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Ctartfgi Smrift'snit?.
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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1843.
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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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CASE OS MRP . iSLUB . TO THE CHARTISTS Of Y 0 RKSH 1 RB . ? r j had hoped that Vie appeal made by Mr , Street in last iceeFs Star , in behalf of Mrs . Ellis , tcouM hcveviet with an immediate and universal response ; Jam bitterly disappointed . I have not the means to tjive a sum that aould be of any useio Mrs . B . ; but J snake you ihis offer : —J trifl attend meetings on the Sunday ' , called Jor the purpose of raising subscriptionsfor Mrs . S 4 is , atanyplace within twenty miles of Leeds—I Kill charge nothing for expences , and go entirely at my ovm cost ; you undertaking to raise ten Ehfllings { and as much more as you can ) by collections ^ &e meeting , or any other means you think
fit . Tfce entire proceeds to be given to Mr ? . Ellis . I Emit the circle to ttcsniy miles , because my very United income uUl not permit me to take a wider range -at my own cost , and I fcisft to lake nothing from the collections . The present stale of my health will not allow me to speal more than once on the day of my visit , and it triU bs at least a fortnight yet before I shell oe at Uberly to conunsnee m ^ tour . In the mean One I shall be happy to receive communications from any places uilhin ike prescribed limits . I trust that
sny motives may not be misconstrued in making this < £ fer . Forbidden , as I em , by medical advice to attempt spsaMny at ail under present circumstances , I Jhad hoped to have been permitted to have remained in privacy ; Only to emerge frcm which as a public speaker upon rare end extraordinary occasions . But this is a case in ichich I feel bound to do my little best to help in saving an unfortunate family from starvation , and the democratic party from the indeftbk disgrace vhkh would be the consequent result . George Julian Hxrxby . Northern Star Office , Dec . 22 , 1843 .
Ctartfgi Smrift'snit?.
Ctartfgi Smrift ' snit ? .
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CABIiSliE . —Meeting gp thk CoracrL or the Carlisle Chartist . Associatiojj . —At a meeting of the Couacil , held at their room , No . 6 , John-street , Caldew ^ aie , -on Snnday last , Mr . Robert Graname in thechair . The address of the Executive was read from the Karihern Star of Saturday last ; after ¦ which arrangements were made for collating the iribnte required on Christmas Day . We hare no donbt thai a pretty liberal sum will be collected . The attention of the Council were then drawn to
the deplorable case of Mrs . Ellis , bj Mr . James Arthur , who said It was the duty of every sincere Chartist to assist those who were suffering under such circumstances . After some very feeling obser"rajions from Yarions members of the Council , Ihe sum of five shillings was ordered to be Immediately remitted to iirs / EIlis , along with- one shilling subscribed for the purpose by Mr . Arthur . A Tote of thanks was then carried to Mr . Baxter , for his handsome present of a copy of his " Book ef the Bastiles . "
Thr Bet . Wjl Hilt , delivered two lectures in our Theatre , on the eveningB of Monday and Tuesday last . After Mr . James Arthur had been appointed Chairman , the Bey . Gentleman proceeded "with his first lecture , by introducing himself as a Chnsfiaa minister . He spoke in a singularly calm impressrre manner , and was listened to throughout -with the greatest attention . After delivering a discourse replete with facts and sound arguments , expository of the present state of England , he coneluded by promising to treat of the remedy for ikis elate of things on the following evening , and retired amidst applause
SHEFFIELD—Fig Ibsx-UlSs— A good meeting ¦ was held on Sunday evening , which was addressed by Messrs . Green , Briggs , and EvinBon . Crtaseow . —In order to give every eotmtenaace the public meeting , he } g in the City Hall , on Monday evening , " to take into consideration the late interference of the Peel Miniitry with the right of petition In Ireland , " the usual weekly meeting of the Cbsrtists , held in College-street Academy , was adjoBTsed to Monday erening next , when balnea of aerloua importance to the people ' s cause will be laid before the meeting .
A Public JJeitis ' g was held in the City Hall , on Monday evening , for the purpose of taking Into consi deration the conduct of the Government in reference to the CJontarf meeting , Mr . J . Turner is the chair . The meeting was not bo numerous ai might hare bees expected . The cause wia , that the Repealers , | anxioas to give ssportance to the meeting , threw themselves into the -arms of the Complete Suffrage romp faction , who care as much about Ireland as the devil does about psalm singing ; but who would join with Old Kick himself in order to put ^ down Cbartiim . The Btpealera were to bear the expense , and the other party had the management of the affair , hence the failure . Had the Repealers acted boldly , and sought leu after Provost Lumsden , and Whig town councill ors , whoas sympathy extends no farther than the
polling booth , they would have had a Tery different meeting . George Anderson , Esq ., city councillor , jDored the first resolution , and t&ough Sir . Anderson is sot a great orator , be bad the boldness to declare what none of his colleagues has erer yet done , t ? z that " the people would continue to be trampled upon tni such time as Universal Suffrage was the law of the land . " TK » other . speakers -were Messrs . Callen , Csrd , Malcolm , Dr . H » y , a Mr . Scott , from Edinburgh , and Ht-MTarlane . All the teacJutiouB were curled ¦ unanlsunuly : and , without further ceremony , a vote of thanks was moved to the chairman , and the meeting dissolved . No petition or memorial to the Queen was spoken of _; Vothicg" but the mere passing of three resolutions , of a general nature , and there the matter ended .
