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Northern Star (1837-1852), 16th April 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 4, HOVSE OF COMMONS, Wednbsdat.

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR. - Be SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1842. aj to se
    • HOVSE OF COMMONS, Wednbsdat.
    • oto mt&tjev& anpr Corr^Monu^ntsEf*
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      Untitled Article

      TO THE WORKING PEOPLE . ( . From the EngTxsh Chartist Circular . ) MT Dbab . FE . 1 B 5 DS , —While legislators , politicians , philosophers , and political economists , are severally engaged in searching out the cause of your distress , and In fandfolly recommending a means for its correction , iHow Hie to suggest to yonr plain common sense the nature of youi complaint , and the only remedy by which ft core can possibly be effected , Yoar complaint is machinery , and the remedy is the Charter . Steam , the Poor Law Amendment Act , and a Rural Police , constitute a trinity of villany , complete and indivisible . Steam looks for free trade , while those -who attend upon it at home are rendered Incapable of possessing any of its advantages . The same persons who advocate free trade as a party , were

      the originators both of the Poor Law Amendment Act and of the Rural Police . Brougham , Hume , Roebuck , « rote , Molesworth , Ward , and Warburton , " are amongst the foremost of free-traders , and are wedded to the Poor Law Amendment Act , and most of them—if not all—are supporters of the Rural Police . Thus we find the measures closely allied , while we discover in their leading supporters a recognition of their unity . If I can lay more plainly before you what has been hinted at In speeches , you will not quarrel with ths repetition . The great ait of writing—to my mind— consist * in its clearness . In this letter I «¦>»» " take up the question of tiie indirect operation of machinery- I am induced to do so in consequence of a very fw ^ ish attempt by the Sun newspaper and the Perth Chronide , to misrepresent my notions with regard to machinery .

      The Sun , hi commenting npon my position ,- declares that machinery cannot be the cause of the present distress , inasmuch as machinery has not been applied to mating- eloth . es , shoes , and lists j and yet tailors , and shoemakers , and hatters , it says , ara fully participating in the general Buffering . I answer , that machinery does not inake beef ; yet are butchers suffering from the effects of machinery . No new machinery has been applied to making bread or grinding corn -, yet have bakers , millers , and flour-factors been damaged by machinery . Machinery does not build houses , or produce timber , slate , or

      stone ; yet have masons , carpenters , slaters , tilers , timber-sierchants , and all persona engaged in building , fceea injured by machinery . Suppose your foreign trade to be worth fifty-two millions a-year ; of what benefit is "that to the shopkeepers , or to those who are displaced by its operation from their natural position , l » y being made unwilling idlers ? Just take one million of idlers , who , befere the great increase of machinery , earned each man only one pound per week each , and you have an exact set-off of fifty-two millions per annum lost to the million unwilling idlers , and to the community at home . »

      Let me be very explicit upon this subject ef the indirect influence of machinery . I "vsill instance JBoIton . Within the last few years , in Bolton , the number * f cotton t"jh * has been doubled , while the number « f hands employed have been reduced to nearly one half ; and the consequence is , that those who have been displaced from work by the improved machinery eat neither butcher's meat nor bread , drink neither tea nor coffee , use no eogar > wear no clothes , hats , or shoes , while they have been thrust out of honses built for the spirit of trade . New , all those persens who supplied the above articles to operatives in employment have no demand , and , consequently , make or provide no supplj . Hence does machinery operate indirectly upon trade , commerce , and business of all sorts in a

      manner almost inconceivable . Let us take , for example , tbe grossest and apparently most unassailable branch of trade . In Boston , there are now about thirteen hundred nniahabifced cottages . This -want of occupancy in cottages will very speedily lead to the ontenanting of shops ; and the surrender of shops frill be followed by the removal of the landlord , who lived upon rente derived from those sheps , to the cottages which have been abandoned by the ejected operatives ; consequently , these three classes of honses , those occupied by tbe little landlord , the shopkeeper , and the working man , will stand as a competitive power against the importer of tiaber , the ' timbermerchant , the quirrymen , the brickmakers , the stone-masons , bricklayers , tilers , iron-master * , nailors ,

      alaters , plarterera , painters , and glaziers , and a : i other ttades and parties engaged in building htuse 3 . Nay , more ; every trade in Sheffield and Birmingham will snSer from the empty houses . Empty houses are notfurniihfid . No tfeoves , grates , fenders , fire-irons , lorkicg glasses , razors , jugs , kettles , pots , gridirons , b « lB or bedsteads , chairs or tables , are found in empty houses ; while tbe overloaded pawn-shops supply , cf good , bad , and indifferent materials from the general wreck , more th ^ ri is required for the present wants of a debased ,, enslaved , and pauperised community . TT £ . teb-mafrera , jewellers , cotfcctionera , dress-makera , habtrdasker ^ , coaca-proprietors , railway companies , play-house

      managers , booksellers , and ill the liberal professions , even persons who live upon voluntary contributions , are , one and all , materially , very vitally , affected by machinery ; for , my friends , be it remembered , that if you canEot spend with ths shopkeepers , tbe shopkeepers cannot spend on luxuries , nor yet on the necessaries of life ; and I assure you , however the landed arisiocracy may desire to cut the connection between themselves and the Great Unwashed , yet are they also beginning to discover that an empty house pays no rent ; and an empty house pays no mortgages ? &nd the Jew and money-jabbers me begjnnin ™ to think that 20 s . in the pound was too much to advance upon lands raised to an unnatural and artificial price by class legislation .

