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ORIGINAL COilRESPONDENX'E.
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JUSTICE I JUSTICE 11 JUSTICE !!! ZHJit London Democratic Association to Feargus O'Connor and the Democrat * sf Great Britain .- < ttui Ireland , ' ' ¦ fktLOw Coustbtsiex— Wehadintended that this , - * wr first address , abould have been an- exposition of - < rar principles—a statement of our objects as an Astsecia&n—and the means thereby we hope to achieve them . We were preparing thus to address ¦ too . vtien fo ' l a , err of ~ grief and horror resound * -Through the lam ? , eaTrmg upon os . to at once arocse from our lethargy—to at once commence onr labours , -aad Boldly grapple with the factions-who are dreriching-ni Wood the once happy cottages and peaceful Presides of onr brethren , the labeurers of Kent . The dying groan of the slaughtered labourer hath
-ascended to fig Maber—the wail of the widow , and the cry of the orphan ascends to heaven ; their cry is "iotJustice—Justice for their ' mtsrdered husbands—: fkthers—sons—and—brothers;——Justice for their ' iomes , i » . adedesc > lateibT-aMir'b » aTt ' 8 despair . On becoming acquainted withthe Kentish butchery "we-were aware , from sad experience , that not the least dependence could be placed on the statements of the Daily Press ; we , therefore , at once , rejected *^ the disgusting fabrications of the alleged fanaticism - of the people * and patiently , but anxiously , waited ' ^ fof &e comments of the Democratic Press , anticii * ratting that there the trnth would be found . We re'iijeice that we have not been disappointed . s -r Yes ! the aB-glorious Northern Star hath shed its and word
Tight upon this foul , this wicked deed , every ^ mttexFby that Friend of the PeopCe , Bro . ntebm Sndsaheart-feJtrsspoase -srithia oarbrenstv Yes . ' tee re-echo the demand of the ^ Poor Man ' t Guarj&cul , " we demasd ] fhat the murderers f our brethren , be delivered over to the decrees of Justice . Accept , Sir . onr grateful thanks for the insertion of -She glorioosletterto which we have just alluded , and likewise ior vour editorial comments on the same subject . Happy was the day for our coun t ry , when vgbs glor ious Star first apppeared—ihe great chamjrionof the Democratic cause—but however excellent , sail the feet cannot be concealed , that being a week ) y 5 » aper , it is inadequate to struggle successfully with Ae factions . A daily paper is required— -a daily vcper ice must have . From the first intelligence of ihe Kentish trasedv reachs ? London , for vptrards
sf a week , the working men had no -other guide to the osoiveTy of the truth than the hireling writers of the "Whig , Tory , and Sham-Radical " factions . How diSt-rciit would have been th ? present state of ihe public mind in the metropolis and the country generally , bad the projected Evening Star been ii » ^ existence . But amid the general corruption of the press , it : s cheering to humanity to witness honourable exceptions ; and foremost ' in the ranks of the free—untrammelled by party , untaiatrd by the oppressor ' s ^ o ! c—we gladly recognise in oxir provincial press , is aeit in imp ' onaace to the Northern Star , thst Ji 3 U « t and talented journal the Northern Liberator . zue & : iiors of rrMch hare shown themselves to be the xorthy successors of our lamented friend the virraoas aud immortal HeavmeTit .
To recarn to the sanguinnry or . tras- % we deny ihatit was fanaticism t ' . ai caused tins ' / at . ervnir i » i zhe labourers— -it was distrvss and misery . It h : ia . ieen said , " Thf land ' s de * j ) air . Cries out to Heaven , un . ; bond » u « tHT <» ws loobari for eren th » p > x > r Uio bisuv " ? v . iid the poor thus situated , tneir prayers unheeded , wieir petitions scorned , liave no aiterhiitvve but to ¦ extort bv fer wliat will not be granted to them by pravc * r . " Si > far from tlirf LsLoiircrs being *• brnia'ly ' ponut . ' tbey V . no-n- too jeeA for tbi-ir oppressors . an I hi'cce tiiis united yell about fanaticism ; acd zhe obieet in view in enacUii ? this " preconcerted
tragedy was to strike terror into the A earls of the m-asa . try i th " . t trithout further rcS'S ' unce they may ruln . ii to the infi : m * . us P-jor Laic , and prejMre the ¦ Tzgfor a rural ; z , t ' ice ! The « ile Whig press have lor .. ? threatened the ~ Anti-Poor Law Agitators " -with the terrors of thr la-x : nirea-Jy h :-s the reSgn of tt ^ rror cnmineiiced ; * le 2 ' those who adored ilif ¦ mllnnf Cpcrtenay while livicg dare not say a word In his defence now tbat iie is no more . " The following extmrt from the Z ? zzrT >¦; lie TaBci ci > rra ^ vu < L&ai will enable the " ^ Forki ne cl&ssas to see how deep i * ihr hatred of the factions towards ii » orf who dare strufj ^ . ' t ^ emandprrre their country and
mankind—*" Tlie viiJage of Dunkirk , iroin wbica most of ? aem ( the "rioters" ) come , labours under a isost ¦ di . -an-. cefol regulation . The men are said to be ^ joach- ^ fs . and of the women 5 t is enough to say . -L \ at iJ . ey had their reasons for niuking Courtenay ilteir farouriie . " Will the men of England submit tn this ? Xo I 2 etone burst of execration from , tiie Tweed to the Land s End repel this fortl slander on oar sisters ; let one cry resound throush our father-land , invoking justice on tbe heads of those v . iio have , murderei ocr bretbrcn .
For ocrselver , we areiniaWe \ o <\ o aR tbat we could ddsire ; we are unable to perform all that as an Assodition . we hr . pe sjjei'dily to be able to dn . Ho"sfev-r , we iut ^ ua fortiiwitb . to petition lie legislature , demanding an investigation iiiio this ^ hole-< ale assassination . Situated as we at present are . 5 fe pledge ourselves that all we can we will do—at 2 ea 3 t , ii shall not be said that when our countrymen ^ rerrf given over to military execution , we sanctioned die o-iuviire by onr ; : pathy . or tacitly approved the ionri deed by our di ^ racefnl silence . Your Fellow Labourers , tie" Members Of the London Democratic Assodstioiu { Signed on their behalf ) . JOH ^ TURNER , Chairman . GEORGE JULIAN HARXEY , Secretary . ? ^) nr ; i- » TJ . June lzL 1 S ? S .
