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THE SOUTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1842.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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NEWCASTLE . © HEAT CHABTIST MEETING IN THE GUILD HALL , THE MAYOR IN THE CHAIR . On Tuesday lint , a public meeting , convened by the Mayor of Newcastle , in compliance -with a requisition bearing the signatures of 605 of the inhabitants -was held in the Guild Hall , to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament for Universal Suffrage , Tote by Ballot , Annual Parliaments , Equal Toting District ? , No Property Qualification , and tbe Payment of Members of Parliament—on which occasion the spacious Hall "was crowded in every 'comer . At twelve -o ' clock , James Hodgsos , Esq ., the Mayor , took the chair , and opened tte meeting by the requisition being read by the Town Clerk , and the Mayor hoped and trusted that every gen tit man who rose to address them on the subjects set forth for discussion would receive a fail and impartial hearing , and he "would now be happj to lis'en to any ane 'who ¦ was desirous of expressing hi * sentiments .
Air . Wit . Btrse rose to move the first resolnbon , sad at jrreat length , explained the principles of TJni-¦ v = rsal Suffrage , -which -was britfly seconded by Mx . Tbomas Gray , and carried unanimously . The resolution ran as follows : — " That this meeting believes it to be the inalienable and constitutional xurbt of every man unconvicted of crime and of sound sdad , to exercise the franchise in the election of members of Parliament ; that to give the elector the free use of his franchise , the vote should be taken by ballot -, that to render the representative duly responsible to his eoostituents . Parliaments should be chosen annually ; that as -wealth conferred neither intelligence nor ability , the propeaty qualification in members of Parliament kould be abolished ; that as -want of wealth excluded
many men of talent from the services of ths people , members should be paid a limited amount of salary ; » ad , that the country should be divided into equ * l electoral districts . " Me . Byrne then moved the adoption of a petition founded on the resolution , and that it be transmitted , after signature , toThomas Dancombe , Esq ., M . P ., for presentation to the House of Commons ; ¦ which was seconded by Mr . Wilkie ; -whereupon Mr . Sinclair moved as an amendment , that a pet tion , the eepy of -which he held in his hand , tand -which with tbe permission of the Chairman , he -would read , ) be adopted by this meeting ; Mr . Wa Atkins seconded Hi . S . " b amendment . Then Mr . S . read aloud tbe National Petition , and -was loudly cheered by the meeting .
Mr . Btb . se , seeing this , aaid he -was not aware of tbe intention of moring tbe petition jait read by Mr . S-, or lie -would gladly have given place , and he aow begged leave to -withdraw the resolution , -which he lad placed In the hands of the Mayor-Here Messrs . O'Brien and Binns entered the Hall , « d were hailed -with most deafening eheers . The Mayor put Mr . S . 's amendment as a substantive motion , and it was carried unanimously . Mr . Sikcuis then move < l" That tte Petition now adopted , after procuriD ? as many signatures as possible , be transmitted to the Con-Ten tioji—the Parliament of the working classss—for presentation to the House of Commons . " The motion was seconded , by Mr . G . Binns , and earned unanimously .
Mr . B . O'BaiEN then rose amidst enthusiastic cheering . He said he had been told that Ids assistance night be necessary to get the National Petition passed ob thepreaent occasion- He was glad to see that the people of Newcastle could pass it themselves . Tbey aight depend upon it , that if ever they were to get the Charter , it most be by their own exertions / and this seemed to be their own opinion , for of themselves they passed it , and passed it unanimously . He could assure them that if ever be were a member of the National Convention , he would not only give his best attention to the due presentation of the petition , but be would also tell the people generally , that if they desired to possess their political right * , they must imitate the conduct of the men of Newcastle . He -would now propose a vete of thanks to a gentleman -who had done himself great honour in calling this meeting , and presiding over its deliberations . Tfce Mayor of Newcastle , disregarding all party
considerfttions , had felt it to be his duty to comply wiiii the wishes of a large Dumber of bis fellow-townsmen , and to give them the opportunity of exercising a great constitutional privilege , under the sanction of their Chief Magistrate . Such conduct was highly honour able to the worthy Chairman , and be- { Mr . O'B . ) rejoiced to think that a better feeling was springing up in a large c'ass of tbe community , that had previously looked with suspicion * nd distrust on the advocate * of the Charter . The meeting would observe that a new feature had been added to the National PetitUn- It w > w praytd for a repeal of Ihei legislative Union oi Great Britain and Ireland—not far the dismemberment <* f the empire—not for the severance of Ireland fiom the British crown . The Repeal of _ the Union simply scant that the privilege of internal government be restored to Ireland . They were all aware that the American Republic was composed of several States , -each of which possessed the privilege of local govern-
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ment , whilst "there ^ ras alxo a general gowBrnmtnt f- * r the whole of tbe United States , And it was this for which the Ir : sh bad been so long agitating . Well , then , let the Chartists of Great Britain assist them in the struggle , and . the Irish Repealers would join in the demand for the Charter . Mr . OB- felt great pleasure in sajisg , that the two towns he admired most 1 p the kingdom were the first that had : adopted the National Petition , in public met ting duly convened by the constituted authorities . Newcastle adopted it—it had also been adopted in Brighton . Mr . OB . showed iow the interests of the several classes ol the community were " not identical under the present order of things , and the necessity of the Charter to place them all on the same level , fee ., and after , in strong terms , denouncing the accursed New Poer Law Bill , he said ihat a certain local organ , which Mr . O'Connor would eaJl the Coifs Head Obsenxr , had compared him ( Mr . OTS . ) with Shakspear ' s Jack Cade , who promised his
followers that there should be , in England , seven halfpenny loaves for a penny , that the three hooptd pot should have ten hoops , and that he would make it felony to drini small beer . Now in bis Pir . O'B . 's ) intercourse with , tie ptople he had never promised anything mGre than the fruits of their own labour . He left such delusions to the Whizs and emigration agents ; he had sever spoken , as the Newcastle Caurani asserted , of taking the land from the present possessors and giving it to the people ; but if he had done so he would only have been following the doctrine of Moses , who was friendly to the cancelling of all debts once in every seven years , atd a redivision of the land every half century . - Were KJeb . a plan to be adopted now , why they , the people of England , would all be whitewashed to-night , and as rju * y as bets dividing the land to-morrow morning . Mr . O'B . went on giving the factions , with which we have to contend , their own with interest for abect &a hour , and ¦ was loudly cheered at the end cf every sentence .