      Let us now see how a snrplus of workmen in each trade , created by the people ' s inability to spend , operates directly upon that trasle in places remote , from the scene of smoke devastation . Take Birmingham as an instance . By the census of 2831 , there were about five hundred uninhabited houses in Birmingham , -while by the census of 1841 , there were abons iseee thocsakd houses unoccupied ; the consequence ia , tbat Pcto and < Srissell have no difficulty in tyrannising over good men in their employment . The Birmingham m * son 3 and others connected with house building , very naturally make their -way to where the demand is ; and they constitute a reserve for the masters to fall back upon . The starving ttionsanda in Lancashire cannot trear hats , coats , or Shoes ; and as & matter of eonrse , the unemployed hatters , tailors , and shoemakers find out where trade is most brisk , and make their way to tha labour market . The metropolis presenting the most flittering prospect ,

      thither they go by steam in nine hours , and they constitute in their several trads 3 a reserre for their employers to fall back upon , and thus enable them without resistance , or even a struggle , to reJuca the Wages of tieir workman . Thus , then , I tfcink that I have established the fact beyond any power of refutation , that machinery is your complaint , and the Charter your only remedy and core ; and ere long the foolish shapkeepers will begin to find out , that all the money made in a foreign market by artificial production is applied by the E-nokeoeracy either to the purchase of land 01 laid out on moitgage un 1 AND , AT HO HE : ' . while the result is , that the shopkeepers are beggared , starved , unhoused , and unelad , in consequence of the inability of theuntrilling idlers to replenish their tills ; and ultimately this diabolical system of wholesale and -unchecked gambling in flesh and blood will lead to the entire rmharnioniEing and disarrangement of society 5 for , as 1 h&va mora than once said , AN EMPTY TILL ON

      SATURDAY NIGHT MAKES AX UGLY WIFE ON SUNDAY MORNING . Machinery , then .- not only affects its immediate victims , but indirectly affects every class of the community . It has at length compelled royalty itself to relinquish a portion of its p ^ y , and if not cheeked ¦ srill diiTe it from the throne , and the aristocracy from house ana home . I am , your faithful friend asd Fervan * , ' Fejkgcs O'Co >> 'OB . March 21 st , 1 S 42 .

      Untitled Article

      CHARTISM , JOHN COMPANY , AND CABOUX ( Continued from our last . )

      Afghan " Guerillas" and Spanish " GueriUa 3 "Major Freeman , and the " Baeels" . ' " Prince Honey" and Shaving Day J i Bhartpare Gold ilohnrs , and Brandy ! ! ' . "We are ED ndvocites for indiscriminate a ^ x 3 rtientless massacre , or as the " Times' calls it , butcher ; -, and least of all when the enemy lies prostrate acd at our feet . helpless ; but there are some cases ic - * hicb censure must be laid on lightly , or the actions thtnu-c ^ ves held justifiable , and a case in point is that of the " . iffgba n ^" Withoat entering into the " politics" of the " sfiViir , where is tie difference between the patriotism ( and ail the virtues thereunto appertaining : if the Affgfcan and Spanish Guerilla ? Both had tatir conntrito invaded by men hostile to their creed , and foreign V > tbt-xT language the invaders in beth cass 3 wishing to possess the country and all its resources , in preference to a

      rivalthe British in India thinking to oust ths Russians , the French in Spain moving heaven and earth to destroy the power and influence of England . The French in Spain did not succeed , and the British in Afghanistan have met with a reverse unparalleled eilber in ancient or modem history . The mxak parties litre who lauded so triumphantly the prowess of the Spanish Gaetiila— the " priests" who preaehsd doctrines from tfesi * polpits little anort of assassination , and that to dtttroy a republican and infidel Frenchman in this world , was a sure passport to a good berth in the next—all these gentry with their imbecile train , are now shouting at the full pitch of their voices for revenge on the poor Mahometan AflVrum Guerillas , and demanding a bloody Batisfaction for acting like men , and freeing theii " homffl and altars , " from the presence of a rtxthlesa invader .

      We are not rejoicing over this unfortunate mishap ;; tre have left many dear friends whose bones are bleach-: ing in ftflfoVin-mni-nTi ; early associations would make us ; forego the slightest symptom of pleasure in our defeat , ! but we ought to be consistent and call things by their ; light names . What is black in " Spain" cannct be 1 whibe in Afghanistan , and Mahonnnedan Snulidees '' - shoold be equally sacred as " Christian martyrs , " or , at the least , the religious world might deem them so , ; and not preach a crusade ia England and Eindcst in , for : thpjT acting there in the same manner we would do at borne . - . :

      We are not seathlesB when " butchery" is spoken of , ; » nd our enormities have been great in Indvi ; Major ' Freeman of the Nizam's Bervke , and commanding at Aarnngabad , had some cenEidtisbls force to

      Untitled Article

      put down the « ' Bheels" in the Deecan , who were a very troublesome set of robbers , totally ignorant ; in short , little less than savages , dwelling amid caves and mountains , with their wives and families scarcely clothed , and armed with bows and arrows . He captured s vast somber by his detachments , and put them invariably to death This man , or rather devil , was in the habit of recounting to his acquaintances and guests ( for be lived in style and splendour ) his ta atment of three hundred Bbeels , taken prisoners by his men . They consisted of men , women , and children . All over the Deecan you will find large , empty , and dry tanks and wells , sometimes -eery deep and capacious . Under the pretence of 8 afety , the Chiistian Major stuffed all the Bheelfl into one of those abodes , and kept them there by means of large pieces of timber , bamboo , < fc& piled one npon another .

      To make sure work of it , be set fire to the whole , so that all that were not burnt , were smothered , thus giving to the world a novel and modern suttee , unequalled in atrocity , and which casts into shade the car of Juggernaut or the dectrines of Brama ! We have heard this scoundrel repeat this tale in a ludicrous and commisserating Btrain ; in fact he was the lion of the day when we were at Anrnngabad , and you would not dream of missing him and dicing with him more than you would dream of leaving without a visit to the Tag-Mahal , the tomb of Aurengzsbe , or the gardens of NourmabaL For the tonsut of Britiin , this vagabond boasted Portuguese blood in his veins , and was a halfcaste , and could only speak broken English . How he got into the service we know not , but he was in good pay and good repute in the Deecan . All the Madras service can testify to the truth of the above .