Mb . Clxxks's Tovb—On Tuesday erening I leetnred at Truro to a large and enthusiastic . meeting . Mr . Fan , a "working man , an norest elector , ably filled the chair . At the close , Mr . Jury proposed , and Mr . Xofigmead seconded a resolution pledging the meeting to stand by the Charter , and to recognise only the ¦ National Charter Assooatlon . Several persons took out cards of membership , and the . meeting separated , giving three eheen for tbe Chutes . On Wednesday I proceeded lo Redrnth , but found on my arrival that owing to unfavourable circumstances , i t was impossible to have a meeting there that day ; so 1 left them with a prom i se to call on that day week , when a goodly muster is anticipated . On Thursday 1 went to TTale , here 1 was obliged to speak is the open six . Mr . Bkewes , of Camborne , occupied the chair , and opened the meeting in a molt masterly manner . 1 spoke an hoar . At the close of my lecture , sereral joined our ranks ,
-vMM all expressed themselves perfectly B&tirfled that nothing short of the Charter would make them independent of . their heartless taj-t-maEters . On Priday , I proceeded to Penzance , a large town situate oh tfee sea « oasL Here I found a few of the right rort of Chartists . In the eveoing I lectured to a numerous auditory in Mr . O'Brien's eommodioss School Room , . capable of holding 500 person * . Mr . O'Brien tras unanimously chosen to preside , who , after addressing a -few sensaWe remarks to the meeting , introduced me . I ' spoke nearly tvo hours . Before I left I had tbe pi earn re of farming the nnclues of a locality -which bids fair to gain strength and prosper . —On Saturday morning . I left Peczatnee for Camborne , where 3 again ' lectured to s SBmerous out-door meeting . On the whole , from -what I bare sees of ConnraU , I am led to beliere tbat continued agitation , ' cucb as bas been carried on in the Northern counties , would make it one of the most flourishing Chartist districts in England .
TBOWB&ISGE—At a meeting of the Council held on Sunday morning last , a resolution was unanimously passed in support of the National Tribute . Collectors were also appointed , and a Local Treasurer to hold the monies obtained by the collectors . To our Chartist brethren we say , Go and do likewise , BZLSTON . —3 ir . m'Grath lectured here on Sunday last , to an attentive audience , in the large Borm , in Safford-street . The lecturer gave great satisfaction . After the lecture a subscription was entered into for the 2 ? aticnal Tribute , when is 6 d was collected . CARBXM 6 TOI ? , 3 KXE NOTTIXGUXM . —John Haakard , Thomas Gaunt , and Daniel Gregory bare teen appointed collectors of the National Tribute . Manchester—Cabpe ^ teks' hjux—on sunday last two lectures T ?« e delivered in the above Hall , by Mr . J . West , from ShemeKL The spacious building vns crowded in every part .
SALFORZ > - ^ A lecture was delivered the Chartist Boom , Great GeorgeVstreet , Chapel-street , Salford , on Snnday last , by Mr . C IDojle , to a large and respectable s&dSence . STOCKPORT—Mr . TSJM , from ifeweasUe , de-Brered a lecture in the Association Room , on Sunday evening last , to " a large audience . At | b . e close cf the lecture seven shillings was collated for Mrs . Ellis . BTJRY-. Hr . Dixon delivered a lecture in the earcen-street lecture Boom on Sunday evening last . ZiOKBON . —Ameeticf of the District Counial was bowen on Sunday last , Mr . PiektisgUl in the chair . After the transaction of a good deal of business prindpslly connected with the getting up of actings on the approaching liberation of Mr . White the meeting adjocrned . PoLiiiecL ^ D sciEsrrpic lvsrnxnion . ^^ Ob o ^' S ' oSory ^ ***«* ^^ 7 interesting
WOBXIK 6 VXS ' s BiXL , MiLB-EaD Boad—On Suaday erening , Mr . E . Marts ltcm ^ to a crowded audience on Chartism and Repeal . GOLCE * UOH , DZA ? -STBXST , SOHO—At the Bieetisg , on Sunday ereiiing , a re »© lBtion -jrai passed jn favour of the National Tribute . At x MB £ TIK « of the HaQmenmitb Cbartlsta , held os Tuesday evening , it was unanimously resolved to commence the collecHon of *•> " > Jfaiiontl Tribute next week . BUHBTT ' s Bs . I £ jlds ^ -A public meeting was held ^ t the Bricklajer ' a Arms , Homer-sUcet , New-road , ou Monday night The meeting w&s addressed by Mean Wynne , Mantz , Davoc , and others . -
iCCKWOOD . —Onf-. gimdsy lflit , at the District Delegate Meeting , fceld- in lht Bemocratic Institution , Xockwool ^ Mr . J > avid Gledhill in the chair , the fol- lowing resointion was TiT-- »^ ii"O" ^ y p asied : — " That each Delegate £ sdeaTour to raise a subscription in iiB own locality , to assist in carrying out the plan for agi-Uticg the eomb 7 , w projected by the ExecBtiTe . j
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PHESTOW . —At a meeting Qeld in taB chartist Boom it -wzb reBolred— " 1-Qat a Committee &e appointed to make the rvoper arrangements to ensure the representation of the democratic party in the Municipal Council . HYDE- —On Sunday last the Chartists of this town held toe first weekly meeting since tb . fi League Plot . Tbe members who took cards from the " Champion of Liberty" when in Hyde came forward in the true spirit of democracy , and paid up their weekly subscriptions . All communications intended for the Chartists of Hyde to be addressed to J . M . Xeacb , 82 , Charles-street .
CUTHERO .-The members of the Working Men ' s Mental Improvement Seciety met on Snnday oight last . The subject was— " The best and surest means of accelerating the progress and dissemination of Chartist principles . " The subject was eloquently spoken to by various speakers , At the conclusion , it was resolved that they should meet every Sunday evening . The subject for next Sunday eTening ' B disenssion will be— "Whether a Monarchical 01 a Democratic Government is most conducive to the prosperity of a nation . "
ASHTON-TJNDER-LYNE . —Mr . E . P . Mead lectured in the Chartist Association Room , on Sunday and Monday evening .
The Northern Star. Saturday, December 23, 1843.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , DECEMBER 23 , 1843 .
