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Cijaritet " ZZnxeUiaence ,
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®ty GTtfitrrjsr M&ment
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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 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 OF MBS . ELLIS . TO THE CBART 1 STS OF YORKSHIRE . Iheairipsdlhat the appeal wiade by Mr . Sseet inlasl vaffsStts . in behalf of Mrs . EUt ? , v > ould jiavBUtetvnih an ivrmediaie and universal response i em Utterly disappointed . I have not the means to < jice b sum ihat would be of any use to Mrs . E . ; bu ' J make you tins offer . —I wiM attend meetings on the Statday , called Jot ihe yrwrpose of raising subsbripjionsforMrs . EUis yata 7 iy place within twenty miles * f Leeds—7 will charge nothing for expences , and < n entirely at my own cost ; you undertaking to raise ten shillings { and as much rr . oreesryov can ) by collections at Ihe meeting , or any other means you think fit . ~ The entire proceeds to be given to Mr ? . Ellis . 7 fimit the circle to hrsnly mUx , became ™ y very Smiled income aili not permit me to take a wider T < tnge at my can cost , and I wish to take noihixg
Jrom the collections . The present stale of my health trill not alhir me to speak more than once on the day of my visit , and it *« # be at least a fortnight yet before I shall be at liberty to commence my tour . In the mean iime 1 shall be happy lo receive communi cations from any places icithin the prescribed limits . I trust that Tt $ / motives map not he tnlsconstrucd in making this tfffer . Forbidden ^ as I em , by medical advice to attempt speakiny at all under present circumstances , J had hoped to have been permitted to have remained in privacy ; only to emerge from which as a public speaker upon rare and extraordinary occasions . Mat this is a case in which I feel bound to do my little best to help in saving an unfortunate family frtm starvation , and the democratic party from the indei&ble disgrace tchich tcould be the consequent result . George Julias Hjlrsxy . Northern Star Office , Dec , 22 , 2843 . ^ _ i , nr .- -. ruLT ^^^ WU-ju . riynwia
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GLASGOW—The lone ialk ~ ed-of discussion be- j iwoen Messrs Maddon and Brown , as to- whether a I repeal of the corn laws , under existing- circum- gt * nec 3 , would benefit the working classes , came off : « n Tuesday evening last , in the Tillage of Bridgeton ,: which in realiiy is part of Glasgow . Mr . Brown dis- ; played considerable knowledge of the snbjeet ; bat ' as to Mr . Madden , his arguments (?) were beneath ' eontempt . i
Thx Cbashsts of the Gorbsls are to hold their : yjinn « . 1 festival on New Year ' s Day ( Monday ) even- ; ing , in the ChartSst Hall , Clyde Terrace . We hope j that the tnrn-out on that occasion Trill be worthy of : the good cause . The men at the head of the Gorbals ; democratic seminary , nearer hesitated between two ; opinions j no appeal connected with Chartism , either . of a general or individual nature has yet been made , to them in Tain , and we trust therefore that on this , as on former occasions , snceess will crown their t labours .
SUWUKHXiAKP—Sinoe Mi . Dickinson baa taken ; trp tua Te » 4 en = e tcre oni « sK * ia&sm DM incteaaed every ¦» iY . » iiiV -we » r » erery irsy progressing successfully . "We have been informed that some « f the leaden of the league have been invited to visit this town , and that - % re may expect them in the early part ot next month , We are glad to hear this , for if they -will allow discussion ve are prepared' to meet them . Jlr . Dickinson fcs » delivered two lectures at Morik-wearmontb , andlfst Sunday but one announced , at the end of Ms lecture , iiafc be abonia deliver a third lecture in the same place as last Sunday . Accordingly nt two o ' clock be approached the ground , -when he saw three of the force" parading about : one of them came up to him as he -was crossing the Toad , aod after saying It was a fine lecture there that
day , asked him H be -was abent to day , to which question Mr . DicMiisonreplied " certainly . ' ! Then said the " policeman I am authorised'by tlie Inspector to inform you that you must not lecture there , or further proceedings will be iaken against you . After thanking the iaa * i for bis information , Mr . Dickinson « me to the waste ground where the people were assembled and jroceeded with Mb lecture . He stated to fee meeting that the pelice had requested him not to lecture there , tut he did not feel inclined to remove -until a reason was rendered for his removal . He tben entered on the subject ef his lecture and addressed tie people for about twenty minutes , three policemen standing by , when one of them went away and presently returned with Inspector Bale , "who rushed thrown the ezxnrd and demanded Mr . Dickinson to come dotrn from
ihe- chair . Mr . D . demanded by whose authority do yon make that demand ? "I am the Inspector of Police , and in the Queen's name ( pulling a piece of paiDted ¦ wo od from bis pocket ) 1 commacd sou to tit-part from "this spot , as you are only preaching about the body and not the soul , and therefore jou we obstructing the footjsrth- " Mr . Dickinson said he would come down , but * wouia the Inspector haTe any ofcjectiens if he removed a little further up , if he could find a spot where he would Bot obstruct the footpath 1 " 3 Te » , uaia the Inspector , I ann determined you shall not lecture on this side the TR 3 te at alL Mr . Dickinson came ont of the crowd to go home , and was putting his topcoat on in tie middle of the highway , when Bale , the Inspector , who tad been felting -srlth some thins 8 calling themselves gentlemen ,
and was heard to say to them " ita one ef the Chartist fellows" called ont to the three policemen to take Mt Dickinson to the Station-house . He went with them ¦ without . a murmur . The Inspector left the Stsilon-Itoase and Trent to consult the Saperintend&nt , who cams to the Station-bouse , and after a little consultation , said to the Inspector ** Ton'd better charge him . " ! The charge isn then laid , whith was "for obsiruciiBg ¦ tte footpath by resisting tte police . " Everything was faian from Mr . DickinaoBfa pockets , and althoagt we "brought bait and bailed him out until Tuesday , they insisted on zttaining the contents of his pockets ; iv " * ra » with difficulty we could ge : them to allow him to take his watch . Since this bit of a dust cur room lias beeen crowded . " It ' s an ill wind that blows
nobody good r 05 Tcesdat , the 26 th , the Court House was thronged to tear the case of Mr . Dickinson , and hundreds were waiting outside who were unable to obtain admission . Hr . Ayton , of this town , was employed to defend atr . Dickinson . The Inspector of Police swore thst Mr . Dickinson caused an obstruction of the thorongh-± Mie ; and in the next breath , that be did not ; The policemen themselves proved that Mr . Dickins&n did uot resist the police . Seeing the police had so buncled the matter , tbe magistrates dismissed the case . —Cor-¦ respoTtdaiL Mr . Dhjbxssos T * m deliver a lecture next Snndsy atMonkweariDonai , at ae ^^ bQm , tW £ > o » dbty ^ 2 » -hope * all true Chartists will lally round their standard .
