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Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th April 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1842.
    • 2To M$a$et0 an& €ovve0pont/eni0
    • ILwal atttr 0emval Sntellisenc^v
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      Untitled Article

      MK 'CONKOR TO MR . O'BRIEN . London . , April 25 ih , 1842 . Dear O'Bbien . —The ve ^ y unaccountable and uncalled for manner Id w ^ jcb . you have endeavoured to mix my name up wvt& v . hat you term an intentional attack upon you , demands some notice from me . I shall be * , rief and shall strictly confinetayself to dates and f- ^ t * _ About il'j-e-s years ago , just when , tbe BLrsingham iuen dese rted the Convention , yoa made the following oVjemtion to me , "By < £ —d , Feargns O'Connor , if tb . s agitation eoe 3 on , and if you are in earnest . the

      mtiidle cfcwes trill murder you . I replied , " That ay I had commenced it , I would fini 5 hdt , even at that i « a , r& . " 1 merely remind you of this fact , ia order to skew you that thtir attack up * n me at BirjniBgnam and Manchester prove yoa to be a good prophet , inasmuch is all who do stand np in support of popular rights in the hour of danger , and in opposheonto every direct and indireet&ttempt at disunion jEideby the middle classes , are sooner or later in Jeopardy : and to assure you that even Euob anticipation shall not seduce me into dishonourable safety for again I say , that 1 will go on straight forward , should I fall a sacrifice in so doing .

      I Ehall now show jou , that yon state what is not " correct , in the very first paragraph of jour letter . You E&y that it was not your intention ever again to have troubled the editor of the Star with any communication . Yon appear to haTe forgotten our Tery lass conversation , which took . place on the day that the Birmingham Conference broke up , in which you spoke as foilows : — ** Feargu 3 O'Coaiior , I wish to write a series of letters in the Star , if yoa will sMorr me space ibr them . " I at once acquiesced , and said , " I was glad to haTe it in my power to afford you the opportunity of doing so . " ¦ "

      Before I coma to the main question , aa to the misrepresettatjon of jour speeches , allow me to dispose ot ' the objecdon-which you now make to my letters ; mind , noi wishing to enforce a belief that letters may not be wxitien at one period meeting with your approbation , while at another period the same writer may incur your displeasure ; but my observation bears upon the charge of denunciation . On the way from Eccles to Manchester , on the day of the Manchester demonstration , and which was the first time we had met since our respective liberations , you said to me c " Feargus O'Connor , your letters from York Castle , especially those on Ireland , iave done us great good ; but 1 hare two great exceptions to make ; first , you should hate denounced the Scotch Chartist Christians as well as the English ; for beliefs me the humbog 3 will do us eqnal damage ; _ . and , secondly , you should hare backed Watkixs in his

      noble attempt to destroy those London ruffians ; for by G—d their aim is to get hold of the people , and th ^ pn to destroy you and me , and every other man connected with the Chartist cause . If 1 had a paper as you hare , I would have despatched them in six lines , like common pUJcpockels" I mention ihis fact for the purpose of reminding you , that you do not always object to denunciation ; but on the contrary , that yon denounced aie for not denouncing ; and also to remind you that the Tery men whom you designate as pickpockets , are the Tery men who are now at the head of the new more . I now come to your complaint of misrepresentition ; and I trust , upon reflection , you will feel yourself bound to confess that if you have been misrepresented , that you , and you only , have been the cause . In order to lay the whole question plainly before the country , I feel myself compelled ta revert to the whole week' s proceedings , during the sitting of Conference .

      On Tuesday , the Conference met , as did the Delegates from various parts of the kingdom , appointed by the people for the defence of our cause . A meeting was announced , by large placards , to be held in puddeston-row , to back us . You were announced in the bills as one of the speakers . You did not attend . On that night we had a glorious meeting in the HaU of Sdence . You did not attend . After the meeting , the Delegates met at ten o ' clock , when you were present ; and , to our delight , reported the Conference proceedings of the day as follows : — "Well 2 they haTe acknowledge the principle of Universal Suffrage , and to-morrow the six points are to be discussed seriatim ; and I promise you they shall swallow the whole hog , bristles , and ' all , and wash them down by gulping the name . "

      Wednesday we sat nignt and day . Yoa did not come near us ; bat you attended a meeting at O'Neil ' a Chartist Church at night . Thursday we sat night and day . . You did not come near us . On Friday , both Conference and the Delegate Meeting broke up , without the delegates seeing more of you . After all the proceedings had terminated , I met yon in the street . You accompanied me to my lodgings , and did me the honour to dine with me . And now I eome to the most important portion of my communication . T then understood from you , for ihefost time ,

      that you were not a mere visitor at the Conference ; but that you had been elected by the people of Wotton-under-Edge . You said : — " Feargus O'Connor , I wish to lay my exact position before the country ; if I furnish you with an outline of the eourse I took , will you write an article upon it ! " I replied , ** Indeed , O'Brien , I will not , and for this simple reason ; because I should be sure to do wrong But I tell you what ; icriie an article yourself , send it to me . I trill be at the trouble of copying it—a job I hate—and it shall appear in the Star . " " Well 1 ¦ win . ix ) that ; perhaps that ' s the best "wat , " was

      your repiy . I beg to remind you that the above conversation took place on Friday . That in the Star of that week the Editor announced hi 3 intention of waiting for the report promised by ilis No 7 iconfortnist , the accredited organ of the Conference , before he ventured to comment upon proceedings of which he had no report . On the following day the Birmingham Journal came out with substantially the same report as the Nonconformist ; and although jou had a week ' s notice of the Editor ' s intention , to mats his commentary , a . nd although yoa had the Birmingham Journal on Saturday and

      the Nonconformist on Wednesday , which should have rendered your determination to right yourself more necessary , yet you neTer correct one word of the " misrepresentation" which appeared in either of those prints , and upon which tbe Editor of the Star wa 3 bound to found hi 3 reasoning . I ask any sane man whether or not it waa yon who led the Editor into wilful error , and allowed him to remain in interested ignorance , for the express purpose of an attack ; or , whether the Editor , in the discharge of his duty , is liable to the gross , and I must say , unjustifiable imputation sought to be cast upon him ? i

      I was at Leeds on Saturday , the day after the Conference broke up ; and mj last words to 31 rfiubson , my publisher , who accompanied me to the train , were th « se : — Hobson , if any communication comes from Mr . O'Brien , see it put in hand immediEtiiy ; and should I have anything to say upon the Conference —( this had reference to jour promised communication )—look to the sense ; I write so uuiuteliigibly when I am hurried . And the . first moment you haTe t : me , look carefully qrer all the type we have sot in use , and pick out * the best that may do again , as I promised it to O'Brien . " Now , this does not look like a conspiracy , on my part , to icjnre you , or thwart you . or destroy you .