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C ^ XTEEBUTvY BUTCHERY . The following Petidon has been forwarded to Is ' . r . JiELDEx , from tLe Lonpox Demochjitic As-~ ociat : os ; and a similar oi ; e lo E _ rl Staxhope , ' jr presentation to the two Houses . To the Honourable the Hovse of Commons of Great Jiritahi and Ireland in iariiamaU asseiMed . the l ' cliiio ; i of the London DeiMicrutic ^ -Jssociutit / n , IIl'mblt SHrrrrrn , That we , your Petitioners , have heard , through tie medium x > f the public press , wifh f-elings of the most po : ? niat regret , of tae d-plorable event which ias lateir transpired in the neighbourhood of Canterbnrr . '
Tuat from reading in the public papers-the jarring « iatrtueuts , the contradictory evitit-iice , and liietiii-? usi inferences deduced therefrom , we Lave arrived . at lie concision , that It Is a matter so serious in ; t- nature , so important in its relations , as to call for thf interference of your Honourable House . TiaC therefore , for tlse foilowing reasons , deduced from the- above assertions , we your petitioners do earnestly pray your Honourable House to appoint a . cpmsiitit-e to enquire into the fact * connected with teii ab-jve-mentioned lameiiiable catastrophe ; and , ina > TBt : cL , tan t for ihe obiuxning tbe ends of justice , i t ^ s necai < 5 ary that tbe persons now Imprisoned on the ^ w £ « of murder be liberated , for the purpose of driagtbelrniiconcrouled evidence before the comnnttee so appointed , we implore your Honourable 4 io-.: se that tbe said parties be sbrtbwiih discharged . Tiiat we submit to your Honourable House tbe fJllowIn ^ reasons : —
riT =-t : y . itisanedged , that the unfortunate man Scaown : y the name of Sir WUHam Courtenay was ^ madman ; and various proofs have bern , advanced co scustaiitiate this allegation : and yet , in " contralictioH to tais , and in contravention to the law ¦ « Lich does not take cognisance of tbe acts of maniacs as he . iig criminal , the said indroUnalis branded as a murierer ; and his followers , who have escaped : h " e tratical end of their brethren , and of whom it Is aiii- ^ -ed , that they were aiSicwd with a species of menial derangement , FanaricIsHi , are committed 13 prisi ; n as accessories to Ms crimes ; which crimes , conridering the arenmstances of alleged insanity , yonr petitioners believe could only have existence in tlit ; Imaginations ot those parties who are ever ready the of all who
u > wrisik renge ^ nce upon heads dare * o :: Jv ( cite tbe cause of the oppressed . ? Iliii , secondly , it is admitted by all parties , that - > : vvk > us to lhe kiliug of the man , Nicholas Mears \ Ttw went in the assumed capacity of a constable , lutwho , it has been proved , was not a constable , : o arrest ths said Sir William Courtenay , no breach oi tlie peace had been committed ; and consequently -is was the fact , no magisterial authority had been delegated to the saidindivldual to act as he attempted to act ; _ yonr petitioners are therefore of an opinion , iliat tLekillinp of the said individnal on the part of the said ^ sir William Courtenay , was in justifiably repelkng tae unlawful attempts of his assailant , seeing that the laws of our country authorise the
Tesistance by force of illegal aggressions That , thirdly , it is stated that th » said Sir Wm . Courtenay and his followers were rioters , and so being , tbe military were called out to aid the civil power in quelhng the alleged riot ; but your pe-Bdoners submit that -no proofs haTe been adduced to substastiaie this -statement ; bnt , on the conrrdry . it has been distinctly stated in evidence , that tliey , the alleged rioters , did not riotousl y as-= emble , while an obscure intimation is gratuitously -riven that " ^ they meant to be riotous : " bnt the facv that the magistrates present not having done their duty , as prescribed by the law ^ of reading the riot
act , is to our mind suffidrait erideoce that the said parries were not riotous , and we further think that in negyaang t&ia important patt of their duty , the ppagiinaten have rendered themselves justly responj ib £ ? for fife * wfol result * , partacalarly when we tate < 5 nto ctataderation tbe instructions giveq to tbe Tnilitaiy by Dr . Poore , that " they -were to-take ' XXmrtennj ^ ead oiafive ;'' coupled ' too with the feet " offered 5 b cridezice by one of the witnesses at die anqnest helion the body of Lieutenant Bennett . -ihiit , _ that officer had commenced the affray , ¦ which '• terminated in the destruction of hw own life , and in * Zh&t of leu of his unoffending countrymen .
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:. ~ . Thai » . moreover , we yenr petitioners are of an op inion that it is not to Fanaticism" on the aaeged ** brutal ignorance" of the people that is to be attributedlhe gathering in this pardcnlar instance of the agricultural labourers , buton the contrar , it i * the consequence of unbearable distress , arising from the operation of bad lawR , mare especially of that unnatural law miscalled the "Poor Law Amendment Act . " We your petitioners do therefore most urgently call upon your Honourable House , to appoint ; a Committee of enquiry , to investigate the circumstances of this deplorable event , and to cause all judicial proceedings connected therewith to be stayed , until y our Hononrable House shall have received the Report of your Committee , and have come to a decision thereon .
And your Petitioners , &c . &c . Signed on behalf of the Association . THOMAS IRELAND , Chairman . GEORGE JULIAN HARNEY , Secretary
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HAND LOOM WEAVEBS . Tbe Rev . J . R . Stephens bring Tequegtedby R . M . Muggeridge , Esq ^ the Assistant-Conimissioner of the "Hand LoomWeavers Inquiry Commission , " to state his views of the questiou , mads 'tbe following observations , at the close of the examination on Friday , the 18 th of May , in Uie Court Hou « e , Ashton-under-Lyne : — Verbatim Report from Mr . Muggeridge ' s Notes . Mr . Stephens . — " J have fonnd , Sir , the Hand Loom Weavers , In censequence of their abject povertyand distress , and feeling at the same time the lull influence of the ancient spirit of independence
uow , unhappily , so much wt-akenedin this country , rather than expose their dilapidated wretchedness to a public gaze , appear almost to withdraw themselves from all places of " public observation , especially on the Lord s-day ! I believe very few of them , or their children , as compared with other sections of the working classes , attend either church , chapel , or Sunday schooL They are not irreligious or immoral people , but they choose rather to worshi p God at home in patient resignation , than to mix with their l »«? tter-d T essed-and more comfortable fellow operarives in public assembly . In many instances 1 nave i ' oaud their children unbaptized , and ou inquiring the reason , 1 have been told th 3 t iLey really coiild m > t afford to pay the baptismal fee .
•• i havelieanl the evidence of Mr . Owen , and of Mr . Cla 3 ' , this morning ; and of Air . isroadbeut , ^ ir . Leech , and part of Mr . Stewart ' s evidence , yesterday ; and I can add my testimony to theirs , " as " ~ n > thu higlnuoral character oi ' tbe hand loom weavers . 1 believe xhere sa Li ^ ht * r senst ? of iuuesty amo : ^ rhi-jutliau prevails in muuy other quarters ; they pa }' thv-ir wfiy , as it is called , as far as they cau ; they are \ x-ry thrift ) ' , very sober , very industrious , mh \ h-we a > pirit of iudj pendence traditionally from their 'r . thers , who Wt * re elnijluyediu the domestic braucbi-s i > i industry now extiact , 1 attribute t ' oismorality to l ' :: l > i : icz o ' f their having their chilnreu more imia ;'
-• iinU'ly under tiieir own-eye . Father , mother , and oiT-puag stiilmake up one household . Tue natnr . il . itk-cdoiis and social symp ; ithies , aud the reliitive utiti ^ s of man to h ^ s neighbour aud his God , are implanted and clierisbt'd in this its native sclioo !; : ir , ii I : i < to me , aui to many , ior i have conver .-ed w . vli hundreds of Lund loom weavers , a li-. attc . r of f-r . rprire aixdrejrrt'l tliat- ihf- Legislature shviuld nut i < ii \ y have -allowed such a braucb of iulusirv to have bpc- ^ ine so far impoverished , bat should also lr- ' . e all Aved this nursriy ui reliriou , mora . L ' , an-. l loyali .-U > li . ive heen .-jj niot d « -s £ royed . whilsr , at the s : amni : ie , it lins i > uco-cT » i . ed , ana still continues » o fo > t ; T by urtiHcial ani t-xpt-u .-ive means , that svstem cf ma ' jufuctuve wuicli iiauuirt-the ht ' . iltb , Iiijures the
: ; . orals , and destroys ttie social character of oar hmuu population . 1 nioan \ hv facu > ry syst 'in ! "I havs- heard mrtuy hairi-loom weavers object tjat they should be esp-cied toatni their very yoiu ? g cliildr ^ n t ;> the factory , as a kiiid of malie-iveiaht ! o . vj . r .-is thi * ir scanty * Mibs ; slenc « » . They tliink ii i \ i : re-ison ; iblts and unjust thus \ o be compelled . I 1 : k \ c hearJ many of them say they would rather tower 021 ' aud do the best die } ' cau thu . ii part with ! : ^ -ir children in such a vray . and for such a purpose , : > •¦ ;; - . i > e tiiey L > eliew that tae reauie .-t way to destroy i ' -. 'lr cliiltiren , both bu . iy and soul , is to Seiij them iuro a cottojj Jju-. 'orv . 1 hare kiK'wn hauj-luoui vvv .: versei : dfavo _ ur to emigrate , and on nsking theia }; -. )\ v ihev conU bear toleuve the land of tl ^ eir lathers .
