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THE SOUTHERN STAE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9. 1841.
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WLocnX afflr <Bf*twraI Etttent'sewe.
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TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
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2To Meatievg anfc €ovve8pottoeitt&
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
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THE ENGLtSH CHARTIST CIRCULARTO THE EDITOR OF THE KOBTHKRX STAB . Deab . Sib , —I have just learned from what I have every reason to believe Is good authority , that the proptifitar of the . Eaplisft ChartisL Cireatar does not and that encouragement -which the excellenoe of the work sad the cheap rate * t -which it i » published , fairly en . titles him to expect It is , I am told , at present , a losing coneem ; and taia , I must sayia a disgr-. ee to our extensive body .
, Thia -work onght to be in the hands of every Chartist , and no Chartist who smokes tobacco or drinka beer , can » y be cannot afford to take it If he will not forego the prioe of a pipe of the one , or a small portion of the other , in order to find good intellectual food for himself an his children ; he is , in my opinion , unworthy to be considered a worker in oar glorious straggle , since be prores by his acts , that he prefers to support the revenue of a corrupt Government , rather than aid in the r """* ' ** 1 ' "' - "'** of the Chartist press .
I hope this hint will be extensively acted upon . I would also propose that every Chartist Association should spend sixpence in the purchase of Circulars to be sent to the parsons , magistrates , and other influential persons in each locality . Thus , the work would be made to pay , and the glorious principles of the Charter would become more generally known . I will conclude by requesting the lecturers to streaously recommend the work wherever they go . I am , yours , CHARTIST . Hunslet , Oct 5 th . 1841 .
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TO THE EDITOB OF THE NORTHERN STAB . Bradford , 5 th October , 1 S «; Sib , —A letter , of which the following is a copy , being refused insertion in the York CourwU , you would confer a great favour upon the writers , and the public of Bradford generally , by allowing it to appear , space permitting , in a corner of the Star .
TO THE EDITOB OF THE TOBK COCfiAJCT . Sib , —In the last number but one of your journal we noticed that our respected and talented townsman , Mr . James , had resigned the post of correspondent for that paper , on account of other engagements , and that you had engaged , as hissuecessor , Mr . Thos , Johnson . It is an old and trite saying , that " new beesoms sweep dean , " which we found verified oa looking into trie next column , for in the notice of the Anti-Corn Law meeting , your new correspondent has swept away the truth altogether . ' As far as we were concerned individually , we contented ourselves by contradicting , under
the signatures of the respected authorities of the town , the false assertion of our being " ejected by the constables ; " the contradiction was advertised in your last week's paper , and having endeavoured to rescue our characters from false aspersion , we should not again have trespassed upon your columns , but finding in the same paper , under " Thomas Johnson ' s" own signature , the pertinacious confirmation that , with this exception , " the whole will be correct , " we feel it due te ourselves and the public to condemn the account ( report we cannot call it ) generally as incorrtd , and request that you will give publicity to the following
instance * -. — 1 st . A DEPTTTATIOX of Chartists ias stated by yonr correspondent ) did not wait upon Mr . Duffy , the lecturer ; neither did he enter into any stipulation or arrangement respecting the time to be occupied by him and for a reply ; for it was proposed to , and decided by , the meeting without any previous arrangement 2 ndly . There was no proof at the meeting that an anonymous placard ( alluded te in your Correspondents ' notice , ) issued from a Tory press in the town .
3 dly . The proceedings did not ( as misstated ) commenee by a motion for Mr . Richardson to take the chair , and that Mr . Ibbetson proposed an amendment : the contrary w&s the fact ; the lecturer having presented himfmif , unsupported by any of his anti-Cezn Law friends . Mr . Ibbetson suggested that a chairman should preside over the meeting , and Mr Burrows proposed , and Mr . Arran seconded , the appointment of Mr . Martin as chairman , which was carried by a large majority ! an amendment for Mr . Richardson bavin * been previously put and lent
Lastly . Your ' new correspondent * forgot to notice the important fact , that , in consequence of the frequent interruptions by the anti-Corn Law gentry , Mr . Clarksoa , after twice conditionally proposing , was actually obliged to press a motion absolutely censuring them for their misconduct , which was seconded by Mr . Duffy himself , who also moved , and Mr . C . seconded an adjournment , after which tbe meeting quietly
dispersed . Trusting that your new correspondent will in future be careful to furnish accurate reports ; and that the importance of this subject to ourselves and the public will justify us in correcting the mistakes of his first essay , We axe , Sir , Yours , most respectfully , Ws . JUiifS , J . Claskso * . Jas . Ibbetson . Bradford , 20 th , Sept ISil .
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SRSTFXELSu ( From our oicn Correspondent . ) SrxDAT Etekixg Lectcbe . —Mr . Julian Harney lectured in the large room , Fi # -Tree-lane , on Sunds . y evening last , on " the crimes and horrors of war . ' The room was densely crowded by a most respectable audience who listened with breathless attention and the deepest interest to the discourse of the lecturer . At the conclusion of the lecture which occupied an hoar and a half in the delivery , Mr . Hoost moved the thanks of the meeting to Mr . Harney ; the uplifted hands of all present testified the universal satisfaction of the assembly .