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THE DURHAM DAMNABLE" AGAIN . Last week we ventured to give our opinion upon this case , having only heard the masters * side of it . That opinion tvas—that tbe tyrants had' plundered their slaves ; and were now experimentalising upon the feelings of the men . That they have selected this Thornley Colliery for the purpose is not wonderful ; firstly , because from the number of hands engaged in it , a strike in that pit will become more expensive to the general body than if a smaller one had been selected j ands secondly , ; because the Thornley bond presented superior means of exhibiting the power of the tyrants , and the weakness of their slaves .
Since last . week we are in possession of the evidence for the defence , which will be found in another part of the paper , and will doubtless be read with deep anxiety . In order , however , to bring the subject clean to bank , and not to allow Heccles or his devils any opportunity of laying oat for black brass , we shall here make an abstract of the moat material portions of the evidence , to he seen at a glance , and to be comprehended as a whole . Here , then , follows the case for the defence : — William Henderson—I will swear nothing abemt whether I iras fined s shilling , because my mind is so distracted with this oppression that I can swear nothing about it —( loud laughter and cheers from tbe pitmen ) . I have been a pitman thirty years .
John Stephenson—I have been a coal hewer twenty years , and never knew so hard a bond . Although I have a wife and five children , I would rather go to that gaol till April than work under this bond . Joseph Longstaff—I am prepared to say from my own observation that it is impossible for a man to live under that bond . Newtrick Walton—one oi the deputation appointed to go to the inspector of weights . We were appointed because they thought the steelyard was unjust They had previously made complaints of the steelyard . We went for an Inspector , and he said he could not come , without an order from the Magistrates . We want to the magistrates , who refused us an order . The men had aerenl times complained of tbe weight * before this . .
John James Bird applied to the magistrates f « r a summons against the masters for ill-usage , and bad bees refused . Went first to Mr . Haya "» cftce , and then to Mr . Haya * B bouse , and then to Mr . Barry , the magistrate . Mr . Barry came oat and asked what we wanted . We said we wanted a summons for non-payment of wages . He asked tbe sum , and we said three shillings . He said " For the small sum of three shillings ! " I stated that it was not an application individually but collectively , aad that it amounted to a large sum collectively Wt wanted some discussion , and he said be was not there for discussion , and walked away without granting a summon * . Mr . Barry is sow on tbe bench . John Cnsswell—Had been charged f ourpence a quart for splint for three f oarts . John Lumsden—Had been charged threepence , fourpence , asd a shilling per tub for splint .
Samuel Turner—Had worked at other collieries , and the five-quarter seam at Tbomley was the dirtiest be had ever worked in . They wen erecting a beam and scales now , and thai be beHoved was the result of the present strike . William Wilkinson—Mr . Hesdes had told him he knew tbe weight was unjust . Mr . Heccles said be knew thai it made a difference -with the weight according to the end at which the tub went on , and that even a one-s < ded corf would make a difference .
William Anderson—I have used every energy to make a living , and have of late thrown off several tubs a day to get clear of the fines ; and I think if we were to be fined for having a quirt of foul coal It ia impossible for any man to make a living . No man can live under the present bond . I think tbe prison is a place to which I would not like to go , but I would rather go there than go to the colliery any more . They have charged me fourpence a tub when they should only cove charged me threepence .
William . Ord—Went , to Mr . Heccles , and he asked me if I was not content with the half-crown ; and I said , "No , man ; how can I be contest with balf-acrown , taken § ff when I have only addled three shillings ; He threatened to get a vrarrant against ma They fine us just as they have a mind . It is anything but just . Mr . Heccles sent for a warrant , but we got advice from an attorney , and tbe warrant was never got . The men were stupid or half mad when they went home last Friday night We did not ask for the Quart pet . If Mz . Heccles stated so , be has
told a lie , and a gross lie . The refusal of the warrant which , was applied for at Durham irritated the men ' s minds , because they thought the masters could get a waggon load of warrants and the men could not get one . They thought they could not get justice either from tbe owners or tbe magistrates . Just previous to the 24 th , the men came to the resolution that they wonld stand for ever unless they got justice . Every man win go to prison rather than yield . I will rather go to prison than work at the main coal or any team they have .
William Kay , weigher lor the Thornley colliery . The witness after describing the working of the steelyard , said he could sake it either just 01 unjust as he chose . By the shifting of the weights the men might lose five pounds . Did , not _ think be could do justice by this Trtftyh ' *** - JoJm Bates—Since the bond had been pat in force had been fined threepence a quart , and before fourpence , and one shilling a tub . The men are tired of applying for summonses . They applied at Durham twice . I know they applied twice , for one time they did sot come .
William Toplis—Mr . Heccles ] has offered me a bribe to swear that the men could get a living . I was at work about a Konth ago , and he comes unto me and says "Who's this" ? 1 said "Toplis . " He says "I suppose yon irani the boxes , dont yon . ? I said " Yes , of coarse . " He asked what we wanted with them , and 2 said to see them laid out He said " the men are going to get a summons 1 suppose . " 1 said 1 don't know , you are tbe likeliest to know . " Se said "do yon thick thatyou could not woxk here a week or a fortnight and
ha-re none laid out "? 1 said "No , 1 did not suppose 1 eould . " He says "if yon will swear that you could work here for a week or a fortnight without having any laid out , you shall have your bread for nothing "—Uoud bookings ) . He said " 1 should have easy work , 1 should have my bread for doing nothing . " 1 thought my fathe * wonld not let me , and 1 said " 1 durst not say . " Nothing more took place about that , 1 thought him a nice man . 1 recollect 1 am on my oath , and 1 swear that ail 1 have stated is true .
Augustus King—The men were anxious to obtain justice from the masters and the magistrates . Wb . es the summons was refused the men gave it up as a bad job . They said it was as much use going to Castle Eden or J > urbam as going to a mad dog . I believe no man will ever work-at it I asked for my clearance , and be said if he gave it to me be would pnt something in it which would make me get work nowhere—( yells ) . Robert Toplis—If tbe bond bad been enforced the colliery could not have been carried on—it would have been impossible for a man to get a livelihood .
