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DISTRESS . TO THS EDITOB OF THE ifOBTHJSBN STAB . Sra—A great deal has been said of late respecting the distress that prerafls throughout this country , and the cause of it The Whigs contend that it is in conseonsnce ftf the Com Laws being in operation , and that if these lavs -were repealed , -we should enjoy happiness and prosperity irithout interruption . This is all Tery plausil-le indeed , bat I Tery much doubt it The fact is , the people have been dnped so repeatedly -with the "Whigs , while they were in office , that it -would be madness in the extreme , to expect anjthing really good from any measure that they msy propose , either in or ont of Parliament
I admit , Sir , that there is great diitresa , not only in Manchester , but in almost every p ^ ri tf the country Jmt it is absurd to asseit that a total repeal cf the Corn Laws wonld remedy the evil . If the Corn Laws had been repealed twenty-five years ago , it mast certainly ¦ STKiId have been a great relief to this country , but ft at is not the real cause . I am decidealy cf opinion , Sir , that improreiDcrts in machinery and comp £ tition are iiis principal e ^ nass ef a great portion of the distress that COir txist in Manchester stud the manufacturing districts generally .
I have betn employed in the cotton business upwards of treaty-Ms jeara , during which period I have seen cossideial'lj bitter days In the year 1829 , there "were 2 , 100 cperatiTe cott * n spinners in Manchester and Salfcrd alone , each spixmer working a pair of mnits averaging tbsnt 309 sp'ndles e&tii . In the year above nsmecl , It "was agreed unto , by the See master spinners as a ± < k ? , zhst h any of teem had mules exceeding 300 spindles , they would be allowed to pay to the operatives , in lire sl-pe of wages , at the rate of one ami a
half per ccct less for every twelve splr-dles above 300 ; so that those masters tLsi had mules of 6 U 0 spindles each , yrcald derive an extra profit of thirty-seven and a half per cent , over those masters that bad mules cf 300 spindles ^ This being the case , tbe minds of the masters-were constantly sgitat ^ d In scheming and contriving how to excel each otner in lengthening tlieir mules : aiid tbess Improvements have extended Xo s > jsh an amazing degree , thst ct the present time the operatives are compelled to wort a pair of mnles of 10 UO to 1344 spirdles each .
Bnt this is not all : —In coarse spinning there are an immense quantity of self-acting mules th ^ t supersede T " " - " - "^ labo ur en tirely ; and these are extending Very rapidly , so that at the present period there are only about 700 operative cotton spinners in Manchester and Salford ; the remainder 1700 are cast adrift , "wandering about the streets in search of employment , but in vain , in a state of -wretchedness and missry too awful to contemplate . Improvements in other michinea connected ¦ with the preparing cf the cotton are r . lso extending very Mpldly , improvements that are calculated to diminish the number of workers te a fearful extent ; and in fact , an immense number of young persons from fourteen to eighteen years of age are already sacrificed . But these improvements are net confined to Manchester only , no ; ihey extend to every spinning district thronghoci the United Kingdom . What I have stated above are indisputable f icts .
How , I ask tie anti-Com Law League , will a repeal of the Corn Laws give employment to the 1700 operative cotton spinners , besides other hands , that have been sacrificed in Manchester and Salford alone , in consequence ef improvements in machinery ? oi will a repeal of those lawsrestore to them their -wonted occupation ? Aay man that is possessed if common sense Trill answer no . Again , theri are hundreds of our fcHow-gcuntryinen in other trades that are suffering from the sime causes . Xf . p < -ho .-n ^« - « a f OT instance- In machine shops "we find BelfiCtinj sliaB-lsilhs , sslf-acting slotting-machines , selfacting boring-machines , and stlf-actingplaining machines that perform as much work in one day as fifty men . We have Machines for sawing timber by power- Engraving is donein part by machinery ; and in tho " Mechanics ' JIagszine , " 1 read of an Iron Mason—a machine under t " ni" name ( for -which a patent has just been taken out ) is about to be erected in a stone quarry at Woodside , Glasgow . The stones go into the machine rough as they come out c-f the quarry , and come cut polished * g > ilnr on the surface , and cui paxzaHeled sad squared on the sides , fully ready for the bnildfer , and this at an « xpence of not more than a quarter of the work done by h&xd . The present machine is calculated to do the wort of two hundred and fifty men , reckoning only six hours ' work ont of ten .
There are mnr . Ercus other trades that might be adduced- if space "vr-. nld admit , whtre raruinal labour is superseded by machinery . This being the case , it is DO wonder that oar csnzitrvinen are distressed ; how can it be otherwise , when the population is inaeasing and employment cantinua'ly decreasing ? It is not my intention to say anything eitfeer for or against these improvements , my object is simply to give the people to understand , tfcatif they expect a repeal of the Com Laws to give them that succour and prcteetien they require , they will , under thesa circumstances , be mess bitterly disappointed .
Tery probably , Borne of the repealers will be ready to say , but if foreign corn was allowed to be brought into this country free of duty , foreigners wouli exchange their corn for our manufactures , and thereby cause a greater demand for labour . If the Com Laws had been repealed twenty-five years ago , as I said befoie , it very Jiiely would have been the case to a greater extent ; tut it unfortunately happens thst Old England has to compete now with a formidable host of m&nniactnrhis rivals from Germany , France , Switzerland , and Belgram , and indeed almost every nation cf the continent cf Europe , they having raised up at great sacrifice of national -wealth a niannfacturing indnstry for themselves , and compete with us is many parts of the ¦ world .
We are also almost excluded from the German market , and Austria has sealed her territory against our merchandiz ? . Again , only reflect for a moment of the vast portion of our mechanics and labourers that hsve already and ars itUl leaving our shores , and are emigrating to different parts of the world , and as a matter of course , the skill , genius , and industry of enr beloved country are transmitted to foreigners , an event which I apprehend , will prove an everlasting disadvau ^ c ta t his country . Sseing , then , that the manufacture of cotton in all its branches has arrived to such a stite of perfection , not only on the eGEtineti of Europe , but in America ; Hiii considering the privations that our cotiiitrymtn have to endcre , in consequence of improvements in machinery , I am decidedly of opinion that a repeal if the Com Liws alone , is qaite inadequate to give to this ct-untry that protection which the promoters of the scheme so vsiBjyV nticipate . A Loves of ht Col ^ thy . ilaachester , Anril lsi , 1842 .