Pcblic 1 Ieeti 5 g . —The usual weekly meeting of the associated Chartists and others , was held in their room , Fig-Tree-lane , oa Monday evening , Mr . Green was called to the chair . The Secretary read a circular from the Executive Council and a letter from Mr . John Campbell . Mr . Harney gave notice that in the event of the Council not bringing forward a morion on next Monday , founded upon the circular just read , he would himself do so . Mr . Harney commented npon that part of the circular io which it is recommended to the lecturers to be unremitting in their efforts to extend the associatiens ; he was readj to do his part ; twice he had appealed throngh tb « Northern Star to the readerg of that paper residing in the out-district of the towi
and villages around to give him their Help in extending the Association ; Eccclesfield hac responded to his call , there he had held a noble meet ' ing and to there the National Association w&i extended ; he hoped shortly to be able to sa ] the same of Brigdehouses , and Woodhouse . H < was willing to give his time and labonr ii attending any meeting within a few miles of Shef field , all he wanted on their part w&s that the 1 should find places of meeting . ( Cheers . ) A gentle man stated he knew that at Matlock in Derbyshire the people were most anxious to hear a Chartist lee tare . They wanted Chartist lectures , Chartist tracts and Chartism in every shape . He knew the wero desirous of hearing Mr . Harney , and he hopei
that gentleman would not make it long ere he pai them a Tisit . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Harney said he wouli attend to their friend ' s information . Ajfentlema : considered it woiild be well io pay first attention t the manufacturing and mining villages , wherere there were cutlers , weavers , tailors , shoemakers . &c such were the places should be first agitated ; fo there w&s comparative independence of mind once get the population to understand the prinri ple 3 of the Charier and they would readily embrae them , ii was not so in the agricultural viliagesgrouad down by some petty despot , and kept ii ignorance and terror by the black slug of the steeple house , the tillers of the soil dared not think fo
themselves . He had good hopes that ultimate they would convert even the labourers ; bni tin could no * hops to do so yet . Mr . Ofcley , after bob preliminary remarks , moved that it is expedient ai necessary that a paid secretary be appointed tokei the books and transact the business of tbe associ tioii . M . r . Ward seconded the motion , Mr . M'Ks trick supported , and Mr . Gill opposed the mo ; io which , on beiDg put , was declared by the Ghairm not carried . On the motion of Mr . Burton , second by Mr . Cooke , it was resolved , " That the iheal should be engaged for the nse of Mr . O'Brien , w is expected to visit Sheffield , on the 13 th inst . " M Harney , in a few introductory remarks , moved t adoption of the following petition : —
To the Honourable the Commms of the United Kingdt of Grtit Britain and Ireland , in Parliament asse bled ; the petition of certain members of the Natiot Charter Association , residing in the borough of Shi M * . d , in public meeting assembled , this lih day October , 1841 , Sheweth , —That your petitioners have heard wi feelings impossible to express , that it is tbe intent ! of bar Majesty , or rather the intention of her Majest , Ministers , to prorogue your Honourable House , on t 7 th day of the present month . * - That your petitioners would respectfully but plak a « k vobz Honourable House , what have you done for t country , that you should so soon abandon your Leg latorial labours for the present session ?
That your petitioners would remind your Honoural Htuse , that the distress of the working classes rem&i unallsTiated , snd their wrongs unredressed . When t late Administration appealed to the country , the pub voioe very properly rejected them and their measuri having no confidence in either . And though the pi sent Administration is supported by a large majority the members of your Honourable House , it is i because the mass of the people have any confidei inthatputy ; for had the whole people recorded tfc rotes ( which power is most wickedly withheld fr < them ) in thalate election , it would have been seen tl who * one faction was rejected , another ( equally maw taj of confidence ) would aot have been elected to
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their places , and subsequent events have shown that , in rejecting both factions , the people would have acted wisely ; for , whOe the late ministry proposed measures worthless and delusive , the present ministry have proposed none at alL To tell the working classes of this country to wait six months for relief , while in the msantime they see their burdens augmented to meet the profligate expenditure of the Government , and tyrannical enactments continued in all their present deformitv—the Poor Law to wit—exhibits , in the opinion of your petitioners , most culpable indifference to the sumnings of that class who would not be victims of the evils they have to contend with , had they been represented in , and therefore protected by , the legislature .
That your petitioners wish to inform your Honourable House that , in the Borough of Sheffield , it is estimated there are three thousand houses unoccupied , an unfailing index of the deplorable condition of the industrious classes , who wander the streets of the town with n » place to shelter them worthy of the name of home , or wend their way to other towns , leaving their families burdens on the parish ; or lastly , if they can procure the means , leave the land of their fathers to seek in other climes that justice and fair return for their toil they cannot find in this . And , while this is the state of the working class , that class see an aristocracy —landed and monied—revelling in luxury , rioting in the wantonness of profusion , and seemingly treating with contempt , the sufferings and cries of the oppressed , misgoverned people .
That , in this state of thingB , your petitioners deem it their duty to solemnly protest against the prorogation of tbe Legislature ; believing , as they do , that the dissolution , and not the adjournment of your Honourable House , is what would give satisfaction to the great majority of the people . That your petitioners are united to peaceably obtain a reform of your Honourable House , based upon the ancient principles of the Constitution , and would most sincerely deplore any violence into which the suffering people , goaded by despair , might be driven . But , more than ever convinced by Che wicked tyranny of
the last Parliament , and the but too apparent indifference of the present , of the urgent necessity of the change they seek , do respectfully request of your Honourable House that you will address her Majesty , praying h , et not to prorogue , but to diasolve your Honourable House , and ordering that , in the electing of a new Parliament , every male of twenty-one yean of age , of sane mind , and unconvicted of crime , shall be allowed to give his vote for the returning of a member or members , to represent the county , city , or borougn , of which he is an inhabitant , as was the ancient custom and practice of these realms .
And your petitioners will ever pray . Mr . Fearn peconded the adoption of the petition , the reading of which had elic ' ted repeated cheers . After a discussion , in which Messrs . Otley , Mc'Ketterick , Buxton , ParkeB , Prior and Gill took part , the petition was put by the Chairman and unanimously adopted . It was resolved unanimously , that tbe petition be sent to Mr . Sharman Crawford , for presentation . The meeting then adjourned . Post-Office . —An order has been received by the Sheffield Post-Master , from the Post-Master General , authorising him to refuse to receive and forward
any packages which apparently contain knives , scissors , or other sharp instruments of a dangerous niture , however they may be packed . We have before noticed the intended establishment of five receiving offices for letters , in different parts of the town . We understand the arrangements are now completed , and the offices will be opened on Monday next , October 11 th . The following are the appointments which have received the sanction of the Post-Master General : —Thomas Kay , confectioner , West End ; Pearce and Son , Shales Moor ; Mr . Dewsnap , Wicker ; Mr . Skidmore , Park ; and Mrs . Barlow , Sheffield Moor .
