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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1843.
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THE CARLISLE CHA.RTISTS—THE SHEFFIELD CHARTISTS AND THE TREASURER OF THE DEFENCE FUND.
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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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A CSY FROM THE DTJINGEON ! HELP I HELP !! HELP !!! TO THE ED 1 T 0 S OF THE KOBTHSBS STAB . Srs , —By JEBert-Jig tteMlowSngJetterlnyour valuable journal , yon -will greatly oblige , joors , tmly . ISAAC HOTLB . TO FEABGCS O ' COHKOR , ESQ . Respected Sib , —I hope you -will excare me for presuming to address you in so f snnHsr a manner , but -while there is Each a -dispsniy amongst Ibe Coarfei ftofly , I cannot MIp tnt speai out upon ihesnijjeer . In a letter of yonis » hi £ h &j > peared Intfce-S&irof tie Slib . of June , yon jsj , thafchad yon ana the others who ¦ wese in the ams indictment , been tried at the Special CommissionheIdatI 2 reipoQl , joulmve no doubt but In
, wmfi of you ^ roaia lave been transported . Hub opinion I perfectly agree ; and I cannot help recalling to mind ttB fecVthat there tvere -men v&o did gel trans ported 2 and , 3 lavB every reason tofeelieYe , Unvt a part , if not all * are sufering innocently . I tronld also ask , are these cot men ? and have they not feelings as well as Thoinas'Gooper , and iheiest of those for ^ sbava . there are so jimnj appeals "being made to the country for support ? It may oe Baidtnat they do not belong to the Gnartist body . This may , or may not , be true : but it is my opinion that the way to make all good Chartists , is to support their families What can be a greater stimulant to those "who sxa not Chartists to join our rsnlu I and moreoTBr , I maintain , that this feeling ought to characteriza every Chartist in the land . I have
said that the Chartists may say these men do not belonsj to tT ' ? J tiierefore itiey bare no claim upon them lersnpportj bail am sorry tossy that these are not the only individuals irao have been treated in the same Tmm-ner . There-areinea inthis gaol , "who are suffering greater punishment , both msntally and physically , Htm COOPSE , and vho had not the same opportunity « f defending themselves against the foul charges that ~ xjere pzEferred against Siem by a set of perjured Tilliacs , who are too proud to beg , and tao kzy to workl Yes , end these am are chartists io % 1 ! I trill here give yon a few eases which have come under my own -observation , of persons ^ vho have been in this gaol for nearly ten manSva , They are as follows : —1 st . Mr . J . Williams of Pieston , -who bath got two years ; he is a tingle man
and a cripple ; lias suffered much from bad health ; is a member « f the Chartist Association , Preston , and hath sever received anything from them . 2 nd . Mr . Wm . S 3 o £ h , Secretary to the Chartist Association , Royton ; tuih leftfire motherless dill&ren tODOsm hifi miEfOltune , and b * lb goi eighteen months in tola gaoL 3 rd . ' Mr . Thomas Ogien , Treasure ? to the Boyton Chartists , lite-¦ wtse one of the council ; lath lef : a -wife and fear children ; vile in a bad state of health ; hath got eighteen menths in jhi » gaoL The nExt case is my own , »™ j is as follows : —I am s member of the Chartist Association , Boyton , likewise a member of the council Previous to my imprisonment , I had been out of employment ¦» nr ^ f » » " "weeks , 3 bad a "wife and four small children starring npon two shillings a week . For the
part I took in the strike I -was taken Before the Oldham magistrates , underwent an examination , and haa to bail , myself in £ 400 , and two EnreHes in £ 200 eaeli , to appear to answer any charge that might be preferred against ^ ne . Accordingly I appeared at the Special Commission , Liverpool , and was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment In this gaoL I would here beg JsavB to jfateHiat all through the Stbielb I advised the people- not to be dnped by the ' spedons ay of " WgH -wages , " not yefc to destroy property , hat to stanfl or Ml bj the Coartet I "would here beg leave to sit , if these msnisd their families are not as mach entitled to snpport , astather Cootsb . or any one else , ¦ who was so unfortunate as te get imprisoned at the sane time ? I most emphatically say yes » If nst , why do the GhartistB cry oat against that greatest of all monopolies , class legislation ; while they themselves are
supporting one portion of those who are in prison , and allowing the families of ihe others to pine away with starvation ? I wffl give one ease more , and then conclude . A mm of the same of William Williams lefE this g 3 ol on i- ¦ irih-Jnne , after serriBgmne months ; and on the SSih vi ibe same month we received a letter from him staring that on Ms arrival at Oldham be found his wife ana children in a garret , huddled iogeXher amcmgsl some aftarisjw , vrithnol astorselef bread in the place ; and , horrible to state , these poob misbbaele cbbaxkres HAD 2 ? OT BEE 5 TJJtDXBSSKD , KOB IS X BED , "FOB , arosE xHiS-TWO aiosiHs 131 It would be useless po atteffijil anjUaing lUe comment on the ab-: > ve : it speaks for aiaelf ; I will therefore leave it to tee reflection of the Chartist body . Ism , yonr humble , Irni persecuted friend , but sffil a Chartiat until ^ eath . Isaac Hotlb .
