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THE NOETHEEN STAR. SATT7EDAT, DECEMBEB 28, 1844.
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&o tiraUfro antJ Gromgponttent**
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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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TO . THE RECHAB 3 TES . Giyjxett-v , —The fact of seTeral local associations of Rechal » t « being in existence , and some of them , MI am informed , enrolled by the certifying barrister , placed your case before me in such a complicated form , that I preferred taking the opinion of counsel to relying on my own knowledge of the law . There 35 do question more complicatedthan those connected with the formation of associations of any land , from the feet of our rnlers wishing to guard against a possibility * of sueh a thing aa the existence of a thoroughly legal political association . It is not wonderful , therefore , that great difficulties should stand in he way of the formation of gocieneB of any description or character . These are matters which I candidl y confess that InererliaTe , and perhaps never « ha » measurebr legal criticism , and for this special
reason . If a . society , is erer so legal , and-if any memb « r ,. " « r--anv ¦ number of members , < j £ such society shall commit an illegal act , the legality of the society will not protect the wrong-doer ; nor is it now-a-days , norvfllrterrer again , be lie custom to-prosecute members of anv society for other acts than those committed by themselves . However different Acts of Parliament may prescribe rules under which societies may be made legal , yet , except in very very extreme cases , such-as are not likely io occur , and especially in so excellent , philanthropic , and praiseirorthy-aiody as the Reehabiies , £ he Ikw generally deals wiih individnalsi and not with ihe society . FeeBng , however ; the very great responsibility that advising on your ease wouM impose , from the fact of a great number of statutes beanneupon the Question ,
and not repealed by the Combination Act , being yet in existence , I feifc "that , 1 beet fSiachsrged mj duty V ) the Reciabites by eubmitting-tbeir case to tlie consideratwajiof jcounsel , wh . o had time to reflect , and was surrouBcbd by the requisite authorities . The follow ing 4 s ifce result of Ms very , mature deliberation ; a result which , while it takes some legal technical objectioBs to the constitution of the- society , nevertheless Tgry dearly and forcibly points out those steps by which the body may be made legal , as it is praiseworthy . Trusting then , that you will believe that I have discharged my duty faithfully and effidentljy not allowing iny own vanity or feelings to operate against the interests of the Seehabiies , I remain , your obedient Servant , FiiBGTS O C 0 X 30 B .
ofisios . The ostensible object of the member * of the order of Rechabites seems to he ,- to constitute themselves into a friendly or benefit society ; and therefore it may be better for them to ! conform to the provisions of the two principal statutes upon the subject , the 10 George IT ., e . 66 , and 4 andS TTHKam TC-, c- * 0-By these Aets societies maj be formed for providing refief to members , their lrives , children , relations , or nominees , in sickness , or other natural state or contingency , the occurrence thereof is susceptible of calculation by ¦ wa y of aTerage , or for axy ether purpose which is not illegal / but for all such other purposes the contributions must be kept separate and distinct from the payments required on account of relief in case of sickness , or other natural eontineencv susceptible of calculation ; as aforesaid , or be
raised at the time by extra subscription of the member * . It is not compulsory on theUechabite& to enrol themselves under these statutes ; bnt -whether they do so or not they mnst be legal in purpose and in confutation . Therefore , -whether they enrol or not , I am of opinion that—L They mnst disband the general society , and make each . body a separate sodery , hating no connection whatever ¦ Kith each other , and not being a merebraneh of the parent association . 32 . The members roust not be required to take any oath or engagement , not required-or authorised by law . HL The names of all officers , committee , and delegates most be entered in a book , -which shall be open to the inspection of all the members ( see 39 George III , c 79 , s . 2 , and 57 Georgein ., c 19 , s . 25 ) . IT . 1 thhik , a 3 so . £ hei ? aEiereiice-toarl ! iitratJoi > ( mentioned
in the rules 41 , 42 , 43 ) must not be made compulsory , but "beoffered-as arecommendation and suggestion . T . All'secrecy , "whether by declaration , engagement , or oath , should-be avoided ; and therefore I think it ¦ wottld b * befter tacnnit rule 50 . 3 nt the advantage * wcicS -wovHd accrue to the society by confonnittg to tire Friendly Societies 1 Acts , seem to point to mat course as the best one -which can be adopted . Amang _ thcse ; adTaiitages are the following : — The rales are then binding , and can be legally enforced -, protection is giren to the members and their families against any frandnleiit diKsolQfion of the society , or misappropriation of-its funds ; disputes may be settled { then Tmhontdonbt ) by arbitration : in case of death of members payments under . £ 28 may be -made -without the eipense- of obtaining letters of administration , and all documents , ktu , are exempt from -stamp duty . If the society -adopt this course , they- must , by one of" their rules , ' declare the purposes for which .
they are established , and direct to -what uses the money subscribed , &cv shall be appropriated , and impose a penalty on Its mis-3 ppropnatinn :. flO . George iy c 56 , s .,-3 ); and specify the places at -which thesocie ^ is to meet , liand provide iforthepo-irers andtlnties of the ^ ncm . ten and of committees or officers { 3 d . s . 10 ) , and state the mmibertf officers , the purpose and mode of their election aad period of office ( 2 d . s . 11 ) , and so the number of members oB . -eoxnmittee as well as . their powers ( 2 d . s . 12 ) . The rules also must direct in what manner the consent of the society is to beliad to authorise the treasurer -to lay ont -the finrfs { 2 i s . is ; - and" whether in cases of dispute the reference shall "be-to j-qsQws-of the peace or to arbitra . tors ; andyS to arbitrators , the number of them and mode of election ( 2 & . % . 27 . ) Sone of the arbitrators to be beneficially interesvea in ttic-jQiitSa at ite ^^ M ; ( O 2 > Provision must be made that the treasurer or other p rincipal officer chaTT annually prepare a statement of the -funds , " it , for the use of the . members ; and the sum to be paid for a copy is not to exceed sixpence ( 2 d . s . 33 ) .
1 would advise , however , that the societies should apply for a farm of rnlesijj letter , addressed to " The Barrister appointed to' certify -the rules ofiriendly societies , London ^ - « bd tben hating decided upon them , they must submit t o SiTjamsiers appointed two transcripts of the rales Societies in England , "Wales , and Benriek-apon-Tweed , must submit them to Hr . Tidd Pratt ; in Scotland to the Lord Advocate or the deputy-appointed byTaim : and in Ireland to the-barrister appointed there by the Attorn ey-Genwal -for Ireland . The fee is one guinea . ( 4 and 5 , WiffiainlT-, c 4 O , s . i }~ t Byl 9 Geo . IT ., ( c 5 € ^ s . 4 ) , the barrister , if he refused "K £ gjre a certincate , -was to point out in what respect die
rules TrereTepugnant or unlawful ; and , it appears to me , that this section is still in force , notwithstanding { 4 and 5 . Wnii ™ rV ^ c . 40 , s . S ) ; or , at all er « nts , the barrister should-gire reasons _ . £ ax ' ^^ ga ^^ ' ^ wf ^ f fiim zshjs . 5 , of 10 GeoA IT ., c . 56 . ( which secfiou is certaiuhj in force ) , ' in case - ^ barrister refuse to c ertify all or anj of the rules , the society may submit the . same to the Court of Quarter Sessions , together irttA Hit rta&mt OMymed-fcy tfc < f "barrister w vm Vting for any such rejection or disapproval of any one cr more such rules , and lie justices may in their discre tion confirm and allow the rules . HEtJT MACSA 3 LLBA . Tonple . Dec 17 , 1544 .