NEWCASTLE . Mr . Beesley delirered an adflreis m Mr . Jude a long room , Threa Tuns Inn , Manor < 2 jare , on Sucdsy ereaing last , on the present state of political parties in Spain ; after wfeicfa a Tote or thankj ¦ was tendered to Hi . Beesley for Ids address . A Tuslic JfctEEXiflGof the Chartists of Newcastle and Gateshead waa held ] in ilr . June ' s Boom , Three Tuns , Manor Cbsre , on Mondty evening , for ibe purpose of nominating fit and proper persons to become candidates for the membership of the General Council
ef the 2 faliens ! Charter Association of Great Britain ; Mr . Carry In the ehait The following gentlemen Were declared duly nominated : —Messrs . James Fiszer , Mwemalrer , MTord ' a £ ntry , Jfortljwnberland-Btreefc ; John JbmstroDj , jnn ., weaver , Pilgriis-street ; John Armetrong , sea ., glaaB-cntter , Pilgrim-sti ^ et ; Thomas Hey , tanner , Trndhoe-street ; Georfe Utter , tailor , Dean Court ; William Smith , tasket manuii ^ tnrer , 5 , ^ dwarf-street , ¦ ixthur ' * HOI , "Westgate , i ^ b-Trea-* Brer ; snu Ralph Carrie , jomer , 5 , ChnrchilMtreet , iBb-SecretaiT , Sereral sums wejejp ^ d into th § . ^ a *
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\ ional Tribute Fund , wben it *» agreed that all the members then present form themselves into a committee to procure contributions to that laudable object . It was announced that a public lecture would be given in Mr . Jade ' s long room , on Sunday evening , ati seven o ' clock ; and a deputation was app ointed to wait upon certain gentlemen , requesting tb . em to officiate on that occasion . A vote of thanks v / as tendered to tbe chairman , and the meeting adjourned , Cbajtlisgton High Colliery—Oq Tuesday , the
inhabitants of Cramlington , Seghill , and its vicinity received another visit from Mr . Q . Gammage , of Northampton , who lectured to a numerous ^ audience I on the science t > f Government and the People ' s Charter . The lecturer handled his subject in an able and convincing sanner , and made a soul-stirring appeal to his hearers to aid their Chartist brethren in their efforts to obtain political freedom . The lecturer was listened to with profound attention ; and &t ihe conclusion , was greeted with loud and long-repeatefi cheering . There is a < aartist locality formed here and likely to do well .
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The next delegate heetikg . of the Lancashire Miners will be holden in tbe . anti-Room of the Carpenters * Hall , Garratt-Toad , Manchester , on Tuesday next , January 2 nd , 1844 ; chair to be taken at nine o ' clock in the morning . Business of tbe utmost importance will be brought before the meeting , and it i s hoped the delegates will be punctual in their attendance , and bring their credentials signed by the President and Secretary of the Lodges to which they respectively belong . r . TsE { National Cox : feb . encb wffl commence its sittings on the same day ( Tuesday , January 2 nd , 1 S 41 . ) , in the Grand Ball ; chair to be taken at nine o ' clock in the morning . A limited number of tickets will be issued for the admission of parties to witness the proceedings .
Mb . TVii . ii . am Dixojj , of Manchester , will deliver a lecture on Tuesday evening next in the Carpenter ' s HalL Snbjeet— " The Miners' Grievances . " Chair to be taken at eight o ' clock precisely . On tbe following evening , Wednesday , Mr . James Leach will lecture in tbe above Hail . Snbjeet—" Tbe Bights of Labour . " On Thursday and Friday evenings lectures will be delivered by accredited agents of the Miners ' Association . The Lancashire Secretary begs to inform the parties who may be elected to the forthcoming Conference that be *»»» procured Accommodations for about fifty individuals , and upon their arrival in Manchester they are requested to apply for Mr . We Dixon , No . 2 , Cross-street East , near Forty Bow , Great Ancoats-street , where the Secretary will be in attendance to receive them-
The Northern Star. Saturday, December 30, 1843.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , DECEMBER 30 , 1843 .