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to tttr mnoj or ihs sob . thxbs ssab . Deab . Sib , —In addressing the foDowisg letter for flie pernssl and consideration of the Chartist bsdy , I eonsMerTthat I am only performing my duty ; and whether I succeed in my object or not , it will be some satisfaction to inow fi » t 1 have fesxlosoly aad honestly enassvotrrecl to "bring tb . B canvrfests to * » nsa t& Oar ^ ujj ig ^ Timlnalng them of the course thty onsht to pursue . A ^ a although there may be some who may feel ttemselTes aggrieved ^ n tie perusal of tbisleiter , sad may consider that 1 am scticg with a precipitation premature and uncalled ior , yet I feel myself jnsSnea I am sure that every nonest man will say with me , that after the leneth of time I have suffered , 'without
any-snpport "whatever , I am JBEtinedii ! upbraiding the ChariisLi icilh Degleti 1 inasmuca as they bave Temained apathetic to the sufferings of me and my fellow prisoners . : It "Was the duty of the Chartist body , as soon as the excitement bad abated , to have raised an agitation in our favour ; tobavs endeavoured as far » a lay in their power to support the wives and families of those individuals who belonged , in the Chartist body , who , through their honest zeal bad been entrapped in the snare that bad been so artfully laid for them by the anti-Corn law * ' Plague . ' Hairy < £ our best men were pounced npon by the barpies cf the law , —not lor destroying property ; sot for endangering the lives of their fellow-ei ^ zcna ; but simply because tcey , on all occasions , endeavoured
to show up to public execration the fraud and tnesery of political impostors , wbo wished i » palm themselves upon the public as real friends of the people- Because they tsc Ghsrtists , ikey Trere deemed £ t objects for Qlfi snpnneipled l&d&eaa to wreat ibeir vBsgeaoce on . Tbisis alast that cannot be denied ; and tberefore the Chartists -were in ilnty bound to render them all the assistance in their power . Did they do ss 1 Quite the contrary 1 They left them to " fall bzck npon their own resources ; " and the consequence is , tbat their wives and families are in actual starvation > Some are ia Die Hostile J others are compelled to beg their bread from door to door * sad all are now suffering . extreme . hardship in consequence of being deserted by those Trho ought to have befriended them .
It may be said , there sre ioms individualB -who take a particular ^ eiigbt in creating dissension ; and in almost all cases they may find some apparent cause to gratify their love of -contention ; and that in all probability such may be the case in the present instance . If there be any who have the hardihood to thini so zn Sub ease , I would direct attention to the following narrative . It is now upwards of nine months since we received onr HBJiist sentence . There were upwards of two hundred confined here for the disastrous and ever-to-belamented outbe . eak op August las ? . Of this number , a great many belonged to the Chartist body ; and , 23 a natural conseqneDce , expected that the different Associations ¦ wonld h 3 ve convened mestiugs in their different localitieB , and have forwarded memorials to
the Home Office , praying for a mitigation -of their sentence . Tbey expected that-every town , viliEge , and hamlet would hire poured fort ^ its memorial . This expectation vsb only reasonable 2 and it is mj opinion bad « ucb a line of condnct bo pczsned , we saonld biVB been at liberty at this moment . After waiting a period of eight months , during which we have snfikred HnspeaksHe lutrdshlps both in body sad jcind , and curing which time iwo qfmirJe&BVD-suffcrers have paid Ihe dtitl of nature ; aad still finding that no tffdrts wtre being made -on our behalf , wo lesolvea to attempt sometbir-g for ounelves . We accordiniiy "srote ts tbuteen mStrent AssodationB , reguestiDg them to eonT&ce mefc ^ ogB , aad adopt memorials , ar-d forward them to the proper quarter on our behalf . Of the above number four only retumEd answers to oar letters , agaif j-ing their intention of complying with our request I
Xefc us now turn oar attention to the parties who ¦ were tried at Lancaster . By letters we b £ Te received from several fnenos , we are informed that no expense was spared to defend those who were tried at tbe late 35 arch ABKI 3 S ; that a Defence IFund "was raised j and ¦ witli jood Counsel and great exertion &ey were subsequently diichirjea in Ota Queens Bench . 2 iow was it jiot their duty , af ueT-tten- acquittal , to tnrn iheir artentioa toward * Hkvose wbo wereatai infilling in different parts of the Kingdom ? Bave they acted thus ? No ! ThBj bavft escaped themselves , and apoear qa : » « callous
to those who are still in « oEnnement , -wiih one ercep-I 5 on . munelj , Mr . Cooptz . It appears they are determined to more hea-ren and -eartc to bling abont hit 3 * 3 p * ibp ; » t least ± bey will leave noaing untried which iB in any way calculated t « bris ^ about so fitsirable an otjsct . This 3 s all "very jus ^ &s 1 st »» it coe ? . They bave s perfect right to memorialise on LU bti = lL K » y , Itis tticir duty to do ao ; and it would be Vdj illiberal ] a- ? d nDjnst on ny pars , to wish otherwise . Bat at " the same time , I cannet but ^ -express my surpriBe , that wbilst they are endeavouring m obisis the release ol out man , hundreds are left to suffer in silence *
sssieet . ; Is J&x . Coojser of more importance to tfcs Ghartist cause than-the whole of those who are suffering with him ? la be made of a composition sometir . ng more than flesh and blood ? Are ids feelings more acute than mine , or those « f my fellow prisoners ? I say wiiioBt fear ol contradiction , they are not Hath Corrper a -wife sad fjunily ? ^ So lave the others . Bat h he friends and lelatives . who are bound and endeared to Mm by tke-saerea tiesof Jova and esteem ? So have others ; and tfensfirare-ffiey eqaal , andendtleii to the sune amount of Eympatby andiupport . |
AJ 2 d cow -aSSix Tegsiato myBelf j 1 st na fairly and candidlj TTj "" " rnft oUTKasiive cases , let naie « teas the ? * tand , and -wbeUier lie ie more emTrsnassed , so& m = r » - « it " tiled to public empathy than mjAetf- For wimsSi Cooler canSned ? Par the part he took in the i ^ e ~" si-ris . s . , ^ o sm L Wtat is tfee term of La n&risi * HA £ t ? Tvrojears . So i mine , Hehatlito
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live upon the prison diet 8 o have L [ His health is impaired in consequence of the food and confinement So is mine : for it is only a month since since I left the hospital , and am still under the doctor ' s cars , and bave contracted a disease which will in all probability remain with me during life . 1 Thus , far then , are we upon an inequality . But the comparison will extend no further . ' for while I am left completely destitute , -without any snpport whatever , without a single friend to cheer me in my solitary abode ,
COOPEB . is sympathised -with by the country generally . Funds are raised for Btt BDjpport . PfiHUoa * and memorials are adopted In almost every town , fromXondonto Edinburgh , in order to obtain : his release ; and be has only been confined , about three monthsj while I have been suffering nearly eleven months , and cannot so much as receive an answer to my letters ! I ask , is THIS CHABTISM J Is THIS JUSTICE 1 f Isthis carrying vxt the principles of equality , so highly prized by the Chartist body ? There is bat one answer ; and I will leave that answer to be given by the Chartist body !