      Bat 1 return to Mr . Porter ' s bouse , where you dined , with me , as I before observed , on the Priday . I tola you of our contemplated demonstration on the following Monday ; that your name was in tbe bi ; is ; a ad that I considered it a glorious opportunity for our meeting once more before tlie public . "Now , " paid I , "O ' Brien , I tell yon what . I propose that yoa should head the Birmingham procession on Monday , and meet me and the Soa ; h S afibrdshire demonstration at half-past ten within a half miie froa the town . " Your answer wa =, " Well , well , well , I don't care . " " Well , " said I , " but will you do so ! " and yon said , " Yes . " itr . Porter , njid Mrs . Porter , and myself , were all delighted ; and Mr . Porter immediately said , "Well

      dons ! by G—d . that ' s the way to make the tyrants tremble" You accompanied me to the railway fitut-on ; and saad that " the Conference were a set tf ru ' . dui ^ -class hu mbugs , trying to get rid of yon s . ud me , to destroy the ChaniBt movement . " You said that " You were not astonished at Ar ; hnr O'Neil , as he was puffed np with vanity axd conceit ; bat you were astonished at Vincent , who , you ha ** always considered a good-natured feilow . ' - This W 23 fiiih reference to tbe meeting & % the Chartist church . Well , I left Birmingham on Friday ; travelled all night to Manchester and Leeds , and returned to Wolverhampion and Bilsion on Sunday , where I announced the glad intelligence that you wonM meet us with the Birmingham procession . When we arrived in Birmingham , I asked

      where you were I and no one knew . When I arrived at Mr . Porter ' s , after the meeting , I learned that you bad said that you wonld attend the meeting if a deputation waited upon yon at eleven o ' clock , at Mr . Porter's ; and that you were Tery angry * t your name being in the bills , although it was done with your perfect consent , as stated by Mr . Linney , who was deputed to ask you , lert you might consider it A liberty . I learned also that a deputation had come to Mr . Porto's ; and another came ; ana another ; said that you were not there to meet them ; neither did you attend oar meeting , for which yon were announced ; but you did attend & ticket meeting eoaTeaed for the Tery game evening , in . the Town Ha . 11

      Trusting that jou will not attribate to m 9 a desire to misrepresent you , I here transcribe one passage from your speech made upon that occasion , as reported , not in the Nonconformist or Birmingham Journal , but in ihe Statesman ^ who appears to hare had a special reporter present . You are reported aa follows : — * Mr . O'Bribs then aid , " That tfcou ^ h he had " private acquaintance whateTer with Mr . Sturge , he solemnly declared his belief t&it ttere -was not , on Brftifh son , a msa better suited to lead THIS

      MGYEUZST . " Now , O'Brien , I ask you , in plain and simple ? aagaage , whether or cot this is tautamauiit tohanding our moTemeat orer , neck aad crop , to t £ e p ^ r-

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      poses of that party which you " would have despatched in tftx lines like common pickpockets'' ? I ask you . more ; whether or not your countenance , co-operation , and aid , were not absolutely necessary to keep up the drooping spirits of our lingering eiionts—to inspire thorn with confidence m themselves , instead of paralysing us in the eleventh hour , by the delusive hope of an honourable union with a party whose machinations , views , and motnres you have so ably exposed 1 With respect to denunciation , either by private letter , in conversation , or in the Star , I defy yon , or any other man , to point out a single instance in which I have , directly or indirectly , denounced , weakened , or injured the character of a single Chartist leader . On the contrary , the general charge

      against me has been that I have been too lavish m my praise of undeserving individuals . O'Brien , if you could lay your hand to your heart as I can , before God , and say that " throughout the whole of life , since I knew you , your happiness , popularity , and independence have been matter of fond and anxious consideration , " you wonld be a happier man than you appear to be . Ere I close , let me assure you , that no power on earth shall ever force me into the false and wicked position in which you seem to wish to placa me—as one of your revilers ; while , upon the o : her hand , no dread of your wrath , your satire , or anger , shall ever deter me from discharging any single duty which I owe to the bravest , the noblest , the honestest people upon the face of God's earth—the working

      classes ! To them both you and I mast leave the dnty of distinguishing between their friends and their enemies . They are quick to praise , and slow to censure- They look to the straight walking of those who profess to lead them . They will not tolerate a wabble without a warning . I see no reason why I should meet you in angry controversy , or heated discussion , while you yourself have been the wilful cause of all that misrepresentation of vthich you complain , and which you would now saddle on innocent parties . Had not the Editor of the Star commented , fearlessly , npon your conduct , equally as upon the conduct of any other individual , I , for one , should have considered him highly deserving of censure . He did bo comment ; and I think mildly ; -while you have thought proper to reply in a most indecent strain .

      O'Brien , you have yet to learn that the world was not made for you or me . Not a word in this letter is intended to annoy ; while all of it is necessary ; and , in conclusion , allow me to say , that should the world frown upon yon , you shall ever find a welcome from Your sincere Friend , Pkaegcs O'Coxsor .