Robert Walton—Have been at Mr . Heccles about the beam and scales twice . It has been a constant irritating sore oa tbe men s minds . It was the Intention of the men to try to get justice if they could get it 1 think the men would not have struck if they bad got a summons when it was applied tor . The refusal of the summons was a rankling sore to the men , and was spoken of by them as & refusal of justice . Since these proceedings cemmfcneed I feave heard th « men say they would get bo justice . Reuben Fortter . —Had been fined 11 s . id . the last pay tot the last three days . I worked S 3 tubs . When I went to tbe overman to reck « n he said my coals were
lilbr : abort in freight . The hewing came to 6 s . lid ., aad I was fined for 43 quarts , at 3 d ., which came to 11 s . 3 d ., so that I was 4 s . 4 d , In debt for three days * . Jt » " nen tfle pay came on , he deducted 83 quarto ° l ^ , ^ Md th 6 H 2 had only 9 d . to receive . He cheated me cnt cf a penny , and I only got 8 d . XUd not he » tte , <*« . « , about tne quart before I signed tbe bond . I will awea , Was n ^ ,, read ^ preaence . It was notgeneiaUy known among the men that the One was a quart I aigned tie boad ia the office . They would not tot me wntomy name , but took hold of my hand whUst I made my mar * . J can write . Would be about two mmntes in the office altogether No explanation vai made to me sot the other men who were
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there . There was a great number In at the time . Mr . Heccles asked if I bad come to get bound , and asked my name . I told him , and he wrote my name , and took hold of my hand till I made the cross . Charles Wiilett . —I put ay ctoss to the boufl » 1 can write my name . The bond was not read to rue . That I ' ll swear . Joseph Burnett—Had been fined 6 s . € d . for twentysis quarts , during the three last days . Had only pnt Ma mark to the bond , though he could write . The bond hod never been read to him . He couid not siake a living under the bond , and would rather go to gaol than work undai it The boxes were set up at the request of the men , but not the quarts .
William Park—They could not send up a tcb with less than a quart of black brass . He was Is . 9 d . in ^ lebt after working three days . Edward Clark was three miles off when tbe bond was read over , but afterwards signed it No explanation was given me of the bond at the time I signed it I did not know that I was liable to a quart fine . Jabez Wonders— The bond was read over to me . I could not write , bnt have pnt my mark . When I went to reckon with tbe overman I was fined 12 s . for the three days . I then stood 3 b . indebted to my master . I laid down 5 s . fer the overman to take pay , and he refused to take it . The men did not think the masters would have been so unreasonable aa to exact the quart fine . Did not bear that part of the bond read .
Joseph Walker—It wonld be impossible for any man to make a livelihood in the place where I have worked for tbe last b ! x weeks . It is a place not fit to put a dog in , let alone a Christian . The bond was not read to me , and no explanation was given of it to me . I will swear the bond was never read in my presence . The air waa so foul , that after working two hours my head got so bad that I could work no longer . Though I have a wife and four children , I wonld rather go to prison than work under that bond .
Robert Rickardson—There is no nan better acquainted with the colliery than I am , and I am certain that no man can send up a tub with less than a quart In weighing the coals , we see nothing but the baulk and the weights . We cannot see the pivots . We cannot see the figures . With a beam aad scales we could see everything fair . 1 have never been before a magistrate , but I would rather go to prison than work oader the bond . Thomas dough—I believe that during tbose days tbe men did all they could to get their coals clear , for when they came to me some of them shed tears at the imputation of being fined . They have not the policy to
shed crocodile tears , The year before last I was sent to see about the weighing machine by the men . I wished to see if it was just , and I made application to the colliery for weights to test It , and see If it waff just , but I could not get them . A fortnight after I thought there was a deficiency in tbe men ' s surplus weights , and on looking saw there was ' tha main pivot deficient I made application for those weights again , and found the steelyard , bad a variation of 12 lba . against the men . I am of opinion that men cannot make a living here under the bond ; The men applied to me about this strike , and I persuaded them off , for I am against all strikes amocg bound men . They said they bad made an application to tbe adjuster of weights , who
had refused to come and adjust the machine , and that he had refused to come without an order from the magistrates . I advised them to apply to the magistrates , and they said they had refused to grant an order . I then advised them to apply to Mr . Wood , and they said that they thought it would be of no use , and that tbe only way to bring the matter before tbe magistrates would be to strike , and they went away with that determination . I believe if the men were treated with a kind feeling , they would at once go to work . I have heard that twenty colliers are dow at work through Mr . Robeifa advice . I never beard it repeated that you endeavoured to . widen the breach between the maatere and men .
Andrew Hope—I hav * been fined . They gave me 7 d . to take home for my three days' work . The amount of fines was £ l 2 s . 6 d . ; they , however , deducted some quarto off . I am sure it is impossible "when a man only earns 6 s . 4 < V , when 10 s . 6 d . is taken off when the coals come to bank . I would rather go to keep my father company than find my own candles , powder , and backey , and still be indebted whan 1 come to bank . Now that Is the evidence of honest working men . Sworn before those who were cognizant of every fact , with a solicitor to protect them—with a bench of masters to appeal to , and yet that solicitor doea
not appear to have received arjy instruction to break down , to weaken vor to negative , this portion of the evidence . The reader who has impartially perused the case , will , like ourselves have come to the conclusion , that a- grosser act of tyranny , a more flagrant apt of injustice or barbarity was never yet committed , than than of which the Thornley Colliers have one and all to complain . As well those who being robbed are compelled to remain idle , as those who , being plundered , are now Buffering the felons
fate . We ventured last week to assert that the bond had either not been read , or had been falsely read to the pitmen who signed it . In this assertion we are fully borne out by a large number of the contracting parties , while Jabez Wonders Bweara that the part of the bond imposing a fine for a quart of " foul" WAS ¦ HOT BKAB OVEB TO HIM . It WOttld be an insult to the pitmen to comment further upon the portions of the evidence that we have selected , and therefore we shall proceed to a general consideration of the casa .
