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PJUSPABIKG FOE PUBLICATION, THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION,
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THE i\ T 0E,THERN STAK. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1842.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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for 1843 . BY JOSHUA HOBSON . THIS Year ' s Companion will contain the greatest mass of the most valuable Statistical Information on several Questions of Social and Governmental Polity ever yet given at the price . Next week we shall be able to announce the day of Publication , and give a List of Contents . The price will be , as before , Threepence .
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io the editor op xhe Koaia ^^ - stab . Sir—I am desired on behalf of the Chartists of Bilford to give you a summary of events of some impsrtance , which have this uay occurred In tha township of Salford . I must prbface BJ " report ty stating that the very excellent letter which was published by Mr . O'Connor in the Star o € « ne of the ¦ weeks in last May , directing out attentiom Io our local government , induced « s to give strict attention to the form of government under which we lived in Salford ; and we found that we had governments for varlou » purposes . As ' Surveyors of the Highways , ' ' Overseers and GurOi&ns of the Poor ;'
and for Vhe preservation of the peace , a Borougbretvc , with two constables , and one tmndrert and treaty Commissioners of police—the wbele forming a body corporate for wateuing , lighting , and" cleansing the township , with a power of levying a rate of one shilling' and sixpence in the pound , sod no . more , for the general purposes of the art , which is of course , one passed for the government of Saltord alone , and wm passed Borne twelve or fourteen years ago . The Commissioners are elected oat of tbose persons who are assessed a ; twenty pounds and epwards to the local rates ; and they are elected by tbe whole of the ratepayers who have paid all poc * and police rates of the township fiue in December last
The township is divided isio eight districts , and the election © f the Commissioners ( or the first four districts took place on Friday , the 21 st , and for the last four on Monday , October 24 th . Concerning the first four districts , I may merely observe , that we got in , through a little txertion , four gentlemen who are fer Universal Suffrage ; bat the chief tag was to be in districts 5 , 6 . and 7 . The members of the association were upon the alert eariy this morning , as the election of Chairman in each district came on at nice o ' clock precisely ; it was necessary , therefore , to bring np the voters before nine , in order to be ready for the struggle for the chains an .
In District No . 7 , those well known and indefatigable friends of the people , Messrs . Rankin , Littler , Storfc , and Suniner , assisted by other worthy men , mustered the working men in goodly numbers ; and just at the hour of nine , one ot the Salford Whigs moved " the Boronghreeve take the chair , " upon which , without waiting for the motion to be put . the B-jroughreeve , ¦ who is a litUe old man , named William Lockett , who in by-past Cajs was a fustian-cutter , a circumstance , which by the way , he appears by no means anxious to
keep in remembrance , immediately proceeded to take the chair , when bis ears were rather dissjjreeaiily Baluted with these words , uttered by friend Littler , " I beg to move , as an amendment , that Mr . Joseph Wainwright Hodgetts take the chair , " and upen a show of han&s being taken , it was found that the Boronghreeve must retire to make way for Mr . Hodgetts , as there was an ovtrwhelaiing majority of the tltc * ors in favour of that friend to Universal Suffrage taking the chair , which , as a matter of course , he immediately took .
A list of ax names was then presented by Messrs . Stork and Sumner , as fit and proper persons to represent the interest * of the much abused working-men of Salford , is the Town Hall , as Commissioners . of Police . The Whigs of Silford then presented theii list o ! men , more known for their tyranny than anything else , whom they proposed as Commissioners of Poijce . The Whigs , not liking the loots of the working-men , declared they would have a BALLOT , which means , in our Police Act , a scrutiny , making every man write his name , and who h « voted for , then seeing by the Town ' s Books whether he had paid his rates or not , to the last halfpenny , for if there was one halfpenny not paid the vote was lost .
When the actual struggle came on , the Whigs , with all their cunning and power , could not mustir as many vetes as the working men ; we polled ten for their one , but o ^ irg to the rates net beicg all paid , they suecscded in throwing off some hundreds of our votes , and jet we placed two of our men upon the floor of tie Tewn Hall , as Commissioners of Pulice . Thus , after a fight of eigbt hunrs , " ended the camp-sign against the Salford Whigs , in District K * 5 . District Xo . 6 was soon ended ; the enemy made a poor fight , and owing to the exertions of Messrs . Smders , Mitefceson , Brassington , Gil . 'ibrand and others , we succeeded in electing three of the friends of the people on as commissioners for this district
District No . 7 was pretty weJl managed by Messrs . Smith , Roberts , Evans , Copeland ( who by the way had been imprifoatd t-y them some days for exhibiting the placard of the Executive ) and some fuw others .. Mr . W . Willis moved that Mr . Smith take the chair , which was seconded and carried by a very Jarge majority , upon which Mr . Willis moved and Mr . Piers seconded , a list of six sterling men as representatives of the working men of Salford . which iis . whs opposed by the Whigs most bitts-ily . Tbey moved an amendment , which they lost by Itt Z : al and ability as well as the number * of their opponents . Tte Whigs of Salferd at any rate wnl now ksow that tfctir despised foes , ths Chartists , [ are neither dead nor djinz , bet that they are increasing in Dambers and in knowledge , and that shortly they will be the rulers of BalfoTd end of Manchester too—Wbiggery may Lfccome deface * . Chartism never .