Mi . Geat seconded the vote of Shacks to the Mayor , and being one of the deputation who waited upon his worship with the requisition ; he could speak to the urbanity with which tbey had been received , and the readiness wtth which their wishes had been granted . iLoud cheers . ) x Mr . O'Bbjen put the motion to the meeting , and it -was carried with acclamation , after which three times three enthusiastic cheers -were given for the Mayor . The MaTob thanked the meeting for the honour whicb ha « i been conferred upon him so warmly , and also for ths good order and good feeling wbleli tad characterised the proceedings . Tie business being now ended the M 3 yor left the chair .
Several Tcices cnJIed on Mr . Bisss to address the meeting , wkich he did , and regretted that so few gents of the middle classes had attended tbe meeting . The present meeting , he was sure , would do much to sdvauce th * canse of the people . It would teud to do away with the distrust of the middle classes , and when once the antipathies of the two classes were abolished , tie success of the popular cause would be the natural consequence . Mr . B . concluded by an exhortation to imien , and the people dispersed .
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use of the Hall , and hit unceasing efforts to further the cause of universal liberty , " which was responded to by three unanimous cheers . " Mr . K . Robson proposed the health of the Chairman , and the meeting separated , highly gratified with tbe evening ' s entertainment .
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SOUTHAMPTON . TRIUMPH OF THE DEMOCRACY OVER THE CORN-LAW REPEALERS . A very interesting and spirited meeting took place here according to announcement on Tuesday evening , Jan . 18 th , to adopt the National Petition , to , pass a memorial to the Qeeen for the return of Frost , Williams , and Jones , and also to nominate a delegate to the General Convention of the industrious classes . Ab the " shades of evening" closed there were
manifest an unusual spirit of activity and excitement amoDgst the working men . Ab they repaired to the place of meeting , they could be beard in earnest conversation aa to its success , which fortunately for their good judgment and their love of the just principles of the Charter , proved to be one of the best lessons ! taught to the Corn Law repealers , we ever had the pleasure to record . The Chartists were unaware that any opposition would be offered to their proceedings ; but , however , they were prepared for an ; emergency , and concluded the meeting in a glorious manner .
The chair was taken by Mr . Gale , who read a letter from the Lady of General Napier , assigning illness as the cause of the General ' s absence from the meeting ; he read letters also from Salisbury , Portsmouth and from Bath , apologising for their not sending delegates to the same . Mr . Palsies proposed the first resolution . He addressed the meeting as fellow slaves ; he considered it necessary to apply this term to them , because no man who had only his labour to depend on , and was not represented , was otherwise than a slave . The Chartists had been accused of being levellers , and of wishing to destroy the property of the rich . What a ridiculous idea it was to suppose that they wanted to destroy that which it had cost them bo many years of labour to create . They were not so ignorant as not to know that if they destroyed property they would bring ruin on themselves ; what
they wanted was equal political power , and then would follow a more equal distribution of the wealth which their own labour should henceforth create . It was said that the Government was not to blame for the distress that now existed—that it arose from the improvidence of the working classes themselves ; he threw back with contempt the foul assertion . Those who assumed to themsflves to become their rulers set the example of improvidence , vice , and profligacy . Some say the people are too ignorant to exercise the suffrage , and they , on the other hand , have not proposed any tfficient means to ascertain the precise qualification of the electors , without including tbe most ignorant portion of society , to the exclusion of the most intelligent . The Charter appeared to him the only means to establish an honest and upright Government—a Government that will secure to all the most permanent happiness peace , and prosperity . ( Cheers . )
Mr . Hill britfly seconded the following reso lution : — 11 That ibis meeting is of opinion that the withholding of all political rights from the working class has caused a spirit of discontent to spread amongst them , which can only be allajed by allowing tho noble and worthy principles contained in the People's Charter to become the law of the land . " It * was put from the chair , and passed unanimously amidst tbe acclamation of the meeting . Mr . Philip Branson , from the Isle of "Wight , then proposed the adoption of the National Petition . He went miHutely into the whole of the sections of the petition , and explained and enforced the principles of the Charter m a powerful and eloquent manner , much to tbe satisfaction of the meeting . Hespoke at considerablelength , and was much cheered throughout his speech .
Mr . GooDMA ? r , in a bold and energetic manner , briefly seconded the resolution . Mr . Hood then came forward , and mounted the platform for the purpose of moving the following amendment : — "That this meeting regards the five fundamental points of the Charter as successive step 3 in the great march of perfection of the English nation , and the progression of popular influence ; but that it likewise regards the great question of the repeal of the Corn Laws , as the prime legislative means of the happiness of the people , and pledges itself to further all other means of securing moral and national improvement . "
A good deal of uproar and confusion took place when Mr . Hood commenced , but by the exertions of the Chairman a hearing was at length obtained -and he was suffered to proceed . And after delivering one of tbe most declamatory and contradictory speeches , in which he alternately abused and approved of the Charter and the Chartists , he Eat down amidst groans and hisses . The amendment was seconded by Mr . Naylor . Mr . Bartlett rose and was received with great cheering . He cojtended that if they got tbe repeal of the Corn Laws by the united exertions of the working classes and the middle classes , some equally injurious law would be likely to be passed in the following session of Parliament , and then they would
have all the work to do over again . He did not belie-re all the adran- 'ages contemplated from the repeal of the Corn Laws would ber realized . In 1835 bread wa 3 one-third cheaper tban now , with ihe same Corn Laws in existence . The increased demand for our manufactures would tend more to give employment for machinery than for manual labour . For how could the working classes work Torthe same wages , when , on the other hand , tbey have . to pay three times more taxes than any other nation in the world . Wh y were the working classes called on to assist in obtaining a repeal of the Corn Laws ? They were out of the pale of the constitution . If , however , the people had political power , they would soon alter the Corn Laws . Let the
middle classes , then , join with them to get thet Charter , and they would easily beat the landed aristocracy . Such a union had taken place at Bath and oiher places , and would soon follow throughoue the land . There was bow , in the tenth year of thii Reform Bill , nearly a hundred majority of Tories it the House of Commons . Tne Whigs could not swallow that dose , —( chetrg)—and within twelve months they would see the timid Whig quietly moving over to the Conservative ? , and the Whig Radical johriag the Chartists . The meeting had already passed a resolution affirming that . the Charter wa 3 the only remedy for tbe evils at present existing , and if they carried the amendment it would give the lie to what they bad previously done .