      These things thould be known , and then the people of England ¦ will know what they are about . We pride ourselves on being the true Conservatives ; we would conserve all that is good and throw overboard all that is bad . We are not like the Weekly Dispatch , who would destroy without leatoring ; we are capable of rebuilding on the ruins . This very consistent and Republican Journal (?) gives an amusing and manufactured account of Russian diplomacy and the Chartist Convention , in last week's paper . It quite " out-Herod ' s Herod . " We -wish it was truewe want money , and whether it cornea from young Nick or old Nick , or the " devil ' s dust men , " it matters little , provided we do get it The end sanctifies the

      means ! You kne ir my worthy friends , the middle classes , you are completely done for—irremediably , irreparably , and without hope , unless you give up spouting your weekly fallacies , and ceme t » us , your haven of resL But you must play second fiddle—you may come as ushers , not masters . We do not expect great burly fellows like Mnntz and Cobden to come as scholars , they must come as parlour boardirs ; but if they behave we would rather welcome them as Mends ! I ^ et tbem get up a loan of five millions sterling for the Convsntion , the Executive to be trustees , and O'Connor and O'Brien standing counsel ; give them a fair interest and bonus , and then good luck to Bisbop Burnet and paper money ! We may return to this . -

      Did Captain Harvey Tnckett ever hear of the 16 fch Lancers in Bengal , or Martin Honey , erstwhile private in them , afterwards a General and Chief in Kunjeet Singh ' s service ? Honey was an Irishman , and a flne « fellow and good soldier . He deserted from his regiment and got across the Sutledge River , was received with open arms , and made himself useful We believe him to be now dead , but the opinion greatly prevailed in that regiment that he was in the vicinity of Lahore , when Lord Wm , Bentinck had an interview with Ronjeet Singb . ! Suspicions -were afloat that more might join him , and be mads " Princes , " so they were kept in tbe background , and had little opportunity if so intended . The Sixteenth" were very popular , and wore " mustachios , " which was rather an eye sore to the eleventh , Capt Tuckett ' s regiment , who were none . Even in trifles our rulers display a meddling imbecility unworthy of men , and

      although it -was well known that the natives in India would deem loss of mustacnio a loss of caste , and be degraded like a Feringhee Padre , yet orders were constantly sent to CoL Arnold , the commanding officer , to insist on a universal shaving . At length Lord Wm . Bentinck , Colonel-in-chiefof the Eleventh , and Governor-General in India , issned a peremptory order , and the Nappys were ordered to be in readiness . Oflicers and men—men -who had never suffered a raaor to pass their lips for more than twenty years , wera shorn as remonelessly as Samson , and the moral strength of the Regiment , was losf in the eyes of the natives ! They never could be persuaded but that it was done for disgrace and punishment . When Colonel Arnold came on parade after thfe shaving , he did not know his men , and though deeply grieved , the whole regiment burst oat langbing . Poor fellow 1 he ia dead , and much regretted byalL

      We must leave Bhurtpore , Gold Mohurs , and Brandy , with e . few ti-ceteras , till next week-The Government seemB in " a fix , " as Jonathan would say , and there we will leave it A . "Wooi / wich Cadet . Cbichester , April 11 th , 1842 .

      The Northern Star. - Be Saturday, April 16, 1842. Aj To Se

      THE NORTHERN STAR . - SATURDAY , APRIL 16 , 1842 . aj to se

      Untitled Article

      THE NEW " NEW MOVE . " Last vreek we had little opportunity of commenting upon the grand demonstration of the power , and orert manifestation of the purpose , of the wily one 3 assembled in consultation upon the best means of putting down Chartism in Birmingham . Their sittings , though ended before our paper reached the hands of our readers , were not ended when it went to press ; and though we hadno difficulty in auguring , from the complexion of the whole previous proceedings of the parties then and there assembled , the almost inevitable character of their proceedings

      upon that occasion , it might reasonably have been deemed out of course to pronounce judgment by anticipation . We have vraited therefore , for the perfecting of the sittings , the investigations , and inquiries of these new " new move" gentlemen . Desirous to afford perfect justice ) and to consider everything in the most favourable light , that we might approve , if possible , we determined not to trust ourselves to comment on the proceedings of this Stubgizb Conference on the representations of our own reporter , lest the trick might be again resorted to of covering defection by a

      denunciation of the official , who , in the discharge of hi 3 duty , transmits to his employers a detail of facts . We have waited for their own report , given by their official organ , the Nonconformist , whose conductor was not merely present , but prominent , throughout the whole proceedings , and who takes public credit to himself for having dnlj " nursed and got up , " if not begoiten , the whole bantling , such as it i ^ . We trust , therefore , tbat the conclusion ;) we may corns to from the reading of this report will not be liable to the objection of being founded upon fa : ; e premises , maliciously furnished by those who

      had a purpose to misrepresent the Conference . Here , then , we have the official detail of the conference movements of the Sturgites , given by themselves . Aud what is the conclnsion to which those details . inevitably lead , the thinking mind ? Every good man must regard the proceedingsof this conference as valuable se far , and only so far , as they may furnish evidence of sincerity on behalf ofthe parties composing it , and the classes represented by them , in tbe prosecut : on of the great work , the establishment and

      furtherance of which was said to be Us object . We need scarcely say that the Sturgeites have taken almost infinite pains to make people believe , that that object was the establishment of such an understanding , such a cordial recognition of interests and feelings between the middle and the working classes , a 3 should perfectly -unite the whole energies of the whole people for tie destruction of clas 3 monopoly ¦ in legislation and the assertion of the principle of Universal Suffrage .

      This was the whole gi .-t and burden of their song . "Unioa"was their watch-word . The necessity for bringing the energies of the whole people into one focus wa 3 the daily text from which they preached sermons of forbearance , of enquiry , of magnanimity of looking beyond " details ' to principles—beyosd men to measures , so plausibly and with such appixent earnestness that some of the more simple among their Chartist auditors ( only a few , certainly , and those of the more short-sighted ) began to think that men whose mouths were so mealy , and whose manners were so mild , must mean well I It was our misfortune to have seen too mnch of the

      external complaisance of cunning faction , when its " crib" is threatened , to be very easily satisfied that the new-born zeal for truth and righteousntS 3 of these l&te converts was not more nearly allied to some sinister intention than they might choose to make apparent . We warned the people , therefore ; we gave them the benefit of our experience and observation ; we put them on their guard against what we feared to be a delusive lure , though we streve to hops better things of it . And the result serves to satisfy n 3 that our vigilance was not ks 3 necessary than we hope it to have been efftcta ? . .