A aieniber of our association encloses his remarks with a statement cf a few of the facts in this business , therefore if this brief account , together with the enclosed , will serve the cause of Chartism , the Salford Chartists will have great pleasure in seeing them in this week's paper . I am , Most respectfully , Salford , Oct . 2 * , 1 S 42 . J . M . ( From another Correspondent . ) Some time ago . about two months , on the Sunday ,
the Cazriisls of Salford were assembling as usual , in their own room f ..-r the purpose of listening to a lecture , which would have been given bad not the " authorities " dared to interfere with them ; but they did so , and actually turned them out of their own 100 m ! assigning no reason for such outrageous conduct Of course , what could a set of poor working men do against such a body of angust personages as the Boronghreeve and Consta bles , who had given orders to their menials to " ct&ar out that den of infaxiy , and send the rascally Chartists home , if they will not go to Church . "
We , however , determined not to let the matter rest We called a meeting of the members , to consider what steps should be taken , and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Boroughreeve and Constables at their next meeting , to know upon what grounds such a flagrant injustice and outrage had been perpetrated upon us , and all the satisfaction the deputation couid get was , " Oh , we can ' t enter into such an enquiry at a'l ; berides , we are a corporate body and con't suffer strangers in our presence . " The parties were again sect to a subsequent meeting of the Commissioners , but all tbey got S 3 id to them , after sending in their memorial and waifmg for sometime outside , was " No answer . " We then thought of taking our case before
the magistrates , to see if such a shameful trampling down of rights , and such a sweeping destruction of the liberty of the subject , would not render the perpetrators amenable to the law regulating the " civil and religious liberty , " but we concluded that it was likely , &s we were poor despised Chartists , we could not get justice , though we wtnt with ready sioney to purchase it And so the matter rested until the time arrived for the election of new Commissioners , which was last Monday , when such a tremendous re-action took place that shook the whole fabric of corruption to pieces , and in walked six of our men as Commissioners ! some of whom were elected in three different districts , with overwhelming majorities . '
Thus , we , the insulted Caarasts , have tancht the icsoleni cabs in office a lesson they wont soon forget ; they wili bs cautious for the future how they txcite the indignation and hitherto dormant energies and lion strength of the working men of Sslford . We are now more thoroughly convinced than erer ol the truth acd value of Feargus O'Connor ' s remarks in a letter some time back , that if we n . u . « t succeed in reforming a corrupt national goverEin = r ::. we must firat reform the locsl governments of the country , and there needs ro argument to prove that
2 Cow by way « f informing and indcciD ? our Brother Chartists all through the country t « be np and doing the came , by which they whl not only force the " upper classes" to respect them through their pawer , but they will virtnally subdue the national Government , and bring them upon their kne e * before the sovereign people ; for really and trnly the national Government is only the creature of the local governments , and the local governments may be made to eonsist ef the people , if the people will do their duty ; and the men of Salford , I am prond to say , are determined to do theirs . They have been T = xed into a aeuse of their duty during the scrutiny of one of the districts , when the villanous nature of the lawB was bo forcibly illustrated by the disfranchisement of scores of their friends for the non-payment of a single half-penny of their poor ' s rates ; and the brave fellows ate further determined never more U live in houses where the owners compound for the rates .
Cheer up , my friends , for , with all their valianous power , we will defeat them , aod by this mode of attack ¦ we not only disappoint the hateful monster , oppression , from springing upon and seizing with deadly certainty , his prey , as heretofore ; but by aharing power wiOi them , aod being in their company , we can civilfsa and humanise them , And make them love liberty and jastice , when established , because then they will feel the blessings that would flow from the same . Tea will perhaps be able to judge of the extent of onr successful victory , by reading what took place in No . 7 district ; early in tba morning we called upon our
friend * and marshalied them down to tfce Tows Hall , and by acting promptly , and strictly in accordance with their own law ( the Police Act ) defeated them in the aDpoiuticg ol a chairman , which so much chagrined ifcea that one of Iho party , named Jenkinson—a bright and exemplary specimen of Whig liberality—jumped up and demanded a Ballot , " for , " says he , I don't like the looks of you ; " and from cur £ trengta And determination , he bad not tfce smallest reason for liking ns ; neither did tie iike the tests we bad printed and circulated , and which one of our candidates ftcswered in the following tmmnpr , welch , made them vtilhs during the Uiiik : —
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Question l » t Will you do all in your power to , reait the incorporation of the borough of Salford t Yea , because I conceive were we to be incorporated , the majority of the people would lose the few remaining rights they have left unusurped by the commissioner ^ of police , who , even cow set the people at defiance , and imperiously trample down , in a shameful manner , all law and justice ; but which they could do Vith greater impunity under tb . 6 proposed charter of ' incorporation , therefore , would I resist its introduction ; and I sincere ly believe , furthermore , that none vish for such & charter but knocea , who -wish to bas >\ in some snog roost of office , and thus fatten by place and pelf ; or vain and weak minded men , who dream and rave abeut the prospect of shortly seeing themselves pressed up to the height of their own petty ambition , in the gewgawi of office , fluttering iatae throng of a lord mayor ' s show , like a butterfly in a flower garden .
Qaestion 2 nd . Will you do all in your power to obtain a full extension ef the Suffrage in the election of commissioners of police ? Yes , because , as a lover of justice , I would give unto my neighbour , irrespective of rank or station , the same riehts which I possessed myself ; for we are all human beings having equal natural right * ; and for me it is no reason why—because a wicked arrangement of society has set up conventional grades , and established artificial rights by which the people have been surreptitiously robbed , that such should longer continue ; no , but that all should have equal rights and power , none wishing to take advantage .
Qaestion 3 rd . Will you move or second a motion for an application to Parliament to grant to Salford , a new police act , giving every male inhabitant of 21 years ef age and upwards , a vote in the election of commissioners of police ; and making the qualification for a commissioner to be the approval of a msjority of the voters ? I will , and for the following reasons , first , because the law of this land recognizes him as & man at that age , and makss him responsible for all his own act * . Secondly . —Because every individual , male or female , old or young , is equally interested in the good and cheap government of their borough , therefore , we ought to have more mind and interest brought to bear upon this subject than the present franchise allows .