An arrangement was then made , by which Mr . Hood , the mover of the amendment , and Mr . Brannon , the mover of the original resolution , each agreed to speak a quarter of an hour ou their respective sides of the question . This was done , and the opinion of the meeting wa 3 then taken , when the onginal motion was carried by a large majority . The meeting then gave three tremendous cheers . Mr . Bartlett then read the memorial , and moved its adoption . Sir- Tafgex seconded it , and it was put to the meeting , and was adopted . Mr . Palmer moved that Mr . Bartlett be the delegate to represent the Chartists of the Southwestern district in the General Convention . This was seconded by Mr . Ikglefield , and carried unanimously .
Thanks were voted lo the Chairman . Cheers were given for Frost , Williams , and Jones ; for the Charter , and for the people ; and the meeting broke up much delighted with its proceeding .
The Southern Star. Saturday, January 29, 1842.
THE SOUTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , JANUARY 29 , 1842 .
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- PROGRESS OF OUR PRINCIPLES . Scarce a week passes that does net afford some marked and decisive evidecce that the policy recommended by us , and acted on by the people , of shewing the Whigs the outside of Downing-street , has been attended with most admirable results . We last week noted , in commenting on Mr . Biggs ' " Midland Counties' Charter , " the insolent assumption by that person , that the people are utterly powerless without the Whig middle classes , while he yet raves and fumes like a maniac
because theso same people have driven the pets of- these same Whig middle classes from their roosting place , and replaced them by the Tories . Such-are the stupid writhing 3 of jolterheads , who , like Mr . Biggs , hold on by their folly till the last moment , and come over to the Chartists , taken they are forced , grumbling and making wry faces all the time ; like an unwilling monkey , who doe 3 what he is bid , but grins in your face . Thank God , however , the middle classes are not all Bi 6 GS £ 3 . There
are many among them well principled , high minded , and sincere lovers of true liberty , who , in their simplicity , have been deluded by the fair speeches of the Whigs in former times , and have accorded them their confidence from a belief that they were honest in their professions of a desire for good and cheap government . These have time now to thiLi . Their attention 13 not kept always on the rack to devise means hy which to save fiom going down a government which though far from being what they wished was yet " a Reforming Govern-
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ment . " These , Tery naturally , now want to make the dislodging of the Tories the means of installing parties who will do justice and not again disappoint the people ' s hopes . These , while they sought by every means to uphold a Whig Government ia power in preference to a Tory one , yet now look out for the safe ground on whioh to replace the Tory Government , which they perceive to have beeH forced on them by the treachery of their former protogees . They look round , carefully because honestly , and thev find their only hope of success to be in the
People ' s Charter ; and hence they become Chartists from conviction and principle , who would have remained Whigs had the Whigs remained in power . Grumbling supporters it is true they might hare been ; but supporters of Whiggery they , would still have been from the Tery dread of its exchange for Toryism . The accession to the people's cause of mind like these , honest , sincere , and influential is a benefit worth having , and marks , we repeat it most emphatically , the wisdom of the proceeding by which it has been obtained . We are led to these
remarks by the fact that some kind friend has send us a oopy of the Kent Herald , the only liberal paper published in the Arohiepsoopal oity of Canterbury In that piper we find the National Petition given at full length in the leading columns of the paper ; introduced and followed with the following remark ? : — " In the midland and northern districts the principles of politics to which it ( the National Petition ) refers , are generally understood , but in Kent a ? ery great part of the population are unacquainted with the precise nature of a petition which has been thus widely and eagerly adopted . We will place it
then on record in eur pages , for whatever differences of opinion may exist as to some portions of it , and nothing can secure universal approval , we feel convinced that it will , in coDJuction with the Peoples Charter , drawn up be it remembered by a committee of well-known members of Parliament , be the basis of all future political movements . The Whig Reform of 1831-2 has been tried , and as a final measure proved an entire and undisputed failure . The People's Reform Bill will hereafter be the only antagonastio power to Toryism . * * * . * .. . * , Those who want the sanction of great names may take courage by reflecting that the principles above
advocated were formally and publicly promulgated by Charles James Fox , as Chairman of the Westminster Committee , in 1780 , of which committee were members the Dake of Portland , Earl of Egremont , Earl Temple , Lord John Cavendish , Lord George Cavendish * the Hon . Thomas Townaend , Mr . R . B . Sheridan , Mr . Sawbridge , Mr . Wilkes , and about ninety other noblemen and gentlemen . The report published by these eminent persons recommended the adoption of Annual Parliaments , Universal Suffrage , Equal Voting District * , No Property Qualification , Voting by Ballot , Payment of Members , and Poll to be taken on the same day . "
It is really refreshing to see the cause of honesty and justice thus progressing towards the extinction of Whig liberalism . Being taken up by some from conviction and principle , by others , as in the case of Mr . Biggs , unwillingly and with an ill-grace—but still taken up as " the only antagonistic power to Toryism . " .- ;
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a rare acomnnlation of strength and power . Good , simple leaguers ! Reckon not your chickens too early . You may succeed in getting over Mr . Pattesow at the tail of Parson Brewster , but yell get no honest Chartist with him . They know you too well—they would not trust you for a single yard—and you wiil by and bye rub your foolish eyes in wonder that the Chartist cause goes on fall be ter for the loss of Mr . Patteson ; and that the rejection of your nostrurn by the Ctiartist body , is just as perfect and decided now that you have him to help you to cram it down their throats aa it was before .