t ? : ey have sa . i < t , that 'in E » j : ia « d they have nothing tu iiveupun , and uothiug to live for . ' J should wish ! :: r : hc ; r to vAd that akiioufih the haud-looin weavers : > :-. ve been rc-.-i ^ ned , au 1 stii . are pujieut , there is sii ¦; ; . ' : ; iion a : uouifst dieia that furbe ; iruuce h ; is auc r . n-lit to have its limits . I liave liearj liunufeds ol l ! ...-m . aud otlwr operatives re » Ii : ced to the same - '< : ' l- of Gesti ' . ution , declare that it is Lut right the Government ol" the country shotild he in pitssc'Ssiuij uf thefiict , that unless the legislnture c : m aud will y ~ 't : ec . l them , they inustaud w . ll protect themselves , Ijy prottctiug themselves , jaeauiug that they are to be considered as beyond the pale of society—thrown Lack upo-u the original resources of uarnre , n-ady f « " » r rtv . T thiiig tliat circumstances or cbar / ce u . hv
throw ui their way . and determined to avail theuise : \ es of it . I liave also heard tlie . ni sr , y , in reierlUice to this com ission , that it is - . viih extreme reiactauce . and under a species of protest , that thi ? y have ruissi-nted to have tue veil removed from the siL \ keniug sights thus discln ? ed from , the rv'cssses o 5 th-v-ir do ; ue > tic privacy . . T-huy do not Yikn to b < : a » kt * a where they live , and iiovr they live;—how luucIj they c ^ n get after working from be . ' ore suurisf till alter Miu-set . and Low much th ' -ir wi : e can c-crn . iIJ ^ te 2 d of taking care of her children , and bow isnch their children citi earn instead of deing c ^ rtnred cu-1 euocated as they were by their fat ' -ers ar : i motiersin tlie o ' . den tia . ie of huusehold labour , hoyseliold happiness , and household iudepeudeiice ;
a : iu they tlmik , aud I thhik , this " investigation uuf . ii ; a -d incomplete , uuVss u pnr : illel ' my ^ etigutiov ht ; instituted into tbe income , expenditure , domestic arniugenieiits , social habits , and private charact-r of the . higher classes in society . If the country iimst kuuw how these men 'live , move , and have tbeir L / elng , ' upou Lard "lubour , and scarcely any wages at ail , the country onglit likewise to know how nobles , manufacturers , aiid mercliauts ' iive . move , and have their beiiisv out of the produce of the labour of ti : e iadustrious clnstes . It has further bet u a mat'erofcurupluiut , tha wkilst
the case of the liaad-loora weavers has now for many years beeniu various ways under the notice of Piirii-imrJit , wiiilst it is apparr-mlvy the object of the Coiiimiss ; t ) ii , uot su much to ascrc-iin or elucidate as ti > record afrrsh . the facts of their case—whilst it was known to the Government , never denied , I believe uever questioned , that very many thousands of the liaad-lo : > m weavers , in ih ^ c northern discricts especiully . were either altogether or in a great degree out of employment , and consequently . n a state of partial destitution , the Govt-nnn ^ nt should have thougLt it necessary-or politic to e .-vablish in the very heart of these districts , iu the midst of all this miserv
on tne spot , an ouice ior tne pnrpose oi importuig , eitlieri / y force orfi-auj , namtrnus faniilics from tiie south oi Eniilsiiil . ThBs ^ importationshave . ainonirst othercaas-.-.-. t-: jded to depress the haudloom weavers and other operatives in this district . They caunot undi-T 5 Uni < i upon what principle , « r what anthority the >" e eniignitious slioald have taken place . Thev kuow tiiiiiiuiiceutial persons , especially Dr . Kay , o ' t " JVlai ! cl ; f--ter . uave b-en employed and salaried by the ( . sMoninient to make thu ruc-t uicked and wilful mi-Tf- > - ( . * ^ rations as to the state , of the lalour mo .: ktU ^ ud the condition of the labourers in this district , there , being at the time v . o want of workpeople beyond what the ueii'hbonrhood Itofelf conld have more than snpph ' ed , and the condition of the labourine population being any thing but the
paradire an described by Dr . Kay and others ; and it is a fact which 1 know the hand-loom weavers and other operatives wish to have recorded , that these south country laboarers were hired for terms of one , two , and thivi ? years , at prices below tbe average of the same class of hands in the ^ same kind of work . I wish to take this opportunity of statiug , as the results of fills inquiry nataraUy bear upon the labour question at large , that 'the emigration system having come very much under my own observation , has , in my jpiuiop , uot only injured the native population of these districts , bnt has produced almost unqualified distress and misery amongst the poor creatures who were so brought over . A 3 ost of them tbat I have known have ' fonud their last state worse than their first . ' -
_ " It is also the opinion of many intelligent operatives , and my own , that no ultimate and permanent good can be effected until some legislative measnre be adopted to specify what shall be" the minimum the labourer shall receive in exchange for his labonr . This has been don ? before , —they thinTc it ought to be done again . They are likewise of opinion that the old system of poor laws , if administered according to ihe spirit , would materiall y assist both the Government and tne country in their endeavours to find out and fix this minwivm .
"It has also been found in these districts that the whole labouring population has received such a shock since the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act , as they can neverreeover Ironi , unless the principles on which that Act is fonaded be exploded , and the opposite principles—of the right of every Englishman , uncharged with crime , toliveinbisown house , to have his wife by his ride , and his children around him at home , and in the enjoyment of ihe decent means of life , —be re-asserted , re-established , and generously acted upon thraughont t'ue land . I can
bear testimony to the peaceable and moral character of the hand-loom weavers , and of the other operatives in this district . 1 never yet heard any man utter a word which seemed to carry a feehug of ilI-w 2 J , hatred , or intended mjnrj to bis richer jmghhoar . All they want , nil they ask , is , a fair day ' s wages at the end of a full day ' s work . Thi * y know they hare a right to that ; tbey wish , If possible , to have it at the hands of Goyerument , trader the laws and iustitat . ons of the country : they have waited long in pa&mtexpectation that the Government would lend
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them it « protective a ^ m iu the atUunment ) oiHUjaj but , if the Government have not the power , or sfioald the GovernmentrefosetoexertihiB power , wyopinion Is , ai ' ter some yeara' acquaintance with ; the working clajsses , they will not wait much longer . "At present the Government experiences very little annoyance ; the people 'do not even trouble ^ them with ' p etitions . They seldom meet in public to discuss their grievaaces . They appear to an inexperienced spectator very Iittfe concerned about auy thing that takes place of a public natdte . They but seldom . expres * thttir sentiments in privateV aiid that only to a very few . I have ^ bften Ueard . men say that they hivd given over talking , but they thought the more , —that nobody should know wbatj
they were until the time came , and that when the time did come , they thought they could iteke care of themselves . I can assure you , $ ir , Jh at tae lar bauring classes of these districts consider themselves ; in couscience , in equity , and in Iw , released from the allegiance which they owe to the - 'Government . '' I think them so released . They are nof protected . They are allowed ' to starve , though working much harder than their black slave : brothers in the West Indies , for the amelioration of whose condition an additional burden of 20 , 000 , 000 / . sterling has been laid on their shoulders . They have long been in a state bordering on despair , aud the threatened introduction of alaw by which they are to be , perhaps trarisported to the south , aa their poor brethren of
the south have been transported tothenorth—by which they are to "be imprisoned ' and starved undera lock and key , wearing a felon ' s dress , and separated from their wives nnd children , —is rousing them from that state of despair into a state of frenzy aud dejtperationi " As a loyal constitutional subject of her Majesty , having lived nearly six years in . the midst of this population , I would , with the greatejit reverence and utmost respect , and yet ^ with great earnestness aud importunity , through this Commission , not duly of t'Le state of the hand loom weavers , but of the state of the whole labouring population in this country ; because , 1 am convinced that unless provision is made "whereby tbe labourer , without any process or
seuse of degradation , can obtain a comfortable and an independent maintenance for himself nud his household , without , . is at present , being compelled to mortgage his owu life aud the life of his wife and his littleichildreu . by exce sive and unremitting factory labour , it will be impossible to uphold much longer the existing institutions of the country . Ignorance crime , want of natural affection , and vice > . of every kind will first demoralize the population , and Sheii i « ud , as a necessary cous'jqueiice , to revolution , anarchy , aud its ' inevitable but-awful results . " 1 only wish' to add that 1 have lirequf ntly been called upon , as a minister , to visit the houses uf the uaiid-loi > m weavers when they have been sick . 1 citu confirm Mr . Clay ' s statement , both of their destituilm and of tkeir habits of cleanliness . "
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F / ie Editors of " Tim XortJutni Star " tris / i to be . distinctl y un ^ ft-rifw ;/ that in affording a -vehicle fur Urn ilisCHSsivii o ' eul Public kite-scions , they un-nut lo 1 .: hLniijuxi with the tKitltneiUs ar the Lu / u / nciic ot their srtmd CurmpoiulvtUs .
