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Northern Star (1837-1852), 31st March 1838, Edition 3 of 3, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      ~ ¥ HE TEADES' COMBINATION COM' yrmre to the working ; classes . rpjnxow-WoaKKEKr-It would seem that every ' StSe cessation fivm' the daily toil , to which corrupt ¦ nil pirtialmrtrtTTt ^ " bare d oomed v * , isTeqnired to-be occupied is TiKgant Tratchfalness ; lest we Call otifi lawer la the « cale of poterty , sod lose those few - * yjafng advantage * -our united energies have justly •^ neaerred , despite of cupidity , avarice , and exclu-^* w » p ower . Wentws , through aH past times , been a perse « nt ^ and calumniated class ; oar oppressorshave ^ nwed in to the earth , and scorned -us because ire tccc down—they hay * kept knowledge from our HRftA , aad taunted us with onr ignorance—they jbsre goaded « wb * to violence by their injastice , and aj wroepuigly condemned a // as participators in the -gaSi .

      Within these few months , the corrupt pens of the ^ aivileged , and aspesious tonfaes of the idle and the -wealthy , have been indostriooily engaged in vfllify-3 atg and condemning the sons of labour j they have ' ao&gnified isolated acts of violence into crimes of the "ilackest atrocity ; theyhave sought to prevent justice , ¦ i / r slander ; and what they failed to trubstan--4 tete by facts , they have depicted in words of deadly . seanl&g . They have not " hesitated to condemn all oral unions , because guilty individual * have been -detected in tome—as reasonably might the nobility nSf England be generally condemned as criminals , because the most dishonourable crimes have been irought home to individual members .. 3 ut , fellow-countrymen , while we solemnly conjam aH acts of violence , we greatly question whether the violent proceedings of unionists were the origijudne motives for tins parliamentary investigation .

      We rather suspect them to be the aiuriout desire fur ¦ deepened laooter , and for disuniting the . people IJaions of-the people are the weakness of their sppressors , and the cheap labour of the industrious 3 Sthe gain of the privileged orders of society—do we - * rant any other reason to account for the enquiry * We havebeen told that Trades' Unions are mischie vous monopolies . Well , so are the exclusive mono , . polies of law-making between peers and teu--j > oanden »—so are the Trades' Unions among lawyers —Jfche chartered monopolies of the East and . West—~ && agricultural monopoly i * also highly mischievous —^* o are guzzling and useless corporations , and a anoltitude of others that might be named . There-Sire , wbr begin by condemning us ? Simply , friends , because our combinations may endanger she existence of aH the rest .

      We are gravely condemned for charging large ¦¦ jamsfor admission into our unions j those wijo make tie charge forget , we presume , their own union fees . They also forget that the capital we hare honestly ^ accumulated for the purpose of supporting our mem' 2 > ers when ont of employment ; when sick , accidentally wounded , or unfortunate ; or far burying ^ banwn dead ; cannot he justly shared with those « &o ke *» p from ns at their pleasure , or join us at &aax convenience . _ . " . . Our , so called , " insolent" dictation to employers iias been denounced in tht strongest terms ; the presumption that working men should dare refuse 3 d bow submission to their master ' s terms , or work xith those who will , is indeed intolerable to men of

      ¦ TPealfe and power . They choose not to remember ^ sar toilsome condition from youth to age ; the tjhreats and taunts to which we are daily subject ; She proscriptions and persecutions we meet with in ** cr efforts to sustain our wages ; the documentary = § OTWof base servility often proposed as die altema"Ssfc of ** work or starve ; " and , with all our care and ~* rngao ' ty , the end of our indnstrious career too often She union workhouse . STe have been recently assured b y certain news .-^ pspjer writers , that all our combinatious are ineffec-* aal and mischievous , as we cannot raise oar wages above the natural level . Let us hear what professors = d ? political economy say on thif subject . The naiaralrate of wagesZ according to Jh . Smith , "is joot only He commodities that are bidispaisubiy

      ne--cessary far the support of life , but whatever the eustom of ' the country renders it indecent for credii-= -i £ fe people of ihelovxst order to be tcjtA ' out . " . You -tsSI perceive , therefore , if the working classes of -fingland are fcontent with low diet , bad clothing , ^ aad mud cabins , they will continue , to compete = sridi one another , till the natural rate of wages is so reduced as only to procure snch miserable snbsist--ssce , instead of those superior comforts which their issxrezsiiig knowledge and industrial powers have < 2 Stabhsbed as the " custom" of their country . . jBut , tben , weshallbe told thatthe amount of wages TJrastbe governed by the supply of labourers with the ¦ dssaand Jot their labour , and , therefore , it is a foll y ~ i&-mombiae to endeavour to force the "price of labour

      iia opposition to this law . We reply , that trade unions 3 a , to a great extent , regulate ^ e number of labour-* ers in ttie bibour market . TS , for instance , -the ¦ gpsesenl demand for labour is only egual . to 100 ^ bourers , and if there be 120 competing for this &mmd , without any union omnderstandxng among ^> egi , &ey -will continue to undersell one ' another r ^ SL their wages aTe brought down to the lowest point ¦ ^ f-sobastence . -But , if they unite in a trade society , r 3 m& 9 by subscribing their means , agree to take tne -rinesitf surplus hands out of the market ( by paying ~ 8 wm so much weekly . ) they cut off the competition , Jfeepup their wages , and are in a situation to . take - ^» avao ± age of any _ increased demand , and to getem-> pJoyment for their twenty surplus labourers . ~ Sovr ,

      zzasis no fandfel theory-r-it is the mode adopted by -tpaaiy trade societies in town and country . We wifl 3 sere pass over other advantages , such as support in - « sfaiess and old age , and aiding their surplus num--Sess to emigrate , which many societies embrace , and otninne ourselves more immediately to the question . 3 Sul we " shall be told that there is a point beyond "TsiM&wecannotJbrceourwages ; eranted-r-butthat ^ 2 s £ o reasonwhy we should Dortrr to keep onr ¦ present position , and Tnn 7 nfflTp as far ' as we are able , . * respectable class of workmen in the country , as « eS as shopkeepers and tradesmen who depend on "ffeeTB ) who will contend for comfortable subsistence , -sad , rather than he content with less , will take refuge xb . -other countries , if they cannot improve the condi--2 OU of their own . Bat then it will be said , " that if we insist on high * = wages we cannotmeet foreign competition . " In reply , -we would urge them not to forgetthe superior udvanhome

      ^ t ^ ge of a profitable consumption . For if wages . ¦ we to be continually reduced to meet foreign competzikm , there will be a gradual lessening ofour home -dade ; the respectable ckss of shopkeepers aud ^ naesnen , who are somewhat prosperous by reasons .-flftthe present wages of the working classes—if these " = « ages were reduced down , or any ways appnmmat" sftg , tothose of our unfortunate Irish brethren—would -soon be driven from the country , or sink into the ¦^ me degraded dara we should all be . reduced to—-he mere starring- condoctore of the splendid maclii-Bsrv of England ; manufacturing to clothe thenaied - ¦« a > e world and be in rags ourselves . Nay , as low ^ sg" tend to peipetuate ignorance , and " degrade -a » d orutahze a people , it is questionable whether "Sag-capital now employed in our extensive mannfac" 3 S * es wmdd have any security for its existence ; ' for as -sanflar causes have prevented capital from taking ~ = *** in Ireland , so might the boast of England be - ¦ ffinven to other climes .