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ALEXANDER O'DRISCOLL , ESQ ., J . P . AND HIS PLUNDERED TENANT . Last week we directed the attention of our readers to the proceedings before the Maoroom Justices upon their first attempt at administering the IriBh Arms' Bill . The name of Alexander O'Dmscoll , J . P . flonrifibed as one of the disarming gentlemen , and , in truth , by reference to a case reported in this week ' s Star ^ in which he stands forward as the Bole actor , furnishes good and cogent reasons why this impartial dispenser of English law should look with jealousy upon the possession of any
implement of defence by those who would be justified in using them in resistance to open and barefaced robbery . These frequent acts of plander appear to strike the English reader with becoming horror , and are looked upon as exceptions against the usual practice pursued by Irish landlords towards their defenceless victims . That we , however , have considered such acts as forming the rnlo rather than the exception , we refer our readers to oar various articles upon Irish afiJairs , while we would direct more immediate attention U the following passage , taken frem our comment under the head " Ireland and the
Irish" which appeared in the Star of the 25 th of November : — " The practice ef distraining cattle , of impounding , selling them by auction , and bnying ( hem in , by the middleman , for very frequently not a twentieth of their value , while no account of the sale is ever rendered , leads to more extensive disturbance , and subsequent evil results , than almost any other grievance . It 4 not at all unusual for a middleman accompanied by a host of under-tenants , to . drive off the whole stock of some unfortunate tenant to a distant pound in the dead hour of night ; while tbe
tenant , to protect himself against the aggression of the middleman , has paid his rent to , and holds the receipt of the head landlord . Thus sitnated , the poor tenant has no alternative but to replevy the stock at a great expense ; while he is compelled to give security for double the value , until the case Bhall be disposed of in the Sheriff's Court . If , upon the other hand , he cannot procure the required security , his cattle are allowed to stand in & cold pound until the day of auction , when tbe poundkeeper presents him with aa enormous bill for fodder sever used . "Will say nu s » y tb » t » tenant so
treated , and thrown for protection upon expensive and dilatory law , which he cannot procure , is not justified in taking the summary law into his own hands ! In many cases , he does do so : and many is the man who has been hung in olden times , and many is the honest man now working in chains , for having STOLEN Ma own property from the thief who stole it from him in the dead hour of night . Ik this , we would ask , a " practical grievance 7 " and are the family of the expatriated victim likely to be admirers or voluntary obeyers of those laws by which ruin and desolation has been brought upon them 1 "
The reader will learn from the above sketch that , &i all events in our opinion , the grievance complained of by Mr . O'Deiscoli ' s victim is one of a general character , and that the case referred to is not to be looked upon as a mere isolated instance , either not tolerated ot practised by other men of his class . The fact is , that those tenants who hold under Irish middlemen not ODly pay three times the amount of rent compounded for in free labour ,
dnty fonl , and legal expences , but as we have more than once stated , the whole of that capital which should be left to tbtm as the means of stocking and tilling their farms is extracted before getting possession , in the following manner : —We will suppose a farm of twenty acres , being a portion of a large denomination , rented by Captain O'Dkiscoio , under Lord Cabbebby at £ 1 per acre . This amount he subdivides into such allotments as will suit ihe
existing competition and demand . A tenant , who has been broken down by a ce-tyrant of O'Dhiscoll ' s in a farm of fifty acres , tries to square his means to the possession of twenty acres of OTf&iscoLtfs 1 take , " at a rent of £ 1 10 s . per acre , or 10 s . per acre profit . To begin , he gives a fine of a year ' s rent , £ 30 , intended as compensation to O'Dbiscoll , in lieu of a fine which he asserts he has given upon receiving possession himself . Mr . Bibd , the agent , ihe plenipotentiary of the gallant Captain , receives £ 5 for his good word , and Tim Donavam , who has the ear of Mr . Bibd , and who may be denominated as M Trusty" and Spy upon the
undertenants , must have his £ 2 , as without his friendship all hope of possession is fruitless . The mistress must have £ 5 for " glove-money j" and then , to insure something like title , a proposal is accepted upon unstamped paper , which concludes with an undertaking that leases shall be executed at the request of cither party ; and £ 5 5 s . is a small amount to reqnire to be paid for this pnrpose—the tenant being invariably compelled to lodge Ms money for that purpose , although a lease is not granted in one case in twenty . Add to the above sums , the incoming tenant is compelled to take the manure , of which the outgoing tenant has been robbed , at the H Trusty V valuation .
Sach sre the prospects with which an Irishman enters upon his tenancy under a middleman ; with a further certainty , however , of being ousted in three years at furthest ; is order that the middleman may raise fresh capital by way of fine . Lest , however , a religious prejudice should be attempted to be established upon the cruel , the heartless , and villanous case under consideration , we beg to state that this Mr . O'Dbjscoix is a Roman Catholic , Captain of a
Yeomanry corps , Justice of Peace , an . extensive middle-man , as well as w lay impropriator" of tithes in several parishes . In truth ire may assert without fear of contradiction , and with the l u ll concurrence of the Catholic people of Ireland , that any tenant would rather place himself under a Protestant than a Catholic middle-man j aud the reason why we do not hear more of the tyranny of the latter is , because complaint generally arises from what is considered the general source of grievance , and resident Pifltestate , being for the most part
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tbe tools of absent landlords , come in for the whole of the odium while there are guilty Catholic confederates who escape soot free . The reader will be puzzled to know why the act of top-dressing his corn should furnish Mr . Bird with an excuse for bis conduct . A simple statement of facts , however , will enable us to establish Mr . O'Dbiscoll ' s oonviotion upon the rery reasons assigned for the cruelty and injustice of his agent . That the rent due in March was included in the note lodged in the bank , and upon which
Mr . O'Dbiscoll had received the money may be inferrtd from the very aot of top-dressinglthe corn . That the tenant was preparing to " flit" in September we admit , and that he knew that whatever manure he left behind , him would be seized by O'Dbiscoll is obvious ; he therefore applied it to the corn which ^ e might hare cat , thrashed and sold before any other rent than that included , in the note would have accrued . This was the cause of his applying his manure to topdressing the corn }; a practice seldom or never resorted to even by the best Irish farmers .