It does not appear that the society , if enrolled , will come under the recent Act relating to Joint-Stock Companies { 7 and 8 Tic , c . 110 ) . By s . 2 of that act the term Joint-Stock Company is to comprehend amongst others *• every institutioii enrolled under any of the Arts of Parliament relating to friendly societies , which Institutions *>« M TrmVp assurances on lives or against any contingency inroJring the duration of . human life , to an extent upon one life , or for anT one persun , to an umaunt exceidino ¦ £ 200 . ' - "" Rsfxjl es Loxdos—Thtbsdai Eveobo , Dec . 26 . — The meetings , of this week hare not been many , on account of thefe ^ vMes _ jpf CSiristmas , but at the same t ime fb . e fiepeal SrardensTiave not beenJeas active ; they haveieM their local ^^ committees , an'd preparationa have been madeio carfx « ut the agitatioB of the new year with renewed vigour .
Ghat's Iss Wabd , Albert , Gray ' s- Inn Lane . — The Repealers of this-ward held their weeily meeting on Sunday evening last , and but one sentiment animated them , which was , that the most vigorous exertions should be used for a thorough organisation of the ward in reference to the collection of the sinews of war for the approaching year . ^ Mr . J . Collins , R . W . and "V ., was cafied to the chair , who addressed the meeting , and was followed by Mr . T . R . Reading ILTiy ., who , in a speech of great length , referred to the good that arose from agitation . He showed that ilepeal would benefit the working classes of England as-well asifcose of Ireland . He referred to the conduct of the Marquis of Londonderry in threatening the English colliers with inundating them with Irishmen . Belaid thai he would not use that threat to the honest artizans of England if Ireland had a Parliament . He said it was folly to talk" of putting Ireland upon the same footing as England , when England was crying
out lor justiee from her imperious rulers . The time wasfasiapproaehmgwlhenihemMonBof England and Ireland would demand therr rights in a voice that would notl > e refused . Mr . Reading was loudly cheered . 2 > Ir . Calanan , R . 17 . ^ Bext addressed file meeting ; in the course of aJengtliened speech he said thatthelriah people acted upon the defensive morally , but that it was constitutional to resist aggression , come from where it may . Mr . T . G'Callagnan , ft . W . { Cork ) , t ^ Ti . followed , and addressed -the meeting in bis usual eloquent style . In the coarse of his speech he stated that fee principleshe hadjost adduced might be called Chartis ^ rinciples ; ifso ^ JQhehadtO 8 aywas , they were good . He was perfectly right in adopting tie prinaplesxf any-party to carry outiis own . He had been adTocating ' tQe eanse ibr the last eighteen years . He then condemned the Catholic Bequests Act as a mea--sure fraught with injustice towards the Catholics of Ireland ^ -Several were enrolled .
MooKFTKtDs "Wabd , Brown Bear , Eldon-street , Moorfields . —On Suhdav evening last Mr . J . O'Brien , R . TT and V ., preadei The whole of the eveniiig was occupied in denouncing the evil tendency of the CatholicBeguests BiE , upon which the chairman dwelt at considerable length with his Bsual eloquence . " Mr . MintonwillpTedde on Sunday evening Bert . 6 aA 2 TAsTyABD , TrhiteLidn , DruryLane . ^—On Sunday ejeninj ^ ast Mr . Horgan , R . W ., wasin the chair . After reading the late proceedings of the Association , the jjbamnan dwelt at great length on the benefit tiutbictaiHiifoaia receive u > uie rweptau oeveiai
- ^ . wereeHTplled ; after which the meeting adjourned . Joss J 0 ! Coxxkul TYabd , Temperance HaB , Seymom * -Bferefit ,. Somer 8-town . —On Monday evening last ameetingwasheld jbutwasnotso numerouBiyattended , onac «» nrtx > f . ite near approximation to Christmas , ilr . " ^ t ^ -0 'CoBnell ( Inspector-general ) and Mr . "W \ J > unae > iB . l ? . . attended in tie early part of the evening , tnitffid not stay ,, expecting there would not bea meeting--vAfter a . ahort time Mr . . JBggihs , K . ' W . ¦ was cafled to the chair , and Mr . Eooney , R . T 7 ., rea < the late proceedings at the Conciliation Hall , Dublin , and called the . attention fit the meeting particularly to th&'iBpeeeli "" jrfIhe' Liberator on the disturbed state of the- eounSes of Lefeim and Cavan , and- _ Mr . S . O Br 5 en sletter ' on thesame subject . The meeting then adjourned .
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Rothibhjthe vvabd . —A numerous meeting of this ward was held on Sunday eveningat the Rose and Summer , Paradise-street ; Mr . J . WMte , R . " ^' " presided . The proceedings of the late meeting of the Association were read by Mr . M . Casserley , R . W ., and sixty persons enrolled themselves as associates . A Tote of thanks was p&BBed to the chairman , and the meeting separated . Bbhjhtoh Conciuatios Wabd . —On Sunday , the 15 th , a most numerous meeting of this ward was held at the Thistle , Middle-street . Mr . Johnson , a Scotch gentleman , was in the chair . He opened the business of the meeting by emphatically calling on those
present to rally under the moral banner of Repeal Mr . Bowmer . an Englishman , denounced the Catholic Bequests Bill . Several extracts were read from the Association reports . And it was announced , amidst loud cheers , that the Repeal Reading Room would be opened on the first Monday of the new year . Mr . Guinness , of Dublin , will preside at the next meeting . Ox Suxdat , Jas . 5 , a large meetingwill be held at the Prince ' s Head , Prinoe ' s-street , Westminster , at which Mr . W . O'ConneU , Inspector-general , Mr . W . Dunne , R . W ., Mr . 0 'Malley , R , W-, and others will attend .
~ ? Moke Mcbdebs is Ireland . —Ddbxjs , Dec . 18 . —<¦ Private letters have been received in town this afternoon , stating that Mr . John Carden , of Barnane , near Templemore , in the county of Tipperary , was yesterday shot dead near Ms residence . A letter from Athboy states that an attempt at assassination ^ ras made in that neighbourh-ood . An extensive grazier , whose name I have not learned , went out yesterday evening , accompanied by Ms brother , to look at some cattle , when they were fired upon . The brother , it is stated , was wounded .