Pabdon . —At the last Summer Assizes , two young men , named Joseph Turner and William Houseley , were found guilty of a burglary in the house of a person , named Dyson , near Ecclesfield , and sentenced to fourteen years transportation . We understand that since the trial , investigation of the case has been entered inte , and the result made known to the Secretary of State . A free pardon has been granted to the two men . " Be te Fishebs of Mek . "— Query , Be ye Shootert of Game . ?—The game lists for the county of York show , that as many as seventy-two parsons have taken out licenses to shoot game during the ensuing season . Fire , —On Thnrsday week , a fire broke out npon the premises of Mr . Bentley , brewer , Roth « rham . We understand the damage is estimated at about £ 100 .
" Help yourselves and God will help you 1 "About the middle of ihe forenoon of Sunday last , a party of fourteen or fifteen , from Sheffield , went into a field , belonging to Mr . Rodgers , at Gleadless , yoked themselves to ft plough , with which they uprooted a considerable quantity of potatoes , and afterwards proceeded to fill a number of sacks . Mr . Rodgers , and a constable , with some assistants , endeavoured to a put a stop to this revival of " the good old days of Robin Hood ; " bat were completely driven off by the " freebooters . " One of the party was afterwards captured , the police are on the look out for the remainder .
The Southern Stae Saturday, October 9. 1841.
THE SOUTHERN STAE SATURDAY , OCTOBER 9 . 1841 .
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MISERABLE DESTITUTION IN STOCKPORT . SYMPATHY OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES . We are sorry to learn that there is no improvement in the miserable condition of the working men in this town . Our Correspondent writes thus : — " Distress , isease , wretchedness , and crime are on the increase , and things are growing worse every day . Since I last wrote you , another large firm , employing not fewer than a thousand hands , are stopped . Since the lai e reduction , those who remained at their work at the reduced price , have not been able to earn sufficient to supply them with food , to say nothing of rent , firing , clothes , &c . and that of even the cheapest , because of the coarsest
quality . A spinner , a very sober and hard-working man , with whom I am particularly acquainted , has only earned £ 1 Is . in three weeks , who could , but a short time ago , have earned more in one week , although his work is very labourious , and the atmosphere noxious and injurious to his health . Another man whom I know worked very hard for a whole week , and because he could not make the machinery do impossibilities , not only had to go home without wages , but had to pay 2 s . yd . out of his own pocket for firing . Since I commenced writing , this able-bodied , clean , and respectable-looking spianer , came to the door to sell buttermilk ; another sits now by my side , not knowing what to take to . I saw a-number of spinners and others who
positively told me they had eaten nothing that day , and wished to beg a pipe of tobacco The shopkeepers have found out that the late reductions have nearly ruined them . Many of them are selling off and going to America . There are rows of houses in many parts of the town with only one tenant , and some not even one in them . Thongh Euch is the case , there seems to be no disposition on the part of the middle class , the shopkeepers , to sympathise or assist those unfortunate people who are out of employment , and who are literally starving to death . A committee was formed who issued an adddrcss to the shopkeepers , and Eent a deputation to wait upon them with books properly signedand would you
, believe that all the money collected was six shillings and a few pence . It is computed that there have no fewer than 30 , 000 left the town during the last six years , and that 7000 who were employed but a short time ago , axe walking the streets for want of employment , miny of whom have sold every vestige of clothing and furniture to purchase food to satisfy the cravings of hunger and keep them alive . The spinners have been out of two very large mills resisting the reduction , and those of " another have given notice this week , and will , without some concession be made by the masters , be out on Monday , which will greatly augment the misery and distress
already so prevalent . I was in company with two officers of the Odd Fellows' society , who informed me that they were sadly reducing their funds by gifts and loans , and in consequence of members not being able to pay the contribution money . In one lodge alone , which but a very short time ago was flourishing and laying money by , and for fear any should dispute my assertion , I wasallowed , if 1 pleased , to mention the name of the lodge , which is , " Queen Eliiabeth , " held at th « Grapes , Stockport . At this lodge alone they have sunk £ 30 a quarter for the last two quarters , and the other lodges in the the same ratio . Since I wrote the last time
information has arrived and on the best authority , that & very sober and respectable dresser , named Henry Taylor , has hung himself , driven to it by being out of work ; a man whom the writer had worked with , and who he esteems as a very honest and industrious man . If something is not dene to relieve the people who are clamming , we shall most probably have tbe painful duty to record m&nj such like case ? . It is no use blinking the question , it is impossible to over colour it . The trades of all descriptions are suffering : carpen
ters , painters , bricklayers are walking the streets in groups from morning till night . A question arises what is the cause of this deplorable and alarming state of things . Any one who has watched the cotton masters for the last few years will not be at a Ios 3 to furnish the answer—viz : competition , over speculation , and the rapid improvement in machinery . From the mixing of the cotton to the finishing of the cloth , the masters have snatched at every scheme that genius could discover , to supersede n ^ n * labour . The improved blower , the self-acting cordstripper , the improved drawing-frame , the American
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belts , the self-acting mules , the size work , &o ., &o . have all been introduced for the purpose of setting aside manual labour which has brought down wages , destroyed the home market , glutted others , driven both artizans and capital abroad , enabled others to manufacture , who have not half the taxes to pay , and henoe the masters have overshot the mark , and are yet too ignorant to find out that they themselves have been the means of raining the trade . "
Such is the awful picture sent us by one on whose veracity and judgment we place the utmost reliance And yet the middle and upper classes , the eye and soul of the country , for the protection of whose interests the Reform Bill was carried , stand coolly byi and look with apathy , upon the mischief they have wrought . Our hearts bleed at recitals like this . We are unable to express our admiration at the noble-mindedness of the people , who can thus bear such an accumulation of misery , the consequence of wrong , or our detestation of the double-distilled hypocrisy and villany of those who would affect to tell us that
this people are unfit to be eutrusted . on moral grounds , with the franchise . Let them , however , beware . Forbearance cannot last always . And let the people take heart of hope from the cheering accounts elsewhere given of the progress of the principles of liberty . Let them unite themselves in moral force and energy . Let their intellectual prowess be backed with unanimity ; and , the Charter of our rights being once established , the people exercising rightfully governmental influence and legislative power , will speedily induce a state of things to remedy such scenes as these .