Of course the reader does not expeot us to launch into abuse of Mr . O'Driscoll and his agents , as the foulest words within the vocabulary of Billingsgate would fall far short of the expression of our feelings . ; Let us now inquire as to the method of disposing of the destrained property . The witness says , They stole some (!) I only took away 46 loads . I took them to Skibbereen , and put them in a garden near Mr . O'Dbiscoll ' s house . • • I was auctioneer and did bid also ; was not the buyer , but afterwards got the potatoes myself . Sold every six weights for eightpsnee . " What a picture * " THEY STOLE SOME . " You brute , they didn't steal them , they honestly produced them by the sweat of their brow and you and O'DmseoLL stole them from them . Just
think of the poor man ' s winter ' s hoard being deposited in the gallant Captain ' s garden , while the rent for the ground opon which they grew was lodged in his pocket . Think of an auctioneer himself bidding for the distrained goods , aud although he had the becoming modesty not to knock them down to himself , yet he knocked them fob himself to hia representive , who was appointed to bid for him . But what did be do ! He sold them at the auction at the rate of eightpence for every six weighs . The English reader should understand that the weigh is 23 ! bs ., and that consequently everv 138 pounds was
sold for eightpence , or , at the rate of one penny for seventeen pounds . Let us analyse this aot of plunder , and see what it amounted to even upon this poor article . A load of potatoes is twelve weighs Forty-six loads were stolen from the poor man They were sold for Is 4 d a-load , that is eightpence for six weighs , making for the forty-six loads £ 3 Is 4 di while at threepence a stone they were worth £ 11 63 . Now who stole the potatoes ! The rogue that grew them , and paid the rent for tbe land that produced them , or the honest man that knocked them down at £ 3 Is 4 d , while they were worth £ 11 6 s .
The Times of Saturday had a bold and withering article upon the subject , from the deductions with which it is closed , however , we differ wholly , The Times , after commenting upon the case proceeds thus : — " But what do these scenes teach uat That there is something fearful in the relations between the Irish landlord and his tenant—oppression on the one side , wild : vindictiveness on the other . But what further lesson do tbey inculcate ! What but this t —that instead of severing Ireland from the only nation that has the power and the will to assist her ,
—instead of dissolving the tie of sympathy which has of late years drawn the two countries closer and closer together—instead of perpetuating a domestic tyranny and consolidating a domestic feudalism , rampant , domineering , and encroaching , Bubject to no control and checked b y no principle , —those who love Ireland well and wisely should do all in their power to bring her actual state , her sufferings , and her capabilities , within the ken . of English opinion and the scope of English justice—that they should admit the full effulgence of English—of Britishopinion into tbe dark holes of injustice and
intolerance , and frighten power from the indulgence of its capricious cruelty , by enlisting against it the irresistible force of publio feeling . We come to very different conclusion . We say that if able , England has never evinced a willingness to correct those practical grievances , and if willing she has not the power . That the grievances consist in the abandonment of all duty by those who are bound by every law of nature , of reason , of justice , and expediency , to administer the laws and to set an example to those who are compelled to live under them . That the restoration of Ireland's legislature ,
whereby grievances on the spot may be complained of , where they occur , and when they occur , and that the censure and odium may fall upon those sanctioning and tolerating them , while excitement is fresh and before the fe ^ r shall have passed away ; this is tbe remedy wanted to ensure justice , give satisfaction , and put an end to agrarian crime . The absentee proprietor under whom an Irish middleman holds , and practices his abominations is morally and legally as guilty as his representative . Let the Irish landlords be induced , if not compelled , to return te that country where they have duties of
the highest nature to discharge . Let them act as magistrates : let them dispense justice , and in its dispensation , we shall see an honourable courtship of public opinion as a means of insuring power of a higher nature than even that which devolves upon the administrators of law—the power to make the law . What effect will the tyranny of O'Driscoll have upon the heterogeneouu body ' at St . Stephens And what effect , if ventured upon , vroald it not have upon an Irish House of Commons to take prompt cognizance , and to prevent a recurrence of which would be one of its principal duties .
Upon the whole , then , it is not wonderful that the hands of Mr . O'Connell should be strengthened in his endeavour to destrey the Saxon rule . Talk of your Devon Commission , of your flotillas , your war-ships , and your bomb-boats ; your garrisons , your spy-holes , your spike-holes , and your oannon ramparts . Talk of your horse , foot , and artillery , we tell yon that you have nurtured a deep and rancorous ] hatred throughout the whole term of your ferocious and iniquitous rule , which your patch-work corrections of Chnrch and Landlord abuses can
neither obliterate or destroy . You have sown the seeds of disaffection , dissatisfaction , and discontent , which have produced an abundant harvest of national antipathy , distrust , and hate , which even your monster indictments and tyrannical prosecutions of those who have endeavoured to stay rebellion by promoting justice cannot eradicate . You have sown the wind , and you must reap the whirlwind . You must cease to marvel that the victim of O'Dbiscoll will rather look to his priest than to his landlord for sympathy ; and to the wildness of revenge rather than to the law , with O'Dbiscoll upon the bench for justice .
England had it in her power to render a union unnecssary . England had it in her power to make a union effeotive . She has done neither the one nor the otherj her rule has been one incessant and undeviating coarse of blood , persecution , plunder and injustice ; setting father against son , brother against brother , and man against his fellow . And now , ascendancy looks to a Tory lord , with a gallant engineer for his earwig , as a means of allaying discontent . . We believe , and we hope , that during Mr . O'Cojwbll * s lifetime the wildness of vengeance will be held in check ; but who that reads , that reasons ,
and that thinks , that must not come to tbe conclusion and sorrow that the peace of a nation—nay perhaps of Europe—depends upon the life of a man who though of a sound constitution is yet stricken in years . It appears that the malignant Attosney - Gerebax , still resolved upon the ruin of his adopted country , is determined , if possible , to snap all those ties by which alone peace-can be preserved , and thus harry on the savage cry for justice amid the dash of arms and wild shriek for vengeance . For when the day of retribution comes , we fear that the demand will be for vengeance ; the word Justice having long lost all its charms for the Irish ear .