In our general reviews of jpopnlar grievances we have endeavoured to convince the working classes , that the hardships imposed upon them by statute law are comparatively insignificant when contrasted with those / rrievances imposed upon them by local clubs of capitalists . We could not have selected a more perfect illustration of our views upon this Bubject than the case now under consideration furnishes . It is a hard thing that a man should be transported or imprisoned for shooting a hare , caught in the act of injuring his ppperty ; but the man may abstain . It is a hardship to imprison a man for giving free expression to his political or
religious opinions , but then he may abstain . But how much greater the hardship upon a man who after having earned fire shillings by two days' hard labour is compelled to forfeit the whole amount , and to add six shillings to it , in . compliance with tbe conditions contained in an illegal bond . What act of tyranny equal to this can the law commit against a working man f What act of the law is there against which be bas not some chance to battle ; while in this case all hope is cat from under his feet ? What one act of the law will induce thousands of honest working men to prefer a prison and hard labour to compliance with its provisions !
What act of ihe law can so poignantly strike the working man as to make him shed tears for the injustice to which it subjects him!—while we find the clubbed power of the tyrant taskmasters : forcing tears from their eyes as they are compelled to grope their way penniless to their expectant families , afcer a night of unremitting toil in a dark , a damp , and a loathsome atmosphere ! What Act of the law can turn their labour upon a blunted pivot ! What Act of the law justifies the oath-man , Heccles , in endeavouring to suborn a man to perjury , to aid him in his acts of plunder ! What Act of the law justifies a knot of village Doqmexries sitting in judgment upon honest
men , by whose labour , or rather upon whose plunder , their wives and daughters are enabled to appear at church with an extra ruffle , a sable muff and boa , or satin dress , while they implore curses npon the heads of those who wonld rob the poor , the widow and the orphan 1 What law justifies the sneaking sycophant who scribbles in the Durham Advertiser , in his attempt to convince the world , after the evidence that we have adduced , that the men are criminals , and the masters most merciful ? No law justifies these things : and yet are menTobbed , sent to prison , and treated as criminals , because they prefer idleness to paying six shillings a day for beirjg allowed to work .
How happens it , we wonld ask , that that portion of the press calling itself Conservative , has sot dared to meddle with this case ! There are portions of that press loud in denunciation of aets of oppression committed by individual noblemen and gentlemen . If a Noble Lord dares unjustly to eject a peasant from his cottage his politics are no protection against the censure of 1 the press . If a Noble Lord who has been accustomed
to ihe rigid rale of the qaarter deck , takes the law into his own hands and orders a father to whip his own son , for killing a hare under very mitigated circumstances , his Conservative politics do not screen him from censure . But when the tyranny of the club is brought into action , and / when the rights of labour are to be contested against the usurpation of capitalists , then ia the press silent . Then do . the treacherous acts of Whig Justices silence tliO ih . uB . der of its ? ensure .
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In bur comments upon the magistracy we speak generally , referring as well to those Cotton Lord Justices who sit in judgment upon their slaves as to the Coal King Justices who sit in judgment upon ( heir victims . In all future cases when the men are complainants we trust that they will procure the attendance of the few high-minded magistrates who still remain , and who will interpose their anthority between the rich oppressor andSt ' ae poor oppressed ; and that in the meantime Mr . Roberts will prepare such a case for Mr . Duncombe to move upon in the House of Commons aa will insure to the men the
substitution of an honest tribunal for that in which neither we or they have confidence . Yes : although the appointment be surrounded with all the horrors of patronage , let us have stipendiary magistrates appointed by the Government , and wholly unconnected by marriage , blood , or plunder , with coal property . Let us not see the complaints of honest men , robbed of their labour , submitted for adjudication to Lords of the manor , who own the royalties ; to coal kings who own the labour , and to viewers and overseers , whose very existence depends upon their treachery . Let us have enough of those stipendiary magistrates , both in the factory and
the colliery districts , and out life upon it , if they do their duty , they will place a large amount in the Exchequer annually , after paying their salaries , arising from fines inflicted upon the masters for their violations of the law . This is one of the changes which the operatives and colliers should insist upon . It is one that the peace of the country , the very existence of society , and the stability of the throne , must depend upon ; for in our conscience we believe that a few more such instances of disregard Of all law , as thOBe recently evinced in the counties of Durham and Northumberland , will lead to a system of wild revenge , such as Irish Jeeling now presents .
In perusing the evidence it will be seen that even the three-pence a quart imposed by the bond for " foul" did not satisfy the just viewer ; but that , on the contrary , in most oases , four-pence per quart was exaoted . We would ask if the Durham Justices could be prevailed upon to believe that theyhad jurisdiction ; and if not in this case , Would they , or the Durham scribe infbrm us of any description of case in which the men were complainants that they would hare jurisdiction ! Then we have a word to say to the Durham shopkeepers , who constitute a portion of that tribunal to whioh the justice or injustice of the
whole case must be interestedly submitted . We will suppose that 500 mea are thrown out of employment by the strike of the Thornley Colliers , and that aooording to the terms of the bond those 500 earn twenty-six shillings a fortnight each , and all of which would be spent with the Durham shopkeepers . Thai sum would amount to £ 650 a fort * night ; a sum the abstraction of whioh from the labour fund would be sensibly felt in their tills on Saturday night ; and will those shopkeepers reflect that the whole of the Bench , together with the proprietors of the Colliery , are , one and all , free-traders
of the darkest dye ; and will they longer hesitate as to the part that they shall henceforth take ; whether to assist wealthy individuals in reducing wages , or the community of working men to fnorease and protect wages , the result of whioh would be a larger traffic , and consequently more profits to their order ! The thing is now done , the victims of the cupidity and tyranny of the masters are consigned like felons to the dungeon and the treadwheel , and , therefore , it becomes those , upon whose behalf they have volunteered themselves as a willing sacrifice to stand by them in the hour of need , and to support their destitute families during their absence .
