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10 THE INDUSTRIOUS PORTION OF THE JUDDLING CLASSES.
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." j uuwuive. TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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Ctjartt^t JMettigpncc.
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BBADFOBP. Court House.——Wousted
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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" Forgiienesa to the injured doth belong . " Gestlemss , —For a long time you have closed yom ears against reason , and shut jour eyes against the havoc that jou have made . His experience , - as jet , made 70 a wi&e , or has a fellow feeling juade jon kind ? If bo , the time has arrived when man may appeal to you , when judgment and the voice of knowledge may complete the triumph of right over might . How foolish , how very foolish it is , that two parties straggling apparently for the
^ me object , Bhould allow a phantom to separate them ; but in proportion as their position hecomes assimilated , in the same rate does the phantom lose its horror . The party that robbed the people are now robbing you ; bo long as their plunder was confined ' to the people , you aided the plunderers and cheered them on in their mad career . You refused to Ihten to the claims which industry was making on its own and your behalf , while you went blind fold as it were to the jury box , and on yonr oaths pronounced a verdict of guilty against your best , your only friends . You knew that so long as one
hundred millions sterling was annually paidj in national and local taxation , to a law chureh and useless professions dedicated to discord , and prostituted to the indiscriminate support of right or of wrongyou knew , or you ought to have known , that Eunh s ° stomach pump" would Yery speedily empty the belly of those to whom it was applied , and that when that source was dried up the state engineers would next apply it to your order . You knew that your political influence eouldhaTe reduced the hundred millions sterling per annum to fire millions sterling , and yet ensure a better discharge
of all the functions of Church and State ; and you knew that , of the ninety-fire millions saved , you , as agent 3 between the producers and consumers , would have your just and righteous share . You knew that the people acknowledge your agency as necessary to their comfort , and only object to job because of your support of their oppressors , not to your utility as a clas 3 , when your duties are properly performed .. You knew that the successful speculators in machinery , the bankers who supplied them with artificial money , and the merchants who speculated
upon the produce , had duped you into a belief that they constituted part and parcel of your order , whereas your interests and theirs were opposite as the poles ; and'yet you joined these some few scores of speculating politicians in the vain , the foolish , and delusive cry of " cheap bread , " " cheap bread , ' ** cheap bread" ! you joined them in their disingenuous clamour , instead of joining the people in their demand for their righteous share of the profits , and out of which you would have had your just share of tain .
Gentlemen , let me suppose a case , and not an extreme one . Suppose a manufacturer employing one thousand hands , each one of which would be fully entitled to one pound per week , and more , and suppose the employer in eonsquence of his command of the labour market , and with the surplus population of machinery-made-idlera to fall back upon as his reserve to cheapen labour ; I say , suppose that employer to reduce his hands to ten shillings per week ; did you ever reflect that such reduction was twenty-six thousand per annum out of the pockets of the neighbouring shopkeepers , while the saving all
went into the pockets of the banker , the merchant , ihe large pawnbroker , and the speculator . It may sot leave a profit of twenty-six thousand per aunnm to any one , because the inducement to gamble on low wages , would of itself superinduce an overplus and consequently a reduction in the value of produce , while the full wages paid to the one thousand hands , would have enabled them to make their own prodnca more valuable by being part consumers . And now . are yon so foolish as not to have discerned
that profits made by merchants , bankers , pawnbrokers and manufactures , and profits made by laboorers , go into very different channels ! The proltsof the former are vested in the funds , or in the purchase of lands , houses , railroad shares , or other heavy speculations , while the profits of the latter flow through your tilis , and constitute the very heart ' s blood which replenishes your veins . Yet have you joined the few in their wild speculations , while you have persecuted the many in pursuit of their own-sod war salvation .
But what is the phantom of which you professed lear while you had yet somethiBg to protect 1—** physical torce . " Alas ! Gentlemen , the shadow has vanished with your substance , and I rejoice to think that in your wisdom you have discovered that the producers of wealth are not likely to become the ¦ destroyers of their « wn produce . But you have . learned a better lesson than even that . You have learned that a people who have patiently borne
persecution , starvation , and iasult with an astonishing forbearance , may be trusted with some authority over life , liberty , and property , when more regard is paid to their own , Reason must have convinced yon that if neither life , liberty , or property have suffered damage from a people whose violence would be justified by the first and dearest law of nature , that life , liberty , and property stand in no danger from the same people , when an interest in the preservation of all wa 3 conferred upon them .
Gentlemen , you mHst do me the justice to admit that in my several addresses to the electors and non ¦ electors of Yorkshire , in 1833 , and in several letters of a prior date , I pointed out to you the certainty of that state of things coming upon you which has at length overtaken you . You must allow that I distinctly shewed how every aristocratic excess , which then pressed npon the industrious order , would , when that Grder was drained , then press equally hard upon you . You must admit that you joined in the cry for the Poor Law Bill , and gave to its most unchristian clauses
your very best support , while you went even far ther , and furnished the Government with all the required and expensive machinery of a rural-police force to insure i ! 3 operation . You then thought that the odium and the tax would fall upon the insulted people , while you now discover , that from the remnant of your savings , you must furnish the means of upholding both . How now do you like the Malthusian plan of tarowing the people and tbe police upon toc 3 ee 5 oitbc £ 5 ? Sorely you cannot complain , as you wexe testy ia youi approval of throwing the people upon their own resources . You now find joorselves , like a vessel without a rudder , beffetied
between tha waves of faction . The billows of taxeating Toryism are striking upon the one side , while the receding wares of Whiggery leave a chasm upon the other , and afford you no support against the raging torrent . Yes . the Whigs used you , deceived you , and deserted you . You stood by them muil their multiplied delinquencies actually gave to the affrighted public a favourable impression of the hideous visage of Toryism . For year 3 you -sustained them upon no better principle than " keep the Tories out" and now that the Tories are in you find the Whigs either hecome c ? nrerl 3 10 the enemies ' principles or laying down in apathy , while jour dearest interests are being undermined .