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WHO ARE THE AGGRESSORS 1 " You take my life , when you do take the means whereby I live . " We give in another column , from a Scotch faction paper , a narrative of a " Riot" in Durness , Suther-Iandshire , in which the peace-officers of the country being employed , as they too often are , in support of oppressive aggression upon the rights of the poor ' , were soundly beaten , and made glad ¦ to take themselves off . " Peace , Law , and Order" has ever been our motto , and is so still ; and because we desire to see the law respected , we have always contended for it 3 being so framed and administered as to give
it a just claim to respect from those whose interests and destinies are affeoted by it . We cannot defend the beating of the constables by the Keanabin people , because the constables seem only to have been employed in what the law bad imposed upon them as a duty . Such things , however , cannot pass without forcing us to reflect npon the causes which induce them . The people have always , an interest in the sustentation of right , and when the law does only right , they never obstruct its operation . What then was the matter in dispute here what was the thing to be done , which , though the law required it , the people were determined not to suffer * We learn this in a few words from the
report : — " Mr . J . Anderson , at Rispond , is principal tacksman of Keanabin , and other farms in Durness , under a lease from Lord Reay , the former proprietor of that country . KeaDabin , and places adjacent , were sublet by Mr . Anderson to several people , who have small crofts of land attached to their houses , but whose principal means of subsistence is the herring and deep sea fishing , which used to be carried on there under Mr . Anderson ' s auspices to a considerable extent . His fishing speculations , it would appear , proved unsuccessful , and he has latterly turned his attention to sheep farming , with which view it became necessary for him to remove several of the Keanabin people . "
It is hardly possible for words to convey a fouler picture , ner a more just one , of the unnatural state of society in which we live , than does this statement . The people of Keanabin had become unnecessary to the purposes of Mr . Anderson ; his "fishing speculations" had not brought him so much money has he was desirous of making ; he wanted to tnm sheep farmer , and , therefore , the people must turn out . It was a matter of no consequence what became of them ; they might' starve , or die of hunger and cold , or commit crime , and be punished . It was queit enough that they had served Mr . Anderson ' s turn , and that he didn't now need them . Tbe law gives him as much right to dispose of his fishermen as of his nets and boats . The fact that
these fishermen have wives and families , that those wives and families need food and clothing , and that the whole are endowed with human passions and feelings , is never once glanced at . They are regarded by Mr . Anderson as the tools with which he works to obtain wealth , or as the rubbish to be thrown out of bis road to wealth ; and the law sustains him in this treatment of them . This forces upon us a consideration of how it comes to pass that men like Mr . Anderson attain this power over the lives and fortunes of their fellowmen . We come to enquire how it was that the whole land
became the property of a few individuals , to the exclusion of the whole people , and bow these came to have a right—a legal right—to " clear off" in this manner the surplus population ; to make human beings turn out and starve , that sheep may feed upon their holdings . However we contemplate the subject , whether with reference to the law of nature and of right—to the equal and impartial distribution of the natural good of his providenoe , by the Almighty Father of us all , or to the ancient tenure of what is called the constitution , the forms and conditions upon which grants of land were originally issued by the Crown ,
we come always to the same conclusion ; that these acts of manifest injustice and barbarous spoliation originate in , and are sustained by , an usurpation of the legislative power . We cease , then , to exhibit wonder or displeasure that the people , thus placed by the law without its pale , Bhould have very little respect for the law which respects not them . And while we recommend them , instead of employing , as in this case , sectional and misdireoted physical powers , to oppose the enforcement of bad laws , to exercise their moral energies in establishing a position for themselves , which
will enable them to enact good ones , we cannot permit ourselves or the country to lose sight of the fearful confirmation which the proceedings out of which this riot grew afford to the assertion we have so often made , that the " anti-bread tax" clamourers , the middle-class philanthropists , and the humanity- mongers of all grades , have no purpose but that of ministering to their own personal and party interests ; maugre all their protestations of humanity , their " sympathy with distress , " their " pleas for the poor . " Here are we exhorted , because our people are
starving for lack of food , to search all the four quarters of the world for corn wherewith to feed them ; while the corn growers of our own fields are cast out into the streets to starve , and our corn fields converted into pasture lands , because the law says that the rich man's sheep shall have a right to eat the food of the poor man ' s children ! How contemptible must be the reason of any man who supposes parties to be truly anxious for the benefit of the labouring population , while they uphold a system which exposes them to a continuity of heartless spoliation , and denies them the right to defend their own property ] 1
Even this act of resistance to the authorities , demonstrates very foreiby the good temper and forbearance of the people . The report tells us that an officer , in the month of August last , was deputed to serve these " charges of removal" on the peaceable and quiet tenantry of Keanabin . The people then manifested their quiet determination to hold by their own , and to defy the power of the unconstitutional law to which they had given no consent , by simply taking possession of the
offensive legal documents , and burning them , while they sent him quietly and unharmed home again . Another messenger , on repeating the attempted outrage , was dealt with in like manner ; and , even a third repetition was borne patiently . It was not until the fourth outrage was committed by property upon labour , and that , too , under circumstances of great aggravation , with an insulting display of physical force , intended to terrify the people to submission , that these harmless and inoffensive people
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thought it necessary to meet force by force . We regret only that their force should hare been thus wasted in a fruitless assertion of right by an inexpedient process . We maintain that the people are at all times morally justifiable in opposingforcibly , if necessary—in justice and oppression . But force , and epecially physical force , is never necessary until all moral means have been first tried ; and not then unless with a reasonable prospect of success . This it can never have when thus exercised in sectional and isolated conflicts . The physical force arrangements of the robbers' band of the
" middle and higher classes" are too well perfected to permit a chance of it . Let the whole people , then , see in this , as in every other event which transpires before them , renewed evidence of the necessity of unanimity , of firmness , of a oneness of pursuit and principle , of an adhesion to the glorious Charter of our rights , by which the " right" to do wrong shall be taken away from the faotions and the sections ; the whole shall be protected against the aggressionB of individuals , and each individual against tho aggressions of his fellow ; labour and property being each invested with its own value , and the rights of each alike held sacred .
