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THE NORTHERN STAB,. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1842.
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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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THB CHARTER . The Chartists when they flist began To advocate the rights of man , The factions &U like tigers ran To crush on i infant Charter . Bnt to its rescne thousands flaw , Whilst bold O'Connor did pursue , "Who from the fangs of faction drew The bantling from this murderous crew . The nation with one mighty voice With gratitude did then rejoice , And hail"d this champion as their choice , To nurse their infant Charter The -wily Whigs did then advise Their minion tools to paralfz * , By treachery and fiendish spies , — ~ "
The progress of our Charter . TLi 3 hellish plot they did pursue , ' When soon five hundred patriots true ¦ Were cast in dungeons by the few , For daring to tn ^ ntni n their due . Although with gold they tried in Tain , Xct not one convert could they gain , Eich swore they ever would maintain Their dearest righta , the Charta The Corn Law League soon did advance ¦ To show there still was left a chanc * That Poland , Germany , and France
Their Corn with us would barter But by restrictions we were tound From trading with the world around , Whilst thousands of the poor were found To starve from want on British ground . " Teas did they rant to gain applause , Still careful to evade the caas 9 That all our ills were class-made laws And only cure the Charter . The people being wide awake The foxes' " clap trap" would not take , Which made the sbopocrats to quake
Last we shou d have the Charter Then every shift they o-uld invent By treachery , in conclave , spent Tiiose cunning knaves , being firmly bent Our glorious progress to prevent . They feign'd at last to sympath-za With thosa wh » fell a sacrifice—Whose blood for retribution cries As victims to our Charter . But now Sir Bobby ' s Income Bill
Will make th ; m peep -within their till , And force them out agsiost their will To advocate the Charter . Well may humanity recoil To see the poor who sweat and toil , Whilst wanton idlers waste and spoEl Ths produce of this fruitful soiL New Movers all than pray beware , last our hud fate should be your share To Freedom ' s standard now repair ,
To gain the People ' s Charter . Reformers , then , of every grade , Who toil at anvil , loom , or spade , No more of phantoms ba afraid , Bus join for Freedom ' s Charter . Tout country bow frera ruin save ; No longer be a willing slave , Bat like » patriot true and Lrave Chase tyrants to oblivion ' s grave . Then soon will peace and plenty reign , When all their equal rights will gain ; So new assist us to obtain Our long-lost rights , the Charter . GE 0 B . GK LlKDSAT Patricrofi , July 13 th , 1842 .
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? CHARTIST LINES , FOR RECITATION . Upon its mother ' s throbbing breist Ad infant lay , but nould not rest ; It wanted food , aad oft its parchM lips tried The milklcss teat , by woe and famine dried—Then scream'd with pain . "EosbJ baby sleep , " Tie mother cried , " I can but we-cp . * Yes , wretched parent , bnt griefs bot slower Will net restore thy timeless drooping flower . The child is dying ; tfcou thyself must die—Famine by law decrees it 'Tis sad to see The y » ung thing writhe and hear its famiah'd cry And know no help at all can come from th . es . The pelieaa wiH abed her blood To give her famiEh'd Be ^ liings food , And so wouldst thou ! bat all in vain ;—It will not sleep . —nor can ' st thou soothe its pain
• ' 0 God , " she cries , " O God of earth and heaven , Save aie and my sweet babe to day—Perhaps to-morrow somtthin ? may be given , And we may live—Great God , I pray . " She B 3 w no hope ; in wi ] d distress , Lige Hagar in the wilderness , She liid her gasping infant by—She could not bear to see it die ! Then frantic rl = w from that sad spot , "But could not rest where it was not . Its lock of pain—its fetble cries Haunt her heart where ' er she flies . Back she returffd ; her £ a * . ed fbwer Smiled as it lay—a lovely smile ! Her tears fell fast as they could pcur ; Bat death £ > t on its face the while .
She can ^ hl up ;—oh . ' load of lead . ' What weight so heavy as the dead ? But more she loved it now than sver , And cla = p'd it close—no more to sever . Yes , mother and child are now as one—Cold as forms of sculptur'd stone . And where was the husband , that child's hapless sire ? fie had left them that morning , his brain was on fire With their cries for relief , their moan * of despair Which ke could not ease—he only could share . Twas in vain to beg , for no one wonld give-He would not steal , then how must he live ? No work could be had , sot a friend had he ;—There is Ticking but hardship for peverty I All he cculd sell had long been sold ,
And now they were starving with hunger and cold . " Oh God , " he cried , " and mnst I stand by And see my poor wife and infant die . While the rich are rolling in luxury Robb'd from the waats of such as me ? If I must not work , then what must I do ? You shall not die—I'll fight for yen !" He raah'd from home , resolv ed for food , And his cry as he went was " Bread or blo » d ! " He join'd a crowd that was gather'd there , All listed together by wild despair . Hunger , 'tis said , will eat through walls , And madness cares sot for cannon balls . Spite of the swords of cavalry And the bayonets of infantry ,
That Uwn was sack'd , and , mid flame and biood , The starving poor got plenty of food . Away ran this father and said " 1 come !" But when he reach'd once more his home , What a sight was there ! transflx'd he stands , And the bread dropt from his palsied hands . He stood withont motion , no more than they ¦ On -whoa he gazsd , as in death they lay . The soldiers came and bound him fast ; H& strove not , he stirr'd not , he stared aghast . But when they would force him ont at the door , He burst his bonds and fell on tne floor . ' My wife ! my wife ! my child ! " he cried ; Sis heart hid burst , and so he died . J . W
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OPPRESSION . Shall we for ever lick the dust Or fear tfae tyrani'a boding frown , And cringing , pander to ihs lust Of pamper'd micions of a crown ? Shall we for ever bear the scorn Of hearties * wealth and fancied power ? Bequeath to sees yet unborn Our atjiCtness—a galling dowei ? Shall we for ever be the spoil Of greedy avarice ? and brood O ' er festering wrongs and thankless toil In cairn and melancholy mood ?