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TO TEE PEOPLE OF IRELAND . FSLLOTV Cor > -72 . TME>\—In my letter of the 12 rb n 7 t . I Ert before you the corruptions and reckless tjm = Ey prsctl ^ d > -y the minions of a stats- cburcb , and I tope pro-red to your satisfaction that Christianity does rot sanction deeds cf oppression . I wi } i now tike up the San ., nrbj&et and examine how far Mother Church destrres ihe nipp-.-rt of the people , and what return she makes , and what service she renders to reliri : r fir tt = ten niiliiocs per annum - * bich she draws frc m tLe vitda of tis pooi—ten millions sterling ; . ' yes , ten millici ! ponsi ^ -worth of the sweat and blood , the Borrows and snSVriEgs of ths toil-worn and famishing poor '—ten miULns pounds worth of the U-ars and argnisi < , f the widow and the fatherless , given far the support of a paicptrea , bloated hierarcby for the
pretended sdrancEiniiit of religion and the propagation of j CLristiati chiritj I Oh , what a blasphemous assertion . tc- siy tist Chriit-anity requires a princely income to sup-P -t iW principles , -sh = n he who laid the corner-stone . of tL 3 ed . £ i 6 -sris the poorest of tfce poor ajid preacaefi ; tte ccrtrir . ; S of PDVt 2 * ty and self-denial ! Ttink of a Sate Cinch , caiiing herself the Church cf Christ , ie- i 5 Birk !§ ten millions annually to support her dignity , . a-d ef the Son of G-oi b ^ £ 2 ing hi 3 bread and co mmand- ; ing his disciples to " tiko ' neither scrip nor stiff , or be i s ; l : cit-ius for the wants of to-morrow . '" Think cf the I cisciplta selling all they had and giving ta the poor , ) and cf the Bishops of our State Chnrch grasping with > iusatiable avarice the enormous sum of ten millions I froni the- pockets of aa oppressed and Etaxving people ; : Ten rnSiions , wrucg from the expiriag victims ot tywsj sad misrule ! An ^ for whi t ? Answer me , j thou old hypocrite . What do you give in return for j
such an enormous mm ? WLat do your Bishops , who ; boast of thtir immediate desccLt from Christ and the Ap > 5-3 ps so in return for the people who support them [ in ESuinee and lcxcry ? Do they , like the men whom they falsely represent , lab ur in their calling , and ; With nifcttDcSS aid perseTerance erideaTour to extend : that Chistian charity Which their D-vine Master snffered ; an iraomiaious death to tstablish ? Tell me , do they , in a word , set as becomes their t ffice , or are they worthy i tbe nime « f Christians ? No . And why ? Because I the " Sate Church" of these kingdoms is based npon ] a rotten and corrupt foundation , and bears no simili-1 tude whatever to the Church of Christ and his j Aposties . " They worked hard to establish Christianity and suffered the most intense privation ; bnt the i AposUesof onr «• State Church" have , it would appear , ; no nectsiity to wort . They have a religion " Cut and i dry , " and ready to their haa . es , with funds to inpport it , without doing the drudgery cf making converts .
What a precious country it is , where the people are starring and compelled to support and feed a swarm of locusts , which in England and Wales alsne , ( without mentioning the Irish , establishment ) number about Is . ooo r Tes , une of the tlessed fruits which tae peo-J ' e reap frc-Hi their generous support , is the gratifjing Ud nnspeafcible pleasure of looking at the smooth-* Kd , sleek and fat parsons , -who eat up everything *» the glory of God ) , but who never produce anything * fre misery and distress . I know th& Irish have a great fancy for tuch per-* 52 i- . s . (> j Oh ! yes , they love them and they ought ;;?) ^ inz-j have to support only twenty-two Bishops , > 2 si their own clergy are otfisea to subsist npon ** tityi and themselves endaring *• ' * " » most nnlieard-of ^ ssions . ^» ould » = k the people of Great Britain and Ireland 7 J * they receive in return for their ten millions ^ fiy , iwhieh mother chwcJi * o noBcmpnloasly
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demands for her subsistence ? What , I ask , do the people receive ? Every thing b'jt gratitude ! Tae TMssenters are fromied upon because they have the moral courage to declaim against so great an injustice ; and the Catholics are hated because they are tenacious of the faith of their ancestors . What sympathy have , the Bishops ibr the souls of the people , or what care the parsons , so long as they can feast-upon the " milk and honey" of tho land , at their expense ? How can men who are part and parcel and the very vrorst class of the aristocracy , feel an interest in educating the people , and teaching them to be wise and moral ; when they already know that the ignorance cf the nation is the sreat cause of their power , and that such wisdom would be tbe means of their own destruction ? Or what cares tha lazy , luxurious Bishop , or the swearing , drinking , fox-hunting parson , who possess Irish ivings , but who seldom set their eyes on their flock , or the country where they exist j about the spiritual instruction of tbe poor .
Talk of educating the people ! oh jes ; they will give you the paltry Bum of £ 30 , 000 , but they will give her Majesty's horses £ 70 , 000 , because I suppose they are of more consequence t : > the stste tban you , wiw find the money , not only to feed tut purchase them . The people of Ireland have many serious causes of complaint against the pveaent system of church establishment ; nine-tenths of them are Catholics and Dissenters , -who nevt ? enter a church door , and yet they are compelled to pay the parson , although he ( poor < £ aritahie discipie ) denounces the very men wbo support him , and swears they are idolaters , and deserve to t > " < i—d . This is the oath moihtr church requires fcer apostles to subscribe to before tLsy are considered qualified to demand your money , and plunder you of the scant residua of ill-requited ls- » our . What a mockery' of Ccristian charity , to cor . siga you to eternal t-rnitnts , and at the same time hasten your departure to those regions by helping to starve you out of existence !
I have admired the charity of the Redeemer , who , poor as ha was , not only administered relief to those who n&edcd it , but stretched out his hand and raised the dead from the tomb to show his love to his creatir-. s , and as an txunjple of benovolence to be imitated by hi 3 disciples . Tts , he fed the multitude ana raissd the widow's son . He did not sena the ptoj > le away hungry , nor cid ho require the disconso ? a : e mother to swear she would pay him for nis services for raising her sou from the grave , Oh , no ! But the parson of a state church has often witnessed the agonising misery of famishing humanity and turned the claimant from his door " ; he has taken the life of tho widow's son , and has presented the sacred volume in which Christian charity is written by tbe finger of a merciful &t > d , ti the lips of a -wretched mother that she might svrear she would Bay him hia tithes as a recompense for the Koody deed he had commitWd .
I ijavo witnessed the unholy pillage , and shuddered to behold the smoke ar : d flames of your solitary stack , rising as if to heaven fur vengesnee ; and I have been confounded at the fact , that the hand which committed the vi ; e act , was that which claims to be the dispenser of Christian charity . Yes , mother chttreh . is the incenaiary , and as iQCil she leservas to be arraigned by tbe people . The poor man who in a moment of desperation fires , or attempts to ire his neighbour ' s cottage , or barn , is convicted as a felon , and suffers banishment or death for his offence ; but the consecrated high waymaa who ( for tfce glory of God ) (?) thrusts a fire-brand into the stack of the widow or the orphan , escapes with imj-unitvj and is protected by laws aa villainous and unjust as the parties whom they -were made for . I would ask who gave this right to a " State Church , " and from whence the bishops and parsuES derive the authority to trample on the civil and religious liberties of the people * 1 dosj that God ever dictated such a doctrine , or that Christianity sanctions deeds of oppression . I do not believe that religion rt quires such an unholy aid , and I fearlessly state , heaven dees not approve of it . Whence then have they obtained this power ? Is it from man ? Yes . Well then , I argue , as they thus act under the pretence cf promoting the interests of leligion and establishing the honour and glory of God , nnd as it appears that no such doctrines were taught by the Redeemer , it follows , that according to the laws of " chrutian charity , " such acts are illegal- And if "ian be the source of such power it must fallow that the church which they thus support , is not the church of Christ but the church of man .