      Sot it has been said that we should retain the -same amount of wages if we had no combinations . ""** - ^ o , " says Mr .-WCnBoch . ( no bad judge-by the " ^ ajj—* : Somaster , " says he , " everwilfin ? lycbnaaats to ral « e wages ; and the claim either of one , or *^ L i fcw ^ dividiials , far an advance of wages , is " 5 kety to be disregarded as long as their fellows con--zmae to work at the old rates . It is only when the ^ iole or the greater part of the workmen combine , in- act in a simultaneous manner f which is equivalent -S © a . combination ) , and refhse to work without ^ receiving an mcrease of wages , that it becomes the JBterest of flie master to comply with their demand . " Oar era experience proves the troth of this . " With--osi combination , we should rapidly be reduced to

      T £ e starvation point ; and , even with the advantages « f Pinion , we are continually being called upon to act eh the defensive against our employers , individuaOf or coUectirelf , who cannot resist the temptation rfreducing our wages in order to add to their profits . ¦ Sot , even when , they are most successful in fheir f % ect , their benefits are fleeting , as the competition ^ aetween themselves soon brings down their profits to 3 » eir former level . ^ 3 jhe immense sacrifice of capital occasioned by mattes has t « en greatlT lamented by some persons , * aa eloquentl y enlarged upon to our prejudice . But , « e would ask , do striken always originate with us ? « r are . ours only remembered , while those of our -employers are justified or forgotten ? We at-once

      ' 3 r ^ Lr * en" « the sacrifice , aud have generally ^ el the result m our persons and our homes . Bat have those persona calculated the sacrifice , ^ considered the result of ouT m& ^ u ^ W ^«^> W ^ & S ;^ igU v ^ I > ose without 1 = sa * ggte ? Werespect&D y ^ submit oar own experi-** & £ **'¦ $ " * ; umn ? diate V" 8 » feto « gam ? n 6 ^ to us , but to society at large , in preseran ^ Oie ^« rW classes from porerty and ignorance ? the aaentable result oflow wages—clearly demonstrated "tt&verj cotmtry where men are badly paid for their 3 a £ © nr . If no combiaation existed among-us , and "wa ^ loyers cjjgM freely select the orer-burthenedand -Sajadportiojrtjpaieir workmen to propose their own

      rxsuujB . or semle tenn ^ -the- consequencra would be ^ so « . ap ^ jarent among ns- ^ ypocrisy , tmnning :, and -2 Bje _ semlity wonld be gjeuerated- ^ and a hundred " 3 » sanrQneemploy wouM afford a hundred instru-^ aea&fiir KefincmgaH lothe same degraded leveL — " ^ f i ofonly 6 d . a-day among the labour" ^^ Jtopalatioii of Great Britain , exclusive of their - ^^ amoBntto ^ sOp ^ m ^ This -iX&a&Baassazn , at . prejent circulatedii ' wageii among - ^^^^^^ raiesni ^ aight a * firsU ^ " add 3 ^^ &ggg ^> aasgsi SSSffi ndup&m

      f 'i&yB ^ QS ^ took place , be . soon

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      forced to competejriiih him for a subsistence . We presume , therefore , that the loss occasioned by strikes is trifling when contrasted with the greater evil But we shall be told that the amount of capital will notbelost True . 'neither is the capital produced by the half-starved peeaan try of Ireland ; but it might a | well be lost , as far as their comforts are concerned , as it leaves their hearths and homes in desolation , and goes where greater security i » fonnd for its em * ployment . We are charged with 'drunken , dissipated habits the eonsequence of receiving toQ lugh wages . ~ We deny the charge so sweepingly made , espeaally against the members of our unions ; and more & do we deny that high wages promote the enL With few exceptionS i onr unions are composed of men who wilHngly make present sacrifices to secure

      distant benefits , habits seldom blended with dissipation . Bat , admitting that the vice of drunkeuness is still too prevalent among working men , what wholesome means have been taken to check its Srogress ? Has any consideration of the protracted ours of "• labour " V unwholesome atmospheres , devised any rational enjoyments in which they could share , apart from intoxicatioB ? Have any means been taken to raise up those whom poverty has prostrated , or to prevent others from falling ? Has wholesome knowledge been freely circulated among them , to snpersede vicious excitement ? Has any encouragement ( or even legal security ) been given them tobuild their own place * of meeting , and share in those advantages other classes enjoy ? No ; on the contrary , they have been treated like mere machines ; to toil in youth , and starve iu age .

      . Fellow-workmen , we have deemed it advisable thus to notice the charges that have been recently re-echoed against our unions . We do not contend that thpy are the moat perfect arrangements that could be devised ; but we feel confident that without them we should soon be reduced to a state of misery of which we can form little conception . At " present those who are not in union have their wages protected by those who are . But if any new enactment is to result from the forthcoming inquiry which will endanger the existence of our unions , we may as well cast to the winds our hopes of progressive improvement and brighter prospects ; for , with the poverty and degradation that will inevitably ensue , will return the ignorance and brutality of the people , and the riotings and burning which characterized former days . '

      Brethren ,-if we have in any wny succeeded in convincing yon of the great importance of union , and the necessity of bringing all your powers and energies together to resist any new infringement on vonr ~ most sacred right ? , we shall not deem our labour altogether vain . Waremain , iu the cause of union , your EeU ' owwork $ en , the London Trades'Committee . Signed on their behalf , W . LOVETT , Secretary . Conmtiitee Rooms , March 19 th , 4 , Bridge-sireet , fi ' eslminsier .

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      Oi MEETING OF BEER SELLERS . On Monday evening last , a meeting of the Beer Sellers in Leeds and the surrounding towns , wa « convened in the Music Hall , pursuant to advertise ment . Shortly after the time ( for our i « eds friends are nerer very punctual , ) there was a full attendance of Beer Sellers , who seemed to feel a deep interest in the proceedings about to be taken . Mr . llovsToxE was unanimously called to iili the chair . He inr . otluced the business of the meeting by reading the advertisement , which , he stated , was an invitation to all wlio felt an interest in the success

      of the trade . He hoped there would be no opposition to their proceedings , as it certainly was not their intention to entertain any question except such as related to the furtherance of the object of their meeting . He hoped , therefore , it would be unnecessary for frrm to say anything by way of exhorting them to keep order . They would feel the importance of this without any advice , seeing it was their own interest which was immediately at stake . Having made these observations , he should not further trespass upon their time ; but would call upon Mr . Bussey to move the first resolution . Mr . Bussey said it was well known among the Beer Sellers , whether it was known amoHg other classes or not , that their only object in thus meeting together was for the protection of their own immediate interests . They wished to be distinctly understood as having no ill-feeling towards anv other

      class of tradesmen ; on the contrary , they desired that all might be blessed with the greatest prosperity . All thai the Be-fir Sellers desired was a / air opportunity of retailing the article in which they deal upon the same footing as others who . « e 21 the same commodity . They were sot met to discuss the propriety of others" enjoying greater privileges than themselves . They were " met For the immediate protection of their own interests against monopol y of the worst , the most oppressive , and most vexatious kind . ( Hear , hear . ) All they desired was an equality of competition , and he saw no reason why the Beer Seller , who paid for all his privileges as well as the Publican , and freQuently at a rate much higher , should be depr ived of the same legal protection . ( Applause . ) With these sentiments he most cordially moved the resolution , which he had no doubt would merit their approbation .