May I hope that the Chartists will arouse themselves from the slumber into which they have « nffered theaiseives to sm , sea fry their future conduct endeavour to mate amende for tfceir past coudnet J \ I am , Sir , s lover of justice , James Wuuahs . Kiikdale Goal , July 8 th , 1813 . fTbe foregoing appeals ought to have instant effect Ths writers speak truiy . SegJeei can be , must be , laid at the Chartist door . It is time this -was remedied .
Wfetae is the " Viam Fokd" ? Has it been disbursed ? If so , who to ? If not , why not ? The fielina are neglected . ' Their widows and orphans are starving 1 Look at the Oldham garret , with a Chartist prisoners ' a wife and children huddled together in a heap of shavings , and UNDRESSED FOB ; MORE than two 1 ! O > tbs . ' Is it not time a Victim Committee was appointed ? Is it not time relief irks afforded > Chartists 2 to the good work instantly . Lose not another moment I Too many have been lost already !
let no one tale Exception to the tone of complaint running through the above appeals . The . ' coa-plaint is more than justified . If one of ub bave done our duty to the Tit&ims . They have been forgotten . Itis no wonder that they should cry out and reproach us . The wonder is that they have not done so long since 1 ' They ought to have done ! If we , out of prison , have forgotten those within , they should not have forgotten to remind us of it . We are glad they bave at last done so . They have given expression to their complaints . ' Under the circuKistanceSj the tone they adopt is mild and forbearing .
True they institute comparisons between the vtgled they have received at the hands of the Chartist body , and the efforts made on behalf of Coopeb and Bichas . ds . This is not be wondered at . lien lingering Id prison , neglected , with but few opportunities for information , and possibly that ' information jauTtdiced , are sure to become jealous . This very natural effect has followed in this instance . He would be a hard-hearted man wbo would jndge the writers harshly , because they havB given honest expression to the feelings he has been one main cause of engendering ! In prison , the inmates know not correctly -what is passing in the outer world . That this is the case in
this instance is evident . The Kiitaale Tidims speak of " funds raised for Coop £ B * s support" We are sorry to say that such is not the f&et ! An appeal had to be madt in last week ' s Star to save MM . Coorss from being turned into the street But these letters serve another purpose . They show the futility and evil effects arising from isolated efforts : to relieve particular persons . Jealousy is the result Andne wonder I It is unfair , unjust , to confine attention to one or two well-known prominent characters in the
movement , who have been trammelled bylaw , ana to leave the olhen to pine in neglect 1 It shows us that "we ought to have a General Victim Fujtd , from which all should be relieved , without distinction or favour , asfar as the funds will allow , and in proportion to the wants ' and dependencies in each case . Then all are treated equally . Then we do no violence to our own mneh-loved—( theoretically )—princi ple ! of equality . Then , if the fund fails , all suffer alike . Attention and succour is not heaped upon one , and the rest left out of our consideration . :
ilost earnestly do we conjure the Chartists of the three Kingdoms to take this matter in hand instantly ! let Botanottrer week pass without efforts being made ts remove from our door the heavy load of disgrace already laid there by former inattention . Gat up a XxEJTEBal Tictim Fusd . Merge all the particular relief funds in the one general purse . Blect a Gommitt ©« In » central place , say Manchester , to whom all cases for relief shall be addressed , and by wbom the necessary relief con be administered . Let there be * o exception to this rule . Wound not the feeling of those who are suffering the terrors of our prson hells for our sake , by Exhibiting partiality in our relief ! Prefer net one before another . All are equally dear ; and all ought to be equally dealt with .
Is there not a sum of money already in hand , as a Victim Fund ? If so , set to work , some Committee or other , to disburse it The wives and families of the Victims are Sta&ting ! Peed them 1 Succour them ! Make their "homes" at least bearable , until it please the Factions to release then * natural protectors . Will not the country appzove our suggestion , that the Manchester Chartists appoint , on Sunday next , a Victim Committee , pro-lcm ., to see to this business immediately ? We are sure no one will object We say Manchester , because "Manchester is the great centre from around which nearly all the victims have been drawn . When elected , let the Committee correspond with Mr . Cleave , the Treasurer to the Victim Fund ; and see what money , if any , remains in his hands .
. Again do we energetically call the Chamst body to this most sacred duty . Gat up a General Victim Fcsd . Merge all particular efforts for individuals in one general effort lor equal advantage to the necessitous . Remove the crying cause for jealously now existing . Remove , too , the cause for just complaint 2 nd reproof on the part of the neglected . ' To "work Work double tides to make up for lost time . ]
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STRIKE OF THE COLLIEHS . It is a dangerous ihing to teach men their power is the hope tbat the lesson will be lost wuen the conning have m&de the intended use of it . This country has suffered much from mis-government ; but it has suffered mnch more from misdirection of that popnlar power which in every country shpnld give a proper direction to pnblio opinion . After the peace of 1915 , the alternations from bad to worse , from Whie to Tory and Tory to Whig , ' eompletely
changed the English character . As the Whig faction found itself capable of dividing the spoil with the Tories , by the same graduating scale did they slacken their ardour up to 1832 ; when having , as they falsely imagined , based the franchise upon a permanent Whig footing , they would have gladly relapsed into aristocratic quiet bntfrom » dread of those wholesome lessons taught by themselves while looking for power ; lessons from which the people cad learned their own strength .
