which we entertain towards Mr . Brooker , who stood forth in so disinterested and kind a manner as the representative of eur principles on the hustings , and throughout the recent election . To that gentleman we owe much ; and nothing can afford us greater pleasure than to record his disinterested adherence to the principles of civil and religions liberty . To him , as well as to us , it will afford a lasting gratification to have witnessed from the hustings &o triumphant a ahow of hands in favour of the principles he advocated .
As one of the results of the recent election , we shall be pardoned in recalling to your mind the courteous manner in which the use of the Town Hall was , not long since , extended us ; on which occasion the second National Petition was enthusiastically adopted , and when , too , our proceedings were sanctioned by the presence of the Borough Members , and of many others who had hitherto deemed us too dangerous and illiterate to be associated with . Contrasted with this we must also recal to your rememberance the fact , that when , in the previous Dec we wanted the use of the laTge room of the Hall , for a meeting to memoralize the Queen on behalf of the ex-
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patriated patriots . Frost Williams , and Jonas , pur request was moat particularly opposed * May we then not hope that the paltry prejudices which had existed to oar detriment are fa * t passing away , andthat erelong we shall en joy what we have a right to enjoy , the unrestricted expression of political sentiments . Connected with the proceedings of the past year , was oar petition on behalf of poor Holberry . We had nattered ourselves that in effecting his removal to hia present prison-house , bis condition and treatment would have been greatly improved j itls a source of sincere pleasure to hear that our hopes have not been disappointed We trust that fresh exertions will be made more effectively on his behalf . r « tri » ted natriofa . Vraak W'ltu ™ . «„* t™— ^ »
The visit of Mr . M'Douall , and more recently of Mr . O'Brien to Brighton , are circumstances that we shall all remember with extreme gratification . Thati these gentlemen have been the unflinching advocates of the principles of Chartism , is in itself enough to claim our respect and attachment i that they have endured imprisonment on our behalf , must rendor theni more worthy of our gratitude and attachment . In the commencement of v'these- ' ' observations we remarked that the poverty of the industrious classes is
a . great restriction on their political exertions . We have deeply experienced this . That this is the fact , does nevertheless enhance beyohd all praise their enthusiastic readiness to subscribe to the many laudable funds thafchave been established for the purposes of the association , and to meet the necessities of the injured . We feel great pleasure in bearing testimony to the promptitude of the Brighton Chartists in this respect , and their self-denial in responding by pecuniary aid , to the wants ef their Chartist friends in various parts of the kincdom .
Thus in onr immediate locality , during the past year , subscriptions have been raised for several praiseworthy purposes to an amount not less : than from sixty to seventy pounds , a sum that cannot be regarded as trifling , when the number and the circumstances of the subscribers are considered . Our correspondence has been very great and extensive—as you are already aware very cheering correspondence has been received from Cfaiehester , Southampton , &c ., &c . We trust that ere long we shall hear of the flag of Chartism being - ' . 'firmly planted in several places around us . .
We have now britfly referred to the principle circumtitances of the past year , and with these observations we give up the the office we have fulfilled , most earnestly trusting that as Brighton has been , it will continue to be , an important . "locality in the wide spread tract of the National Charter Association . Signed , William Woodward , George Giles , John Allen , Robt . Lonsdell , Robert Cooling , Reuben ALlcorn , Frederick page , . John Page , William Flower , sub-Treasurer . Nathaniel Morling , sub-Secretary . Brighton , Feb . 2 nd , 1842 .
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¦ ' ' ¦ . m . ' — ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ LORD ASHLEY AND THE TEN HOURS * FACTORY QUESTION . A general meeting of delegates from the Short Time Committees of the West Riding of the county of York , established to promote the legislative adoption ef a Ten Hours' Factory Bill , was convened at the New Inn , Bradford , on Wednesday , the 9 th of February , inst ., whbn the following address was unanimously agreed to : — ¦ ¦ - ' . ' ¦
Toihe Right Hon . Lord Ashley , MJ > . We . the delegates of the Short Time Committees of the West Riding , having assembled for tbe purpose of considering the course which ought to be pursued on the factory question , feel ourselyeB called upon publicly to acknowledge your Lordship ' s letter of tho 2 nd iiitt . intimating chat " Sir Robert Peel had signified bis opposition to the Ten Hours' Bill ; ' * we cannot conceal the fact that we feel deeply disappointed and grieved at this announcement . Our hopes and expectations bad been raised , not merely from the justness of the cause we have prevailed on your Lordahip to advocate for us in the Housa . of Commons , hut from the representations of our deputation , that her Majesty ' s Ministers appeared to understand the true interests of the country , and were impressed with the necessity of further amelioration in the condition of children and young persona employed in factories .