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ENGLISH LAW versus DURHAM LAW . T . n our last , we announced tho fact that Mr Roberts had obtained a writ of Habeas Corpus from Mr . Justice Patieson , ordering the attendance in person of the six Coal King Victims who had been consigned to Durham Gaol , by the Durham Justices —there to be kept to bard labour , and upon the Bilont system . In compliance with the legal order the six prisoners , in ousbody of the Governor , together with Mr . Roberts aud Mr . Marshall , the Solicitor for the Coal Kings , arrived in London at
six o ' olook on Saturday morning , and at ten , the hour appointed for hearing the case , the parties appeared before his Lordship—Mr . Bodkin , M . P ., being retained un behalf of the men , aad Mr . Clarkson on behalf of the masters ; and , after a patient consideration of the case , having heard counsel on both Bides , the Constitutional Judge ordered the prisoners to be forthwith discharged from the custody of the gaoler , aad they ^ were forthwith set at liberty . So far we " might have rested satisfied with the wholesome reproof thus
administered to a set of tyrannical masters aad ignorant Jastice 8 , and we should not have included them further in our general commentary upon the value of English law , but forthe following reason : —The Constitutional Judge having no interest in oppressing the working classes , but evinoing rather a desire to afford them the cheapest exposition of the law , directed that one of each of the two batches who had been tried and convicted at different times should be brought up uuder the writ of Habeas Corpus , and that the judgment upon those appearing should also extend
to the others . This course was proposed for the purpose of saving the prisoners the expence and inconvenience of a journey of nearly 600 miles . The proposition was acquiesed in by the Constitutional Judge , provided the prosecutors should agree . Now let the reader perfectly understand this portion of the case . Six poor Colliers were convicted by the Durham Justices , three at one period included in the same warrant , and three at another period also included in another warrant . The case of one of eaoh batch was the case of all of that batch , and the decision of the Learned Judge upon the question
submitted to him upon the . personal ^ appearance of one would equally apply to the others . The Learned Judge could not compel the prosecutors to agree to this proposition , but he assented to it . When Mr . Roberts made an application to the prosecutors upon the subject , they instantly refused compliance , and tyrannically insisted upon the appearance of every man of the six—thus imposing a useless expense of between £ 40 and £ 50 on their victims , as well as subjecting four of them to a journey of naarly 600 miles . We would ask if such an act requires further comment than the mere promulgation of it .
We have . before spoken out upon the course pursued by the Durham Justices with reference to this oaee , as well as several other cases connected with the complaints of Colliers . Our notions upon this subject have been gathered , not from the facts elicited upon tbe one isolated case , but from the generally entertained feelings of the whole mining population towards this discription of tribunal . The refusal to grant summonses against ] the masters ; the deep-rooted conviction upon tbe minds of men not at all politically tinged , that to go to Castle Eden or
Durham for justice was useless . The courtesy , the patience , and even interest with which the propositions of the masters , made through their Solicitor , Mr . Marshall , were received ; the eruption of lava emitted upon each attack upon the masters by Mr . Roberts . The uncalled for and offensive insinuations against . the part he had acted , tending to evince rather a sorrow for the loss of labour , than for a violation of th « law . From all these circumstances we gathered this undeniable fact , that the men are not , as indeed they could not be , satisfied
with the administration of Durham justioe . In al 1 these conjectures we might be mistaken altogether — there not being sufficient to warrant us in charging themwithany deliberateactoftyranny or corruption ; but what we did charge them with , and what we do charge them with , is ignorance—ignorance so great , so dangerous , and so disgraceful , as to render them unfit for the administration of the English laws-Those who have read the case will remember that Mr . Roberts more than once warned them of the injustice and illegality of trying the three prison era
jointly . They therefore proceeded with their eyes open in the commission of an act which Mr . Justice Pattison has declared to be illegal . Let us now be minute upon this , the Magistrates portion of the case . They tried three men charged with separate offoncea , altogether ; made the whole body ot evidence which bora upon any one , to bear equally upon all ; so that if their notions of law are correct , they might with equal propriety have included every pitman of the 500 working at ^ the Thornley Col li ery . But why not Why should the science of justice stand still amid the gigantio improvements by whioh the mind is startled [ and the eye astonished . Why not" double
deck" the bench as well as the mules 2 Why not trial by steam as well as steam production I Why not a community of justice as well as cooperative stores or community of labour ! What boots it , though " one man violated the Thornley bond by keeping a donkey , against which there is an express provision , or another by keeping a dog , against whioh , notwithstanding the tariff , there is an actual prohibition , or although another had refused to pay £ 1 2 s . Od . fine out of 4 s . 6 i . wages i Why not bray them , lash them , mash them all up in one mortar and make a compound of new and improved victims out of the several component parts !
Our readerB are familiar with the old story of the son who was weary of the dull process of repeating grace daily orer a barrel of herrings that was provided for the " Lent" store , and , for brevity's sake , asked his father to say grace over the whole barrel at once . Now there was sense in that , for although the herrings might have been taken , and saved , and eaten , at divers tithes and places , and although consequently the grace should have been said with a " continuando "
yet execution executed being the end of the law , the herrings could not justly complain of having suffered damage from the general act of blessedness , and so it might have been with some of the victims , especially with one who ' had suffered materiallyl from incarceration . Nowit was against the steam law that the old constitutional mental manufacturer protested . It was principally upon this act of injustice that the Learned Judg ^ aw the propriety of annulling tho judgment of their mightinesses . It is impossible to overrate thu value of the triumph of the six Miners .