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Bbother Chartists , —After a separation of sixteen months , I hare had five weeks ocular and oral demonstration of our present position ; and , O , how cheering to my soul , to find that the result of my inquiries enables me to put this enlarged heading to my present address . Yes , I can now say , " Chartists of the United Kingdom , " as my beloved , but long-deluded countrymen , have , thanks to the immortal Father Mathew , been enabled to look with a sober eye into the causes of their degradation and humiliation .
Ireland is coming to us ; and , ere long , the Irish , to a man , will be with us , because in our principles , and in them alone , they recognise the means of regenerating our common country . Brothers , a great and a last attempt will be made by the factions and their minions to divert us from the agitation for our Charter to a clamour for a repeal of the Corn Laws ; should the tricksters succeed , or in any way disunite our ranks , who will , who can , again marshal them \ A portion of tbe Whig press has hitherto gone with us as far as suited the purposes of their base party ; that is , they have endeavoured to convert us into a hobgoblin to affright the Tories ; but when the struggle came between the people and the Whigs , then the hirelings required no long period , nor much consideration , as to which party they should join .
An article in last week ' s Weekly Dispatch furnishes me with a powerful illustration of the fact . That article is headed " Political Bloodhounds , " and breathes a spirit so malicious , so hostile to Chartism , and so much at variance with truth , that I here insert it for your perusal . It runs thus : — " Political Blood-hounds . —It is well known that Messrs . Lovett , Hetherington , and Cleave , though they have not withdrawn their support from Chartism , have , for some time , been endeavouring to bring about a scheme for the successful issue of the principles contained in the Charter By a system of education , they would instil into the minds of tbe working classes the means of obtaining equal laws and equal rights , without
resorting to brute force ; and for this very worthy and praiseworthy object , they have been and are persecuted by a certain section of the Chartists ; and a call , monstrous as it may appear , is now virtually mads upon the great body , to assassinate these individuals . If this be Chartism ; if this be the object of the Charter , Heaven defend us from tbe slightest connexion , with it . ; but assassination is not its object ; we are sure it is not , though some of the more violent of the class would not hesitate to put a penon entertaining a different opinion to death . Such mea do great harm to a cause , and the more just the cause , so the damage increases in proportion . In the early part of last month , a discussion was announced to take place in the Hall of Science ,
City Road , between two persons , named Watkins and Watson . The latter is one of the " new move , " or moderation men ; the former a fierce Chartist—on certain charges brought by Watkins against Messrs . Lovett , Hethetington , and Cleave . These charges were embodied in a sermon ! and a large body of persons , principally Watkin's friends , attended to hear it preached ; and abused Mr . Watson in very gross terms when he attempted to reply . In fact , the conduct of Watkins and bis followers offered as complete a picture as could be wished , of the most diabolical passions . Watkins said that the persons he had denounced as traitors , spies , and assassins , had been prosecuted for blasphemy , and deservedly so ! Is it not astonishing
that a man complaining of the deprivation « f his rights should halloo on the hounds of bigotry and superstition in their rabid attacks on the priceless liberty of thought and opinion ? Is this part and parcel of the Chartist creed ? If so , the parsons can no longer couple Chartism with infidelity . But what is to bo done with this Coryphaus of Chartist ferocity ? Had Watkins the power , he would annihilate " tbe traitors and spies" in a breath . He would have his minions and his bowstrings , his Bcymetars and poisoned draughts ; he would let no one live who is net of the same opinion ; and his sentimenta , brutal and coarse as they were , were echoed to the roof by his Chartist confederates , who appeared ripe for any thing atrocious and cowardly . ' The
interests of Chartism , ' observes Watkins in his sermon , ' demand that we be firm friends , and as firm foes . No truckling , no time-serving , no temporising , no surrender to the enemy , no quarter to traitors . Despots give no quarter to traitors , except quartering their limbs . What was the sentence on poor Frost—to be hanged by the neck ; but to be cut down , while yet alive ; his towels to be torn out before his own eyes , and his limbs to be severed from his breathless , headless , bleeding trunk . If Frost was a traitor to Government , he was true to us ; and if such was to b « his fate , shall traitors to tbe people—tbe worst of traitors—be tenderly dealt with ; nay , courted , caressed ? Shall they go unpunished , uncensured ? No , let them be denounced and renounced
—let us prevent their future treasons , and make examples of them , to deter future traitors . Washington hanged Major Andre in spite of his most urgent intercessions—hanged him for being a spy—and who will say that Washington ' s example should not be followed ? We are in a warfare , and must have martial law— ' short shrift , and sharp cord . ' Say these men are respectable in private life , that should not excuse their public delinquency . Say they have great moral influence , that only makes their political influence the more dangerous —tbe more fatal . Say they are personal friends , they are all the more to be denounced for being enemies to our principles , because we have a right to expect better proofs of their friendship . Though dear to us as our own eyes , let us cast out the offenders , for it is better that they perish than they should peril the cause . ' What is the foregoing but a no very gentle hint to some
physical-force Chaitiat to assassinate Messrs . Lovett , Hetheriogton , and Cleave ? Even if those individuals had herded with the « Whig wolves ; ' even if they had recanted , which they have not , they do not merit the dagger of the assassin . We have perused the book which was written by Messrs . Lovett and Collins , when in jail ; and , for nobility of mind , we must confess that it does honour to them . If We were Chartists , and were to be called' traitors' fox joining the ' new move , ' we should rejoice in the name , because we should know that we had united ourselves with the really sensible section of the body , and quitted that portion of it which is for bringing about Reform in pools of blood , and cutting of throats . We have from authority that Mr . Watkins is beyond price , or we should be inclined to believe that ho has made an engagement with the Tories to disturb the ranks of the Chartists , and thus render them utterly powerless . "
Brethren , that is a false and malicious libel , not only on Mr . Watkius , but upon every Chartist in the land ; and as you will at once in your keenness observe , it has bees forged as a link whereon a new version of Whiggery may bo hung . The article itself requires no comment from me ; you are now , thank God , all critics , all commentators , and though not gifted with editorial powers , yet are you well able to judge of an Editor ' s meaning . This article was written with a double purpose
Firstly , to raise up a standard under which the unfaithful may fight us as " rational Chartists , " and having destroyed us , then they would take a portion of public opinion in the Whig market for sale . Secondly , it was inserted at the instance of newsvenders , upon whose countenance th « Weekly Ditpatch calculates for much of its support . It is a most atrocious article , and has been published with tbe basest intent ; indeed , with the double intent of villifying a party which it has deserted , and of pandering to the spleen of individuals .