Bat I deny that any man , or set of men , have a right to dictate to tbe consciences of any person whatever All men have & right to worship , as they please , and ought not to be compelled to pay for the religious opinions of others . Bnt this state chnrch says , we have a power , and the constitution of these countries has gi-ren it to us , and we will die by it . Now let us see Tchat this constitution is , or is it like the constitution of the church , which 1800 years ago , was established by Cirist and his apostles ? The bishops say they are rt appointed by divine grace . " Now I deny it—for if a tree be known by its fruits , we may safely assert that the R : ght Rev . Fathers in God , of our state church , are appointed from a source as different to that which they lay claim to , as the antipodes . Who , then , yon ask , or from -whence do they receive this constitutional ot "' divine grace ? " What is the constitution they are
bo noisy about ? Why 1 will just shtW you , and then you will be abletojndge for yourselves . It is wtll known that the church livings of England and Wales number about 10 , 000 ; of these abtut 2000 are in the gift of the Sovereign . It is customary , however , for the Lord Chancellor to present to alt the living ' s under the value of £ 20 in the Sovereign ' s bocfc , and for the-Minister of State to present to the rest . Those nnder £ 20 are 780 , and those above near l SO . Upwards of 1 , 600 pieces of Church preferment , of different sizes and descriptions , are in the gift of twentysix bishops' ; more than 600 in the presentation of the two universities ; about 1 , 000 in the gift of the several cathedrals and other clerical institutions ; about 5 . livings are in the nomination cf the nobility and gentry —men , women , and chDdren ; and fifty or sixty there may be of a description different from the above , and nearer to the propriety of things .
Here then is a constitution of divine grace ; here is the gift of tbe Huly Ghost conferred up&n the parsons by men , women , and even children ; here is the source from which the parsons receive tha power to pinnae * the people—a reiigio politico Church receiving Us power from a heterogeneous mass of frail humanity , instead cf receiving its authority from the Divine founder of religion : and yet this is not even so bad as the system by which this Simoniacal traffic is carried on , and the evils arising eui of pluralities and non-residtnees . Many cf tae Irish bishoprics arc filled up by the Viceroy from among the English clergy , and the beit livings are possessed by Englishmen . Thus betwixt tbe bishop , the parson , and Mother Church you are victimised , and ever will be until you obtain equal representation and a voice in tte making of the laws which govern yoa .
I will , with tl ; e permission of the Editor of the Xoi&ern Star , continue this su ' . ject , a 3 I believe it to be essential to exgose the corruption of our present sjitem of Church Establishment , ar . d the duty of every lover of civil and religious liberty to dr . all in his power to dissever the unholy alliance which exists between ths Chcjch and State , and establish in reality that Christian charity which is the basis of tiu ; religion . I have the hononr to be , Fellow-countrymen , Your obedient huni ?; ie servant , W . H . Clifton .
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THE THE
LOYAL NATIONAL RI PEAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND , AND THE IRISH "UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION . WHAT A CONIRAST ! Dcblix . —It is due to tbe people of Great Britain and Ireland , that the principles of Jheso two Associations sconid be placed upon the imperishable rccorda of the XoriherTi Star . It is almost unnecessary to say tbat the Loyal National Repeal Association of Ireland was founded by tbe great , the eloquent , the learned Daniel O'Gunnell , Esq ., M . P ., Barrister-at-Law , and Liberator of the forty-shilling freeholders ; that is to say , ie liberated them from the franchise—disfranchised 300 , 000 of them ; and that the Irish Universal Suffrage Association was founded by Patrick O'Higgins and a " hancfal of Chartists , " , aa the great Liberator of the fortyshilling fre == ho _ ld-rs was pleased to gay , by " . Pudcfj / O'Hi-jgins and his handfu ? of Charlisls . "
Pay particular attention to that part of the objects of the Repeal Association , wherein it is stated that no man sliall 6 e disparaged in his claim upon the Government for beivg a Rtpea ' er . Mind that , ye Chartists of the empire . How- blind and stupid the man must be who wonid not see through that Let the Irish Repealersthe deluded opponents of the People ' s Cnartbr , see it even now . Here are the principles upon which the Loyal National Repeal Association if Ireland has been founded , and drawn up in the handwriting of Dmiel O'Ctfnnell himself , snd signed by him as Chairman of the Committee .
The Chartists of the empire shall now judge if there is a single man to be f-mnd amangfct them who would not be ashamed of sucn ridiculcus jargon as the following . " Yet it bears the signature of Danie : O'Connell , Chairman of the Committee , and the Repealers if Ireland and England eheered it to the echo , cut it out of the Irish ^ Jttwspapers and pinned it to their bed curtains , where they had them in order to see it the first thing in the morning getting up , and to admire it as a clear , defined , and beautiful specimen of English diction and sound political wisdom , and no humbug , but Repeal and bo mistake . Well , here are the principles and objects cf the Loyal National Repeal Association ot Ireland , unanimously adopted in August last , just one month after the last general election : — " First Never to support in f nture any ministry that shall not leave the Repeal of the Union an open question in Ireland , that is amongst the people , as contradistinguished from the members of the cabinet .
" Secondly . Nevei in future to support any ministry that dees not disclaim ' Finality' and declare ia favour of further Reform . '" „_ . •• This , then , should be th 9 basis of the operations of the Loyal National Repeal of Assoeiatien of Ireland : — " 1 . Never to enter into any compromise eves in the shape of postponement or delay in the agitation of the Repeal
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" 2 . To co-operate individually , but cordially with Reformers of England and Scotland in every exertion they make to procure farther Reform . 3 . " Never to support any Ministry that dees not leave the question of Repeal an open one to the Irish people . " 4 , " Never to Eupport any Ministry , but one tbat avows 'further reftrm , 'and disowns ' finality . '" " Daniel O'Connell , ' Chairman of the Committee . " Mr . O'Connell—I have now to move that the following resolutions , recommended by the Committee , be adopted by this Association ,
Resolved— " That we are decidedly and unalterably of opinion that the Repealers of Ireland cannot enter into any compromise , even for postponement or delay , in the agitation of the Repeal , without being guilty of a base dareliction of the duty they owe to their native land . " " That we declare ourselves perfectly ready to cooperate individually , but cordially , with the Reformers of Eagland and Scotland , in every exertion they make to procure further reform ; and-we tender them our active and unconditional support " " That we are convinced that the Repealers of Ireland cannot , -without treachery to their cause , support any Ministry that does not leave Repeal an open question to the Irish peopla So that no man shall be disparaged in his claim on the Government for being a Repealer . "
" That we deem it right solemnly to declare our fixed couviction , that no Repealer should , in future , support any Ministry but one thrt avowB further Reform , and disclaims finality . " Now Ciiartists if the empire have you ever read such stark-staring nonsense , such tautology , such ridiculous , ubsurdjirgos us the foregoing ? It is evident enough that it was written to delude and bewilder . The Tribute Sunday was approaching , it "Was therefore necessary to appear to be valiant and uncompromising on the Repeal Qiestion . While on the other hand Lord Ebrington and the Ministry conld see plain enough that theReptal was to be agitated in Ireland only . The right to agitate to be left open while the agitators were
not to be disparaged in their claims upon a Government wiirch declared itself opposed to Repeal . There are none so blind as those " who wi 22 net see . A short time prior to tbe passing of those high-sounding blustering ir . usory resolutions , the Lord Lieutenant , Lord Ebrington , declared that Rupeal « r 3 sbouM find no favour ; with the Government , and hence this h : df threat to join the English and Scotch Reformers , " alias Chartists ; but then even here there was a saving clause in the proviso , that no man shouid be disparaged in his claim upon the G = » Temment for feeing a Repealer ! The Liberator , the R ^ ps ^ ler got places from tae base , bloody , and brutal Whigs to whom he applied those names for their
opposition to repeal , for his son-in-law , Cferistoper Fi . asiinon , Rspeal Member for the County Dublin . For his soein-law , Cnarles O'Cvnnell , Ropeal Member for the Goui . ty K ^ rry , for his son Morgan O'Connell , Repeal Member for the County Meath , for . his son-in-law , French , for his . nephews the O'Sdllmrs , Primroses , . MSweeney' 8 , < Ssc , < kc And now as his friends the base , bloody , and brutal Whigs are out , may they never get in ; the citizens of Dublin are to be taxed to make places for a fresh shoal of relations and hangers-on . Uut to the contrast between the principles of the Loyal National Repeal Association ef Ireland , and the Irish Universal Suffrage Association , about which there can be no mistake . OBJECTS OF THE IRISH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
ASSOCIATION . I . To create a better feeling and a more kindly interchange of good effices bttween landlord and tenant , between the farmer and labourer , and between tbe employer and his working men , in every state and grade of society , by seeking by every lawful and constitutional means for Universal Suffrage : that is to say , for every male inhabitant of Great Britain and Ireland of twentyone yeaw of age and upwards , of sane mind , and not convicted by a jury of any felonious offence , to have the ri > ht to vote at the election of a candidate for a seat in Parliament ; the obvious effect Of Which will be to cause the upper classes of society to set a higher value upon the labourer and the artisan than they have hitherto dons and to consider the happiness and comfort of the working classes as the surest test of the landlord and the employer ' s respectability . II . For Vote by Ballot . III . For Annual Parliaments .