      Mr . Richard Senior seconded the resolution , wh'ch chiefly adverted to the injustice of the distinction made by law between the Beer Seller and the Licensed Victualler . It was carried unanimously . Mr . Bluxt rose to move the second resolution . After reading it , he said it was in itself so expressive , and so highly calculated to gain the approval of every good man , that he would not attempt to say anything more in its favour than that it contained * his sentiments , that he fully

      concurred m every clause , and that it did meet with his most cordial and unqualified approbation . ( Loud applause . ) The resolution chiefly related to the inconvenience of the widows of Beer Sellers , in not being allowed to continue in the business after the death of their husbands , except upon very vexatious conditions ; and also to the inducement which was held out to common informers to press every little fault against them , inasmuch as ihe law directed that one-half of all penalties should be given to the informer .

      Mr . Stextox seconded the resolution , which was also carried unanimously . Mr . Bli ' xt , from Sheffield , then rose and said , that before presenting the third resolution to their notice , he wished , in a few words , to present to them the peculiar predicament in which , in many respects , they stood as Beer Sellers . ( Hear , hear . ) He considered , then , that they were outlaws in the str ictest sense of the word , for the law enacted that they should suffer their houses to be entered by whoever may demand admittance in the name of a policeman . This clai » s of men were invested with almost unlimited power aeoinst them ; they could not onl y demand admittance at any hour of the night , but they could proceed to break down their

      doors if they did not open them when they ( the policemen ) thought sufficient time had been given . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) It was the glory of an Englishmen that his house was his castle , —( hear)—into whiGh no man dared enter except under rery peculiar circumstances . It was not so with Beer Sellers . Robbers might come in the name of policemen , and they would be obliged to admit them . ( Hear , hear . ) Besides he saw no reason why every man should not have equal rights . ( Hear , hear . ) The law was sufficiently powerful and sufficiently stringent to compel every one to pay taxes ( uproarious cheers ) ; in this there was no rwspect ' of

      persons ( cheers ) , all must pay ; the Beer Seller as well as any others ; aad he demanded , therefore , that upon that principle they should have equal justice and equal ^ protection . Besidesitwas worthy of remark that since the beer act came into operation , that article had decreased Is . 3 d . in value , which was certaualy an advantage to the . public if it was moderately used . He was a Beer Seller ; but still he never wished men to make fools of themselves by abusing beer ; it was like every thing else , good iu its place , and bad if out of its place . ( Hear , hear . ) With these feelings , then , he begged leave to move the third resolution .

      Mr . TJuce , from Bradford , seconded the resolution . He said it was unnecessary for him to say any thing to the meeting to impress ! its importance upon their minds , that they already felt . He could very conscientiously second this resolution , which commended the principle of Mr . Warburton's bill now in the House of Commons , being aware that they deserved nothing from Government , except that they should- enjoy the same privileges which were already enjoyed by others who had no greater interest in the trade . More than this they did not ask , and with less they would never be content . ( Loud cheers . ) The resolution was carried unanimously . Mr . Thos . Taylor moved , and Mr . Hughes seconded the fourth resolution which related chiefly to the importance and necessity of enjoying equal rights , . mr . F . O'Coxkor then rose tmd was received with loud cheers . He said that before putting that resolution perhaps he might say a few words to the

      meeting . Terhaps by some it might be considered requisite that he should make an apology for being there . This , however , he thought would be admitted to be unnecessary when he stated that he was not a voluntary witness of their proceedings , but that he had been pressingly invited to attend their meeting . ( Hear , hear . ) He had been much astonished at several circumstances that had taken place in attempting to pass their resolutions . It appeared that upon introducing himself to the meeting , the Chairman expected something like oppoation to their proceedings . He knew not how any person could have the hardihood to come there to oppose" them when they had met for the sole purpose of asking Government for those rights which had steady been extended to others who were certainly no more worthy . ( Hear , hear , heap . ) Upon taking the show of hands for the last motion , there appeared to be a few at the other end of the room who had entirely lost sight of their own ii ^ eregt ,

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      for ifcBjqoesAnvtaOwdiediflthat rrtolution ! was not irhether bear wasonom wholesome than water ; but wh etheiaimaniihoiiW beprotected iathe sale of an article&t # bidch » v&& & »«? and taxen . ( Loud cheers !) H « feameaot thtre to adwcatelte interests oftneBedriadkrt exdouiwiyi bntineRjWto show thatto wish ^» iiwt « Ml « x «» nsiO ( n T ftnd adoptioti of the / Taluable * rindple , ^ Tha * n » n » bonld do others as they wishea <« &et » -Ao « 14 ~^ b > tp « fhcta ? : - ( Lo » i applause . ) He could not help saying , hoireter , that in some resp « cts ft * Beey ^ new deservedi thei ineonf venknees to which Aeywert subjected by the law , srKenfteTfaAr-Wot itbAdifnxtjrithiit was due to themsebea * nt ¦ Aear fetio i ^ 1 y » d € i » mBtt : as to laugh

      had heard one . poor fellow , kum » he came into the r 6 pm , st&i ? thathe b » 4 been fined 40 * . and costs that very day , andbFwos ' . « orry to see that the only effect this statement "had upon them 7 fa « to excite jheit laughter . ( Hear , ' hear . ! Thit , howeverj wai not the way to gaM respect for their cause ; for until they respected th ^» lre » and viewed their own interests in a proper light j in shorty untiVthey were combined to preserre thexiown interest from ! the grasp of oppre «! siou , Beitb ) erhe nor any other man , nor toe legislature itself would ever respect them . ( Hear , hear . ) If , then , they wished their . interests to be respected , they mtut learn to respect themselves . He fully concurred in all thV resolutions that had been

      proposed : he thotghi they did credit to their commits tee , and h » woiSd support thsanleecftuBe he thought they soufhtftf nothing more than equal justice . If the licensed viQtuall » n » , were to jneetto seek aredress of their grievaows , ha should be equally ready to lend then wery aid i » his jfower to obtain their redrew . Th » y Iab « ured under two distinct grievances—th « one tke responsibility of ti « landlord or hont for goods left is the car * of his servants ; and the other , that ae could not sue for more than a certain amount , if any debt w contracted with him by any of his customers . - These he thought hard laws , and he would endeavoui to obtain -their repeal so far as his influence went . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor

      proceeded 4 q address the nwetuig at great length . He adduced a great variety of argument toshew the Beer sellers the importance of organization amongst themselves , and of establishing a society for the mutual protection of their interests . His address was listened to with the greatest attention , frequently calling forth the loudest applause . After he had finished , a resolution was passed to petition Parliament for a redress of their grievancesv' A vote of thanks vras then given to- 'Air . O'Connor * for his able and his kind services ^ which was passed with acclamation . A rote of thank * was also given to the gentlemen who attended from Sheffield and Bradford : after which the meeting dispersed .