Gentlemen , have you ever attempted to solve the riddle of the present Whig apathy ? If not , allow me to do it for you . The Whigs who constituted the kte government , and their supporters , desire no greater change than that which will once more transfer the fruits of office and taxation to their party ' s hands , while the Whigs of no party or principle are engaged in a squabble s . s to who shall be leader of a party not in existence . You find that all the old planks of shipwrecked Whiggery are still Soatmg in the very latitude in which the rotten hulk was wrecked . The old ministers , the Morning Chronicle , the eclipsed Sun , the Leeds
Mer' turp , the Manchester Guardian , the Weekly Chronicle , and all the Whig newsmen are still clinging to the fragments of WMggery , and are Ibolish enough to imagine that on the ruins of Toryism they may once more float their shattered bark . But they bnild without their host . Whiggery that is , practical Whiggery , is dead and buried , never more to rise ; and now the question for your consideration and our 3 is ^ wheiber or not we are to be a&ghtedat the giant strength which Toryism has SLcquircdby Whig delinquency while in office , and , Whig cowardice while inoppositfon ? I say not . I eay to the indnsirions of all orders , " onward with one resolve , to overcome arUtocratie lust and establish
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the rights of industry on its ruins . " There is no danger in the trial if made with one accord , and a resolve to conquer ; while there is every dasger to the state by allowing ToryiEm to assume that strength which , in its hands , is sure to degenerate into despotism . Gentlemen , you and your order . have tried , through your leaders , all sorts of schemes to lure the people , and they have all failed , and it is fortunate for you that they have , for believe me that you yourselves must be sacrificed to overpowering taxation to support an idle aristooracy , their church , and their unjust and unchristian wars by any change short of that which the combined intellect of the industrious classes have set their hearts and minds upon , The People's Charter .
Gentlemen , I would implore you to E-trip this lovely image of the hideous garb in which prejudice and ignorance have dressed it . Strip it naked , then view it in all its loveliness . " Nature ' s dress is loveliness , The dress you wear , " my lovely Charter . Be not guided in your discernment by advertising journals and interested " political pedlars . " Examine the thing for yourselves , and having done so then say in what it would abridge your rights or make those possessed by others hostUe to you .
All means have been used to divide and destroy us , but all , all , have , thank God , failed , and all will 'fad ! Our union would be dishonourable to you " and hopeless to us were we to weaken ourselves by the abandonment of our principles ; therefore hope sot for such a change ; while if you admire our principles and acknowledge their justice ^ why make yourselves contemptible in the eyes of your enemies and suspicious in ours by asking us to abandon our honoured name , hallowed by persecution , and rendered dear by oppression and opposition ?
Gentlemen , see the noble example set by the Chartists of Nottingham , and , with the single exception of the Globe , mark tow the corrupt Whig press has preserved a dignified silence upon the subject , thus convincing you at once , that the principle , and not the name of Chartism , is the thing dreaded ; and that the invitation to change our name is but an artful device to get possession of our movement , in order to reduce publio opinion down to Whig temperature . Oh , if the contest for Nottingham lay between a pure Whig and a pure Tory , what Ieader 3 , what articles , what letters from ourself to oarself , what encomiums on the Chartists , what reverence for their discretion , what prayers for their success !
Now , then , I ask you , what you have to expect between the two parties ? The Chartists upon the one hand , whose principles you profess and approve , but whose name you cannot acknowledge ; and the leaders of Whiggery on the other hand , who object not to the name , but are opposed to the very principle which it denotes . Again , from the triumph of Whiggery you can expect but desolation , while in the triumph of Chartism you must be participators . Can you , then , longer hesitate ! The right ! and of fellowship is tendered to you ; accept it in time , I pray you . You but weaken yourselves by delay ; ior do it you must , or die or emigrate , in the long ran . Taxation and r . 1 a . ga legislation have swept away your foundation , and you cannot long stand .
" Lay not the flaUenng unction to you souls " that we will change our principles or otra name ; for , as one , 1 tell you that both for your sake and the people ' s Eake , I would rather beg my bread for the remainder of my life , than be a party either to the one or the other . Gentlemen , I . shall write you six letters upon this subject , and when they are concluded , I pledge myself that all who read and judge "without prejudice will confess himself in name and principle . Gentlemen , I have the honour To remain your obedient servant , Feabgus O'Co >> ob .