We are indeed grateful to your Lordship for the renewed expression of your determiuution to persevere in your endeavours to obtain an enactment which shall better the condition of the working classes and be of permanent advantage to our country . We promise our continued co-operation with your Lordship , and will employ every constitutional means in demanding an improvement of a system which is rendered indefensible because demoralizing and destructive in its influences , by labour too protracted for social and moral , as well as physical health . Surely , my Lord , also , we have a right to feel convinced of the propriety of our claim wben we perceive an almost : uniform disposition in the public mipd favourable to the Ten Hours' BilL None but the avaricious , the prejudiced , or the ignorant , attempt to justify the existing system , and their
justification of it never appears before ani open- ' and public compapy fur discussion . Nor can any quettion of importance be instanced where so few ptttioos have ever been presented to the legislature as against the Ten Houra ' ^ Bill . When we reflect on the reasonableness and necessity of the measure whichl bar been entrusted to your Lordship ' s care , when we advtrt te the fact that even after we have obtained what we ask for , young persons will still have to be confined and toiled in a factory atmosphere from six o ' clock in the morning to six in the evening with only intervals for meals , ( for this would be the operation of tht Ten Hours' Bill , ) we are persuaded that the day must speedily arrive when the commta sense and justice of humanity will establish the measure as one essential to toe character of a civi . lized country . : - . ;¦
We sincerely sympathise with your Lordship ; and regret that your patriotic exertions in behalf of the operative classes , are not appreciated "in certain quarters" according to their merits , but we have not lost our hopes that when the question shall again be bronght before Parliament , the claims of injured factory children will be paramount Trusting , that your Lordship may be blessed by Divine . jraridejace in all your efforts to advance the welfare ' x > f ^ UjrjBommon country , . We remain , my Lot $ T \ * "" "" % Your Lordship ' s most obedient and mostt gmtefnl servants , ( Signed on behalf of the Meeting of Delegates from the Short Time Committees of the West Riding , ) Matthew Balme , Secretary . Bradford , February 9 th , 1842 .
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TO JOHN ASS . My dear John , —You must pardon me if for once in addressing you I feel it necessary to sacrifice politeness to truth , and in lieu of adopting your favourite name of Ball , use that to which your conduct indisputably entitles you . - ¦ ¦ ¦' . '¦ : The bull has some noble qualities in him , eucb . as courage , impatience of injury , and no lack of strength to avenge it . The ass is not without his good qualities either , but they are of the passive soi . ' t He is a capital Allow for receiving kicks and thumps without wincing —so are you , John' 2- He patiently suffers hunger and
cold and wet , and a comfortless stab e after a hard day's work , or forced . idleness- — and so do you , John ; he tamely enough bears any load his four legs will enable him to stand under , and his master mny please to lay upon him , and lever think . B of throwing off until his back is nearly broken—neither ^ do you , John ! but it is useless to carry the parallel of your relative , conditions and temperament ' further , for were it continued till Doomsday , fiae result must be , ; tnosfc unquestionably , that you are more entitled to the appellation of Ass than BULL ; : ,
And noWj John , prick up your long ears and listen while b few words are . addressed to you by one of those who , like yourself , is reduced to the condition of a beast of burthen , but has not enough of the ass in his composition to forget that he is a man , and , as such , has inherent rights vested in him by nature and society which he is not disposed passively to have trampled by any one , and certainly not by those to whom he owes no affection , and from whom he receives no benefit . ? Ours is a theatrical sort of world , John ; andiri no circuttjstancesbf it is it more so than as regards politics . As far as we are concerned in such matters tbe curtain has once more been lifted up , and the drama commenced ; whether the entertainment provided for us will be tragic or farcical , time , I suppose , will show ;
but as respects the cast-off -parts . there can be little doubt , if we may judge from the past , that broad farce will occupy the talents of ou * principal performers and the every-day business connected with the suffering or tragedy department will be left as usual to the millions , who are by this time so well accustomed to its various incidents that they require no aid from the promptor todelineate their respective characters withall the frightfulness of truth ; for instance we have daily in one place or other of her Majesty ' s dominions , aoihe thousands of them perishing with cold and hunger , with abundance stareing them in the face to mock an ! flout them by the contrast I call this tragedy . We have at home broken-hearted families separated from each other , not by the graye under the dispensation of providence , for that would be natural , but by Union Bafttiles , under