The same reasoning that applies to the general principle of government , is equally applicable to the management of sections of society ; and the fame dear-bongbl experience which taught ; the Whig party that Englishmen bnt required to know their rights to possess them , has taught the " ? ree Trade " Mine Owners that knowledge is a searching thing ; that it will find its way even into the ] bowels of the earth , and communicate its influence to the most ignorant and degraded . The great importance of the Colliers tvas taught them bj their tyrant masters , when they , like the Whigs , anticipated an " extended" trade from a sudden ontbarst of the
I ^ gry passions of their slaves . The' preaching demagogues , who were ready to plunge the country ! into confusion , revolution , and anarchy , impressed : upon the minds of the Colliers that of so great im--i portance were ihey to society , that one month ' s ! cessation of labour could *• stop ihe wheels or GOTESSKEKT / ' " aBHEST TBZ KKKHIESS OP iEGlSLA' -nos , " and compel the Parliament to grant "Free | Trade * It vfill be fresh in the recollection of our ' readers that such was the advice of ihe * Free : Trade" preachers ; and such was the aaticipation ' from the success of their inflammatory harangues ; -while those harangues , intended but to serve the
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political purpose of the masters , have had the effect of opening the eyes of the men , not only to their political inequality but to their social degradation . The great activity used by the Sturge section of " Free Traders" to insure the co-operation of the miners , led to the transportation of Ellis and to thB Staffordshire riots ; and the causes of complaint which then existed still live , while we trust that the colliers themselves have
learned too much wisdom from experience to allow themselves to ! be again used for other political purposes , than for the acquirement of those rights by which , and by which alono , their proper position in society can be achieved . While we would strongly urge upon them the necessity of discussing the principles of the People ' s Charter , in which the elevation of their order is recognised , toe would as strongly advise ihem to abstain from mitring up the question of ihe Charier voiih tbat of Wages , further
than as a means to show , that without political power , it is useless to look for social comfort . We learn tbat a deputation of Staffordshire masters are to wait npon Sir Robert Peel , with a view to the settlement of the question ; that the pending disputes between them and their men may be patched up . IThe men , however , may rely upon it , that neither their condition , nor their grievances will constitute any : portion of the master ' s anxiety , boyond the mere effect that their sufferings may entail personally upon the employers .
Who that has read the evidence adduced by Lord Ashley in his able and eloquent exposition of the abominations , the beastialities , and the cruelties practised by the slave drivers , with the perfect knowledge and consent of the slave owners , but has felt his English blood boil in his English veins 1 Will the sanctified deputation remind the Prime Minister that their profits have been hitherto made by the sweat of infant females , and amid the agonies and labour-throes of English women ! Will they remind him of the foetid atmosphere ; the gloomy cavern the intricate mine ; the fire damp ; the chain dangling between the legs ; the excoriations , the sores and the blisters upon the infant limbs ! Will they depict all theiorrors of ak ENGLISH WOMAN
CHAINED TO A COAL' CART , and crawling LIKE X BEPITLE VP 0 X HER FACE AND HANDS , With a horse ' s burden , tied to her neck ? Will they remind him that as their power has increased , their tyranny has increased with ill Will they tell him of the slack ; of the large riddle ; of the increased labour and diminished wages 1 Will they tell him of their cruelty as masters , and their persecutions as justices ? Will they admit the princely fortunes that they have amassed by all their hellish machinations , and at the same time point to the desolation ( hat they have caused I Not a bit of it ! They will tell him that
their straightened circumstances have compelled them , reluctantly (!) , to reduce the wages of their hands . They fwill vow upon their musty honour , that rather than dismiss their men they have cmployed them at a ruinous sacrifice . They will urge u Frge Trade" as a nostrum , and threaten defection as the penealty of refusal . They will assure him that during a cessation of labour , the principles of democracy are elaborately disenssed ; and will pray protection not so much for themselves , as for the purpose of enabling . them to resist the growing spirit of Chartipm .
With » recollection of the past and ft full length portrait of the present lying before us in one perfect picture , though drawn by many hands , we feel ourselves called upon to give the colliers the benefit of our conssel . The great value of a strike , when it is justly entered upon as a means of resisting tyranny , is , that it brin ' gB the several sections of that order npon a perfect equality ; and the most favoured and best conditioned , who in the day of prosperity are deaf to the just oomplaintB of the oppressed of their class , are , in times of great distress , compelled to make common cause with their oppressed brethren
until at length the real cause of complaint breaks through discussion , and a genet al , instead of a mere partial , remedy is unanimously demanded . If there is no work , there is no ncsessit 7 for an overseer ; and even that autocrat is then compelled to take the whole question of distress into consideration . If there is no work , there is no profit or interest upon sunk capital . If there is no work , the * top sawyers , " who can earn the largest amount of wages , can no longer ridicule aad laugh at the less fortunate " pitmen . " Therefore , it is that we see value in a strike , when based on justice ; for it is sure to enlist the sympathies of the whole
community for the amalgamated unwilling idlers . If , however , those : on strike allow themselves to become mere tools in the hands of any party ; forgetful of their own interest , and unmindful of the principle and provocation upon which the cessation is groncded ; they loose all sympathy and thorrery virtues are charged upon them as vices . There is little doubt that the masters , the overseers , and the H pets" will endeavour to warp the general body of miners to an agitation for " Free Trade" as a means of general and immediate relief . We have perfect reliance , howevsr , upon the already scorched and burned that , as a body , they will resist all such hypocritical temptation .