Errata—In my letter of last week , paragraph 3 , line 19 , for " Affghanistans , " read " Afghans ; " and in paragraph 7 , line 4 , for u democrat , " read " Duncombe ±
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Mt deab Friends , —It will be in the recollection of those persons who attended the meetings at which I spoke , now nearly seven years ago , when establishing Radical Associations , that of all things to which we should look as a means of insuring virtuous public men , public censorship , in my opinion , stood first ; and I have told you , over and over again , that to the want of that public censorship might be ascribed all the woes of all nations , but especially those of Ireland of a later date . I have insisted that had Mr . CTConnell ' s first acts of public delinquency been remonstrated against , his talent
and cunning would have been directed into the saving , instead of , as now , the destroying channel . I have- told you that passing by unnoticed any , even the most trivial , error , committed by a public man , was an inducement to that person to weigh his individual opinion against public opinion , until , by degrees , he ultimately succeeded in laying . the latter in trammels . I have been very , very severe upon this head in each and all of my discourses , protesting on behalf of public censorship for the people ' s sake , and relying upon public discretion to distingnisb between wilful transgression and error of judgment , as the safeguard 01 public
character . Nay , 1 have gone so far as to Bay , that I as an indiridua ] , never would pJace confidence again in auy man who had once deceived the public . Now these points in my several discourses all must remember , b&cause I have spoken impressively upon them . There is no difficulty in the way of a prblic man who steers an honest and straightforward course . ¦ His way is as the race-ground , roped m on both sides by defined principles ; the winniDg-post is his goal , and the priza , for which he contends , is that object which public opinion has resolved upon achieving . If a horse bolts in his race , no man will
again bet upon him ; but should he be overweighted , and thereby overcome , his present defeat entails no damage upon his character . So with a public man ; should he be overmatched ia his struggles for the attainaent of the general object , public opinion will rally round him and give him an increased power for his next encounter ; but should his defeat be in aiy wise a consequence of hi = dishonest running , public opinion will not back him in his future triab . The Romans esteemed the Public Censor as the most important officer in the state , and they
were right . And now , my friends , let me give you my idea of what a public man shonldbe , and what the duties of a pnblic eensor properly are , in the words of Plutarch , in his description of the Legion which Cato the younger , was appointed to command , that he had made them " dreadful to their enemies , and courteous to their allies ; AFRAID to do a DISHOSOUBABLE THIKG , AND AMBITIOUS OF HONEST praise . " A public man , then , should be " afraid to do a dishonourable thing , and ambitious of honest
praise . * In starting in public life , he should weigh well his reasons for attaching himself to the party for whose principles he professes a preference , and having once made his election , he should consider himself as a member of the body , which could not be otherwise severed from it than as a diseased limb is removed to preserve the patient's life . Or should his cessation be a voluntary act , in consequence © f virtuous misgiving , arising from a conscientious doubt as to his party ' s integrity , he should in such case retire altogether from public life rather than form a ceoiiiwa with any other political potty . His
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retirement would prove his fear of doing a dishonourable act , while his coalition with former enemies would prove that his ambition was not for honest praise , but for notoriety . He should be so strong in virtu « , that , although not above suspicion , the consciousness of integrity should find a corrective for tie virulence of reproach in the mildness of his defence . Anger , vituperation , and insolence rather stamp accusation with truth than force a belief of innocence . He should go all lengths with his party , so long as he remains one among them . He should be proof against taunt and scorn , and prefer an honest poverty to riches gathered from the sale of
. Such , in my opinion , should be the leading features in . a public man , while the duty of a public censor is to guard with an anxious and a watchful eye over the conduct of publio character ; so that those whose confidence has elevated him to the post , shall not , while sleeping or unobservant , be lulled into false security , or be surprised when unprepared for an assault . If he sees more than others can at
first distinguish as likely to occur from the first false step , it is his duty to present the act to all in precisely the light in which he himself sees it ; he is the pub'io eye—he . must not diminish or magnify the object to suit the probable taste of the public ; it is his duty to say , if such be his belief , I see a promised monster in that which is now presented to you in an infant and harmless shape , if you mature it , it will destroy you , and then blame yourselves ; if you see as I do , stijie it and you are saved . And inasmuch asthe wiles and machinations of a bad man can
work much evil to the public cause , if unrestrained ; while the temporary direction of public opinion to a suspicious act of the best man , can effect no material or any permanent damage either to himself or to his party , in my opinion , that censor who is over hasty to question , is a better servant than he who is over cautious in proclaiming what he conscientiously believes to be wrong . My friends , having said so much about public men and public censors , let me consider for a moment , whether . or not the virtuous indignation bo recently expressed by a few against what they are pleased to term" denunciation "' , was as sensitive upon all former occasions ? or whether the present honour is not rather an ebullition of anger , from detection , than a feeling of virtuous disapproval 1
Firstly , allow me to assure my readers , that whenever an attack is made upon the Northern Star , however plausibly ; or artfully it is sought to be confined to that journal , Feargus O'Connor is also aimed at . This no man in his senses can for one moment dispute or deny ; and now for a moment's retrospect upon the subject of denunciation . When Brewster and Frazer , in Edinburgh , O'Connell , in Dublin , the Political Union in
Birmingham , and Lovett and the Working Men's Association , in London , all proclaimed , at one and the same moment , the necessity for denouncing and getting rid of me , —not one soul but ; my old and only friends , the poorest of the poor , flow to my defence or protection . Then there was no virtuous indignation about denunciations ; then the mania Was , " PUBLIC MEN ARE PUBLIC PROPERTY ' , AND " THE LIBERTY OF SPEECH AND OP THK PRESS " .
When , subsequently , the Champion , the London Dispatch , theCharterjheSouthern 5 < ar , theNorthern Liberator , and the Birmingham Journal , and , mere recently , the Dundee Chronicle , the Perth Chronicle , the Scottish Patriot , the National Liberator , the British Statesman , and the Western Vindicator , made me the weekly subject , not only of denunciation , but of the vilest slander and abuse : then virtue was silent , and poor Bairstow was absolutely denounced Tor daring to say ot me , " Who works like him ? " .
When Dr . Fletcher attacked me for a speech made by Dr . Taylor , and given to me by the blundering ¦ Sun , it was subject of merriment until my opponent was vanquished , and then the cry of " shame ! why denounce a good man I" was raised , —not against the denouncer , but against the denounced . When Mr . Hetherington attacked me most brutally , when he thought that Whig barbarity had placed manacles upon my hands , and after having
declared to the five stonemasons who waited upon him in the Queen ' s Bench , " that FeargU 3 O'Connor and the Northern Star should be put down ; " when he so attacked me , he demanded the insertion of all his letters in the Northern Star as a matter of right , thus making my own paper the organ of his denunciation of me ; this was considered " fair" , while he published his letters also in his own paper , but refused to publish anp of my answers . TbiB met DO " denunciation" from any one .