the intervention of human laws that are not natural . This Is tragedy , too I Then we have industry walking barefooted and hungry about the i ? treete , to avoid the noise of his half-famishing and half-clothed children at home!—the mother forced by dire necessity to steal , that her children may not perish before her eyes—and those children made outcasts from / society , because , a mother ' s feelings overcome her reference for those laws by which her family waB beggared . Here I think is enough of tragedy for the millions , and excellently well do the parts become them , for , like you , John , they delight in exhibiting their powers of endurance . But I ^ want to learn , if I can , whether the same distribution of parts is likely to continue through another season ? Becausej if so ; I must at once enter my protest against the
arrrangemeht . ¦ . - ¦ " ¦ " .. - ¦ ¦ : ' ¦ ¦ ¦' - . ¦ - - - .. ¦ ' - . - ; - ¦ ¦ ; ' ,. - .. v , -: ' : ' . ' . - . V Tee " Stars" of our Home Company have for some time past had a pretty good spell in the winning , or laughing line , and have lpng reserved to themselves all theprovocataves to broad grins and unrestrained merriment that could be invented for their gratification . Thus they have bad a royal christening , with royal
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sponsors , and Jordan waters , and junkettlngs , and feaatingB and dancings , and all sorts of royal glorifications at Windsor , as if the only business o ! such performers upon earth was to " eat , drink , and be merry . * That is amusing enough , as times go , is it not , John ? Then they have a royal visitor to see us , and right royally , John , have the oravenfliearted , lickspittle , miserable followers of yourfamily in London ran about after his carriage wheels , to get the honour of a splash of the mud whirled up by the rapidity of his progress This , too , is farcical enough , forsure ! but the best of the jske is to come . We have since been delighted by a grand gingerbread show to open a session of the collective wisdom of the nation , enacted with as much pomp , parade , and botheration , as though a world was to be called into being by the mere fluttering of a parcel of butterflies ' wings . n ««/» T / ir ^ nn waters , and fiinketHnts . ami
John , the good sense of your family is by no means proportioned to the length ef its ears , or every window would have been closed , every back turned as the insulting calvacade passed through the streets of this doomed metropolis . It strikes me , that the gorgeous banquets and more than oriental magnificence displayed at the Court during the past week or two , would have excited a feeling of pain in the heart of a truly benevolent ruler of ' . toe miserable poor and starving people of this or any other country . Their condition does hot , however , eeeni to have crossed the thoughts of our semi divinities , vrlao have gone on '" revelling , and r ioting , and wasting , as though enjoyment was co-extensive with eternity . Dives , feasting in his purple and fine linen , little heeded the L » zar « 3 who lay in rags and sickness perishing at his gate . But he had his reward . And why should we doubt the justice of provideuca or the hidden purposes of its wisdom ? ;
But , friend John , the Parliament has tntt What will it do for us ? ShallI tellyou what it will do 1 In one word—notching ! Nothing that , can possibly tend to diminish the means of enjoyment by the great wiSlbe done for the sinall—nothing that , can possibly trench upon the prerogatives , the splendour , the aggrandisement , the pleasures of royalty , will be touched for the benefit of the people . Nothing that will operate to lower rents—to diminish the value of the funds— -to reduce the allowances of the palace , will be thought of for the advantage of the poor . They will talk of such ' -thing ' s ,- and the present week will be wasted in adjourned debates upon the Corn question , which will leave off where it began , and after tremendous labour we shall see the mountain will bring forth a raouee .
The grounds upon which I build this presumption are as follows : IatUe first place , the loyal speech is . full of self gratulation and bombastic nonsense , insincere expressions of satisfaction and hollow protestations of future good ,: which those may believe that like them ; I do not . Her Majesty is made to say , " my measure of domestic happiness is now comp ' tte . " Good God J how can the ruler of this country , in its present condition , boast of the fulness of her domestic happiness , when she must know tbat the domestic hsppines of thousands upon thousands of her people is utterly destroyed , that she may eujoy abundance 1 But-, why , if so , mock us with it ? Why recall to our miserable recollections the outrageous contrast between the condition of the rulers and the ruled .