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      MEETING OF THE WORKING MEN'S ASSOCIATION AT BIRSTAL . On Tuesday evening last , the usual weekly meeting of the Working Men of Birstal and itsueighbourhood , was held at the Greyhound Inn , for the purpose of discussing political " question ' s , 'involving the interests of the working classes . Mr . O'Connor was particularly requested to attend and address the audience . At the time appointed for the commencsment of the proceedings , the large room , which is computed to hold several hundred persons , was crowded almost to suffocation ; and sliortly afterwards several hundred persons surrounded the house , anxious to hear what was going on , but without . th « possibility of jfaining ^ admission . " '

      Mr . Geo . Crowther . was unanimously called to the chair . He said he was exceedingly happy to mee > t such an assembly as was then convened ^ and for such a good purpose ; and he was still more happy at being able to state , that there was a gentleman there , of whose patriotism they had often heard , and who wonld then tell them his sentiments on various political questions which immediately affecled the interests of all working men , and which it was equally the -advantage and ; the duty of all fully to compreheud ; They were already acquainted with his sentiments , and it would be unnecessary , therefore , for him to reiterate them on the present occa » ion . The subject which it wag their intention more particularly to discuss was the Poor Law

      Amendment Act , and he was exceedingly glad that he should have no occasion to say much upon the subject , as there was a gentleman present , who would say a great deal more on the question than he was able to say , aud , he doubte < i not , would say it to much better purpose .: That gentleman had come there especially as the advocate of the rights of the people . It was true their acquaintance Avith him thus far was but very short ; he hoped , however , that they would be better known to each other in future . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) There was nothing more conducive to the enlightenf ment of the people thau that they should hear a great variety of opinions , and though much had not yet been dono in the way of instructing the inhjvbitants of that village , he could assure Air . O'Gounor

      that he would that evening address an audience that would understand hini , and that felt earnest aiid hearty in the cause which they were met to advocate . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) They might be told that the men of Birstal were sluggish and sleepy , and indifferent to the progress of Radicalism ; perhaps such a charge six months ago might have been true ; but now they had arisen from their drowsiness ; now they were awake ; now they knew what was their duty , and they were determined to perform it independent of every consideration less important than the senseof imperative duty . ( Loud cheers ;) Having said so much he would not longer trespass upon the patience of the meeting , but would at , once introduce to them the gentleman whom he was snre they were all anxious to hear . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . )

      Mr . O'Coxsor then rose amid loud cheers aud said , that after the character that had been given of the inhabitants of that sweet little village , in the simple and unaffected language of the Chairman , he had not the slightest'doubt that any person advocating the same principles which he had advocated through life , and which he was still determined to advocate , would be received amongst them with the heartiest welcome . ( Several voices welcome ! welcome !) He was proud that the question selected for discussion on that occasion was one on which he had bestowed much attention , both in the House of Commons ( where he represented the largest constituency in the United Kingdom , at the same time considering himself a citizen of the world equally devoted to the

      permanent interests of every class of the community ) , and out of that house ; and he was equally proud to state that , though he had represented an Irish constituency he had never lost sight of the interests of Englishmen which were likely to be fearfully compromised by that bill : and that lie had in consequence voted against every clause of it while passing through the House oi Commons . ( Loud cheers . ) He doubted not that there ^ vere manj * old men amongst them who had in part travelled the path of the immortal Cpbbett ; and who would perhaps recollect the letter of that renowed patriot to him , complimenting him on the support which hejiad given him in his staunch opposition to that airigraceful measure , and stating that had every Irish Member

      given it the same opposition which he ( Mr . O'G . ) had done , that bill , would never have passed into a law . ( Hear , hear . ) He was glad , then , that they had selected this question , which he had attempted tonipinits very bud , before it had been possible that it should blast the hopes of the working men of this country , —deprive them of their last miserable and only recourse , aud compel them when subjected to misfortunes which no human foresight could perceive nor any human skill avert , either to enter a bastile to be deprived of their liberty and every comfort which could render life worth enjoying , or starving to death amidst abundance . ( Hear , hear , and lpud cheers . ) Now he ventured to assert that the legislature had no more right to pass that bill than he had

      to go upon the highway , and commit a robbery . ( Hear , hear . ) Nay he was sure that the conduct of an open highwayman , who went at once to the traveller and demanded his money without any mask , was in its degree much more commendable than the conduct which the legislature had pursued in passing thin measure under the guise of beiug the repf esentiu tives of the people . ( Hear , hear , near . ) That bill was passed as a mortgage upon the labour ofthe people ; it interfered at once with every settlement that had been made for the provision of the poor , and consigned them and their -whole right , and property to the sole dominion of the three tyrants who sit in Somerset House . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Those who were acquainted with

      the history of the country would Well enough remember the general state of the laws which , at the time of Henry VIII ., related to the poor . They would remember that ample provision was made for them , until . that infernal fiend divided the property amongst the pimps , slanderers , and mock representatives of his day . ( Hear , hear . ) In the first place , he tried a few convents ( as it was never the policy of a Government to aim in ihe most direct manner , at plunder ); and having succeeded with these , like murdering the sentinel ? around a camp while the body ofthe army is sleeping , the remainder fellan eatiy prejjo the greedy grasp of that insatiable usurper . Hs&ry me-Eighth sent his commissioners , who , of toursefmadermauyiaqoiries , and , like the Whig commissioaerB under the Poor

      Law Amendment Act , reported a great deal about the , " abuses" of the old system , and thua-the monasteries and their revenues , which belonged to t £ e people , were seizeS by that grasping uend , and applied to his own pnrposes , and -the . purposes of those whomlie faToured about his infemous court ; ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Bat leaving- 'the old history of the poor laws , he should be sorry to base their rights upon any principle acknowled ged so fat back as the timeof Henry \ III . ; it was his opinion that the rights of the people should be , annually based upon the annual prosperity of the country \ and that as luxury advancea in progress ; throvigh the refinement and extension of science , the comforta of fte iuduatrious classes ofthe community should at least share an" equal , if not a greater , progress . ( Uproarious applause . ) He was not one of those who onsidered

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      thatthe people ought to be "hewenr of wood and drawers of water , " for : the comfort and con-Tenienc of the luxurious , while they themselves could neither warm themselves : with that wood when ; cold , nor slake theix thirst with that water when almost parched to death . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) He was not one of those who would advocate the docfeine ' of passive obedience and non-resistance ,, aa 4 of abiding byjie strict ¦¦ letterbt the law , while jmprovemffnte in legislation were going oh for the protection pf ; the Aristocracy , and : there was nothing done for i the advancement of the comfort of the poor ; but he asked that the science of legislation , in all its branches , should be rapidly hurried oh to the coal : of perfection . ( Hear , and loud

      cheer 8 . V He need uottell the men of Birstal that when this law was introduced into the Houfie of Commons , it was done r : at the instance of the capitalists , who'said that the poor rates were eating up the land . ( Hear , hear . ) They had not the honesty to tell the Government that if was not the poor rates thait was eating up the countrv , but the taxes . ( Continued cheering . ) ; Whe ' Q Lord Brougham introduced this bill into the House , he left the debt of jE 8 () 0 , 000 , 000 untouched ; he left the armyv the navy , the : cn : H : rCQ r and the privy cbuhcillors unmentioned , he saw not the great beam in the eye ofikosb drones who fatten upon the people ' s industry ; but he saw the mote that was in the eye of the poor * aiid he , forsooth , must pluck it out .