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TO TKE EDITORS OF THK NORlIIKIiN STAR . Gentlemen , —A pnnin-raph having appeared- in your paper of the 2 nd insiaut , re ejecting <» u Our c : inlnct ; is collectors of E-. isUt J- ) nes , at Uaworth , ;' or the Vicur ot Brcidtbri , and sti < nu : itizin (; n ^ as tyrannical extortioners of the poor , we ieei ; tiixu > u « , ijy ~ few plidu facts , to clear mnwUes fnmi . an ius-}> utation which vfi ; Know will uui . se readily be made : > y thijse i ' min whu'in Iheleast hu * he-en extorted .
The writer of the para ^ r .-ph Hixu .-es us ot" haviiij . ' " dragged from their i ' muisiiiiit ; iaiuiJies" ni ; n" poor , " -. sinipkV h : tlf-sUrve , " 'lifi : »^ er-b ; tteu " pcojile , to eisforce bo : « re the Ala . triarutes payment of a-sum evidently ton e ' nonuous fur them to -beiir Such expressions only admit of two ijiti-rpn tjitioij . ; , •< uid u . iis ; of the persons suinTnoiic . t , with ihvir ocrupatious , mul the sums h > r which tln'y -wi-re liable , will best determine whether their purport be tru tli or falsehood . This list gives
us—£ W . // . John Brnmle }' , butcher , without family ... 0 0 (> William Parker , beer > elier and butcher ... 0 0 G H . New ell , wi » o ] coiub «; r , with oae vounjj cliilJ ..-. i ...... * T . 0 0 4 Jose p h Ruytis , woolcombpr , ( abusive when calk-d on ) ....:........... 0 0 : i J . Fawtbrop , siij ^ le man , ( paid iKithiug : ) ... 0 0 0 11 . Green woo i , woolsor . ter uu . d grocer ...... 0 , 0 7 i Joseph Dean , farmer and freeholder 0 1 0 G , Mitchell , tanner , grocer , carrier , aud master shoemaker ...... 0 ' 1 0 James Hartley , grocer 0 0 7 i
TotaJ * m «« vm-0 4 10 Really , the feelin'Ts of our accuser " most be tremi'Vulonslv arisitorraticnl , if thoy can persumi ' e him thut these Tiu * n , all in better circumstances , perhaps , than he is himself , are yet so low luiu wretched , as to he incapable o { clubbing five shilliugs for the payment of a legal demand ! But lest his high heart ^ honld swi-11 against us to bursting , we Leg to assure him that out of 1 , 000 cottnjr-. rs in the parish , liable to the ^ : iyment oJ Easier Due < , only 310 have been called on , " aud these for a sum iu the whole under L 6 10 s ., which will give au average offi ' vepejice per mun ! If onr princely-minded accuser still entertain
doubts oi our humanity , we here invite him to an inspection of our books , which will perhaps prove tn l . im that , " unenviable ' : ' though our " charao ' -rs may be , we still possess more kindly hearts , and are actuated by a more Christian churity than himself , when he , in so small a number of lines , could pen against us so many and < nch groundless falsehoods . Aud we assure him thut , despite hi . s concludiiig mciitcuces , he . lias done but j ) oor jij . stice to our generous and respected Vicar , it i e fnir-ies liim capable ol m iecdng heartless servants , or authorising tyraniioiu ; deeils . Apologising for the space we have taken up on a subject of so-local an iuterest , We remaiii , Sir , Your humLle obedient servants , WM . STANCL 1 FFE , A . W 131 THAM , THOS . WEST . Haworth , Jroie 13 , 1838 . P . S . Xo fnrt 3 : t > r communication from our accuwr > - will be attended to , unless authenticated by a-real .- ^ nature .
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TO THE RT . HON . EARL . FITZVfILLIAM . JIy Loan , —Since I xvrote my last letter to your Lor-lsbip , it . would seem that you have bw-nhard-at work , rwuliugand ponderingover the gruat ' MiEciiKE . ' ' It is well , my Lord ; you will . there learn more of true leirlslatorial wisdom m five minutes , than by presiding" over a Board of Guardians , a . s the grimlkjg too ] of tin * three : Commissioners , for five , years , or Cy fox Luijting the whole of your natural life . I h ' nd , already , that you are last progressing ' , and that even uow new lights are couliuually broking in upon your mind . 1 st . You discoveredjthat " ( he Drs , RT > . K , promulgated immediately after the fall , " contained no clause empowering kings to receive TAxr-s . That was good , — very good , my Lord . Then ,
Jd . You found oat ( hat the same " Der-ree ' ' prohibiiudthe pauper'from receiring any reuev . That was better , —still better , my Lord . " And now , 3 d . You have satisfiad yourself , accordiris to that " iJta-ce" that mosarcux have no right to he crowned . This is best of all , my Lord , —the very besf . What fools have we all hitherto been ! Blinded and stnpih ' ed . by pro '// i // ccs in favour of the ridiculous , foolish and idle pag < antry ,. fit . only " for asemibarbarpus age ! ' But now that your Lordship has seriously betaken yourself to the study of your BiUe , we shafl .- ¦ oon get right . With the 1 '' Decree of the Supreme Governor of the Universe" in your hand , you cannot lend us far astray . My Lord , I would not
however , have yon deceive yourself . I do assure you that the people of ExuiaxD are a thinking race . They have iong been reading their Jiiblcs , and they will not consent to stop , just where your Lordship may please , at kings and paupers . There are other nuisances , not ordained by the " DEcnEE , ' ^ besides taxes and poor rates : — there are liESljK , my Lord . Do you hesitate ? Look over the * vm " ee ' once more , and yon will there find not a single word from " the Supreme Governor of the Universe" in support o'rests . My Lord , this is no joke . You have not blushed to question the monarch ' s right to taxes , and to a crown ! You have been cowardly enough to deny the biuht of the pauper . to ' relief :
and I will not shrink , from boldly demanding of you , that you be consistent , and , by the sume authority , proclaim , -that you have no right to receive rent . If you hesitate , or refuse to abolish rents , you will tlien prove that you are only a selfish , one-sided , interested , disloyal and tyrannical expounder of God's " decree . You will t / ien demonstrate , that your apparent zeal for the liononr of God , and of His " decree , " is neither more nor less , than a most barefaced , pious-fraud , intended to rob Kings and Paupers , that , with the spoil , thus impiously obtained , you vmy enrich ^ yoijjrmcn ordet ' i Onwards ! my Lord , onwardsI owlish rests , or cease , for ever ,-to ennoble yourself-by the name of
max . . . ¦ . . . \ - . : ' . ¦ /¦ - . - . . My Lord , them are no rents mentioned in the ' decuee "—no coronets—no secants—no racehorses —no hunters—no fox hounds—no mansions—ho parks—no carriages ; and , above all , no seats in the House of Lords . ¦ All these things are "innovations of man's invention , " or , as your LordBhip mow properly has it , " idle pageants , which : it would he wise to dispense icith ^ . fit only for a sem-lariarous age . " O ! my Lord , I do thank you right heartily , for " teaching me that word 1 If you proceed in . your investigation of Divine truth , yon ' . will find that : God has saidy "Woe unto them that join bouse to house , that
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lay-feM / to / M ^^ . 1 **^ ^ . ^ . ^*^' - ' ^* - ^^ ' ^^ be placed alone m ihe ^^ mi dst of the earth ! " And then he adds in ^ dthef placed * 'Their inward thought u " -that their house * rshall continue for ever , and their duelling ^^ places to all generations ; they call their lands after their own names , " And again the Lord says , " Ofa truth , many houses shall lie . ' d ' eso .-fcte , '' even : ff »^ a £ tdjfrt ! r , ^ Yon will have already perceived , my / Lorcl , that I am not content , that your Lordship should take only your own pickings out of ^ the " decree . " I am resolved , and I do not hesitate to tell your Lordship so to your facei either to have att or none . I can see
nothingmore to be desired in uentS j than in taxes and poor rates : Nothing more sacred ui noble lords , than in king * and PAPpERs . If you will have no taxes andnopbor rates , why then , I insistupon it , that you shall have no REfrTs f If no cnqwN , then down ^ th your paltry coronets ! Ah ! my Lord , these things may be idle \ pageuixls""but , once persuade tne people that they are so , —uproot those oldifashioned TriejttdiceS ) which have taugut them to value the baubles , which your Loi ' dship affects to' despise , and you may burn yonr title deeds . From that time forward , they will avail you nothing . Look to ' ^ yonr own order , " and , as you wish to svppprt it , learn to respect the rights of yemrsupei'iors and inferiors * .
