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UNIYEBSAL BROTHERHOOD , XETIBB JCXIII . TO THE 3 SDITOB OP XHE 50 BTHERS STAB . Sib , —In my last letter , in pursuaee of the business I had ju-dertaken , namely , "To examine the various remedies that have hitherto been proposed to remove vfest has b&sn found oppressive , " I reviewed the temperance movement of Father Mathew ; and the agUaSon -under Hr . -b ' Connell for the Repeal of -file Union "with Ireland . I shall commence this -week iy calling the attention of jour readers to one "who has made herself net a little celebrated as an agitator dnrine the abort period
she has been before the pnblic . I allude to " Rebecca , " who , thinking that justice could not be obtained in "Wales by any cf the ordinary methods , has taken upon herself to administer it inker own peculiar manner . I have " no desire to criticise the mode by -which tubers act , nor to express an approval , or the rsverse , of the course 'which Bsbecca and bii daughters are . pursuing ; as individuals can only proceed -with anything they have to perform Inthe manner they are prompted to execute it , by their own peculiar idlssyocr&eies . I sball therefore look at this movement as a part et the great change -which is approadiiEg , rather than in its immediate l » eal effect .
Babeeca has dsarly made manifest * rbat before vras little known or cared for , iiatnely , that the people of Sonth Wales Trere suffering under every species of local tyranny that could well be conceived . The first object "which engaged the attention was the administration of the ixust of keeping the roads in repair . - She found this made the subject of a most grievous charge , asd appears to have considered that the best mode of reducing it would be by destroying the turnpike geies . A strong orgitdzition was formed for this purpose , and It was soon found that Bebecca and her Daughters could at any time effect lbs object she sought : and this has led to many © tfcer matters being referred to her . Tout paper of this dEy bears rather strong evidence Of the manner in which this movement Is
operating on toe minds of the landowners , not only of Wales , bnt of other parts of the United Kingdom ; and as the success which has attended it -will be a powerful stimulant toothers , it will be well to examine to what cause tost success may be attributed . The first thing necessary to observe in this movement , is , that it is one of unity . From the reports in She Times , it is evident that there are plenty of Bnggestrre meetings ield , bnt the mode of action iscerjfidenlly referred to Rebecca , and no one thicks of interfering in ^ ny manner with htr decisions except to execute them . Tie next is , that Rebecca is just , in her idea of the term ; and it is to the sympathy excited by the sense of justice Siat she owes that prelection she is receiving in a most dangerous course j for should a contrary opinion prevail she would soon be handed over to the tenier merdei © f the Government
The third point I would notice iB that Rebecca proceeds promptly to the execution of , whas she determines on , aad does not keep disturbing the minds of her followers by useless theorljsng ; a qualification which is essentially necessary to any practical leader . Prom the offers of abatement ef xents , abatement of tithes , removal of turnpike gates , and various other redresses for grievances , which are now liberally made to the Welsh people , it is evident that this movement is performing its part , in preparing the public mind for an universal brotherhood ; and it will be very interesting to watch the further progress of Rebecca .
The next proposed remedy to wMti . 1 shall call attention is ,, " The Repeal of tha Gorn Lslvtb . " "Whitever : may have been tha motives for which the cry of Repeal was begun , the public mind has decided that it is a matter of justice ; and as such it must be yielded , ¦ whatever may be the opposition Drought against it . Claiming as I do , in the abstract , the free use cf the fruits of the earth for every individual in , it on the ground that we are all tha creatures of one Divine power to whom all things belong , it is to me a very trifling matter whether these laws be immediately repealed or not . It would be far better that we should commence the great inquiry of what is best for all ; but as our minds are not yet sufficiently expanded to treat this subject in any manner approaching the importance fi deserves , lie extrtions of the anti-Cora Law League will be most serviceable in preparing vu for the task .
from the rapid change in pnblic opinion which has lately taken place in favour of the repeal of the Corn Laws ; chitfly in the agricultural districts , and brought about by agricultural depression , which depression must inevitably increase rapidly , from tbe additions to the poor lates , county rates , police force , yeomanry duties , and many other matters which are inevitable ; to say nothing of the decline in -raise that will occur in agricultural produce from diminished consumption , 5 Hb quite certain that no government will long bs able tbiesist it ; but the repeal being once obtained , how will the respective parties be then situated ? Will
« otton lords , landlords , church lords , or lords of any Other kind , be in a better position from this change ? Or will it not rather be that their confusion wiil have increased , an hundred fold , and an-approach will be so ffx made totraids the inquiry into tiie trne remedy ? Bapend upon it , we may safely say to aiessra . Cobdea , Bright , Smith , and all their friends and associates , " on and prosper ; for you too have a mission to perform , in jireparisg for that change which is to placeman upon earth la such a position as . shall best enable him to work out the mysterious ways of that power thai ovex-raleih all things . **
Iftxt to the Corn law movement , I would call attention to the remedies proposed by tbe Churches of England , Scotland , and Ireland . In England there are three , Esmely , a return to strict discipline , and catholicity ; the building of new churches ; and a system of Sdncation based on voluntary subscriptions . Thanks to Dr . Pasey and h s friends at Oxford , we are about to endeavour to return to that unity aad Gatholidty , withont which true religion can Bevsr be known . Seme people may be alarmed about the doctrines of trsnsubstsntiaticn , arid other things of trifling importance ; sud half a century ago we may have been much inconvenienced in progress by them ; bus these
dajsisve long since passed . There can be no h&nn in our churches possessing those inspiring auxiliaries to the higher and more elevating portions of our being , that are te be derived from fln « painting , mperior music , and the gorgeous spectacles that are sometimes exhibited to the people of the continent . There is no fear -of our going backward in other respects , by-forsaking those acrimonious feelings which arise from dissent in religion ; and if the Church is ever mcttti to have power over the minds of the people , it can only be by it » teachers placing themselves in the advanced guard , morally , intellectually , and physically ; far this three-fold nature of man is now for the first time about to be fully dcvelooed .
With regard to the buDIing of churches , what bnt good can srise from it ? Some -dll cry oat , " We don"t want th = m ; are we to be tsxed for tfctm ? " acd many other such like exclamations ; but all this it perftctly beside the question . We etc now too deeply taxed fur a few millions a year to be any objection to thoss who can pay it ; and those who cannot , need not be alarmed about it . All the taxation that has betn Gtviani is darged <> n the folly sad ignorance of tke people ; and when they shall be isaoy to pay earnest attention t < - > tbe subject , they msy ea ? Uy learn how to avoid it WrJj regard to the churches , they give employment to masons , bricklayers , carpenters , and otsers , in building them ; and sbevnid tbty not be found nsctsssry for tie immediate purposes for which they are intend ^! , they m 3 y be turned to account in many other ways .
Respecting education , the Church is oxzsTrzHiig a snbscripiiDn tii s quarter ol a rcillien , to devote to this purpose , to which 1 s = e h ± r Majesty ar ^ Sir Robert Peel have each contributed . £ 1000 . Tbe Vr . zsct , Albnt and the Queen Ikrsracer have etch giran £ - > 0 aol the Bishop of London , tbIio is the both of ths scfecise . 1 ^ s giTEB £ JOOO . I sish thfcia t-eerv saccn-s in tbt-ir uadertiklns . Tha light of truth 13 now shining it , o -yiably in tbe wor ' . d for us to b : ; ve ac ; cause fc > i ?» - - \ i \ 9 that tlie *\ em £ ats ol instrccSioii , tuadtx any cirirti , will do harm . Ths great book of ££ tuir is beiu ^ read in all cooEtries , and znr hups to this r < : 5 < t : r ? ^ o . - ; tend to-srards the development of that rrt ^ t purp ^^ e which the Creator h . * designed shall be now acco ^; - pliEhed .