We congratulate the Scottish chartists on the secession of Messrs ; Brewster and Patteson ; just as we would a coach wheel on the absence of the slipper . We shall not be sorry to record a few more unmaskings .
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TRIUMPHS OF PRINCIPLE . Wh have only just room to notice the triumphant displays elsewhere recorded .-of Newcastle , where the six points of the Charter were all swallowed with " out aay " bockenicg , " and the National Petition passed by acclamation at a Guildhail-full , with the Mayor in the chair ; and at Hull , where the brave "lads , " of themselves , unaided by a single " gun , " made the whole army of Leaguers glad to beat a parley , and ultimately sound a retreat , leaving the ChartUts in possession of , at least , the best portion of the field ; although the meeting was their own , and they had all the elite of the anti-Corn Law camp there . Hurrah ! for Hull . Stick , lads , by the Charter ! Beware of the bait ! no compromise ! no coalition { no surrender !
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WAGES OF LABOUR , AND " EXTENSIONS
OF COMMERCE . The great bugbear that the advocates of " Extension" of our present commerce hold up to our noses to frighten us out of our common sense when air argument has failed , is " Foreign Trade " and the danger to be apprehended from "Foreign Competition . " It is really amusing for a by-stander to observe the dexterity with which this bug-a-boo is handled and exhibited , as a never-failing silencer to all complainers , by the "free-traders" in human misery and poverty .
Does the workman cry out , and complain that his cottage has been stripped ; that the " meal kist" has been dragged ouC ; that his shelves have been emptied ; that his back has been unclothed ; and does be murmur at the system which has used him thus ill , — thei fantastically-dressed "boggart" is shewn to hinij and ho is warned that ifhe does riot be quiet" Foreign Competition " will take him !
Does the wife complain that she has - been dragged from her home , and forced to take her husband ' s place in the factory—to labour there in artificially heated atmospheres , to earn an existence for her family , and chained so to the wheel , by their poor circumstances , that she dare not leave her work until the labour-pangs physically incapacitate her for performing the hard task ; and does she lament that the home comforts she once enjoyed are all departed—bug-a-boo is shewn again , and she is asked , "How is it possible to be otherwise , when we have the foreigner to meet in the foreign market" ?
Does the child complain . that it has been forced from the mother ' s hearth into the din , and noise , and Btench , and heat of a manufactory , and compelled to take the place of an adult in attending u pon the dangerous revolving machinery—compelled , in many instances , by that attendance , to travel daily over a space equal to forty miles in length ; that it is debarred from all chance of schooling , except such as unfits it for the'duties of life ; that it
is maimed , and diseased , and deformed ; and decrepit , and in too many instances exposed to a violent and horrible mode of death ; and does it ask for a modicum of protection ; does it beg of men and fathers not to work it to death ; does it implore for" leave to toil" but ten hour * a day , —the boggart is again exhibited , and the cry of the infant is drowned in the strange jabber respecting " foreign trade" which is immediately set up .
Does the philanthropist direct his attention to the condition of the workers engaged in our manufac toriee t Does he mildly set forth that misery and destitution and disease is their lot 1 Does he show that cellar-dwellings , absence of drainage , want of proper food , indiscriminate huddling together , and the absence of all moral tutelagej produces a race of beings unfit io be the progenitors of another generation ! Does he prove that the speoies are becoming physically deteriorated , and that morality has neither name nor being amongst us ? Does he ask Why theso things are so , when we have in our possession the means of producing wealth
illimitable ? And does he earnestly plead for a slight alteration in the regulation of our national and economical affairs , so as to ensure plenty , comfort , and well-being to all concerned , either in the production or distribution of wealth ? And does he point out £ ht 3 simple means by which this may be easily effected ,- —the boggle is again stuck up , and he is met by pertinacious repetitions of the question , " What is to : become of our foreign trade ? '' " You ; wouldjiofcinjure our foreign trade ?' "How are wo to maintain our foreign trade ?" " Wha . t shall vre do , if we lose our foreign trade ?"
And thus the " free trade" party expect us to be put off ! By such means as these they think to frighten us from an examination of the evils attendant upon and engendered by our commercial system . By thest ) means they expect to be able to resist all attempts to regulate machinery and protect the workman , and induce us to aid them in procuring another " extension" of their power , and another and further prostration of the workman ' s condition . By means like these , they hope to compel us to lay aside reason , inquiry , comparison , and judgment , and to deliver ourselves up into their hands , bound hand and foot together .
To this mode of procedure we demur . We require something more satisfactory . We have no notion of being frightened at this time of day , with " boggles" and "pad-fooits . " : The monster shown us may be hideous and frightful enough , dressed up and painted as he is by the men who exhibit him : but we feel inclined to ask , are the clothes his own ? Are the features shown us , his real ones ? Is he as formidable as you make him appear to be ?
And we shall not be content merely with asking these questions . We shall endeavour to answer them We shall endeavour to examine into this matter , in a plain common sense manner , denuding the subject of the myste | dou 3 jargon ¦ with which tho " oracles" have invested it . We shall endeavour to make our examination homely and tellinq ; not " scientific" and hard-wordish . What , then , is . the amount of our Foreign Trade ? i . e . what is it worth to us in Pounds , Shillings and Pence ?
