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IRE KORTSERE STAR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1843. THE PAST AND PRESENT.
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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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PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT . QTE 5 ISG Or IEE SGCIH XOiDON CHABTIST HALL . The above Epscicus TTail , capable of bol&ing one ( goosssd six hundred pereons , was opened on Monday 4 gtenh : s , tkB Uih rest ., by "the holding of a grand festival and ball . The placards convening tc £ " gathering" announced thst Alderman Humphery , Etq ., M . P ., Tronic ! iais tfce chsir . Before tbe comniexicement , be sent a written apology by bis clerk , statisg that he should cot foe able to attend xld \ S 1 half-past aeTen , as be was detained at the Old Bailey Sessions . At teven o ' clock , Mr . O'Connor entwei the Hall , asd proceeded to the platform , amid the acclamations of the assembled multitude , wbo rose to receive him . Immediately after tea , Mr . Edwards , cf the London Bead , was called to the casi ? , and gave , withont commatt , tie first tout , BS folIoVTB : — »
" Tbe people , the legitimate sonrce of all power ; " aEd called on Mr . B . © "Brien to respond . " He said the toast he proposed should at all times command- respect In coEEf quence of the 'Want of " sovereignity the people psriifU in the midst of iplenty . In other assemblies t 2 ie "Sovereign Qaeen ° vouid have been given first ; fent heirasied they would always have the good sense to respect tkem * fclTes and toast the " eonrce * ' He need not tell them , that from the want of the popfalai soTereignlty , eyeryinan -was in debt before he was Jksii ; ind slttcugb natives of a beautalul soil , not a Bod nl Vt . was theirs . it was so every where . In Paris the -want of it caused 60 , 000 soldiers to be kept to ieep the people quiet . If the people possessed po > er it -would not be bo . When" hostile armies
threatened to averawe Trance , the people fesd power and Isad food ? wht » ttey los tpower they had no bread to eatj tbi-y wars starring , in England a ¦ woman bad threehsllpence for making & shirt Taat dia not look much like " sovereignty . * ' He hoped they -would soon resolve to be " sovereizn . " There -was but one way to accomplish it : at the next general election . The sovereignly of the people meant one voice for one man and BO mere .. The msgority -should make no Ibttb 3 bnt such as wos : d be binding on them as well ae the minority . Act justly 'wiihall isen . Know no maa when he cornea before yon ; tear all alike ; and Iheu the sentiment be bad tfce honccr to propose , " the sovereignty of the people , ' -would become a reality . The toast was then gjTen -with , the nsn&I honours .
The GHAraMAS then gave the second toast , as follow : — " The People * * Charier ; may it speedily become the law of the land . " He called on Mr . O'Connor to respond . Mr . O'COMiOS rose amid entfenoastic plaudits . Ha said it was tbs custom that a religious house should be consecrated fey . a Bishop ; and never * did Bishop feel mars pleasure in consecrating a church to Gsd , than he did in consecrating that Hall to the service cf the people . It was quite right , on snch an occasion , that mATi of ¦ PBBOliS political opinions should 'be Invited ; and it-eras nofoult of theirs that they were absent . When they looked aronnd , snd fteund their principles more popnlar than others , they bad a rigbi to say" "We are tts xaajority . ' * "Wales bad a tnraplie g 3 te ,
and Ireland an agricultural , Committee of Inquiry , iBsned by GovemHunt . la Esglana ha thought they should have a commission of lunacy on the Goverojnect . At the commeccemtnt of the revolution in Prar . ce , His objection was not against the rule of the 3 Engj it was against the Ministry and their corrnptiona . So in England . The MfatntaT had di-nded and rubdi-rided the plunder , -wrung from the Brweat and blood ef industry , among bis followars . It was against csrrtpSonstrf this sort Siey contended . Jh . O'Connor Jhen took a lapjd turrej of lie emigration and-ether remedies proposed by "Whigs and Tories ; *• but , * said Mr . O'Connor , " giveUB the Charter ! That is the great Prewan-. ' jFivm it tempgranDe , morality , honesty , peace , a ^ d prosperity srould flow " - ^ - [ great cheering )
He attached great importance to the coming elections From the exhibitions of power they bad seen , muck might be done . A Mend asked him , as be "was about to enter tbst Hall , -what \ rsa going to be doiie frith Ireland . He could not answer 1 ** 1 question ; bat be could grre an opinion . Well , then , there "was now perhaps , trhst there never were before , a freat majtaity in "Rrtgland 3 n fa-ronr of tbe rigtts of Ireland ; and be thonght sasb an expses&on of public opinion irresistible—( lend-enters ) , — and , therefore , mcchimight be expectei Chartism ws * practical Republicanigm—flond cheers ) . He hoped at the sext electien to abow that they-were net Tory-Chartists ; but that as they bid thxo-era out the Whigs , they -srouia ix = able to east out the Tories —( loud cheers ) . HoV "Was it 'Uiat the Members of Parliament , and the © tierprpmiedTisltors irerenot there ? Because they
focsd this tFonJd bs a purely CharQst meeting—( hear , hear ^ j 2 tn d Ji ; did not -suit their purpose , that the opiniacs spoken at such meetings should go abroad . The press joined -with Buch men and kept rilent . Tiey bad much to contend against , and" fltiH would have . For-himself be mceb . liked opposition to fn ^ nmrite . Ha busted tfiat- -vbSe tbey gate a fair bearing to every man , they -would stick to their principles ,-nasie , and alt—( enthusiastic cheering ); and if they , did sof depend on it "the Charter / was theirs when they liked to fetch ih * He felt Tery great pleasure in being present at the epening of that hall ; and if at asy time their Bcceasitxes placed it in any danger , and bis purse -was not long encngh , bi » sweat , -jrbich bad often been found an ifiideat substitute , * iiould be at their serlies —[ loud and long contanned cheering . ) The aentiment-wxs girea with three times three .