When Hume declared to his Montrose friends , that Vincent , Collins , Hetherington , Lovett , and many other good men , were doing all they could to destroy O'Coanor and the Star , not a word of " denunciation" then . When the Sturgites had appointed Daniel O'Connell one of their council , not a word of u denunciation" then . When Harrison bad the courage to bring the hypocrites and traducers face to face , no " denunciation" then ; but , on the contrary , a virtuous cry of " shame to repeat the substance oi what passed ai a meeting of another body !"
In fact , my friends , for seven long years I have been the object of untiring , continuous , and insolent abuse , and my general answer has been , here I am with my party , and resqlved to stand by my party to the death , and point out the single blot who can . Now , my friends , it is necessary that publio opinion should be set right upon the question of denunciation . And here I am , after my busy life , and I can come before any portion of the public and say , where is the man whom I have ever publicly denounced by speech or publication ! and , above all ,
where is the sentence , word , or syllable written by me casting reproach , upon a eingle individual connected with our cause ? or where is the man whom in private conversation 1 have done other than praise till I have betn actually iaughed at \ whilst I declare to God that , in nearly every town throughout England : and Scotland , 1 have been denounced , both by letter and in conversation , in the most heartless , shameless , and unbounded manner , aud yet have 1 never resented it , privately or publioly , neither shall I .
I must now say one word oi" the Editor of the Northern Star ; and perhaps my charge against him will bo considered more grave and serious than auy which has yet been prelerred . The first intimation that I had of Mr . Pulip—onb of our executive—having done an act ( I care not howsoever indirect ) at variance with what I considered to be the duty of one of the people ' s servants was conmmunicated to me through the Star , while I was at Brighton . 1 instantly sat down , and wrote a letter for insertion in the Star , much , very much , stronger than any thing that I have seen , and the " rascally" Editor actually suppressed my letter , informing me , as a reason , that it was much better to leave all such matters to the people themselves . 1 wish that letter had
been published ; because in it I pointed out the exact difference between the act as committed by Vincent , and the act as committed by Philp as " one of five , who , from his appointment , 1 contended , as I ever shall contend , damned himself to all eternity by presuming to use the power which we had given him to augment that of an opposing party . I don ' t care one strata what all the old womea in the country may say ; I condemn it . Andif it was right to do it , why not confer with the whole Executive 1 I shall say no mote upon that subject . I ihall not even express any opinion as to those who would now defend Mr . Philp . No , if the aot is justifiable , I can standby it , and it requires not the authority of others to render my ground tenable .
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I shall only now direct attention to what I find in the Star of last week , relative to the charge brought against me , andwhich appeared inthereport of the Leicester proceedings . By an extract from a pamphlet recently published , it appears thai Mr . O'Brien charges mo with being a patty to misrepresent him , in the following terms •— ? ' That the whole is a base concoction of O'Connor , yourself , and others , to discredit me with the Chartist publio . " Now , to this I shall be expected to reply , and what denunciation can be stronger ?^ -arid my answer is , I do hereby most solemnly swear and declare , that
I never , by word of mouth , by message , by letter , or by insinuation , diroctly or indirectly , made a remark or offered a suggestion , or skid one word to Mr ; Hill , or any other person ; upon the subject ; and , further , that in the whole course of my life , I never have attempted to influence the Editor of the Star as to his course . Now , is not that the way , the fair way , for a public man , who is " afraid to do adishonourable iking , and who is ambitious of honest praise " to meet denunciation of the grossest kind ? Denunciation whioh actually charges him with conspiring agaiust a friend to rob him of his reputation . . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦'¦ - ¦ ¦ ; ' '• ¦; '•' " .. : ¦ ¦¦¦ . ¦;¦ ''' ¦ ¦ , ' - .
. Now , in concluding these my remarks upon the subject of denunciation , just let me ask the simple question . Was evar journal so attacked , and yet so mild in its defence I Was ever cehsuie more mild , if censure it can be called , than that of which Mr . O'Brien and Mr . Philp complain ? And , good God is the mouth to be for ever closed ? or isthe cry of " denunciation" to be set up whenjonly mild criticism i 3 resorted to I If men cannot bear this , much better that they should well weigh every act ; before they take any seep which will be likely to subject them to it .
Let me ask a question . Suppose I had taken the step which Philp did , although not a member of the Executive , who , in such case , would have been my reprovers ! Whyi the very men who cannot now baar the slightest touch of the flesh-brush . When I find it impossible just now to attend crowded meetings , I bestow all my leisure moments to the improvement of my party . I write gratuitously for Copper ' s Commonweallhsman and for Cleave ' s Chartist Circular . I will go with you the whole length for the attainment of our common object , but I never will , while upon the watchtower , fail to cry out " mad dog , mad dog , " when I see the animal approaching you .
The Editor was denounced for attacking the foreign policy men , the Corn Law Repealers , the Fox and Goo 6 e Club , the Sturgeites , and all the hypocrites ; but , in spite of all , he has , with your assistance , succeeded in annihilating all the weeds which would choke the tree of Chartism ; and he shall ever have my thanks and assistance in his good work . The Tories are too . strong to use spies or hirelings to destroy us ; and now , believe me , my
friends , that Whiggery , putrid Whig « ery , is once more trying to resuscitate itself by means 0 the advocacy of principles nearly allied to Chartism ; and they will spare no means of hiring Chartist outcasts to work under the garb of Whiggery . The set of idle rasdals ! Ill pummel them wherever and whenever I meet them . For seven long years we have been pestered with this generation of vipers . lam . my friends ,
Your devoted Servant , , Feargus 0 'Connob Wednesday , June 15 th , 1841 .