Your contempt for "the pageantry of the coronation > " may , or may . notj be a propi of your want ¦ of loyalty ; " that itis a proof of anentire absence of gallantry , no person can , for one moment , doubt . Yovr loyalty , ( forgive me if . I smile at the thought of Fitzwilliam lpyalty , my Lord , ) has not been of m « ch value , since you proposed to pay his late Majesty lio more tuxes . You well observe , "that her Majesty Is too much respected , and reigns too firmly in the hearts and affections of her subjects , to care much about the pomp and ceremony of-a coronation . " As far as her Majesty is concerned , that is all wise if the
nnd true enough . ButftgyLord ^ x ' osuss . once begin to destroy out pr& ' udiecs , and'to tueqn us from bur attqc / itnent to ^ the pomps , ceremonies and pageantry of a semi-barbarous age , " lean assure you , that they ( the Nobles ) are not at present " so much respected , and so nrmly seated in the hearts and affections of the people , as long to retain the more solid privileges of their order . " And , my Lord , I hesitate uot totell you , thatif they continue to withhold from the people their rights , they will neither deserve , nor will they be able to keep their own . Look to it , ; my Lord , these " *« W » pageants" are of much -morei moment to you , thanthey " are toinc .
I have hitlierto had very strong , old fashioned , English prejudices . I have been a great admirer of the Aristocracy . 1 have hoped much for my country from their high bearing and their noble feeling . When some unworthy Members of " their order " have attempted to degrade tbem , in presence of great ' mosses of the people , I have , at great personal sacrifice , endeavoured to rft-seat the Aristocracy of England in the htarta of the people . But , my Lord , when . I see them bent upon plundering the poor , I am constrained to fear , Hi at the spirit ottheir ancestors isdeparted from them .
Well illicit my Lord Asm-iiv exclaim , " JVhal a t , laie in ; are now in ! ' I do assure you , my Lord , in at . tlii ) ii . < unds of sober minded , intelligent , reading , tbiiikihg Englishmen are beginning seriously to I'liquire—are : our Legislators sane ? Just pnt tLi > t . vo or three following things , to ^ t-ther . and tell me , would any men , pretending to be legislators , for a sms-it empire ' , in an enlightened age , present theins » .-has ¦ before the people ,. e ' utauglud in such mazes of tolly , // "they were not : ma » ? Four years ' . ago , our Legislators declare / I England U \\ w ruined ; and they asserted ^ that the cause of her ruin - w . 'is . ' the existence of a law " ior the . effectual r -lirtf olihn poor ! " This year they Jtickire [ relawo . to tio ruined ; and they assert , that the cau-sc of her ruin is the 7 / OM-existence of a law for the eiTectual reiiuf of ' . ilm poor ! " They assert that the poverty of , Kn « land is onl y tu be removed by repealing I ' oor La .. vs ' altogether ; -and-, that ilie poverty of liti ; r . / .. \» . can only be removed by establishing an " etVec-Miai Poor Law !!"
On tivesii . trlanng and solf-eviuent contradictions , tlipy . aro now endeavouring to make the two countries rich ami prosperous , ' To this end ' they i : re k ^ iskting for E . viiLANn , with a vipiv "to no i'har Lair at all ; " and , for Ireland , they are at this very moment , preparing a law "for the more vffixhial ' relief of the destitute Poor' !! " Nay , with iUf J ) ecree in your hand , you have the impious tiut / adty ; to assort tliat neither iu Enuland nor IiiEMj . r > Jiave "the able-bodied poor" a riuht to dwell'in the land and be fed !! You would make hs believe that you are more charitable than Almighty God , because you are willing to ta . \ yourselves , in order to build Workhouses for the infiun ! ! ! Now , my Lord , 1 defy you to contradict one . word that I have stated . May it not be asked , seriously !» f » . ke'l , ake ot'K GovKitxous sane f Have our Aristocracy lost the stamina of iheir forefathers ?
15 ut , my Lord , this is not all . You may well laugh a . t " idle pageants , " now ' a days . You may well boast of " the march of iutollect . " There is at pre-# nt on the ttble of the House of Commons , and f suppose you will very soon have it on the table of your Lordships' House , a bill for the Regulation ot ' Factories . After having ; kept the country in " agitation" for twenty or thirty years upon that question : after the expenditure of many hundreds of thousands of pounds;—alter tlie labours of many select CojniaitJt-esiH Parliament , and an expensive R © yal Commission to boot ; after the estabnshment of a r < -gulnr fuctory-inspection start ' , at au expense of about ten thousand a-year ; our erudite governor .- ' have found , a mareVn ' esfc , or at least they think so ;
they have absolutely di > 5 G () vered the grand panacea for all tlie . evij .-i of the fictory system ! and , will your Lordship be pleased to guess what it is ? ? so , you cannot ; I am sureyou cannot You are not learned enough '; , but Lord John .-Russkll cnn . Heisvery learned , my Lord . I will save you the trouble of inquiring . I will tell you , on one condition '; which i * , thut-you do iaotlaugh . I do assure your Lordship , mo .-t st-riously , that there is at present a bill < tu th « table-of the " . Ifouse . of Commons , Mr . Fox M trf . Ehu ' d it there , ( and Lord Ashlky sent me a copy of it , so I cannot make a mistake' , ) actually containing a clatiSH , advancing , not some village " pedairvgxiertjnt her iVIaj' esty- ' s principal Secretary of State
ft > r the Home Department , the Right Honourable Lord John Russell , son of his Grace the Duke of FJKDt- 'diin , to the high and important office of—what duu think , my Lord ? Novr once more , I beg that von will ijot laugh . If that bill pas ^ into a law , / iftie Lord John will be legally installed , —not the Clinnc ' ellor of any of the ii ) uiversities , —but Editor and I' / ti / Merofa little , baby A . B . C . '' Horn book " —a Uitie " reading-made-easyi" for wiy little factory cliiliien ! . ' ! Now , I can assure you that it is thought hy the ( invernmont , that the pretty liille pictures tlit'r . uu- to he coiitained , will makuthe little children forget all'theft- ' [' great troubles , and that by means of this nice little Russell A . B . C . picture book , all the vvUs of' t'he factory system xcMbu removed !