The rip mitt ^ v £ hea g » T «—*• COS . and religious liberty throughout the » orloV » Mch Mr . J . H- Parry responded to : he could but re-echo the sentiments of the last speaker , at regards the absence of those invited . If present , ttiey would h » T 8 found bo « nament ofnrof Ind ira jjjii iiVhiiia >¦¦**¦¦¦ *•• tMbim ; Trotlrtnf tnat any man . could fairly object to ; nothing bat what was most praiseworthy—{ bear , -bear } - —nothing tmfc ¦ " ¦ tot even Alderman Hnmphrsy oight be prond of—{ load cbeenV Tney "would bare learced much , awl we should have bad the honour of teaching : them . "Wby then -were they absent ? The Charter , as the last speaker aaid , t ) g ^ a tendency to republicanism ; but there was nothicg rerolusionary in it . All society from time immemorial tended to *>>« mine sre » t end . They did
not aek for . MyUung they were nok prepared tagire to another—lcbeers ) . The Wbiga and Tories bad pri-Tileges ; : do tliey not prigs them ? Themoneyocracy bad prrrilegesj do they not prisa them ? Bat the monest the working classes « ooght similar pririlegss , » bat -was the &aswe > ? V fby , " to yoor ploughi do not meddle with politics-* Then vny ,. he asked , did they isMSis with poli&a ? Simply tbat they xnigbt tarn them to their own pecuniary advantage . He hoped the time was come wben " free opinion" should mean "free opinion ; " for it was gross oppression _ to piCTent any man fxciu expressing ias trillion . Be hoped that Hib freedom giTen by Gcd would not be attempted to be put down by any man-, bat that theyvould go baud in band , and thus be
enabled to fight their oppressors foot to foot . Religious liberty bad its meaning too . Had not tbejpresent establishmssl been met wifli persecution in its infancy ? Utere -were &so martyrs at the present fine , whose martyrdom was caused by that -rery . establishment—( bear , bearj . There were- some there , ao donbt , -who thonght they bad nothing to do with religion at * ucb mettiags . He th « ugbt religious fretdom bad to do -with all great Hieefeags— ( cbeers ) . An infidel- was purely a geographical eharEcter . A belieT « here was an infidel in Turkey ; and rice versa . In Ireland political © pmlon ttm a ^ empiea to be coerced . Why ? Because Englishmen bad not the courage to Bay , " I -will not eommitmurdex for one shilling a day . " As
soon as they possessed this courage , so soon must coercion cease—( loud cheers ) . Ireland demanded her rights , and we ought to say , " TTJ » r "'* nj yon fc&Te acted uoMy ; ~ and Bbake tkem by the band , sweajdng by the 0 od that made us -we would stand , by them to the last —{ great ^ heeriEgJ , This ball would be of'great use in the day of danger j whether caused by Whigs or Tories . Thus it must serve the great caue of " Civil and Bel ! - gions liberty **—ititeezs ) . He -wonld not gire one flg for the Charter if ttiey were to « fc&EdsUll afterwards—Qien , hear ) . "On then , on for « Teij" and when we taTB won the Cbarter , there are other fields to be won . Hetrnsted Englishmen vonld alwsys be for » - most in the batHe for Civil and Religious iiberty . The ssntiment was erven with all the usu&l honours .
iii . crtkCTor nere took buleaTe anui thunders of applause , ¦ The Chaie-has then gare " A spesdy release to Frost , Williams , Janes , and Ellis , and all pslii-csl and leligious "victims , and called on 3 ir . Buffy Kidlsy to respond . 2 fr . ztvm biulxt raid lie wosld tat occapy obb moment Ln Ttqatausg tfleix cfsdolense for those wbo were draviag out a miserable ezlstenee in a foreign land . When they koked at that noble martyr Frost ;
when they beard he was " Tiever" to Tetmm to his naSTe land , -was there one "who would not sympathise with Mm ? was there one in thai >>* ' !> , who troald jest mtJEfied Tm \ 5 \ &&- " neTexll" was letacled by Ibe jfetaxB of Frost ana hii eompatrioh to the land of their birth ? ( Cheers . ) The sound of those « ht * rs be trusted wc * ld be carried acro » s the waters , and afford s ^ rae 3 st-i& toisolation to thote noblfi aarryrs who had sacriic- 'd tislr own liberty In endeBTouricg to gain their country ' s . ( Lend cheers . ) Tbe seatJmeni -was dnstin
Tbe CHAIB . KA 5 then gaT»— " Saceess 4 o Bis esi all ' other Democratic Halls , na thajis to those who hate aided as by their donations . ** Mr . Matsabd responded . He woild not detain fiiem long , but could n « t let « u » opportanity pass wiihout thanking those whobad aaUied tbem bj toeir fiontribnaoM and otherwise : and tiiomghbe coald not gi-re the xeaaon why some of those who had engaged ' to be present were absent , he hoped av some future time they would explain the reasons for that absence . He hoped the son-attendance of tbeiLIVa would not deter them Irani their onward conraej bat ri&t \ he ] would rely on their own exertions ; and then " they xnkbt not only finish this Hail bnt build twenty more . Alderman Humphrey * * clerk had hinted that be I Alder-Bin H . ) bad been deceiTsd , and thought the Hall was « Jj for * s « da « flon » l pnrpoBes . " Thaf w »» not cornet Ibe Aldemaa knew Tery -well it w&s for DamoeaHc parpomi ( cbeqa ) .