Case op Grim Cos . —Mttllet . v . Lloyd . —Cocht of Exchequer , Satckdat . —This was an action brought to recover damages for criminal intercourse with the plaintifTswife . Tne defendant pleaded notguilty . The damages were paid at £ 2 , 000 . The defendant is the well known , proprietor and publisher of Lloyd ' s Wteldy London Ifeuttpaper ,, the Penny Sunday fimet , and several similar publications of the Greenacre school The defendant , who is some years older than the plaintiff , and has a wife and two children , was on terms of intimacy with the latter , wlo is a papermaker , and supplied Lloyd with paper for Ms
publications . The wife of theplantiff is the mother of four children . Mr . Serjeant Talfourd stated the case to the jury , and called witnesses , whose evidence left no doubt of the defendant ' s guilt . Mr . Cockburn , counsel for the defendant , admitted the fact that his client and the plantiff ' s wife were at the present time living in adultery . His address to tie jury seemed to be wholly " directed to the reducing the damages which the jury might grant the plaintiff to as small an amount as possible . The Lord Chief Baron summed up , and the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages £ 760 .
The Noetheen Star. Satt7edat, Decembeb 28, 1844.
THE NOETHEEN STAR . SATT 7 EDAT , DECEMBEB 28 , 1844 .
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OCR PAST POLICY . Tbi closing of the old , and the coming in of the TSevr T ear , is a period that inrariahly gives risejto much reflection , -whether it runs in the direction of pleasurable reminiscences of the past , orflattering anticipations of the future . Families , friends , relatives , acquaintances , and customers , are at that period brought into closer contact ¦ with each other . " Stock Is taken , " as it -were , of the past ; and a kind of balancing of accounts takes place . Old friendships are rer tTed ; new associations formed ; and fresh alliances made . The present is not , therefore , an inappropriate time for us to talk oTer past eTents with our old friends , with -whom we ha-re been in -weekly communication . We hare headed this article
OUI TABT roLlCY , as the text -whereon -we -would ground our present discourse . "We hare selected the theme because it was one that gave rise , not long since , to angry 'bickering amongst frieads , that created sorro-w in the minds of our Whig foes , antl led the Tory party into the anticipation of results which hare not been realized . At the last general election public opinion ' was -waTering between renewed hope ] in Whiggery and diminished dread of Toryism ;
while the prisons vrere filled -with the leaders of that section of society upon whose decision the contest between rival factions mainly depended , little time -was allofred to the forgiving multitude for reflection ; and the ¦ Star , as the acknowledged organ of the people , was appealed to , and fearlessly took upon itself the responsibility of recommsn / Jinc t >>» < w «^ -r . / -rinn of th e old , the active , the cruel , and untiending foe , without inspiring any , the slighest , confidence in their victorious enemy .
Our policy , instead of being termed Anti-Whig , was designated "PBO-TOBT . " The walla of every borough , to-svn , and cm , were covered with " Chartist delinquency . " The columns of the "Whig press teemed -with rabid " denunciation of the Tory Chartists ; " and the mouth of er « ry disappointed demagogue , " political pedlar , " and Whig lickspittle , foamed again with frothy rage , against those ¦ whom chains had not con-rinced , whom the dungeon had not enlightened , or the tread-wheel made more pliant . In vain was another trial besought for those whose whole career was marked by treachery disappointment , and fraud . In vain was the bugabooism of old Toryism presented to the affrighted
imagination-In vain was the attempt to reconcile us to what the "Whigs had done , by assurances of what the Tories , if in power , would do . "VTe judged positively , and not comparatively ; we felt and saw the positive inflictions under which every class of society , from the monarch to the worhhouse pauper , writhed . We saw in the palace a kind of seraglio , and a -very young , and , we believe , a very estimable woman , subjected to the contaminating influences of hereditary debauchees , reckless speculators in female pliancy , and polit ical traffickers eren in a youthful woman ' s fame . "We saw class fed upon class the influential classes fed upon the -unprotected . "We saw the rents made oy innovations patched up , or daubed over ,
with novelties still more startling , to make the thing last our time . " We saw national bankruptcy staring an impotent Ministry in the face . "We gawthe Prime Minister of the greatest nation upon earth lolling in luxurious ease , and relying on the subservient support of a compact and ^ unprincipled section of Irish liberal place-hunters , tide-seekers , and hacks , through whose subserviency he vainly hoped to resist the growing genius of the nation . It was at rueh a time that we-were called on to decide between this monster evil and the worst substitute that could be presented in human form . "Well , the result of our . policy has been canvassed from that period to the present : and yre now find those who
jrere amongst the bitterest of our re-filers adopting it as their role of action . And although we have had more than threeyears of Tory sway , we cannot find a single tongue of the old flattterers to wag in favour of pitiful Whiggery I N ay , more , not a crime charged upon the Tories that is not met by a heavier charge against the Whigs , and in the -very same direction too . Ireland was the hot-bed of Whiggery ; devoted exclusively to the recruiting service of the " patronage administration f and therefore the acts of "Whig and Tory , with reference to that country , may be very fairly relied on as tests of their respective fitness to govern . If , then , we take a review of Pxxi /«
Church policy , Education policy , or Catholic policy , we find no difficulty in awarding to them a very great advantage over the Melbourne policy in the same departments . Peel has struck the " heavy blow and deep discouragement " which Milbocbne merely aimed at the Protestant Church ., He has carried out the national system of education to an extent frightful to the old Kildarestreet grub-worms ; while if we are to believe the Right Hev . Dr . 1 i . WB . A f , —and upon matters of fact we have no reason to donbt the veracity of that prelate , —we learn that the Catholic clergy of Ireland petitioned the TVbigs in 1840 . . for a bill similar to that entitled " The Catholic Bequests Bill , " passed during the last Session of
Parliament : and as that measure is one upon which ilr . O ' Cojnrau has endeavoured to establish another " great grievance , '' let us st-e what the Bight Rev . Dr . Mubbay , a man whose zeal in the faith of his church cannot be disputed , says upon the subject : — " Yobs- memorialists therefore entreat that the Board of Irish Charities may be rendered more generally useful and popular , by the introduction to it of Roman Catholic com-Tnissifmers , or by some other measure which may have a tendency to place their charities -upon the same footing as those of their Protestant fellow-countrymen . '
Thus spoke the assembled prelates of your church in 38 tO . Their prayer could not then be heard ; but the recent Act appears to have been intended to grant all that we then sought . It admits to the Board of Charitable Donations and Bequests -Roman Catholic commissioners in sufficient number to check any adverse influence which might be attempted regarding the application of Catholic charities ; and it takes away the , dangerous power enjoyedj ) j . the . former board , of alienating , under certain circumstances , Catholic bequests from the "known objects contemplated by the testator , ' and of applying them to purposes which / if living , he would abhor . -So far our prayer has been granted . The state of insecurity injwhich onr charities were plaoed has been remov # d « t
Now , we never iifteTfere in mere matters of religion ; but when we find more than one Roman Catholic Prelate , and even Repealers , hailing at a measurewhich their friends the "Whigs , refused , surely It is not too much to say that even in this direction the Torvism of Peel has gone farther
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than the liberality <> f Meibourke : while we may further ad < i , that Mr . O'Conhew / s opposition is altogether at variance with his " instalment principle . " Either that , or the distinguished Roman Catholic Prelates who have nndertaken the duties of Commissioners must stand charged with" apostacy . Another result which we anticipated from a large Tory majority , was the inevitable contention and strife to which | t would lead in the Tory ranks ; whereas , if Sir Robebt Peel had so smalT a majority that a few sectional Whig triumphs might convert it into a minority , dread of "Whig
restoration would make mt supporters & % pliant and subservient as thoBe to whom MxLBonnfE so long owed his situation . Do we not then daily find our predicting fulfilled i and has not , we ask , the very result which we anticipated been realised in the independence manifested by & section of Tories in the House of Commons on the Ten Hours Bill , the Masters and Servants Bill , the Poor Law Amendment Act , and though last not least , the Sugar Duties , when Cobdin and Co . were obliged to do ' for Pekl what in his strength his own supporters refused to do for hJTn 1
Add to these incontrovertible proofs , the fact of Eussell's altered tone ; the damning fact , that while session after session , the little Lord , with national bankruptcy staring him in the face , denied the existence of poverty , now , enlightened by the loss of ofiice , has discovered that the working classes should hare not only a larger amount of the necessaries of life , but also their fair share of the luxuries . If our " pro-Tory" policy had produced no other result than tkat of such a conviction upon such a Malthusias mind , it was worth all , and more , of the vituperation , dirt , and slander that has been heaped upon us for recommending it . And although , when such another ocasion presents itself , we shall , in any alliance to be formed , give the preference to candidates of
the most liberal character , —yet we shall not be intimidated from urging the claim , and pressing the return of a Chartist candidate , even at the expense of being a colleague of a Tory , if that be the only means to secure him . Hence we shew that our policy was pro-Chartist , ( and not pro-Tory : and that , by recommending it , we sought the means of destroying the active enemy in power , and of sowing those seeds of dissension among the Tory ranks . which are yearly presenting us with such an abundant harvest of strife in the body . And eurely , if " divide and conquer , " has been the maxim on which factions have relied for the subjugation of Democratic principles , we are not much to blame for having caused no small share of contention in the ranks of our opponents . So much for our much-reviled " pro-Tory" policy .