What is the amount of produce we have to give , now , for the amount of money or goods we receive in return , compared with th « amounts we gave and received forty or . fifty years ¦ ' . ago . ! ' i . e . how much does the labour of the present period bring us in , compared with the amounts brought in by labour , say in 1798 ! ' The " real value of the produce and manufactures of the United KiEgdont exported during the year ending ; Jan . 8 th , 1841 , " was £ oM 06 ^ 430 . That is to say , the value in money or goods , which we received for the Whole of our foreign trade , as far as our own produce and manufactures is concerned for the last year of which we have any return ( the returns for the year ending Jan . 5 ; h , 1842 , not being yet published ) Was £ 51 , 406 , 430 .
The amount raised from the people in general taxes , over and above their local taxes and charges , was £ 53 , 12-2 , 651 . > The real value of British produce and manufactures exported during the year 1798 was £ 33 , 000 , 000 .
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Th official value of produce and manufactures exported in the year ending January 5 th , 1841 , was
£ 102 ^ 02 , 372 .: ' ; ,.. . ' - ... ¦ : .: . ¦ : ; : ' . ' ; : \ ¦ ¦ . : V , > . ; The official value of the produce and manufactures exported in 1798 , was £ 19 , 000 , 000 . The difference between the two rates of value , official and realy is that the former sets forth the QUANTiTT exported , and the latter the value of that quantity , according to the invoice prices of the exporters . '" ¦ . . . ' ; '¦' . ;¦ - ¦ . . • ' ¦ . ;; : ' ' .- ¦ - .. _ ¦ .. ¦ ¦¦ -: : -- [ . : - ^ - ^ :. By keeping this explanation constantly in view we shall ba enabled to estimate , pretty accurately , the value of our so-muph-vaunted foreign trade ; and we shall also see what has been one of the many astounding effects of bur former " extensions of commerce . "
Official value , then , the reader * will bear in mind , relates solely to the quantities exported . By comparing the official value at any one period , with the real or declared value at the same period , we shall learn how much the exported produce of labour of that period brought in ; and we can compare this with the result of a similar comparison at a later period ; and thus arrive at a correct conclusion as to the relative value of labour at any two periods we please to take . This mode of taking the valuations of exported produce has existed for more than 150 years : con * sequently w « cannot get- wrong .
In 1798 , then , We exported , in quantity , £ 19 , 000 ^ 000 worth of British , produce and manufactures ; and we received for it , in money or . goods , £ 33 , 000 , 000 . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ; In 1840 we exported , in quantity , £ 102 . 705 , 372 worth of produce and manufactures ; and we received for it £ 51 ^ 406 , 430 . V " That is to aay , in 1840 we exported much more than FIVE TIAIES the quantity of raw material and labour , than we exported in 1798 ; and that we only received for this immense increase of foreign trade about £ 18 , 500 , 000 !!! [ :
In other worda ^ we have increased our foreign trade to more than five times the quantity we had in 1798 ; while for that five times the quantity we Ouly receive a little more than one and a half times the price ! 11 In other words still ,. had We been paid in 1 * 40 for the raw material and labour at the same rate we were paid in 1798 , we ought . to have received for the quantity exported more than £ 177 , 000 , 000 ! while we did only receive £ 51 , 406 , 430 ! 1 >
Here is a picture of " Extension of Commerce" I ! We have " extended" our foreign trade more than four times over from 1798 ; and this is the result ! ! We receive about half as much for the whole of the increase as we received , iu 1798 , for one-fifth of the quantity !!! We have to give to the foreigner , for Is . 6 d ., more than five times the amount of raw material and labour that we gave in 1798 for one shilling ! And " Extensions of Commerce" are desirable 1 Without them , we shall go to rack and ruin ! For want of them , we are all out of employment ! For want of more foreign trade , wages are low ! Another " Extension" will Bet all right ! Operatives , what think you ?
We have not by us / at present , means of reference as to the amount of taxes raised from the people in the year 1798 . We have , however , a return for the year 1789 , nine years previous . By it we learn that the amount raised in 1 V 89 was £ 16 , 000 , 000 . So that tub labourer , besides having to give five times the amount of labour in 1840 for one-and-ahalf-times the amount of money he received in 1798 , HAB TO PAY , IN 1840 , MORE 1 HAN THREE TIME * THE amount of taxes that he paid in 1780 11 ! {
Hurrah ! for the blessings of " Extended Commerce" and "Cheap Government" ! Hurrah I for the wisdom with which our rulers have managed national and commercial affairs ! They have only diminished the workman ' s means three and a half fold , and increased his state burdens xftREEPOLD ! Another diminution of means must be of immense service ! I But this statement of the relative value of our foreign trade , in the years 1798 and 1840 , plain and volumes-speaking as it is , does not fully shew the real nature of our two trade 3 at the several periods named . In 1798 , £ 16 , 000 , 000 out of tho £ 19 , 000 , 000 quantity exported , was from raw material
produced by ourselves from our own soil I only £ 3 , 000 , 000 quantity was from raw material imported from abroad ! We then g ? ew our own wool and nearly the whole of our own flax . How is h now 1 Wby , that in 1840 , more than two-thirds oi the manufactures exported was from raw material which had been imported ! Therefore , all the profit that this portion of our foreign trade left us , was the difference between the ^^ cost of raw material when landed on our shores , and the amount received for it when re-landed on the shores of America , China , or Timbuctoo ? And what a difference this will makd to the nation at large , between growing its own raw material , and buying it abroad ! -
Here , then , is our foreign trade ! What is it worth ? Is it worth having \ Is it worth following ? Dees it give us enough in return , estimating it in the way the Corn Law League always look at these questions , the pounds-shiUings-and-pence way , for the efforts and sacrifices we make to secure it ? We have run ourselves off our feet ; we have reduced the merchant and manufacturer to bankruptcy and the operative to beggary ; we have abstracted millions upon millions from the tills of the 6 hopkeeping class , and for what ? to secure a trade which brings
us in £ 51 , 000 , 000 yearly for five times the amount of labour and raw material We gave forty years ago for £ 33 ; 000 , 000 ! ! What is it worth I What does it leave ? It is a boast that cotton wool comes into the country , at Liverpool , on a Monday morning , and departs again , in the shape of cotton twist , on Saturday evening . This is very quick . There has not been very much labour expended upon it ia the meantime . Yet this article , cotton twist , is a very large item in the list of exports . It serves to swell it amazingly .