In . 1838 , this is called legislation ! In" the semibarbarous » ws" of eur iffriorantyvnenUt-hfened , and pvejudiceii forefathers , it would have been called toiii-foolery .-. - They * ruuld have laughed such legislators to scorn .: —but they were fond of " idle pageants , " and ?/ ' livein tiie age of the triumphant " march of intellect ! ! " I do noc wonder at Lord Asm < nv now , Wei ! might he exclaim , " What a sta !« a . ie we now in ! !" 11 is , indeed it is , my Lord , time ; t to .-cease- from man . " Your Lordship has at length wLsel y resolved to throw over board , all the useless , " idle paijreantry" and Icgislativelumberofthe semi-barbarous ages , " - ' and no io ' flger to be deluded by thsj unhal-[< i ^ ved lihilosopby . oftho age of the march of intellect .
You have extricated yourself from the qnngrnire of a vain philosophy ,, you now enjoy that freedom and enlargement of intellect , whicli is only to be found in die ¦' . volume of inspiration ; Yuu are disencurnhi'red- ^ y ou have led us to the fountain , of true u'isnoM aiid impartial Jmvicv .. You have appealed to the only unerring standard '¦¦ : of truth , " The decrt-e of the Supreme ( Governor of the Universe . " By tbat , I am coutehted to abide . Upon my word , my Lord , but we are in an ftnful state / This Jtioment I have received a newspapeT ( tlie Champion of to-day . ) cphtaining an account ot a bloody riot near Canterbury , about the New Poor LavF-t-of disturbances at Reading , about the sudden discharge of a number of workmen , of anincendiary
Hie near Meltou Mowbray ^ of another incendiary fire at Silvefston , in Northamptonshire—dfau incendiary fire near Epsom ; and of eight different incendiary i plantation tires in xheheiglibourhood of Sunmugliiil , Bagshot , and Oakujgham . "What an awttiV state we are now in ! " . But , my Lord , how is all this ? I was in your Lordship s house not long ago , and therp J . heard one Noble Lord after another rise in his place , and solemnly assure their Lordships , " tbat the agricultural labourers yreredelig / ited with the effects--of the . New Poor Law ; that they were very much improved in their condition ,, circumstances and behaviour ; that instead of being idle , and insolent * and ungprernable , and ungrateful , they were now industrious and respectful , and obedient , and thankful . " Ah , my Lord , Avijilsl ; I listened , 1 knew that these Noble Lords " were speaking peace , peace . ¦ ¦ ¦ iKheie there wm
no peace ! ; But your Lordahip has often jomed in their jubilant . I therefore ^ now ask yoii right seriouilyj how do yon account for these riots , disturbances , and liresT ? Yon would not believe me , wbeii i spoke of the spaoulderings of discontent , which I knew were burnaig \ inder thp smooth -. fac e * of the peasantry ! . . , -. ¦ : ¦ ' . . l > asTanghed at , when I warned tne Government of da ^ geiC What say you now , my Lord ? Do you blame tlie agitators ?"; So far as I know , the districts \ vhere these fires , these disturbances , thetie riots have taken place , are entirely free from the curse of ^ Anti-Pooif Law Agitators . " They ate feinting in the irmi embrace of the accursed Poor Law Commwsioners ! Bnt , notwithstanding the absence of * agitatbrB , ' . ' my Lord , you cannot keep the surface even . Some few sparks , it seemst will uow aud then ba emitted from the smouldering fires beneathl These are bnt sparks , my Lord , awful a *
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they ^ rey they a * e"boti ( i ^ kar ! 1 f ^ ^^^ w ^ you , if , in spite ofheaven , our Governor * are resolyed to enforce the Devil ' s Law agaiiist Goo ' s- own . " decree , " you will se » n witness abl ^ ze , which wiU burn up , and for ever annihilate all * ' the idlepageantry of the semi-barbaron ? agea . ' ^ - ph , that oar Governors plight now \ be prevailed upon to forsake the Vain p hilosophy of man , and sees for true wisdom , where , alone it in id he found , int " the decrees of t / ' . e Supreme Governor of the Universe !" Again , my Lord , I ask , why these fires f— w ^ y these riots?—why- these disturbances ? Nothing shall prevent me from telling you the truth . There is a cartel You baye set yourselves up as wiser than God : vou have dared to legislate against the
" perfect Law of Love ! " You have-oppressed the poor ; and that oppression has driyeji jtnem mad ! Your accursed system of immigration is uow producing ( as I always said it would ) its natural resultei The agricultural labourers in the south were driven from their native fields ; they were falsely promised plent y and comfort in the manufacturing districts . . But these northern counties they found to be none other than " the Valley of the Shadow of Death . " The bon ? 3 of many of these outcast ^ wanderers are new mingled with tlie clods of our valleys L The few who "have escaped with their lives , " are now returning ; their' " weeping and jamentatiori" are heard in their native villages . Despair has seized on their inhabitants . They
have proved that " the ' -tender mercies of their ( Jovernors are cruel ; " and they are r id * beginning to avenge themselves on their oppressors ! "You have sown a storiri , you are about to reap a whirlwind !" All this I have long foreseen , aad have forewarned the Government ; but , whan I ¦ endear ; onred to prevent these awful evils , I was denounced as an "inr cendiary . ' ' . " They were deaf , they would not hear ; they were blind , they would not see . " Thank God , these districts are not yet in flames . — Here , the people still hope- ^ -they hope , even against hope . My Lord , hearing I mast speak . \ Ve have petitioned by hundreds , and by thousands , andby ' hundreds of thousands . The people have been orderly and patient , nay , forbearing . They were told by " the agitators , " that such conduct ^ would ensure to
theirpetitionsY / ie / u » 0 Kra 6 / earte »< jwi of the legislature . Judge then , iny Lord , of their disgust , when one pf her Majesty ' s Ministers , ( Lord Howick ) pointing to those very petitions , signed by or on behalf of a million of Englishmen , sneered at them , because they were not backed by fires and murder ! treated them with contempt—because the districts , from xrhich they came were not disturbed ! because their authors were orderly and peaceable ! My koi-d , what can the people do more ? It is useless i talk of their submitting to the New Poor Law . The Law of nature—the natural affection !* cannot be extinguished by a parchment Statute ! Since ttw petitions of the people were thus rejected , they have remonstrated ! Oh that God would open the eyes and soften the hearts of our lawmakers !
Surely , your Lordships will now listen is the voice of millions of the people , still crying > Repeal the accursed Law . " My Lord , it is quite possible to reduce England to tlift miserable condition of IiiELAxn . Hut it is not possible to keep hitr so . InEtA . \ p is kept in subjection by means of the taxes raised in -. EnolAnp .. Strip Kngl \ nd , and " you linve killed the-hen , which laid the golden . eggs . " I am certain , that if i he New Poor Law be enforced in these districts , in two years afterwards , life and propei ty will be at a discount of 50 per cent . ! It
may be treason thus to speak the truth . 1 have no interest ia the matter—but I do love my country and her institutions . I iniplore those , who huve jtiost at stake , to bestir themselves . 1 kuow that the people will resist £ h <> accurted New Poor Law . Tliey'h ' ave been very still , very quiet : they have petitioned , and remonstrated , nnd waited with -much patience , but Hi fir resolution is unshaken ! They art loyal to tlw'ir Queen ; but th ? y will kill and be killed , rather tlmn submit to the cruel despotism of the Three TiiAiT-on KinusI ! !