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ANOTHER NIBBLE AT " NATIONAL FAITH . " THE rCXDEOLDE ! AGAIN SUBJECTED TO THE MINISTERIAL " 8 QCEEEZI 1 " Thb " screw" is to be put on again . " National faith " is to be kept with the Fundholder , by breaking faith with him , and reducing his rate of interest . The Three-and-a half per Cents , have been reduced to three . A " saving " out of " national faith , " of 6 ome two-and-a-half or three millions , has been effected on one class of the Fundholders : and now another class is to take its turn , and experience the benefits of this " cheapening" age in a " cheaper" rate of payment , even though the " lives and fortunes" of the property holders were pledged and signed , that the lenders of the means to put down " Jaoobin prineipUt" should be paid to the uttermost farthing '
The warning-note has been eounded . Intimation of the approaching " squeeze" has been given . The Minister has tent forth the announcement of his intention , that he may see the efect produced on the " holders" ( under " national faithV' ) before the time for sacrifice arrives . Pixx . is a cicriorjB man . He generally feels bis ground before lie ventures to tread . He trie 6 the temper of the public mind before he dares to strike : and the force of his blow is generally just that which the ill-conditioned recipient can bear , and no more . Peel adroitly manages to make " events" first knock the " powerful interests" he has to deal with , down ; and then he hits as hard and as
foully as he can while they are under . He has thus dealt with the Orangemen of Ireland , and the rampant adherent * of " Protestant ascendancy . " Tt is thus he aealt with the " Kildare-street" proseletUing crew , by setting aside their exclusive pretensions , and hoisting over their head the really useful and liberal system of Irish national education . It is thus he has dealt with poor ifOlACf" cnurcn in me um vc u ><> Cutholir Bequest Act , recognising , by statute , the existence of Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland , and conferring on the Romish Church in that country advantages in connection with the'bequeatbment of land for the use of
the Church not enjoyed by the " Holy Mother" " ours" herself ! It was thus he acted towards the " landed interest" in the matter of the Tariff , making them , themselves , the unwilliDg instruments of their own destruction . It was thus he dealt with the Country-Bankers in 1819 ; and again with them and the Joint-stock Banks , in his Bank Charter Act of last Session , / in which he laid down principles which will close every one of them as Banks of issue ; aye , and even the " old Lady of Threadneedle-street" herself , and ultimately establish one only " National Bank" for promissory noteB , if any at all . It was thus he acted towards the railway companies just before the last breaking up of Parliament , -when he hurried on the " Railway
Regulation Bill , " embodying principles which , when " worked out / ' will destroy the huge separate monopolies that now exist , with their arbitrary , unsound , ill-advised , fflTberal , selfish and grasping systems of management , and take the whole direction of internal communication , whether by rail , turnpike-rOad , or canal , into the hands of the General Executive , to be managed for general and public benefit . It is this course of conduct he has invariably pursued towards all that he has had to deal with , " friends" or foes , and his " fr iends" have generally had to fare the worst : and this course of conduct he seems disposed to continue to the end of his tether . His " friends , ' . ' the " holders" of the Three-per-Cents ., cannot therefore wonder that their turn has at length come !
That turn has come ! They may writhe , and wriggle , and fume , and ST ^ t , and whine , and complain : but all to no use ! They may prate of " national faith " ¦ being pledged to them ; of the solemn engagements made with them , that , come weal come woe ; come fire , come water ; come plenty , come famine ; come national existence or national destruction , they should be borne harmless ; they should be scatbless ¦ : they may remind Peel of the signing away to them of the " lives and fortunes " of the nation ; putting the properties of all ^ in pledge : they may do all this , but all in vain ! Their hour has come ! They quietly and laughingly suffered and aided the passing of the Small-JTote Suppression and the Bank-Restriction-Abolishing Bill of 1819 , by which theib " holdings" have
ever since been doii&tei in real value ; and which bill has , in its operation , reduced hundreds of thousands to b eggary , sent hundreds out of existence by their own band , and caused universal confusion and dismay throughout the land . They " aided and abetted" in the enactment of that measure which has made it necessary to resort to an Income-tax ^ in time of peace , causing the Queen on the throne to pay sevenpence ont of every pound the nation " affords" her , even when her own private " calls" demand the money elsewhere ! They administered the poisoned cup to others : the chaliee is now rtturningto their own lips ! They have robbed , and robbed , and robbed , and helped to rob , others , without mercy or cessation : and now itis THEMSELVES thatbave to submit to
" robbery , " however hardly they may take it ! The announcement of the Minister ' s intention to filch came before the public in rather a queerish fashion . Peel did not employ his own " organs" to promulgate the fact . He did not whisper it in Granny * ear , nor tell it to the official Standard . He went a more " cautious" way to work . He got the " ball of horse-dung" to do his bidding —the dirty , stinking Globe . This was discreet . If the threatened onslaught on " national faith" should raise " a pother" before which it might be desirable to retreat , the back-door was open . A hint given , and Grandmother , with spectacles -high on nose , would have shaken her " mob-cap" at the " unscrupulous Ministerial opponent " who could seek to do damage to the " strong" and
"honest" Government at the expense of the most sacred interests , even that one involving the " /»» &'' of the nation it 6 elf !—while the less sedate but more vindictive Standard wouldhave cudgelled away in right good earneBt , Irish fashion , giving its own side two blows fox the one made to reach its opponent : and the enduring Globe would have borne this lecturing and this trouncing with most wonderful magnanimity , never retorting nor even repining , but contenting itself with faintly hinting ttiat "its source of information was first-rate , " and "that the Minister had seen good reason to abandon , for the present , the intention he had entertained . " Peel , who is well known as one of the artful sort , knows this game well enough : and so accordingly he went to his opponent , the Globe , to get the "ice broken ' as to his intention to
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Muse " national faith ; to be broken too . This was done in the following words : — It is currMtlY reported , and generally believed , that the Chancellor of tne Exchequer , having met with no opposition in the reduction of the Three-and-a-Half per Cents ., intends proposing the reduction of the Three per Cents ., ou the meeting of Parliament . It was matter of iddifference to the utterers of this notice , that the terms of it were untrue . It mattered not that the notiee itself was to raise the " report" of which it spoke as being " current , " and " generally believed" when it was not known of at all : it mattered