But what does it leave ? What does it scatter by the way ? How much is there out of this , for either master or man ! It is certainly very quick work to import the raw material on a Monday , and export the " manufactured article' * on a Saturday : but what does it leave ? It runs very quickly through the country ; but does it scatter plenty of crumbs : by the way ? These are questions which must be answered : for it may turn out that our foreign trade may be to the nation what physio is to the body : a scourer out . It may turn out that we lose more than we gain by it !
But , wo could not do without our foreign trade We should be ruined without our foreign trade What would become of us , if we lost our foreign trade ! Softly , good folks ! Remember that the taxes in 1840 amounted to £ 53 , 000 , 000 ; that is to say , to £ 2 , 000 , 000 more than tho whole we received for our famous foreign trade !!!
Fivemillions are more than sufficient for the carrying on of an honest Government . So that if We lost the entire of our foreign trade , ^ and placed taxation on a / just and proper footing , we should only be worse than . we now are by £ 3 , 000 , 000 a-year ; and we should have ail the vast heaps ot clothing and cutlery , and other manufactured produce we now export , at home 16 divide among vs , and wear and enjoy . ' . ' ¦
No , no . Bugbear foreiga trade ib not so formidable after all 1 He has been monstrously dressed-up ; but he is not so very frightful of himself , when we come to lift the veil ! No , no ; we shall hot sink beneath the ocean shonld we not be able to beat the foreigner in the foreign market ! Suppose that pit of our foreign trade of £ 51 , 000 , 000 , we received a profit of £ 401000 ; 000 ; Supp > Be ( which is not the case ) that this £ 40 , 000 , 0 d 0 was all ^ ro ^ i ; suppose this , Which is a monstrous supposition ; yet suppose it ; it would only amount to about thirty shillings per head , per annum , or 7 d *
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per week , if equally drnded amongst omf 27 , 000 ^ 00 of population ! : ¦; ' ! A terrible thing to make such a splutter about , certainly J Why , if we could by any means- enable every one of thai same populatbn to spend Id . per day more than they how do , thatfwonld be worth , to the nation at large , infinitelt mobb than the vihole of ' 6 ia foreign trade ! !! ¦ ¦; ' - ' y :: : . Reader , we have not yet done with ^ he foreiga trade question / ' We shall return ; to it » ; T V
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Communications nor icoticed in ovbl lAST ^ Wesi Bromwich . —The friends here should , copy the memorial from \ tile ^ Star •' ; . ¦ : write it in a plain : hand ; get as many signatures toilastheycan and send it prepaid to Mr . J . Wilkinson , Secretary to the Frost , TFt / Mins , and «/( mc * V i ? ej ^ ra / joji Odmmitlee , 5 t Cfrescoe-street , Birmingham . For the National Petitioti , their' way is lo send cash for as many Petition heads and sheets as they . may heed , and go to work—Jill the sheets as fast ¦ as possible with bona ^ fide signatures , and send it off to the general secretary , prepaid . —fancraa wishes the working men of London to establish a paper over which they . would have the complete controul , to effect whichMwciuld have the
subscribers form themselves into an dssbcidliqnyeach member paying the price of the paper weekly , and a small sumt quarterly , to defray the ex » pences of the association , the ptrfite lobe appro priaiedtdthe following uses : —Tothe publishing of political and other works at a cheap : rate ; to the purchasing of a library for the use of the members ; and to the engngingQflecturers . ---London : Tailors , Three Doves , Berwick-street , Soho , report that , at ' their previous weeklymeet ' ing , after business had been disposed of , nn harmonic meeting took place , for the benefit of the masons note on strike ; and that the rooms will be open for ihis purpose every evening during the
strike—Finshuty . The report of Mr . Walls was only received on Saturday , — -Birmingham A letter received on Saturday fromi . E . Spinky sub-Secretary , desires us to announce thai ' the meetings at Freeman-street areholdehonSuhday everiingsiat half past six ; Monday evenings , at eight : the chair taken precisely at the stated time . —Chorley . W . Pitfieid t , subSecrelary , sends us on Saturday the list of nominations for Council of his locality , with a request that we ' u > ill be pleased to publish ti , and to pay more attention to the correspondence frem Chorley , " of which he says tliere are heavy complaints among the members . II is no wonder that the member *
complain . We seldom get anything from Chorr ley at all , and when we do , it is quite likely to be neglected if it come afler the papers are printedm How of ten must we tell people that we go to press on Thursday?—Strathaven . We received front this place , on Saturday , a report of a meeting held on the lllh instant , at which , among other things , it was agreed : —That & subscription be entered into immediately for the rearing jaf a monument in memory of our murdered townsman , James WilisGn , who fell a victim to ifie : hellish spy system of 1819 and 1820 , and that Messrs . R , Griffin , provision store , and'James Moir be appointed to receive : sitbscriplions for
the same . Upon this the , writer remarks : — . ** This has been long and shamefully neglected ; the grave of Willson , in Strathaven church-yard is now level with the common earth , and to alif except a few , unknown , undistinguishable , amid the myriad graves which lye artund . While ^ thousands of meaner name and lesser note have , had monuments reared to their memory , no simple stone so much as marks the place where sleeps the ashes of the martyr'd Willson . "—Leeds Un » employed Operative Enumeration Committee . The disclaimer oj [ this body oj ' all blameon account of the delay in completing the investigation oj the overseers is attended to in our present number . : , .- " ¦ ¦ ' ' .- . ¦¦
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THE MURDER OUT . —THE SECRET OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE NATIONAL PETITION BY THE PSEUDO CHARTISTS OF THE SCOTTISH CONVENTION . So , then 1 the shadows in the distance flit before us , and their real forms appear . We have just received the following extract from the Dumfries Courier of Monday . We have not seen the paper ; but take the statement on our informant's credibility . After stating that there was a delegate meeting of the Corn Law repealers on Saturday , the Courier says : —
" In the evening a splendid soiree was held in tbe City Hall , attended by 1 , 500 persons , Mr . Oswald , M . P ., in the chair . The speakers were Mr . Alex . Graham , ofLancefield , the Rev . Alexander Harvey , Mr . Graham , Capilly , the Rev . Mr . Brewster , Mr . Lumsden , Mr . Walter Buchanan , Mr . Patteson and Mr . Acland . The only feature of interest iu the meeting was ihe appearance there of Mr . Patteson , who is one of the most intelligent and influential of the Cbartut body , and by bis appearance and speech gave in his adhesion to the anti-Corn Law movement both for himself and many thousands of followers . " .