And thirdly—In reference to the latter part of this question it is the only sensible and rational qualifica tion an honest man would ) ook for . No upright individual would , because possessed of money ( called wealth ) , no matter how got , whether by villany oi trade , or any other species of gambling , thereby claim to himself rights which are denied to poor men ; and honest men would scorn to have riches considered a quahficatien ; tbey would much more value the good opinion of a msjority of their fellow-townsmen . Question 4 th . —Will yon vote to stop all supplies of the police funds to the orders of the boroughreeve and constables , until they are all rightfully elected by the ma jority of the people in . public meeting assembled ?
Yea , I would do all that lay in my power to stop the working of the present machinery , until full justice is done to tie people ; aod for this reason , that when a body of men have the power to elect or appoint themselves to important offices , and in defiance of the people too , whose servants they are , and who Be business and money they have to manage , there is a strong probability that the one will be badly done , and the other will be recklesily and extravagantly ' jobbed * away . The only source of legitimate power is with the people in public meeting assembled , and never could it have been wrenched from them but for their EluggUh apathy in not looking after their own afiairs , together with that unmanly , that revolting slaviehness , that devotional willingness to fall down and worship ' rank , ' that spaniel-like readiness to lick the duBt from the foot that kicks them . Is it not a lamentable fact greatly deplored by all men worthy the name , that no sooner have the people appointed one of their fellow-men to
fill any effice , than ikey fall before it as to > an idol , crawling and cringing with servile meanness , and approaching it with humble submission ; yet it is but a creature of their own creation ; and no sooner do tbey find themselves « nugly ensconced in office , than they turn round to insult yon , and trample upon your rights , and when you want them to do any thing for you , do you not say , " we reverently beseech you" to do so and so , and if yon will do it we will • humbly pray ? " Oat upon such abject slavery ! tell them in a manly voice and manner , stand erect like men before your servants , and tell them you wish them to do so and bo , and if they do not attend to it , you will send them about their business . What are your parliamentary petitions but wretched samples of grovelling slavery ? a vile disgrace to any nation sending such- These things have given arrogant power to wealth it otherwise would not assume ; but whilst you are slaves you must he content to be treated as such .
Qaestion 5 th— Will you do all in your power to give the people their rights in the election of Surveyors of Highways , which is now wrongfully usurped by the body of Commissioners of Police ? I will , as well because they ought to pessess them as I conceive they are the best judges of the fitness of the men who are to do their work ; a&d the people ought to repudiate Withsupremecontempt , scorn , and indignation , any man who offers bis services and will not pledge himself to these tests , because they contain nothing that an honest man can object to ; and he who does object , I maintain cannot be an honest man .
Pjuspabikg Foe Publication, The Poor Man's Companion,
PJUSPABIKG FOE PUBLICATION , THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION ,
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THE PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT—THEY MUST BE EDUCATED . A very notable instance of the contemptible hypocrisy and damnable tyranny of faction occurred last week . Every one knows bow the " ignorance " and " brutalitj" of the " lower orders" is harped upon ; every one ksdws that the grand reason for denying to them the right of Suffrage iB alleged to be , not that the right is untenable , bat that they are
unprepared to use it ^ advantage society because of their defective education . The ^ ross habits of the people—their intemperance and general love of sensnal and animal delights—though certainly not nearly so disgustingly displayed as in the aristocracy and" higher ranks" by whom they have been always most carefully nursed and promulgated—have yet afforded too much appearance of plausibility to . the objection .
Had there been smcenty in the objection , and honesty in the objectors , every effort would hare been made by them to remove the ignorance aud ameliorate the grossness which thus operated to the hindrance of justice . But this was not the policy of faction . The end beiDg robbery and the means fraud , it was necessary that the "ignorance" and the " grossceEs" should be perpetuated that the pretext might remain . Hence the whole course of that legislation which draws the suppsrt of government from the extension of the very " ignorance" and " grossncs 3 ' complained of . Hence the nine millions yearly , wasted , to a great extent , upon idle and immoral blackguards in the &hape of
pareon 3 . Hence the legalization of gin palaces , tippling shops , and all the other , the resorts of idleness , vice , and infamy : hence the munificeot granting to the people of £ 30 , 000 of vheir own money for education purposes , while a like sum i 3 filched yearly from them to buy breeches and garters for a German boy , and £ 70 , 000 is appropriated to the making comfortable of the Queen ' s horses ; and hence too the fact that the gradual disappearance of that popular ignorance and general groseness of taste and habit before the spirit of intelligence and enquiry fills them with alarm and rage to sach an extent as renders concealment of their real , character impossible .
An application was made lately by Messrs . Hethbbixgtos , Lovett , and others of the New Move" Society for a music license to their Hall in Holbora . It was stated that the object of the applicants was to diffuse the blessings of moral and physical education ; that music was included as a part of the edncatioa laid down in Mr . Lovett ' s book ; and thai it was one of the roles of the association that spirit " ou . 3 liquors should not at any time be admitted into the hall ; that even those who might hire the hall for
public meetings , must take it under that condition . The people of the neighbourhood were in favour of the application . The parties applying had no interest or hope of profit to themselves from the granting of the license . They gave gratuitously their labours . Tbey had already established classes of their own members for music and dancing ; but they were desirous of extending these humanizing benefits to all who might choose to avail themselves of them , and they wished to de so in respectful accordance with the law : henoe the application for a lioenw .