not-all this : the . authors of it had a work to do ; and they adopted the means that seemed likely to accomplish it . Your " statesmen" afe ^ never nice . A good " white lie ' , or two has been of infinite service when the truth would have been destruction , on many occasions ; and those who can sit coolly down in the Cabinet , and balance human life in myriads against personal ambition and party ascendancy , giving up sentient beings to sacrifice to gratify the ambition and maintain the ascendancy , are not the men to boggle at truth when falsehood will serve the purpose better . So far from this same "
report" being " generally believed , " the first announcement of it came like a thunder , clap on the monied interests , and caused sundry wry looks and ominous shakes of the head " on 'Change ; " all , however , accompanied by a mannerism that but too plainly indicated the fear that resistance would be useless . The " men on 'Change" know full well that they are doomed ! that their fate is certain , spite of all the cant about " national faith" that can be raised . They know that it is but a question of time : a few months sooner or a few months later . They may , and will struggle oto prolong that time :
" But come it will for a' that !" and the sooner the better for the producing millions , whose heart-strings have been torn out to keep the bundle of injustice , called " national faith , " tied together ! But what are the disciples of " Will . Cobbett " about , now that all these things , of which he so accurately foretold , are coming to pass ? Are they not anxious to uphold the character of their teacher , and vindicate his
memory before his countrymen , whose sufferings he could have averted had his advice been listened to ; and whose dangers and difficulties he would have prevented ? Is Peel to be allowed to en ibody in practice every one of Cobbett ' s suggestions and plans , without his eyes meeting the Gbidibon , gilded in token of the triumph ofj its master ? Is the feast of the gridircm never to be '¦ had ? Or are the friends of Cobbett content that the statute-book should contain the evidence
that their teacher was alone the true-man ; and that after etaving-off as long as . expedients would at all serve , to him were the " statesmen" that had sneered , and scoffed , and taunted , in their day of pride aad power , obliged to como at last ! Well ! perhaps it is as well that it should be so ! Unseemly glorification could do little good—and might do much harm : while the " deeds of the day" are the best vindication of the political wisdom and foresight of the author of " Paper against Gold" that could by possibility be furnished . The condemnation of this enactors of Peel ' s Bill without eqcitablb adjustment , Is written in every statute- that is now passed affecting finance : and the most just retribution of all is , that Pekl , the author of the measure of 1819 , is forced , by circumstances , to be the Registrar ! What more would even Cobbett himself have desired 1
Great sensitiveness was manifested in tho year 1834 , in the House of Commons , that the masterly resolution moved by Mr . Cobbett , setting forth the facts connected with the enactment of Peel ' s Bill ; the gross injustice it had inflicted , how tho coarse had been persevered in , in spito of warning and earnestful remonstrance ; how caution had been set at nought , and advice , insolently rejected : great sensitiveness respecting this resolution was manifested and a motion oarried that it should be erased from the journals of the House—the voters for such motion fondly hoping that by such act they could annihilate all record of the facts ! And , since then , Peel himself has come down to the House with a measure to tax the Queen ' s salary , and tax the salary of every officer of state ! Since
then Peel has proposed a Bank Charter Ad , which gives warning to the infringtrs on " the Queen's prerogative to coin , " that their days are numbered ; and that they must " set their house in order ! " Since then Peel has proposed the reduction ot the Threc-and-a-half per Cents , to three ; or , in other words , proposed the reduction of the interest of the National Debt!—a good step towards equitable ADJUSTMENT itself ! and now , at this moment , he is contemplating another step in that same direction , by tackling the greatest section of " holders" mere are ,- — the Three-per-Cents , —reducing them , as we suppose , to fwo , or two-and-a-half ! These things cannot be blotted out " of the records of the House" if Cobbett ' s resolution could ! and in them , those who have Cobbett ' s memory in charge , have more than a triumph !
From all this the people have much to learn . They learn , first , the value of perReverance . The very plans now adopted by Peel were per $ eeuted . do \ vn only a few years ago . They learn , second , that THE THING is tottering toitefall ! They learn that the several orders of the state who have hitherto battened on the people ' s toil , and devoured up their whole substance , are now at work devouring each other ! Tboj learn that tho lands are at the funds ; that the mills are at th © lands ; and that the Minister is at them all ! They learn , thereforo , to be watchful and ready ; for "THE END cometh like a thief in the night , " Well will it be for those that are prepared !
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To odb . Scotch Readers . —This being Christmas week , it was impossible to make the required alteration in the despatch of papers for \ Scotland . Next week , however , ¦ we hope to be ablo to comply with the request of our northern friends , so that the Star will sirrive in Aberdeen on Saturday ; and in other parts _ of Scotland at an earlier hour than at present . 0 ns Agents and Subscribers will bear in mind that this number completes the quarter ; those agents who do not pay their accounts , and those subscribers who do , not renew their subscriptions , will not receive papers . AoBwis and Booksellers wil ] please to notice , that all orders for the Star , and advertisements , rnus ? be addressed as under : —
" Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., Northern Star Office , 340 , Strand , Londoa . " Remittancee , whether by Bank or Post-office Moneyorders , must also be addressed in the same manner ; and tho orders made payable to Mr . O'Connor . Post-office Orders must be made payable at th « Post Office , No . 180 , Strand . Attention to these instructions will prevent disappointment and save much trouble . Lettebb to Leeds . —Several of the agents continue to
. address their orders to Leeds , as though unaware that the paper had been removed to its present place of publication . Their orders have been unattended to in consequence . We have given plain directions for them how to proceed ; where and whom to address to ; and it is their fault if they do not comply with them . Let I them remember that aU order ) for the paper , and all payments of money , should be addressed to Mr . O'Connor himself , at the Publishing Office , 840 , Strand ; and all Post-office Orders made payable to that gentleman , at the Post-office , 180 , Straud .