We highly approve of the Organization now being adopted by the Colliers ; and would above all things impress upon them the necessity of engaging real practical honest working men as their lecturers . For our part ,: we shall cheerfully publish the progress of their cause . It not unfrequently happens that discretion , when opposed to indiscretion , meets with a momentary denunciation ; but in the long run , when justice holds the scale and judgment puts in the balance , the value of discretion is discovered . There have been three striking instances of this fact , within the last four years ; in 1839 , when the Bankers of Birmingham proposed a General Strike as a means of insuring a return to Twenty Shilling Notes
Mr . O'Connor risked his popularity , and for a time lost it , for resisting the conspiracy ; in 1840 , when & proposition was brought forward in the Convention to resist the payment of rents , rates , and taxes as a means of carrying the Charter , Mr . O'Connor again interposed ; and after several days debate in London , and subsequently by adjoarnmeut in Birmingham , he succeeded and saved the Convention from government prosecution ; in the last Convention of 1842 , the question of a strike was again partially discussed , when Mr . O'Connor in counselling them against any interference said : " let us be cautious in what toe do , and in what we recommend others to do ; for , rely upon it , if evil results from our counsels ., what belokcs to othbr
cikcl'Mstan-CES WILL BE SADDLED ON THE BACK OF CHARTISM ; and when the collateral attempt fails . Chartists and Chartism aloke will stjwer . " Now these are facts within the memory of all men ; and we submit them to tho consideration of the Colliers on strike . Aa it ever has been the practice of diBsatitfied masters to turn unprofitable guilt into experimental confusion , tbe present opportunity will be s . / a ^ d for driving the impoverished colliers into confusion and : outbreak . Emissaries are already abroad ! Anonymoas scribes , profesesing to feel a deep int-rest in the cause of the colliers , have insolently endeavoured to make our columns the means of rousing the mad passions of the slave class against their tyrants . Wo have been invited to
address them emphatically and boldly upon the subject ; and we have thus . fulfilled the request , by cautioning the colliers , of all other things , to beware of the counsels of those who would urge thorn into rebellion , that they may profit by confusion , and destroy them after fai ' ure ! Wetenow of 80010 excellent working colliers of sound judgment aod discretion who are now employed in the work of justice . Let the people give ear to them , and to them only ; and a isnourabloresultfrom tho present struggle cannot fail of conferring general advantage upon the wexfcing classes of all other denominations . Upon the other hand , let them f ^ il from indiscrktjon , and the riddles will be widened ! the tortvr ¦ - tPT '' rr 4 J ! the I" <'» ,. ?¦ . ¦ , c-r- ^ cd . ' !! the wage dtuiii . ti . rv J ! ! i utid the a ! crt I -v ! icd al ! '' ' /
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OKGaNIZaTIONWith extreme pride and pleasure do we direct the attention of our readers to the report of the Mary-lebone meeting , which will be found in oar eighth page ! From that we learn that the cause of democracy has , as yet , suffered little or no damage from a deficiency in our Organization ; while it will inspire the working classes with a strong desire so to marshal their forces , that henceforth victory shall not depend upon mere chance , or upon a muster of
the Chartist body to achieve it upon sudden impulse . It is jtrae that a deep-rooted affection for the democratic principle , added to the determination to resist anything short of the whole principle , may be relied upon ! in opposition to any attempt to curtail the People ' s Charter of any of its fair proportions . But such tneans cannot be confidently relied upon without such a marshaling of our forces as will ensure their hearty co-operation upon all fitting occasions . When we call to mind the many sections , having different names and professing different objects , ( although
having but one real one , and that being the subjugation of labour ) , that are engaged in skirmishing against the principles of the Charter , and who are ready upon tbe first announcement that the time has arrived to * ' sink all minor differences" and to join in a general onslaught against the people ; all of whom are well drilled , ' well trained , and well Organized , in the tactics of agitation ; it thea becomes the bonnden duty of the Chartist body so to marshal and Organize
themselves that they may be at all times capable of Tecemagt , and successfully resisting the combined attacks of the enemy ; while they should be in a state of readiness to take advantage of all passing events , as a means of strengthening themselves . The Whig party , having failed in their first open and unblushing attempt to create a reaction in favour of Whiggery , will now pause for a little , in order that they may shape their after course upon the popular
will . Should the people ^ fall back , the slippery Whigs will cheerfully slide after them ; while , upon the other hand , if the people advance , the hungry crew will follow them , as a hungry dog follows a man with a bone in his hand . The producers of wealth should never lose sight of tbe one great fact , that they , and they only , hold the bone ; while the Whigs and Tories are two hungry packs snarling to-see who shall snap .
We gave an elaborate amount of matter upon the question of Organization in our last number ; and from that the people will have discovered that however thd several disputants may differ upon matters of detail , all are nevertheless agreed upou the necessity that exists for a through and perfect Organization of the Chartist body . The next step , then is , that a delegate meeting should ; be holden lor the purpose of embodying from tbe wisest suggestions of all , such a plan as will give general satisfaction ; which should
be followed by tho election of an Executive Committee , in such manner as the delegato meeting shall decide upon . We think we may vouch upon the part of Mr . O'Connor , that the suggestions contained in his letter upon the subject , and republishod in our last number ; were merely intended far tho purpose of discussion , which object they appear to have effected while no one will be more ready than that gentleman to aid in the completion of our Organization , and to assist in carrying it out when completed . It is only out of a contrariety of opinions , and after deliberate
discussion , that wholesome decisions can bo arrived at : and therefore we trust that the Chartists of the several localities , where differences of opinion now exist , will see that the proper time and place fot making this vaxiety of opinion instrumental to the establishment of a perfect system of Organization will be when the delegates are assembled to take the whole question into consideration . Some differeDoe of opinion appears to exist as to tho number
which should constitute the Executive . Without attempting dictation , we strongly incline to a preference for five rather than three ; while we incline to think that tho question of payment will require but slight consideration , when it is borne in mind that the appointment to such an office is sure to bo followed by dismissal from work ; and that none but working men can be relied upon for a faithful dis . charge ! of the required duties .