      Untitled Article

      The Confer « noe has been held j and though Mr . O'Brien is represented as having expressed himself highly delighted with its proceedings , and as having said that " when he entered that Conference lie expected to meet with men who would admit their principle in wholesale , and fritter it away in detail ; bat his suspicions had proved groundless—( cheers ) . He had never been in any society—composed even exclusively of working men—in which he had found the democratic spirit more thoroughly developved , "a careful reading of the whole report compels as ,

      notwithstanding our deference to Mr . O'Bbibjj ' s j udgment , to adhere still to that which we had previously formed of this whole movement ; and to regard the very circumstances to which we have no doubt Mr . O'B . referred , as the ground of his satisfaction ,-as so much additional evidence that the whole thing is a device of the enemy , and that insincerity ig stamped upon its every feature . We repeat that we are able to discover in the whole movement , of which this Conference is the most prominent and distinguishing feature , and in the conclusions and resolutions come to by the Conference itself , no purpose save one , —

      which is the exact converse of the one avowed ; no evidence but that of deeply-concealed hostility and well-covered treachery , to the great cause of democratic rule , for the success of which SO much appearance of anxiety is manifested . We of course intend not that these strictures shall apply personally to each , or any , member of the conference . That there were there those to whom they are most strictly applicable , and who will feel their truth , we verily beliove ; and that there were there those wh& , like O'Brien and others recognised aa Chartist leaders , ' * hoped all things" out of fervent charity * and were therefore indisposed

      " To pry too nicely ' neath a specious seeming , " we can have no doubt ; while we know that there were at least five good men and true from Bradford , who represented , not the Sturgites , but the people of that town—the only town , so far as we know , which sent delegates , not from a class , but from the people ; which delegates , we believe would have been prevented sitting had not the Sturgites feared that snob a step would destroy their whole prospect of obtaining credit with the people for their projected " National" Association ; and the presence of which delegates

      we have no doubt contributed very largely to give the cue to the proceedings of the whole Conference . We speak , then , not of men , but of measures ; we speak of this Conference collectively as a deliberative body , and of its acts , in reference merely to the tendency and character of those acts , and to their obvious likelihood to subserve or retard the attainment of the end towards which they were professedly directed . That end is the concentration of the whole powers of thepeople to one point—the establishment of Universal Suffrage . TheConference was held avowedly to devise the best means of carrying out this principle .

      The people had been feelingly exhorted to "lay aside every weight , " to detach themselves from all consideration of details , not to encumber the principle with any unnecessary clog , but tn take it in all its beautiful and naked simplicity , as a common bond of union—as a point around which all could rally ; so that our wfwle force might be brought to bear against faction . We told them , when the project was first mooted , that this , if meant honestly , must mean the Charter or nothing ; that the whole subject was not now to be considered as now matter ; that it had been

      thought about by men as wise , as honest , as practical , as cool-headed , and as well-disposed as those who had now made the discovery of the necessity of Universal Suffrage ; and that their great object of " full , fair , and free representation , " must of necessity include all the great principles ( or the " details" as these mushroom patriots were pleased to call them ) of the Charter-The Conference have acknowledged this . —thanks the watchfnlness of the people , who , at the veral previous meetings which had been held upon this subject all through the country , at tbe

      meetings for electing several ofthe delegates , and by the voice and vote of some of the delegates themselves , have shown their new-born friends that they were neither asleep nor drunk ; that they knew the meaning of plain words , and that representation could neither be " full , fair , nor free , " if robbed ofany one of these principles of legislative fullness , fairness , and freedom . With the tact which long experience gives to men who have deep-laid designs to mature and perfect , the Sturge men did battle successively on these details with the blandest

      semblance of forbearance and of courtesy ; and finding it impossible to evade the strong reasons to which the people ' s eyes liad become clearly opened , they adopted every one of these details ; that is to say , in plain \ term 8 , they declared themselves Chartists . This was precisely the position into which the Chartists always told them they mnst come if they were hoaest ; and this is the reason why we , and the consistent of the Chartists , who , thank heaven , were almost the whole body , have decried the new movement as a gratuitous diversion .

      Having , then , come to the conclusion that all the SIX great principles of liberty , —the very principlea on account of which , under the name of the " points " or" details" of tbe Charier , they had heretofore refusud coalition with the Chartit-t movement , —were necesfary , did they , as consistent and as honourable men , at once say " We have been wroDg in opposing our good frtenda , tbe Chartists . It is clear that they were rifcht upon the matter ; that they uuderstood the business better than we did ; that , as the Morning Chronicle acknowledged , " the Chartists have bien better calculators than the

      middle classes ; " his reason able tosuppi . se that if they had formed m ^ re distinct conceptions of principle , they will also , having had the benefit of experience and observation , be likely to have a better knowledge of details properly so called , and of the necessary organization for carrying out principle , than any we can have ; we have now , therefore , only to dissolve our Conference , to vote thanks to , and confidence in , our schoo ? ma . sters , and to enrol ourselves at once amongst the people who have taught us the trne principlei of liberty , as soldiers in the national anny of patriots fighting the moral and peaceful battle of the Constitution , and of " full , fair ,

      and free representation" 1 This would have been the conduct of honest men under such circumstance ? - Was it the conduct of the Conference ?—that Conference whom Mr . O'Brien delights to honour , and amongst whom he declares that he found the democratic principle developed to as full an extent as iu any assembly in which he had ever eat \ Did the Conference , then , having adopted the Charter in reality , adopt it also in nam ' . and testify the ii-icerky of their desire tor union by enroling themselves at once under its bauners I Let the querulous anxiety of its members to escape the bracd-mark testify : —