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NOTTINGHAM . —A meeting of the united council was held at the Democratic chapel , Rice-place , on Sunday , the 12 ch instant , Mr . Souter in the chair . He opened the business by calling their attention to the address of the Executive ; the address being read and Mr . Hill ' s reply , after a little discussion it was moved by Mr . Cropper , and seconded by Mr . Oates , that a resolution should be not up and be submitted to the public meeting held upon the forest in the evening , which was unanimously agreed to . The chairman next called upon tho secretary to read the report which appeared in the Star , from Leicester , which being done and commented urou . Mr .
Boonham moved , and Mr . Barber seconded , that a resolution embodying a vote of thanks to Mr . Cooper , of Leioester , for the able manner in wi / ich he defended our organization from the base and insidious attacks of Mr . O'Brien , should ba drawn up and submitted to the meeting on the forest . Carried unanimously . Messrs . Boonham , Barber , and Caister , were appointed to draw up the resolutions . Thanks were voted to the chairman , and the meeting broke up . On Sunday evening an unusually large concourse of people assembled to hear a lecture from Mr . E . P . Mead . At the conclution Mr . Barber stepped fonyard and called the attention of the meeting to the address of the Executive . He said he held a resolution in his hand which he
would submit to the meeting . He took cognizance of the different parties who were assailing tho character of the editor of the Northern Sim \ and called upon all present to exert their own free thought with respect to the resolution he held in his hand . The resolution is as follows : — " That tins meeting views with regret the foul aspersions which bavie of late been cast upon the Rev . W . Hill , editor of the Northern Star , by certain parties , calling themselves tha friends of the people . Wo . view such charges with ditgust , and recognise no man , nor set of men , who has for his or their object , the building of their popularity upon the reputation of either the editor or the proprietor of the Northern Star , but with all due deference to the Executive , and as much as we
appreciate their services , we beg to tell them that we cannot Bee any thing in the conduct of the Rev . YV . Hill , or the course he has pursued in reference to correcting the imperfections of the documents emanating from the Executive , to warrant the chargea that have , been brought against him ; we consider him merely in the capacity of editor in suppressing language which would tend to throw the managers of the Northern Star within the meshes of the law ; and we , the Chartists of Nottingham , in publio meeting assembled , take this opportunity of expressing our unqualified approbation of , and confidence in , ihe Rev . W . Hill , for his consistency and uncompromising advocacy of the rights of the toiling millions . " Mr . E . P . Mead seconded the resolution , which , being puc the meeting , was carried
unanimously . A young man read the report wnich appeared in the Star from Leicester , on which Mr , Souter come forward to move the next resolution , — - " Tnat this meeting regreits exceedingly the course lately pursued by Mr . O'Brien , with regard to his attacks upon ihe National Charter Assciaiioa , as we believed him to be a man in whom the country could confide , but circumstances have arisen of . lute * which have put it beyond doubt that such is not now the case , we therefore tender Mr . T . Cooper , of Leicester , our warmest thanks , for his ability in uumaikini ^ the unblushing hypocrisy of J , B . O'Brien . " Mr . Mitchell seconded the resolution , which was put to tho meeting and carried with acclamation . The people of Notttingham have engaged E . P Mead , for one month .
The Chartist Boot and ; Shoe Makers held a meeting on Monday , the 13 th inst ., at Mr . Smith ' s , the sign of the Britannia , Mount-street . The following resolution was proposed by Amos Poulson , and seconded by Mr . John Abel , — "That we , the Chartist boot and shoe makers of .-Nottingham , do place the utmost confidence in the honest integrity of the Rev . W . Hill , editor of the Northern Star , and we pledge ourselves to defend him , so long as he advocates the rights of the working classes . We are sorry to see the " Executive Committee" so very sensitive and " thin skinned , " for we believe that nothing but fair and gentlemanly criticism has been advanced by the editor of the Northern Star . Carried unanimously .
Lambley . —At a general ineeting , on the 12 th inst ., of the Lambley Charter Association , it was the unanimous opinion , "That Mr . Hill , the editor ; of the Northern Star , has taken a very upright and gentlemanly course , in giving instruction to the Executive Committee and Correcting their mistakes , and we highly approve of his conduct in that respect and place implicit confidence in him , aa the editor of the people ' s organ ; we are also very sorry that Mr . O'Brien has taken the course that ho has , in trying to impede the Chartist movement , and we regret being a party to puttiDg the means into bis hands for mischief . "
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BnowN-STnBET , Maivchesteb . —A general meeting of fustian-cutters , called by placard , to take into consideration the principles of the People's Charter , was held in the Brown-street Room , on Wednesday evening , June- 15 th . There was a numerous attendance of the trade . Mr . J . O'Connor was called to the chair . Excellent speeches were made by various parties , and the following resolutions were agreed to : — - * That this meetiug is of opinion that the alarming distress and low wages existing amongst the fustian-cutters can be traced to political causes ; and further consider , that good wages and permanenWemployment can never again be enjoyed by the fustian-cutters ; generally , until that document ; called the People ' s Charter , becomes
a legislative enactment . " " That it is the opinion of this meeting , that it is the paramouut duty of every cutter to immediately join the National Charter Association , for the avowed purpose of causing the People ' s Charter to become the law of these realms . " " That the fustian-cutters of Manchester will not acknowledge any person as a public lecturer or leader of the people , or a delegate to any Chartist meeting , unless the same be a member of the Charter Association . " We have only to add , that after a vote of thanks to the Chairman , the mooting separated . We have every reason to suspect there was a government spy in the room . A person -who was unknown was taking notes ; and , from a conversation which took place between him and one of our men that we can place confidence in . we have
been led to the conclusion that his-, business there was for no flood to the Chartists ; Tile conversation waa as follows : —Would it not be a good plan to organise to resist the Government , and he thought the colliers were a likely set of men to take the front of the battle , and that he was quite willing to do all he could for the object , in getting money to cover the cxpences , and in any other way that he could assist privately . but he could not take part publicly , and he had no objections to lay down six or seven pounds to commence with . Our friend , as soon as the meeting had thinned , called a few of the friend * together , and gave them this information , that they might bo on their guard . He also gave his address . We send this to put the Chartists on their guard , as we have every rea-oti to believe that the harp'es are abroad . —Manchester Correspondent .