      ( Continued cheers . ) He ( Mr . O'Connor ) never dreamed of the poor rates being detrimental to the Aristocracy ,. for had it not . been for the Act of Elizabeth , by which a provision wag made for the poor , of which they had been deprived by Henry the Eighth , the Aristocracy would at this time have had no more tide to their lands than the title of tyrants : and it was therefore a favour to the Aristocracy to pass the 43 d of J ^ izabeth , if merely for the means of preventing those aggressiona which poverty must and ever will commit . ( Loudcheers ;) No act had ever been passed with the sole view of benentting the poor ;^—([ loud cries of hear , hear , )—and it might be said with t ) ve strictest : regard for truth s that wherever such was professed to be the case , that professipn . was ma < le : the ' niere ; cloak to lii . de its hideous deformities ..- ¦ . ¦(¦ Loud arid cpntinuedapplause . ) Mr . O'Connor procebded to address the meeting at

      great length , in which he adverted to a great variety of grievances of wlu ' ch the pebplir had to complain ; aria proved to the entire satisfaction of all present , that Universal Suffrage was the oaly real cure that could ever be : adopted with certainty and safety to the interests of every class of the community . Th 0 re was , perhaps , ' -.-never in any- village displayed so much intelligence and enthusiasm amongst the people as at Birstal . They seemed to , appreciate every sentiment to its / full value , and to have their eye alone on the one great object—Universal Suffragft , a 8 that which can alone prevent the enactment of : bad laws , and procure a . due . and proportionate respect to the cbmtorts and ¦ well-ljeing of the industriousi classes of the community . After the address Was finished , a vote of thanks vrns givaji . to Mr . O'Connor , accompaniedwith three hearty cheers , and " one cheer more . " . "'¦' ' .

      Mr . Healky , oho of our agents for Pewsburyj closed the meeting iu a short riddress ^ in which he amnounced the dinner ftiidiiweting at JDewsbury , on Monday the ICth of April , On Mr . O'Couhor ' slearing the place , a great body ofthe audience requested to accompaiiy ^ hnn a short distauce on the road ; which , ' , however , Mr . O'Coiinor declined .

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      THIv REPRESENTATIVE OF ALMONDBU ^ RYy AND HIS CONSTITUENTS . John Buckley , Esqi , "M .-P . and G . G . 7 begs leave to anriounce , "through your periodical ; to hii coustituents . and the public in general , that he has not been able to take his sent ampn ^ the >« cx ' it . reprejsentatives of his injured country , in consequence of a severe fit of sickness , at a tiine when he ought to have . been preparing for his Piirliameritary duties , but he hopes to be able ' to do as much gopd , ( being pow partially restored to health . ) in these districts , which are now so much disturbed by the agitation which the 1 ' obr Law Amendment Act occasions , until a future session shall give ^^ him the opportunity of being associated with more hpriotvrable iind more disinterested men : men who are anxious for the

      happihess and well-being of all -classes ; men who are not met to bestow patronage ou their relatives and dependent ^ but men who are met to assist in the great work of national regenVratiori . 1 do assure my worthy constituents that ho good will ever be done in the Common's Hous ' v ! of Parliament until all men have an equal poWer to elect representatives sucH as will fearlessly and honestly legislate , not only for theinselyes , but : for every Eortion of theCoiiimuriity . The enemies of liberty aye ever urgR _ d , ¦ ' ¦ as a powerful argument ag ^ ninst an equality of political rights , the ignorance of "the mass ,

      and at the same time hnve unremittingly obstructed the cultivation of their thinking fatuities . This . may appear paradoxical ; it is , -nevertheless , in strict accordance with the spirit of despotism , for th e strength of bad government rests iii the depravity of their subjects . 1 promise my worthy constituerits that my energies shall be directed to the vital question pi nationiil -instruction ; which , to be useful , must be widely different from any mode that has hitherto been pursued , it will then be found that knowledge is power .

      I aiii now decidedly in favour of Universal Suffrage , as I can see no reason why any one should not have a "' . ' voice-. in- electing , whomsoever he iriay think best qualified to be his representative . I am hnppy that this principle is getting exclusively diffused throughout the productive classes . It giyt'S me no small degree of pleasure to hear that the aiicient borough for winch 1 have the honour to be a ^ Member , will no longer coiifine itself to Hlousehold Sufifrage . Until the Suttra ^ e shall become generally universal , it will be futile to declaim against the corroding monopolies which have been erected by a Spurious currency . —Believe me to be your devoted servant , : ' . ( JOHK BUCKLEY , M . P . Jhnoiidbit ) ' !/ , March 22 , 1838 .

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      POOR LAW COMMITTEE . Our readers have not forgotten that , during the elections , when their ' - ' sweet voices" were ' ¦' matter ' of some consideration to the rival robber chieftains , the Whig and Tory candidates were alike rife with protestations of a desire to reform the Poor Law , so far as its npplicability to the Northern and manufacturing districts was concerned . They will recollect Mr . Baines's promise , being a member of the Poor Law Committee , to take care that persons from Leeds should be examinei before that .. Committee , with a view to the exhibition of the excellence of the

      Poor Relief system practised in Leeds . Well , the Thirteenth R eport of the Poor Law Coinniittee has been published , and we find some very important evidence from Matthew Joitinson , Esq . Our space is this week so fully occupied , that we can only direct the attention of our readers to the portion of this gentleman ' s evidence , which we have selected ; premising that the examining member , when not otherwise stated , is . Mr . Baiaes . Next week , if it please God , we shall return to the subject , and have some little talk with Messrs . Baines , Johnson , Power , and Gulson , on this interesting topic of .

      'discussion . . ' -.. ' ::: ¦" . . -. . ' - . ¦ . . . -. 4046 . -Von have , of course , a workhouse at Leeds ? — -We have . . - ¦ : - ¦ ' ¦ .- '• . ' - ' ; , . '• .- ' : ' ' " ; . . -: ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ 4047 . That it is managed , j believe , under the old systein?—It is . : ; :. ¦ ¦ ¦; . ¦ / . ' ; ' ¦ : ; ' " ¦ .- .. ' . . '¦ ' ¦ ; . ¦' . : 4048 . Is the workhpuse generally . consideTed as well conducted under that system ? - ^ -tt is well conducted , so far as the providing of food and clothing are concerned ; arid I may add alsoj- with respect to the iustructiori of the children in reading , and writing , ; and accounts ; so far , I think , in reference to those matters , the workhouse may be said to be well conducted , that is . there is a -very , h'beral prorision of those things . ; . , :

      4056 . Is there any classification of the inmates of the workhouse ? There is a classification to the extent that the nature of the premises \ vill allow . ; for instance , the females live in one part of the building , the men in another ; part , the children also are separate , and the sick part of the establishment have wardB for their accommodatipri ; but there is no separation , in point of fact , for ; the yard is common to all , and the access to , the privies is the same .. - " . ' . '"• ' . ' : ''" ' : ^' -v ! ¦ " -: ' . •• '¦ ¦<"¦¦ : . ¦ . ¦ . . ' 4057 . Mr , Hodges . —The sleeping apartments only are separate ?—1 heir dayrrpoms are separate . 4058 . Mr . Lister . r ^ Dp they ; take their meals together . ?^ Yes .: '" ; :: V ^ ¦ - ¦ : ¦ : ¦; : ¦ : ¦ ¦¦ ' ¦ ¦ " ' --i ¦ ; : -, . " :- : \ -: y ¦ , ' ¦' - ; '¦

      4059 . Mr . Bairies . —Do you think a better classih ' cation desirable r—Yery desirable indeed . 4060 . Chairman . —^ What ,. are the inconveniences which you have obseryed or heard of as resulting from jfliepreseut : imperfect classincatiotiy- ^ The inconveniences relate to almost every class of persons inthe establishment ; for irtstajice , the aged people are frequently : annoyed more thin ¦ - 'they ' btght tojbe by the intrusion of younger pereous ; they are iiot

      so detached and separate as is req » igite for their comfort ; but the greatest incpnvenience arising from the state of things in that estabushment is the immorality that prevails , I fear to a rery alarming extent ,, from a variety of facts and circuuigtarices whichhav « come to iny knowledge ; 1 hare reason to fear that the adult inmates of that house are in : the constant habit of sesfual intercourse " -j but the greatest evil is in reference to the childre *; their morals , lam afraid , are greatly eorrupted by that .