The Colliers of the County of Durham will now have learned that if there is no justice to be had at Castle Eden or Durham , or from the Durham Justices , there is justice to be had in Westminster Hall , at the hands of the administrators of the laws of England . How often have we preached this doctrine How often have we told our readers that in the law there is a scabbard for every unjust thrust !—a provision sgainst every actof tyranny—aye , and retribution far every act of injustice ? The fault lies here . The disparity of ^ wealth allows the rich man to procure the law ' s spirit and the law * B delay , while
the poor man must submit to the law's letter , and the law ' s rapidity . This disparity , however , as we have frequently shown may be destroyed , by the poor thousands clubbing their pence against the rich one ' s pounds , and had the several trades' unions spent onetwentieth part of the money in procuring law , that they have in sustaining strikes , they would by this time have found themselves richer , more powerful , and better paid . We trust that it is not too late even yet to begin anew , and to impl ore the people to use the constitutional law as a corrective of magisterial ignorance .
Ignorance was bo grossly and so glaringly manifested in the recent case , that we trust the Lord Chancellor's mind will be directed to the necessity of appointing persons , to the Commission of the Peace
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with some better qualification than that of political sympathy . Surely , if some qualification be neces * sary for apothecaries , surgeons , physicians , attornies , and parsons , who have the care of our health , our souls , and our properties , some qualification should be required of those who may have entire oontroul over the lives and the liberties of the working classes . 1 Again , therefore , we would urge upon the Colliers [ the absolute necessity of contending for the appointment of stipendiary magistrates , whose
knowledge of the law will be a requisite qualification , and whose administration of justice-will be above suspicion . Although from our ignorance of the individuals who constituted the Bench in the Durham case , we cannot charge them with any act of wilful corruption , yet We repeat it , that masters being magistrates , and administering the law , if not in their own : case , in others , from which a precedent may be drawn , casts a suspicion around that tribunal , whose value should consist in being free from even doubt . !
Suppose that those men who are now at large had been allowed to spend the allotted time in prison , how unjust , and yet how many thousands are now lingering out their time in the felon ' s cell simply because they bad not the means of appealing to the justice of the law against the ignorance of the law breakers . So much for the past , of this vitally important case , acd now for the future . We learn from Mr . Roberts that Mr . Marshall , the Solicitor of the Coal Kings , said , upon leaving t he Constiutional JudsbuI " WELL , WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THEM pP . " Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof , and should the masters carry the threat of Mr . Marshall into effect he and they shall find that sufficient unto the act shall be our comment
thereon . £ But the men to whom the words of the Solicitor may be aj warning or a dagger will be pleased to learn that {| Mr . Roberts has taken it as the . herald ' s proclamation of war , as the black flag intimating ^ no quarter . And although perfectly willingjtoresfc satisfied with iha triumph that bis clients had achieved he became at once bound , nay forced , compelled by ' this declaration of war , to attack the fortress of the enemy ; and to this end be has under the advice of ( able counsel filed a bill against the masters for violation of all the terms of the contract , and will ] follow it up by an application for an injunction to stay all further proceedings against the Colliers until ihe issue between them is tried . He has further served the magistrates with notices of action for the illegality of their decision .
We trust that the Whig and Tory tools of the masters—the Durham Advertiser , that never has time to write a comment upon passing events—and the Durham Chronicle , that ^ doesn't know how to write upon the past , present , or future , will , if they dabble at all in this case , tell their few readers that the course about to be pursued by Mr . Roberts has been forced upon him by Mr . Marshall , the Solicitor for the Coal Kings , and communicate to the shopkeepers of Durham the fact , that the £ 650 a fortnight taken out of their tills , has been taken , out or rather iepfc out , not by Mr . Roberts , but by . the injustice , the cruelty , and intolerance of the tyrant
masters . Again , we say the law—the law—a blow from Mr . Justice Pattesok is stronger , more powerful , and more deadly to oppression than' 10 , 000 shots aimed by dissatisfied man at hisfellowcreature . Wherever we have been legal ! Chartists , we have either wholly triumphed , or at all events , procured the full value of our money in the laws expedition . We will look with intense anxiety to the course that shall be taken by the colliery delegates at Manchester , upon [ this all-important threat of the masters through their adviser Mr . Mahshall . While ( vo would especially direct their attention and that of the whole ! trade to tbe following paragraph , now going the round of the papers -.
—General Strike in the Collieries . We are sorry to learn that the pitmen of another considerable colliery , in addition to Tbornley , have struck work since our last ; and it is currently reported that others will shortly follow their example —Durham Chronicle . Against the ' above piece of incendiarism , for we can call it by no other name , we moat earnestly , urgently , and ] emphatically caution the Miners . We tell them that none save tricksters , traffickers , tools , rogues , or fools , will endeavour to Force them into a strike . \ They have now tried the operation of the law , and why sully their fresh and maiden
triumph by an act which would turn both law and sympathy against them . Let them takd heed lest they entrammel themselves within the legal construction ; which means the most suitable one of the law of conspiracy . Let them not suppose that because being innocent , tbe law has protected them , that if they become guilty , the Jaw will favour them , or even look mercifully upon their ignorance . Should the Colliers strike , let the responsibility fall upon the heads of those through whose dark counsels tho aot bas been forced upon them , while we interpose our counsel to save them from all the horrorB of a strike and its horrible consequences .
From the confidence that the whole body reposes in us , and to ; which wo consider onrspl «> fl juctly entitled , we would request of some workman in each colliery to read ; this article to the whole of their brethren , concluding thus : —next week we shall give such full and cogent reasons against a strike as to make the aot little short of suicide , while we further request that no step may be taken until the decision of the ManchesterConference shall have been
ascertained . A STRIKE IS THE THING UPON WHICH THjS MASTERS RELY AS THE ONLY MEANS OF BREAKING UP THE INFANT UNION .