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Now , one would have thought this an application at which the " respectables , " the fr . euda of order , and enlightenment , and morality ^ and ameliorated habits , and extended education , would rejoice . It was natural to suppose that iho magistrates—the guardians of the peace and welfare of societywould not only at once grant the license , bat subscribe liberally to the objects of such an institution Did they do so ! Not a bit of it ! The application was refused with contumely . It was characterised by the hired mouther who opposed it " professionally" as " one of the most impudent and profligate applications that had ever been made to a court "
Upon this truly " impudent and profligate" observation , a contemporary well remarks that " a judge has argued that a Chartist must have violent intentions , because bis principles will never be quietly conceded by the aristocracy ; and so a barrister follows up the logic to the conclusion that a Chartist cannot desire the legalization of concerts but through impudence and profligacy . The one argument is parent of the other . The gaol , and not the music room , is the place for such people . The bard construction from the bench generates the virulent abuse of the bar ; ' and the spirit of an Abingeb inspires the tongue of an Adolphus . "
Not only , however , was the application for this license opposed by the hired and mercenary blackguardism of this Mr . Adolphds : it also assumed the more tangible shape of a written document in the form of a memorial from the vestry of the joint parishes of St . Giles-in-the-Fields , and St . George , Bloomsbury . Now , this "joint vestry" would , of course , oonsist of the " respectable" inhabitants of those parishes ; the middle classes ; the merchants , the shopkeepers , and the gentlemen ; those who are most anxious for the improvement , and the education , and the comfort , of the poor . What did it set forth as the ground of objection to the granting of this license ? Let the following extract tell : —
" The said Henry Hetherington , and also William Lovett , and Benjamin Huggett , two other of the applicants , are members of a society calling themselves' The National Association of the United Kingdom for Promoting the Political and Social Improvement of the Poor ; ' and the aald W . Lovett is secretary to the association . " That some of the professed objects of this association , as set forth in a printed address ' to the political and social Reformers of the United Kingdom , ' are , U establish in one general body persons of all creeds , classes , and opinions , who are desirous to
promote the political and social improvement of the people , to create and extend an enlightened public opinion in favour of the * People ' s Charter ; ' to appoiut missionaries to visit the different districts of the kingdom ; to establish circulating libraries ; to print such tracts and pamphlets as the association may consider necessary for promoting its objects ; to erect public halls or schools for the people , such halls to be used during the day as infant , preparatory , and high schools , in which the children ar « to be educated on the most approved plans the association can devise , embracing physical , mental , moral , and political
instruction , and to be used of an evening by adults , for public lectures on physical , moral , and political science , for readings , discussions , musical entertainments , dancing , and such other healthful and rational recreation as may serve to instruct and cheer the industrious classes after their hours of toil , and prevent the formation of vic < ons and intoxicating habits ; to establish normal or teachers' schools tor the purpose of instructing schoolmasters and mistresses in the most approved systems of physical , mental , moral , and political training ; and to establish such agricultural and industrial schools as may be required for the education aud support of the orphan children of the association . "
Such are the grounds upon which the respectable middle classes base their opposition to the application of Messrs . Lovstt A Co ., fer a license to their Hall . Ib any thing now wanting to convince these gentlemen , and all other middle-class-mad New Movers , that the effort to obtain honest assistance in a democratic movement from the middle and higher classes , is as futile as would be the effort to draw down the moon with cords ? It is not in them .
They are , as a class , tyrants to the heart's core * They would sooner see Eociety involved in all the horrors and bloodshed of revolution than invest the masses with the mantle of that legislative power which belongs to them . Nothing so much alarms , nothing so much infuriates them , as the progress of intelligence amongst the people . With an ignorant , sottish , and brutish people , they could deal easily ; but an intelligent , high-minded , sober , and moral people , is sure to give them much trouble to uphold their unrighteous domination .
What lesson , then , should the people learn from this and such like occurrences 1 Should it not be the lesson of renewed perseverance and entire selfreliance ? Should it not be the lesson which during our whole carer we have inculcated , that their own work must be done by themselves ; for that there is no hope nor prospect of their deriving extraneous assistance ! No mistake is more stupid or more mischievous than that of those who tell us that the working-people cannot work out their own emancipation without aid from the middle classes . Every new incident confirms the truth that he who sup > posas that the middle classes ever " seriously purpose to assist them , may be a kind-hearted and good-natured man , but is a very short-sighted , unobservant , and ill-reasoning man .
We Bay , then , to our M new move" friends , in whose anxiety for extended education we most cordially participate , go on with your good work Of humanizing , enlightening , softening , and guiding , the minds and passions of your fellows ; permit not the stinking rampancy of power to affright you ; you have testified your respect for the law , by appealing to its provisions ; hold yonr concerts and your balls without license , for which you have been refused the license , and let the treatment of your
middle-class friends teach you how grossly you have miscalculated in making these your " arm of strength ! " while we again say to the whole people rely only on yourselves ; acquire knowledge ; exort your intellectual faculties ; let prudence , peacefulness , and determination , be the characteristics of your patriotism ; and smile contemptuously at the " impudent and profligate" displays of factious ignorance and vice , even though clothed with power . m- f c ¦ " ¦ ' m I' m 4 9 mt jfc ^^^^^^ fc —^ < -f rt ^ fififif f rf-rf' tf
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THE EXECUTIVE . PRESENT DIFFICULTIES REQUIRE PRESENT REMEDIES . Wz direct attention to two documents elsewhere inserted ; one from the president and secretary of the Executive , and the other from the Executive pro . tern ., in reference to the eleolion of proper perb » D 3 to fill up the plaees of those members of the Executive committee whom tyranny has driven from their poEt . It will be seen that , including that " most improper person , Mr . Mobling , " nine persons have been nominated—Of them Mr . WAraiNS declines to serve ; so that only eight remains to choose from .
We think the suggestions of Leach and Camp-» ell , that : — " Out of the whole list of candidates put in nomination , those five that have the greatest number of votes shall be held in reserve , and whenever there occurs a vacancy , the candidate amongst the five who had the greatest number of votes to be called to the vacant seat , and so on in succession until the last of the five should be called , if there Bhould occur successive vacancies ; but
in all cases the rightful elected member to resume his seat if he be able and willing to do so ;" is one about which there can scarcely be two opinions . It is the plan best calculated to meet the real emergency . As to its being an addendum to the plan of organization , we suppose no one can object to it on that account , bo long as it is evidently called for by circumstances , and accords with the spirit of the organization .