Once more , before I leave this place , I solemnly warn thft Government—the possessors of wealthand especially do I warn the Whigs , that the enforcement of the New Poor Luw in these districts' will , most unquestionably , be a preclude to anarchy , bumings and murders ! 1 can have no interest in deceiving . I know that I run great risks by speaking such Unwelcome truths . 11 matters not— J will run every riskrather than . leave-one effort untried , to save a district , to which . I am , bound by so many ties , from the ravages « fthat " madxbss , "' which , even in' - 'ime Mz « j , " -isthe oflspring of •' oppiiEsgioN . " The Whigs
have long sought ray life—hitherto God has . disap * pointed their hopes . He has now permitted them to deprive me of my daily bread . And oh ! how they exult ! 'Tis a poor triumph after all , for the governors of a great nation ! They .-h ' ave got a Gentleman ' s Steward ui ^ charged , and that is all ! All will , however , yet he well . He , who for the good of his country , has always one life to offer , can fear no evil . Go < l -will still provide for me , and I have no pleasure in the destruction of the Whigs . Oh ! that ' they would repent , and remember those large proinises which tlieyformerlymude to the poors . I hive the honour to remain , my Lord , your Lordship . ' s Most obedient Servant ,.
RICHARD OAbTLER . Fixby Hall , near Hudderofield , . June 2 nd , 1838 . P . S . —Since writing the above , my Lord , it appears that the representations made by the Ministerial Press , connecting the melancholy affray near Can-TEnB-iTRV-with the dissatisfaction which the people feel with regard to the New- Poor Law , was only a fiction , invented by the disordered intellects of those editors , who , no doubt , whenever they hetir of disturbances in any part of the kingdom , immediately imagine that it is the blood of the murdered paupers , which has called down the just vengeance of Almighty God .
If your Lordship will seriously ponder upon -this fadi ,. you will learn that even those very editors , who are employed and paid hy the Government , to upho ' id the avenrsprf New Poor Latu system , perform THEIR or VICE WITH FEAR ANP TREMBLINU . What madmen these hired scribes mvi > t be , to charge me with-having connection with a religious fanatic , of H' / iom I had never heard , bnt who seeins to have-been well known to their paymasters . No one can read the accounts of that bloody tragedy without weeping . The poor lunatic could nof be blamed ' , but those persons , to whom the peace of that part of the country is confided , ought to have known , that the only proper way to secure a madman , is by stratagem . Had ; that only rational plan been adopted , how many lives
would have been spared . My Lord , yon will have it , that the people of England-art :-iii : love with this wild , new fangled Tueason , called the New Poor Law' -Amendment-Act I wish you could persuade all the Lords Lientenant to call county meetings on the subject . Why not ? ' Your-Lord ' .-sliip used to be fond of appealing to-the people . —why hang back now ? 1 perceire , however , that the Aristocracy are coming round . —A friend of mine , has just . shewn me nletter from a nobleman , ( not one of those patriots who opposed the New Poor Law , ) in which he says The- manufacturing population is accustomed to vent its grievances at public meetings—buttliat is not the case with , the agricultural labpurers , whose
resistance Would . 'be far more formidable , and far more difficult to overcome . I was informed , yesterday , that some London Policemen-were ndw stationed at ¦— , but it is not known from ivhose orders , or what apprehensions are entertained , except , that in a parish of that Union , and some miles imui it , 150 labourers are said to be provided with muskets and daggers , and to meditate , an attack , but when , or where is uncertain . " As the labourers are s «» -very fond of the New Poor Law , they are no doubt intending to ^ attack" those persons who wish for its repeal ! Be that as it mayy my Lorii , "AlusKETsandDAGUEns" are no jokes . And yet it is the birthright of Fkeejiex to carry arms . Will
your Lordship 'oblige ' me "b y calling for a return of the number ol" places , to which those London Policemen have been seiitto assistixilhe enforcement of the New Poor Law ; as well as those places where they have been required to put down those , who arc endeavouring to oppose it , contrary to the wishes of the labouring population . We shall then know how the feeling of the labourers of England really stands on this subject . Let us also have the- numbers sent to each place—tlie expense and all about them ;' and particularly whether they were sent at , the request of the Magistrates , or of the Poor Law Commis sioners ; aud whether the Lords' Lieutenant were consulted . Do , my Lord , let us know all about it . R . O .
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TO THE EDITORS OF THE NORTHERN . STAR
RALAHINE . . * FORMATION OF CHARACTER . —Contintced . Preston , 4 th June , 1838 . Gaming , of every kind , was entirely ^ pr ohibited among the members , and happy wonld it liave been for this society if the law maker , had not himself been the law breaker , No individnal was allowed to keep a four looted beast , or poultry , of any kind , as private property , all these were the property of the society . Heiic ' e , no bulldogs , fightirig or poaching dogs , hghting cocl ^ s , &c , could be Introdaced among them , and all the foolery , cruelty , villany ,
and immorality , connected with them , were effectually prevented . Tobacco , and snaff , were riot kept in their store , nor allowed to be n » ed on the premises . This pat an end to som « s ^ dirty nabite , was a saving of money , promoted the beaJth pf the members , and prevented the danger of fire , from carrying lighted tobacco among the hay ;^ nd straw in the barns and stables , and if such wacttces were strictly prohibited in Ziyprpool , I believe it would prevent the burning of maay ^ a warehouse . Laws twenty six ; ; « 4 : ' . twent r s ^^ V ( gnarante * perfect freedom ^ opinion , and of reKgipns wowhip , to ell , and the arrangement * for the observance of th » sabbathi secured to ail , jovag
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greatest posnble ^ jiJitiM fertaia pbrpos ? S * t great majerity of the ioembew were Catholic . ^ owing to the mcesiatit , ; fljad > -ised , foolish aSn ! * at prosel y ^ sm , every wtie ^ maWDg brpS ^ in iTeland , iooptnions equally as absurd as S ? the Catholic member ^ most of them at feT ^ ignorant , were for a considerable time nahJ ^ wispiciqus , aboaf the instruction given to rhmvH dren by Mr : Vandel ^ r , and byJlr . Gra ^ ni $ first teught % Mr t O'Dea , from tsTfSg & School , Dablin , she maTried Mr , VandeleaV ?^ dener , whom Mr . V . wished the society to recpiT **' amember ^ ut theyinowing his te mper and cW ter better thaajus master , put him t £ the bafe hewas ^ e ^ rconseq ^ en Uyv ^^ yla ^ p ^ W vuui leave
were uimgea vo me . society at H «" .: « ^ tnre . . Mrs ; Craig , a sensible well informed Wm ^ lately married to » ur worthy secretary at Mr V ** deleur * request , offered her services in the h ^ School , which , were gladly accepted , but hearr soon after , that some of the parents w . ere « usofei * of her principles , and dissatisfied with her insW tions she wrote the following letter to Mr V . ^" leur , dated November 3 d , 1 $ 33 ; Dear ¦ Sfr " ! 3 ?*' is probable I shall riot have a personal interi-iew ^ a you for some time , I take this mode of making a ^ statements which I deem necessary is I hare tfifv drawn my attention from the Infant ScLobl ha * . ascertained that an impressiou exists in the mW of some flftfce parents , that I am disposed totearV the children doctrines , cootrary to those profeas ^ C uiemscivesixow not
. as x ao toink . that 8 QT- ' per * i' * has a right , to dictate or enforce hie own becnK , rdigions opinions upon the child of anotherwoW mg a different ' creed , it would not be ag reeable t my feelings to attena the school , whilst theimnrpi sion above alluded to remains . When I came t > RalaWne , I found the : Infant School withont ari , suitable person to attend to the edncation or maS of those interesting little creatures , and , at yon ? request , I paid what attention my time would pw mif , and so far was I from interfering in tliis mauer * that I followed up the same form of religious p ' raye n and thauksgiungs , which ; I found had ^ been previously taugUt by Mrs . O'Dea . After makiug the aopve statement ^ and at the same time observing