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      4061 ; * Mr ^ Bainesi—Then , is i the Committee to collect from your answer , that a better claasificatidn would be twlvantageous to the old , to the young , particularly to the children ,, and- to the inmates of the workhousegenerauy ?—Yes ; I think that I should riot do justice to this subject , if I did not state that the ii'aEQorality which prevails among the girls , for instance , is such as to lead one to believe that the immorality is greaterthan could -generall y be supppiwd , JFrpm r ^ rmation which i has beejibiipnght before the workhouse board from time to time , and which tiieittembere individually hav 6 obtained from

      their connection with the workhouse , I am of opinion that a considerable number bf girls , even , ate so , far depraved as I have referred to in reference to the adults . ¦ ¦ - ' .:.: ' : "" ' ' : ^ ¦ - " .: ;" .. " .- ¦ • '¦ ' ! ' : ¦ ¦ : ¦ ¦ ..: ¦ . - ; v : v 4062 . Dp you mean the girls that have been brought iiitp the workhouse as paujpers , or those that have grown up in the house r--r mean those who have ; grown up in the house . . , ' : " .. . ' ¦ 4063 . Then dp you tbink that the classification according to the system of the union workhouses wbuld ha an essential improvement upon the system that exists in the workhouse in Leeds ? ' . ' : I- do

      indeed ^ ' .. '¦ : / . - - ¦' : ¦ ¦ -- - ¦¦ . ¦ : ¦¦ ¦ * .: ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦" - :. ¦"¦ '' .. ' -. ^—V 4064 . Have you a dietary there P—^ Yes , I have a copy of what the inmates have every day . , : 4065 . Will you state it ? On the Sunday , at breakfast , there'is a pint and a half of milk porridge andeight ; ounces of bread ;• for dinner : on that day there are six ounces of boiled mutton , sis ; dunces of potatoes , four ounces of bread and a pint of beer "; for the supper of that day , a pint and a . half of milk porridge and eight Ounces of bread ; * * Now the'break" fast and supper are the same pu every day of the week , the dinners only varying . On the Monday there is a pint arid a half of soup , eight ounces of bread and a pint of been On the : Tuesday s six

      ounces of beef aad pork , s \ x ounces of potatoes , four oil rices of ^ bread and a pint- .. of beer . ¦ Wednesday the dinner is the : Same as on Monday . Thursday the same as Tuesday ^ Friday the same as Monday , and on Saturday there are six ounces of pudding , with treacle , eight puncesof bread , two ounces of cheese , and apiiit of beer . 40 C 6 . Is the lodging as good and the ; food as p lentiful in that workhpuse as in the families of the labouring poor generauy , who support themselves by independentlabour?—1 should say much better .: 4067 . I ) o you think it desirable that persons in the workhouse should be supported better than an independent labourer subsisting by his own industry out of the workhouse ?—Certainly not ;

      4178 . Then , on the whole , is it your opinion , having had a great deal of experience in parochial matters ^ that it would be desirable to introduce the New Poor Law into the manufacturirig districts of the north?—It is my decided opinion that that would be the case . 4179 . Will : you state why ypU think it would be an iinprovemeiit upon the present system ?—In the first place , 1 think that there would be a considerable reduction in the amount of poor rate " { . ' ¦ but I should npt think that au advantage , if ; ityras attained at the expeiise of the comforts of the really iieces-¦

      sitouji poor ; but the systeni ¦¦ sv'hichis connected with the Poor Law Amendment Act ia that wliich I think would really be beneficial to the deserving poor ; there would be a better and closer , nud more correct knowledge of their state and ; circuinstances , and their cases would be met more justlyand adequately ; arid , on the other hand , a consideiable number of persons , whp are panriers , from generation to generation , would be brought urider such a system as must , I , think , inevitably ; lead to the introduction of better habits , industrious , sober , and proper habits . .. * .

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      TO THE WORKING MEN OF THE NORTH . Committee Room , Turk's Head , Kins Street , Kolborn , London , March 21 , 183 S . You are no doubt aware , that in June , 1837 , George Loveless ( one of the ill-used Dorchester Labourers ) returned to . ' this--country .-. I am now happy to inform you , ' that four more of these persecuted men arrived in England on the 17 th instant ; and that the sixth is expected to follow in a few weeks . You are also aware , that a Committee of Working Men has existed for three years in Londpn , who were . appointed by the working classes , for the purpose of raising subscriptions to support the families during the esdle of their natural protectors ; and to form . a fund , frpin . wMch the men ; themselyesj on their Teturn , might receive some pecuniary compensation for their ' sufferings in the cause of industry .

      That the Committee , through the support afforded by their fellow-workmen , has been enabled to allow the families a weekly sum Sufficient for their decent maintenance during'the above period ; and have now about £ 600 in hand . This sum , hpwever , isnot , in their opinion , arid that of the working ineh of London , sufficient to place them in that situation by which they would be removed from .: the power of their oppressors . It is proposed ( though nothing definite will be decided upori ^ without the consent of the subscribers to the fund , and consulting the feelings of the men themselves , ) to place them in small farms ; which would ai puce serve as monuments to perpetuate the infamy of their Whig oppressors , and the sympathy and respect of their feliow-worktnen ; To assist in at once raising a sum sufneient for ihe above , or a similar purpose , the London Central Dorchester Com jixttee , have adopted the following ResolutiPn :

      " That we earnestly recommend to our fellowworkmen in every town ^ village , and hamlet , throughout the United Kingdom , the propriety , 6 f their immediately entering into a Penny Subscription , to be called The Dorchester Tribute , ' for the purpose of testifyiug to the six Dorchester Labourers our sympathy with their sufferings , and detestation of their , persecutors . " : The Committee , therefore , respectfully suggest to you , the propriety of getting this Resolution acted upon in your district , in whatever manner you may

      deem most suitable ; and to forward the money so collected , either to the Hoijorary Secretary , at- the Committee Room , or to the Treasurer , W . D . Saul , Esq ., 15 , Alderjgate-streetj City . : It is desirable that not a moment should be lost , tts the Central Committee are anxious to close the business at the earliest possible period . Any connmunication requesting iriiormation or otherwise , will be immediately attended to , by Yours , respectfully , ROBERT HARTWELL , Hon . Secretary .