The Executive very properly require the votes of the members as a sanction for this proceeding if adopted ; and we suggest to the members that their votes should be individually carried by each member separately to his class leader , and so returned to the sub-Secretary for transmission to Mr . Campbell , the General Secretary . In localities where no clas 3 leaders reside , every member should himself deliver his vote to the sub-Secretaries . The votes OUGHI NEVEB TO Bfi XAKBM at A HJSBUflG J © Very
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such act being in legal phrase , the act of " a part or division" of the society ; and therefore an infraction of the Corresponding Societies'Aot . One thing tbe Executive and their now assistants , the Exeoutive pro tern ., will , of course , see to ; that no return of votes be given for any candidate who may not happen to be a member of the General Counoil . We do not know whether all the candidates be on ths General Council or not ; but if any man be appointed to act oo the Executive Committee who is not a member of the General Council , it will not merely be against the law of the Association , but will vitiate the whole of the proceedings by rendering them illegal .
Nothing is more important than that we should comply with the provisions of the law ; at least whenever we can do so . In hope of making all its meshes obvious to the most simple Chartist , we shall , now that the hubbub is over , go on again with our articles on Organization , making the whole system and working of our National Charter Association plain to all .
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TO THE FOXES AND THE GEESE . Elsewhere our readers will find a most interesting report of a Complete Suffrage meeting , for enhancing the National Defence Fund . We give the report from the Evening Star ; and we request particular attention to it . We especially request that all working men who have been by the specious representations made to them by the Sturgites , induced to run after them , will readithis report . They see in the proceedings of this meeting an exact epitome of the whole Sturgite community . Johnston
and Chard are their own representatives , simple , good , honest-hearted men , who think others like themselves , and who , therefore , give the StURGsmen credit for sincerity in their "talk" about demo cracy and right ; while Hahhents , tho master tailor , and Dutton , the gentlemanly President of the Bristol Sturgites , make manifest the . real animus of SiuEGKand his co-workers in the "lead" of this Anti-demooratic movement . If any confirmation had been wanting of the deliberate character of the insulting " no " returned to White ' s committee , it is furnished in the proceedings . of this meeting . We
defy any man to use his own eyes and watch the movement of the Stuboe leaders , without coming to the same conclusion to which we have been driven ; that tke whole thing is a snare , meant to decoy the people into the hands of the " extension of commerce " fishmongers ; and the democratic cause has no enemies more bitter or more watchful than the insidious foes who put on the garb of friends . Another proof if wanted may be found in the conduct of Adam , the Sturge Newspaper Man , at Aberdeen , after Mr . Vincent's lecture , the report of which we hare also given from the Evening Star ,
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NECESSITY FOR THE CHARTISTS ACQUIRING LOCAL POWER . THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS . Wb have often endeavoured to press upon the Chartists of tbe kingdom the imperative necessity there exists , if they would make themselves " respectable" felt , and feared , to obtain possession of those outposts to general government , —the local offices . The present is an opportune moment to repeal and enforce the advice . Local Power is the key to general power . Local " authorities" have the administration of general laws . Any law , even the most tyrannical , can be
made to bear either harshly or mildly , according to the views and feelings of those who administer it . An expression of sorrow at having to put in force the infamous provisions of an infamous law goes a very great way indeed to procure the abrogation of the obnoxious statute . There is all the difference in the world between having reluctant instruments to do the tyrant's work , and having these who blurt out : "You have offended against the Law ; and the lava must be obeyed ! the VENGEANCE of the law must be satisfied . "
Whenever the Chartists have obtained / possession of those outposts of general Government , from that moment may they date the success of their general endeavours to establish eight . With unwilling administrators of bad laws , a bad Government cannot exist . Its power ceases tbe moment administrative support is taken from it ! It must accomodate itself to the opinions and feelings of those who are to carry into force and execution its legislative enactments .
The Chartists can acquire this Local Power . It rests with themselves to put forth their hand , and clutch it . It offers itself to their grasp . It is fairly before them , and within their reach : let them seize it ! Let them suffer no opportunity to pass o f putting a friend into office . Uproot the enemy from his stronghold . Do this generally , and the victory will soon be our own J The advice we have given respecting this matter has , we are glad to Bay , been acted on . Wherever it has been enforced , good , great good , ihastfollowed . It has brought our principles before the moneymaking sordid portion of the community in a striking and novel manner . It has stirred up
the cess-pool of local corruption , and put the local birds and beasts of prey into fearful commotion . It has upsat many a ne&t of thieving vultures , and put the fattening brood to unexpected flight 1 It has taught those who have hitherto treated us with supercilious scorn , and lorded it over us with all the airs of established authority ; it has taught these that we are somebody ; that we have a power within ourselves ; and that we can deprive the * of the plumes which they so proudly toss and flaunt ! It has produced a wonderful change of tone towards the Chartists wherever it has been put in operation ! It has even brought those who beforetime despised and reviled , to court and
praise . In this gathering together of power with which to battle the general enemy , we are happy to say that Leeds has taken the lead . For many months pa&t have the " good men and true , " been on the watch , and suffered no opportunity of strengthening their position to escape . They have manfully and triumphantly asserted their principles ; and have gathered to themselves power and renown . They elected the last Board of Improvement Commissioners . On that Board were several well known
and unflinching Chartists . While the Board continued to exist , those men did their duty to the inhabitants who had sent them to administer the law . They refused to be parties to , or sanction in any degree , class or party efforts for distinction or advantage . Under their auspioes , public meetings were holdenin the Town-Hall , at which good Chartist measures were almost nightly advocated . At those meetings the old hacks of party were put to the rout ! and the principles of right and justice boldly and manfully asserted in the hearing of the " great" ones of the town .