IV . For Equal Representation - that is to say , tbat Great and Britain and Ireland shall be divided Into electoral districts , each district to contain an equal number of voters , and each to send an equal number of mem > ers to Parliament . V For the Abolition of the Property Qualification for Members of Parliament , which will have the effect of pu'ting a stop to the open and palpable perjury of those who are obliged to qualify oat of a real estate of £ 300 or £ 608 a-year , as the case may be , before they can sit iu Parliament ; althoughsuch persons are known to have neither right , title , nor interest of any nature or kind whatsoever in the property r - _ of which they have qualified . VI . For each constituency to bavo the right to pay their Tenresentntives for their time and services .
VII . For a Repeal of the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland , which cannot be achieved ¦ without the aid and co-operation of the English Chartists , by bringing their moral power to bear upon the five hundred and fifty-three British Members of Parliament , in favour of that measure , and which would be of no benefit to Ireland , unless preceded by Universal Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , Annual Parliaments , Equal Representation , and no Property Qualification ; and because the enemies of public liberty would have a . preponderating majority in both Houses of an Irish Parliament , with the present constituency of Ireland . P ^ TEICK O'HlCGJNS , Chairman of the Committee . P . M . Brophy , Secretary .
The Irish Universal Suffrage Association will meet on Sunday , ttw lOMi of April , at six o ' clock in the evening , at their rooms , No . 14 , North Anne-street , which will be their usual place and hour of meeting thenceforward . Tfi ^ re is a printad declaration t- < the following effect in progress of signature through the city , and which has already obtained a great many names , some of whom were wholly unexpected : — " We the undersigned Electors of the City of Dublin hereby pledge ourselves never to vote for any Candidates foi th'is city but those who will give us a pledge , in writing , tbat they will support no ministry but one that will give it « official advocacy to Universal SufiVa ^ e , Vote by Ballot . Annual Parliaments , Equal Electorial DV . ricts , Abolition < f the Property Qualification , and Payment of Members . "
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THE CASE OF MR . JAMES BEONTEItRE ¦ , ¦ " ;¦ ¦ ; ¦ ¦ . ' - .: ; ¦ ¦ .-: ¦ ^ 0 'brien . o . r ; ' . : " ;; / . .. TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Bbotheh chartists , —I am informed , on good autnomy , that yoar well-tried frieda—the champion of your political and I social rights , Jaimea Bronterre O J 5 nen , is , ina few weeks , about to issue a newspaper , solely devoted to the ( people ' s- causa , which paper , to succeed , must of course be supported by th « people ; and it is to impress upon you the necessity of giving the required support that I hsw address you . Yoa are all doubtless well aware , that of the many talented men whony we have amongst us , not due is more feared , and consequently more hated , by the factions , than is our redoubtable " Schoolmaster . " He is feared by them , because they know full well the power which a mind like his exeiti over public opinion j and hated , in consequence ef the direction which he gives to that power .
He has been prosecuted publicly , and persecntea privately , with a virulence unparalleled in the annals of despotism . The law-enforced shafts of a tyrann i cal Government harebeaa , discharged at him unsparingly and the much more keenly-pointed arrows of class ¦ selfishness and Mammeniifc cupidity have been profusely " let fly" against this unconquerable philanthropist The formar—that ia , his public prosecutioiis-r-are known to nil ; but the latter—private spleen—can be known only to those who are acquainted with his private history . - ' - : ; ' : . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ , ¦ . ¦ ' : .-. - : . ¦ . ¦ - ,. ¦¦ • ; , -
This man-ithis .-. bright star in our political flrmament —he who has suffered , has undergone so much for ua , has not been—is not properly supported . The Chartists do not seem to appreciate his services ; they seem to forget his manifold exertions in their behalf ; they forget his labcura iu the Poor MaiiS . Guardian , in the JFeeky Dispatch , in Heihcringtons Twopenny Dkp-itch , in the Destructive , iu the London Mercury , ami in the National Reformer , - they forget the incalculable service which he has rendered to the cause of Radical Reform by his Trauslat ' . on of Buonarotti ' s History , and by his Life and Character of . 'Maximilian Robt-spierre ; or , at least , if they do not fo : get tbeBe ' things ,- theydp not manifest the disposition towards him which they oughf .
He has not new in bis possession anything like the funds adtquate to the arduous undertaking jn which he is about to engage ; and yet no efforts are being madeor comparatively none—to assist him in this emergency . Every reflecting man mu&t foel sensible that if O'Brien be not supported , aDd that energetically , ifc will be an irremediable injury inflicted upoi our good . cause—the cause of the poor , oppressed , degraded millions . Would it not be an eternal disgrace to us as a party- —a party desiring the over&row of tyranny—to have deprived ourselves , by our apathy ,: of the aid-pf one who is in himself a phalanx . This backwardness on our part operates in a two-fold manner : it not only drives from among us an individual of talent ; -but the example tends t » prevent men of a similar stamp endangering their prospects of success in life by connection with a paity who ara unwilling to eupport them iu their efforts to secure their country ' s freedom .