A TOtB of tb * Bk »* to the Chairman was carried , and pu > bill eonuoaaoe ^ : jBBder Mj . Knighton u muter ef th » cexemoaief . Tbiviocert wa « giTen in an adjoin-Injlongxoobl "Tieenjejtaiunients were kept sp with Bptiit tall good ! bmoptt to a late hoar . ¦ ^ y $ M ? ¦
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COBRUPIION v . REFORM . Is we compare ibe prodigiooa improvements that tare taken place TrithiD the last half century in the arts , the sciences , and all the means bj which the alow process of manual labour b&g been compelled to yield to the present sutjecv of an almost magical production , with the cautions , slow and niggardly improTcment , —if indeed an ; has taken plaoe , —in the legislation .. bj .-sriucli * """ * 3 X 4 h «»«» two * onanges , Jumps , and improTements should hare been made nationally , instead of sectionally beneficial , we shall
at once arrive at the real cause , not only of the pierailing distress , bnt of the universally felt and the generally and fearlessly declared contempt for existing institutions . The Reform Bill promised to be , and ought to have been , the medium through which all those great changes should have been made national benefits . The Reformers complained that the whole government of the country being confined to a few lordly and ariitocratio patrons , rendered it impossible for tbe friends of the people to make head against their sway in the House of
Commons . They asked the people to join in a revolution against the eyatem of patronage government , in order thai tbe institutions Of the country , being placed under vigilant popular controul , might thereby b » made ihe means of conferring upon all a fair and equitable share of those improvements to a participation in which all -were admitted to be entitled . Patronage then-was the monster evil complained of j and to destroy the monster was the object to which the moral and physical energy of the working classes -was directed . That they did destroy one description of patronage , —that which placed a large portion of representation in the hands of the few
we admit j while we shall low canvass the value of the change to the nation at large . In the olden times , if a borough had its patron , with him rested the sole power consequent upon the monopoly : and thus we may estimate tbe number of indlTidual patrons at from &xee to four hundred ; while the effect of the Reform Bill , by which the power of patronage was to be destroyed , has been to create legions of corruptionistB from the ashes of each individual patron that baa been destroyed . Hence we . find expenses and local taxes , local abuses , local blndgeona , local justices , local town conncils , and local borough Parliamentary in £ uence 3 , as the result of the single destruction of the old Tory Corporate Monopoly .
These normal institutions were ihemeaM by which tbe Whigs hoped to work the small wheels of Government ; the power by which the greater ones were to be kept in motion . Ab with boroughs , so it was with counties . There , too , the patronage of an individual being destroyed , the triumphant party were compelled to hava recourse to a division of corruption as a means of preserving their influence against their beaten but still influential opponents . A similar system of multiplying patronage and cermpnon , so that a political ascendancy might bo secured , w& 3 the cause of the French Revolution . When iho French showed the first symptoms of revolt , bo European Prince stood higher in popular esteem than the reigning monarch ; but bo arifmlly
had the aristocracy of that d » y secured k > themselves a monopoly of the government of the country , thajt Franco presented the anomaly of a popular , or rather inoffensive king , and a people infuriated and driven to revolution against tbe institutions of the country . Sueh is precisely the situation of the Queen of England , amid the generally prevailing contempt for all existing institutions . She travels through the country enthusiastically welcomed by all who are allowed to ace her : while even a majority of the favoured spectators openly express their contempt for her AEnMeiB and the institutions of the country . Thus the anomaly that presented itself at the close of the eighteenth century in France iB now quickly manifesting itself in England , —that of a popular monarch and unpopular institutions .
In like manner , if we turn to Ireland -we find that the Reform Bill , which was nailed in that country as the means of destroying patronage , has led to such an extension of local corruption that the Irish people are sow as much arrayed against the
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power assumed by those new patrons , rendered necessary for the insurance of Whig ascendancy , as they-were against old abases , which although poshed more prominentfy forward , yet by no means constituted an equal ground of complaint . We do not strain the point when we assert that this system of transfer from individuals to Clubs , has had the effect of giving us more than one hundred greedy patrons for every gorged one against whose power the Reformers waged their war . Add to this multiplicatien of tyranny the fact that the old 'Squire or tho old Peer was not omnipresent ; and if he had
the inclination , had not the power of working very general evil ; while , having no interest in the depression of wages as a Magistrate and a Legislator , although politically arrayed against the political rights of the people , he at least administered justice between the employer and the employed . He was satisfied with such honours and distinctions as the Sovereign , through his ministers , was willing to confer upon him for the political support given to ¦ his party . A garter or a ribbon , although expensive baubles to himself , and although insignias of his own weakness and folly , cost the working classes nothing . He contended for a bishoprick ,
for a ship , for a regiment , or for a commisBionership for his family : bnt as long as we are blessed with bishops , regiments , ships , and commissions , tbe appointment was comparatively unimportant to the working classes . He shared the amount of patronage , which under the established system 0 ' corruption , waa necesEary to preserve ministeria harmony and party ascendancy ; and he shared no more . In truth , it was enough ; but we are showing * that it was patronage that was to be destroyed by Reform ; and that the patronage substituted for the same purposes is of a more extensive , expensive , and destructive character .
The Club 3 of patrons are omnipresent . They have a direct and a continuous interest , not only in resisting the people ' s demands for political rights , but in the destruction of their every social enjoyment . True , their ambition does not as yet lead them to aspire to a cross , a garter , or a ribbon ; but it does le » d them to hopes and aspirations , tbe realization of which are much more expensive to those over whom they exerciBe their newly acquired power . As employers they establish the rate of wages ; as magistrates they punish for resistance to their own
decrees ; as corporations they have increased the taxes npon tbe people , in many instances three-fold , and without conferring a particle of benefit upon the unprotected portion of the tax-payers . They do not contend against any single practical abuse which the Reform Bill promised to destroy , but which has been { allowed to continue ; while they would still inflame the national mind for the purpose of conferring upon themselves increased powers , although we have shewn that their substitution for the olden enemy has bean the means of multiplying , instead of destroying , corruption , distress and grievance .