      COMMITTED , W . D . SAUL , Treasurer . iVlr . G . Tomevj Smith . J . Gardiner , Smith . G , Lake , Carpenter . ; J . BrRKiNGYOVNG j Coppersm J . Barnes , Bricklayer . " J . Wootton . Carpenter . W ; Isaacs , Typefounder ; J . Day , Ropemaker . Ji Bush , Carpenter . W . Walker , Wheelwright , T . WiNN , Shipwright . J . Pbice ^ Cordwairier . J . PA ^ SMpRE Carpenter . " . J . Jones , Smith . J . SiMFSpNj Cooper .. R . LQVEtT : 8 S and W . WEslpck , Agents for families , R . Hartwell , Compositor , Honorary Secretary .

      In furtherance of the above object , Penny Subscriptions will be received at the Northern Star Office , Leeds .. ' ' . ¦ ' - , - ' -, '¦ ¦'¦" : . ' : - . "¦ .. . '' ¦ . ¦ :

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      CHARACTER OF O'CONNELL . We give the following : true character of D . O'Connell from the pamphlet entitled " Letters from F . piCpnnortoTJ . Q'Coimeli . ; : V-.. . ¦ ¦[ " You are the great political Leviathan of the day , ; and many an honest , but unsuspecting man lias been ; wrecked agaitistyour wiles and sophistries . I shall first give what . I consider a fair character of you . You have , by attending public meetings , and : conversing with meri , ( well versed in subjectsi . toAvbich y 6 ur attention has been ¦ 'drawn , ) ' amassed a wonderful ; store of information upon passing events . You have become so complete a poetical mechanic that your Bairid is the index of your words rather than your feelings ; your passions are only . . strdtiK when accused Dersonallv fnr nor _

      spnalities , and then you defend ypuraelr by beirig scurrilous , in order to prove that you act under excitement , From these practices you have acquirec so complete a command of countenance ^ that the novice would suppose your feelings ¦ wounded , while you were literallj ¦ calculating upon . the ^^^ profit and loss of eyen the most ; rash expression . Yduhave the advantage over most men , of hastily abandoning a weak or unpalatable a rgument ^ and flying at price to another . Your speeches are more lemarkable for their boldness of assertion , than for their arrangeihent , their point , or connection with the question in debate . You axe a ffodd historian , arid principallydeal in _ those cabals , both ^ civil and religious , bjr Which different courts have beeri dccasiorially distracted ; Yo ^ b rin g your historical-facts , in general ^ to bear well upon your subject . ^ When

      complaining , your voice is weu calciilated to inspire ydUr hearers Mth pity . ' " When inveighing , your sole objectvis fo iatimidate . others ftpia attackiiig you , and * inBtead of defending y eurself , you heap reproach upon ydar dppdnenfe . In addressing an assembly , your first object , is to feel . the pulse of your audiencej and then , with amazing tact , and' the rapidity ; of lightnings you suit the speech , to ypur hearers , t ! You have a happy'knack- of : finding but the soft part of your audience , rind then- ' yon fattigh ; or cry as the case requires ^ : In mattera of detail you are sadly deficient , ^ ^ and even ^^ with ydtrrvown-party become- tiresome ; you require more backing up , as a speaker ; than any pubuc inanj yotk are timid to a ; degree when your audiente ^ is not completely with ypui but your pliancy of principle soon mouldn you to their shapev and thus you generally contrive to ensurea . favourable , hearing . Your voice is pf a most , peculiar kind , tor although rookh , yet it i

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      sometimes harmomousy j > M " wlpulaitea to " uW ^ even the most retined ear ; "Y ^ itf ^ wdrda are' ireneiS !* well chpaenvbut yonr itentences ^ -abiiost ^^ ably incomplete * Your meaiory is a 8 tonishinff ; tot under excellent control . iKoux attitude , when . * £ think you haveagop ^ c 0 se , isbold ^ icbniaiantnnv when . you stand ^^ np ^ ttdoubttul gro ^ dB , itii ^ cnDD ^ crouching ^ and eyen auppUcating . Your dreaTSr bold antagonist is mdesenbabte . The iiseS ypn make of a triomph oVeir& weak : and ^^ meretthi tizan opponent , is masterly , and followed up ^ witti a view to deter others , ; than to defend ^ your » iJ YouTprincipalobject thrpughhTfe has been tol ? cumulate power * and ni > man haa evefvfbstered tr resources , for that purpo 8 e , with more cunniu ? £ less virtue * " v : ; . s 6 °

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      CONVICtS AND THEIR ; LABOjrR .- ~ By ^ reports of Mr / . Capper , the superinterident of s"hjV and vessels employed : for the confinement ' Vof-M fenders under sentence of trarisportation , relatibiij the conyict establishments at Portsmouth , Cliathte and "Wpplwich , and at Bermuda , we find " that there are six hulks at the stations in England , viz . :- ^ t ^ . at Chatham ; , two at Woolwich , o »> at Eortsmontk and one at Gbsport ; and three convict hulfcj /« Bermuda , yiz .: —two at Ireland Island and onea ' tUt ' Greorge ' s . The expense of the hulks-la this coui . try for the half year ending 30 th June , 183 ? , w i £ 19 , 808 ; and for that ending Slst December 183 ^ £ 19 , 327 ; : total ^ for 1837 , £ 39 . 135 ; The ? tofa !

      value of labour perfdraed in the first half-year of 1837 , was £ 12 , 088 , and ii the lat ^ r half of Hm year £ 9 , 461 total , £ 21 ) 549 . Tin ' s % puld redn 6 e the cost of the year of the . English bulks to £ 17 , 586 . Of the hulks at Bermuda ; the expense fpr the fitjj half ; year was £ 8 , 336 ; for the latter , £ 8 . 04 fi . together £ 16 , 382 for the year ^ VTJieValue of §» labour performed waa £ 14 , 619 during the first ; ami £ 13 , 58 ^ 1 duriiig the seeped half yearj makiM £ 28 , 200 . for the year , or a surplns of £ 11 , 818 o ^ the expenses . The latter report , dated ' ^ ebTtiary i ¦ 283 8 ,- ( states ^ that the public works carrying on j Barmiida , are so far dfavfing to a close as to admji

      iii the coiitse of the year , of a redufction in the con . yict labour .. On the 1 st of Januaryj 183 ^ there werei '' 1 ^ 933 prisoners onboard the hnlks in England since ; which ; time 3 , 970 c ' ohvicte hiiye been receiyea During the year , 3 , 662 have been transported to 'flj ^' Aqstraliau settlements ; 226 have been dischargej . and 103 transferred to the general Penitentiary i have escaped ; 120 have died ; and 1 , 789 conyicji remained on board the hnlks on the 1 st January last . Of the number received during the year 1 , 366 are known to have been previously convicted 742 have been in prison before ; aad the remainini

      1 , 862 cases are supposed to be first offenee 8 i Q { the whole number , 836 were above 30 years of age v 1 , 897 were between 20 and 30 years ; I , l 3 o between 15 and 20 years ; 116 between 10 and & years ; and One prisoner has been received under Ifl years of age . Of 110 military prisoners , 77 weie received froin British colonies , arid 33 from reef . mental depots in England ;; 69 prisoners were ^ received urider sentence of the civil authorife m the English colpniei ? . Of the total number receivei 3 , 341 were natiyes of Englarid ; 59 natijes"ft Wales ; 271 Were Scotch ; 214 Irish ; 54 ; riativM : o ( British , coloniesj and 31 were foreigners .