I / anysre cfraia that we shall fall too rap . 'diy isto tbe snns of the Cburcb of Rome , tb ^ y may find c- '< n > . o lation in the state of the Scotch Cbarch Tt-se wiu have wstehed tie proceedings wiici have torn tbe people of Scotland to tbe centre , ss a means cf preparing their minds foT higher and mere noV ; e pniposss , musfe much a * mire the cahn and holy zeal , ar = d ferrent jsinceriry which distinguiihed Dr . Chalmers find his cxuJjntors , who havs lately aec&ied from thai church . They are bright examples of huinanity uad ^ r the inrJaence of superior feelings ; and although their
movement has net at present that universal tendency Which it is now desirable that we shonld soon attain to , yet -3-e csnaot but admire the deroiien and energy with Which they pursue their olysct , knowing that it mnst tend to the same common end . Tceir proposed remedy is the building and endowing of six hundred ubw efcerehsson the voluntary principle i and the Scotch P «^ e have subscribed very fredy for the purpese of rstaHniig Qieir favourite preacbtrs , and J > r . Chalniera 5 * the pason to fnlfil his promise of pursuing th ' e old iotitntiosfi if it be needed even to their destrnction .
^ The Irish Chnrcbj by law Established , thst is , the l * rotertant , seems to be in great danger from a remedy proposed—of rendering its revenues available to other Purposes ; and the tithe owners will undoubtedly -be much slimed ; bnt no one can iail to discern in this , astepm universal progress of no small magnitude . The grievance of Enppwtisg a body of people with whom fi » y had no sympathy , has been long aad deeply felt by the Irish people ; and they bave aow most wisely dedared that this ean no longer be . 2 « o sooner do tiey appear united on the sulgect , and cocceEtrate their pover at one focus , than plenty of psrsass are f&nna to sigu 9 thrir «« use , and to assiit them in proeujisg that-relief which they will not fan to obtain , in € Ssct prcportioa as their lore snd intelligence are de-Teloped . Many of the Protestant clergy are ntefcps terms -irith the Bepeal party , and adding to tbat -union * Ed po-sre ? wbicb « an iott only be diatnrbed by uiidue exdtement ok the rjart of fee people .
If we take a calm survey then of the position cf the three ehurehss , every frlfcBd of nsiveTsal pri ; ciph 3 "will s ^ madi to if joics at The interns ! 0 i 2 " < 3-ePSt 3 that
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exist in them will cause deep and searching erquiry on all sides ; and sooner or later , in proportion to its Intensity , will truth be elicited . As this shall be done , and it shall be brought to the light of public opinion , will the fallibility ef man be corrected , and we sball be enabled to discern the true road to happiness and walk quietly therein . The more I reflect upon the suVgect the more strange does it appear , that with every element for happaieBS to abundantly snironcding him , man is still the victim of bo much vice , crime , and misery . The knowledge however of the laws which govern the universe , and the developement which Is taking place In the sciences of human nature , and of society , will soon render the cause of this seeming anomaly plain , and easy to be understood ; and in the mean time I would say to Rebecca and her Daughters , to the promoters of tha
repeal of the com laws , and to the heads ef the various parties in the Churches of EnglnBd , Scotland , and Ireland , pursue well the various objects in which you are respectively engaged . To you they may appear tbe allabsorbing ones ; but there are other and higher spheres in wb * xh these movements will be absorbed the moment their destined cfice is performed ; and to ths reader * of these letters I would say offer no obstruction to any of the changes that are now occurring , for they are preparing the way for the introduction of that universal movement which will soon place us in a situation for receiv ing all tbe benefits ready to be conferred on us , by the great creating spirit of the universe , when we shall be placed in accordance with its laws . I am , Sir , your obedient Servant , William Galpik . Concordfum , Ham Common , Surrey . August SI , 1843 .
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TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND . Fellow Cocstbtmen , —Having disposed of the cry of " Ireland for the Irish , " and shewn you the fallacy of seeking Repeal without Universal Suffrage ; I will now turn to the qnestion which iB of all others of the greatest importance in the present position of Irelandpi It is a remarkable fact , that nearly all classes of Reformers agree in the opinion , and even loudly assert that the Church is the prolific cause of all yc-ur misery : but as the various sects and parties of society hava their own reasons for attaching all blame to thiB source , I will content myself with believing in the general opinion upon my own conviction of its truth . This I consider to be the better way , as I am awara that numbers assail tfce " Old Lady ' upon groandB of envy or malice , and with a view to her annihilation , in tbe hope that their class may one day share her honours or her profit ; cr mayhap aspire to govern this superstitions country in her Btead .
With such parties ss these , I hold co fympathy , nor do I value their opinion in the present case for much . They may " cant" about " evangelical purity ; " the only purity which ia visible and apparently essential , ia the pnre actual amount of pounds shillings and pence : which ever was , amongst such partie * . the distinguishing mark of spirituality , and " ever will be , '' ai > Pa < ldy says , world without end . Arnen ! " Por those sympathisers with Ireland , I repeat , I have no reciprocity , nor do I calculate upon their assistance to rid yon of the bsrihen which they so magniloquently declare oppresses you . There csnbb little difficulty in
persuading an Irishman that the existence of a State Church is an evil to his country of the greatest magnitude ; nor does he need to be told that both in a political and moral sense her compulsory support is manifestly unjust . He knows all this , and I believe would , had he the power , put an end to her unscriptural caieer by starving her temporal part out of its sanctity , by tbe simple measnre of stopping the snpplie * . Now this is just tbe point I would endeavour to explain . You ¦ would also get rid of this evil if you had the power . Let me see how yon prove yeur sincerity . To get rid of the Church yon agitate for a Repeal of the XTaion ; but as I have taken tbe rn ^ sk from that measure in its
present form , it must follow that if efftcts be equal to causes , you will rever get rid of the holy (? j nuisance . Yoa are now , my Countrymen , placed in a very peculiar position . O'Ccnnell has renounced and denounced ail political parties , save the Orangemen , aad xfcsia en his individual exertions to obtain Repeal . ' This , 1 hsve shown you , will be impossible ; and tbat he canEot obtain it constitutionally without tbe sid of the Ejg ; ish people . He tells yon at the same time he will Bland upr > n Repeal , and take no concessions . < I would like lo know how you ean reconcile these two positions , so as to prove them capable of succe&fol resnlrs ? Da yon imagine that the Government will get tirf-d , ana grant to importunity what they have so long Teiuifed to justice ; or that to pacify Ireland , they will grant a RcpeaJ of ihe Union where they know yeur first act -would be to , if possible , annihilate Church
ascendancy ? Oh , never ! will you see a « enstitutional Ito use O'Connell ' s own meaning of the term legally , ) Reptal Hntil yGur English and Scotch brethren are united iriih you , and in a voice that will not be denied , demand it . 1 % is plain , then , there is but oxe way , one step , by which you are to rid yourselves of the Church . Then , why , J would ask , stand npon Repesl for the remainder ot year lives ? Why be wedded , if you are desirous of obtaining it , to a system wbicb is essentially bs . d , aad ultimately doomed to be ineffectual ? I cannot for the life of me see how you are to get out of Itft awkward position -with credit to yourselves or your cause , unless you honestly and at once acknowledge year error , and cordially accept tbe assistance of men who are willing and able to make you victorious . Now , mark me ! uniess yon do this , yon will learn , ¦ whan too lzle , that il ia dangerous to reject friendly eounrel .