They elected aho a Chartist lot of Churchwardens-These officials are in office now ; and we challenge any party to say that they do not perform the duties ef their station with efficiency and in a good spirit . They are , by their conduct in office , heaping honour upon the cause of Chartism , which seated them at the Vestry board . Huddehsfiexd , too , has followed , in some degree , the example of Leeds . Some weeks ago , the new Constabulary Aot came | into operation . The good mflo 4 f Huddersfield were called upon to meet , to
put in force some of its provisions . They did meet . They responded to the call made on them by the Overseers of the Poor ; and , when bo met , they did their business ! They passed a list of names from which the Magistrates are bound to choose Constables ; and which list contains the names of well known Chartist friends . But they did more than this : they rejected the police system in all i / s shapes and forms ! In consequence of that meeting the Huddersfield people are released from the burden of paid policemen ^ which for some years they have had to bear . tin March next meetings will have to be again holden under this Cokstabulabt Act ; andlwe shall
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in due time giro our friends all ; over the oountry instructions how to proceed on that occasion It is a most important measure ; and may be wielded to great popular advantage if we bestir ourselves aright . ] Let the reader , too , refer to the account we this week publish as to the noble exertions of our friends in Salford . There is a lesson given to every Chartist in the kingdom ! See that it be duly learned ! and as duly practised !!
Tuesday next is the day appointed for the taking of the election for Common Couneilmen , under the Municipal Corporations Aot . Ever ; Chartist who resides in a Borough , has a most serious and solemn duty to perform on that day , both towards himself and the cause he has espoused ! If he has a vote , and gives that vote to swell the ranks of party or faction , he is a traitor to his principles of right and justice . If he has not a vote , and yet neglects to use all his influence to damage faction and promote the return of firm and undeviating advocates of universal justice and opposers of general and sectional wrong , he is no less a traitor !
In the matter , too , of asserting Chartist principles at Municipal elections , the men of Leeds have also taken the lead . On this occasion many of the candidates for the " sweet voices" of the electors hare had to emblazon on their banners the motto—Universal Suffrage . Others have contented themselves with singing out " Complete Suffrage : " but in nearly every case , has the "Suffrage" been required as a test . In this read and see the progress of Chartism !
The Chartists , however , have not been , on this occasion , satisfied with the mere utterance of the phrase *• Universal Suffrage , " by those who look merely to the 1 st of November as the day which ia to seat them in the Counoil Chamber for three years ; and who , when there , conveniently forget all about Universal Suffrage and the Chartists too , except in the way of sanctioning the authorities in their measures of coercion to put Chartism down . They seem to have become " fly" to the " artful dodge *' of the 1 st of Nay . Chartists , and the 2 ad of Nov . Whigs !
For the right assertion of their own principles , itwas determined that , at least , one man who was well known to the Chartists and Chartism : one man who was well known to all as a Chartist ; who had fought and battled for Chartism through good and through evil report ; whose whole life had been devoted to a resistance of oppression , and the advocacy of right : it was determined to bring forward such a man as this , and return him tojthe Council Chamber , as the Chartist representative . Mr . Hobson was the individual selected with whom to fight this good Chartist battle ; and the men of Hunslet had the high honour of being the first to offer to return him for the considerations just set forth .
This was a step of no ordinary kind . It was of great moment to both the Chartists and the Whigs . On all former occasions the Whigs had contrived to secure to themselves the Chartist support , under the plea of ** Union" to " keep out the Tory . " "Merge your minor differences" was the motto ; and the Chartists had faithfully acted on it , and returned for the Whigs Whig Councillors , when , without such Chartist support , the Whigs would have had to flounder in the mire . This proceeding , then , of the
Hunsletlmen was calculated to test the sincerity of Whig profession , and the honesty of Whig action . If they really had a desire to "keep out the Tories ;" and if they were sincere in asking all sections of Reformers to " sink their minor differences ; " and if they were prepared to " do unto others as had been done unto themselves , " they were bound to cordially " unite" io return the Bingle Chartist , in consideration of the scores of Whigs that had been returned through Chartist support .