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      THE PEEL TARIFF .- " FREE TRADE . " The measures of Peel are sure to pas 3 . The Income Tax Bill is progrtssing through the House of ¦ Commons at a pretty good rate : for the wind of the opposition inside seems spent for want of popular pcfis outside . The Tariff is the next in order , of Peel's measure ? , to be entertained by the House . The discuisions upon it will shortly be had . No doubt

      that it , too , will pas 3 , and mainly in the Bhape proposed by Peel . Some slight modifications may be determined on by Parliament : but Peel having staked the existence of his Ministry upon the principles of the Tariff , there can be no doubt but that it will pass . Peel ' s party cannot do without him : and however much they may object to his "freetrade" concessions , yet they will suffer him to drag ¦ them up to the neck in mud—nay , souse them over head and ears—before they will lay aside their party warfare , and . make common cause with the working people .

      The Tariff , then , may be looked upon as * carried j for carried it is ^ ure to be . What will be its effect \ What alterations will H make in the condition of the people 1 These are questions upon which none can do more than merely speculate . The old adage that " the proof of the padding is in the eating , " fully applies here . The proof will be in the eating !

      Meanwhile speculation ia rife . One party is promising grest things to the nation from its adoption , inasmuch as it is an acknowledgment , as far as it gees , of the principles of "free trade "; while aaother party prognosticates ruin to many interests in the state who hare hitherto enjoyed protection , and disappointment and loss , instead of benefit to the nation at large .

      Time will soon discover which of these two opinions is the most correct ; which of these two parties has studied and applied the true principles of political economy . The revision of the Tariff , is , no doubt , a concession , by Pzel , to tha " free traders . " It is a sop to them ; and in our opinion , it -r ill prove to be a sorry sop indeed ! The cry of" free trade" has been raised and kept

      np mainly by the manufacturing interest . But what they have aiway 3 meant by that cry has been , a " free trade in corn , " and rsoTECTiON for manufactures . Every one of the bawlers has been for " free trade" up to himself . Pbotect his business or calling , and ** fiee trade" was right and proper for all the rest i This is the meaning , when you sift It to the bottom , of the manufacturers' cry for " free trade . "

      Peel has , however , very adroitly turned the dootrineB of the " free traders" upon themselves ! He has reduced , but not remoted tthe protection given to the agriculturists by the Corn Laws , while he has behoved in many instances , and greatly reduced in mar . y more , the protective duties upon several branches of manufacture . Ha seems to have formed the purpose of letting the " free traders " haTe " free trade" amongst themselves , and aiiertvards asking them "how they like it J "

      They will not like it 1 The operation of the Tariff scheme will not suit them . They will get a surfeit of "free trade , " and will be the first to call out for a return to the protective system !

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      This would be all right and proper , were there not others to be affected by the measures . But there are others ; and they will have no cause to thank the " free tradere" for compelling Peel to grant a modified free trade . There are the working people 2 On them and their interests Peel's free trade" will hay © a most destructive influence ! True , the Tariff will reduce the price of food ; true , thai ; it will reduce the prices of nearly all articles of produce ; true , that this will be one of its effects : but another of its effects will be to beddcb wages ; for wages are the " PRICE" of labour , and are reduced along with other " prices" whenever a general reduction takes place ; and IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF TAXATION ! ' !

      Already are the manufacturers at work , to meet the anticipated " altered circumstances" ! Ten per cent , here ; fifteeD per cent , yonder ; and twenty per cent , in the other place , are already being deducted from the PRICE of labour I and by the time that the new measure comes into full operation , that " price" will be * generally reduced as much ( and in many instances more ) than the reduction in the prices of provision I Small indeed will be the benefit that the working people will receive from the reduced prices of food !

      We formerly showed , clearly and unanswerably , that , wfyile the taxation of any country remains at the same fixed money amount , every reduction in the prices of produce entails upon the community a real increase of that taxation in exact proportion to the decrease of priceB . Taxes can only ba paid in produce . It is the wealth we cause to be that pays all , —taxes , rent , profits , and wages . And as long as the value of that wealth is measured by a money standard , and as long as the taxes are fixed at a certain money amount , so long , and inevitably , will every reduction in the money value of wealth cause more of that wealth to be necessary , and given , to pay the taxes !

      Whatever , therefore , be the reduction of prices of produce consequent on the "free trade" Tariff of Sir Robert Peel , in exact proportion to that reduction will the working people haTe to produce MORE for the tax-eater ill Then , look at it 3 effect upon several of the trades of the kingdom ! Want of employment ib said to be one of the causes of the horrible amount of destitution everywhere prevailing . To remedy this , Peel is going to Bet the FOREIGNERS to work , to make shoes , and boots , and furniture , and beef , and pork , and leather , for us ; while our own artizans and labourers are to continue idle ! And this is the M free trade" system ! This is the " free trade" way of providing for our own population " PLENTY TO DO" ! !

      Foreign boots and shoes are to be admifted to this country at a greatly reduced duty . Foreign furniture , and foreign vegetable produce , are also to be admitted at a reduced duty . The operation of this portion of the Tariff scheme will be , upon the shoemakers and cabinet-makers , and ( to a certain extent ) upon the market-gardeners , just what the rednction of duty upon foreign Bilks has been upon the Spitalfields and Maocle&field silk-weavers ! Shoemakers ! look out ! Cabinet-makers ! how do you like free-trade ?! You can answer us this question very feelingly in two years from this date ! '

      Foreign silks have nearly superseded our own manufactured silks in our own markets . The prices of English silks and the wages of English silk-weavers have been driven down to nothing . Precisely such will be the action and consequence of the operation of "free trade" upon the English shoemakers and furniture makers ! French boots and shoes will super cede our home made ones ; and German furniture will drive our own out of the

      " cheap" market . Foreign fruits and vegetables we shall have in abundance , six weeks or two moitths before our own is ready for the market ! Of course the English market-gardeLer , when he come 3 to market with his produce , will not find his customers supplied ! and of course he will be able to command the price he formerly obtained !! Aud this is Peel's method of finding remunerative employment for the unemployed !! ThiB is " fbee-tkade" ! ! !