      "Mr . Palliser .-was sure that if they carried Annual Parliaments it would be said that they had adopted the Charter , and the next point contended for would be its name—( hear , hear ) . " an anxiety which seemed to be so fully feJt by all , or at least a great majority of those present , that no one ventured to perpetrate such an atrocity as that of submitting for the adoption of the conference , the People ' s Charter , every principle of which they had just affirmed : a submission , which if it bad been made , tho Conference were told by Mr . Miaxl , the conductor of the Nonconformist , the Stukge oracle , to whom they afterwards voted : —

      " That this Conference cannot separate without recording their heartfelt gratitude to Mr . Miall , editor of the Nonconformist for his powerful advocacy of our principles ;" that it should have had his firmest and most determined opposition . Let the people think only of tho fact that these bold assertors of the democratic principle —these mild and conciliatory middle-olass men —these earnest advocates of union between the

      Untitled Article

      middle and the working classes—these men who were so desirous to co-operate with the CSartists , and so anxious that the Chartists should send delegates to the Conference , that they might be fairly represented there;—^ that these men had , as a collective body , just affirmed every single principle contained in the People's Charter—that they had declared every one of these principles to be absolutely necessary to their notions of a " full » fairi and free representation of the people : " let the people think upon that fact , and then let them read the following resolution moved by Mr . William Lovett : — : . . ¦ : ¦ ¦ ' ¦ . '¦ .. ¦ . . - . ¦¦ . ' ¦ - ' ' ¦ ' . ¦

      " That this Conference haying adopted such just principles of representation as are necessary for giving to all classes of society their * equal share of political power , and as the People ' s Charter contains such details as have faeen deemed necessary for the working out of such principles , and has , moreover , been adopted by millions of our brethren as an embodyment of their political rights , this Conference , in order to effect a cordial union of the middle and working classes , resolve , in a future Conference ( in wbioh the whole people may be fully represented ) , to enter into a calm consideration of that document , amoDg other plans of political reform , and it ' approved of , to use every just and peaceable means for creating a public opinion in its favour . "

      Here is a resolution then , not such an one , certainly , as ' might have : been expected to follow ^ the affirmation of all tW principles of the Charter ; but such an one as might , at least , have been expected to disarm objection . It was surely the least thing the Conference could do , to testify the sincerity of their anxiety for union , after having admitted every principle of the great measure to which they knew millions of their fellow subjeots , the working menthe very men with whom they were professing a

      desire to unite—to be wedded ; it was surely , we say , the least thing they could do , after having admitted its principles , to look at its details , to examine them , and see whether they were necessary , and whether they were good . Did they manifest any disposition , then , to do this ! Let the manner of their meeting Mr . Lovett's resolution answer . M Mr . Adams thought they would ba better without the resolution at all ; but if it were persisted in , other plans besides the People ' s Charter ought to be included in it . " u The Rev . T . Spencer agreed with the last speaker that the conference had not acted wisely in entering

      npon this subject . Had he wished to become a Chartist , ho could have done so at Bath . He had shown bis respect for the Chartists ; and had all of them conducted themselves like those present , many of ^ the middle classes would have become Chartists ere now—( hear , hear . ) Some persona were determined to have the Charter , and nothing but the Charter . The same thing was said with regard to the Reform Bill . They were called together for one objeot , and they were now considering another . They were met not to consider the Char : ter , but the plan of Complete Suffrage , as suggested by Mr . Sturge . If this resolution were carried , it would be said tnat they had given the subject the ' goby . '"

      Mr . Spbnccr therefore proposed as an amendment , that the arrangement of details should be left to the Birmingham Committee . "Mr . Tines seconded the amendment . He was quite sure that if they adopted the name' Chartist , 'it would impede their operations . "Mr . O'Brien had ho objectioQ to an alteration being made in the resolution to the effect suggested by Mr . Miall . " Mr . Lovett altered the resolution with a view to meet the wishes of Mr . Miall and Mr . Adams . "Mr . pewhurst was proceeding to defend the Charter , and to argue for the retention of the name " Chartist , " when he was called to order by Mr . Lovett , and resumed his seat . "

      " Mr . O'Brien said it was not enough to lay down the plan of an edifice , it must be constructed . He agreed with Mr . Loveifs amended resoluiim , though he coutd not have agreed to the original motion . He wus anxious to merge the Chartist body into a National one—( henr , hear ) . He was not satisfied with the position which the Chartist body now occupied ; nor was he satisfied with the present position of the Conference . HE WAS ABUNDANTLY SATISFIED WITH

      what the Conference had done ; but there was one thing still wanting , viz ., that it should partake of a National character . What were the obvious means of carrying that out ? There should be a body of delegates chosen from all the people of this country who were favourable to these proceedings . He was therefore anxious that there should be another Conference in which all parties should be equally represented . " .

      After abundance of talk , during that and a portion of the next sitting , the matter ended in the una nimous adoption , on the motion of Mr . William Lovett , of a resolution to form a new National Association , to be entitled •' The National Com plete Suffrage Union" having for its objects the establishment and furtherance of precisely the same principles as the National Charter Association . This was followed by resolutions to appoint missionaries and lecturers , to

      print tracts and pamphlets , to establish a national weekly newspaper , and to raise funds by the issuing of cards of membership , varying in price from sixpence to five pounds each , ( as a method , we suppose , of evincing the perfect developement of the democratic principle . ' ) and those resolutions are again followed by the adoption of a general plan of organization , affecting to differ a little from that ofthe National Charter Association ; but being practically in-operative , or perfectly illegal in its operation , by just so much as it does differ .

      What , then , is the conclusion forced upon the mind by all these proceedings taken as a whole . The avowed object of these mea is the uniting of the whole energies of the whole people , and particularly the uniting of the middle and working classes ; and they prosecute this object by a means which can have no other effect than that of breaking up , aa far as it may be successful , the union of tho working classes already established . This may be sufficient to prove to Mr . O ^ Bbien that his suspicions of tho Sturgeite's wore groundless ; we acknowledge , however much we may regret to dissent from his opinion , that upon ojar mind it

      has worked a conclusion exactl y the reverse of this . None know better than some of the old stagers in agitation who composed this Conference ; none know better than the whole party who assume the lead in this movement , that it is impossible for it to go on without seriously injuring the prospect of attaining that full , fair 3 and free representation , for which they affect to be so anxious . The co-existence of two " National " Association ? , having the same objects , and recognifcini ; tho same principles , is alike needless , absurd , and impossible . They must fritter away each other ' s strength ; they cannot either of them become " iNai ioual" without annihilating the other .