Portsmouth . —Sir , —I am instructed by the members of the National Charter Association of this locality , to forward you the following resolutions , passed at a meeting held last evening ( Monday ) , at the Son of Freedom , Spring-street , Landport : — Passed unanimously— " That , in the opinion of this meeting , the conduct of the Editor of the Northern Star , in attacking the characters of men foremost in the pursuit of justice , especially that long-tried noble of nature , Bronterre O'Brien , is highly reprehensible , and is calculated to undermine the standing of the Northern Star , and produce disorder in the ranks of the people ; and hopes a speedy termination to such evil policy will take place . " Passed unanimously— - That the resolution be sent to the Star for insertion . " Yours , &c , J . D . Legoett , sub-Secretary to the National Charter Association . [ We should like to know how many people attended this meeting . —Ed . ]
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Acis again . —Win-. Porter , of Bradford , worstedtop maker , appeared before the Magistrates on Wednesday last , upon an information charging him with having , in April last , purchased a quantity of wool , from one Edward Dowling , a comber , then in the employ of William Smith , of Bradford , manufacturer , his property , without first having obtained his consent , and knowing that Dowling was so employed . Porter ( a regular victim of the arbitrary laws ) was on the present occasion taken by surprise , and had no opportunity of preparing his defence , having ( contrary to the repeated general directions of the Magistrates ) only been warned immediately previous to appearing ; but , fortunately for him , Mr . Clarkson , his attorney , happened to bo in Court , and succeeded in extricating his client from the preoipitate charge . The Worsted Inspectors conducted the prosecution , and called Mr . Smith who
proved that in April last he delivered two quantities of wool to Dowling to comb , who had not returned his work , and had absconded . Dowling ( who had been fetched from Ireland by direction of the Worsted committee ) was then produced to prove the alleged sale , and his brother called in corroboration ; neither of whom proved the fact , but rather contradicted each other in details . Mr ; CLarkson , on behalf of the defendant , roviewfed the evidence , and contended that the prosecutor , backed by a powerful committee arid assistance of their experienced officers , had failed both in law and fact to make out a case , the alleged sale not being proved ; and presuming that it had , no evidence was adduced to show that Porter knew that Dowling was in Smith's employ , and had no authority to dispose of the wool , consequently the charge must be dismissed ; in which the Magistrates ! after a short consultation , concurred .
Sending Cattle to Grass . —Some weeks ago , Mr . Matthuw Booth , Inn-keeper , Little Horton , announced by placards , that persons keeping cattle might be accommodated with grass , in the Park , on reasonable terms . A number of persons , nearly a score , availed themselves of the opportunity and placed their cattle under his care . On Tuesday morning last the bailiffs ) marked all the beasts they found in the said Park , far rent and arreai > i > , and when the owners went to milk them they were prevented from doing so until the rent was paid ; and thus the affair stands .
Suspected Child Murder at Shelt , —Circumstanceshave occurred at Shelf , near Bradford , which leave but little doubt that a murder of an uncommon character has been perpetrated . At present the state of the inquiry , and the evidence collected , is such that it would be premature to enter into minute details . The facts as they appear at present , are as follow : —On Saturday last , about four o ' clock , a female named Caroline Pollard j who resides at the junction of the old road to Halifax over Wibsey Slack and the new road , having occasion to vision out office belonging to the house , discovered in the dung , immediately under the seat , what she supposed to be a human body . She left the place , and related what She had seen to the neighbours . Several
persons immediately ran to the plape , and , with a littlo exertion , the body , which was nearly buried ( nothing more than the lower part of the back being visible ) was got out , and after a . short time , was washed and conveyed to the Shoulder of Mntton public-house , where it remained until the assii-tauce of Mr . M'Lachen , surgeon , was procured . It was quite dead wheii taken out , but warm , and had evidently been in but a . very short time . It was also dive&ted of clothing . There were no marks of violence to be observed on the external parts of the body , and it was evident that it had died from suffocation among the matter in the privy , and not from ; any other ciuse- This discovery , of course , excited the greatest wonder : arid after the body
had been decently disposed of , the course of conversation turned upon the question , to whom did the child belong , and who had put it there ? As the news of the discovery spread rapidly , the attention of persons at a distance was called to it , arid among othex-3 , a wonian named Rhodah Barraclough , who reaided at Wibsey Slack , at the desire of her husband , went to view tlie body , and recognised it . H er statement is , tliat between one aud two in the afternoon of Saturday , she was passing a similar place to that in which the child was found , and hearing the cries of an infant , her curiosity was excited , and on looking in , she Saw a woman who had rested at her houaq twic < i before ia the course of a fortnight , sitting with a child on
her knee , and a buuulo betide her . Thinking that a very unfit building for a resting place , and having a knowledge ) of the woman before , Mrs . Barraclough asked htr to go to her cottage , and gave her a seat . She put several questions te her , but received very few answers , the woman appearing to be very iriucli " down" in spirit ? , and not at all inclined to talk . While she remained 6 ho had occasion to open tho bundle which remained at her side , to obtain some lisefal articles for her child , which was at that time iii good health . After sitting some time she lei t the house , takingthe road to Shelf . At about half-past three , a woman similarly dressed was seen going up a garden , at Shelf , which led to a privy ; and was evidently making to it , but was obliged to go back in consequence of some one entering before her . The woman had a bundle with her and
also a child , but this infant was dressed in different apparel to that with the woman at Mrs . Barraclough's ; but from the description given , the JaWer female asserted that Bhe had seen such articles in the woman ' s bundle when she opened it . Another female , named Ellen Wilson , who resides opposite the place in which the body was found , saw" a woman with a child enter the plaoo ; but this _ being a circumstance of frequent occurrence she did not watch herj and consequently did not see her come out . An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday last , at the Shoulder of Mutton , Shelf , before G . Dyson , Esq ., Coroner , and after the examination of some wit- ^ nesses , including the surgeon , who deposed that the child was finely formed , and perfectly healthy , and that it had died by suffocation aa desoribed , the inquiry was adjourned to Sriday \ sf « ek , at the samepiaw .