She tells her Commons she relies with entire confidence upon their disposition , that while they enforce the principles of a wise economy , they will make that provision for the service of the country ( that 5 s ; for the gew-gaws and trappings of royalty , and the maintenance of its parasites ) , which the public exigences ( that is , class indulgences ) require , " She says , " I have observed with deep regrttthe continued distress of the manufacturing districts of the country- —the sufferings and privations whicn bave resulted from it have been borne * ith most exemplary patience and fortitude . " Exemplary patience ! Yes , the patience of despair ! the patience of exhausted energy ! the patience reduced by apathy ! by the utter abandonment of hope I the fortitude of soulless indifference—of hearts crushed by suffering and whose only prospect upon earth ia terminated by a pauper ' s grave ! .. . ' ' " ¦ ' ' . "' . ' .. ¦ ¦'¦ . . ' " ' - \ :
And is there anything in these passages that can warrant an augury of future good—is there ought that can warrant the boast , " that my measure of happiness is complete ? " Ia not the latter a vain conceit which the first boast of popular indignation will scatter to the elements ? Fine words butter no parsnips , " as Sancho says , nor will half a dczen sugared words in a royal speech , fill the bellies or satisfy the just demands of a'long suffering , and most patient people . And , now my dear John , in conclusion , let me ihtreat
you to be up and doing- ^ rally round the men the Charter—assist them with your strength , your patience , your determination . If you cannot fight for it as a bull would , you can bray for it—throw yourself in the way of its opponents—trample down every obstacle—and finally , unless you are tbe most incorrigible ass in existence , you will die ere you give up your right to it , and your determination to possess it '¦' . -. ' : : ''¦ . ¦¦¦ ¦' .. ¦' . . Yours , Fact . London , 8 th February , 1842 .
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. '¦ : ¦¦ . '¦;¦ ' - ——?¦ ——TO THE FEMALE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Sisters in Political Bondage , —We , the female Char tiste of Manchester-road , Bradford , address you on the necessity of uniting in the struggle that our husbands , our brothers , and our sons are engaged in ; 'tis a holy struggle of right against might . We see gaunt misery and famine stalking forth in all its horrors and see the useless extravagasce bestowed on pampered royalty , when we see a Dowager Queen , who does nothing for / the state , yet recch ipg the enormous amount of £ 100 , 000 per anuum , when we calculate that she receives £ 11 83 . 3 ^ d . per hour , whilst thousands of our fellow creatures are in a state of actual starvation ; and again ; sisters , we have been insulted by another system of extravagance , wrung from the toiling millions in the shape of a royal christening , over which
£ 100 , 000 has been lavishly expended , which would have maintained twenty thousand families , each family consisting of seven individuals , for one month , at £ l per week each . Behold also the State Church , the whole body of parsonsi aid and assist in carrying put ail bad laws passed by the middle class Parliament , and indeed in all their evil doings they rob and plunder tho working millions of the fruits pf their industry ; they ate receiving yearly ten millions , and for what ' . why for preaching passive obedience and non-resistance , to persecute iis if We offer to resist their tyranny .. The heart sickens when we think of the wrong inflicted under the cloak cf religion therefore females , unite in one great phalanx ; then by one mighty movement sweep tbe citadel of corruption from the face of the earth , and on
its ruins build the temple of Chartism ; then . 'sisters , and not till then , will the working classes obtain justice . It is said what can ¦ woman do ? iaho can do a deal in her domestic capacity , she can instil the holy principles of the Charter into the minds of her children ; in her daily occupation she can commune with her husband , nnd while all others toil she can persuade ; her courage rises with the difficulties she has to endure . Then , aiBters , you can do all these , if you will bat arouse yourselves from your lethargy , and shake off the chains of slavery , and imitate the Spartan niothers of old ; then arouse yourselves , and sign the National Petition ; and every one of you join the National Charter
Association of Great Britain , remembering that union is strength ; and never let us for one instant forget those expatriated and much injured , yet magnanimous patriots , Froafc , Williams ,, and Jones ; remember those that have , and are at present suffering now for their and our cause ; remember those WWg-mado widows , Mesdames Frost ,. Williams , Jones , and Clayton ; the murdered Clayton calls aloud to you to redress his and our C 9 untry * s wrongs . How are we to do this ? By a general and united exertion of the people at large , bofch male anil female . Let us emulate our husbands , our brothers , and our sons in tho holy causo of liberty . We now conclude by quoting the language of an immortal poet and patriot : —
" There is an uuseeu power lies in the mass Of human slaves , which if aroused , would sweep Not mortal tyrants only , from their thrones . By one brief crash , with all their blind supporter !) , But e ' ven this mighty opaque globe herself , they could ' . unhinge , / , ; . ''¦ - ; ' , . ' ¦• '; . " , ' - - ; " .. /¦ :. : ' . ¦ ' And send her blazing through the solar system . And I for one would lend a hand to this , Rather than kings and priests , and common thieves Should make the life of man an endless curse : — But there ' s a way to raise this potent power , Not to cxtinguisb . man , but recreata And lead him back to nature and himself ; To turn his ceaseless lafeeur into play , His life into a cloudless holiday . " Signed on behalf of the Female Chartists , Sarah Leatheb . baee . ow .