Eo-w then are you to rid yourselves of this monster evil ? Answer me , I pray ! Is there one man in Ireland will hsve the honesty or the courage to give me an explanation ? No ! not one ; even O'Connell himself -will shirt from the question , and in his usual ullerior way , Bay , by the next step . » But will O'Connell , or will yon , reslly persist in standing in a false position , unable even to answer a plain question ; and -will you still refuse to reason for yonrselves ? Is there , I repeat , one ram in Ireland , -who has faith in O'Cormell ,
th-. it can tfll me how he is to get rid of the church vithcB * Rtptal ? or who will have the h&rdihood to assert Rtpeal is possible by pawning tbe present coarse o : policy for its attainment ? No ! not one ; and yet you are not only s&tisned to continue in blind ignorance of juur position , but dare to prute about Chartist interference as a thing to be avoided as dangerous and destructive ! Remember , I tell yon the Charter and the Ci-arlisU will be yet tbe rallying cry to the rescue , and Inland will owe to tbtir influence and generous Krenxtb her future happiness and glory J
2 dr . O'Conneil , when vrriting about Gbartists , described them as thickheaded . N < jw , in a political sense , 1 may be permitted to return his elegant compliment ; for certainly it was not to be expected that so japit . t a man ss he is would persist in standing in a pvsiui's from which he has no poEriMe means of Lon ^ srable escape , save tkrongh the assistance of those idtntca ! j / Wisku'lsf Ti / e Gcattists tsfce . 1 broad vLw of the questions wlicfc tiisuaet society end oppress the ptople , and detvm > iceu Jivitbtr » o be -wheedled ror frightened . They agitat-e the qaestinn of the Charter as an effectual means to einble them to counteract oppression , and rtfe-nu b '^ nsab in cborcb and SLate ^ whilst they baild their future prospects of happiness upon the principle
of givr-i : to tveiy man a voica in governing himself . Bat O"Cjnr > ell % eeka only the Repeal of an Act ot Parliament ; i 8 a rueans to get rid of the burthen of the cLevcL ] T :: eT ) , I would ask is there r , ot more thick-headed ' E ££ S hi ob > t : iiately standing npon sectional reforms , tliin in nobly \ & 3 vfee Chartisms do > waging war against all ix- ^ 'J . k eviis ? Repeal , wi' . h&ut Universal Saffiraga ¦ Ki -nl ! r . irt rHip-jwtr you to get rid of tfce d ^ rch ; bat B < - ; * -: l , tr :: h ir . t C ^ ErUr , wcnltJ enable you to s ^ reep U " . C c : ch awi all utl . er evils into obiivic . n . Repeal ivi :.- ! . ••• . rX » rieXdte yun from tithes ; w } : isv an Irish Hi . ! :- t-i Isrids and C mni' -ns . elected by Household , . i -. r . ^ ¦ '' ¦ fi Woinaahoo-i ' . S-.. ffr-i , e , wctild tnie rrur lUsvr . ; . . cur ! compel jou to be silrnt . sptrcUi ' -urs vf their
tt ' -. r u- ticls . Bat si' ) --fimM you have in those Hon es ? "WonM >>¦ ¦ & lav . UiT- tLb "VUitareF vrbo tavt pre ^ etl -. jr : yon ; tbt h rj-. rs ¦ sth o hive pluL - iire ^ you ; the tyrants who b . v . L . . : o : t ~ 3 r-n vt'Ui ; ti . "" UHnaTtr * ¦»; : < > q i ^ fftHl jcut 1 f » .-:-: ' ¦ ' . ; tbe lefctts -who jstp tnc ); e « uiirii tbey csn j > u _]; ! , » ii . ure from your vi'als ? Ami vronld you cot bsvt t ; r : ra ::. or £ , who sold yyiir birihrisbt , t"gor to seii , t . lu n . .. ; , -, sn-i r > arifr jonr country and ye-arselves to pu ; V . jr- ? : t .-. fB-strs ? -oby too Ioek . bave c-r-joyed the fruit > o ! ifce ; r forcer pDrcbnEe-mortey , pidd as tbe price cf yta ? jiehiot-iaEEt . ' TfB -wouid have the ranipajot Tory . » p ; o mm ever uplifted to strike , £ Bd the insidi ; us ffaij-vi . jii in tbetp ' s clothing , -sho sppska fair to yon by da > -iigbt be ; to dtvouryon after niglit-fsll .
Tb ' -Stf -wonld bs tbe banditti who wobM fcave to mnhe izws far jonr obedience . Aad wbom w ^ nld yoa have to oppose to ttiis ct-nglonjeratfed bo ^ t f-f cnerniira ? Why , you ^ fOL-h : p = rfeaps hsve a few talking Reformers , trbo if evt-n Ihry Were h < -ctst , -woUd be powerltES f . r good , in consequence cf their minority : in f-ct , li ^ e tbe pr esent ctm =. cir-tic rci ^ oiity in the Englisc Parliament , who , nct-a ^ lLsraaain ^ their HirgrKiDiiDDas txt-rtions , are ture tvi bii Gtfcated on every qaei-tion wMch rcf « trs to tbs amujit-r » uon of the people ' s ccnuiticn . Thu 3 wcnld Irel&ad contiiiue to svff = r , uoles 3 the people had the p « - » tr to sleet tbt-i own representatives .
There is then as little hope of happinass with such a pailian-e ^ t in Ireland , as there is of obtaining onB by the ccurss you hava to pwineJ The only thing left is to change juur plan of proceeding ; and this I would fcdvise j » u to do as speedily as possible . Remember tbe fate cf the tilbe agitation , and take "warning by its rcsuls i Tithes were k > have been abolished , and beaven was called to witness the determined resistance to the impsst tf ); and bear in mind , it may be possible , if concessions sre made teaching tho Church and the Bench , that Repesl will die the death of the tithe agitation . Concessions sre speken of , and provisions for the
Catfec-Uo clergy is mooted as a EeanB to suppress Irish dif csctsat ; But I woaid csk , of what £ . vail wculd it be to the pr-eple if such concessions were to be made on the ose side ami accepted on tbe other ? What Trcnld bt tLs lixii . urubable rtsnlt ? I assnre you it wckK be oniy ari . ife £ r " rivct drivtn into the chains tint bind you . ' The Csthciie Citrgy k-icg paid by the Government , would bteome tLs Uavea of Government , anfl every act 01 oviit act cf patrictitm on their part would bs visited with tie displeasure < -f the powers tbat be . Ti = ns yc- r strtegth would bs Weakened , and the people evT-ttcc ! i b .-oysbttnto ccrfl Ck vith thtir paitoif , weald be « j 2 ie a ; tasv prey to tbeir eBeiaies .
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There could not be a greater evil than for the clergy to accept a provision from the Government ; for whilst they remain free , they can act as circumstances require ; but , should they unfortunately be induced to accept terms of concession and provision , they would be in tba position of men *» bo agree to make merchandise of the temporal and eternal interests of their flocks . And yet s * me 8 uch thing ' as this must take placo unless you adopt more tffioient means to remove tha cause of oppression . It is thick headed non&ense to talk about " standing upon Repeal for the remainder of my life , " and promising a " next step" as a remedy when tbe only step likely to effect speedy and permanent good la spurned from you as contageous ! If Mr . OConnell is in earnest—if he is determined to bave Repeal , and to
make Repeal a blessing—if be is sincere in bis wish to g * t lid of the incumbrance of the church , I tell him and you tbat he is only trifling with the people and tampering with their patience . Why , I wb » stand upon Repeal , for the remainder of his life , when by a bold and manly , an honest and patriotic , a " IEGAL " and "peaceable" effort , he might tftctually , in connexion with the English people , not only obtain the much talked abont Rsjteal , but also secure to the people the power to usa it for their good ? I tell him there is no other step worth taking ; and unless he does take this one certain and direct step , be will either be pressed beneath the feet cf Ireland 3 enemies , or Irishmen will step out of his way , and inthe bitterness of disappointvient charge Mm tciih being instrumental in leading them into the ditch !
Open your eyes , then , and do not plunge voluntarily headlong into further depths of slavery ! Tou have power sufficient to conquer oppression , were it a hundred-fold stronger than it is . Use that power aright ; combine Universal Suffrage with Repeal , and then , and then only , will you have taken a proper step—a step towards that happiness for which yon are now wasting your energies aad toiling with no prospect of success . Only take this step , and I promise the rapid strides you will make will Bpeedily alarm the factions who joined yon , and compel them , nolens volens , to grant you cot only Repeal , but whatever else you aak besides , taking the Church off your hands in token of respect for your sovereign will . I urn , fellow countrymen , Your obedient and faithful servant , W . H . Clifton .