Brothers , you will bear in mind , that in 1838 , when we had become too Btrong for the Dispatch , that journal turned upon us like a viper , and yet you are the very breath upon which it lives . In charity you pardoned the transgression : and now calculating upon a repetition of your clemency , it
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opens its second fire just at the moment when peace was proclaimed and onion was strengthening our ranks . . . . [ , . . . . ¦ ' . . . .-.. ' . '; , ; -.. / . It is not my business , nor yet my intention , to say what I think of Mr . Watkinb' sermon ; but I do say that the writer of . the article in question has insolently and basely misrepresented its meaning and object . Let us have one word as to the principles : of the Weekly Dispatch . That paper professes republican principles , and therefore is opposed to Universal
Suffrage . How strange , how very strange ! And mark those are the Editor ' s own words . How strange , then , that a republican should object to the base upon which alone his darling form of government can be established . You , however , have observed that ever since the proprietor lost his election for the mayoralty , that paper has lost all character for political consistency , and has become a mere anti-Times journal ; and to-morrow , if the Times advocated a republic , the Weekly Dispatch would kick against republicanism .
Brothers , —It may be a bold step thus to array myself against so great a monster ; but as I have never , bo I never shall , turn from your defence , though the united press were my opponents You should , at all your meetings , repudiate and fling back with scorn the foul assertion , that you are other than virtuous and moral soldiers , enlisted under the sacred banners of liberty . If you wish to support your enemies , well and good ; but if not , you must either teach the Weekly Dispatch to be at least an open and undisguised foe , or refuse to support it in its proflgate assault upon our rank ? . I shall Bay no more upon this disgusting subject , but shall turn for one moment to the present position of the Metropolitan Chartists .
Some would tell you that in our London ranks we number no more than about 300 . I have never in my life deceived you ; and I tell you that we can boast a great many thousands . Indeed , never was the pure principle of democracay more triumphant or more ably advocated in London than at the present moment ; and hence the frequent attacks upon us by the press and those who despiso as , because poverty upon the one hand , and dear-bought experience upon the other , has rendered it impossible for the poor to pay dearly for the golden opinions of Whig leaders revelling in the name of "true and rational Charlists . "
Brothers , —Poverty and knowledge , which have led to a detection of delinquency , are our great , our only crimes , and with them we must bear to be taunted ; to remedy the one and spread the other is our object , while to preserve the former , by possessing an exclusive possession of the latter is the object of our enemies . They cannot show us what is irrational in our proceedings ; yet are we called irrational by those who have no rational object in view , and no means of carrying out any object under heaven .
Brother ? , —I never beheld ; no human being ever did behold such Demonstrations of Chartist strength , of " rational" Chartist strength , as I have since my release witnessed in York , at Birmingham , Manchester , Leeds , and Sheffield ; and yet , although not one single violation of the peace occurred ; and although our doctrine was union , and our preaching was peace , yet have the organs of " rational Chartism" either passed us over in silent contempt , or endeavoured to cast disrepute upon our proceedings . Brothers , —How often have I told you that the moment of our perfect union would be tbe signal for a union of all the privileged orders to oppose as ! The most forward Whig would infinitely prefer Tory domination in its full plenitude , to the alternative of granting popular rights .
You can have no administrative change worth a fig to the working classes—you can have no organic change worth a farthing—save that which the Charter presents ; and our tyrants , dreading our present position , will array themselves in dread and open hostility , while they will , from your Exchequer , feed with gold the false wolves who will prowl among yon in sheep ' s clothing , preaching the doctrines of what they call " rational Chartism . "
Brothers , —For seven years I have been upon the watch tower ; and when I saw our enemies approach , I have sounded the alarum . now tell you that we must give to hypocrites no quarter , to " false friends" no countenance ;—and in the words of the General , who was surprised by the enemy , in his exhortation to his troops , I will eay : — " There is the enemy , and if you don ' t beat them , by G d they'll beat you . " Brothers , my time , my counsel , my purse , and my person , to the last moment , to my best judgment , to my last farthing , and to Lmy life , if necessary , are at your service to beat down the injustice of faction , and raise upon its ruins the temple of right . Onward and voe conquer , backward and we fall .