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- . - ¦ ' '¦ ; ' ' ¦' . '• .. - —? — ¦ •'¦ - ' ADDRESS OF THE CHARTISTS OF GEORGESTBEET , TO THE WOOLCOMBERS OF BRADFORD , Fellow Working-men and Slaves , —Our Intimate knowledge » f , and sympathy for , your sufferings prompt us , at this eventful crisis , to address you on the necessity there ia for tbat onion and actten essential to secure that full amount of freedom , independence , and supply of the necessaries and comforts of life , without which life is but a burden . You form by far the greatest number of working men in this district , your cordial co-operation and assistance therefore , must bt
of paramount importance . We call upon you 13 come forward in your strength , and show your oppressors you are determined to be free ; let not the want of time , nor the shortness of means , nor the threat of the domestic master tyrant > nor the «(^ rn of the ignorant and the proud , deter you from the performance of a known duty . Surely you will not longer stand by and see your neighbours struggle alonei for rights , in the securing of which you with them are equally interested . For the love of country and home—for your wives and for your children ' s sake , arouse you from your lethargy , an J come up to onr help against the mighty oppressors and robbers of the poor .
The prime cause of the prevailing distress , the master grievance , this being the cause of every other grievance ; is c ' ass legislation ; nor will there be any tfiectual remedy for your social diseases , until the wkole people
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be represented In the < 7 omrE « n « Honse of Parliament Yon can never secure good government until you get good governors , and these yon never will have s ' s I 6 ng as the right of franchise remains with the most vicious and interested portion of society . You wish to have better wages , get then that electoral power which will enable you to choose men who will legislate for the protection of labour , —this is the great question after -all * ., .. ' - ¦ .. .. ¦ . ' ¦¦ '¦ ¦ - . .. ' . . ' ¦ ¦ ¦¦ . . ; ¦ ¦ ' ,- ; We call upon you to enrol yourselves members of the National Charter Association , and we will hail you with pleasure . : If the hour of freedom be not fast approaching , remember its is not our fault but . yours Some of you " care for none of these things" ethers actively support yonr enemies , especially the enemy's press . It must be obvious \ o every man of ordinary discernment that ^^ the " Radical" Leeds TimesIs a mere manufacturer ' s paper , and yet you , the victims of h « renr *** ntAA tn / tnmn * n « fiTonsa of ^^ Parliament .
capital , are its princlpaj VBuppotteiai There Ls every likelihood that the Corn Law question will be settled in some shape or other ;• ' . and then , we are to ' . a , ' -we " -aieto nave a breataing time : bat the working classes of this country are not committed ; to that question , aud consequently will be under no obligation to take any " breathing tiriie . " . If the intended change in the Com Laws should turn out to be extensive , there vtHl then be a season of speculation and " prosperity , " at the end of which your employera will be stronger , because richer ; you will probab . ' y be weaker—certainly nofe stronger . You will hence ; perceive the necetsicy of keeping up and of increasing the " pressure without " utitilyou have stormed and taken the " citadel of corruption . " The Corn Law repealers tell you that iv cheap loaf is better than a dear one ; but they forget to remind you that the dearhess . of bread is ohly ' -relativv , and depends upon tbe amount of a man ' s income .