      These Conference men have proved to a demonstration one of two things : either that they are perfectly insincere , and that their 0 bJ 6 Gt is' ttftt that which they profess , or that they are more devoid of the common principles of reason than the utmost stretch of our charity will allow us to suppose them to be . ' . ' ho very fact of their rejecting , without enquiry or examination , the details of the C . i-iittr and the organization of the already e&t 1 niched National Society—established for the attainment of their own principles—proves that they derive to effect not union but division among

      the , peo {* lo ; and we uow again ask the people plainly , whether , with this palpabl e ' evidence Of fraud aud iurfincerify upoa its front , they wiU permit themselves to be bamboozled by the pretended assertion of their principles , into an aliiance with , and a support of , parties whose plain object is to re-enact , upon a bolder scale , the bye-gone juggles of their "liberal" brethren 1 We have no fears for them . The people have too much sense to be thus trapped Had the evidence of their sincerity appeared upon the face of the middle-class movement , none would have

      hailed it with greater cordiality than we would } nor would the whole people have been wanting in readiness to forget past injuries , and to forgive bye-gone wrongs . They would have extended the hand of fellowship to their late persecutors , now made rational and sensible , with right free good will . But under such circumstances we feel < iuite sure that they will have but one answer for them - they will say plainly , " Messrs . Middle-class , Full , Fair , and Free" men , pray excuse ns ; we are no longer to be hoodwinked ; if your object be the establishment of the principles you have 68-

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      poused , we shall reoeive you heartily as brethren and fellow workers ; we shall congratulate you on the improvement in your moral and intellectual oharaoter , and we shall gladly give you the benefit of our experienc * and better acquaintance with the prin ^ oiplea of / right , for your further instruction in the mode of their developement and furtherance . Bat yon mutt not expect that we , from whom you acknowledge to have learned your principles , snail

      Submit Ourselves to your guidance and tutelage . This would be indeed for the clear-sighted to choose blind leaders , and to deprive themselves of all reasonable ground of complaint , however disastrous might be their way . " In a word , they will point the Complete Suffrage Association men to the " ranks '' of the National Charter Association as their due place and best opportunity of exhibiting their patriotic energy , and their no less patriotic love of union .

      We hold it to be clear as day-light that this is the precise position which the people mast take , and the only position which they could take in reference to the new " New Move" Charter Association , supposing its claims to a national character and its exhibition of the democratic principle to have been much better and more forcible than they are . But what shall we say to this body , —this Conference , partially elected by narrow constituencies , —presuming to constitute a portion of themselves a national society at all ? Oar idea of democratic principle seems to differ strangely from that of Mr . O'Bhien : for we

      had thought that under tbe influence of this principle no Society could be at all deemed " National , " whose constitution and laws did not emanate front a deliberative body representing the power and intellect of the nation , which power and intellect our democratic principle teaches us to recegnise only in the people themselves or in their representatives fully , fairly , and freely chosen * Here on the contrary is a body of men , the . major part of them representing merely the handfuls of persons who signed Mr . Storqk ' s Declaration ; and those men presume to lay down not only the

      principles but the rules , constitution , and lawB of a society for the whole nation ; and not only so but to elect the officers by whom this " National" society is to be controlled and governed and its funds applied , for twelve months ; without the liberty , to any memter of this " National" Society , to alter , or amend , or propose the alteration or amendment , of any one of its rules , however objectionable , for the like apace of time ; nay more , bo perfect is the exhibition in the new " national" move of the democratic principle , that even at the end of twelre months no member of this "National" Society has the power to amend er alter , or to propose the amendment or

      alteration of any rule , however objectionable , except he be one of the " National " officers now appointed by this Conference , representing , at the most , a few handfula of men , and many of whose members represented no one but themselves . This is as fine an exhibition of the democratic principle » s we have seen for some time . ' but it is fully equalled by other parts of the constitution of this new "National" society for the suppression of Chartism , upon which we have not at present either room or time for comment-We have already exceeded the space we purposed to devote to this subject in our present number , but we cannot leave it without giving one more evidence

      from the report of the Nonconformist of the perfect sincerity of these middle class Sturoe men , in their ardent professions of a desire to conciliate and unite together the middle and working classes . " Mr . Dewhirst rose and moved , and Mr . Brook seconded , " That we , the delegates , assembled in conference at Birmingham , having after due and mature consideration recognised and adopted the principles of Annual Parliaments , Universal Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , Equal Representation , No Property Qualification for Members of Parliament , and Payment of Representatives , cannot under such

      circumstances consistently separate without giving a cordial and hearty vote of thanks to the working classes for the indomitable courage , hearty perseverance , and Christian forbearance manifested by them as a body ia times of trying want and surpassing emergency brought about by the misrule of class legislation and the monopoly of interested speculators ; and we further pledge ourselves to co-operate in every constitutional agitation for the purpose of creating , organising , and directing such union of all classes aa may tend to the attainment of tho principles which we have TQcognised /