We are perfectly aware of tho increased expence that must attend such a cause ; while we have full confidence on the people ' s readiness to supply the means ,: if their officers prove themselves worthy of their support ; aud the honourable compensation for service will have the never-failing effect of stimulating the recipients to deserve it . Tho organ of the popular voice should never ; withhold suggestion , or advice , from an apprehension or dread of a charge of " dictation . " It is all important that it should lay before its party subjects requiring discussion ; tbat it should suggest times for holding those discussions : and direct opinion as to that course which
may strike its conductors to bo the most safe and prudent . If , then , we were to wait for an entire and unanimous opinion as to the most fitting time for meeting , the probability is that we should be hampered with such a contrariety of opinions , that the day would never arrive . In order therefore to disharge our duty , we submit the propriety of a delegate meeting taking placo at Birmingham , on Monday , the 31 st of August , thereby affording ample time to the several localities to make up their minds as to tho coarse to be pursued , and as to the delegates to whom their representation may be safely confided .
The one great and all-ab 30 rbing duty which now devolves upon us is , firstly , the accomplishment of a sound , safe , a vigorous , legal , and efficient plan of Organisation ; and secondly , the healing of all those differences which for some time past have , we regret to say , weakened our cause and strengthened the hands of our opponents . To accomplish these desirable objects our best exertions shall be devoted " Onward and we conquer . " " Backward and we fall . ' - " the charter and no surrender . "
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IRELAND . Postscript to the real monster evil of Ireland , " a very happy device of the enemy , by which it is intended to show that the conditions of one of the articles of Union , which guaranteed the expenditure of a certain amount of money in Irish improvements had ! beett virtuously fulfilled ; Sir Robert Peel having declared thai no leaa than . £ 10 , 000 , 000 of public money has , in twenty-eight years , been laid out for the exclusive benefit of Ireland ; and , as the writer observes , it has done more harm than good . In directing attention , some time ago , to tbe flagrant manner in which the several
articles of Union ! had been violated , we anticipated that some 6 uch statement would be made with reference to the obligation upon the part of Government to expend a certain amount Of money annually upon Irish improvement ; and we admitted the lavish expenditure of English money in Ireland , stating at the same time that , in violation of the act of the Union , it had been expended upon jobbing of * every description ; finding its way into the pockets of the parliamentary supporters of Orange principles , without conferring a single benefit upon the Irish people . The writer of the largo type article not only enumerates the several grievances to which the Irish people are subject , but he further informs
us of the several boons , that they enjoy , and the several advantages that they possess over the people of England . He informs us that the poor people pay no income tax , no duty on horses , dogs , or carriages , while they are exempt from many other revenue charges . Surely with a long catalogue of admitted and undeniable Irish grievances , the writer does not mean to set thO 3 e exemptions down to partiality I Would faefnot rather say , that Irish pauperism more than mi nisterial clemency is the cause of this favour shown to Ireland ? Does he not know ,
or did the Editor who paraded his communication in large type not k ' uo w , that taxes aud duties are laid on England upon the articles which are subject to them with all the nicety of calculation as to the effect that such and such scale may have upon the revenue ! while the ] poverty of Ireland would baffle the best arithmetician in his nicest calculation , inasmuch as a tax amounting to the sum paid for its collection would lead to a total prohibition of' the taxed article .
A perfect illustration of this fact will be found in the instantaneous decline in the coach making and harness making business , when a tax of £ 18 4 s , was laid upon jaunting cars ; while the effects of the window tax was visible in darkness ; every Parliamentary light hole being stopped up ; and the tax upon dogs aud hor 6 es , and the surcharges consequent upon wrong returns , led to false oaths , to murders , and to wranglings which were found to be too expensive * As soon , however , as thoso taxes were taken off , jaunting cars again became a cheap luxury : the
light of heaven was restored ; the dogs were allowedto breathe the freo air of heaven ; and the horses were relieved from ( he aniila * amount of labour in the plough , tho harrow , and the cart , and were once more restored to the saddle . Let us hear no more then of those boons which necessity forces from an unwilling hand . Let us hear no more of a Parliamentary standard of a shilling a-day for able-bodied men , whose labour if applied to their own soil , for their
own benefit , would establish its legitimate standard in the labour market . We rejoice to find that in the midst of pettyfogging proposals for temporary remedies , Mr . O'Connell and the Irish people , aye and the English people too , look to a Repeal of the Union as the lever Iby which Ireland is to be raised from provincial degradation to national independence . As we hivr r-ve nded our English article with a demand for our charter , so do we conclude our Irish article wi , h " Kepkal of the Union , and no Surrender , !'
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wmch the internal trade of the country generally could be improved , and the population maintained in a more healthy state of employment . Tbe progressive redactions in the prices of iron , th « rate of wages , and the state of pauperism , as exhibited in the enormous increase of the poor-rates in the Unions comprised in this district , were stated in extensive detail by members of the deputation , and the operation of tee American and tbe various Continental tariffs was adduced , as acting most prejudicially on tbe iron trade of this couiilry
It was explained that a strong impression prevailed that the great fallivg off in the exportation of commodities to the United States , resulting from ( he restrictions of the late American Tariff , was MAIKLT attributable to THE CONTINUED EXCLUSION OF AMERICAN CORN b » the operation of the late adjustment under our own Tariff , and which a moderate fixed duly would be calculated to remove . In conformity with this view Mr . Thornley stated tbe result of his impressions on a recent visit to the United . States , and tbe improbability of asy treaty being negotiated without some modification of our Corn Laws on this point .