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TO THE RIGHT HON . LORD ASHLEY , M . P . Mi lOED , —Another session of Parliament has just drawn to a close , and the philanthropic object for which your Lordship sacrificed both place and p . iy , the Ten Hours' Bill , appears no nearer gained tbun when the session commenced . I am the more sorry for this , my Lord , as I am firmly convinced that tho present factory system is a murderous pyytem . Tbe great numb : r of deaths , both of infants and young persons ( particularly the female portion of them ) , which are continually taking place in these manufacturing districts , are , in a very great measure attributable to ita operations .
As yonr Loraship is always ready to hear anything on this moat impertant subject , and as facts speak louder than words , I am sure your Lordship will excuse me relating the following death-bed scene which fell a few weeks ago under my immediate notice . The young ^ person's name to whom I allude , was Mary M . She had wrought in a factory from her childhood np to her twenty-fifth year , the time of her death . When I first knew her , she belonged to a Sunday School which I superintended . She had seen many of her companions carried to the grave , their deathB brought en by having been over long , and over wrought , in the factory .
A very dear companion of hera was taken away a fevr years ago through that same cause . This girl was so attached to the Church school , tbat she attended it as loDg & 8 » be could ci awl . The last time Bbe attended , she had to be taken back home betw « za two of her faithful associates . The time at length arriv , ! when poor Mary K was to follow her companions to their loiig home . I heard tbat she was very ill , and visited her a long time . She constantly declared that the Factory System had brought her to her sick bed ; to all appearance her death-bed ; and bo it proved . I happened to be walking in the street one Monday afternoon , and saw the father of the youDg woman hurrying along the street greatly confused . Wben I asked him
tbe matter , he told me he believed his daughter waa dying 1 hurried away at once to the death-bed side . As soon as I entered tbe doer , bbe turned her poor pale face to me ; and , after talking to her for some time , a thought &trnck me , that we bad all kinds of evidence to prove the morderons effects of the Fa : tory System . We bad medical testimony , overlookers' testimony , and factory cripples' testimony , with the testimony of a great many master manufacturers themselves . But I thought , my Lord , ' that I would even go further than them all , and get a death-bed testimony , to see if that was wanted to convince our " Christian" legislators that ten henrs a-day is quite sufficient f-r poor factory workers , &s it is for any artisan , or common day labourer .
I therefore said to this poor dying factory victim , just eleven hours before her death , " Mary , we are now before God , and death stores you in the face ; answer me one queBlion , fairly and honestly , as in tbe sight of Gid Almigbty : do you realiy believe that on account of the long hours you have had to work in the "Factories , with the other evils consequent on the Factory System , yon have \ -etn brought to your grave ?" Ob ! my Lord ; would tbat I could convey to yoni Lordthip the look of that ghastly countenance when I put that qnestion to her . Thai look 1 shall never forget ! With ths little remaining rtrength she bad left , Bhe exclaimed , " Yes , —I do—If I never see you more . "' And then the added , "I have been , many times , wet to the * kin , -when leaving home in the morning to go to the mill ; end many times when I bave got to tbe gates I have had to s ' . and in the rain for fifteen or twenty micntes before I coul'i get in to my work ; and theu bave to commence working with the clothes drying on ay back !''
This then , my Lord , is the testimony of a poor dying ' * factory victim . '" and this in "Christian" England too . This in " Moral" England , as Baines of Leeds would have us believe . Well , my Lord , whatever else it is , it is murderous England ! Talk about morality , my Lord / why tbere are , in this town , up in one short street and back of another , no less than between twenty and thirty public houses and dramshops , with cumbira of brothels and places of amusement ( as they are called ) of no very good character . Such places vteie scarcely kisown of , when I first knew Bradford , about fourteen years ago ; and now the place literally swarms with teem : and still we are growing " moral" forsuothl I am sorry to Bay , my Loid , that these places are , In too many instances , frequented by factory workers .
When , my Lord ; will tbe legislators of this country ¦ wipe eff the fcul stain of " Whits Slavery , " by giving us a good efficient ten hour ' s bill , combined with other measures , so that tbe factory workers may have proper time for education , and for le-rning every other duty at home , that they may become good and useful menjbers of society . Then , instead of setiisg a low , degraded immoral generation growing up , we should have the bappinees of seeing the rising se ^ . eration gro w up in every virtue which adorns a man , a woman , and a Christian . That such a time may soon arrive is the sincere prayer of Your Lordship ' s obeaient servant , Sqi'iUE AUTT . Bradford , August 23 rd , 1843 .
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••• A KORTUERS TOUR . ' A chiel ' s among ye tf . kin notes , And , faith , bs'll pre :. t it . " TO THE EDJTOK OP THE . NORTHERN STAR . DF . / E Sip ., —Tuesday , Au ^ u ^ 22 nd , I kft Manchline , prtcefcaing by coach to KUiuarnoct , and from ihwe r > y railway to Gsascow ; 1 bivi no orr-ortuni ' y of fetiir- 'jout e ' ei friends of the- gooc . cause tr K . iniaui . ck , hiil therefore c : nnot sptnk positively to t ; : » t :: ite of p-jVrical fieiing , bui from tbe infonnatina I gieanea ¦ wlr . ie in Ms . uchT . ne , I believe Chawism to bt in a state of quiescence throughout A > rsbire at the presgnt time and tbr . t KUmarnoek is no < xerptiou to the general rule . Mr . Hill baa been invited to Itctme in the toTTD ; should Le do eo , his visit wiil , I trust , be prodacive of a " revival" cf the olden spirit Arrived at Glasgow , I made my -wiry to Mr . Burns , sc ' aoolm ££ icr of the CbarliBl Chuith in tho Gorbals . M r . B . has about one hundred ami forty scholars uudcr his caro , anil t-r-joys the Teput- » ti-- > n of beinp a very tffident teacher ; the children are nearly all about
thesame age as if they had bten produced at . a sintle birth ; the reason of this is , tbat the moment a boy or girl is deemed to be any way fit for labour , ho or sbe is immediately , ( if vrork can be fouud them ) , removed to the mill or any otbfer employment that can be procured for the unfortunate heir of slavery and -want- What a crying sin is this to tbe rulers uf thp land , and disirractful blot upon the country , thai beings so younjj should be deprived of the days which should bft devoted to intellectual ealture , and tbo hours which shonld be sacred to childhood ' s sports , that they tuny toil to aid their -wretched parents , too oHt-n deprived of employment by that vary system which drives their children to vice and death , the too usual results oF condemning the risine generation to premature and uunatuml labour . Mr . Burns , in addition to beinp a good schoolmaster , is also a good Chartist , and well deserves all the support he gets .
In the evening-1 addressed a meeting of the Gorbals ' men in the Chartist Church , wfcicb was thickly crowded by the most enthusiastic audience I bave had tbe honour of addressing slrce leaving home . A Mr . Cameron filled the chair , and introduced me to the meeting . I spoke for above two hours , and was most warmly applanded . Mr . Adams followed , and delivered a britf anil excellent speech . Mr . Livingstone moved a vote of thicks to your bnmble servant , which was seconded by honest John Colquhoun , in ene of his usual warm-hearted and energetic Epaechea . Fir . ally , we wound np by tinging " We'll rally around Mm , " and givicg tha usual cbeers for Frost , O'Connor , and the Charter , no surrender .