Ah ! no ! Whiggery hadCnot bo read the call to " Union ! " " Union" was all right when it served the Whig turn , and secured Whig men ! but » ' union" to return a Chartist!—Not so ! The appearance of Mr . Hobson as a candidate threw the whole Whig camp into commotion Consternation and alarm prevailed on every side . The Factions had had a sample of Mr . Hobson ' s business talents , and of his mode of dealing with Faction ' s crimps , while he occupied a seat at the Improvement Commissioners' Board : and from that sample they dreaded the opening-in upon them of
Chartist ; eyes in the Council Chamber ! To defeatthe efforts of the Hunslet people was now the Bole object of that faction , whioh has hitherto enjoyed the sole and almost undisputed sway in the Leeds Corporation since it was Reformed . To this end every dirty and dishonourable means were used . Misrepresentation and calumny were resorted to . The power of the press to poison the minds of the Burgesses against Air . Hobson was put in requisition ; and , so well and faithfully did the truth-telling Mercury labour in its vocation , that it openly charged Mr . Hobson with acts of incendiarism ! whioh oharge , we
understand , he will shortly have to make good in a court of law , or be content to take the consequences . The destruction of Mr . Hobson ' s character , and the prevention of his return by the burgesses of Hunslet , was a matter of so much importance to the Whig faction , whose tool our neighbour Mercury is , that he laid aside his usual caution and brought against the individual whom he wanted to run . down , a charge so tangible and so direott that it can be dealt with in a courtof law ; and that , too , without the possibility of mistake as to the result . '
, The following address from Mr . Hobson's Committee will enable our readers to see the present position of the Hunslet contest ; and it will also point out to every lover of fair play in that Ward the manner in whioh he should exeroise his vote , if he would avert the direst disgrace from lodging on him and his fellow voters 1
TO THE BURGESSES OF THE HUNSLET WARD . On Tuesday next you will have to exercise the Suffrage the Law has invested you with , in the election of fit and proper persons to represent you in the Town Council . It behoves you to be mindful of the manner in which you exercise your privilege . The enormous , lavish , and wasteful expenditure of the borough funds ; the infliction of an expensive , unconstitutional , and unnecessary police-force ; the heaping of salaries upon offioialsof twice the amount asked ; the desperate and disgusting efforts of party to obtain party ascendancy in the council chamber : all
these things call loudly for reformation ; and they never can be reformed or put an end to , ' till tbe burgesses send men to that Council who will make the general welfare of the borough at large their entire study and sole rule of action , instead of ^ seeking to promote class or party interests . And , Burgesses , what are the claims and qualifications of the several candidates who have been submitted to your notice , and for whom you are called upon to vote ! There ia Mr . Arthington . What do you know of him ! Has he been before you , to explain his views on the momentous subjects oa whioh he will be enabled to legislate , Bhould he be returned ! Have you had any opportunity of learning what he is t of ascertaining what
views and opinions he entertains on any question connected with local Government t Do you know whether he is disposed to vote for the abrogation , or a great reduction , of the unnecessary day policeforce 1 Do you know whether he is inclined to put a stop to the wasteful extravagance that has lately been pursued in the Council Chamber ? Indeed , do you know any thing of him ? Has he given yon any opportunity to judge of his fitness or unfitness for the post he aspires to 1 None whatever You know nothing of him ! He is to all intents and purposes , a " pig in a poke I" Can you vote for such a man ! If ^ ob do , you deserve all tbe evils which you will lpw to endure resulting from bad Government .
Then there is Mr . Hobson , a man who has been known all his life as a firm and undeviating advocate of the rights of the working man ; as an enemy to governmental extravagance , both national and local ; as an opponent of every measure inimical to the welfare of his country ; as a xeaister of oppression in every shape ; as an asserter of the rights and liberties of his fellow-men , and one who haa always opposed every attempt at their abridgment * Ia him you have a bold and uncompromising enemy of that unconstitutional and expensive force whioh it is a national ; degradation for us to submit to ; and in him you have one who will do his uttermost to remove the obnoxious force from off our pockets , and save us at least , some £ 3 fiQ 0 a year ! In him you have one who will not consent to be used as a tool of party , but one
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who will stand up for , and maintain against all comers , the general interests of the general inhabitants of the borough . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . Abthinbtoh was brought ont as a candidate at a private netting of some half score Whigs , after Mr . Hobson haa been unanimously fixed upon by a PUBLIC MEETING of yourselves . Lose not sight of the fact thai Mr . Arthington ' s Committee have declared that they would rather see the council chamber filled with , TORIES than see a REAL REFORMER there , io the person of Mr . Hobson . Loae not sight of the fact that it is the Whigs , those who are supporting Mr . Arthington , who have introduced DIVISION and DISUNION in yonr ranks , for the purpose of
securing the return of the Tory ! Lose not sight of the fact , that Mr . Hobson publicly offered to leave the decision of the question as to whether he should stand or retire , to a public meeting of the inhabitants of tbe Ward , called for the especial purpose of judging upon the respective merits and qualifications of himself and Mr . Arthington , so as to prevent division and disunion , on the condition that Mr . Arthington ' s Committee should pledge ) themselves to abide by the decision of such meeting , and that " all sections of reformers " should agree to " merge their minor differences" and cordially support the reformer thus fixed upon , to the exclusion of the TORY for Hunslet from the Counoil . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . Arthington'a friends HAVE NOT DARED to accept this proposal ! That they have fnot dared to aDDeal in any one shape , to a public meeting in the
whole Ward ! That they have not darad to take the sense of the assembled burgesses on their proceedings in any manner ! Lose not sight of | the fact , that this conduct on the part of the Whigs can only arise from a consciousness on their parts , that what they are doing will not bear examination , and that they are afraid of popular opinion I It their man be a good man ; if he be a kuown Reformer ; if his qualifications for the office of councillor will bear the test of scrutiny ; if his knowledge of the local matters appertaining to the office be aspires to can be made apparent ; if he , or thet , be not afraid , why not bring him before the public , ! Why not accept Mr . HOBSON'S proposal ! Because their cause is a bad one ! Because they dare not face the day ! Because they know that their doings have deserved and excited such strong puttie indignation , that they dare not look the burgesses ia the face !
BURGESSES ' . Will you submit to be so used in the hands of the Whigs , as to be made instrumental to the return of a TORY for the purpose of keeping a real reforming ferret from putting his nose into the CouncikGranary where the Whig and Tory rats are feeding and fattening upon your corn ! Mr . Arthington ' s friends have not a shadow of a shade of success , notwithstanding their impudent and lying assertion that they have a large majority in their favour ! They know they have not the least chanoe ; and this is proved by the fact that they are resorting to the most
desperate and despicable means of INTIMIDATION to swell their ranks ! Why should Whig Masters be instructed to canvass tha men in their employ , if the Whigs have a majority to begin withl This has been done I It is true that some masters have , to their eternal honour ,. REFUSED to be thus made the cat ' s paw of parti zans : and those who do so far forget themselves as to do the dirty bidding maj rest assured that they shall not be forgotten , but shall be holden up to the Ecornful gaze and deepest execration of their honest fellow-citizens .