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XEEDS . ^ The New Improvemenx Bill .- —Ott readers will bear'in mind thatthe adjourned meeting on this subject will be held on Wednesday evening nsxt , at seven o'clock , at the Coim-House . A large attendance is absolutely necessary . The Bill , as it has passed the Committee of tho House of Commons , ^ s now printed ; and some curious disclosures may . be expected on Wednesday .
Visi-rAiioN . —At the visitation of Archdeacon Masgrave , at the parish church of this town , on Wednesday last , the recently elected Cuanist * churchwardens were duly installed into office , having previously made and subscribed the necessary declaration . Tbeyjofcourae , attended the service at th&ehnrclr , where the sermon was preached by the Ret , W . SinclauyM . A ., Incumbent of St . George ' s , Leeds , and at the close of the sermon , the clerty and churchwardens having assembled in front of the conimusitra rails , the clerical roll was duly calkd , and the Archdeacon delivered a very long and elaborate charge . ;
Impeovement CoMMrssiowEiH' Accounts— At * JQPRNed Meeting ;— On Monday evening last , tjio adjourned meeting for receiving the report Of the present Improvement Commissioners on the £ 6 i 9 s . lid , the refohding of wbtch they had been reqaeeted to apply for , was held afc the Court House , Mr . Nicholls in the chair . None of the Commissionera were present ; but their clerk reported that the amount in question had not yt-S beeii refunded . At the commencement oi' the meeting , there were very few persons in . attendance , aud the Chairman having called tfpon any person who might have a proposition to submit , to do so , Mr John Beokwithi said he had a resolution which
he thought would either settle the question or lead to measures that wouid settle it . This resolution proposed to confiirai the resolution of the 17 rh March , disallowing the item in question , ( £ 64 & 3 . II 0 ., ) and directed the Law * Clerk of the present Commissioners to apply for payment of the same to the Commissioners for executing the Lced 3 Borough Improvement' Bill now before . Parliament so soon as it shall have become a law ^ and to refund the same . 'to the Treasurer of the Leeds Improvement Rate . Some time elapsed during which nothing was done ; no person having seconded the resolution proposed , nor moved any amendment . The attendance , however , % as much larger , and after waiting for
some minutes , Mr . Thos . Fraz ; r moved , and Mr .-Joseph "Jones seoonded the following resolution : — That this meeting views with extreme surprise the Manner in which a former expression of public opinion respecting this item in the Commissioners * accounts had been received by that body ; and again calls their attention to this matter , trusting that they ( the Commissioners ) will not treat the inhabitants of- the Borough in so slighting a -nuancer aa they have done ; and further be * : s to reniuid the Commissioners , that they aro but the servants of the public , and not its directors , and aa such they are bound to obey the publicly-expressed will of the inhabitants ; therefore this public meeting hopes the Commissioners will act as the public directs them .
and take immediate steps to recover the money , £ 64 . ' 93 . lid ., from the parties who have received ic contraiy to the will of the inhabitants . " This resolution passed without a dissenting voice . On the motion of Mr . Joseph MiddU tori , seconded by Mr . Robert Garbutt , the meeting was then adjjurned until Friday the 15 th of July , to be held at the Court House , at seven o'clock in the evening , and the Commissioners were requested then t ° report what they- have done in the inavter , and give their personal attendance at such adjourned meeting . Canine Madness . —A notice has been issued by the Chief Conslable of this Borougli , cauti . ning all persons to keep their dogs confined for two months , in consequence of symptoms of madness in some of the animals having presented themselves-.
Dbpnk . and DisoBDEntv . —On Monday last , a young man nanaed Gavins , was charged at the Court House withbeing drunk and disorderly in the street , on Suiiday moTning at an early hour . On beinjEj asked what he had to say for himself , he admitted having taken a few pints of ale , wnich had by some means or other got into his head , and remarked that if he knew anything at all about the law , it was the duty of watchmen , -when they savv a man laid drunk in ; the street , to take him home , and not to the station house . The Bench dissented from this doctrine , and fined him 5 s . and costs .