Tbe Oldhah Miners . —Their intelligence , though bearing date Dec . 25 , did not reach us till Friday morning , the 27 th , which was too late . Manchester Correspondent .- —We cannot manage his Ia 6 t communication in this number . Frauds on the Workers in the Hosiery Trade . — We have often had to complain of , and expose , the i downright robberies committed on the workers by the arbitrary system of fines and deductions that has become so general in almost every department of manufacturing labour . Through its operation a workman nowa-days scarcely ever knows what his income really will be , until he has passed the " ordeal" on Saturday night , and learned the amount set down against him in the " bating book . " Instances are not uncommon
where the whole expenses of superintending and " overr looking" a large manufacturing " concern" are made up out of what is filched from the understood earnings of the parties employed at actual work ; and managers have been known to have been dismissed from their situations , because their consciences would not permit them to rob aa mu < jh fpom the poor slaves under them as the employer demanded . In some instances an average amount , made up as the over-lookers please , — from this or that source , this or that man , —is expected . In tfifl factory districts the fraud is perpetrated by actijj ^| . deductions from , the amount understood to be earned : in the hosiery-andJace-weaving
districts the system of charging rent for the frames on which the poor toilers work , obtains ; which " rent " is r igidly exacted whether the frame ^> e occupied by the renter" or not . This plan is quite as efficacious as the other for getting direCSLy froin the workman the wages of labour , as the following facts , promulgated by the chairman of the Nottingham Board of Guardians , but too abundantly prove $ — " When acting at the board of guardians in this town I frequently take memoranda of thecases ofabuse ^ so common in the hosiery trade , which come under my notice . I consider that all such memoranda may be useful , if there should ever be an inquiry into these matters . I allude particularly to the practice of letting framta to the poor workmen at
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j Is . 3 d . or Is . fid , a-week , then " st inting" their employment , and still exacting every payment , just as if they were in full work . I send you two caBes—one by way of illustration , and the other because it is the climax of this species o ^ petty larceny . A week's work—One dozen pair of drawers , 7 s . Cd . —Deductions—frame rent , Is . 6 d . ; taking-in , yd . ; winding , 6 d . ; candles , 3 d . ; needles , 2 d .-, fire , ld . : —total , 3 s . 8 d .: —net earnings , is . 3 d . In full jwork the same man would make two dozen pairs at 15 s ., and the deductions would be no more than 3 s . 6 d . ; consequently he would earn lie . 6 d . aweek . Thus the operatives are pauperised for the advantage of a middle-man between the master manufacturer and the workman . The second is ' what poor man stated to be his own case last week—I need not say it is onejthat can very seldom occur . He was only allowed to make two pair of hose at ls . 6 d . ; deductions—frame rent , Is . 3 d . ; fire , 3 d .: —total , Is . 6 d .: —net
wages , Os . Od . ! Jj I remain , sir , your obedient servant , the Chairman . I Nottingham , December i 7 th . —Truly does the chairman of the Guardians characterise the practice . It is larceny ! and if there was not " one law for the rich ' and another for the poor , " the nlchers of the earnings of the workmen in the frames would be sent where the ^ filcher 6 of pocket-hankerchiefs , and snuff-boxes are j sent , when caught . It has been established that all such charges are illegal . The Truck Act requires that the wages of the worker shall be paid in the current coin of the realm ; and not so much for " rent , " and the rest , if any , in money . Cannot the chairman induce his brother Guardians and the rest of the kindly disposed of his class , to form themselves into an association to enforce tlie law against the robbers 1 Associations for the prosecution of felons are common enough amongst the holders < of property ; cannot we have one to visit the " penalties of the statute " on those who commit " petty larceny " ou the earnings of the labourers' ?
Subscriptions ros the Haswell Sufferers . — -We received the following list of subscriptions from Mr . Roberts previously to removing from Leeds , but too late to be acknowledged in tliat week ' s Star . It was put away among other papers for transmission to London , and has but just now turned up again . We therefore now give it ;—W . P . ( Roberts , Esq ., begs to acknowledge the receipt of the following sums , which he has received by Post-office orders , and paid to Mr . Martin Jude , Trjtfc surer : From Mr . H . Lafarque ' s pupils ( teacher of languages ) , West-Street , Wakefield , in addition to £ 3 previously remitted , per Mr . Sutherland , 13 s . t >< l . ; from the miners of Darleaton , per Joseph Cope , 7 s . 9 ( 1 . ; from Cleater Moor colliery , near Wfcitehaven , per John Harrison , secretary , £ 1 16 s . 6 d . ; Charti 6 ts of Bath , 6 s . 6 d . Case op Mr . Thomas Pbeston . —A Correspondent , signing himself J . Earl , -writes us to say , that " Calling at No . 12 , Shire Lane , Temple Bar , the residence of . the long tried patriot Mr . Thomas Preston , I was surprised
as well as hurt to find the good old man lying on the flo or without bed or bedstead , with only a rug to cover him . " He desires us to recommend this case of extreme destitution to the attention of the London Chartists , who he is sure will extend the hand of aid to sooth the sorrows and distress of a brother fast travelling to the grave . The fact as to his present actual condition is nojtv before them : let them acquit themselves as duty prompts . •* R . P ., SouthwarK . —If he have a bargain with his landlord that the landlord is to pay the rates , whatever the amount of them are he must pay . If he has been assessed too loyv hitherto , he has been favoured at the expense of thejrest of the parish . Let not R . P . hesitate about enftlrcing his claim for the vote . By law he ought to have it ; let him seek for what the law gives him that he may use the power he thus acquires to the obtaining of a | like right and power for every man . Never mind the landlord and the rates . If these are
higher in consequence , through the splenetic feeling of the parish-officers , the fact will only Bhow him the necessity of supporting Mr . Duncombe in his endeavour to obtain , ! a repeal of the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Act , and thus put it out of the power ofpartizan overseers , or other parish officers , to restrict the franchise by threats of iacreased rates to those who seek to exercise a right the law confers on them . Will R . P . favour Mr . Duncombe with the facts of the case he mentions to us , giving the name of the official who so far forgot his diity as to try to intimidate him from getting on the register by a threat of increasing his rate ? W . Fairbairn , WednesbuRT . —The election of churchwardens on any day in Easter week is legal , if due and
sufficient notice ^ has been given of the meeting . Such notice however" ought to be affixed on , or near to , the door of every church and parochial chapel in the parish . Inattention to this ^ particular , renders not only such a meeting , but every vestry meeting , illegal ; and all the business done thereat may be set aside on an appeal against the rate . —When the churchwardens asked for a new rate they ought to have produced their accounts to shew how the old rate had been expended , and to convince the parishioners that a new one was necessary . They should have shewn why they deemed it advisable to lay a rate at bo much in the pound . A neglect- to do these things would justify the parishioners in
refusing to grant a rate . —If the meeting was an illegal one , all the motions , amendments , or resolutions in the world would not make it legal . —A poll can be demanded by any parishioner , after a shew of hands on « ni-rrnpnoitinn has been taken . Indeed , such is the only proper time . It does not rest vritn the churchwardens to either consent or refuse . The chairman of the meeting is the party to take the poll , giving due notice , and making due arrangements , that every parishioner may ; if he likes , register his vote . A refusal to grant a poll ; when duly demanded , invalidates arate ; and our correspondent would do well to refuse to pay , and appeal , i
Alex . Chriohton , Arbroath . —A Jew , if he be naturalized , can hold property , and will or devise it , tbe same as any other Englishman : if he bt > an alien , he can do neither one ' nor the other . But a Jew , so long as he retains the feith of his forefathers , cannot be a privy councillor , nor fill any of the offices of state . He cannot even become , as we have recently seen , a member of tho gorinandizing club , the London Court of Aldermen . Holders of these offices have to take oaths that they will faithfully perform their duties : and this
they do " on the good faith of a Christian . " As the Jew necessarily abjures Christianity as an imposture , faithfulness toi his creed will not permit him to swear by " ours : " and for his faithfulness he pays the penalty of exclusion , j Maugrc all this , the Jew has the high and inestimable privilege of fleecing a Christian whenever he can catch him . As the latter is an infidel to the faith of Abraham , and a dog for being taken in by the rank impo ' sture of the pretended Messiah , it is only fair to ease him of this world ' s goods , which should alone be conferred on the " chosen race . " Ever since
Moses and hisj followers set the example of getting the gold and silver vessels of the Egyptians , by what the Americans would call " eharp practice , " the Jews in all ages have tried closely to imitate H . They have set their hearts on obtaining a good share of the precious metals either fby hook or by crook ; and pretty successful they have been . J . Gf . writes as follows : —For a considerable time I have felt the want of a political library , or books treating on the various bVanches and machinery of government . To supply this want I would suggest that our executive issue recommendations to the ingenious advocates of our cause , j requesting them to write a short article on a given topic ; such articles to be subjected to a committee for selection and preparation for the press .