The general effect of the Reform Bill has been to create two active enemies against tbe working classes ; while each party now possesses a certain description ; of power , equally hostile to the rights of the people . The Tories havo the distribution of all that remains after paying the expences of the country ; whilst the Qubs , however constituted , whether of Whigs or Tories , have the power to raiBe , in their oorporate capacity , a larger amount of money than the whole revenue enforced by the Government amonnts to . Not only do they thus more extravagantly tax the people , but they
furthermore use the funds so acquired for the purpose of increasing their own power , and of destroying that of the people . Moreover , the most deadly result of this transfer of power , has been to bring every act of the unrepresented working classes more immediately under the watchful eye and powerful arm of tbe class immediately above them , and who have the greatest interest in oppressing them . This extension of corruption and these increased powers vested in the hands of the newly created Clubs , has had the further tendency of so balancing the two contending factions , that henceforth their titU to
power must rather depend npon their means and capability of extending patronage , than their desire or ability to reform the institutions of the country . Under these circumstances ft is to the vigilanoo « the union , and the nnH . »« i „ . « .- -r *»—~ *»»»» n » r « surrefed from the extension of corruption , as a means of carrying on political warfare , that we must look for the destruction of that power by which this doable evil has been achieved . And much as the two satisfied parties may deride the attempts of the now wholly Ehorn and unenfranchised people ; and however new and
stronger causes may have arisen to induce a onion of Whig and Tory against the rights of labour ; we tell them that so general , so odions , and so extensive has their corruption become , that like a foul disease it must ultimately destroy them , although there was do visible opposition from the Chartist body . That opposition , however , from tbe oauses we have stated , is daily and hourly gaining strength , not more from the sternness of our party , than from the dissatisfaction beginning to manifest itself , not only against the acts of the political Minister ^ but also against the cruelty , the tyranny , and oppression of our local and irresponsible rulers .
These facts clearly prove that any change produced by the middle classes will be merely with a view to extend patronage to their own ranks ; and that the people have nothing to hope from—nothing to expect benefit from—nothing to rely upon protection from , but their own Charter , which will destroy expensive and unnecessary patronage , by throwing the Government of the country into tbe hands that pay for its support ,
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THE COLLIERS . A MOST T 0 VL AND DAMNABLE CASE . Wi refer our readers to a copious report given in another place of proceedings which took place before the Durham Magistrates , in connexion with tbe present differences between the Coal King Tyrants and their worse than slaves . Before we eater into any consideration of the merits of this case , we shall offer a brief observation or two upon the imperious , the insolent , and a « thoritative manner in which the worthy chairman Of the Bench dealt with the proposed question of compromise . Asamatter of course the tyrants being
the complainants , any compromise that took place could not have saved them from Magisterial punishment or the law ' s Tengeanee ; aa being saDJeot to neither , they did not stand in diead of either . No matter how the stinging truths forced from a reluctant aeonser may have placed the prosecutorB in the wrong ; » o matter though the bond be illega ' , and enforces penalties from which a eourt of law woald release the bondsmen ; no matter tho » gh the conditions , one-sided as they are , have been violated by the wealthy contractors ; ao matter though the implied contract and the legal contract has been violated ; no matter though it has been admitted by the chief oath- man of the Coal Kings , that it was but just possible for agosd
workman to earn an existence , if the oonutiong of tho bond were enforced ; no matter although those who have tried it , swear th » t it is not possible to earn an existence ; no aatter although thousands of honeBt hard-working Englishmen are prepared to swear that they prefer the prison , with all its horrible diseases , to the , bond with its still more horrible inflictions : no matter all this : neither one , nor all , of these considerations weighed with the Tillage Dogberbiks , who tendered aid to the tyrant masters to enforce a reluctant compromise from the men , under threat of victimising them to that 6 tate of M turbulence " which exists only in their own brains , and which can be brought about only by the denial of justice . After hearing the case , the Chairman spoke thus : —
"After some further discussion , in which some warmth was shown , and angry expressions exchanged between the Bench and Mr . Roberta , and propositions of adjournment and of
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agreement between the masters and men were made , tbe case was ultimately adjourned till Friday , at ten o ' clock , in order to give time for the parties to come to some arrangements or t * proceed with the case ; the Chairman'at the same time declaring , that in a case like this , where large bodies of men were banded together in defiance of the law and of the peace of the district , and after what had come out in the case , the Magistrates would still not hold themselves bound by any compromise which the parties might come to . " "Open defiance of the law" indeed ! "danger to the publio peace" ; and all " proved by
what bad transpired during the hearing of the case" ! Yes , yea ; we admit that facts strongly urging to such anticipations and convictions did transpire : but then the masters are the law breakers , and from their tyranny only can any breach of the peace arise . What ! "danger to the peace" from men , who deolare that they are ready to go to prison ? The " illegality" of men who ask for compliance with the provisions of an Act of Parliament ! The " turbulence" of a body , the members of
which , —as a ^ man skilled m oppression says , —may possiblt earn a livelihood ! and yet the viewer who swears it arrives unmolested , swoars without dread , and retires without molestation ! Pooh ! pooh ! The whole thing is nonsense 5 foolish nonsense ; ignorant nonsense ; insolent nonsense ; non-Bense , however , which is pre-eminently calculated to bring about those scenoes of disorder and turbulence which fcha men dressed in a little brief authority thus hope to ( check by taking time by the : forelock and the law by surprize .
We will now examine the case a little more in detail , commencing with the justices . Prior to entering upon the hearing of the case , "Mr . Roberts applied to the Bench for summonses against a viewer to answer why he had not paid Luke Shaw and another , 26 s . a fortnight , to which they were entitled under the bond , because they had refused to work upon a rope which they considered to be unsafe . " To this application , made in tbe very nick of time ; made at the very proper time ; nay , made at the only time when it should have been made , the dispensers of justice eay" that they have met for an
especial purpose and cannot therefore comply with the application . " Thus the case opens with evil forebodings for the men ; while we think we do not ask our readers to strain their powers of credulity by joining with us in believing that if a similar appeal had been made upon behalf of the masters , the special proceedings which they had met to enter upon , would have been delayed for that then more important pnrpoae . However , under such auspices the proceedings commence . Mr . Marshall opens the case , and calls one Hbcci . es , a viewer , to substantiate his several allegations ; and it is therefore with this man ' s evidence that we have most to do—that the magistrates ought to have most , to do , and upon which public opiuion
will be unhesitatingly and unanimously expressed . Should any charge of intemperance , turbulence , or violence be made against the colliers arising out of tho present disagreement with their masters , let the evidence , the direct testimony , of Heccles be read . Not the damning barefaced crimes , the commission of whioh was dragged from him by the able and searching cross-examination of Mr Roberts ; but let his own testimony , pourixaying the constant practice of tyranny pursued by the masters and their subordinates ; let that be read , and every unbiassed man who reads it will arrive at the same conclusion as Mr . Roberts , that tbe masters should have been in the dock and the men in the witness box .