Here , then , we have a perfect clue to the opposition of those parties to the National Petition , and their hostility to O'Connob . Thus have these pretended Chartists—these spies from the " League " Camp—been seeking to establish themselves among the unsuspecting Chartists , to sow dissension and division in their ranks—to beget distrust of their old tried and trusted leaders—that the first opportunity might be taken of handing them over , " neck and crop , " to the enemy .
How very wonderfully Chartism does thrive and multiply under "League" fosterage . When in-right earnest for the Charter , we are an insignificant fraotion of the pop ulation—a party without power ; but no sooner is the transfer and the mock confession made , than the " followers" become " thousands" ! And the accession is boasted as
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BaiEF JRULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AIL WM WKiTfi Foit this PAPEa .- ^ -Write legibly . Make as few erasures and interlineations as possible . In writing names of persons and places be more particular than usual to make every Idler distinct and clear—also in using words not English . Writs ' only on one side ofthepaper . . Employ no abbreviations whatever , but -write out every word in full . Address . communications not to any particular ' . person ,: but to " . The Editor . " When you sit down to Write , don't be in a hurry . Consider that bur « ; ried writing makes slow printing . Remember that we go to press on Thursday ; that one side of the paper goes to press on Wednesday ; that we are obliged to go on filling up the paper the -whole
week , and that , therefore , when a load of matter comes by the last one or two posts , it unavoidably happens that much of it is omitted ; and that it is therefore'necessary to be prompt in your communications . All matters of news , reports of meetings , &c , referring to occurrences on Friday , Saturday , or Sunday , should reach ub by Monday's post ; such as refer to Monday ' s occurrences by luesday evening ' s post ; Wednesday ' s occurrences by Thuri " day ' s post ; and Thursday's news b y Friday morning ' s post , for second edition . Any deviation from this order of supply wiil necessarily subject the matters so received to the almost certainty of rejection or seri « us curtailment , and we take no blame Jar it . All personal correspondence , poetry , literary
communications , and articles of comment to beheie by Tuesday , or their chance of insertion for that week will be very small indeed j if not here by Wednesday we don't hold ourselves bound even to notice them . Finally , remember that we have only forty-eight coluwns weekly for all England , Scotland , Wales , and Ireland ; that we have no interest in preferring one town or placa to another , because ours is not a local but a national paper ; that we are bound , therefore , in dealing with the masses of matter whick come to us , to hold the scales of Justice evenly—our first object being the promotion and enhancement , according to our own lest judgment , of the success of the great and good cause ; and our second , the distribution of our time and space so as to give least cause of-complaint that we are alike bound to this course of action by
inclination , interest , and duty ; and that , therefore , it is useless and senseless for individuals to fume and fret , and think themselves ill used because their communications may not always be inserted , or for societies to trouble their heads and waste their time in passing votes of censure upon us for dbvoting too much space to this , or too little to that , or for inserting this thing which they think should have been omitted , or for omitting the other thing which they think should have appeared . All these are matters for our consideration , and for the exercise of pur discretion arid judgment , which * we assure all parties , shall be always used , so far as we are able to perceive , honestly for the public , without fear or favour to any one , and without being allowed to be turned for one instant from its course by ill-natured snarls or bickerings .
DEftBY . ^ - — The friends of thii neighbourhood having . communications for the Star , or otherwise affecting the Chartist vtovement , are requested to send them to Mr . Thomas Briggs ^ care . of Mr . John Moss , shoemaker , Plumptfe-iquMre , i > drley-lane , Derby . Money Orders to xhis Office . —Our cashier ia frequently made to endure an amount of inconvenience utterly inconceivable by those who have not multifarious transactions like his to attend to , by the negligence of parties to attend to the plain instructions so often given , to make all money orders sent here payable to Mr . John Ardill . Some aiders are made payable to Mr . O'Connor—some to Mr . Hobson—some to Mr * Hill—some to Star Office : all these require the signatures of the person in whose favour they
are drawn before the money can be got . This causes an attendance at the post office of , some limes , several hours , when a fete minutes might suffice if all were rightly given- ^ not to mention the most vexatious delays of payment sometimes caused by U- Several old agents , who certainly ought to know better , have often thtis needlessly inconvenienced us ; we , therefore , beg that all parties having money to send to the Star Office for papers , by order will make their orders payable to Mr . John Ardill ; if they neglect this , we shall not hold ourselves bound to attend to them ; if , therefore , they find their neglect to produce ' inconveniencetc > themselves , let them not blame us .