Sir Robert Peel stated that be should most wil . llaglyglre bis best attention to any remedies that might suggest themselves to tbe minds of the Deputation , but tbat he feared the production of iron had been forced by the requirements for railroads and other causes bo much beyond the ordinary demand , that now that these sources ol consumption bad been supplied , ho could hold out no prospect of immediate improvement from any measures within the power of the Government . The Members of the Deputation stated , tbat they
were nearly unanimous in the conviction that the depression under which their trade was suffering , as well as tbat affecting most other branches of productive industry , was attributable io the great falling off in ihe demand , occasioned by the vicious operation . OF OUR PRESENT MONEY LAWS , AND THE CONSEQUENT WANT OF A SsTJFFICIENT CIRCULATION TO MAINTAIN A RANGE OF PRICES ADEQUATE TO THE DISCHARGE OF THE FJXED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BURDENS WRICH FORM SO LARGE A
PROPORTION OF THE COST OF PRODUCTION IN THIS COUNTRT ; that wtthoul some change of these laws there was , in their opinion , bat little hope of any improvement in the condition of the working classes , wbicb Would gradually approximate to that of the same classes in Ireland . Sir ROBERT Feel expressed his dissent from these conclusions , aud after thanking the Deputation for the temperate and judicious manner in which they bad stated their views on the important objects which had engaged their attention , the conference terminated .
What wiseacres these Iron Masters are ! Just contrast their two " remedies . " Just imagine a set of men , pretending to be politicians ; pretending to be political economists ; pretending to bo informed : just imagine a set of men , who would sink you into the earth with a look of supercilious contempt , were you to hint at their possible ignorance , or want of knowledge : just imagine men of these pretensions , going to the Prime Minister and asking him , in one and the samo breath , to adopt one set of measures for the avowed purpose of making " prices still lower , " and to adopt soother set of measures to make " prices still higher " / Yet both these things have the " wise" men of Staffordshire asked of Sir Robert Peel ! How ha must have laughed in his sleeve at their
enormous folly I Peel knew the difference in the only two " remedial measures" the Iron-men hinted at . He knew that they led totally and distinctly two different ways ! that they were as much opposed to each other , in effect upon commerce and production , as any two measures that could by possibility have been named ! And yet the Iron-men recommended him to take both ! How he must have despised them ! and how be must have chuckled at the pros * pect of the duration of the present system , when he sees thos ? who are being reduced from affluence to beggary by its operations , so innocent of all knowledge of the causes Of the evil that soourges and strips them , as to recommend to his adoption , for a remedy , two distinct and opposing modes of treatment !
But there is one comfort to be derived from this monstrous exhibibition of astute ignorance , humiliating as it may be to the pretensions to political wisdom on the part of " our merchants" and " masters . " Attention is at last drawn to " the VlCfOUi OPERATION OF OUR PRESENT MONET LAWS ;" and the "FJXED PUBLIC and PRIVATE BURDENS , which foeh so large a proportion of cost of PKODucrroN in this country . " This is found out at last ! The " property-men" are just getting their eyes opened , and see , —indistinctly it is true , bnt still they do see , —what it is that has transferred their accumulated thousands
iDto the hands of the Jews and jobbers ! Well , thank God , light has come at last ! This cause was plainly pointed oat to " our merchants and masters " when it first began its transferring operations : but they would not see it . And it is only now ; now , that it has brought them to tha " verge of bankruptcy "; now , that they are " ruined "; note , that we have had " progressive reductions in the prices of iron and the rate of wages "; now , that we have a " progressive increase in pauperism , and an enormous increase of poor rates "; ifc is only now , when ail these plainly foretold consequences of the " vicious operation of our present money laws" with
" the FIXED and private BURDENS , " have become matter of history : it is only NOW , that the ail-sufficiently wise men of Iron begin to see what it is that has eaten into their " substance" 1 !! They have a deal to learn yet , though , before they are at all fit to prescribe " remedies . " Next time they go to Robert Peel , they must confine themselves to the recommending of one line of policy . They must not ask him to ** modify the Corn Laws , " for ( he purpose of effecting ANOTHER PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION IN THE PRICES OF IRON and THE RATE OF WAGES" ! and ask him also for an
alteration of our present money laws" so as to give a " sufficient circulation to maintain A RANGE OF PRICES ADEQUATE TO TBE charge of our FIXED public and private burdens" ! The two things are incompatible ! You cannot , Messrs . Iron-men , have both " high" and " low" prices ! Just think of these things ; and try if you cannot ; find out the difference between the two sets of principles you urged upon the Minister for adoption I And try , also , if there be not another way of meeting the difficulties with which we are surrounded , than by a " sufficient circulation , to maintain a range ot
prices ADEQUATE to our FIXED burdenB . " Reflect that that" ADEQUATE range of prices" must be HIGH" ; much , much higher than the presene range . Reflect also , that with your present range , " low" as it is , you are driven out of the markets of the world by those who can and do under * sell you . Reflect on all these things : and then ask if it would not . answer bettek to REDUCE our " FIXED PUBLIC and private BUKDENS to a point commensurate with the " Progressive re * ductions iu the prices of iron , and the rate of wages , and the state of pauperism . " Try this on , next time you go to Sir Robert Peel ! ! You will do some day , little as you may think of it now ! !!
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Mv dear Friends , —I have read your suggestions both from Carlisle and Sheffield , with that attention and respect they demanded . With regard toCarlisle first ; I must say that that locality , though perhaps the poorest in England , has subscribed much more than any other of the same extent , to every fund that has been collected ; and my answer to them is , that it was never my intention to receive Mr . Robert ' s services without remunerating him as they justly deserve ; and therefore they need bave no apprehension upon that score : for while I object to seeing a guinea down in a Solicitor ' * account every now and
then for running across the yard to connsel , I object equally to receiving the services of a professional man upon any other than professional terms ; and if ever man deserved the fulfilment of this rule , Mr Roberts is that man . Wkh respect , however , co the Sheffield resolution , I think my friends there Will at once see not only the ii justice of it , bat ths odium and trouble which establishing such a precedent would entail upon me . Would to God that our fund was large enough to com p ' y with the wishes of all , aud to relieve the wants of all ; but I cannot see with what colour of ri ^ ht I could refuse an applica-• ion from the Ashton pr ; ii f ^ r m ? ans to brin * -Ukin back from America ; with wha' preteasion o- 11 re-
The Northern Star. Saturday, July 22, 1843.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , JULY 22 , 1843 .