Lei us select , though it is a disgusting duty , some of the scabs from this rotten evidence . "I do not know that any man has been fined £ 1 2 s- 6 d . for two days ; but I don ' t doubt it . I believe men have been fined 8 s ., 7 s ., 6 s ., 5 s ., is ., and 3 s . for a day . That declaration has not been made yet , though it is intended to be . " What does the reader think &t that open , that barefaced , and unblushing confession ! In an English Court of Justice , and in the Cathedral ICity of ' Durham , too ! Why , if Justice had not fled the land , and if the Conservators of the publio peace had done their duty .
and if the witness bad received his due , thejUStlOea would have ordered him to be tied to the cart tail and whipped round the Market-place . What ! < uu- » three shillings a * day , and out of that pay 11 s ., 8 sM 7 s ., fcj ., 5 a ., 4 a ., or 33 ., for fines ! Strange arithmetical process . O , for such a Chancellor to manage our Exchequer 1 The witness goes on to let out more of the pit secrets . The men are accused of a specific crime ; the whole transactions connected with which , should any be of a mitigating ,
exculpatory , or even useable character caunot , however , be divulged until after judgment and execution : for the oath-man b wears : " We make the deductions only when the wages become due , when the fines are increased . I think some of the men have been fined , but I cannot speak positively . I think they have been finedyfor being absent on the day laid in the warrant . We have not fined them for that absence . They were brought up on the 24 ( h oj November , and they * ere not fined for that day . THE
PAYMENTS FOR THAT DAY ARE NOT DUE TILL TO-MORROW . " Now the inference , the only inference , that can be drawn from tbis portion of the evidence is this : that if the case had been adjudicated upon at the then sitting of the magistrates ^ judgment of the Court would not have been final ; for the caso would still have been pending , as far as the equity of it wao concerned ; inasmuch , as the men could not know their fate until the following day ; and could not , therefore , urge the further fines and stoppage of Wages , for acts previously committed , either in extenuation or in vindication .
We trust that should the Irish Attobney-General requires precedents to prove the practice of English Courts of Law , that he will refer the Irish Queen ' s Justices , to the case of the Durham Coal King Justices ; and they will be found strictly analogous . The copy of the caption may be had by Mr . O'Connell and the other Irish traversers when they have been committed to gaol ; or perhaps , as
" with death envy ceases , " the mild and religious Irish Attornet-Geweral may order a list of his murderers to be interred with the lamented Mr . Tybrrll . So precisely with the Colliers . They might have been consigned to gaol on Thursday ; and on Friday , fines of which they could not com * plain might have been levied upon them , and abstracted from their little earnings , while they were ekeing out ibeir time in a dungeon .
Here follows another portion of the evidence of the oath-man : — "If ( he bond be puC into full operation it is rcscSiBLB / or average men to make a living out of it , provided the men do their duty . " This ia not the evidence as reported by oub " tools . ' It is taken from the report of tho masters' " tool" and therefore cannot be supposed to be coloured against them . No matter by whom it has been written , it has been sworn , and that too by a viewer . Let it be read by every honest Colliery-man in England . Let each say to himself— " What , then , does our very existence depend npon a mere possibility *
And aro wo for ever to strain oar eyes—to work our every limb—to distort our body—breathe a loathsome air—liable to casualties against which we cannot defend ourselves—entombed m the bowels of the earth— oar sufferings Bhut out from human eye , while the produoe of our labour ministers to the comfort of ill ; aud yet to be told that , by a bond bearing the mark , but not the signature , of men to whom it may have bean iallaoionsly read , that our verf existence depends upon a bare possibility , and
that possibility a remote one , depending upon the softening of adamantine hearts t" For ouiselves , we say—Perish the bond ! perish the obligation ! tear the inhuman , the tyrannical , the life-destroying document in little atoms i give it to the " wild winds of heaven " . ' and should one perceptible fragment of the unholy hellish contract meet the earth , let it be trampled upoa and buried , in the hope that with it all recollection of such slavery may perish and for ever' ! * If a testator annexes harshor even uncomfortable conditions to a . ibequest , a o * t © i ( equity will re-
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lease the legatee from the performance of those conditions ; and with these bonds , thus stamped as Jew bonds demanding the " pound of flesh , " let Mr . Roberts , ( the able adviser of the Colliers , go forthwith into the Court of Queen's Bench ; and upon the evidence of | Hecglks , and upon tho face of the blood-stained instrument , let'the world , through the preas , know toe hardships whioh those who warm us are subjected to . This will be the way to have a hearing out of the Durham court . This will be the mode of giving it publicity , which will be all that it requires } to give it its death blow . In order , however , to show that the oath-man , is only the executioner ot \ the tyrants will , we submit the following passage from his testimony : — .
" Mr . Thomas Wood is my employer , and he sanctions these proceedings . * { MR . WOOD WA S PRESENT , AND ADMITTED THAT THE WHOLE
OF THE OWNERS SANCTIONED THE PROCEEDINGS ^! . Upon this portion of the ' testimony , we will not , because we dare uot , offer a single comment , further than if Mr . Wood had his due , he would be placed in the stocks , and pelted with rotten eggs , for daring to make snch an { admission in an English Court of Jastice , No wonder that a gentleman of pride and feeling should have replied with , warmth , as Mr . Roberts did ! And no wonder that the whole crow—bench and all , should have mutinied against this honest man ' s honest denunciation of such heartless and cold-blooded villany .
As of course the whole case will be read , and read with peculiar { interest , we dismiss the evidence of the principal ; oath-man with a laugh at that part of his testimonyiin which he swears that the alteration in the beam was made " to get a greater quantity of coal for the money paid . " We can ' t say that the oathman did not believe this ; for that would be to charge him with perjury .- but we may say that so far from believing one word of it , we wonld lay a
round wager that Mr . Wood has put thousands upon thousands of money into his pocket by upjust weights and measures . How laughable to suppose for one moment that a Coal King would pay for more coals than were produced . ' If , however , the same beam which was imperfect , weighed the coals for the men , and ] the coals for the purchasers , we trust that every ; purchaser will use the oath-man ' 8 evidence in an action against Wood and Co ., for deficient weights and measures !