With you then , BURGESSES of the Hunslet Ward , the matter rests . If you choose to be sold to the TORIES , support Mr . Arthington . But if you wish to have a man to represent you who possesses a knowledge of your wants and wishes ; whoso character for straightforwardness and sterling , honesty is unimpeachable ; whose whole life haa been devoted to the advocacy aud advancement of the cause of RIGHT and JUSTICE . Vote for Mr Hobson . During the past week , Mr . Hobson has also beea started as a candidate in the Holbeck Ward , for reasons which are clearly set forth in the following address : — TO THE LIBERAL BURGESSES OF THE WARD OF HOLBECK .
The Committee appointed at a public meeting of your body to secure tbe return of Mr . Joshua Hebsoo , as a . common councillor for the Ward of Holbeck , after he bad been nominated as a candidate for that office by the same public meeting , deem it necessary , both as a matter of justice to themselves and to you , to explain how it came to pass that that gentleman mi submitted to your neticeat all , and placed in each a position aa tohave a claim on your suffrages . It is quite true tbat ata former public meeting , holden in Messrs . Marshall ' s school room , two other gentlemen , Messrs . Cliff and Whitebead , were nominated as candidates . And it is also true that scarcely any one knew of the intention of the parties promoting that meeting to tobmit tbe latter gentleman to the notice of the Burgesses of the Ward . He was , however , so submitted , and nominated as a candidate along with Mr . Ciiffi
After the meeting , the Committee appointed to promote the return ol the above two gentlemen , ascertained that a very strong feeling existed in the Ward , amongst tbe liberal burgesses , against one of the men they were asked to vote for—Mr . Whitehead . This feeling arose , it was stated , from alleged MISCONDUCT ou his part towards the men in his employ . Tbat conduct was strongly characterised by those who had votes to give . They spoke of him as a reduced of wages , not only in his own establishment , but averred that he had also exercised bis influence In other establishments to get their wages reduced too » It was averred , also , that the conduct of Uie managers in bis establishment towards the employee , was most disgraceful . It was asserted that in some instances his own son had actually KICKED those placed under his charge I ! and that tbe father afforded no redrew
for the gross aud brutal outrage , when appealed to I All these things , and many more of the same character , were stated to the members of Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead's Committee ; and , as a matter of course , they came to be talked of generally . In fact this feeling against Mr . Whitehead was eo manifest , that the Chairman of his own Committee felt himself bound to bring the matter before his assembled colleagues ; and declare it as his opinion that the feeling against Mr . Whitehead was so strong , that he had serious doubts as to the possibility of Vieir " being able to carry him at all ; and that it was a ques tion as to whether it was not the most advisable course to withdraw that Gentleman from the field , and brine ; forward another against whom no such objections could be raised , as had been mooted and advanced against the man tbey had !
Under these circumstances the individuals who now address you deemed it necessary to bestir , themselves . They knew of the feeling against Mr . Whitehead . They had no reason to be satisfied with him as a politician . They knew him only as a Whig . They knew tiat the . Ward of Holbeck was decidedly in the advance of all other wards io the Borough , in political feeling . They knew that that feeling was essentially radical ; and they knew that if the Burgesses of Holbeck were properly politically represented in the Town Council , " Radical to the back-bone" would be their man . They knew also , that if the strong feeling against Mr . Whitehead ended ia his defeat , it would alto end in the ratom of a TORY ! and anxious to prevent this , they determined to look out for a man whose general and local
knowledge eminently fitted him for the office of Councillor , and whose ability and efficiency none could doubt ; and against whose political and private character not even malicious envy herself could establish a charge } Such a man we knew tbat we should find in Mr . Hobsoa . Aware of the dirty and treacherous conduct pawned towards our brethren in tbe Hanslet Ward by the selfish and dishonourable Whig faction , we felt In some degree bound to evince our public estimation of tbat condnct All these circumstances pointed out s line of duty , and we pursued it We applied to Mr . Hobson . In answer to that application he promptly stated that " every citizen is bound to obey the call of his fellow-citizons , when that call involves the performance of public duties which every citizen owes to his fellow-men . "
Upon this , we appealed to you . We called a public meeting of your body . That meeting was attended by many of Mr . Whitehead'B friends , —one of tbe Chairmen of his Committee amongst the nnmber . Those gentlemen pleaded for Mr . Whitehead ; bat only on the ground | of bis having been nominated at the former meeting . And the result was , the carrying of resolutions , with only three dissentient * , that Mr . Hobson should be placed in nomination ; and that a deputation should wait np » n Mr . Wnitehead ' a Committee , to request them to withdraw that gentleman , on account of the feeling described above . The result of tbat Deputation was this A motion was made in tbe Committee tbat tbe request of tba public meeting should be complied with . When pot to the vote , one-half of the Committee votedfor it , and tha other half against it Tbe Committee were equally divided ! Tia true that the motion was stated to be
lost by a majority of two ; but that " majority" obtained by two persons voting who were not members of iheCommiUee . Since that decision , a placard has appeared , purport * ing to emanate from Messrs . Cliff a&d Whltebead * Committee , in which those whe object to the latUe gentleman are designated " a faction" I ! Bather f curious " faction" tbat , which consists of tbe majority of the burgesses and inhabitants of the Ward , and include * in its numbers one-half ef Mr . Whitehead ' s own Committee !!! _
In that placard it is stated that " Jfr . WWtehead despises and defies" those whom be denominates " designing calumniators , " and " challenges them to meet In public to prove their assertions . " Thia » mere vapouring and bombast . Mr . Whitehead cannot both " despise" and " defy . " The act of "drjkmctf proves that he does not " despise "'! He affects , too to " challenge" those who speak against him W " meet in public" Thia is mere affectation we fear , or the parties putting forth this pompous challenge uvula have called a public meeting , ; £ and given . all an joppor ^ nity of attending it
The I\ T 0e,Thern Stak. Saturday, October 29, 1842.
THE i \ 0 E , THERN STAK . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 29 , 1842 .
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4 THfE NO ' RTHERSN STAR . /
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 29, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct622/page/4/
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