It ib the duty of every pitman , and of every man connected with the colliery forthwith to join in a union for the Support of these men and their families . Committees should be appointed , and all means for collecting the pence of the men to battle against the pounds of their oppressors , should be put into immediate and active operation , so that the tyrant masters may be baulked of the triumph anticipated from the first blow . Nay more , in every instance where colliers deal largely with shopkeepers , let them ask those shopkeepers respectfully for their subscriptions to aid the " turn-outs" injtheir righteous
struggle against their oppressors . Upon our part , to shew that we praotico as well as preach , we have handed one pound to Mr . Roberts , by order of the proprietor , and five shillings from ourself to head the list . We do this because we look upon the struggle of the Thornley Colliers as one upon which the fate of labour must materially depend . These men must not , from poverty , be forced back into the jaws of the devourer . They must not be again subjected to the condition ? of the hellish and inhuman bond ; and , above all , the masters must not establish their unopposed tyranny upon such a precedent .
We will eay that 100 , 000 pitmen will feel an interest ia this case ; an interest sufficient to induce them to subscribe a penny a week towards t ! ie support of those who are unwilling idlers , and whioh would amount to £ 416 13 s . 4 d . per week . Suppose there are BOO men on strike receiving ten shilling a week , that would amount to £ 250 , and whioh deducted from the weekly subscription would leave a surplus of £ 166 * 13 a . 4 d . for general purposes . This is but the social part of the questionthe feeling part of the question—and we have yet to view it in its moral tendency . We contend for
it , then , that an honest hard-working man should not be allowed to spend six weeks or six minutes in a felon's dungeon , and committed to hard labour , without receiving full compensation from his fellowlabourers , as far as they can render it , at the expiration of his sufferings . Every pitman , ayo , aud every man who lives by his labour too , should be in Durham upon the day of the liberation of their victimized brethren , should receive them at the prison doors ; should take them in triumph through the town , stopping before the Justice Hall , to allow the public voice to be heard within its walls , giving the lie to that judgment which pronounced honest
English working men to be criminals . We have not done with this case . We shall not be done with it either , until we see the effect that the reading of the Thornley bond by Mr . Duncombb in the House of Commons will produce upon those who , last sessions , were so loud in their sympathies for the oppressed Colliers . Aye , the whole bond , the Thornlev . damnable , must be read and published to the world . It shall be in every man ' s hand who chooses to possess it . We will publish it in the Star next week , and then appeal to every honest man ia England , whether " There is not more honour in the breach than in the observance . "
Again we have to express a hope that the Conference about to assemble at Manchester will Bee that this is getting in the thin end of the wedge , in order to split up the Union in its infancy ; and that no available opportunity will be lost in driving it : while tbe very existence of the body depends upon the result of the pending contest . It would be unfair to withhold from Mr . Roberts that large measure of praise which is due to him , as well for his warmth as for his ability . It is a novel thing to see the warmth of the gentleman , and the ability of the practitioner equally offending the ears and paralyzing the nerves of the poor man ' s oppressors . In general it is the practice of those gentlemen to be employed by the defendant and concerned for
the plaintiff ; but in the Case of the Colliers we find their advocate entering heart and soul into the sufferings and feelings of his clients , and actually endangering his own personal liberty by thofree expression of his warm feelings . Apropos of this . It appears that the Durham Dogberrys threatened to commit Mr . RouEBta for contempt . What a joke ! A joke to epeafc of , a joke to think of , but no joke to them , had they dared to put their threat into execution . What 1 a benoh of villago justices to commit an advocate for diBoharging his duty , with warmth , and for repelling insolent insinuation by indignant denial ! Cominit him , indeed ! Had they dared to go this length , they would have gone beyond the limit of their tether , and from their rash ' ness , they wonld kave learned tbe wholesome lesson
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that Mr . Roberts , ; as well as themselves , was one of the parlies to the proceedings : and , although they had the will , they had not the power to carry it into execution . But the bond and the support of the mea on strike -are now the all-important considerations . The bond , when read in the House of Commons by Mr . Ccncombe , will find its way into every paper in thejKingdom . Then the men ' s case , through our humble instrumentality , will be . submitted to the general miow of publio opinion—then they will be justified by that opinion , and by it their masters will be damned .
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THE ARMS BILL IN OPERATION . I ¦ . 1 11 NIX MV POLLY PALS , FAKE AWAY . ' ' There are some subjects so seriously ludicrous that it is impossiblo to decide upon the most fitting description of criticism ; whether to weep at the unaccountable blunders and torn-foolery of the clown , or to laugh at the sorrows of the brokenhearted heroine . We confess that the ignorance , the patriotismi the'anticipations of danger , and the valiant precautions ; to prevent it ; the rantings , the ravings , the forebodings , and the heroic deportment withal of the Cork magistrates , recently assembled
at Maoroom , for the purpose of administering the Arms Bill , places us in " a pretty considerable fix , '' and rather puzzles ] us as to the course which , as journalists , it is our duty to take . Speaking , however , of the Arms Bill itself as a measure , we may , with becoming pride , refer our readers to the fact , that while the Bill was under consideration , we opposed it , not more because it was a gross violation of the constitution , than from the fact , as we have over and jover agaiin stated , that the village Dogberbies , acting aa the Executive of the Protestant party in Ireland would convert it into a " casus belli ''; and under it would rally
all those evil ¦ sectarian pasaious against which the Government and the Irish Executive would struggle in vain . Indeed , to this end the magistracy was purified by the Lord Chancellor ; none being allowed to remain in the Commission of the Peace save those who could be safely relied upon to aid in the subjugation of Ireland . Whether or no we were right : in our conjectures will be . best proved by reference to the proceedings of the first court , held in the great county of Cork , for the purpose of administering this unconstitutional ,, anti-Irieh , anti-Catholic Bill . Since that report was in type , however , we' have received the following more graphic description of the extraordinary proceedings from an eye witness .