Robert Walicer , a factory youth , suggests , as a means of relieving the Executive .- — " that a medalist be engaged by the Executive to make medals , with the Six Points of the Charter on the one side , and the Ghaitist coat of arms on the Other side , Bame as on the cards . The Executive to fix the price ; and that each person wanting a medal give in his name , together with the money , to the sub-Secretary of his locality ; and then ; when the sub-Secretary has got about 160 names , or more , send hia order to the general Secretary , the sajne as sending for cards , only with this exemption , that the money be paid in advance . He thinU ' ttiat when this plan is carried into fcffeet , there will be some signs of the plan of the Woolwich
, 1 / adetconiiDg into operation . " The Chartists of Canterbury will be happy to receive communications from their brotherChartistsv \ n other towns of the county of Kent on the subject of a county lecturer . The address of their sub-Secretary will be found elsewhere . Desideratum ia referred to the notice already ^ given about porjraits . ¦ . ¦/[ / Wm . Peters . —It is impossible for us to insert reports withdut shortening them . We should else heed six Stars . We must be allowed to exercise our own judgment on the best mode oj'doing this . . " The Convention .- — We have aletter from Mr . John Maynard withdrawing his name from ( he Hit of candidates .
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PtBLIC SCPPEB . TO MB . ' BEOSrEURE OBaiE ^ rs the Chartists' Hall , Goat Jxs , Clotu Ma " eset , JTBWCiSTLE . —Abjnfc seventy sit Oown to a Tery substantial sapper . After the cloth ¦ s-as drawn , Mr . Sinclair was unanimously called to tbe chair , who epened the Drcceedings of the evening in an appropriate address , which he concluded by proposing and responding to the first sentiment— "The veople , the only source of legitimate power . " The next was— " The health * f Mr . O'Brien , and may all his tnl'its for the good of the people be soon crowned with snecess . " Mr . Wilkie handled this toast in s very humourous and masterly style , ilr . O'Brien responded at great . length in ^ his usual prepossessing strain , and was Peered throughout "The People's Charter ; and may it soon become the law of the land , " was proposed from the chair , and was very ably responded to by Mr . Cactbnrn , in which he gave some very broad hints to tbe " ntw move" gentry , and proved their inibecUity to frustrate the growth of genuine liberty ,
notwithstanding their many treacherous attempts . " The Democratic Press , and may iu irilaence speedily overthrow tyraimy all over the world . " This sentiment was ably responded to by Mr . Crothers . " The healths of Messrs , Prost , Williams , and Jones , and their speedy return to their families and homes . " Mr . Kempster Rabson responded ia a very tloqatnt sod appropriate style . " Tb < 3 speedy liberation of ill political prisoners , and xaay they soon find a reward for their sufferings in tbe triamph of their prindpieg . " Mr . Cockbnm responded in an able manner but britfly , in consequence of the lateness of the hour . Prior to the health of Frost , " Williams , ^ nd Jones , Mr . O'Brien expressed a desire of
letiring to rest , having been greatly mistimed of late , and btfore he went , he would propose bis constituents , the non ^ electors and honest electors of Newcastle , untl may their conduct in the last General election be imitated in every borough in the United Kingdom . " Mr . O'B . showed what he would advise tfeem to do at the next election , and concluded am ; list' great applause by -wishing them all good night . " The illustrious dead , -whose efforts in the cause of liberty cave rendered tbeii names immortal . " Mr . Fiiisclougb responded very brifcfly jo consequence of the late hour . " The health of Mr . Hall , tbe landlord of the Goat Inn , sad tbe thanks oi tbe association , for bis liberality ia giving them the
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THE " BABY SPRINKLING . " All the London papers have been full for tbe last few days , and all the provincials will , of course , be full to-day , with the " Christening . " Not an inch of the full measure of the insult must , of course , be lost . Rejoicings of all kinds have been rife , and loyal laudations have flowed out ad libitum . We have no doubt that our " gallant" neighbour , THE QUEEN-GROANER , will croak loyalty with the best feathered of the
Raven tribe . We had , of course , no mind to be out of fashion , mnch less disloyal ; and were therefore just Bitting down to pen a loyal ditty on the matter , when the post brought us the following excellent commemoration of the " Royal" and " auspicious " event , from a valued Correspondent at Bath , who writes ns , that on the day the baby Prince was sprinkled with ** holy water , " the following excellent verses were plentifully distributed , and with excellent effect : —
A STARVATION AMHEMTOHTHE ROYAL CHRISTENING Bring forth the babe in pomp and lace , While thousands starve and curse the light ! But what of that ! on royal face Shame knows no blush , however flight ! Bring forth the babe ; a nation's moans Will ring sweet music in his ear , For well we know a people ' s groans To royal ears were always dear . Bring forth the babe ; down , courtiers , down ! And bow 7 our lacquey knees in dust Before a child's beslobbered gown .
( Our cnildren caanot find a crust )! When Christ was born , no servile throng Around the Saviour ' s manger met ; No flatterers raised their , fulsome song ;' But what was Christ to Albert ' s pet 1 God , who hast heard the widow ' s moan ; God , who hast heard the orphan ' s cry ; Thou , too , dost sit upon a throne , Bat noae round thine of famine die ! Things like this babe of royal birth , Who boast their princely " right divine , " Are but thy parodies on earth—Their ' s is oppression , mercy thine !
Bring forth the babe I From foreign lands Fre 6 h kingly vampires Suck to greet Thi 3 new one in its nurse's hands ( For royal mothers give no teat ); Bring forth the toy of princely whim , Aud lot your prayers mount night and day , For ought we not to pray for him Who'll prey on us enough somo diy ? Oh ! who would grudge to squander gold On such a glorious babe as this 1 What though our babes be starved and cold » They have no claim on earthly bliss ; Ours are no mongrel German breed , But English born and English bred ; Then let them live and die ia deed , While the plump Cobourg thing is fed ?
Christen the babe , Archbishop proud , Strange servant of the lowly Christ , Thousands are to your purse allowed—For him the smallest loaf sufficed . Though hoiy-water ' fl scanty now , My Lord you may dismiss your fears ; Take to baptise the intant's brow A starving people ' s bitter tears ! We recommend Prince Albert to try and fit the above words to a suitable tune , that they may be introduced into the royal nursery for a lullaby to the Young Prince .
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A THE NORTHBB ^ STAR . . ' : ¦ . ' : - ¦ ' - -- : ; . . . . -
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 29, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct584/page/4/
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