The Chartists have done much , they may do more ; " where there is a will there is a way "— " ways and means" will accomplish wonders . Allow me , then , publicly to suggest a " way" by which the " meana " may be acquired , to essentially accomplish the end in view , that is to Bay , the bringing out of a people's paper . . ' ' •' - . ¦ ' " ' ' ' ¦¦ -. ' , ¦ '¦" . ¦ •/¦ ... - ' '¦ •; - . . - . - Let the members of the General Council throughout the country commence at once a simultaneous canvas of the Chartists geaeraHy for subscribers to the forthcomiDg paper ; let them exhort all Who can to pay a quarter in advance ; let them get two or three conjointly to subscribe , where they are unable to do bo individually , and supposing the quarterly subscription to be' . five ' shillings , it would amount to but two shillings and sixpence in the one case , and one shilling and eightpence in the other . Let t&esurns thus advanced be transmitted by the receivers to Mr . OBrien , receiving in return an acknowledgment for the papers being sent when issued direct toithe subscribers
By vigorously pushing this plan for ward , yo _ u would not only guarantee a good circulation to begin- with , but yon would secure the success of this great undertaking , by enabling your champion to overcome the financial difficulties under which he now labours . And now one word in 1 conclusion , when the paper does come out , you are morally bound in justice to the great principles you advocate to see that the combined efforts of open enemies aad pretended friends do not in this ease ( as they have In many others ) burk the endeavour of QBrien to spread sound political knowledge amongst the people . ¦ War lily watch wits eagle eye the " agents , " see that they get you the paper , do not be refused , have It ; and you will have gratified the earnest wish of Your friend and fellow labourer in the cause of Democracy , Arthur'O ' Neill . Manchester , April 4 tb , 1842 .
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THE STONE MASONS ON STRIKE , FROM THE NEW nOUSES OF PARLIAMENT , AND NELSON ' S KONUMENT , LONDON , AND THE WOOLWICH DOCKYARD , To the Public and the Trades of Great Britain and Ireland . " Can ye' believe ' your' living is a life , Sa stinkingly depending ? " —Measurefor Measure . — " If this be sure ,
To do ought good never will be our task , But ever to do ill onr sole delight . "—Paradise Lost . Brethren , —Notwithstanding the privation and want unto which we are unmcritedly subjected , an unbroken and decided front is still maintained against that citadel of cruelty and --corruption from which we have so brutally and determinedly been assailed . We , however , amidst all our poverty , are equally determined —under no circumstances will we relinquish a single jot of our position—¦ " comA weal , come woe , " we will struggle with the enemy •¦ to the very last grasp , \ At th » Houses of Parliament * as wo have before reported , little progress is perceivable . The number now on the funds from these works and the Monument are reduced to tighlv . :
As an evidence of the close-driven position of our opponents , we quote tte following from the Sunday Times newspaper of Sunday , the 20 th Inst , and by which you will perceive it has gone the round of the Metropolitan press : —
" PROGRESS OF PUBLIC WORKS . " The two men who have been long employed upon the Nelson monument in Trafalgar-squaTe , have , it is mentioned in the papers , been obliged to suspend thoir operations in consequence of an inadequate supply ~ of granite ! The result ia , that this nationul woik does not proceed with its former rapiuily of about aa iticll of pedestal every three mouths . " v From Woolwich we have the following : — 11 March , 1812 . * 'I have to inform you that there was a . ' iiuml > er of the ' black . diamonds' discbargad on .. Saturday'nightthe exact number I cannot give . Three smiths , three carpenters , and a number .. of labourers , were also iUscharged , which is a strong proof that we are very fast gaining ground upon our opponents . '—Numbers out 37 . :
At Plymonth and Dartmoor matters are much the same as last reported—each party using every possible means to defeat the other . —Number out at these places 53 . .... „ ¦ From Penryn our delegate writes , " That Mr . Hosking , who needs at this time a hundred men to execute his orders , haa only eighteen—as also that < J . & P . have been again unsuccefsf'jl intheir attempts to induce other quarry-Tnasters and Stone-msi'Gbants in that locality to furnisli them with granite . "—Number cut 5 . i This is a brief outline of the circumstances under which we are at present placed . Keflect upon them in connexion with our general conduct thus-. - . far ' .-through tha trying ordeal , and say are they worthy a oontinu . incie tf that confidence and support almost universally pledged to us at its commencement .
Alluding to the inevitable consequencea resulting to a community when from a-low- rato of wages its producing portions are in " stinkingly depending" and depressed circumataneeB , M'Cullych has the , following observation : — 4 t Nothing cam be so" signally disadvantageous , ao overwhelmingly disastrous lo any pc-ople , as a permanent depression in the . rate of wages , or a decline in the opinions of the labouring ; class . respeGting what is necessary for their comfo tible ami deceut subsistence . No country can be --flourishing , when the rate of real wages is low , and none can be long depressed whei o that rate is high . The labourers are the sinews of agriculture , of manufacture , and of commerco [;; their numbers are not estimated like those of the other classes , by hundreds , by thousands , or even by hundreds of thousands , but by millions ! It is by Uieir labour that our machinery is constructed and kept in motion , and it is by their industry and ingenuity that we are
enabled easily to support burdens , that could hardly be snpported . by any other peopleY every thing , then , that may have the slightest tendency Htd depress their canditlon , or to sink them in the scale » f society , ought to be particularly guarded against . Those who feed and doihe all the rat , ougfrt themaelves to fo ' tDfll fed and tvdl elotfied ; they are the foundation of the social pyramid ; and so long as tbe standard of natural or necessary wages continues high , this foundation will be solid and secure , for so long will the labourera he industrious and orderly ; but if this standard be permanently reduced—if the labourers bo once brought to place their dependence on the cheapest food , and to rest satisfied with mere necessaries , the want of fcafHcient motives to exertion' will infallibly render them idle and dissipated , the spirit of industry by which they are now so eminently distinguished will evaporate , and with it the morals , the prosperity , and the happiness of Britain . " ¦ . ¦ - ' ; . . - ¦ . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ' . ¦ ¦' .: ' ¦ •'¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ ¦ , ¦¦ ¦ •• ' ¦ - ' . --. ¦ ¦ . - "¦ T " -
The depression here contemplated ia already toq mamifeat Intolerant fanaticiBW . and class legislation ( both of which it Is broadly asserted are essential to the social , order of society ) have made frightful inroads upon the rights and immunities of the industrious
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classes , " But , " says Channing , •? were I , on visiting a strange country , to see the vast majority of the people maimed , crippled , Mid bereft of sight , and were I told that social ordcir required this inntila 4 ion , I should say , perish this order . Who would not think his understapdingj as well as best feelings insulted by hearing this spoken of as the intention of Qod . " Nor ought we to look with less aversion on a social system which can only be upheld by " crippling" by excessive toil , and starving by inadequate remuneration , the great mass of air order . ; Prem BRAY we quote the following : ' —
•' In dtf « nceot the present social system , the capitalists and employers , when they hear of disssatisfaction , tell us that the wovking class of the uoited kingdom have litt'e or nothing to complain of—that they Hvd under inatitutions comparatively free—that they can either work or let it alone—and that they are better fed , and clothed , and edueated , than eyen kings were in times of old . To render yet more striking the ; con > tiast l » t-ween the . pieBent and the past condition of the produiiei'Si old records are brought forth t 9 show , that the working men of former times were bought and sold , like so many horBes , along' with the ettite to which they were attached—that their houses were but assemblages of sticks and atones , with windows destitute of glass—that they slept upon rnshes strewed upon a
damp clay floor , and haet a log of wood for a pillowthat they lived upon the coara * st fedd , and scarcely tasted flesh a dt > Zin timea in the year- —tbat they . "had neither hooka , newspapers , nor knowledge , and had to either work or fight as their masters and owners thought fit . If all this be true , and the working class be now much better off than their predecessors worei it is no reason why they should not be still better ( ff , and equally as well off as those who tell them to hold their tongues , and be contended with the position which they now oecupy . All happiness is . compataUve ; and it is not in human nature to remain satisfied with any station , so long as it is corn-zant of a better ; nor will
men submit to be measured by a low f ( nnd ? rd , so long as there is a higher one in existence . V \ 'by should enormous masses of Wealth be in the . possession of tho idle and the profligate , -when the induatrions and the honest are without a penny ? Why should well-feil and well r clothed insigniflcan > e roll slothfuHy along iaits spienclid vehicle , in pursuit of i ; ew pleasnres to tempc its ' palled appetite , and the toil-worn artisan be cowpeJled to plod to his daily work with lialt " -ciothe » l > ack and hungry belly ¦? There is no reason given , for there is not pue ' -to be found . The immaculate spirit of justice which exists tliroughoat creation , tolls men , in accents of eternal trutu , that he never instituted these most urjust distinctions amongst them .