A certain canting , cler i cal , religious renegade , one of tho gB . tg . ct traitors and humbugs who opposed nit when I £ rst visited Glasgow in January or February , 1840 , haci bten vaunting that if I atVmpUd to t > i . eab in O . atgow , he -wcnld shew me up . The opportunity was afforded bid , but very wiseiy be did not cafee bis
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appearance . Chartism has been all but assassinated by the preaching prfg 8 > and poiiti 0 al knaves , who , for a longtime , were looked up to as the leaders of the democrfatic cause in Glasgow . Theae fellows , since their fi ! w ?* to the Complete Suffrage ranks , have acted aa the bitterest enemies of Chartism ; but nothing near the i ?*? " e ^ thelr avowed defection , compared with the evil they effected while yet pretending to call themselves Chartists . Hot a meeting was held for many months , but . at which strife , bickering , and denunciation waB the order of the day , caused by the privato slanders and open calumnies of these now justly detestedtraitors . Their defection * and the strife which . preceded It , naturally caused the people to become disgusted with almost all public men ana ! of all
weary political agitation j hence the present apathetic state of GHasgow , from which the people of that city can only be aroused by re-orgauizipg the movement in England , . u v I t lng h ° P e once more on the northern side of the border by the moral influence which the English democrats will always possess over their Scottish brethren ; secondly , by extending the Organization to Scotland , and uniting the people of that country with those of England Jn one bond of fraternity ; and lastly , by framing such an Organizition which shall render the people aa Independent as possible of leadership , an . » nder it a matter of comparative indifference whether mere mouthers are honest or dishonest , the people being protected from their villnny , if inolined to turn knaves . ¦
In the Gorbals the " eacred fire" of Chartism Is still kept burning ; and in the city , notwithstanding the defection of treacherous chiefs , the soldiers still existdisorganj 29 d , or resting on their arms , 'tis true , but r £ » v . nctJoii WQenever the banner of democracy shall be again unfurled , and an aim presented to them by which they may hope to cut their way to victory . The Sturgite faction in Glasgow which hoped to thrive by the destruction of the Chartist party is absolutely defunct , —gone out like the last smoke of a farthing rushlight , leaving nothing behind but the stink of its bad name . Its fate has been the same in Edinburgh ; and here in Newcastle , although patron / zed by tho Knight of the Spital , Sir John Fife—that traitor to tbe people ' s cause—tbe faction hao , following the good example ot Castlereagb , dfed by its own bands . Lastly , in Sunderland , it has there too descended to the ' * tomb of all tbe Capuleta . "
0 ? all the wens of corruption and misery it has ever been my Iv . t to visit , surely Glasgow is the worst . I have Been London , Manchester , Birmingham , Leeds , and other great hives of human crime nnd human Agony ; but for undisguised profligacy , offensive brutality , squalid wretchedness , and unbearable filth , Glangow , to my mind , excela them ail . Take its females , thronging the streets , and , ye gods , what a contrast between them and the w < men of Ayrshire { There ore thousands to be met with in the Btre . ets and wynds of Glasgow , whom most folk possessed of stomachs would not touch even with a pair of tongs . I know no adequate remedy for tbe horrora of G'asgew but that of bl-eking it up at one extremity and setting fire to it at the other . Never until all large cities and towns are JemsaJ . emized— the plough passed over them and monuments erected to tsll the inquiring traveller " here stood Glasgow / ' or
" here stood Manchester , " ice ., &c , Bhall we be able to drive corruption and tyranny from their strongest hoIdB , or establish tbe reign of equality , ; virtue , and happiness . Before leaving Mauchline I had received letters from England which compelled me to hasten my departure from Scotland ; accordingly I was compelled to tkrow overboard intended visits to Greenock , Campsie , and several other places . I believe I have caused some disappointment to my Canippie friends , who had expected me to visit them on the 20 th , and who , I understand , were arranging to meet me in procession with a band of music , &c . I regretted much my being unable to comply with their kind invitation ; at some future day I may see them . The Glasgow men , too , wished me to stay with them till the 28 th , and in company with Mr . Hill , attend a city meeting of the democracy . It Would have afforded me extreme pleasure to have done so , but my engagements in England would not allow me .
Friday , August 26 th—I left Glasgow for Edinburgh , per railway . The railway is a flno piece of vrork , commencing at Glasgow under a tunnel three quarters of a mile In length . Several places : of interest are in the neighbourhood of tho line , particularly Falkirk and Linlithgow : the former fatuous for the cor flicts of Scotch and English in its vicinity , in the times of Wallace and Prince Charlie , and the latter for its having been oilca the seat of Koyalty , and still containing crumbling monuments ef its former greatness . Castlecary is also on tho line ; possibly the reader may remember having heard or read a beautiful Scotch song called " Mary of Castlecary ''! I forget ita author ' s name .
I tbat ( evening addressed the ; men of Leith in the Trades Hall . A Mr . M'Crae , a very intelligent working man presided ; several middle-claes men wero present , and 1 flatter myself tbat I tolerably well satisfied my hearers . The meeting was not very large , but extremely attentive and enthusiastic in support of my appeal for a junction of the Chartists of the two countries . I am convinced that tbe veritable union of the two nations iB a project tbat will have tbo hearty support of the great majority of tbe Scottish democrats ; bat great care will be required on the part of the Eugliah Chartists to keep up and cement this good feeling . The Scotch are proverbially cautious with respect to the " siller" and all matters appertaining thereto ; therefore must the English democrats take good care who they elect or select to : fill c file * a of trust in the new Organization . Whether there shell be a union of the two nations will principally depend upon the discretion and judgment of the English people in this vital matter . " A word to the wise is uufficient . "
I returned to Edinburgh on Friday ovening , and slept at Mr . Cranstone ' s Cuffte House , a place of abiding I wonld recommend to all the advocates of political , and social progress , visiting " Auid Keefcie . " The proprietor , Mr . Cranstone , is a good Chartist , and intellectually a very superior man ; ae such is well worthy of the support of all who love and advocate the right . Chartism is shelved in Edinburgh for the present The body have lost their Hall of meeting , imd arc consequently unab / e now to hold meetings without the certainty of beinz involved in debt . Faction has cut
the throat of Chartism in Edinburgh . Leaders have been the curse of the cause th « 're as well as in Glaagovr ; and there , too , the traitors and deserters , still having the unblushing assurance to call themselves Chartists , are the worst enemieB to tho movement , and are doing everything in their power to keep up discussion , and create further disgust . Still tbere are some excellent Chartists in Edinburgh , and the mass of the party is still sound at the cor « . New measures and modes of action are what are principally nee . ied to improve hope once again . Confidence may then be restored , and Edinburgh may be found onco again one t ; f the foremost fortresses of democratic strencth .
I had no time for " sight-seeing" in Edinburgh , th » ugh I should have liked very well to have visited Holyrood House , the Caatle , &c . had I bad time . Edinburgh is a splendid ptacs , that is , splendid for the aristoeiacy—splendid for the ehopocTacy ^ nnd splendid to the eye of the guidy tourist and supei noial obneiver ; but to call it splendid , we must shut bur eyes to its filthy " wynda , "" closes . " and Babel-like dons in * ho old town , where thousands live a life of want and misery until cut off by the dreadful , yet friendly , hand of fever , which , like tha plague
in the East , in the ucenvted g'lest ut all Scotch tovrna and cities , caused by the insufficient diet and dirty houKt-s (?) of too nmny thousands of the labouring poor . The monument it : honour of Sir Walter Scott bids fair to bo a ma ,-n-15 cent structure , and already puts to shame that miserable abortion , the " Nelson Monument " cf London , a nieunment of cockney lasle with a venyeurjce ( One spot in Edinburgh I had a particular < iesirt ! to visit ; tbat was tbe grave of Fergusson , the poet , in the buriul gruuml of the kirk in Ciinnoagate , ' ut the gates of the yard were closed and I could nut Ruin admission .