Fimvly , fellow-worfcing-men , be not content wita mere relief— : let nothing short ef j ustice satisfy yoa ; relief will be but a temporary ; adyantage--justice woul «\ secure you .. permanent prosperity , ; coinf ortible fire-sides , cheerful wives and children , and I" yourselves peaceful and contented minds . Your , redemption is in your own hands , amd the work of national v < generation depends chiefly . upon you , and your " bvetijven in . ; bonds ! " Wait not foolishly for the aid of anydthee class of / ' . society besides y _ our own . C 311 your freedom come from your enemies ; as soon might the Egyptians have -befeii-- expected to . liberate the Israelites , or the West Indian planters the black slaves , as the middleclasses of Eng ' and voluntarily to give up their hold upon you and the- fruits of your toil . Loot then to others to do your work , if you mean it to hi ; badly done , or not done at all- ; if you with it to be denv , and done well , do ityouTselv . es . Griffith HiGGiNS , Chairti ..: u Thomas Hansojj , Secretary .
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' . . «¦ ¦ ' . ' . ' .. ' ¦ ¦ TO THE FACTORY WORKERS Ci YORKSHIRE . Brethren , Friends , CotNTRYMEN , —It has often been our lit to meet ; you in private converse , and mingle with you in your homes , and by your hearth ? , when the sun of England's prosperity was yet above the horizon , arid the soul of the English artizin wa ? not yet oppressed with the accumulating load o : misery which laws , restrictive , partial laws | and the aggrandising cupidity of capitalists have taught hiiii now to bear . ¦' . -. ¦ .-. ¦ ¦ ¦"¦ : ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ . . - ¦ - ' . ¦ . ¦ ¦ - " ¦ ¦ ' ¦ : ' ' - ..
From past experience we feel ourselves qu : i ! i 6 ed to form a correct estimate of your character as . i body , and unless oppression has changed the enrreut , of your feeling ; unless the kindly sympathies of your natura have been blunted , and Yorkshiremen have ctosed to boast of English hearts * we feel confident in saying , that tho wrongs arid sufferings of your ¦ c ' ass wilt . Ond a sympathetic response in your bosoms , and teat the ready hand which often sent -the wayfaring stranger rejoicing on his way , will not withhold its tribute to bietbren in distress , —
"A brother to relieve , how exquisite the Ufe ' s . " But a truce with preliminaries , and let us proceed to the painful task of enumerating the miseries of our brethren , and calling upon you to extend the b . md of support to them ; We are far away from you in another country , we may say , where distress , in its most painful forms , is stalking thiongh the manufacturing districts ; but it is not for the famishing people of Paisley , neither for' the starving producers in Dundet , that we claim your support , it is for your own countrj'jnen , your own neighbours , the turnouts of Huddcrsa <> lrt , that we ask your sympathies and expect your pecuniary aid . . - ¦ ¦ . - . ' ¦ - . ¦ ¦' ¦• . ' . ¦¦ : ' : .. ;¦ ¦• : ' ¦ ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ •¦'¦ ¦ ¦
These men left their employment becausf the employers , taking advantage of the depressed state of trade , sought to materially reduce their aireiuiy too scanty earnings , and thus , crush them below the point of human resistance to tyranny , making thtiii , as it were , the pioneers of our downfall , for the " unholy alliance of capHNlists , ' > working for mntual benefit afc the expense of us all , would soon have made us follow in the . wake of our conquered brethren . There are forty-three men turned out , and all the support which they and their families bave received for the last fortnight is £ 12 17 s 0 £ d .- - '¦; ' :--. ¦ Now there ara , at present , about two thousand workies employed in Huddersfield , Brighpuae , Bradford , Halifix , Elland , Hebden Bridge , tc , wlio , if they were paying 3 d . each per week , would realize a sum of £ 50 per fortnight / and thus would we be enabled to support the noble men who battle tor the rights of . labour . . ^
Good God ; Enrftshnien , my face burns to think that one mill In Scotland , in Edinburgh , whtre there is not that personal inr « rehar / ge of sympathies that exists between yon , should contribute almost , as much as five mills in my " own land , to the support of the gallant defenders of the poor man ' s property from the ehcTpachmcnts of vampire capitalists . Will it be said that Englishmen are so besotted that they Will allow their own interests to be sacrificed along with their brother toilers ? Shall ft be said that the adage which says , " The poor man alone when he
hears tbe poor moan , of hislittle a little will give . " bos -never become reversed , arid that an Englishman ' s bowels of compassion are dried up . Shall tht ; Jiiristo * crat tauntingly hold out his finger and say , these men ivsk me for justice , and yet refuse their own class compassion ? Never . Let the high-souled priucipies Of juft ' ce , all the love ' . of native land and domestic ftlicity , combined with the sympathies that reciprocally beat in poor men ' s bosoms unite in arousing you to a dttt-i'iniEation not to see your fellow labourera immolated on the altar of . Mammon . . '¦ ¦' .-
Prove by your actions that you are deserving of pelf * tical liberty ; show the united " millionaires " thut the V , ignorant" labourers are determined to stand .-fa ' s ' t in dtfence of tho rights of labour . The time speeds fastly on ; and the hour cometh when puse-proud insolence must be contented , with its own rights , and labour shall no more be spoiled , to enrich a corporation of grasping avarice or to support an oligarchy of callous oppressors . ¦ . ¦ -. ' ¦;; ¦'¦ ' - - ¦ ' ' .. - ; - ' v .. .. " ; .. ' ; . ¦ ¦ - ¦ :. Factory workers of Yorkshire , do not allow the gallant fellows in Huddersfield :: to-: be put down through the machinations of- employers ; , they : are trying aii their arts t © bieali off the little support they now obtain , but be ye true to your order , for only a short time , and a ; day shall , soon dawn , of prosperity to bur class , a day that shall relieve us of the necessity of wandering in the lanes and alleys of our towns , competitive , drags upon the energies of our employed friends .