Suicide . —On Thursday morning , an inquest waa held at the Court House , before John Blackburn , Esq ., on tho body of Mr . Joshua Naylor , aged twenty-four years , lately residing in New Parkstreet , who . put a period to his exifterice on the day previous by hanging himself in his bed-rooni . He had for jome time been in a desponding state of inind , and the jury , without hesitation , returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity . " Alleged RoBBERY . —On Monday last , a young
man named George Calverfc , was charged at the Court House with having stolen eleven or twelve shillings from theperson of Abraham Learoyd ^ of Hunslet , labourer . The robbery was said to have been committed on Saturday night week , whilst the prosecutor was asleep at the Golden Ccck Inn . They had , however , both * been drinking together , are uncle and nephew , and the magistrates being of opinion there was / no . evidence to bring home the felony , the prisoner was discharged .
AssAtLt akd -Robbebv . — -Qri . Monday , last , a rather respectable-looking young man , named George Hawthorn , was charged at the Court House with having , at an early hour on Sunday morning , assaulted William Calvert , of Royds Greeu , and robbed him of his hat ^ which he was seen to hand to another person , who ran off with it . The case took place in York-street , and is ono of frequent occurrence in that part of the Iowa . The prisoner deaiotl having any tiling to do with the affair , but the witnesses being positive that they saw hiin strike the prosecutor , the magistrates fined him 20 s . arid costs tor the assault .
Fatal Accident ;—On Thursday morning an inquest was taken before John Blackburn , Esq ., at , the Court-house , on the body . of . a little boy , four years of age , the son of Mr . Almack , tailor . Wharf-street . It appeared that on' Wednesday eveuingva vrherry laden with w ?©^ , the property of Messrs . Phillips and Son , was staading in the . ' . 'Cali ^ , about which some children , amongst whom was the deceased , were playing * Before setting the horses off , the waggoner took means to drive them all away , but it would seem that tile deceased had , unssen , got under the wherryi and on to the wheel and when the horses started , his head was crushed between the wheel tod the timber , in Such a manner as to cause his instant death . There was no blariie to be attached to the waggoner , and the jury returned a verdict 01 ! "Accidental Death . "
Soiree Musicale . —Mr . A . Ormonda gave hia second musical entertainment to a numerous auditory , at the Mechanics' Saloon , on Monday evening . We are sorry we cannot speak of it in sti h favourable terms as of his former " effort ; it failed to ' give satisfaction . Miss L . Bruce it is true , . sung most delightfully , in some of her songs ; of Mr . King we say nothing . There was also some very injudic : ou 3 departures from the songs of the programme , and why " Johnny Cope" wa « read instead of bein > sung , yve are at aloss to imagine . " A night wi' Burns " is far superior to tho " adventures of Prince Charlie , '
An Incorrigible . —On Monday morning , Matthew Storm , ; Who contributes largely to the borough fund , made his appearance in the dock at the Court House , on the usual charge—drunk and disorderly ; on this- occasion , however , he 'ileparwd from hi 3 usual practice , and instead of kicking up a row in the street , he went to the pclica office aud caused adisturbahce there . I fc appearing that he had not paid the previous week's iyie and costs , he was ordered either to pay them , directly or to &it five hours in the stocks , ¦ li p raised the , wind , aud was then discharged : promising not to offend again .
Bone Grubbers" again . —On Mon d ay last , two lads of this description , who seldom miss any thing vvithin thfcir reach , which is not either too hot or too heavy for them , were charged before the magistrates , at the Court House , with having entered the cellar of Mr . Beevors , in Hanover-place , from vyhence they stole a quantity of butter , cheese , and bread , which were found in their - ' * 'b " a ^ s , on being stopped , after they had been ? een to leave the premise ? . They gave their . names John Marran and John Wallace , aud were sent to Wakcfield ior two months .
AssAULT .- ^ -Oa Tuesday last , James Firth was brought up by warrant at the Court House , on a charge of -baying assaulted Mr . Benjamin Barton , cori&table of Wortley . Mr . Barton stated that abosi midnight on . Saturday , tho defendant , with some others , comtnenced gambling under a lamp opposite to his house ; he was annoyed by them for some time , and about two o ' clock in the morning he went out and desired them to go away . Instead of this they attacked him , and the defendant struck him two or three tiines . He was fined 203 . and costs , or in default of payment 6 ent to VV'akefield for a month . Mb . Wm . Hirst . —Elsewhere our readers will find a lettor from this gentlemen , in reference to his newly invented process for felting cloth , to vvhich i as well as to his aavertisement , we call attention .
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All ) LEEDS GENERAL |^
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JQL . Y . NO . 240 . SATURDAY / JUNE 18 , 1842- ¦'¦ ¦¦!'' '&
10 The Industrious Portion Of The Juddling Classes.
10 THE INDUSTRIOUS PORTION OF THE JUDDLING CLASSES .
." J Uuwuive. To The Imperial Chartists.
. " j uuwuive . TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .
Ctjartt^T Jmettigpncc.
Ctjartt ^ t JMettigpncc .
Bbadfobp. Court House.——Wousted
BBADFOBP . Court House . ——Wousted
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^^ f ^ ^ L ^^^ sCg
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LEEDS—^ At the weekly meeting of the Leeds Chartists held on Tuesday night , . June- ' 1 . 4 th ,. after considerable discussion , the following resolution was come to;— " That this meeting thus expresses its high opinion of the retiring ' Executive Committee , * ^ as haying , so far as means would permit , performed their duty as faithful servants of the people ; and we hereby record the confidence we possess in the uprightness of thftt body , from the beginning of their labours until the coucliisiott of their term of office , and we hope their judicious , well-meaning course of business will be pursued by their successors , a 3 we have * no doubt it will tend speedily to allay all feelings of animosit-y existing aaxong the member * of the Association . " ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 18, 1842, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct758/page/1/
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