We shall give j a few extracts now from tbe case for the defendants gathered from the able and eloquent address of their advocate , Mr . Roberts . Before opening the legal portion of his case , he makes the following observation , which teaches us the mode uniformly practiced by the justices in such cases . He says :- "But in every case in which he had appeared , except in one case at Gateshead , the prisoners had been committed to gaol . Was it always to be imprisonment , imprisonment , imprisonment , as if the men were all criminals , and the masters all aneels ! Tbe complaint in this case was
against the masters , and in favour of the men . He said that id this case the masters had proved themselves criminal in the eyes of the law , and in fact ; and that ] if justice was done to them , they would find themseivea within the walla of that prison to which they were so eager to send their fellow-men . " That's the way—that's the only way to speak to the clood-blooded ruffians . That ' s the great ! value of Mr . Robsbts to the Colliers' Movement . ] Tbe Masters' cannot buy . him off ; they cannot eat him off ; drink him off ; or frighten him off : while , from his very nature , he
himself cannot separate the feelings of the man from the duties of the advocate . Let it be observed , that this picture is drawn by the professional man who has attended all the oases , and drawn for those who had been parties in all the cases , and it stands nncontradioted . But to come to his legal defence for his clients . He [ states three grounds : That ihe agreement teas unstamped and mcorrcot ; that the men could not under the bond gain a livelihood ; and that the wages were not paid to the men as guaran
teed by the bond at the time when they were called on to answer . " Those are the three points upon which Mr . Robebib relies : the first and third being legal points ; and the ] second a condition from which a Court of Equity would relieve the contracting parties . We woaldlalso direct Mr . Roberts ' s attention to the fact , that only one of the partners appears to have signed the bond on behalf of the masters ; and , furthermore ; that it merely bears the marks , and not the names of the men .
As Mr . Roberts' speech will amply pay for perusal , we now leave the case as far as the law is concerned , and turn to tbe consideration of the-duties which the circumstances impose upon the Colliers . They have placed Mr . Roberts in a situation of great responsibility and not a little danger ; and it becomes our duty to apeak of him as we gather his character from the press , added to our own knowledge of him . While then we should feel as he foels , and fearlessly give expression to those feelings , it should be understood that when he speaks of the men " preferring a strike to the longer endurance of those tyrants to which they are subjected , " that those to whom his words expressed under such circumstances are carried , are not therefore to imply
that Mr . Roberts ' either directly or indirectly , has recommended or given his sanction to a strike . ' On the contrary , he is speaking hypothetically ; and uses the expression ( merely as a caution to the magistrates , and as an hereafter justification for his clients , if they should be driven to the alternative . In this view and no other are his just censures and manly denunciations to be taken ; while upon the other hand the eagerness ot the masters to push matters to an issue , should operate as a caution to the men , and tell them that a strike now , would be a master ' s strike to serve the master's purposes ; a strike , which as announced in the letter of Dixon , and previous notices in the Star , has been concocted by the masters themselves .
The existing union of the CollierB , if judicially managed , may be made the most powerful auxiliary ever yet developed ] in this country on behalf of labour ; while , if ] frustrated by the machinations of open foe jor secret friend , ifc may be made labour ' s grave . Independently , therefore , of our strong sympathy for the Colliers themselves , we attach a general importance to their proceedings .
Theirs is work which cannot be efficiently performed by "knobsticks . " The pickaxe trembles in the hand of the nerveless operative . The atmosphere is certain death to those who have been accustomed to the feverish heat of a rattle-box . Let the Colliers , thorefore , take care that ihe "Supply *' bean some proportion to ihe " Demand , " a * d , in the spirit of " Free Trade" and Political Eionomy , LET THEM NOT 10 DRUO * HB HA . BKBI WITH THBIft
PRODUCE AS TO ENSURE a DIJJIWXJTieK IJf THHR wag es . With a gOjOdkead , such as they have , to direct their united ] body , they have Hothing to fetr ; and therefore , that all may move in nnison and harmony , let the body consult the head . If . it is possible , the power of wealth will be arrayed against the power « fj feboar ; while the exDwimejita now being partially mad « i are merely for the purpose of testing the spirit , the ability , and union of the Colliers . We tr ^ ast , therefore , that the aapport of those who have been driven by the masters into a strike will become the dnty of those whose Tery existence depends u ] pon the roecess or failure of those who have beea driven from labour . The
winter has hitherto been mild ; bat a fall of 6 BQw or a long frost would open the eyes of the tyrants to the value of their slaves . ^ So Buocesaful has the Colliers union hitherto been , that the Tailors , inspired by a like energy , are about aidopting Bimilar means for thee protection of their b <* dy . These signs are evident symptoms of the Resuscitation of Tbades Unions , in a more extensive form , and under more practical management than they have hitherto been conducted ; and therefore the Unionists must anticipate a corresponding increase of vigour on the part of their opponents . " To be forewarned is to be forearmed . " We bare means I ot learning the arrange-
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ments and mach ' t ationa iof the masters which the men hare not ; and those we have never kept Becret from them . We trust that the forthcoming Colliers delegate meeting in Mancnester , will be well attended j and that the proceedings waeerhing which we now write , together with all others that may occur in the meantime , will be taken into the serious consideration of the assembled delegates ; and that none will be appointed to that high and important office except those in whose judgment and honour the whole body , to whom they are known , have entire confidence . Again : we say ,, be cautious ; be
prudent ; be forbearing even in the mid 3 t of oppression which it may be virtue to bear as a means of final correction . The fault of the working classes ever has been that they have confided the management of their affairs to mere red-tape-and-parchmeat attornies , whom the masters found no difficulty in seducing from the interest of their clients . In the integrity , the honour , and the manliness of Mr . Kobebts however rests their security and their reliance ; while without becoming obedience to his instructions even his services would be fruitless and impossible .