      Let us just see what the protective system would have done in this case ; or or rather let as see what the protective system did do , when many thousands of the workiDg people were formerly thrown out of employment through the operation of a partial " free-trade . " We have now lying before us on our table six large folio volumes ; each one as big as a family Bible ; containing all the statutes of this realm horn Magna Charta down to the end of the reign of George II . ; and amongst them we find some very curious and admirable laws , that oftentimes induce us to think that , in this age

      of " science" and "learning " and " crime , " we have not much IMPROVED upon the " wisdom of our ancestors . " On former occasions we have given one or two of these laws verbatim from the old book , and applied them to the questions we have been discussing . Our readers will , of course , judge for themselves with what force this has been done ; and whether the inferences we have drawn from them are correct or not : and they will also judge as to . their relevancy to the respective subjects in hand . Having detailed the method adopted by Peel to provide the unemployed with " plenty-to-do , " we shall now quote from our black-Ittter book , a whole Act of

      Parliament passed in the nine-and-thirtieth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth , being Chapter 14 of the Statutes passed by Parliament in that year , 1596 ; the reader can then contrast tbe mode adopted by the Parliament of that day , to provide means whereby " many thousands" of working people were " to live and well maintain themselves , their wives , families , and children , by the benefit and use of their trade , " with the plans that are resorted to , now-a-days , to remedy the distress and privation endured by all classes of artisans and labourers in the country , arising from want of remunerative employment ! Htre is the old plan : —

      " Whereas many thousands of woollen card makers and card wyer drawers of tbe cities of London , Bristol , Gloucester , Norwich , Coventry , and of many other her Highness cities and to'wna -within this realm , have heretofore lived and well maintained themselve 3 , their wives , families and children , by the benefit and use of their trade and faculty of card making and drawing of card wyer within ihis realm : and now of late time , BY REASON of ihe common bringing in of foreign cards for wooll out of France , and other foreign parts , the said card makers and card wyer drawers have been so much impoverished , that scant ihe twentieth person that heretofore lived by the said trades , is now maintained and set on work thereby .

      "Be it enacted by onr Sovereign I < ady the Queen ' s Majesty , and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled , and by authoiity of the same , that no person or persons whatever , from 6 t after the feast day of purification of the blessed Yirgin St . M » ry now next ensuing , shall bring , send or convey , or cause to be brought , senior conveyed into the realm of England oi WaleB , from the parts beyond the seas , any cards for wooll , to be sold , bartered or exchanged within the realm of England or Wales , upon pain to forfeit all such cards for wooll , so

      to be brought , sent or conveyed contrary to the true meaning of this Act , in whose hands Boever they , or any of them , shall be found , ox the very value thereof , the one half whereof to be to our said Sovereign Lsdy the Queens Majesty , her heirs and successors , and the other moiety thereof to him or them , that will stize the same , or sue therefor in any Court of Record of the Queen ' s Majesty , her heirs and successors , by action of debt , bill , plaint , information or otherwise , in which actions , suits , plaints or information * , no wager of law , essoign or protection shall be allowed . "

      Now , what does the reader think ? Does either Pjeel or the " free-traders" poEBess all the wisdom in the world ! Are they the Solons they would pass themselves off for ? Do they go the beBt way to work , to get the nation out of the diflioultiosinto which thet have plunged her ? Whether does " free trade , " or the protective system , care most for the labourer that produceth ! Peel's Tariffwill augment the national distress amongst the labouring oJasses and the shopkeepers It will entail upon the former less of employment , lower wages , and an increase of taxation ! It will entail upon the latter loss of custom , and less profits

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      upon the business they do . Low prices are not what the shopkeeper makes the most by . Low prices brin ^ lower wages ; and the great consumers of the shopkeeperB' stock buy less in qwntity thaa they did before with high prices and higher wages The shopkeeper has a per-centage upon the money he turns over . If he turns over a large amount , his profits are commensurate : if he turns over a smaller and smaller amount , A « income diminishes 1 Peel ' s reduction of prices will reduce the shopkeepers ; but it will ADD to the income of the annuitant , the pensioner , the salaried man , the pinecurist , t ^ e deadweight recipient , and all those who possess fixed incomes \ It % s only another ieiJcmy from those who produce ! and a giving to those who produce not !! J

      Here , then , is our registered opinion of the famous Tariff scheme ! Wa have thus givin it , and thus registered it , that it may be referred to another day . A short time will shew whether we are correct or not i A short time will serve to shew whether the ' ? free trade" measures of Peel will have the effact anticipated from them by the "free traders" ; or whether they wiil not be found to sicken the nation of all"free tfade , " and all" free trade" advocates !!

      To Time , then , we commit our opinions ! our prognostications ! To Time the Tariff will soon be also committed : aud if Peel , or any other Minister , can manage to squeeze from this people £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year , either by indirect or direct taxation , or by both ; if Peel , or any other man , can manage to do this , with the reduction of prices consequent on tvia Tariff , without producing misery and destitution throughout the length and breadth of the land

      compared to which the misery and destitution already existing ( horrible and appalling as it is ) would be happiness and plenty i ^ eelf ; if Peel , or any « ther Minister , can , with a reduction in the prices of produce , raise the required ^ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year , without breaking up society from its very foundatioria-r-then we shall be willing to be accounted ignorant indeed , and confess that we know nothing of either politics or political economy !