" Univsrsal Suffrage and no surrender" ever has been , and ever shall be , the motto and the watchword of Your devoted and Unpurchasable friend and adrocafce , Feargus O'Connor . London , 6 th Oct . 1841 . P . S . Turn not one fraotioh of a hair ' s-breadth from the virtuous and just , the righteous good old cause . The people ' s hour will never come , till the people will it ; and then stop it who can ! F . O'C .
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The Trowbrige Chartists agree with their Newport brethren in recommending Mr . O'Coritwr not to pay any furtlier attention to the " net ^ - move" men . Mr . D . Cater says that he has been very much annoyed by his Chartist brethren on account of some error appearing in his reply to the lecture delivered by W . D . Saul , Esq ., in the Chartist ' s Hall , 55 , Old Bailey , London , on the evening of the tenth of last month , which should read thus : — "He ( Mr . C . ) could assure the lecturer that the managing committee of the shareholders to
this institution were , in their official capacity , totally ignorant that that sermon would be of a personal nature ; that they do not encourage personal bickerings ; and that he , as well as many other members of the National Charter Association , were ready to forget and forgive the opposing parly if they would cease their endeavours to stop the progress of Chartism . " John Bradley . —We see no necessity for outraging the feelings of the deceased man's relatives by inserting ihe letter which he has sent us . The London Chartists want Richard Marsden ' s address .
A Chartist . —Monies for the O'Brien Press Fund may be sent to Mr . Wm . Brcok , 79 , West-street , Leeds . Wm . Jennings , Westminster . —His lines are not suitable . J . G . B . —It is not our practice to insert communicated reviews of books that we have never seen , and know nothing about . If authors wish their works noticed in the Northern Star they must send themi and then they would be regularly attended to . E . P . Mead . —Next week . T . G . —The Ten Hours Bill is intended by its advocates chiefly as a measure of relief to the infant slaves of factories ; and is advocated chiefly on the ground of morals , humanity , and natural right . T . G's reasonings seem to regard it solely as a question of political economy . We dissent
entirely from that view of the matter . We say that if the commerce of the country can be sustained only by inflicting savage cruelty on little children the sooner it perishes the better . Our own opinion is that if the present Factories ' Regulation Act was honestly worked ( which it never yet has been ) the greatest gainers by the enactment of Lord Ashley ' s measure would be the masters ; but Vie intricacy of the present measure , and the ease with which its provisions may be evaded , fender almost nugatory Us best points . George Lindsey , Ecclks . — We hmve handed his letter to the Executive , who have the management of the petition , and from whom , we doubt not , it tiill receive every attention . Mr . J . P . Mead , late of Birmingham , is requested , by his friends in that town , to communicate with them .
The National Petition . —In answer to very many enquiries respecting the form and contents of the National Petition for 1842 , we are authorised by the Executive of the National Charter Association to say , that the document will appear at full length in our next .
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H . Beiut , SurttHMN-AsHFiBLD . —We have-not room for the full-length report he mentions . H . D . Griffiths . — We aresorrythat our "judgment * should suffer in his estimation , or that he should think us ** indiscreet "' -in refusing to publish hit address to the Restoration Committee ; but vet still retain our opinion that it could not be attended with any beneficial results . We beg Mr , ¦ Griffith * to believe , that that opinion is holden without the slightest scintilla of "contumely . ™ We thank him for his notice of the Marylebone ¦ se rmon , which should certainly have appeared had -not a paragraph from another source been previously in type . R . H ., Colne . —We have no room for his story about
, the worm and the lady-clock . Edward Surie , Thomas s-sireet , Manchester , com ' . , plains of having , a few evenings ago , been rudely stopped by a drunken policeman , in Chester-street , Manchester , shortly after leaving the co-operative store kept by Mr . Gibson , where he had been purchasing some Jlour and other necessaries for ^ his family . The policeman insisted upon knowing what he had got ; and on his refusing to tell him , he was dragged off to the lockups , where after his bundle had been examined , he was discharged , and told not to go there again . It wag not his fault he was there then ; and the drunken blackguard who took him there ought to have been discharged also .
General Council . —Lacalilies sending lists of nominations io the General Council to be published in the Sta . r , must be particular to write them plainly , and to give the residences , especially of the sub-Treasurers and sub-Secretaries . Several lists have been this week omitted , these particulars not having been attended to . The parties will send them again , writing the names plainly , that no mistake may be made , and giving the residences . We shall not insert any more such lists in which these things are not attended to . Wm . Thomas . —His letter next week . Brighton Chartists . —We have been under tht necessity of turning over the correspondence from Holberry , &c , to next week .
The Bishop ' s Soliloquy . —We have no room . Rochdale . — We received on Thursday morning a letter , without name or date , which says "A public meeting is to be held on ^ Friday evening next' to congratulate J . B . O'Brien , Esq ., on his release from Lancaster Castle . ' We ars unable , from this , to understand whether the meeting is to take place next Friday , or whether it was held yesterday . Rochdale . —The late Treasurer , Mr . Hanson ' s accounts , have been investigated , and found ' correct . ¦ The Bread-eaters' Advocate , No . II ., has been received , and shall be noticed in our next . Will the sender let us have No . I . by about Monday * Aberdeen . —The news-letter was received just before we went to press . G . GrsniAW—We received his long communication about . half an hour before we went to press . It has , therefore , not been read as yet .
Sahcel Noble , Trowbridge . — -No Wiltshire Independent was received here last week . A Person signing himself "R . P ., " and dating from Chipping Norton Post-Office , Oxon , affords us ihe important information that he is " now quite at liberty to take the field as the representative , commander , and counsellor of the people ^' as soon as he can be supplied with a sufficiency ' . of fi the needful . " We opine that he is some ' very silly person . Joseph Lijwvby , 5 , Whittle-street , Manchester , desires to inform his friends that his health is now recruited , and he will be able to attend to their many lecturing invitations as soon as preparations are made , and notice to that effect sent to : him . James Walker , Leeds , wishes to know whether P . M . Brophy , of Dublin , has received from him a parcel of Northern Stare , Circulars , and a variety of Chartist Tracts and periodicals .