Simple and concise articles on logic , grammar , composition , and perhaps elocution , would be found very useful ; and froni numerous enquiries that I have made , I think would ensure a large sale , especially if the proceeds were tofbe devoted to our cause . Information on the above topics is far out of the reach of working-men . It is generally found in expensive treatises ; and only to he arrived at by a course of reading of old works , not directly applicable to the present position of society in relation to government or political economy . Had a just conception of logic been abroad , a better judgment would have been formed of the villanous Whig press , and also of Chambers ' s beautiful specimen of unsound deductions derived from false premises . 8 . Wilson , Chpab . — -It is the established rule in all
wellordered debates , from the House of Commons downward , that the mover of a motion , or introducer of a question , has . the right of reply . It is reasonable that it should be so . It is fair to presume that when an individual makes a question his own , which he does when he takes charge of i » in tbe manner stated , Ir e makes himself acquainted with its nature , its scope , its relationship ; and is able to give good reasons why other people should arrive at the same conclusion respecting it that he ha ^ . All this he details , or should do , when introducing his question for deliberation : and in the debate that ensues , those opposed endeavour by all the power that iia them lies to show that his reasoning is unsound , and his conclusions untenable . If the weight of reasoning be against him ; if the premises he has laid
down are demonstrated to be false ; if the deductions ae has drawn axe one and all upset , all the ' " reply" in the world will not establish his case , unless we suppose that the human mind is unable to judge of reason : and in that case all debate is a farce . But if the opponents , instead of meeting the case , have fought beside it ; if they have used clap-trap , and not reason ; if they have attempted to bury the question beneath a mass of sophisms and cajolery , it is right that the champion of the question should have an opportunity of demonstrating thisi It is right that he should be at liberty to examine the ; reasons adduced against him ; show how irrelevant and inconclusive they are ; how his points are unassaiied ; how his reasoning remains unanswered : and then the question goes to the vote . If it went before this process was complete , it is possible , and , indeed , probable , that injustice would be done to it .
From this process no harm ean arise , unless it be that of having the question too-well-debated . We are glad to hear that } the society , on whose behalf our correspondent puts his question and seeks for information is doing well . It is only another instance , as he says , to thousand ? , proving that the sons of labour , if properly unitedjcould work out their own salvation , independent of all " aid" -whatever . Our correspondent , in conclusion , mentions a fact , which we shall let him tell in his own language . He says ; - ^ " The Trade ' s have advanced of late to an extent one would n « t have expected soine years ago . ^ thanks to the admirable trinity—Jhmcotabe , Roberts , and O'Connor—and to the organ of Labour ' s Rights , the Northern , Star . ' TWx is the book from-whI 6 n the working classes have received their instruction . the truly ami » l > t ! -lefender of truth and hater of Buperstition , Miss , iuis Wright ,
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.-. iu . I i" SWV + im \ iti lil > X * + mMt * Hi mWH ' *¦*— — - ; - when in Dundee last , summer , toiajfr . Mylee that tbe Star w&s the only truly liberal and independent-journal in Europe .. This is a high character , and comes from a high quarter : but the paper de ^ erres it . " -Tht compliment is indeed a . high one : one that raises just feelings of pride , when pasBed by one whole tribute Ut worth is so valuable , because not given as ' a ' matter , ol course , b ^ t in accordance with judgment formeS after due examination and reflection . One encomium from ; f such a quarter is worth a sackfull of , empty compliment ; r and common-place praise . We trust to show ths . t w « , do deserve the high character so unreservedly given us by the gifted lady , by making the Star » better organ ; for the " men of tile Progress" than it hu hitherto been .
Poor Chartist of Staindrop , county of Durham , had ; better urge his neighbours to engage , with himgelf ' in hastening the time when the remuneration , or return , for labour , shall be sufficient to procure for the labourer all that he desires , in moderation . Then neither he nor they will have to depend on the Church " Charity Clothing Club , with its Sd . a week contribn- ~ . tions , and its tickets to the Quaker draper for pasted calicoes and devil ' s dust woollens , some twenty per cent , dearer than at other shops in the regular course ' of trade . Your " charity" clubs are shocking dear >
ones . Pill for the League . — The following morceau is from the DvbUn Weekly Register ofDec . lith : — "The change in the tactics of this Association has prtved the ' truth of what we always asserted , that there is bu » ' little hope for amelioration in British Institutions tall '' the guides of the popular feeling in England turn a more zealous and honest regard to the necessities ^ of the franchise . We perceive that the League hag at length taken the bull by the horns ; and , like the athlete of old , enters the list to " conquer , or to die . " Inany case preferring the former alternative for ou * friends the League—notwithstanding their
unaccountable conduct on the West India Sugar Bill—we fear as greatly the later result will be their portion . There is only one way indeed ; but we don ' t think the League leaders are the men to pursue it with the perseverance requisite to success . Some very honest men there are amongst them , we believe ; but we have a strong opinion that the momentum of , the movement t « nds more to the interest of the manufacUirers than to tbe extension Of the people ' s rights and comforts . But time will tell . " Bravo Register !—It was to benefit the manufacturers and millownerB of England that the Union was called for , to ruin the rising trade of Ireland —and for the same reason are the people of England brought to the verge of starvation .