Upon Mairtough M'Donnagan , of Sleiveballykinmaokmuckridgetowncrossroad , applying to register fire arms under the Act , the following dialogue took place : — ; Chairman—Is there any objection to this man ! First Magistrate—Yea . ' I have a few questions to ax him . Are you ; a Repale Warden ! No ; I am not .
Wore yon ever ? ; No ; I wasn't , j . Did you collect the Repaid rint ! No ; I didn ^ t . j » Did you collect the O'Connell rint ? Noj I didn ' t , j Damnation to your eawl do you mane to tell me that you are not a Repaler 1 No ; to be sure : I'm a Repaler .
Magistrate—O j wisba , you thundering vilian , did'nt I know you were a Repaler ! reject him . Stipendiary Magistrate—Ib there anything against the man ' e charaotor ! Several Magistrates speaking together . Och tunder and agers , agen hie character ; what do you mane , with your speeching , you piebald Protestant t Isn't he a Repaler , and isn't that enough for you ! j Stipendiary—No . The law requires something
more . , Bench—The law is it ! what the divil do we care for the law ! Ar ' n ' t we the law i Stipendiary—Bat then the Act of Parliament . Bench—Wishi , blood and tunder ; isn't the maning of the Act of Parliament in its issenoe and spirit , its very body and sleeves , breathing through its very nostrils , the disarming of the Repalera , for tbe preservation of the peace , and the safety ot Her Gracious , Majesty ' s crown and dignity t—( Cheers . ) j Stipendiary—But wefmust go by the law .
Bench—By tha law is it 1 what the divil law was there for striking honourable men out of the Commission { and can we allow 4 the sting to remain in tbe tail when the Lord High Chancellor has knocked tbe vinum out of the head of the serpent 1 —( Vociferous cheering , followed by- —reject him , reject him , reject him . ) Kit Downing , from Skibbereen , was the next who claimed to register under the Act , when the following dialogue took place between Alexander O'Driscoll , J . P ., and the claimant , O'Driscotl—Downing , I ' ve a question to ax you . Arn't you a Repaler ! Kit—No , I am not , Mr . O'Driscoll ; but why so , Captain ! j
O'Driscoll—Because you ' re an ungrateful vagabond , j Kit—Well , Mr . O'Driscoll , but you astonishes me 1 Had'nt I often the honour of dining at your own table , aud didn't you ofteu diue at mine ; and what have you agin me ? . J O'Driscofl—O ! j the curse of Cromwell upon you . Kit ! Didn ' t I give you many a good " blow out , " and a skinful of beef and cabbage , and as much Parliament whisky as you could tuck into your carcase , and didn't you prove ungrateful , by attending the Repale Meeting ] in Skibbereen , contrary to my express proclamation ? Kit—To be sure I attended that meeting ; but that was before the Clontarf meeting .
Several Votcesr-On \ that makes no difference . The magistrates ! were dismissed before the Clontarf meeting ; reject him—reject him . Stipendiary—Ia there anything against the man ' s character ! ¦ O'Driscoll— Yes ; he owes me an arrear of tithe of £ 1 17 s . 3 d : isn ' t that enough i Several Voices 4-YeB , yes ; reject him . Kit—Och , Captain , Captain , didn't you distrain a * fine two-year buld coult , and three lambs , for the debt ! .
O Dnscoll— Hear that gentlemen ; by the holy post , and , as I am an honourable gentleman , that coult and lambs jwere the ruin of me ; and I never charged the ungrateful rascal a farthing : but the coult gave Blue Sam the best hunker that I ever had , the mange , Jand I lost him for the season ; and but the lambs gave me whole flock the scab . ' . 4//—Shameful 3 shameful ! reject him . Stipendiary- * -1 object . All—None of j your speeohing ; pitch him over . Who the divil cares what you object to . Reject him —reject him . ! Mat Ga Haven jwas the next claimant ,
Magistrate—Mat , yoa ' re a broth of a boy . Damn your bouI wasin ' t it you that shot the ould vixen , with a belly of cubs in her , last March ; and is that the gun you want to register ! Mat— Wisha jjoHr honors , but snte 1 complained to his honor time after time , and all to no purpose after she took away the ould turkey and left the whole brood to ] die on me ; and then took three early Iambs that 1 had to pay the rint , and was destroying me , and the divil a bit of consideration his honor had , bnt laughed at me . Several Magistrates—Answer the question , Sir , without equivocation . Did you shoot the for !
Matt ( scratching his head J—Am I bound to answer thai ) question 1 Stipendiary— No , no . Magistrates—Yes , yes . If you don't answer it you'll be commiited for contempt of court . Now , will you answer !! Did you shoot the fox ! Mat—l didn' 4 then . Magistrates—Yon thundering liar j you perjured villin j you lie , you lie . Reject him .
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Clerk—Take down his words ; well commit him for perjury . Mat—Well , suppose I did . Magistrates—Whj , that Mr . . could transport you for it . Mat—0 well , then , you may rejeofc me , and Til giva my gun to his honour . Tim Mullagan was the next applicant . !! Magistrate—Arn't you a poacher ! Tim—Wisha , what ' s that , your honor ! Magistrate—Why , don't you shoot game by moon > Hghtt , 7 Vnj—Indeedi then , I don't , your honors ; but I wouldn't know how to shoot them .