      "Several delegates , among whom was Mr . O'Brien , urged the withdrawal or modification of the resolution , but the mover and seconder declared that they would hot accede to it ; the Conference might either reject or adopt it . " Now mind , this is no statement of a M lying reporter for the Northern Star ; " it is the report , without alteration or curtailment , of the / Stitb « e oraole , the Nonconformist . And we learn , from the sequel of that report , that as the two brave Bradford men refused to withdraw this resolution , and

      left it to the Conference to adopt or reject it , the Conference obliged them by rejecting it . The votes are given in the report ; for the amendment , ( that is for the rejection of the Bradford men ' s resolution ) 41 ; against the amendment , £ . Names are not specified , but we pledge our lives that the five were the five Bradford

      men . To conclude—at least for this time . We shall probably be looked to for some opinion upon what course the people should pursue as to tho future movements of this new self-constituted- ' * National " Complete Suffrage Association . Here then is our opinion at once . The people should have nothing to do with them . They should leave them alone in their littleness , and laugh at them . The people must not oppose them , for they profess to be seeking the advancement of our principles ; let them , therefore , go on

      their own way ; and if they are determined to go alone —if they are determined to make a foot-road for themselves alongside the people ' s turnpike , in God ' s name , let them walk on it it until their ancles ache and they begin to feel their loneliness . But support them against the factions in all their assertions of the great principles of liberty . If they should be weak enough to take the open field in defence of our principles relying on their own strength , rush to the rescue , lest the enemy should overcome them ; let them not , by any means , be beaten by the open and avowed advocates

      of class legislation : on every public occasion when the Complete Suffragkes muster for the assertion of our common principles , there let the Chartists muster with them to a man ; let there bo no suoh division in our ranks as the enemy can take advantage of ; let them be well protected , and by our assistance made triumphant , in every public assertion of our principles which they may attempt ; but never leave them without letting them know to whom they are indebted ; never leave a meeting

      without a resolution pledging the people to their old leaders so long as these remain faithful , to their tried frienda who have braved the battle and the breeze , to their own national organisation , which they know to be legal and efficient , and to the evidence of sincerity to the cause by enrolment in the National Charter Association , This is the advice we give the people ; we give it in all sincerity and earnestness ; and we tell them , that if it be not heeded , they are likely to have bitter and abundant reason for repentance .

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      BiBMlNGHAlW . GREAT CHARTIST MEETING ON MONDAY . The workies have done their ^ duty , and they have done it well ! They have brought the mounuiu to Mahomet , instead of Mahomet going to the mountain } i ^ . . The brave men of Bilston began to be on the move about four o ' clock ; by five , the band waa serenading O'Connor ; by six , the Wolverhamptdn worthies were in the field , and they started for Birmingham in good orderwith banners floating in

      , defiance of their enemies , not more glorious than the cause they had been unfurled to maintain . On therpad , the Walsallworkiesjoined ; and Wedensbury , Dudley , Stourbridge , Kidderminster , Brierly Hills , and other localities sent forth their tributary streams , forming as fine a sig ht as can be well imagined . The morning wa 8 beautiful , but very windy ; and when the Birmingham men met themab the Trees , in Hampton Road , O'Connor , who had headed and marshalled the procession on foot , looked more like a miller than any thing else .

      An immense number of stalwart and enthusiastic miners , dressed in their flanuel jackets , marched first in the procession ; they entered the town in great regularity like ft well-drilled regiment , and loudly cheered O'Connor throughout the march of ten miles . The Birmingham men halted , and fell into the rear of the immense procession . There wert several excellent bands of music and banners . : ,: Having arrived at Duddeston . Row , and taken up their position , the chair was taken exactly at eleven o ' clock by Mr ; Porter , who briefly introduced the business of the meeting- ^ ; The first resolution was moved by Mr , M'Cartney one of the delegates from Liverpool , and seconded by Mr . E . P . Mead , of Birmingham , both of whom

      delivered very eloquent speeches . . Mr . O'Connor supported the resolution in a speech , not a very long one , but one full of kind feeling ; towards the working men , and jokes upon his own ¦ unwashed appearance . He was now fairly identified With the great unwashed , though he waa not "the great unknown . " He hailed with satisfaction the acknowledgment of our principles , deprecated any opposition to any party contending for them , and recommended vigilance and watchfulness . It was said and thought by many that the object of these M new movers' - was "to get rid of Feargus . " But they might as well attempt to remove Olympus ; he brayed their vain and futile attempts .: They said he was in the pay of the Tories . Good God ! in league with the faction that

      had deluged the green sod of his beloved Ireland with martyrs' blood ! He was not a Whig . The Whigs had proved that , by their persecution of him and his brave associates . How could he , then , belong to , or have any thing to do , with such a set of scoundrels as either the Whigs or the Tories . But he must be brief ; he had to address another meeting in London ; at eight o ' clock , and the Convention would meet to-morrrow morning . He must wash and eat ; for he was a rery unfit and very unseemly guest at a soiree , or in a ball-room , unlesa it were a masquerade ball ; and therefore he must now take his leave ; and leave other talented and eloquent men to address them . Mr . O'Connor then departed amid the deafening cheers of the assembled thousands . V ; > .: •' .

      Messrs . Loweryy G . White , Thomasson , from the Vale of Leven ; Richards , from the Potteries ; A . B . Cook , from Stroudwater , Gloucestershire ; T . Soar , and T . P . Green , of Birmingham , subsequently addressed the meeting , which lasted , nearly four hours , in soul-stirring speeches , amidst breathless silence , when not interrupted by rapturous plaudits . A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman , and thus ended our great Midland Demonstration . The following resolutions were passed without a dissentient hand being held up against them : — r" That this meeting view with great satisfaction the result of tbe late Complete Suffrage Conference as far as their adoption of the entire principles ofthe People ' s Charter is concerned ; and we hope the consiliatory spirit exhibited in that assembly will be the means of producing a very strong impression upon the national mind , in favour of the rights of

      man , and that a general sense of the justice of the people's claims will induce many to join in the struggle of right against might , and ultimately obtaini for tke masses , that full and perfect liberty which alone can secure the greatest amount of prosperity' and happiness to the empire at large . '' "That this meeting do declare their perfect satisfaction with the present organisation of the body called * The National Charter Association , ' and their firm resolution of adhering to the present mode of agitation , relying upon their own exertions , but holding out the right-hand of friendship to all who agitate fox the same righteous principles as themselves ; And we do earnestly call upon the working classes to stand firmly by their own order , and rally round their own victorious standard , by enrolling themselves as members of the National Charter Association . " ^