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And the like feeling toward the heroic exiles cc * . tinned to be exhibited by the press for some fe » years subsequently . But of late , men appear to have forgotten that there is , or , at any rate , was a Poland . We know that there are Poles ; for we have an annual city * ball for their benefit : and this year has wit . nessed grave discussions in the Times as to the propriety of devoting these balls to the aid of one owa poor , rather than to tbe relief of expatriated " foreigners . " It no doubt is quite right to look to the case of our own poor first : and we are certainly
not of that class of mock philanthropists to rouBe whose sympathies it is necessary to bring before them some case of suffering from the uttermost ends of the earth , while they are blind to the misery existing around them . We are not philanthropists of that school . Still we do not believe in the doctrine that we should not sympathisa with others , because ourselves need sympathy . 'Tis not charity , but justice that the people of this country require . Give them that , and at the same time withold riot sympathy from the destitute and friendless stranger .
But we demand , on behalf of Poland , something higher , nobler , than mere charity balls .,. ^ We demand tbe continued sympathies of the press in support of the cause for which Poland ' s children are suffering . We have seen with sorrow the anniversary of the Polish struggle pass by and not a pen employed in defence
of" Tfce noblest cause thattongue or sword , Of mortal ever lost or gained . " Other matters pressing upon us at the moment , prevented our taking up this subject as we had intended to have done in the Star of the 2 nd instant ; but we could not allow the present year to pass by without renewing our protest against the fearful wrong—the deadliest of all blows ^ struck at the cause of civilization and human progress , the blotting out of an entire nation , because that nation stood between progression and absolutism , the van-guard of the former , the terror of the latter .
We have never ceased to raise our voice on behalf of unhappy Poland , and in impeachment of her imperial murderer . And at what fitter time could we raise our voice in so holy a cause as the present , when men are celebrating the birth of him whose golden rule was , "Do unto thy brother asthou wouldst thy brother should do unto thee" ! We abhor oppression , and have pledged ourselves to do battle to the death with wrong and tyranny in our own country ; and shall we forget the sufferings of the exile , and the wrong done ia that exile ' s heritage , by blood-reeking barbarous despotism!—Never !
It were useless to dwell upon the acts of tyranny and cruelty which have been perpetrated in Poland during tho last twelve months ; such as the horrible ukase by which all the Catholics in the provinces of Volhynia , Padolia , and Ukraine , are ordered to embrace the Russo-Greek religion in the course of two years , on pain of exile and the confiscation of their property ! or tbe more recent edict of the parple-clad monster , by which the Jews are banishedfrom all parts of his dominions which border on Austria and Prussia . The reasons assigned for this decree , which expels nearly three hundred thousand individuals from house and home , without so much
a 3 assigning them a refuge elsewhere , are , forsooth , that the Jews have seduced Russian soldiers to desert , and have been guilty of smuggling and general injustice ! This last charge comes well from a government whose officials throughout the empire , from the highest to the lowest , are addicted to bribery , peculation , corruption , and peouniary frauds of all kinds , to a degree eoarcely credible among the more civilised nations of Europe . All these hideous acts of tyranny are the necessary consequences of the one monster crime permitted by Europe—the partition of the territory and the dissolution of the nationality of Poland .
We have witnessed with sorrow tho falhng-off of the annual demonstrations on the glorious though illfated 29 th November ; a falling-off strikingly visible this year in particular . There must be causes for this . If we mistake not , the greater number of the emigrants in this country consist of tbe aristocratic se otion of the exiles . The aristocrats caused the failure of the Revolution ; and the lack of energy they exhibited as the leaders of the straggle , they are not likely to supply under present circumstances . Again , the English democrats are not verylikely to co-operate with men who are patronized by the aristocratic oppressors of the English
people ; with men who , though they were anti-Russian , were anti-democratic ; who , though they hated Russian tyranny , hated still worse social freedom , and refused to sink their class privileges in the common rights of all . With such men the English democracy , whose motto is , " For the people and by the people , " are not likely to sympathise . Hence the melancbsly fact that at the recent meeting in the Sussex Rooms , the audience was composed entirely of Poles , when there / . jght to have been thousands of the English people present to have expressed their respect for the Polish *~ -se and their detestatation of Russian b « " * rI 8 m '
Wa turn to a Dortion of Poland ' s exiled children to demand of them the adoption of a wiser policy than that which has produced the above results . We turn to the democratio Poles , and call upon them not to forget tbe work of their mission Nearly twelve years since , they formed themselves into a society < for the purpose of organizing an enlightened European opinion in favour of the restoration of Poland . Seven years since , that Sooiety addressed its manifesto to the democracy of Europea document breathing the pHre spirit of holiest patriotism—setting forth its cause , its objects , and
means of accomplishment . At that time a section of the Society existed in England , considerable for its numbers , and respectable for the intellect and patriotism of its members . Some of them have since been borne to the refuge of the injured , " where the wicked cease from troubling , and the W 6 ary are at rest . " Others have been scattered abroad by the necessity of struggling for an honourable subsistence Still there have been subsequently holden at Portsmouth and other places , gatherings of the brave and true . But now all appears a blank , the cause being entirely abandoned to the protege ' s of Lord Dodlet Stuart . We remind the democrats of their pledges
and their great , and as yet unaccomplished , mission to remember that they are the representatives of sixty millions of Sclavonians , denationalized and held in bondage by the crowned brigands of Europe ; to remember that their country is the frontier of civilised Europe , and the ancient protector of the West against Northern and Eastern barbarism : to remember that their countrymen , to the number of twenty millions , the greater part of whom are in a state of actual slavery to their degenerated Polish and cruel Russian lords , look to them as their deliverers from their worse than Egyytaia bondage . And let not the democrats despair of a future and triumphant victory .