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      woiild have done more to allay irritated feelings , arid to produce tranquillity ^ than any coercive "Tradeis in a most lamentable condition in the neighbourhood , and an irruption of the colliers , a far more dangerous body of men than the nailers , when stimulated by the pangs of hunger , ia anticipated with great alarm . " ¦ \ 'Tisthu 3 , that by the middle blasBes whom thej sustain with their sweat and with their blood the poor have been ever treated ; their confidence has invariably been mocked and taken advantage of ; and

      Vre confess that we have little hope that this clawof necessity the kites and ravens of society—will ever act otherwise : we have no faith : in any promises made by them , and attach , / consequently , little importance to any proposals coming : from them ; since all experience , in much and in little , BhowB them to be , as a class , characterised only by rapacity and insincerity . The exclusive power afforded to them by class legislation of directing the energies of steam and other inanimate agents , and of thus increasing , at their pleasure , cheap production , has enabled them to create a surplus population ; that is

      to say , it has enabled them , to a great extent , to do without the people , who ate now only , so much ' termin upon the land , which they are glad of obtaining any pretext to " clear off ; " hence we doubt not , that a pleasure truly diabolical , would be experienced by a great many of them , if the people could be goaded into open resistance ik sectional detachments ; knowing that , from the same circumstances , whence they derive power to op * press , they derive alsopower to destroyi Itis this very

      thing against which we have had mainly to combat during the whole existence of the Northern Star ; and it is because of our constant warning to the people , upon this head , that the wretches , hating and fearing us , are continually bellowing out about " the violence of the Northern &ar , " and about onr incitements to physical force -. while our whole life and labours are expended in counteracting their diabolical schemes to entrap the people into collision with their armed myrmidons .

      Thanks to the people ' s good sense , maugre all the bitterness of their oppressions , they have hitherto , generally speaking , baffled the foul , fiendish , tempters ! and we implore them still to continue so to do . Most heartily would we re-eoho the excellent advice of their own Parliament given to the whole people '; and we would especially recommend it to the poor nailmakers , colliers , and others of the neighbourhoods now so fearfully disturbed by middle-class tyranny and treachery . They will find it elsewhere in the address of the Convention to the industrious and starving , and we intreat them to read aad pon der it most carefully .

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      Crow and Tyrrell ' s Breakfast Powder . —Wi have received a letter , signed by tvoenty-five Chartists of Nottingham , who have tried this Chartist beverage , and speak of it in very high terms . We have not room for the letter •; but we cordially second the recommendation it contains , to-all . Chartists to patronise this beverage , as the manufacturers contribute handsomely from the profits of it to the support of the Executive ^ This beverage and finder ' s Mocking ought , if properly supported , to produce abundantly suffir dent to pay the Executive , the Convention , and all the public lecturers . StocRport . —The paragraph about the " unknown " would in all probability bring onus another prosecution . This we suppose our friends do not tvish .

      A Woolwich Cadet must excuse us . His letter looks a little too much like kicking a dead ass . J . B . Smith must have read the Northern Star of last week very carelessly if he did not see the column of " Forthcoming Chartist Meetings , " in thefifthpage . The Sunderland Meeting , aud the " Cheebs fob Mr . Sturgb . "—We have received a communication siyiied by a number of Chartists contradicting the letter of Messrs . Monarch and Mow ait , of Sunderland . and affirming that the cheers

      were owen . An Old Radical . —Thanks . Mr . Griffin wishes to inform his brother Chartists who write him , for the future to address No . 8 , Robert-street , Bank-lop , Manchester . James B . O' Bki en .- ^ We have received a blackguard letter bearing this signature , with an intimation that we may either put it into the : Star or thefire . We shall do neither . We shall preserve it as a choice specimen of ihe ravings of an angry man who has ¦•* put hiti foot in it . " While it suited the purpose of James 3 . O'Brien to write on matters of public principle , We readily afforded him the use of our columns , on any

      subject and at any length . For Billings gatehe must seek some other vehicle . J . Sweet begs to acknowledge the receipt of 2 s . 6 d . from Bagthorpe , Nottinghamshire , for the Con vention , and also 2 s . 6 d . for the Petition Demonstration , from the same place , which sums have been duly forwarded to Mr . Cleave , London . J . PiLLiKG . ^ His communication announcing the lecture of Mr . Leach , and the intended lectures of Messrs . While and Bairstow , was not received till Saturday , Mb . John Watkins . —We are Happy to learn that this gentlemen is much recovered . He wishes us to state that letters for him should be addressed to himatBattersea .

      Caroline Maria Williams writes us to complain that having recently opened a school for infants , at Bristol , with a fait prospect of success , the parish clergyman took the trouble to go round the neighbourhood and advise people not to sead their children to her as she Was a Chartist , by which her school has been very seriously injured . We can only say , that if it be so , the parson is a busy , dirty , meddling fellow . Philanthropia writes us to say that the Chartists of Truro have sent 10 s < by post office order , to Mr . Cleave , fortheuse of Mr . Powell , their delegate in Convention . Trowbridge Chartists . —We have not room for the address of the Council to the inhabitants of Trow *

      bridge . . A . M'Gregor . — We have a perfect reliance on the honesty and truthfulness of our Sheffield Correspondent , and we think it quite likel y that lie , upon the spot , would be able to judge of the facts , speeches , or other proceedings of a meeting ' at Sheffield , at which he was present for the purpose of reporting , more accurately than any gentleman at Edinburgh , who may reasonably be supposed not to have been present . Mr . Bairstow must excuse us inserting his letter . The mistakes are not very important ones , but our space is very important at present . We have sent his letter to our Correspondent . Eccles Chartists . —Had better write to Mr . Barrow .

      George Lindsay . —The case is one among thousands of similar ones . We have not just now space for its insertion . A Real Democrat . —The letter of the Chartist shoemakers of Northampton was received three ^ weeks ago , and was not ' noticed because we received by the next post another letter purporting to be from the same parties requesting us not to notice it . The Readers of the Northern Star in any town in the East and North Riding of Yorkshire who have not yet joined the union , wishing to have

      the services of'a lecturer , may conmmunicate with Edward Burley , 19 , Billon-street , Layorthorpe , York , slating the amount they can pay weekly towards his salary . A Poor Artisan will gel all the requisite information respecting ihe trades , employment , labour , and prospects of working men in the United Slates from Chambers'a Information for the People , purls 5 and 6 . J . Brook , Bradford . — We have some recollection of the sixpence , but realty don't know what it

      was about ! Willtheparty who sent it say t Mr . Wm . AuTr , of Daw Green , is the Agent for the sale of Roger Pinder ' s Chartist Blacking . MR . DEWHIRST ' S motion of thanks to the working classes , in the Sturge Conference - ~ 3 fr . Smyth writes us that " tiie number who voted for that motion was seven , numb . Dewhirst , Brook , Smyth , Burrow , Hodgson , MCartney , and Coohe . Against Mr . Parry ' * amendment five , namely , Dewhirst , Brooke , Smyth ; Burrows , and M'Carlney . "