" The productive classes of the United Kingdom are weighed to the earth by such a variety aad multiplicity of burthens and wrongs ' -, that enumeration and description both fail in bringing into view the sum total . The ills they suffer are brought home to them thromi'h every sense ; for sight , hearing , smell , taste , and feeling , alike proclaim the ¦ wrong , and teU men that remedy is needed , ' ' : , ¦ .- ¦ : '¦'¦ ¦ ¦'¦' : ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ . - " That remedy is in the hands of . the working classes themselves . The appropriation of their united means in a manner calculated to benefit them , instead of placing it in the hands of those whe convert it into weapons to scourge them , would prove a panacea for tbe ; entire of their miseries . Channing says- ; - " The
great obstacles to the improvement of the labouring classes are in themselves , and may therefore be overcome . TheywcuitmthingHt Ih&witi . Outward difficulty will shrink and vaniBh before them , just as far as they are bent on progress—just as fair as the great idea of their own improvement eball take possession of thoir minds . I know that many will emilo at the suggestion that the labourer may be brought to practise thrift and self-denial for the purpose of lecoming a nobler being . But such sceptics , having never experienced the power of a grand thought or generous purpose , are no judges of others . They may be assured , however , that -enthusiasm"is not Wholly a dream , and that it is not whoiiy unnatural for individnals or bodies to get the idea of something higher and more inspiring than their past attainments . "
The subordinate and humiPating station in society We at present occupy can . only be the effect of our Own s « rvility—a want of coDfldence in oursolyes . Wa ' fcave long had the power if we had had the will to improve our condition to a much greater extent than we have experienced , but have been either too indolent or too careless fully to exercise it . This apathetic conduct must be abandoned . The mutual dependency Of the trades , and the identity of their ^ interest * should stimur late them to gather up their energies and consolidate their strength , that an uubroken Ironfc maybe' presented to the common foe . Ifc is by our own tffjrts only- ^ -by being true and faithful to each other—that our regeneration can be effected .
•' Think not , indeed , the despot ' s heart , For you can ftjel—for you can part With what he ne ' er sweat to obtain , Nor o ' er yet felt pppression ' a chain ; Nobly then hasten to the call , Onward we stand—backward we fall . " We beg to subscribe ourselves , Gratefully yours , The Masons' SoctEtT , Thomas Suortt , Sec . « , Agnes Street , Waterloo-road , Lambeth , ; March 30 th , 1842 .
Empmal ^Arlfatiwnt.
Empmal ^ arlfatiwnt .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS—Monday , April 4 . The House re-assembled this evening after the Easter reces ? . . Out of consldoration for the anxiety of the many persons -whose private interests are involved in the subject of the forged Exchequer Bills , Sir E Peel gave it priority before the other business of the day . The House having accordingly resolved itself into Committee on the bill for appointing a Commission of Inquiry' into the cases of the various holders . Sir T . Wilde moved amendments en . several-sections '; and proposed two additional clauses , one for enabling the claituants to be heard by attorney or counsel , and the other ' -for- compelling an early report from the Cemmis-Sioners .
The Solicitor-General stated it to be the intention of the Goveroiuent that the evidence in general should bo teperted ; but m there might be particular cases in which tho publication of the facts might be inexpedient , he would rather not make the bill compulsory in this respect . He thought there migUt be much inconVfchience and delay in giving a gener ; vl right of being heard by counsel . SirR . lNOtiSur . ; od tholieesssity of despatch . Sir . B PEEiC acceded to the goner . il principle of giving publicity to the evidence , but wished to allow to the Commissioners , as being men Worthy of all confidence , a discretion both as to this point and as to tha circumstances in which counsel should be allowed .
LonlJ . Russell thought that the C ? mmis « onera ought t > report the whole to the Treasuty , and that tbe Treasury , and not they oughtJ » ¦ " determine what shouht or should not b 9 published . " He contended for allowing the liberty " to- bo heard by counsel , wherover the claimants nii ^ tot . desive it . ¦ '• . ' " * , ' : '" The AtxocNEY-GenekaL argued that tbp nau'tifarious and vmUimtea chiiauter of the .-inquiry would make it extremely inconvenient to allow aa absjiuts right of being heard by cowTisef . Colonel sVbtkohp wished fora clause to make those high Officers responsible by whose negiigonea this lpss had occurred ; and he desired to know soiiiethinj about tlie l-emuntration of the Commission .
Sir B Peel answered , that it might ba better to postpone this last consideration until it should be seen what was likely tu be -the weight and duration of tho iahiiir ; and . he' added , with rtference to aoine -further (> b « wr " vatious interposed by fcord . J . -Russsll , that the Treasury would take the rSBponsibility of determining wh » t should be published aud what withiioid . Sir T . Wilde observed , tha . tth . is waa not a cis 8 in which the general regard due to the interests of indiviiiuj , s ought to be waived by reason of the confidence c niiiiti'l for certain Commissioners . If the biilahad been private sectirities , the holdfrs , in any actions upon
them , would haver had the benefit of legEkl JiiiJ . But these ntcurittes being public , and th « holders having th « n f >* re no romtdy by action , all benefit and indulgence ought ¦ surely to be enlarged ratii jrthaQ narrowed . There was no such multytarJou . suesti as the : Attorney-General suggested ; tfib issues ' -woul / l be sinipleenough ; How should the Commissioners ,- . sitting as judges , know to ¦ what facts they ¦ were to examintt ? The delay which mitiht be caused fcy some lenglhy Speeches was not a consideration to be set agalnat the stibatanfcial interests of justicd ; nor w « ra the ordinary rights of parties to be denie . t them w ' er ' ajy betaiise tiisir judges were men of . unrtoub'ted character .