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THE BELFIELD FACTORY MONSTERS . In the Second Edition of our last week's paper we gave the particulars of the crowning act of Factory-Lord-tyranny that had ever come under our observation ; an act , which for malignity and pure divilism was never yet surpassed . When concluding our remarks we expressed a hope that some kind friend or other in Rochdale would furnish us with the after-proceedings . That wish has been Well gratified . ¦ A gentleman connected with Middleton ; one conversant with ^ the whoh facts of the case , has kindly communicated with us , and enabled us to lay before the public the additional facts that time has brought to light .
We must premise that our informant is not a "Chartist , " We believe that he does not countenance the principles advocated by the NorIhern Slai . But he knows and feelB that gross injustice has been meeted out to an honest and deserving man ; and ho haa seen that we have appealed to the publio against the tyranny practiced upon the MONSTER'S victim ; and he has with alacrity and kindness furnished us with the additional particulars . We beg of him to accept our best thauks . The following paragraph , " set up" for another part of the paper , is from his pen * We give it here , that the reader may have it more prominently before him ; and judge of the importance we attach to the
case : — ROCHDAI . B . —The Hard Case Again . — -In our last , we gave an account of an hard case which bad occurred in the neighbourhood of Rochdale , and which was copied from the Manchester Guardian of December 6 th . A correspondent who has been present every time it has been brought before the Rochdale Bench , and who is also well acquainted with the whole of the case has furnished ns with the following additional particulars , viz .: —At the Rochdale Petty Sessions , on Monday last , the 11 th inst ., before Messrs . Clements , Royds , Wm . Chadwick , and the Rev . Mr . Cotton , magistrates , and a crowded court , Mr . Chadwiok , one of the
magistrates , asked Mr . Hunt , solicitor , how he had gone on With the Haslingden magistrates respecting the hard case of Joseph Taylor , weaver , Middleton , Mr . Hunt said he went to Haslingden and Rossendale , on Tuesday last , to Mr . Booth , the inspector appointed under the Worsted Act , who , he found , was the acting constable in the execution of the warrant against Taylor . From "himfee demanded ( as Taylor's solicitor J » copy of the warrant , and waa refused ; and , from his refusal and after conduct , he found he was a partizan to the complaining party , Messrs . Benecke and Co ., of Belfield , one mile from Rochdale . He was then necessitated to apply to the Governor of the Gaol
of Salford , for a oopy of the conviotion , from which he found the sole charge against Taylor , ia not as stated in our last , for embezzling the work he had in the loom , which had been stated by John Hudson , alias Harsjreaves , putter-out for the above firm , on tbe Monday previous ; but it was worse than that ; it was for not bringing in his work , after notice so to do , and which he had been prevented from doing , because the pHtter-out had refused either to allow ot sell him any weft ; and it was stated by two witnesses thatheb&i declared he would punish him if he purchased from any other person . Mr . Hunt replied that he should meet in Rochdale that day with Mr . Turner , one of the committing magistrates , Mr .
Hunt did meet with Mr . Turner on Monday afternoon ; and our correspondent waited on Mr . Hunt ) and he told him he had explained to Mr . Turner all the facts of the case , dwelling upon the refusal of the masters' putter-put to supply the poor man with more worsted or weft , though he bad of p ebed to pay roB it , and consequently it was impossible for him to take in the work which the masters were preventing him from completing * and yet they had sent him to prison . Mr . Hunt replied that Mr . Turner appeared to take the matter into his serious consideration , and promised to confer with the Rev . William Gray , his brother magistrate , on the day following . We understand that if the
H&sh ' ngden Bench refuse to liberate him , the respectable inhabitants of both Rochdale and Middleton will lay the whole of the proceedings before the Secretary of State . Black as it appeared in our paper on Saturday , it was much underrated . Taylor is a eiJk-weaver and a florist , or small gardener ; and he has maintained his seven children , and an aged mother , by his weaving and selling plants , &c , without , ever troubling the parish for relief . On Friday last it was found by some neighbours that his aged mother and children were without food : however , poor as the neighbours are , they got them assistance , and applied to the overseer , who instantly gave them relief ; the Rev . R . Diirnford has also
been kind t * the children . It is well known that silk-weaving is the principal trade at Middleton , and at this time the weavers have not half employment , and hundreds are destitute . Had it BOt been for Taylor ' s industry , in his buying and selling plants occasionally , no doubt but he would have been obliged , long ago , to have had parish relief . Persons who know him declare that he was always a very quiet , harmless , sober , honest , and industrious man . The two cuts were arbitrated on , and the Rochdale Bench ordered payment a few weeks ago , which
was 7 s . 6 d ., he having travelled backwards and forwards—that is , from Middleton to Belfield , the residence of his employers , upwards of 140 miles , before he was able to get his wages . There is no doubt but the putter-out , or his masters or some person , has taken advantage ( . if so it may be called ) , m consequence of the Rochdale Bench ordering payment of the wages . Many persons have promised to subscribe , in order to bring the guilty party to justice ; and Mr . Hunt says he shall bring the inspector of worsted to justice for his conduct towards him .
On © thing strikes us as rather queer about tbifl business . The Manchester Guardian , from whose pages we extracted the original " case , " had , oa Wednesday , no further " particulars" respecting it . Re has not given the proceedings before the Rochdale magistrates on Monday last . Those proqeedings v / ere somewhat important . The " case" has mada some noise in Rachdale . He did report it at first : how came he to omit the " further particulars , " so
very interesting to the publio I Has he " put hfe foot ia it , " by reporting the case" at all ! Was he ia the wrong box , ixposing , instead of defending , the gross oppressions of the Factory Kings ? Is this the cause of hig silence ! Haa the hint been given him , or his keen-wented nose apprised him , that he waa not backing-up hia friends" ! Whatever may have been the oau $ e , certain it is that he it now silent , as far as the wrongfolly-oppressed weaver is concerned .