      The Amendment Act—On Wednesday wedt the Overseers ef Fixby were summoned to apj ^ i before John Rhodes Ralph , and Wm . Briggs , Esqa to show cause why that Township refused to ofaey n order made by the Board of Guardians for the paj ; meht'of £ 9 . 18 s > 4 d . as the first instalment doe fron the Township of Eixby , for the general expenses 4 the Halifax Union . The Overseer ; Mr . Scholefieii alleged that he bad " no funds wherewith to par

      having laid no rate during the year , the . poor rf ¦ Fixby : being paid j by a vbluntary contributioi amongst theinhabitants , and that the Board of Guai ; dians for the Union could hot make such an order as the same was not legally constituted . Mr . Scfyolefield was convicted 'in the ; penalty of lOsi arid & costSj and the Magistrates gave hiin till Saturday to pay the same , butMr . S . would make no promise u to its then being paid ., ^ : ¦'¦; ; = ;

      Counterfeit Half-Sotereign : s .--The pb lie would dow ' ell to be on their guard in giviag change : for half-spyereign 8 , as a set of persons are going ahdut to shops and pubiic-houses for the par pose , of putting , on ^ a spurious coin , purporting to ti a ^ half-spvereign of the date of 1817 , little more this half the weight of a good 'one ; they are of a ^ ia ! i yellow , and wher i rubbed , show white . One of da gang named John '"' Cape " , - * shoemaker , of teeds , lias beens apprehended in ¦ Br adford , on various charges of putting off the said coiiij and fully committSd for fte nffenee .. ¦••¦' ' , - ¦ : ' - .. ' . '¦ - ¦ . ' . ¦ ' ¦ . " ¦¦¦ -. ¦' .- ¦¦ ¦' ¦ ' -. .. v '

      Important to Constables and PoticEmen . —During the trial of the action * 'Lumbfc Walker , " at the Yorkshire Azzizes , last week , Mt Justice Patteson , in summing up the case , rank some observations on the duties of constables , which we have omitted in the report of the trial jn order to insert them here . His Lprdship observed that thereappeared to be sbmiB misconceptipn in this conntj as to the duties of constables : and policemen , awi therefore he Would say a few words on the subject . A police-officer who turns a man put of anotbei ' s premises , where he has do right to be , or from whi « h he has been desired to retire , has no official

      right tb do that of any kind or sort whatever . If » man is intruding in my house arid I degire Mm to go put , if he will not go out , T have a right to ] $ him ; out , using no more force than may be nec ^ aj to attain that object ; arid I have a right to astan ^ body near me to assist me . No man Imay askis bound to assist me ; but if he thinks proper he maj do so . In putting a person out of my house at inj request , he acts as my servant , arid in doing so * policeman is not different from any : ' -of ' -the Queea ) subjects j but if a breach of the peace iscommitteJi in the preisence of the constable , then he may appwheiid the party causing it . It seems to me from tfi * case and from what occurred the other day ( alln ^

      mg . to a former action against a constable for exces of authority ) . that the policemen in this county bsit taken it into their ^ heads that they ba ^ e a rigbt-W iBterfere when they think fit . That , hbweyer r is * great inistake and a great misapprehension ' -of their dutj % : The law is this— -when a pQliceman Up .- ' formedj by any person , that a . felony has beeB ccm- ' mitted , arid bis informant charges any person witi having committed ; . that feleny , irid desires the poHcF man to take him into custody on that charge , if fe ' policeman believes it is a bona , fide dharge it is Sis : duty to act upon the infdnnatiorij and to ^^ apprebeiid the party charged j ' but if the charge ; does not

      amount to felony , if it is only assault , or any ott « misdemeanour which the person , says has been cms * mitted , the policemen have no right to interfere , and they bught to know it No : constable has * inf right to interfere in any case of an affray , urilessie ^ himself present , and sees that affray with his owftej ^ or has the warrant of a magistrate . They seei to fancy thatif a mail coriies and says" ! hayel ) ew assaulted ^ ' . ' they have alright to take into « ustofy the person mentioned as the assailant . It is nd * « by law ; they have no such right ; and they dogft not to do so , fpT'if they should attempt it , a » 4 w * should be ; ariy resistance , and h'fe should be W&

      the consequences would be very different from tthil theywbuidbe if they " had that rig ht . It is perfecf ?; clear that any person has a right to turn any 00 " person off his premises who is making a disturbancfr fend whom he nmy have desired to go away , *?« - who did iipt go ; but even tben ^ if there be . * $ ? . : turbance on the premises , and the poljcenjan sift it , though there is a . desire to go and the party A ^ riot go , he la&By { nerertheless , ho rightr to interf " - 4 s a policeman in' such a case , and to take such a person to prison , ; There was a case a fewye ^ ? ., t

      agfo , of this verygbrt , whert a man ciame into » ; house of another in order to demand a debt , s ^ f _ some very angry words having passed between hio j and the owner of thehorisej he desired him to g ° Tt his premUes / and the person would not , upon w j the party whose house it was sent for ; a ppneenian Y > j but him off his premises , ; and take him to prison- , He did so , and an action was brongbt , and it : ^ 0 ;? held that though it- inight ^ be very justifiable to : p »> the party off the premises , not by jfeaspnof being »' ebnatable ,-but ' asrassfeting the party whbse pren 11 ^' were : inVaded , siill- there yr& : no yj ^ catlm to ^ offered with regard 1 to ^ ^ i&e takirie to Prison ; A B& :

      ip riot toibe ; taken to prison ^ intiess ti » ere be the ^ _ rant of a niagisteafe , or the poiiceman or const » P » . sees abreach , of ; the . |» e ac « Committed . I m ®^ thia beciiase I ^ ish ^^ tojbe ^ frilly understood . r '* 1 * ; dJstJnctioDr"is vjery } ps ^^ or \ constable ^ to Jn ske- ; - ^ ; information i ^ f igi ^ en ; % pf a disturhance , the P ° ^ offiae . re hayera , nghttto ; go to the place ; and see w »*; :: la going p % : and if abreachpf the peace occurs i ^ ' ^ tfteppresepcejjfjt constailejithenhe tify ^ r ^ ij party into pojtedj ^ rbatlre has no rig htto act opo » _ ^ that which hei 49 e « not hiniaelfiiiee , unless » t ^ "i . ' ^ fiiarge , of Mqu $ . ^ , J : ^ ay ; th »> because : ipebpleiaonT ^ ^ e em to ji « iderstandiit . ^ K : ^^'^^^' ; 3 owny were acted on a / little : nioreelpsely th ^ -j has been for some time , a good 4 eal >* £ the > ¦ ¦ ¦* & ? ' \\ . of the public would be sated in tbfe b ?* " 5 o of petty charges before the magistrates , trhictt oo riol come regularly before them . —Loeds iw' ™ geifeer . ¦ ' : ¦¦( : / '¦ / " ¦/ . - " ¦ : " : " ' .-:: ¦ : :-.. ; ' ¦ ¦¦ _ '' :. ' .

      Zbtmegtic Snttxuzente

      ZBtmegtic SnttXUzente

      Untitled Article

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 31, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct521/page/6/