Working men , . do your duty , ' , and the days of oppression are numbered ; fight the good figh : of human redemptioh , and strive to moke the world better than youfoundit . Yours , ' in behalf of the Workies of Ca 3 tle Mill , Edinahurgh . Edward SuTc . Mi'JE , 9 th February , 1842 .
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JEDBTJRGH . —A public meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Jedburgh , was held in the counfyhall , onFriday . the 11 th instant , to take into consideration , the propriety of again adopting the National Petition without alteration or amendment . At the time of meeting , the hall was crowded to excess . Mr . Adam Mathispn was called to the chair . Mr . John Wark proposed the first resolut ion , imputing all the grievances under which our country is at present groaning to class legislation , and that the only remedy vf Quid be to pass the People ' s Charter as the law of the land , and moved that we do again
petition for Universal Suffrage . The resolution was carried . Mr , James Noble proposed the National Petitiopi , which being seconded by Mr . Johu Wark , the Chairman introduced Mr . Charles Haigh , fropa Hawick , who vras received with great cheers ! . Mr . Haigh then rose amidst renewed eheering , and spoke for three quarters of an hour in a etram of eloquence and argument The portion was put and carried amidst great cheering . Three cheers were then giveii for Mr . Haigh , three for the ChaTter , three tor Frostj Williams , and Jones , for Feafeua O'Connor , Esq ., for the Cuairman , and the meeting bTokeap . ' - . / : ' : '¦ ' [¦ ¦' ,. \ - \ '¦ ¦ . : ) . ' [' ' ) :- ¦ - ' : '¦' ' . :.: ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ? ' - ' ;
DALRY , ( AtiisHiRE . )—The Corn Law Committee of repealers challenged the Chartists to a discussion with their great gun , Mr . Aoland , who has beea figuring this some time past in the Corn Law movement . The 1 discuseibn was to come off on the evening of Wednesday , tte Chartists engaged Mr . Wm . Smith , from Ayr , to meet this celebrated champion of expediency . Wednesday arrived , and the village and neighbourhood was all bustle in anticipation of the discussion to take-place in the evening . In the forenoon , the Corn Lav ? Committee was engaged circulating bills stating that Mr . Acland had been engaged at two places on the evening of Wednesday , the 9 oh of
b ebraary , ( Stirling ^^ and . - -Dairy , ) and postponing ^ his lecture in the latter place until Saturday . Mr . Acland lectured on the evening of Tuefeday , the 8 tbi in Salfccoate , and passed Dairy on the forenoon of Wednesday , the 9 th ...-. Whether he got notice of Smith to meet him , or considered the Corn Lavfv repealers of Dilry beneath his notice he knows best himself . Smith , however * like a true Chartist , was at his post , arid a public meeting was held in Mr . Cologain ' s Hall , when Mr , F . Sterrat was elected chairman , and Mr ; I ; Miller vicerchairman . The hall was crammed in every part . Smith delivered a lecture ^ and in good etyle laid onr principles and position before the meeting . At the olose of the lecture the National Petition was read , moyed and Bccoflded , and carried uiianimoufi ly .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct418/page/7/
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