But if he is silent with respect to the mm , sot 80 wkK respect to the masters . Thongh he can » crkb the proceedings before the Rochdale Bench on Monday last , he oan give the MONSTERS " explanation" in the following terms : — To m Editor of ** Manchester Guardian . SlB ,, —In reply to aa article inserted ^ in yon * Wi Wednesday ' * GoarMom , and headed <• H&id Cbs ^ " «« beg to state , that Joseph Taylor having neglefted to briag In bis work , 6 w putter-out , " without any diw « - tions from tw , plaeod the « ase in the hand * of the bh speeto * appointed by the wonted committee , who , afttf having given Taylor the notice required bylaw . app » -
bended him and took him before the magistrates at Haslingden ; bnt we were not aware either of say warrant being out against him , or of his being taken to Haslingden , antil tbe day following thei commitment . We also beg to state , tbatotir putter-dut positively assures as that he never did ref use to sell Taylor - irefl » : urorder to enable Mm to oemplete hta pieces ,: and of wbich ke would net have been short , bad he natspoUe * two former pieces . Oh the other hand , we are informea * and believe he ^ wa » urged by the inapector to fetch tto Weft and complete Mb woxk , and that the inspector alw informed him that if he would go for the weft he woaM obtain it .
m We have enly to add , that on Tayloi'B being releaied from confinement , we shall be glad to have the ca ** fully investigated . We are , Sir , yoHr obedient servants , Per pro Wm . Benecke and Co . F . T . PHH . IPF 8 . Belfield Hall , near Rochdale , 12 ta Dec , 1843-
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THE ADDRESS OF THE SOUTH LANCASHIRE DELEGATES TO THE CHARTISTS OF THAT DISTBICT . BB . OTHKB . Democrats , —Ifc it with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret that we once mere address yon . We feel pleasure at thB proud position weocenpy as an association of men combined together for tbe high aufl boly purpose of combating tyranny in all il 8 varied forms , and thereby showing to the world that "We are actuated by a pnre » piiit ef philanthropy ana patriotism ; proving , incontestably , that vpe have no ot ^ er object in Tiiw but the emancipation of ourselves and ieflOTr-countrynien from the thraldom under "which we and they have bo iorg suffered . Bat we regret the apathy manifested by tbe Various localities in not sending delegates to tbe County Council , -whose deliberatiens have hitherto given a tone to the Chartist movement thronchout tbe empire .
Brethren , it is not unknown to you that this district has been long looked to by the Chartists of England as tbe best org&n ' -Zrd and efficient in tbe movement- But lancasmre—the xenowned Emporium of Di-moeracy—has of late teen apathetic in the cause . We ask bow tbis is 5 There must be some canse . Formerly the excuse waa that we were without a governing head or Executive ConncD ; sucfl ia not the case now ; therefore , there must be seme other reason for apathy and neglect We implore you to snake eff this disgraceful inactivity , and wonae yourselvea to a tense of your duty ;—that by yonr united exertions South Lancashire may again assume its proper standing in the great movement for s nation ' s freedom .
Brethren , the tost of addressing you on this important subject Las so often falien to oux tot , tbat auytbing we can advance , by vray of appealing to your love of country , ¦ would be little more than nseless repetition . Oar baElne £ 3 -sri'Js you sow ia to point out the necessity of baviDg your Delegates prestnt at the County Conference , in ordt-r to adopt some measure to secure tbat object irhich has cost us bo much labour , money , and suffering to carry to its present Btate , and endeavour to mate our association what it ought to oe—a truly national one .
Brethren , " Cowing events cast fcbeir shadows before ; " and if tver there was a time that required tbe lovers of freedom to be on the alert—tbis is tbe time . When we look around snd take cognizance of what is passing in the political world , we behold a blood-thirsty snd liberty-destroying Government endeavouring to take a"way the dearest rights of the British subject—the rigbt to petition , by patting a Btcp to tbe expression of public opinion in cur sister country . Ia tbis a time for us to be asleep ? Kacw to not that if they succeed in putting a stop to the Repeal Agitation in Ireland , tbat it trill be our turn next ? It therefore bebovea us to be prepared for tbe worst , and be in a position to render assistance to our Irish brethren in taia tneir Ums of need ; also to look to otu own Interests .
Brethren , in conclusion , it is our particular desire tbat tacb locality will choose a delegate te attend the Sunlh . Lancashire Conference , to be holden in Bolton on Sunday , tbe 31 st of December , at ten o'clock in tbe fcreBDon ; -when * we trust this call ' will fee respoaded to in a manner ¦ worthy of the men of Lancashire , and tbat each locality -will not fail to instruct their representatives as to ithzt course they would deem it advisable to pur ? ne , in order to carry out tbe views of tbe Executive Csuncil as regards the sending out of missionaries to egitate the country .
The cause is worthy of your every energy . Tbe Btake we play for is tbe emancipation of onr beloved country from the galling fetters of a merciless oligarchy—tbe cold-blooded and grasping avarice of tbe Smokeocracy ; and tbe blighting ibfluence of a plethoric and intolerant priesthood . And as it is tbe intention of tbe Executive to divide South Lancashire into two dUtricte—viz , the Manchester and Liverpool districts , it is indispensably necessary tbat this Conference be attended by at least one delegate from each locality , in order tbat tbe districts nuy be foimed in tbe most compact manner , snd also tbe machinery prepared for tbe working of them with harmony and benefit to tbe cause of justice againBt ic jastice , and of right against might . Trusting that this call will be responded to in a manner worthy of so good a cause ,
We are , Brethren , in bonds , Youxb , in tbe cause of national redemption , C . Filapatrick , J . Ashton , T . Butterworth , D . Donovan , W . Devise , Or . MarsdeD , J . Grime , J . Nuttal ) , 6 . Johnson , J . Simpson . & Taylor . C . Tat £ ob , President . Williah Dixos , Secretary
Ire Kortsere Star Saturday, December 16, 1843. The Past And Present.
IRE KORTSERE STAR SATURDAY , DECEMBER 16 , 1843 . THE PAST AND PRESENT .
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4 TH ? NOjRTHERN STAR , j ^
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 16, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct681/page/4/
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