Sir W . FuLLETT admitted tbe gener . il fitness of hearing counsel ori / thtise cases but objected to give such a ripht as Would virtually take tho conduct of the inquiry away from the Conjjiii « sio . ner ? , and place it in the han'Is of any party who might choose to employ counsel before tbein . ' ' - ¦''¦ ' '' ; ' ¦ " . ; ' . ¦ , ¦" .... 7 . ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' - . ;¦ ¦ - . ' . Sir R . iNGLis was content that tbe matter should be left to the discr ^ ioa of the Commissioner ? . j ; ; Mr . Wakley thought that if there waa a clear , understanding to the tififect iiitiruated by th 6 Solicitor-Greneral , if .- ' the admission of counsel v . 'ere to be the geneval rdle , and their exclusion only the exception , Sir . X . Wilde ¦ would have sabatantially gained hia object -wittiout ptessing b » cJausa . . Mr . C . Buller hoped that in the eonstruohon of this tribunal there W'puld be no doviatiohfroni the general mode of conductinjg legal inquiries . .: J
Sir B Peel said that if there mustneeflsin all cases be counsel againet the Ciown , there must also in all cases be counsel for the Crown . These Commissioners w « re not to decide , but only to report . Sir T . Wilde insisted on the iDJuBtice of allowing the Cammissionera to admit or exclude what evidence they pleaised . Were tlvey to select the witnesses for examination ? If there were objections against any particular claim , how were they to learn those objections ? Not , he hoped , May jarivate communication j the only fair Way was the : open ooe , the . counsel for each claimant stating hia casei and the counsel for the Treasury theirs . If this inquiry had been left to a Committee of the House of Commons , would counsel haw be ^ n excluded ? He would not be con-
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tent with , a mere understanding on such a subject ; what was fit to bo understood was fit to he directed . Mr . Gbanvill ^ VERXbff , though himself ftuitd satisfied with' the arguments against the olausa waa sure its r * jeotfon would produce so much diBsatisfsction among the claiinahta , that he much wished to see the Qovernment concede the insertion of it . " . ¦ _ Mr . EESiBtE feared that the clause would but injure those who sought it , by brin . ? ing the Attorney and Solicitor General before the Commission with ail their weight to pposa tach . claim supported by Caunsel . " ¦ . ¦ ¦'¦ . ' . '" '¦ ¦ ' ' ' "¦ : ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ . ' / . .. : ¦ . ¦¦' . ¦ ¦¦ ¦ . .. ' - . ¦ ¦ ' , Mr . . BaRXKG congidered that the parties and the public ought mutually to : have their inteiests protected by the thorough sifting of Counssl oii both si <; es . No steps ought to be taken witboat the presence o ; Counsel for the Crown , and counsel ought therefore to be admitted for the claimant
The Solicitor GENEBATi acknowledged that if counsel were heard on one side , they must be ' ---h-eard on the other ; but ho thought tha . Commissioners . 'kjight beat detsriniae in each case whether counsel should be admitted at all . . .,- ¦' -: ; ¦ : Mr . ; Hardy observed , that if the Commissioners would be . obliged , as he thought that in point of decency they would be , to admit counsel in evury case , this ; vras a contest about straws , and tiie bestwaj would be tb . accept , thec . 'a ! is ^ . ' . ' . ; Mr . Hawes aaia , that to exclude counsel en some claims and admit them on . others , would raise a . prejudice against tne merits of those cases in wkich it should be decideti tiiat counsel were necessary . -. Mr . Attwood and Mr . Wason said a few word ' s each , aid the cpnunittee divided ,
Forthe ciauso ... ... ... . ... 77 Against it ... ... ...... G 4 " . ¦ ..-. - ¦ ¦ ' Majority ... ... 13 The remaining clauses having been disposed of , and the chair . having been , resumea by the Speaker ,: SirR . PEfeL moved that tboHouao should resolve itself into Committee of way 3 and means . Z " ; This step , necessary in order to the passing of the resolutions on finance and commerce , was oppoaed by Mr . Blewitt , who moved , by way of amendnieiit on tha motion foe the Speaker ' s leaving- the chair , a resolutioa of his ;' o ' wn- » purporting that fcho H <; use would postpone the eonsideration of the Ministerial reaolution for raising a ' ¦ tax ilpon income until they should be further informed about the duties proposed to be reduced . - - ¦ . - '' . " ¦ ' ¦ ¦ - '¦ - ' ¦ . "¦ ¦ :- -.. - ¦ * : ¦ ¦ . '
Mr . Sharman Crawford disapproved both the budget of Sir EL Pcel&ad that of the late ftlinistiy ; but desired to have it understood that he was not speaking as a party niau . " Mr . T . PUNCOMBE said , a notion had gone abroad that the tariff was likely to be postponed ; he wished to know whether it had ever crossed the mind of Sit R . Peel to postpone it ? ' ¦ •' -, ' ; . r Sir R . PEEL said ; it bad not > except for the purpose of consideration . The tariff , so re-considered , would be ready on Monday , and he trusted it would not be
found by the House to require further alteration in any material respect . , Beyond that short and necessary period he--had n&ver thought of postponing the subject There was ft geseral impression that the sooner-the public should definitively know what the financial and commercial measure was to be , the greater would be the advantage to the national interests . He hoped , now that the holydays had given time for the explb-Bion of popular indignation with which he had been threatened ^ that there would be no further delay in the preliminary vote on -which that measure was to bfl founded .
Mr . ' Elli ' ce thanked Sir R . Peel for his general pro ^ gress towards commercial remission ; but he did not approve the-reduction of duty on timber . He should have preferred a present addition to the duty on Canadian timber , which could well have borne it , with a view , when the circumstance ' s of the country might allow , to take off that duty and - .-the duty on foreign timber both together . As it was , he thought Sir B . Peel was making a needless sacrifice of revenue . He had : no objection to the general principle of a direct taxation , kut be could not sanction a tax upon tha income of a profession , or of a perhaps declining trade , like that of his own constituents . He ha : l , however , too much confidence in the honest intentions of Sir Robert Peel , to vote against the preliminary resolution . " .:
Mr . T . DCNCOJIBE explained , and , after a few words from Sir Robert Peel , Mr . Blewitt withdrew his amendment , and the House went into comajittse . The first resolution waa passed without a debate . > On the second , Mr . M . Gibson said , he saw no reason for hoping that tho proposed income tax would be a merely temporary imposition , This tariff ; would never make tip the deficiency , perhaps there were further commercial reforms in view ; if so , he wiBhed they had been brought forward now , while the country gentlemen were yet subservient to the new Government . Hefenew not , however , why there should not be a property tax permanently superseding all other taxes . The people could not pay public taxes , and also taxes for' th « benefit of particular classes . To the inequality of an- income tax he wholly objected . It would lead to . evasions and frauds , and so to . the em > ployment of spies for the counteraction of them .
Some discussion followed , whether the Caairman in putting the question on tha first resolution had glVOQ SBffiiiieiit tiuiefor members to lisa in opposition to it ; Mr . Rice , who had wished to speak , having lost his opportunity . .-. ' ; ::.: ¦'¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . Mr . Rice then said a few words , intimating hia disapprobation of the principle of an income-tax . In consequence of some further observations from > Ir . GIBSON , . ' - - . ; ' ¦/ . ' - . " : ;] : : :. ¦ .. ¦ . ¦ ¦ "'¦' ; - ' - . \ -j ¦ Sir Robert Peel explained , that though he adhered to his opinion in favour of the principle of an Income Tax , ' and intended to do . his best for the purpose of obtahiing a vote to that eflfecfc , he had never , said . that he would throw up his measure rather than allow of any alteration in tha -. details ' - of it . He had never stated nor intended any thing bo aisrespactful totheHouse . - . ' ¦¦ :
Mr . Wallace objected to an Income Tax on tha ground of the inducemeut which it Would hold out to commercial men to overstate their incomes . He proceeded , in a strain which raised some laugbter , to defend himself anu his friends from the charge of factian in their midnight divisions before-the vacation . Mr . Chbistmas , who spoke amidst much noise , wa 3 understood to support the resolution . : Mr . Wakley wished to know why a provision was made for the farmers , exempting them from that
scrutiny to which all the trading interests . were left liable—a provision exempting them from all payment upon the income of any farm rented below £ 300 : a year , and limiting their liability on any higher rent to oner-half of its a ' . ubuut . Great reductions inthe Import duties were about to be made , from which the working people ; would suffer severely ; for the Right Honourable Gentloman . wouia ¦ tbus bring . VanOUS furtign articlaa into the home : market without at all ioworing the price of bread to the mauufacturers of the samaarticles hero . "¦¦¦ : . .. '' : ' - . -.