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J . Mellor , Belfast . —They were sent last week , via London . To Agents . —Those Agents who have received their acconnts are requested to send their amounts due , otherwise their papers -will be stopped . FOR THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THE IHCAKCERATED CHARTISTS . . £ B . d . From an old Radical , Hull , being interest on five shares in the Northern Star 0 10 0 FOR THE EXECUTIVE . From John Hall , Glossop ... ... 0 10 0 FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AT STOCKPORT . From Rochdale Universal Suffrage Association ... 0 9 8 FOR THE SPREAD OF CHARTISM IN IRELAND . From friends , Egremont o 5 0 FOR O ' BRIEN'S PRESS .
From Jamea White , Cardiff ... ... 0 1 0 „ a friend , ditto 0 0 6
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BIXiSTON . —Watching , Prating , and Taking Time by Mistake . —A pieus young man who has been for some time engaged about the Independent Chapel in this town , went a few days ago to discharge the duty of praying with a poor old man , who was then lying sick and could not attend divine service at the chapel . The pious young visitor whilst engaged in tho work of prayer stole the old man ' s watch , which being soon missed , a messenger wa 9 dispatched after him , when he was brought back and accused of the theft . Hedenied the charge ; but on being threatened with further trouble , ha drew the watch from his pocket , declaring he had taken it by mistake !
Public Meeting . —The brave colliers and foundry men of Bilston and its neighbourhood are making the most rapid progress of any part of this district , and great credit is due to Mr . Stiran and the other persons who have so nobly exerted themselves to extend a knowledge of just principles amongst the manly and energetic inhabitants of this hive of industry . A public meeting was convened at the Ballcourt on Thursday evening last , to which Mr . George White of Birmingham , was invited . The meeting took place at the Ball-court , at seven o'clock , the Court is calculated to hold five or six thousand people . Mr . Lindon was unanimously sailed to the chair , and called upon Mr . Mogg , of WolverhamptOB to address the meeting . The Chairman next introduced Mr . George White , of Birmingham , who-delivered an address upon the principles of the Charter . Mr . Henry Candy , of Wolverhampton , next addressed the meeting with his usual energy . Hurrah for the brave colliers of Bilston !
BIRMINCrOTAWr . —Change Ringing . —Was rung on the 1 st instant , at St . Peter and Paul's Church , Aston , by the society of Change Ringers of St . Philip's , Birmingham , a true and complete pe » of Steadman Cators , comprising 5 , 184 changes , by the following persons : —Mr . Wm . Andrews , treble ; Mr . Joseph Deer , 2 nd ; Mr . Henry Johnson , 3 rd ; Mr . John Hopkins , 4 th ; Mr . John James , 5 th ; Mr . William Chattel , 6 * th ; Mr . Thomas Thurstans , 7 th ; Mr . Thomas Gay , 8 th ; Mr . James Jarvis , 9 th ; Mr . Jesse Cutler , tenor . The above peal was com * posed and ably conducted by Mr . H . Johnson , in three hours and tweaty-one minutes .
. . Whig and Tory Persecution . —We have heard several reports of working men being turned out of their employment by tyrannical masters , for attend * ing tho great demonstration to Feargus O'Connor in Birmingham . It is quite certain that thousands were compelled to stay away through the threats of such people . One man , who is a shoemaker , named Edwards , was turned out of his work by a heartless sconndrel living near Deritend Bridge , because he was a member of the Charter Association , aid was in the procession .
STAI . YBB 1 DGE . —Caution to Behkht Societies . —On Saturday , the 11 thof September , * man of the name of Thomas Cain , then residing ltt Fountain High-street , Liverpool , but late of Glossopi in the county of Derby , a member of the Good Intent Burial Society , held at Mr . Samuel Bevan ' s , Fleeca Inn , Staly Bridge , presented at the above house a certificate of the death of his son , John Cain , aged two years and four months , which certificate h » o been obtained on the 9 tb , from Mr . Lovett , Unionstreet , registrar of births and deaths for the district of Dale-street , Liverpool . The officers of the society and collectors for the district thought proper to refuse paying the money , viz . £ i , until they had better satisfaction , and after further enquiry at Liverpool , they found the child still living , aud that the eertifccate was a forgery .
KEIGHiEV . —Shocking Accident . —On Saturday night last , about twelve o ' clock , James Jackson Ackroyd , a little boy , upwards of eight yeart of age , met with his death in the following lament " able manner . Ho was proceeding , along withlus mother , Charlotte Ackroyd , from Leeds to Keighley by . the waggon of Mr . Joseph Barstow , common carrier , which had got to Screwmill-lane-end , about mile from Keighley , when in attempting to mount the shafts of the waggon he fell to the ground , ana both the near wheels passed over his head , crushing itinsuch a shooking manner as to cause his ms ' * J j death . A short time previous to the accident , he nw got out of the waggon , to walk along with the d * ^ who having occasion to get in agaia to adjust some of his goods before arriving in Keigfiley , it ifl sa £ posed he bad been attempting to follow the wag goner ' s example by mounting on the shafts , wucii led to the unfortunate event . The feelings of tw mother , who was on the waggon at the time , may Pj better imagined than described . The body *** ™* moved to tbe Red Lion public-house , Eastwood-row , aud an inquest held over it on Monday last , iff "" the evidence agreeing with the above statement , ¦ verdict of " accidental death" was returned , ana » deodandofone shilling laid upon the waggon wneej * The waggoner ' s name is Stele Lofthouse , a w » " » . ably steady aud decent man , and no blame Wfl » w » could be attached to his conduct .
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4 THE NORTHERN STAB .
To The Chartists Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Ireland.
TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 9, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct724/page/4/
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