Certain prosecutions for that mtdeSned and undeflnal ; e offe ce culitil " Blas phemy" ar-. ^ just now exci ' . ' !' . 2 no . iuie iriN-rest in " Auid Kcekitt " The pnrties p-rwrei . tnl art- Meters . !{¦ bins * n nnd Fmlay , ami that now vt-Hil-kuown chuacter , "tho man P . iterson" . The two fornur ¦ were Erst air- > : * tc ' , -iprt the ? h « p pf R' ) binron fairly . gutted by tto h ; irp "'? a of the law , while Kuhmson buuacif was moat infamously treated ; he tit-ing eorfined to his bed with illness at the time , was watolled night and day by "filthy dungeon viila-Ds , " who fairly toolr possession of bis hoase . . After such treatment , and after plundering him of his property , bo was brought to trial , when it was found that , as in the case of the " flftv-mne conspirators , " ' the indictment aE < iinGt him and Fiaiay was eo wretchedly
defective that it could not b < i sustained ; the consequeried waR , the present acquittal of tbe defendants , ai . d their briny bound over uu onolher warrant to meet another trial . " Toe man Paterson " , expecting Robinson to ba imprisoned , had come to Edinburgh to keep his shop . Oa Robinson being net at liberty , he opened a shop of his own , and has since been oiETiP' ^ in constant w . ir wiih the " authorities . " Persons for > io 8 ticR his placaiMs have been Be ' ' zsd and sentenced to imprisonment , or bfcld to bail ; bissbophaa already once been enttre * , and everything therein taken away by the police thieres ; nnrt when I was in Edinbui . jh he « as in daily expectation of another and a 8 niilar visit from the " guardians t > f public order . " Ho is also uoder bail to appear ( it is expected ) in November . Of Mv . Finlsy I know nothing , except tbat he bears the character , in Eiiinbnrgh , of an npriaht and . clever man . Robinson L was personally acquainted -with about eight years since , when we were
botf- ) engaged in tbe struggle to establish an unstamped press ; he bad suffered a short imprisonment in Derby for vending tba unstamped publications , and on hia removal to Glasgow , I took up bia position iu the former town , which position I maintained until I was myself condemned'to Bis-months imprisonment for a similar offence . Robinson afterwards removed to Edinburgh , where be ho * for some years now filled tho usef nl and honourable < ffice cf liberal bookseller of that city . " The man Paterson , " I have kiKran fo ? nearly two years . I first becimo acquniuttu with him at Sheffield , where ho was assisting Mr . Ho . yoafce , tuo Socklfct lecturer . Sinca that time Paterson baa a « quired no little notoriety by bis famed shop in iftriyweitotfeet , and his battles with Hall end Jardine , the magisterial Solons of Bow-street . Pemtna unacquainted with PateiBon would suppose him to be a monster , judgiug by th < : " farcy portraits" cf him r ; iven by tbat veritable , maDy-hended moi ! fct * r , tfee Lon'iftn press . I know him —1 know him is private life to be one of tLe best of
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men : his morality , self-denial , warmth of affection , and love of liberty , well entitle him to that character . Gentle as a child ia private ! fcfa , be is fierca and resolute as a lion in public life ; and the Edinburgh champions of orthodoxy will fiud him an " ugly customer" to deal with . f I bave introduced this subject because , as a democrat , I feel bound to protest gainst all persecution . I say nothing as to th 9 principles , theological or antitheological , contended for ] by these men ; tha Northern Star is not tbe proper arena in which to discuss tbe merits of creeds or tho ttruxh or otheiwise of any system of belief ; but as a man claiming the rights of man , I demand for all men the right of perfect freedom of thought , speech , ¦ writing , and publishing . If
men speak or publish noniense or falsehood , they will not do so for long in a state of things where veritable freedom of thought ia estab'ished . Where all may enter the lists of mental conflict , the sophist vsi ' . l not long delude , nor tbe bad inau long deceive ; therefore , would I have full liberty for the publishing of even nonsense and falsehood , i because the evil would be immediately corrected by the publication of sound knowledge and truth . -Ufiwer the existing system , what ate called " limits of irw discussion" are always defined by those who hsive the power to will what they please ; and they take care to define these " limits " that the hired tools of corruption shill be permitted to have full fling at the | principles and advocates of universal right and universal justice , while theaa latter if they dare boldly to assail the cheaLry , fraud , and humbug of the enslavers and deceivers of mankind ate hunted down as pests to be destroyed , pests
to be thrust without the pale of humanity . The hypocrites and state-jugglers who raise the war-whoop of persecution against a Southwell , a Holyoake , a Pater son , or a Robinson , would hunt dowu Jesus Christ himself , were he now among them , aad dared parsoncliy to teach what these fellows afflct to believe in . Tho case of these tnen is one , in my humble opinion , well worthy the { sympathy and support of all who love liberty , and desire to see the human race freed from the thraldom ot prfesfecraffc and tyrant-craft . For myself , aa one of the ] community , I feel that my right of free-thought is invaded in the persons sf theae men—holding , as , I do , that " where one of the community is oppressed , all are oppressed" I therefore protest against these ridiculous and infamous prosecutions , and appeal to my brother democrats to every- , where raise their voices in protestation against them , and in vindication of the sacrad right of free and unlimited discussion . !
I took passage on board tho Vesta steamer , and left Granton Pier on Saturday evening , tbe 26 : b , at six o ' clock ; after u pleasant ! passage of thirteen hours , I landed at Shields on Sunday morning . George Julian Harkey . Newcastle , Aug . 28 th , 1843 .
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TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir— Langunge is wholly inadequate to convey even an idea of the cenforship which is at present exercised over what is called here the liberal press . A Dublin newspaper dare no more publish anything to which the Liberator objected , or which might be disagreeable to him than a toad dare to budge when under a harrow . Any change to get rid of this odious tyranny , must be a change for the better . It is intolerable . It was hopsd that when the perfidious Whigs were kicked out by their own Parliament cording to a vote of want of confidence in them , that tbe Dictatorship would have been
got rid of . For a short period ita severity was relax 9 d ; but the moment the j Repeal delusion , for delusion It is , became profitable , tho Consorship was renewed with increased vigour . And now who betide the Irish "Liberal" paper that will dare to publish any story bnt that which is agreeable to , or lauditory of , the liberty-loving Liberator . An instance of this detestable terrorism will ] appear obvious to every impartial reader of the Star , from the simple fact that the Freeman ' s Journal , which- is decidedly the most independant paper in the city dare not publish the subjoined letter . ¦
It is right to state for the information of those who are not aware of tbo fact , that Mr . O'Connell invited commentary , and objections to his plan for the renewed action of tbo Irish ; Parliament , " and in accordance with that invitation , I sent the subjoined letter to the Freeman ' s Journal on Wednesday last , the day on which the invitation appeared in tbat paper . : Patrick OHiGGiNs No . 14 , North Anne-street , August 28 th , 1843 .
TO DANIEL OCONNELL , ESQ ., M . P . ¦> ir , —I have read your " plan for the renewed action of the Irish Parliament" with the utmost attention i and , in my humbleiopiuion , tho ba&iB upon which the representation is founded , —namely , populationis sound , right , just , arid equitable . It ia the firsi step tkat I have seen you take in tbe right path sinca the death of Cobbett . I am rejoiced beyond expression to see that you have abandoned the infamous Castle reagh's plan of making rental , revenue , and population
the basis of representation , if it were for no other reason than that Castlereagh ' s plan would givo an . iucrease in the representation in the same ratio a-- the peoplo increased the revenue by drinking whiskey and chewing tobacco ; because , where revenue ia mixed up as an ingredient in forming ihe basis of representation , that representation roust necessarily be limue ' t or extended in proportion j to the ever fluctuating state of the revenue ; and , therefore , such basis , or any other basis but that ot ( population alone , which you have wisely adopted , must be fallacious .