      Untitled Article

      FOR THE EXECUTIVE . From Ipswich > per W . Garrard ... o io o ^ Plymouth , per John Kodgera 0 10 Q „ Joseph Morgan , grocer and cheesemfjnger , Deptford , being i proceeds , at the rate of 2 ^ per cent upon thearticlcs purchased at bis shop by theXhartiata ... O 4 2 „ MontpeHer Tavern , Camberwell locality , J . Parker , 8 u b > ^ Secret ary ... ... . 1 11 8 == ___

      FOB . MRS . FROST . From J . W . Smith , Mansfield , i . 0 0 4 a few friendB 5 t Fenton .. ; 0 3 o „ " ditto , Irfragton . i . 0 4 11 ,-.. FOR MRS . FROST , MRS . w 7 LtIAMS , AND MRS . JONES . From Marple , per T . Parker ... P 5 0 FOR THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF tHE INCARCEBATED CHARTISTS . From London , per Edmund Stailwood , being proceeds Of a ball and concert : held in the Tempe- _ . , ¦ ratice Hall , Chelsea ... ... 0 5 9 ;

      Untitled Article

      BE ~ a . DFOBl > . —Manor Court ;—Clarkson y Whitney . —In this cause , tried on Friday last , fo ? recovery of money received by the defendant on account of the Bradford Victim Fund , in 1840 , and not paid over , a verdicfc passed for the defendant j which being contrary to evidence , notice has been given of an application for a new trial . . LEICESTER—Our borough is in a state of military occupation . Two troops ; of the Third Dra * goon Guards have been marched into the town * Several hundreds of special constables have been called out , and ave beheld parading ihe streets mingled with the ) police . xThe cause of all the alarm into which these threatening circumstances have thrown the public mind , is the erection of a hand

      corn mill at thevbaslile , " at which out-paupers are compelled to work ^ at two-pence half-penny per day- , to be deprived of all relief for themselves . - " arid families . The mill has been broken twice while the men have baen at work . The first time the men were charged with the damago . They were ? acquitted by the magistrates , after the bench had listened to the able advocacy of Mr . Wood , attorney , who has taken a Chartist card , and avowed his conversion to democratic principles . On Friday week , four men were arraigned before this bench charged . with , tho the second damage of the mill . . Air . " Cooper secretary of the Shaksperean Association , having taken the office of clerk to Mr . Wood , appeared

      before the magistrates , to plead the cause of the men . The miller , however , had finished his evidence before Mr . C . could get into the court , and could not be cross-questioned . Owing , chiefly , to this circumstance , the cause was lost , arid the four men were sentenced to four months' imprisonment each . An exasperated crowd hooted the miller all the way to the bastile , and broke upwards of twenty panes in the bastile windows . Last Monday morning , three persons were tried for this last offence , under the name of " riot , " before the Borough Magistratep Mr . Cooper defended them ; but , after four hours * trial , they were committed to the sessions . Three more men were then charged v ? ith participating in

      the act of breaking the mill the second time . Mr Copper entered on their defence ; and , after three hours' contest , in which he clearly convicted the miller of perjnry , and also of wilful and malicious neglect in the management of the mill , tho magistrates determined to adjourn the case till Wednesday morning . ? he Market-place was crowded during the day—the police and special constables were on duty , and a few foot-soldiers on recruiting service in the town , wete called out to display their arms . A crowd followed the miller to the Bastilej again hooting on the way , and some threw stones . In the evening all was peaceable , although thousands thronged the Market-place . Mr . Cooper and Mr , Beedham , from a wasgon , addressed the multitude

      on the Charter , and an address to the Convention expressive of the resolution of the working men of Leicester to abide by the Charter , and the name , and to support the Convention and the Executive , was carried by acclamation . On Tuesday afternoon the Dragoons arrived , raising increased exasperation in the town ; arid at the present moment of writing ( Wednesday morning ) the magistrates have not yet pronounced sent « noe on the adjourned case , and it is uncertain what may be the next stage of public opinion , or resolution . Mr . Peter Brophy , of Dublin , gave us two stirring lectures , in the Shaksperean Room , last week ; and Messrs . Cooper and Beedham preached to attentive . and excited audiences , in the Market-place , on Sunday afternoon and evening .

      SX& 1 VIIKGHAM . —fFrom our men Correspondent . )—^ There is a thorough steeple chase in Birmingham amongst the clergy . It seems that there was a Vacancy in a fat living ( about . £ 600 a-year ) . Three of the clergy put up for the place , which ia at the disposal of the parishioners , but one of them has since resigned . The election begins to-day ( Wednesday ) , and ends on Thursday , at six o ' clock . There is as much bustle and noise about the affair as if it waa a regular election . Gars are driving about with large placards stuck upon them to induce people to vote for this or that candidate , as the case naay be . There has been a great deal of recrimination between the parties , and altogether it will open the eyes of the public to consider well the character

      of thote men who pretend to take care of their souls . ^——Wednesday Evening . — -The steeple chase of tha parsons for the fat living of St . John's , Deritend , has terminated in the return of the Her . Mr . Smith by a majority of 298 over his opponent , the Rev . Mr . Storer . A more disgraceful affair could scarcely have taken place . The rival committees of the two candidates very liberally diatribated a tickets of refreshment , " which entitled the holder to a certain amount of baer and tobacco ; and some had gotten bo . beastly drunk that they set on to fight in the street ' s . There seems to be but one opinion amongst the thinking part of the community , arid that is , that it was most disgraceful , and would open the eyes of the people more than any speech-making could do .