Magistrates—Then what do you want of a gun , if you don't know how to shoot them ! Tim—O , wisha , your honors , sure a man that couldn't shoot a snipe or a patridge that would be flying , might hit a crow in his corn field , or make him lave that any how . Magistrate—Gentlemen , I contend for it , that a man that could shoot a crow , could shoot a . Protestant . ( Cheers and shouts of reject him , reject him . ) Stipendiary—Bat the act . Several Voices—Damn you and the act . Hasn'i he convicted himself as clear as the nose on your face ! Reject him , reject him .
Teady Muldooney was the next claimant . Magistrate—What do you want Muidooneyl Tead— Why , your honors , I want te register under the act . Magistrate—Ar'n't you a Repale Warden ? Tead—No , I am not . Magistrate—Did you ever collect the rint ? Tead— I didu'r . Magistrate—Weren't you suspected of stealing Mr . M * Sweeney's pig ! Tead—I , never hear I was , indeed . Magistrate—Mightn't you be BUSpeoted withont hearing it ! Tead < - > l might , indeed .
Magistrate—Well then , gentlemen , I contend for it that the very guts and the essence , and the marrow—( hear , hoar)—of the act applies to the disarming of suspicious characters —( Cheers , and rejeofc him ) . Magistrate—What kind of fire-arms have ybu t Tead—Wisha , indeed , your honor , then I , don't know how they are spioified in the act ; but I was tould by the neighbours that all fire-arms should have the Protestant stamp upan them ; and so I brought mine for the purpose .
Mogistrate—Well , where is it ! A detonator , or a flint look , or a fuzee , or a patent breach \ or doea it go off by a match t or is it a rifle ! or what the divil is it ! Tead—Indeed , and your honours , it ' s none of them at all , but here it is , says Tead , (( drawing a long poker from under bis great coat ) , sure this is my firearms ; aud but the neighbours tould me that the act meant every thing that eould give a wound , and but I thought that my poker was included among them . Magistrates—You scoundrel , 'twas the priest put you up to this , to insult the Court . Clerk , make out his committal for contempt .
Tead—Indeed , God knows , your honor , but I did not mane any offence ; but the neighbours tould me that nothing was safe , that hadn't the brand upon it , and that I might be transported if it was found with
me . Magistrates ^ -We'll adjourn for an hour to take this case into our serious consideration . At the time our report loft ( heir worships had not resumed their sitting .
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STATE OF THE AGRICULTURAL tDISTRICTS . LORD ASHLEY AND THE WHIG PRESS . The readers of the Northern Star , for the last few weeks , have found ample testimony that the " Condition of England , " so far from improving , is daily growing worse and worse . The " . Question" which the people have often put to their rulers ; " how have you led us , fed us , and taught us while we have toiled for you ! " and which " hereditary legislation ' and " collective wisdom" have shuffled from
answering ; ts nov being answered by the questioners themselves ! answered too , in language not to be misunderstood , not to be mistaken ! answered nightly in characters of flame , whioh , reflected far and wide , form an appeal from earthto heaven against the wrongs committed by man upon hifl brother ; and demand , at the throne of eternal justice , the annihilation of that accursed system of social and political wrong which has brought England to a state of anarchy , and arrayed class against class , and man against man , threatening the utter ruin of each and all , the oppressed and the oppressor !
England is in a state of anarchy . True , some of the outward signs of such a state are yet wanting ; hitherto not seen : not because soldiery and police prevent such exhibition ; but because the people , or a large portion of them , if they have well nigh abandoned hope , are yet unwilling to commit themselves to the crimes of despair . They are no lovers of crime , ( this Anglo-Saxon race ! They have been famed for their crimeless obedience to the law ; and now would thousands of them rather suffer any extent of misery , than have recourse to the " wild
justice of revenge . " But this will not always be ! If justice be not done to the people , the unjust must expect to have justice , —even though it be » of tie " wild" kind , —done upon them . And , GodforbM that it should be otherwise ! We deplore the exist * ence and the undoubted increase of crime ; but w * are not ignorant of the causes of that existence and increase . It is clear as the sun at noon-day who are the parties that are responsible for tkis criminality ' ' the holders of peopertt . 'Tis they who have the social arrangements of society in their bands ! they who wield ihe power of Hfe and death over tbe
unhappy bondsmen of this "Christian , * " enlightened , " England . 'Tis they who have exclusively tbo law-making of the country to themselves ; they wh& make laws to make men criminals , and then pas lawBtopuniBh them for committing crime ! Y « t these are the parties to whose account is xeallf chargeable the frightful deeds now spreading terrorism through the once happy rural districts of once Merrie England . " Aye , we repeat it : if the holders of propert y will not do right v if they will sin against God and manj if they will rob the poor and oppress the ; d « -
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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW versus COAL KING LAW . GOOD NEWS TOR THE MINERS . Hurrah ! hurrah !! hurrah 11 ! Just as we had closed our remarks upon this damnable case , we received a hurried note from Mr . Robhbts , announcing the glad and joyous tidings that retribution , had followed speedily on the heels of injustice . Resolved that justice should be had at any price , and instantly , he started for London , where , upon carrying the oase before Judge Patxisok , that constitutional lawyer instantly granted a habeas corpus for the immediate appearance of the incarcerated victims of the Coal Kings . When Mr Robrrts wrote he was about to start hiuselp
with the writ , aud to bring his men up . So that while our readers are struck with the horrible picture we hare drawn of " Club Law , " they will rejoioe to find that in the real Law there is yet protection for the poor . To get the Law is the thing , and Mr . Roberts appear ? to have discovered the magical process by whioh this desideratum is to be achieved . Truly this man deserves well of bisclients . But as the process is very expensive , we trust that be will be manfully backed up in his noble work . It is most probable that while our readers are sympathizing with the Coal Kings * victims , they may be on the read home , about to spend their Christmas at home instead of in the dungeon . This is ia truth a great move .
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I TBE NOptTH ^ ftN STAR , \
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct513/page/4/
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