II hasofton grieved me to obaerve tbat in almost every instance where differences ef opinion arisa uyon certain political propositions , an ^ ry feelings , also arise , and very often envy , hatred , ill-will , and all manner of uncharitiibleness . I \ cannot account for tbis ; b ' ut euch is the fact Now , although I do not profess to bave more political virtue , or a greater share of go o temper than othpr people , yet it is well known that 1 have come to tbe discussion of political propositions in which I felt a deep interest , with the same disposition to arrive at a just conclusion as I Ehould feel in demonstrating a proposition in Euclid ot in telling np an account in a ledger , and without tho most remote idea of mixing up any personal feeling in the matter . I have ever looked upon it as bad logic 10 say , " such a man is opposed to my political views ; the orangemen are opposed to them ; the Orangemen are my personal enemies ; therefore he who does
not agree with me in politics must be a personal enemy . " Now , this is a specimen of false logic , yet it is very frequently made ijse of . I agree , for instance , fully and reservedly to the principle of taxing population , and population alone , as the basis of representation ; whilo at the same time I dissent altogether from tho sixth proposition f the plan of the renewed action of the Irish Parliament , which in my opinion is absurd , ridiculous , and impracticable ; it surely does not tAlo-x as a consequence that I jrnust be the enemy of the author of that in which I concur because he purposes something else in which ' I do not , concur . The sixth proposition , to which I object , says , " It Is proposed that the right of voting should bo what ia ealled Household Suffrage" requiring six months residence in the counties , with the addition in the towns of married men resident for twelve months , whether householders or not" I
Surely , Sir , you cannot avoid seeing that the principle upon which you base the Suffrage does not harmonize with that upon which yon base the representation . Bwaide , it appears to me to be wholly impracticable . How can you or any man ; deflne a parliamentary Housi- ? It was owing to the indefinite term " Honoe" that you los * Dublin . Lawyers ( differ in their definition of " house and premises . " i Parliamentary committees differ about its meaning , i It is a fertile cause f jr calling petitiona to PdrliatneEt , and for Parliamentary committees .
In 1832 there were six voters registered out of one house in Chaik 2-street , five of whom were r'gi .-te-red as " householders , and one us a leaseholder . " Your proposition wiil disfranchise all tbosa electors exc-pt the own- r ami the leaseholder : besides , it will dis . -aucliiae the sav , a-tighths of : the Catholic clergy resit ] vnt * in towns and cities , because few of them are " fco-jstboltiers" and ni-no of them married , or ever wfli be i murned . lsitju . it to deny those gentlemen tho ri ^ ht ; of citizens , because they jreside in cities ; while thtnr more lucky brethren who reaide in the country are ' thereby entitled to enj > y that right ? The question as j to what is a legal marriage will arise ; tbo marriage r articles will be examined , a ; d proof of certificate
required . j J There are thous-iada of persons of small Income ; resident in Dahlia , in lodgings , who are not married , ] and who know the value of and would appreciate tbo elective franchise , and exercise it conscientiously , to exclude ¦ whom from the rig hts of citizenship would be , a grievous act of injustice ; Suppose tbat sdviree cir- ; cumatances should overtake Mr . James Haughton , which Heaven avert , and that he was obliged to part with j his household pioperty and live in loslgings , would it j not be a great act of injustice—nay , cruelty , to add to his misfortunes by depriving him of the elective franchise , while be himself still remained the same benevolent , patriotic , and virtuous James Haughton ?
Yon say that married men resident in a town or city fur twelve months would ' be entitled to tbe elective franchise , whether he had ! a beuse or not . . Now , it is a great misfortune to a man to lose a good wife , and such less , to my own knowledge , has been the ruin of many a man , and the destruction of his family ; would it not be a great hardship to deprive an unfortunate man of his elective franchise because he had the misfortune to lose his wife , j According to your plan , tbe franchise should be buried in the grave with his wife . I was taught , Sir , by a wise , a sensible , and an upright parent , " never to depart from principle for the sake of expediency , " and every { days' experience proves , to me the -wisdom of that lesson . Principle Is permanent
It will endure for ever . Expediency is ephemeral , ever varying—never certain—and will lead ita votaries into the most extravagant absurdities . Christianity ia tased upon principle , not npon jexpediency . The selection of the twelve Apostles ahould ever afford us a salutary example . They were not selected because they were householders , or married ) men , but , according to the best authorities , because it proved to the world that , if real virtue , truth , and sincerity , are to ba found upon earth it isi amongst the poor working classes you are to find them . We are to ? d that there ia no distinction of persona in heaven . Man is made in tbe ' . mage of God . Why Ithen deprive any man of hia natural rigbt , except for an offence against the taws of
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God , which is also an offence against hia fellowmanah offence against society ? Act like a man—forego your prejudices . Be what yoa were in the daya of Cobbett , when you blesasd yonr son John at Youghal , for having voted with him and against yourself . Yoa cannot maintain Household Suffrage , Manhood Suffrage , General Suffrage , or Complete Suffrage , as expedients in placa of Universal Suffrage , which 1 b ths true and generous suffrage , a 3 well known and as well understood as the ^ fords , " Coming of ago , " or the " age of maturity . " In 1780 , Colonel Lannos , afterwards Duke of Richmond , Major Cartwricht , the profound Sharpe , Djctoe Jebb , Northeott , Lcfft , and other great men , agreed to a declaration of rights which contains amon . at other propositions favaurable to public liberty , the throe following : —
"Everyman , ( infants , insane persons , and criminals only exempted ) is of eoramon right , and by the laws off God , a freeman and entitled to tbe full eDJoyiuc&t \ of political liberty . " / " . It ia essential to a man ' s political liberty , thatija bave an actual share either in legislation itss . f , or la " the electing of those who are to frame the laws ; which alcfioagh they ought to protect him iu the fall « i < joytuent ! of those absolute rights that aro invested in him by the immutable laws of nature , may yet be fabricated to tha destruction of his person , hia property , his religious freedom , his family , and fame . "
•• It Is a natural right and required by the principles of the Constitution that a new house of parliam-sfc ba elected once every year ; because whenever a pa -lament continues in being for a longer term than one session , then' thousands , who since it wks chosen , havu iut . unecl to man ' s estate , and are therefore entitled to enter into immediate possession of that elective power which is their best and most sacred inheritance , are in that case niftst unjustly denied their right and excluded from tha enjoyment of political liberty . " How plain , Bimple , just , right , and adminbb are these principles , and how they stand the test at tha
end of sixty-three years . Tlicae are the genuine principles of political liberty . You once held them , cherished them , and advocated them . Adopt them again ; stand to them firmly end determ i nedly ; and you will Repeal t&e Union , R-sform the Corporations , abolish tithes , stop tbe clearance system , and l >< i ; g your poor , hard-working , honest , ill-used , fellowcountrymen within the pale of the constitution . It may be said that the poor labourer and the pay . 1 .-r ia the workhouse have no right to tbe franchise ; Lut why not , let me ask ? Are teey not God's creatnrfs , aa well as the rich ? He made them after hl 3 owr . l
tai . ess , but He did not maKe Dnck houses , mud <•¦ -ica , one pound notes , or a national debt , in G'fver . ^ rieut debentures , consols , &c &c , thou .-h the pi ? - n jrg of those things which have caused Bir- iscor than all other tbingd pnt together , have t ^ - > . i >; kfc to vote . The poor labourer , who ia tbe very . ' : Nation of society ia shut out of society , and d > ei .. ' . tha right of citizenship . Tfca elective franchise would b- hi 3 shield , his bfist protection . Get it for him , and there will be an end to the clearance system . Get it for him , and the landlord cr master will take c-i re of him while ho is able to say yes or no . Get it fcr him , and the happy looks and healthy limbs of his off-. r ring
will bo yonr reward ; a reward whicli monarch-: niighfc envy . Get him , the franchise and the labourer will soon be held worthy of his hire . Remember that it ia in the condition of the working classes , anrl there alone that men of sense and integrity look for ths character of a Government , There is no danger to be apprehended from the millions who would hive the right to vote . Few men would demand a poll when they found the popular veice asjainst them at the elections . It would be easy to divide oud count by the use of lines aa trees are counted in a wood . By judicious arrangements all the elections in the kingdom could be taken in two hours .