For" If we do bat watch the boar , There never yet was human power Tkat could evade , if unforgiven , The patient search and vigil long Of them who treasure up a wreng , " The very scattering of the Poles amongst the nations of the earth may be destined to hasten th » universal emancipation of the European family , amongst whom they at present exist , a monument of human endurance . and undying patriotism , stimulating less heroic nations to the like sacrifices in defence of liberty * . Moreover , who will assert that
the sixty millions of Slavons may not yet shake off the chains of the " Holy Alliance , " and under the banner of federal republicanism unite once more I What ! when France , Germany , and Switzerland are heaving with the silent yet steady workings of a Revolution destined to destroy the reign of privilege * and sweep away the crimes of caste ; when Greece once more rivals her ancient gloria ^ and even priest-blighted Italy and Spain make efforts , though vain , yet promising brighter things in defence of freedom ; whea even in this " nation of shopkeepers "—this gold-corrupted , commerce-cursed England , an unequalled Revolution is advancing *
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THE TAILORS' PROTECTION SOCIETY . Since tt * great meeting of the above body , held at the National Association Hall , High HoSom , on Kov . 27 th , vast isrmberB of tbe trade have become members of the several sections . In addition to the stimulus given to the Houses of CsU , the Central Committee Slave been almost nightly called uyoa to attend as deputations upon the several societies - » ho have solicited their attendance , to explain the principles , 4 c . On ^ Tuesdayfortnight , Messrs . Parrott , Parker , audEames attended al the Three Creirza , Richmond Street , Soho . The deputation having at great length entered into explanations , the society irhich consists of & 60 raem-Icrs , expressed themstlTes perfectly satisfied , being 0 / opinion that -unless tbe trade generally adopt . tbe principles of a General Union , there is no hope of making a successful stand against the encroachments ef the principal capitalists . The above named gentlemen also
attended by xciitstien a respectable society , meeting at tbe George , Ss . Mary Axe , -when a number of questions "were put , and tbe objects explained , all of -which Save satisfaction . A vote of thanks -were unanimously passed to the deputation , and the meeting separated With the understanding that the question skonld receive tall consideration , A delegate meeting of the Houses of Call having "been convened for Thursday last , Dec Slst , at tbe Bme Posts , Uupert-street , Haymarket , to -which tbe Central Committee were especially invited , Messrs . Murray and Esau , from the Three Crowns , Sogera and Sutherland , from the Two Cbainuen , Black sad Irons , from the Fleece , Hopkins and Osborne , from the Sing ' s Head , Moeneyand Kelly , from the Bine Posts , and & delegate from the Robin Hood , attended from the Houses of CalL Messrs . Parrott , Parker , y » TT > p « Cotter , Donaldson , jg-rans , Simpson , Eiiand , and Brindle attended on behalf of the Protection
Sodety : the delegates represented nineteen societies and i . gec&ms . : After the preliminary business had betn disposed of , ; an animated discussion took place , in -which several of fiie delegates lock part . The ntmosi good feeling prevailed . All traced an ardent desire to carry out ' tbe formation of the General United Tailors' Protec-Uon S ~ etety . The meeting having been continued to a' late hour , so adjournment vras carried to Monday evening , Jan . j -Stb , 1844 , to be held at the same place , to which all j societies not represented are respectfully invited to i ¦ esd delegates . Thus by tbe perseverance of a few j indefatigable individuals , has ihe trade , both in to-wn ' aa » d country , been aroused to a sense of its -wrongs , and j ¦ Which , it is to be hoped , iriil ultimately attain those light ) that are inherently the property of tbe -wealth- j producing class * . —Correspondent . ¦ ]
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SHALL POLAND PERISH ! ; u What though y . eur cause bo beffl ^ d—freemen cist In dungeons— -dragged to death , or forced to flee , Hope is not withered in affliction ' s blast !—The patriot ' s blood ' s the seed of freedom ' s tree . ' ' When in 1830 the people of Poland rose against their foreign oppressors , and attested by an uninterrupted series of victories gained in bloody con tests their devotion to their country , and their heroism in its ^ defence ; when astonished Europe saw the immense hordes of the tyrant Czar
scattered like chaff before the hurricane by a comparative handful of brave men ; when for the space of ten months tile gore-dyed demon of the North had not one solitary j victory to boast of , but everywhere saw his legions mowed down by the scythearmed youth of Poland ; ( hen did the newspaper press of this Country , forgetting its prostitution to the services of despotism at home , bail with shouts of joy tho triumphs of the heroic Slavons , and dwell with delight on the hoped-for suocess of the glorious struggle .
When again that struggle had ended in ruin . ; when betrayed by treachery , lost by the inherent vices of the Polish aristocratioal system , and refused the aid which the Polish people had a right to expect from the Governments of England and France j when these and { other causes had combined to give the victory once more to the oppressor , and doom the oppressed to death , chains , and exile , and the blackness of despair a&ain floated over unhappy Poland , where late the sun of hope bad shone
refulgent ; when Warsaw's streets rang with the groans of the slaughtered and the Bhrieks of the wronged , and the savage iknout tore the living flesh from the backs of Poland ' s daughters , and they were subjected to hellish ! horrors to which , our pen refuses to give a name ; when , ia short , brutalities and enormities , black as Stygian night , were committed by the triumphant Autoorat on his vanquished and prostrate viotim ,: again did the press teem with denunciations of the tyrant , and excite a righteous indignation at his cruelties .
And when the heroes of Poland ' s broken paalanzes sought refuge from their vindictive and merciless persecutor m the bosoms of the nations of the West , thejpres 3 nobly did its duty in . welcoming the exiles tojour shores , and consoling the fallen by pledging the sympathies of the existing generation to the cause of Poland ' s resuscitation and restored nationality .
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. "¦ ' A _ THE NORTHERN STAR , j ¦ = _?
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 30, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct514/page/4/
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