      '" That we , the members of the National Charter Association , do use oar utmost exertions to increase our numbers and augment our funds by every rational and peaceable means , such ^ as the distribution of Chartist tracts and . other Liberal works , by local collectors , by friendly visitB , and mutual instruction societies , and discussion with adverse parties , in order to convince others of the fatal effects of class legislation , which has been the cause of the moral , social , and political evils , ! which have reduced the people to their present state of suffering and

      destitntion , and we pledge ourselyes , never to cease du * exertions until the People ' s Charter , unmutilated , become the law of the British Empire . ' ^ "Thatthis meeting deeply sympathise with the sufferings of our patriot brethren , the victims of Whig treachery and injustice , especially with the three Welch martyrs , Frost , William ^ and Jones ; and Howel , Jones , aniL Roberts , Of Birmingham , and that we pledge , ourselves never to cease our exertions in their behalf , until every victim is restored to liberty , the bosom of his family circle , and tothelandof hia birth *

      "That the best thanks of this meeting be given , because most due , to the Chartist delegates , who last week so nobly advocated and defended the six grand principles of -the People ' s Charter , in the Complete Suffragei Convention . " ^ . [ The departure of our reporter from Birmingham to attend the Convention now sitting , has prevented us giving a full report of this large , important , and enthusiastic meeting . This we are sorry for , as public attention -has been most anxiously directed towards it ; Under the circumstances , no other course was left us but . to insert such a report as we could procure ; which we have done , with this explanation . ]

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      Mb .. Griffin , of Manchester , acknowledges , tht receipt ojMOi » :, per post-office order , from tht Chartists of Halifax , for the victimiiatike Hall . of Science , and on their behalf returns them his sincere thanks . ; Halifax . —It is most urgently requested that all our Chartist friends direct . their communications to ^ Jose ph Thornton , Barum Top , Halifax , until further notice . Mb ; JAMtss Sw ^ et begs to acknowledge the receipt of the Petition jrom Boston ; Lincolnshire . All Letters for Mr . Taylor during the next three weeks to be addressed to him , care of Mr . Sweet t ¦ news-agent , Goose Gate , Nottingham . The Report of the Frame district meeting was received after the last week ' s Paper was at ¦ ¦¦¦

      press . . . - . '¦¦ : ¦•¦ : . - ; . - ¦ , •¦ : :-: - . - ¦ Chartist Tithes . —A Chartist ( ' from 1 his infancy ) tells us that he means , as soon as his arrangements are completed , which will be in a few weeks * to supply his brother ¦ Chartistsiioith ink , to be called "Chartist ¦ fnk \" andtoforward'to us weekly , for the use of the Executive , one penny put of every shilling of the proceeds of the sale thereof . MR . Thomas / Shorthas received from theChirtists of . Winchcomb 5 s . for the masons on strike . T . J . Smith . — There is no law in the matter ; but the usage of all well ordered assemblies is

      decidedly against the ez-M . P . to whom he refers . Mqssley . —Afr . Thomas Large r Baguley-hillyMosley has been appointed sub-Secretary , in place of George Hoyle , resigned . Birmingham Young Man ' s Charter Association . . % - —We have no room for their address . 3 . 3 ., Legkams-lane , BBADFORri— We thank our friend mod heartily for his kindly rebuke . We have no douht that it is written in perfect sincerity and meant in perfect kindness . He must excuse our publishing it , a « we cannot perceive any good end it would amwer by publication more especially as he has assigned no reasons for 1 the opinion he has expressed . Daniei . Marsdeiy strongly recommends to all

      Forresters , QM Fellows , and other fecret orders , to connect with each lodge a cooperative store . In support of h > s proposition , he says ;~ "Suppose , fur instance , that each Lodge " has £ 100 at command , and tbat they agree to lay out such sum in ¦ stores ; and suppose that each society has fifty members , and that each Member expends 153 . per week , making the aggregate £ 37 10 0 ; then suppose , further * that Is , 8 d . per pound sterling be allowed for profits , making £ 2 15 s . 6 d . per week , or . £ 11 2 * ed . per month , and £ 144 63 . Od . a year—a sum which , if properly laid out , would furnish or build ,: in the coursa of ten or twelve years , a cotofortable house for each member ; which ¦ would confer on theni the elective franchise . " G . J .

      SHEPWEtD .- ^ . Harney has received from W X Y 2 s for the Executive . Mr . H < has forwarded the money to Mr . Campbell , who has acknowledged the receipt of it . PERSONS willino to become lecturers for the East and North . Riding district ' of Yorkshire must send tteir names to the Secretary , Edward Barley , 19 , Biltpn street . Layerthorpe , York . Every candidate mustfonenrd credentials from the District . Secretary , testifying to talent and sobriety . 1 Q thb Chartists of the East And Nobth Ridings . —Those places who have not already forwarded their share of Convention . Fund are requested fa do so immediately to the Secretary .

      Hovse Of Commons, Wednbsdat.

      HOVSE OF COMMONS , Wednbsdat .

      The adjourned debate on the income tax was resumed by Mr . Aldam , of Leeds , who grounded his objections to an income tax on account of its inquisitorial character . SomepartB , however , of the Ministerial measure had his approbation . _ A long " talk" thereupon ensued , in which Mr . Escott , Mr . Parker , Lord Sandon , Sir C . Napier , Mr ;^ Trott er , Lord Eliot , Mr . Hawes , Sir James ' Graham , Mr . Ferrand , Lord Worsley , and Colonel oibthorp had their say , wheii the House divided . For bringing up the Report ... ... 308 for Lord John ' s Amendment ... ... 202 Peel ' s majority .. ; ... 106 After some further conversation , the Report was then agreed to , and leave given t ) bring in . the Income Tax BiU .

      Oto Mt&Tjev& Anpr Corr^Monu^Ntsef*

      oto mt&tjev& anpr Corr ^ Monu ^ ntsEf *

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      4 - ¦ ' THE NORTHERN STAR . . ¦ - . ¦ " . ¦ ' ¦ . - .., * ., / .: . ¦^ :- ¦ ¦ ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ - ' ¦ ' • - ' ¦ - ' ' ¦ - - - ^ - ^ ^ - ; ____

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 16, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct594/page/4/