Mr . Wobtley said , tha answer to Sir . Wakloy ' s question was , that in the case , of the farmer there waa a test of income , which in the case of the trader was not to ba obtamed . iBufc he-must say , thatthe farmer would rather submit to any scrutiny tUau to the heavy tax which thia tast imposdd upon Mm . ¦ SirR . Peel oV-served , that the opposite opinions expressed by Mr . V . ^ iluey and Miv ^ oit ' ey were some eviience thit miuisjers had endeavoured io steer a middle and a fair couvse . In answer to Mr . Wakley , he referred to a representation which he bad tbat day . received from a numercusi body of farmers , desiring to be taxed like persons in other lines of business , rather t ' by tbe proposed tost . Among the farmera ,. however , as -w « II ' -. os thtough the country in genera ! ,: ha fouticl a strong disposition to make an exeit ' . on for' tne
niai . ' . iiehanoe of public credit ; though it was obsarvabla that each class remonstrated s . little against the particular mode i . T which itself was ¦ 't . ixed .. " . He had nevet proijiised , as some apprehended , to propose the removal of this * tax at the end of three years ;¦ he had , iadeed , framed the piospnt measure for three yeara only , but he hai , on its very first introductiou , expressed h | s hope that at the expiration of that term it would be continued by Parliament for . a couple of years longer , by which time h 9 trusted that"the benefits . of the tariff would have come iuta full operation . He repeated his conviction that much relief would meanwhile be derived to ' all classes from tha greater cheapness of living ; and ' he exhorted the House nat ta diminish the fffisacy pf ' B > . 'ii « poTtant an instrument as an Incoma Taxby qualif / inz it with exemptions .
Lord Joits RussEti' felt the inexpetVency of so qualifyiag tho inoemetax j : bnt he ateo felt tbat very inexpeiliency as a strong argument for not : imposing Ifc at all / TJie tariff did not present a fair arrangement , for it exposed theBfirish Trorkman to tha disadvantage of foreign competition , without giving him a corresponding ckeapiiess of foreign corn .. VHe thought' the farmevs too had been rather ill-used in the tariff , especially by a Ministry calling themsslvea the farmers ' particular friends , when foreign cattle . " . . we ' re let in with so little warning . The farmers thought they weresafely following the front rank , when suddenly that front rank turned round and fired in upon them . The present plan would have been better if its own principles had been carried into full effort ; bat they were executed only in a partial aad imperfect manner .
The ^ HAlRKA . v requested permission , before he put tho ac-cond resolution , to say that In putting the first be had not been aware of the intantiqn d £ any member to addrees the chair . ¦ ¦ : ; Mr . Williams said a few words ; after which the second and third ' ^ resolutions were passed , without division , and the House resumed ; the report yras ordered to be received on Thursday , and the House adjourned .
Untitled Article
A TOICE FROM PRISON . To the Labouring Classes of Great Britain a > "d Ireland , especially to the Associated Chartists , —Let nie advise jou all to be total abstainers not 0 EI 7 from all intcxieating liquors , but from tea . C ' . flee , tohncee , and snuff , nnd a ! J Excisable art 5 c ; es , except paptr for letters and newspaptrs , and the postage for lttt = ra and stamps npon newspapers . Lot non ; 2 D say it is impossi&le to do without tbe use of Excisable articles , for I have now been upwards Of two jeirs , and have neither tasted tea . coffee , sugar , or snuff , and I pledge myself that I will never eat or drink any Excisable article , uatil the Charter becomes the law of the land , ki every working man do the same , and tht-y ¦ will not be long before they have the
Charter the law of the land—let them at the s : ime time commeEce exclusive dealing . Jf you will abstain from tbe shops of tbe "Whigs and Tories , and all places where intoxicat ng Hgaors are sold , and support those shopkeepers which are favourable to the Charter , and frtquent tbe well and pump taverns , where the landlady's with one arm , never refuse Xo draw their wholesome and refreshing beverage , without money and without price , except they are unable to di aw for want of some repairs , and the inevitable consequences of your doing so , will be the Charter for Great Britain , the political freedom of Ireland , the Repeal of the Corn Laws , and the obnoxious Poor I « aw Amendment Act ; and surely , it will be bi-tter for us to sacrifice every luxury for a &hort time , and put an end to the contest ,
tban leave our posterity to dragon a miserable existence for years , for as long as we have aristocrats , milloerats , and money-moneers for law-makers ; the fic « s of the poor will be kept upon the grindstone . And now , my dear fiiends and fellow si a ves , Ittnie prevail upon you to use liquid as you receive it from the pump , in preference to the beverages vthicb are made from exoiseable articles . Tou have all the Chartist big guns at liberty , flock round them , and eupport them with your sma'l arms to tbe utmost of your power . For O'Connor , BroRterre , and all the rest of tbe big guns put together can do nothing without your assistance ; and with your assistance they can do every thing . Be firm and temperate , and you will be able to earry every thing your own way . Encourage the corn law rcper . ltr 3 to call meetings , and turn them into Chartist meetings , and you will soon rout the enemy and put an end to their agitation . And last of all , I most earnestly implore
you to assist and relieve the wants of the poor women and children who are victimaad , by their husbands and others being incarcerated and disabled by the malice and brutal treatment ef the base , bloodthirsty , and cruel Whigs . If ' every man and -woman prpfeBsing Chartist principles , would only subscribe a single penny each , for tbe poor helpless victims , it would drive want and misery from their dwellings , and be a means of ebeering the hearts and raising the spirits of these poor , distressed women . Surely their sufferings are severe enough in being deprived cf their busbands , the partners of all their joys and Borrows , without being oppressed by hunger and nakedness . I agaia earnestly appeal to your sympathy on bebalf of these poor , helpless victims of Whiggery ; and I hope , nay , I feel confident , that you will nobly respond to my appeal on their behalf . 1 now bid you fare well for the present , and I have the honour to style myself a victim of Whiff malice , bound fast in iron , brick , ( stones , and mortar , William Brook . Hcuse of Correction , Northalleiton , March , 21 st , 18 * 2 .
Untitled Article
Execution , —Joseph Wilke 9 , cpnyictecl at the Stafford assizes of the murder of an old man of the name pf Adams , at Delve ? Bank , Wednesbury , was executed on Saturday in front pf the Stafford GoantJ gaol . ¦ ,-. •; His associates , James Wilkeaj his brother , Thomas BooweU » apd . George 1 Giles , yreie acquitted oi the taurder but cpimc&sd of the Jjorglarj . The two former were , sentenced to transpdrfa * ion for life , and Giles for fifteen yeaw . The wretched youth admitted that ho had struck the old man , Vat witaoutthe 9 lightwki » teiitiwiofkiIliDifhim .
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAR . - ' ;' : . ¦ ¦< - -- ' ^ : i U l £ . fr -J .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 9, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct593/page/7/
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