that I consider : the ; prpper education of the childn * as the most important feature in the society ^ IW you will riot fee | me disobliging , when I inform vqq of my intention to absent myself from the sehbd altogether , unless the parents desire it otherwise and although my services liave been- '' gTAtaitonl yet I can assure yon , that I ^ have felt consideraSfe pleasure in doing the little I have done for them l am , dear sir , yours respectfull y : MARY CKAFG ' 1 his letter , r ^ ad at a geueral meeting of tie society , had-the desired effect , it reinovedth ' e doubti ' ¦ ri A S ? ' ^ nd v H **; : ?™? was unanimonir recalled to the school , I think I know Ireland , and the opinions of the Irish people , as well as most Enghshmeu , and I feel quite sure , that ** «** £
, tor the improvement of that country can succeed , that is m any way connected with the religious mis sionary and Bible mania that is now ragin <» , tb » circumstance I have just related confirms " tW opinion , and I now state what I know to be a fact that great numbers of Protestant Bible * and Testa , menus that are sent over to Ireland and given t $ Catholics , are . immediately pawned for a few pence , and the money spent on whiskey ; -tb > se Bibles-art packed up in boxes , sent back to England , and sold tor half , or one third , of the price they cost thft members of the bible Society . I have seen these bo ol
xes Bibles from Ireland frequently in a booksellers shop in Manchester , who told me that he received abox from Dublin almost every week , ani he offered me Bibles for Is ., Is . ¦ Gd . frg ' ; 2 s 6 d 3 s . 6 d ., that must haye cost the Bible SocietT from 3 s . Gd . to 8 s . The Irish are kind hearted , generous industrious ^ and capable of great physical , intellec tual , and moral improvement , only let their religiom prejudices alone ; give them education , ami give them employment , that will enable ihehi to earn comforlahlt food , clothing , and lodging , 'and they will ' become the most merry , witty , contented , and happy peovle on earth . ¦¦ '
I must not close this part of my subject , without making a few more remarks , oh the improved condition of females at Ralahine , and the effects- ihui produced on their characters . In allrespecfe . females were upon terms of equality with males , they received the same education , they engaged in the same kind of labonr , ( but the easier parts were allotted to them , ) every meens was adopted to remove , or to lessen domestic drudgery , and the performanceofsuch services belonged to the voutlis under seventeen . The wages of the wife ma ' de her independent of her husband for support , and the Society was the parent * and amply pronded for the education and wants of all the children . The wn ' e
therefore , was a help-mate , a companion ^ a friend , an equal ; and not a servant , cypher , ' or- slave to her husband , as in the present irrational stata of so ' ciety . There being no restraint upon the union ofthe sexes in marriage , as all know each others talents and dispositions ,, and had no motive to influence them , but pure --np ' -jpect and love for each other , all marrlagoa among the members were marriages of aflection , and the fear of expulsion , prevented them from forming imprudent alliances with those that were not members . If aj'oung man said to a female , "Mary I love you , " she had only to reply , " JToha , [ have no objection to you for ray husband if you love memarry me . " Nothing more was then necessarr
than to give notice to the Committee , under whose directions the society prepared for them ' a residence , the priest performed the ceremony accoraingto law , And they become man and wife , each enjoying the same privileges , arid the sRmeiadependence as before . If married persons could not agree to live together , they had a very easy mode of separation , for as long , or as short a period , as they chose . Jolmhad only to say to Mary , or Mary to say ' to John— " I cannot put up with your ill tempera , scolding tongue , dirty habits , < fec , it you do n ^ t behave yourself better , I willleave the cottage , eat toy meals in the public dining-room , and sleep in the dormitory of the single members ; " and as alltte
cnmiren were kept and provided for in the schools , this could be done at any time , without any iricoavenience or lo ^ s to the sociehf , or any bad effects upon the condition or morals of their children .: But the dread of a public disclosure of this kind , and of the taunts and ridicule that would attend such a circumstance , from their fellow members , compelled married persons to treat each other kindly , and caused them to live together like sweethearts . Every motive for unchastity was thus removed , and me Tnosfc powerful circumstances were created , to make it both the duty , and the interest ^ of men and women , to love each other , and to practice every moral , and every Christian virtue . If It be said that
Christianity , in its preseiitform , has done much , to improre the condition of the female sex , when it shall be purified from its cbrntptions , amler . mhledby thai' . greatprinciple . " The character of man is formed for him , " by the circumstances in which he is placed , rind t / ie training he receives , it wilt do a thousand tinwsinore . Now let us compare the condition of females at Ralahine , with their general condition in society as it now is . ' . Women ; - under thepresent arrangements of society , are denied etery p ' olnical , and every social right , not acknowledged by our laws , even as rational human beings . Most means oi" independent subsisteoce are closed against them ,, themselves to
mere adjuncts to their parents ^ or their husband * deprived of all their property at marriage , subject to chastisement Hike children ,. entitled by law to claim only a fraction of his effects at the . death of the husband , an education forced upon tbeB Am . ctiig the wealthy , -which is worse than ignorance , and fits them for nothing , but to be the noisy , sniirkr ing , singing , mnsical , dancing Tiuppete , and fKttf play things of their Lords . Among the poor , they are generally , the most miserable drudges , and if their Masters be drunken , idle , or vicious , as is too oftea the Case , the condition of themselves , and their children , is far worse than that of the ) West Indian Slave . But what slavery can be one hundreth part
so galling , what tyranny could invent ' any thing one hundredth part so cruel , as the condition of ,-thoo * sands jof unfortunate females , in London , Mancbe ^ ter , Liverpool , and in every other large city ana town , in thin eimnenily Christian country . Ond seduced from the paths of chflstity , by ; the cnnninf wiles ; and lying promifee *) of soine wealthy , flesigi * ing , or dissolute , yoTuig Lord of 'itii Creati 0 ^ to whom pup laws have lately given impunity' « w crfme , no bitter tears of centrition , no ^ any sabsfr quent virtues can , ever restore them to ¦ their jfonrier station of society , but abandoned , scornedj abused , and ilitreated by all , they are left to linger out amiserable existence , nnpitied . victims of poveh ^
degraddtiori , remoise , druhkeriness , \ prosfetution * disease ; -despair , and a premutiire deatn . Ana _>« this sufferingJs inflicted by a bible reading ChnstuA people , itpon the weaker ^ sex fbrsootti , for . havgg onl y once followed a natural'propensity ' , ^ which & * of tne other sex have not frequently ' indulged bewie marnagei And so preyahint ia this evil , tn « t \* J ^ Jf ascertained not long ago , that 140 qf these urtfvff * note females are twirig' on the ^ wages qf prostiivtio in one street w Liverpool Scribes , Saints , Pharisee ** Hyppcnteslearn ofyour master . iff aster , this woman was taken in adulteryvin the very act ,, now Mpse *
fri the' law , cpmmahded that such should be fltoneoi bri t what aayest thori ?"' : He ' said , " he thai is ' wi . tn--out sin among : ydto , l € St : him cast' the fi » t ** one * r her . " Cpnyicted by tVeir bwn coriscienpej tbeT went out one by t *» r * M 1 Je »« s was left alone , sa * the woman standing' iii the midst , arid he said W her , ^ womanj where are those their accuser ^ ao ** , no man condemn thee ? " She said , " no man , i # V and hesaidvntpher * neither do Icondeam tbe *» ?• and . sin ao more . . Women of England ! J «**** yourselves ! thes' thd ^ ymUd be Jretj have mt " tfatlZ tt ' '' ¦ . "•"" , ¦ : ' ''' ¦ . "¦ .. ¦ . """' .. " ¦ ' ¦¦ > - - - ¦ - "" , ¦ In mjnva I iHa ^ give the i >**» M * fa 8 ^ $£ Government ef this Society , and that ^^^ wiU coropje * : 6 n 6 of the best codet 6 f Law ; s eyer finuned . I am , warpectftiUy , v Jffiti FINCH .
Original Coilrespondenx'e.
ORIGINAL COilRESPONDENX'E .
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« THt tORTiEIN STM , V !'; : / ¦ ¦^ ¦ " > \ : -: : ' . \ , \ :-- - ^ t rNr % 'i 8 ffi ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 23, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct526/page/6/
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