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THE "TIMES" AND REPEAL . THE , new light , or rather the varied shadows of light , that beam upon the " Cosmopolite Journal " must , no doubt , afford a considerable share of amusement to its readers ; aud we can scarcely wonder at the indecision with which it charges the Government , when we find its own policy varying with each passing breath . The Times of Wednesday is now lying before us ; and we were not a little amused by the perusal of a letter
( From a Correspondent , ) and dignified with large type . The writer has dished up for ub all the old and hacknied complaints , the existence of every one of which oar friend of the Times , not long since , assured us was merely chimerical . But now that the dan gar thickens , they are not only admitted to exist , but a remedy is actually pointed out , and the writer goes so far as to recommend a legal standard of wages of a shilling a day , with the entire abrogatiou of tho " middle-man" system . This antidote , however , is
not to jbe administered without the patient having previously been prepared with the poison of coercion ; as the writer proposes that the present agitation should be firstly put down by the strong arm of the law ; that some twenty of the leading demagogues shall be poked into prison ; and that in the calm , justioe , full and ample justice , shall be administered to the people , through the aforesaid legal rise in their wages . We are apt to think
however , that as it has been , so it ever will be ; and if the required calm was once produced by the poison , ; the promiBod antidote would b < 5 lost sight ef , until tbe next querulous demand for its administration had presented itself as afur ^ her neoessiiy for the strong arm of the law , and the poking itito prison of another batch of the dissatisfied . There is aho in the Times of the sama date and uader th- h-ao ,
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ANOTHER GLORIOUS TRIUMPH . The middle classes called an anti-Repeal meeting to be hold at the London Tavern on Wednesday last . The Chartistslaud Repealers got notice of ' the enemy . They mustered their forces , attended , and upon the motion that an Auti-Repealer should take the chair , au amendment was moved iu favour of an Irish Repealer , which was triumphantly carried ; and thus the intended Repeal extinguisher was turned iuto a whole hog Repeal meeting ! This is as it ought to be ;
aud so determined are we to compel the friends of Ireland to do tardy justice to thoso who have extended to them their untiring support , that we abstain , from making a single comment upon the letter of the Rev . W . Hearne , of Manchester , to Mr . O'Gonnell , in which a most foul , ungenerous * and unchristian attempt is made to mix up tho Manchester Chartists with Irish Ribbonism ; while it triumphantly communicates the glad tidings that the Reverend j Gentleman has found himself compelled to dismiss a Collector of Repeal Rent for
TAKING A SUBSCRIPTION FROM FEARGUS O'CONNOR ! ! Such are the means resorted to for enlisting the co-operation of the English working classes for the accomplishment of a Repeal of the Union ! However , no machinations of this kind shall succeed ; as vre are resolved to heap coals of fire upon the heads of our traducers , by d&iag for them that , which without our aid , they could not do for themselves . In justice to the gallant sons of Hibernia , and thanks to Father Mathew , wo are bound to say , that being sincere themselves in purpose , they begin to look with suspicion upon those who cry out " Repeal , " and reject the means of ' carrying it . In the long run , working class intelligence and discrimination will triumph over ignorance and sophistry . 1 ~~"
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THE IRONMASTER'S DEPUTATION to THE PRIi \| lE MINISTER . In our article on the " Strike of the Colliers , " we have alluded to a Deputation appointed by the Iron Masters of Staffordshire to wait upon , the Prime Minister , to represent to him the " great depression " in the iron trade , and the consequent Buffering to both matters and men . Since that article j went to press , we have received an account of the " interview . " which
we here give , th % t the reader may judge for himself how far our anticipations of the tone and statements and remedies , of the " masters" were from beiiig correct . Their first object , was to obtain a " modification of the Corn Laws . " No doubt ! " The Americans will not take our iron because we will not take their corn . " The dolts ! The Americans will take our iron when they have none of their own : but while they have , and can employ their own labour in its manufacturethey
, would be as great asses as our Iron Masters to think of getting it from abroad , either in exchange for corn or anything el « e . The fact is , wo » r « being regularly driven out of the American market ! Nay , she has followed us into jour own , and is actually underselling us there ! She can send us manufactured cottons w cheaper" khan we can produce them ourselves , "low , " miserably " low , " rs our wages are 1 Our manufacturing game , as far as America is
concerned , ia up ! Here is the account of the interview . Let those parts we hare marked in italics and capital letters be carefully conned over : — The deputation of ironmasters from South Sta ffordehire bad a long interview yesterday morning by appointment witu SirJRobert Pjel , for the purpose of presenting a memorial fiovn this district , eetti : ¦ - forth the extreme state of depression under which the iron trade is at present labouring , and tbe condition of the working population , i
Tue ta . i ' r . e ? s waa opened by the Chairman of the Deputation , James Foster , E < j , who utated the extreme falling off in the demand for iron , the great depression in the pri » , and the consequent reduction in tho wagtB of labour and contraction in tbe means of employment , together resulted in a condition of the workmen which could not be contemplated without serious apprehension . It was stated that the objVct ol the deputation was iu no w ^ y connected with nny intention if soliciting support from the Government by sij t < f pt-cuu | ary assistance to enable thtm to continua thm- vvorfes in operation , but to discu-B t » y practicability of the application of any lueaaurob by
The Carlisle Cha.Rtists—The Sheffield Chartists And The Treasurer Of The Defence Fund.
THE CARLISLE CHA . RTISTS—THE SHEFFIELD CHARTISTS AND THE TREASURER OF THE DEFENCE FUND .
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4 . THE NORTHERN STAR , j _
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), July 22, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct491/page/4/
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