Hew Poor Law at Leeds . —The election for Guardians in the township of Leeda has just concluded : and right glad are we to announce that not one Whig has there been returned in the whole batch ! The conduct of that base and perfidious faction , while paramount in the Council Chamber of the Corporation , has been so thoroughly partizan ; so exclusive , so overbearing , and so inimical to public weal , that universal disgust has been engendered against Whigs and Whiggery in every shape : and the detestable faction has received its deserved reward at the hands of the rate-payers of all , and several , the wards of the township ! For a long time there has existed a strong desire to introduce the 2 few Poor Law into Leeds ; but the Commissioners dare not venture , because of the altered state of public feeling respecting the Whigs . Seven years ago they issued ut order , forming Leeds and some other places into " an
Union ; " and directing that an election of guardians should take place . The election was had ; and the result was , that every man returned was a Tory : _ nof one single Whig could get the suffrages of the rate * payers . When this was known to be the case , the Commissioners withdrew the order , assigning no reason ; and Leeds from that time to the present has been under the old law , with a Board of Whig over * seers , chosen by a Whig Bench of Magistrates . When , the new batch of Tory Magistrates , created by Sir James Graham , ascended the Leeds Bench , they demanded that a portion of the overseers should be Tory too ; and ia save appearances , as the appoint , ing body , the Bench , was not exclusively Whig—( thank * to Jemmy Graham for that \) —the Whigs consented ; and * number of Tories , for the last year or two , has been sent in to siiafl antf fight with the Whig Rump . The last Amendment , of the Poor Law Amendment Act
having giv «( n new and vastly increased powers to the-Commissioners to deal with such places as Leeds , and an effort having been ' made by the Chartists of Leeds ta get into the Board of Overseers at the Workhouse , through the Select Vestries Act , it was deemed expedient to form the . Township into " a Union , " and take it into the charge , of"the Somerset-House despots . But how to do this with safety was the question . Of late years the Chartists in Leeds had carried all before them . They had the whole Churchwardenship to themselves ; they had the Board of Highway Surveyors in their hands ; they had more than broken-way into the Council Chamber , and were indeed rapidly gaining strength there . The body of electors for Guardians were the rate-payers at large . True , there werejbe plurality of votes : but the main of these were not in the handsmf
the Whigs . There was great danger then to be apprehended , that if an election was resorted to , a Board of independent men , and not tools of the ^ Commissioners , would be returned . Many and serious were the cont rabs that Sub-Oomnuscionor Clements bad With the magistrates : and we know that at those meetings feat Of the Chartist strength mas uppermost , and all sorts of schemes devised to render it inoperative . Amongst other things It was determined that the qualification for guardian should be a £ 40 rating , although , in almost every other " Union " in the kingdom a rating of one penny is as good a qualification as a rating of jEIOO ^ ' It was judged by the far-seeing Clements , that the Chartist * would be able to find few men rated at the amount , £ 40 ; while , if the qualification was a mere rating at
all , the Board of Guardians would be , like the Board of Highway Surveyors , all Ch 3 rfists ; men not aUsposed to let him play pranks with them or for them . Accordingl y ^ at £ 40 the qualification was fixed , though a rating of £ 30 is sufficient to qualify for the office of councillor under the Corporations Act * Another " move " was , to vote in wards . Beforetime the voting was throughout tbe whole township . There were so many guardians want ed , and every rate-payer in the township voted for the whole lot if he liked . This was by far the most po . pular mode . But in it the Commissioners saw great danger of defeat . The " aggregate vote" they knew would be against them j but there was a chance that if they split--up the election piece-meal , arid let the wards choose so many , and so many , thtr
could manage in some of them . In one ward the Chartists might be strong ; but if they # ere , all they could do was to Carry their men . Their votes could not go in aid of their friends in another ward , as would hare been the case in an aggregate vote ; so to elect by wards was detenninea on . To fix the qualification at the high amount of £ 40 ratiag , and to direct the election by wards , the Commissioners availed themselves of powers recently conferred on them . ' WelL to work the rate-payers " went ; and out of the eighteen elected , ¦ not oxei 3 a Whig ! but on the board appears two of the most notorious and leading Chartists of the town . !! Councillors Jackson and Brook . Aye , Master Clement * , your fears -were not groundless , though your precautions hare failed you . The entire of the Board are
opposed to the harsh and unfeeling conduct of the Poor Law Commissioners . They have been chosen for that very reason- They have been sent to the Board to stand between the poor and the Poor Law Commissioners There is every reason to believe that they will answer the expectations formed of them . To do this effectually , however , it will be necessary that they make a clean sweep of the workhouse officials . Out with every man of them ! They have been there so long—have been so used to do the bidding of their Whig masters , that they cannot be expected to go easy in gear under their new drivers . Sate a new set altogether . This point is of the utmost consequence . The election of officers by the Board of Guardians is the most important work they have to do . Get men that
will serve the Poor Law Commissioners duly installed , and the Board are powerless . The Guardians must remember that though they elect , they cannot displace * Let them therefore look well to it , who they invest with power . Above all , and before all , let them be cautious who they put in as clerk . He is eithertheir servant or theirmaster , as they choose . With a ! kindly-disposed staff of officers , they may protect the poor of Leeds , and see that every due relief and accommodation is ^ afforded them . But to do this , they must sweep the place clean of the present batch . Send every mother ' s son to the rightabout . " Begin at the beginning , " as the clert at Beeston said . Teach the Whigs that if they trill haT « all the Aldermanships , they are not to have all the offices and •' pickings . " " Tit for tat . " Clear the place . Bundle every Whig out !
Condition of the wokkpeoili op Bsasfoxc—We beg to direct attention to a most remarkable letter from * working man , " taking stock'' of the " creature comforts" that have resulted to the operatives in H * t quarter from the last two years of " roar ing trade . " The picture is a painful one ,- ^ -but abas , " ower true !' Tfe know the man who penned the production in question , which we most gladly print . We have knora him for years ; and always known him , as he is , * straightforward , plainispoken advocate for the right * of his class . We know that he works amid the scenei he paintB ; that he is , by the cursed system which keep * such menof energy and nativetalent "down , " forcei
to feel and endure the wrongs and miieriei beiuetaiU ; we know that what he speaks of is vot fiction , butnaT $ ^ stern , nnyielding reality : and we ask if if can be won- ;' , dered at , that men with an atom of spirit , ' situSted «•¦•* the mass of workmen inthia betlpaid , ^ best-regulate * j district are , should be . " disloyal , " "" disaffected , ; , J " dissatisfied V They would deserve all they get if , j they were otherwise * We trust to hear from our Cor ^ respondent again and again . ' NabobV : though we be , ¦ ' . we shall always be glad to hear from , and see , one wi » ; whom we have toiled in days " laug syne , " for the ' , cause of the labourer ,
T . R ., ABEBDEEjr . ^ -We do hot know , that the investig «* iof into the charge ^ ' of Dr . M'Douall against Mr- J *™ *;' Leach , of appropriating public subscriptions to Mis ow » i use . haV beeii m ! ade . Sy th ^ JTanche ^ tey Committee or .-Council ; to whom ta ^^ proposed ' to * efer the matter *; Ai ^ Hfee nam ^ fdir aeinvestiga tion to be h ad ; the $ r ; Ws /' mosf- ^ ortu ^ teiy , ^ andJaid up wit *¦ % scarletTever ; and we ^ have npi ' h ^ covery he has been in Manchester for the purpose «>¦ quired after by our corredpondent ,
&O Tiraufro Antj Gromgponttent**
&o tiraUfro antJ Gromgponttent **
Untitled Article
i iit fcTrnriTTiiifMtriir ir 4 THE NORTHERN STAR ! December 2 &B& £
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 28, 1844, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct688/page/4/
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