In a future tatter I shall provo , or at least ecdnnvour to prove , that the Sovereign has not the power to Repeal the Union that there ia no analogy batween the" abdication of King James and the supposed abdication of the Uniou ; that the Union cannot " abdicate . ' At the same time it is but justice to piyss'f to say , lest there should be any mistake absut :-t , tbat sooner than see my country kept in her presant degraded and impoverished condition , if there were no other inode of Repealing the Union , or of placing Iraland upon a footing of perfect equality with England , I should turn round and adopt tbe last resource . Patrick O'Eiggius . No . 14 , North Anne-3 treet , Aug . 23 , 1843 .
Untitled Article
^^—— M i - WINGATE GRANGE COLLIERY . To the Public . —Aa tb . 9 dispute between us and our employers ia yet undecided , we feel it to ba out duty to state , that we feel thankful to those of out friends who have supported na with their mhe , in out struggle of right against might ; and likewise to acquaint you that the han r l billa that our masttrs bave put out , are intended to prejudice our cas 9 in the minds of tbe public ; but truth will stand with a bald front against falsehood . Mr . Chicken , tbe Engineer of oar choice , has pronounced the wire rope unsafe , it being in a broken state , having 20 broken wires in it , artd the tope otherwise split in three different places , 14 fe * t .
8 feet , and 4 feet , making 26 feat split in the rops ; and the masters' engineers have found and declared the ropa te ba so damaged ; still they wish to make as and the public believe , that after one-fifth of the rope is broken , it is but one-nineteenth part weaker ! Tfc ? . re ar 20 wires broke oHt of 96 ; tbat constitutes the whole of the rope , and there is 26 feet of the rope split up ; am ! yet they publiak to the world a bill , v / ith their own names attached to it , that the rope is but one-nineteenth purt weaker than if it was whole ! We baldly ass' -vt that we think them either not competent to divide 96 " bv 20 , or they are not honest in their decision . Since they bave given their decision , the rope in question h ;; s actually broken , or drawn ousht (/ Ihe socket ihut attache * il to the
cage , cage fell to the boiiom of tub Pirf We feel determined to have the broken ropa taken off before we go trf work again . We than , '; you for ihe help that you have given us , and although on * privations have been very great for the past ten weaks , we are determined to have justice , if it csa be found . With your aid we will fight every inch of ground that tha law can give us . We are convinced it is our dcty : for human life ia a sacred thiau , and ought not to bo sacrificed , for the gain of others . From the workman of Wingate Grange Colliery . Committee Room , Aug . 2 fiih , 1843 . Iu relation to this disgraceful dispntes—dkgracefal to those who wish the Colliers to tru ~> t their lives upon un unsafe rope , the following temperate and judicious observations have been made by Mr . Homer , solicitor of Darlington ; and circulated in an hand-bill . They do him great honour ; and surely justify tho men ia refnsv'g to trust their lives upon t ' ae " unsafe rope " : —
" I had occasion some months ago to observe on the bad taste and worse policy of a hand-pill issued by tha owners , or their agents at this Colliery ; and I T ? aa otligcd to remark at the same time on a not very reputable suppresbion of such facts as had occurred in tha pitmen ' s favour . " Wo are regaled , or in other words , common cense and public decency have been again outraged by anotl ^ et publica-ion from the same party ; in which all ths bad qualities of tbs former document nre renewed , and tha same suppression of truth committed . ' The report of Messrs . Robinaon and Gair . on tha diaputed rope , ia now printed for the public edification ; because , by an inference , though of a very qauE ' . ionable nstture , the rope may ba considered aa practically safe . But these publishers have carefully concealed thu f : ct that another Engineer , cf venerable authority , has / firen . in bis report that the rope is unsafe , aitd unfit for the trusl of tinman li / e .
" Iu a moral , as well as In a practical sense , t ! ic concealment of the truth ia not Jeaa venal than the promulgation of a falsehood . " This is not a matter of pounds , ehj ! ling 3 , and peiee ; huinun life is the question at issue ; snd if one s--M . ' e Engineer of competent authority is of opinion ;; r . t the rope is unsafe , it ou ^ ht to be iast . iatiy condemn ¦ ' . evea though all the re / 35 ot tee world ware of a d fFtteufc persuasion . " Messrs . Robinson and Giir giva an account of several broken wices in this rope ; and it cau mattsr little to what the fractures are imputed : the rope in tn a broken condition , and Mr . Cbiefcan , the Engineer , dec ' . area it unsafe . It has been observed of late , on the occasion of the steam vessel , the PegasuB , that human life is a sacred thing , ami ought not to be placed in dangaroua positions , even though all the chances are in favour of escape .
" My duties , aa the pitmens" solicitor , are naw at an end . The men of the various Coilieiiea , on the Tyna and tbe Wear , and the Eastern Coast , have united in th appointment of a solicitor for their own exclusive basiness and protection ; and they have fix ^ d on a gei : t ! enkn , of a zsal . not greater than my own , but in 3 aittiy moro able , © y his talents , to do justice to the case into which ha ha . 3 been calls . ] . In taking my departure from that cause , I would beg permission to adv . se the Colliery Agenta to be more diEereet and leaa irrigating : on the other band , I counsel 8 md enjoin the rcen to ptrsevere in obedience and good intentions , and I now bid them my aincare farewell . Darlington , August 17 ch , 1843 . T . Horneb .
P . S . —Snms received at Winsrote Grange Coiliery , for the meu on strike , August 22 nd , 1843 . Troradou , £ 15 7 s . 6 d . Castle Eden , £ 7 10 a . Cassop , £ i IO 3 . Thornley , £ 6 Oa . 9 d . Kelloe , £ 3 6 a 1 ^ 1 . Quarrington Hill , £ 2 3 s . ed . Teaick , £ s 16 s . fld . Hetton , £ l 2 s 9 d . EUbrmoor , £ 2 Ha . 9 d . Sonth Hetton , £ 4 123 . 7 ' < & Datton , 12 a . 7 d . Hugh Hall , £ 2 0 s . 6 d . Wingate Friends , £ 1 169 . 6 £ d . Newbottle , 5 a . HaswelJ , la . P ^ mVierton , £ 4 63 . 6 d . Framwellgate Moor , £ 2 17 a i *< l SeceTston , £ 1 . E 4 monBley , £ 1 1 * Bedlington District , £ 8 8 s . 5 d . Craghean , £ 1 103 . 6 ; L Sonth Moor , JEl'lU . Bd . Cragwocd . £ 2 3 s . 3 d . Pontop , 11 * . 3 d . South Tanfield , £ 1 Is . 6 J . West Stanley , I 83 . Two
Friends , 2 s ; BhiDey Row , 13 * 4 d . Wet-too P ork , 13 ? . Tantoby , sd . A Friend , 5 s . Walbottle , £ 2 63 . A Friend , 6 d . A Friend , 6 s . Fareacres , £ l 17 s . 8 d Seaton Burn , £ 2 14 ? . lOd . Spitaltonguos , 18 s 6 d * . Andrew's House . 13 7 d . Hartley , £ 1 . Brnw « -J , £ l . Wallsend , £ 1 ISi . Pearcy Main , £ 2 18 « - South Elswick , £ 2 4 b . 21 . Marlow Hill , £ 1 7 s . 61 . Fawdfcfl , 19 s . 3 d . HebBon , - £ 3 . Felling , l-9 . < . 8 d . Blogdon Main , £ l . Washington , £ 1 5 s 3-3 . Gosfaitb , £ 3 0 i 6 * . Wettmoor , £ 6 . West CramUnztonj £ 3 3 * 3 d . Springwell , £ 2 . Sheriff-hill , £ 2 83 . Tyne Main £ l iSs . 6 ( L Eaat Holy well £ 2 2 s . 6 d . EarBdon , £ 1 93 . WeaS Holy mil , £ l 10 s . di . Bishop Auklarid , £ 2 I 8 e . 3 d .
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAR- . JJ
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 2, 1843, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct497/page/7/
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