      • The Mining Districts . —Birmingham , Wednesdat Evening . —The town of Dudley is yet free from any marked violence , but I rather fear there are some grounds for supposing that things will not end without some unpleapantrdisturbance . The Magistrates are apprehensive , and have taken every precaution to keep the peace . Lord Clive has arrived , and is in Constant consultation with the Magistrates . This morning , about two o ' clock , one hundred yeomanry marched into tho town , and soonaftertwo pieces of artillery arrived , so that it would seem that the authorities had some cause of alarm . Nearly a troop of theEnniskillendragoonsarealse&tationedmthetown .

      and therest of the two troops are quartered in the neighbourhood of Lye Waste , Stourbridgoj Hales Owen ^ and other places . All , as yet , in these parts , are quiet ; but if the men cannot be prevailed upon to go to work , how long it will remain so is uncertain .: It is a fact that the colliers are expected to turn out on Monday next , and they are a powerful body . A reduction of their wages is said to be the cause ; indeed , the whole district is , as I before wrote you , in the utmost distress , and there is no immediate prospect of relief . I am sorry to know that one man , named George Gill , was severely wounded ,: on Monday eveuiug , in Dudley ^ his nose being nearly cut off bya sabre wound .

      Child Murder . —On Wednesday , an inquest was held at the Ashied Tavern , on the body of an infant child , alleged to hare been borne and murdered by Mary Ann White , a servant in the house of Mr . Henry Jacob , of 142 , Ashted-sireefc , accountant . Several witnesses were examined , soms of whose evidence is utterly unfit for publication ;^ and from the whole it / seemed that the girl had for formerly borne an excellent character and was much liked by her mistress ; that there was no suspicion of her being pregnant until the morning of her labour , and that she had borne the child in the privy , beaten it to death with a broom , and then thrust it down the hole into the soil . The broom was found in the privy , the handle being bloody . There was also blood in several niches in the place , though water had been used to wash » t away . A verdict of Wilful Murder was returned against the mother .

      SUN » ERtAN l > .-TEETOTAtiSM . —On Thursday evening there was an extraordinary largo meeting of the teetotallers .- of Sunderland , held in the Arcade Room , It was generally understood that some members of the society intended to bring before the meeting the general conduct of the committse . Afcer some of the usual hacknied speeches from the "Adults , ' a "Juvenile" rose to address the meeting . This was the event of the evening ; at his rising , the meeting gave him a simultaneous and enthusiastic round of cheers , "this swuefc terror to the chairman and the members of the committee , who were on the platform . The chairman rose to stop the juvenile speaker , because he said the

      committee had not appointed him to speak , arid none were to be allowed to speak but those who had been so appointed . The youth , however , with great presence of mind , and sound discretion , appealed from the decision of the chairman and committee to the meeting , by requesting all those who wished him to speak to hold up their hands ; immediately near-y every hand in the meeting was held tip , and tho chairman , after a little further opposition , sat down , and allowed the young man to proceed . The speaker then stated , that he was a member of the

      Juvenile Total Abstinence Society ; that it had done a great amount of good amongst the young of the town , and its labours had the approbation of must of tho leading membera of the aault society , but the Committee h ^ d displayed a most un ^ enaroaa spirit towards them ; first , masking them an exorbitant rent , for the room , while the » duits had it free ot Charge ; and , next after they had let them it at a moderate rent , they raised frivolous objections againat letting ihem have it a 1 -and after their second meeting had deprived tiiem of the use ,, of «•

      Untitled Article

      4 \ THE NORTH MN STAR . . ¦ ¦ . ¦ -. . : ¦ ' / - - ' : ¦ ; ^^

      Untitled Article

      THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES . TO THE SUFFERING AND STARVING . Fellow-Coustrtmen , —We have received many important communications from various districts , describing tbe excitement and disaatiifiction which prc-Tail in the minds ef those who have been driven into poverty and starvation by political causes , ¦ which they have no power to destroy , and scarcely any liberty to describe in Parliamentary petition . We Dave decided on petitioning Parliament on Monday , tbe 20 th of May , to be heard at the bar of the Hcus 9 of Commons to lay befere the world . A full and honestBtateraentof the came of your grievances , the extent of your sufferings , and the grand remedies to be proposed for the immediate and permanent removal of all natural suflering and social wrong .

      We wait ¦ with patience and subdued feeling the result of our mutual prayer . We axe fully sensible that it is almost a mockery of justice to ask the starving to be submissive , acd the injured to bow their famiahed bodies to the footstool of oppression , still the sacredness of our cause , and the hopelessness of all attempts at violence , are sufficient to guide us in now calling npon you to abstain from any act likely to bring our principles into disrepute , and dye deeper the red banners of despotism with the blood of our brethren . We deeply sympathise with yo « . We have expressed onr hostility to the system vrbich has stripped you , misled yon , repressed tout murmurs by force , subdued your eomplainJs by a demonstration of steel , and threatened butchery . You ask us for advice . We counsel you to watch ihe decisive answer of the Government . The month of May will bring the intelligence to you .

      You ast us how you are to act Await the decision of the National Convention . Your delegates will carry with them the results of our deliberations ; and rest assured that we are too much alive to tbe danger of collision with an armed Government ever to advise it , and we possess too much experience ever to recommend violence as the course to be adopted in our struggle for justice . Fellow Cocntk . T 3 iex , —We have heartily , jet decidedly , adopted this course , out of regard for you as well ns out of respect Ijt those principles which have progressed by the lid of reason alone , and needs no other argument , greater than present necessity , to enforce them on the legislature .

      We hare placed it in the power of the Government to appease the rising indignation of millions by granting theit advocates a bearing . We now await the result , and all we desire from you is , to sacrifice feeling for a time , and imitate us in the practice of rational patience , at tbe Tatce time that we prepare to advise you on the future csnrse to be pursued the moment the legislature have given their negative or affirmative to a nation ' s demand . ( Signed ) Abeam Duxcan , Chairman . Johs Campbell , Secretary .

      The Northern Star. Saturday, April 30, 1842.

      THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , APRIL 30 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      VALUE OP TORY SYMPATHY FOR THE POOR . THEIR PARTY OUTCRY AGAINST THE NEW POOR LAW , When the Whigs were in , and the Tories were out , it was the ewe of the latter party to be horrorstruck with the enormities of the New Poor Law . Now that they are int small indeed is the song they sing to that tune ! Of the sincerity of the cry raised upon the hustings by many of the Tory foUowera , we shall have > directly , a good opportunity of judging . The Tory Secretary of State / or the Home Department , on Tuesday night last , gave in the House of CommonB the following notice : —

      " Sir James Graham gave notice that on Thursday , the 5 th of May . he should move for leave to bring in a bill to continue the powers of the Poor Law Commissioners for a time to be limited . " Ministers , then , have determined to continue the New Poor Law abomination ! Will they ; in this , be supported by their Tory followers ! We shall see ! Dare they rebel against their leader ? We shall see ! Will they leave him and the Whig opposition to saddle the atrocity upon the people ; or will they help both him and them ? We shall see !

      On Thursday next , then , tho Minister for the Home Department moves for leave to bring in a Bill to continue a law which robs the poor of their right to the first take , a Hying , from the soil ! And the Legislature of England will aid him in his purpose . ' ! And yet they dare to prate about maintaining the institutions of the country !! ! dare to prate thus , when they are abrogating , knocking dowtt i the most famous and the most necessary institution of all !!! an institution , in the absence of which all private property is a wrong !!!! Verily our Legislators are curious Conservatives !

      This Poor Law question must be a little better understood than it now is . The poor , at least , must be made to comprehend it in all its bearings . Next week we shall endeavour to give them the benefit of our readings and reasonings on the subject ; and , amongst other things , wo shall print , entire , the original Poor Law of England—the famous 43 rd of Elizabeth .

      Untitled Article

      THE NATIONAL PETITION . Eke we again meet our readers , the Petition will have been presented ! The Nation ' s tongue will have given utterance to the Nation ' s griefs ! and we fhall have heard the answer of the chiefs of faction 11 Let , then , the quiet and the patience of expectancy abide , until that answer shall be known . After it shall have been received , the people ' s delegates will doubtless issue their instruction and advice . We shall , if necessary , throw our mite into the common

      tr eaeury of council , and consider , with pur brethren how we may best make good our vantage , or continue to uphold the struggle . One thing let the people be assumi that whatever good is to be done for them must be done by them . If they hold not . themselves in readiness to aohjeve the redress of their own wrongs , they will never have redress from those who have inflicted and are seeking always to extend and perpetuate them ! The address of the Convention in reference to the petition and the position of the people , will be found elsewhere ; let it be read , and carefully !

      Untitled Article

      THE GOOD FAITH OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES WITH THEIR VICTIMS . The times are now most critical ; and the people never needed more of caution , of prudence , and forbearance . Tho factions have , by misrule , brought ks to the very depth of dej ^ radation and destitution , and in the spirit of that misrule are yet preparing to open " Beyond the lowest deep still lower deeps " of misery into which they seek to force the people , out of whom they live . We were sorry , but not surprised , to find in the Sun of Tuesday evening , the following statement from a correspondent : —

      " Dudley , A plil 25 . — -This morning a body , consisting of several thousands of nailers from the surrounding country , came into this town , for the purpose , as they stated , of remonstrating with the nail masters against . the reduction in their wages , amounting to not less than 20 per cent . The poor creatures appeared in amost wretched and famishing condition , many of them carry ing in . their countenances undeniable attestation to their declaration , that they had not eaten a morsel of food for the last two dayp . Up to the time of the reduction , the most expert men of the body could with difficulty

      tarn four and sixpence a week each . But the proposed diminution , should it take place—an event roost probable , from the condition of the masters themselves—will lead to ' .. suffering hitherto unparalleled in this district . The Magistrates met for the purpose of consultation , after which a proposal was made to the hungry multitude to select twelve of their body to confer with their employers on the subject of complaint ; It is much to be lamented that from some cause , not yet made public , ' this eonferetiee did not take place , as the people readily Bubmitted to the proposition regarding

      it , and waited with exemplary patience the result . Meanwhile , a detachment of the 6 th Dragoons arrived from Birmingham , and proceeded at onoe , with drawn swords , to disperse the people-ra task they foutid no difficulty in accomplishing . Large numbers of the nailers are still in the neighbourhood , and as they suspect that the proposal , for the conference teas only a trick to obtain time tosendfor the troops , they are highly indignant ; and the inhabitants of the town are in a state of great alarm , lest the multitude may return when the soldiers are removed , and , under the influence of irritated feel *

      ings , proceed to violence ; J- "¦' . "' "The magistrates deserve all credit for their prompt attention to the ciroum 3 tances , but it is thought by many that matttrs would have ended better , had argument and expostulation , with , if possible , a promiseof some concession , been employed before the troops proceeded to the business of dispersion . Though tho town was grtatiy : excited , the shops being closed , and business entirely suspeHtled , yet the assembled multituo ' e showed no disposition to riot , and an address suited to the occasion , expressive of sympathy with the pfople under their heavy sufferings , delivered by line Vicar , ( who uniouunately was on hoieeback amongst the military ^)

      2to M$A$Et0 An& €Ovve0pont/Eni0

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      Untitled Article

      James Thompson , Dundee . —Yes . An Old Subscriber , Leicesteb . —The fault is with the Agent : if he order Plates when be orders his Papers he will get them ; T . G . HiBBARD . ^ Write t 6 the Postinast ^ 0 eneraL Thomas Coqk . Ouston . —It cant be done . J ; A . HOGG , HA wick . —The division of the 103 ., noticed to ^ the last Star , had reference to Hawick : C&rlide jterex seat anjtbin g . T . S . Stoke must ref « r to the notiees of cash received .

      FOB TUB MASCHESTEK SUFFERERS . £ 8 . d . F »» longhW per T , Evelelgh ... 0 2 1 H

      Ilwal Atttr 0emval Sntellisenc^V

      ILwal atttr 0 emval Sntellisenc ^ v

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 30, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct752/page/4/