Shall we bsheld the-festive halls , Where tbe loud laugh of revelry Echoes along the tinselled walls In mockery of our misery ? S-sll we a blind submission pay To steei'd oppression ' s ruthless reign ? Quiescent sigh ? and meekly pray Of death to end our rankling pain ? Forbid it , God ! tbe dignity Of manhood must awaken'd be ; J- ^ stice dtmands , and Liberty Proclaims we must and shall be free 1 D . C
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I » H"EIT ? Fr . —T ^ atioxal ScboolmastbbsPbovidekt Societt . —On Saturday last , at noon , a general meeting , convened by « irc * Iar , of masters of the 'National Schools in tbe dioeeses of York and Ripon , was held in the Girls' School Room , Hi * h Court-Ian ? , Leeds , to take into oonsidsratioa the propriety efforaing a soeiety te be entitle , " The National SehooJa » 8 te » ' Provident Society ; " th « object of which should be to render mutual asii » tanc 6 to c&ch « & « . Dr . Huok , vieir , of Ltc-ds , icok the chair , and expressed his coE « arrenee in the objecti of tbe meeting talihoni : h he doubted whether a scirbieni number ¦ of subscribers could , fee obtained to mees all the eoniemplated objects . The Rtr . blr , Eesssy , of Hudder = field moved ; he first xiioludoa , and stated that the Ticar of HuddersiieU would have been present but for a domestic Liflicaon . The resoludon was , " Tiia ; as cauou . il schoolmasters , as a body ,
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have no resource to fall back npon , neither in age or sickness , it is desirable that a society for these purposes be immediately formed , under the title of 'The Rational Schoolmasters' Provident Society . '" Mr . Bell , of Hudderefield , seconded the resolution , which was carried . The Rev . Mr . Morris moved the second resolution , " That a committee be appointed to carry out the objects of the first resolu * tion . " Mr . Roberts , of Leeds , seconded the resolution , which was also adopted . Mr . Bell , of Hudderfield , was requested to act as secretary until the society be fully established . Mr . Simm 3 moved , "That the committee , with tbe chairman , be empowered to draw up the rules and regulations of the society , and submit the same to a general meeting
of the subscribers hereafter to be called by the secretary , and that they apply to his Grace the Archbishop of York , and to the Lord Bishop of Ripon , to become the patrons and presidents of the society ^ nd to the Archdeacons of the two diocesess to become vice-presidents . " Mr . Blanchard seconded the resolution . Mr . Edmondson moved the fourth resolution : — " That all schoolmasters who are now present , and who approve of the sooiety , do immediately after the meeting signify the same to the Secretary , and become enrolled members ; that all the national schoolmasters in the two diocesses who have not assented to the proposed society be written to and requested to become members thereof ; and that any person wishing to become
a member of the society , whose school is not in union with the National Society , must produce a certificate from the clergyman of his parish , statiug that the school is conducted on the principles of th . Church of England , and is under his superintendence . '' Mr . Braithwaite seconded the resolution . Mr . J . Lee moved the next resolmion : — " That the head aaasterin each district be the Secretary ( pro . tern . ) for such district , and that such Secretary bo authorisedin the name of the society , to solicit the clergymen in his district to assist and co-operate in ttie views of the society . " Mr . Bisks , of Holm&rth , seconded the resolution . Mr . Easiham
moved—Tnat at the formation of ths society , such masters as have signified their intention to become members , be called npon to pay their first quarterly subscription , ' on the 30 th of September , or as soon as convenient . " Mr . J . Collingwood , of Whitkirk , seconded the resolution , which like all the others was carried nnanimously . The following persons were then appointed a committee , viz—Mr . J . S . Bell , Seed Hill , Huddersneid ; Rev . H . Brauhwaite , Trinity Church , ditto ; Rev . F . Holroyde , Woodhouse , Huddersfieid ; Mr . J . Haywcod , Lockwood , and Mr . C . Binks , Holmfirth , with power to add to their number ; and thanks having be ^ n voted to the R&v . Chairman , the meeting broke up .
Stealing Monet . —On Monday last , a woTran named Ann Cowbnrn , who hai been for a few days cook at the Griffin Inn , B&ar-lane , Leeds , was brought before Griffith Wright and Anthony Tuley , Esqrs ., at the Court House , on a charge of having stolen four sovereigns , two aprons , and other ariicles , the property of Esther Moorhou&e , barmaid at the Griffin . It appeared that the prisonar and prosecutrix slept in the same room , and on Friday night , on retiring to rest , the prosecutrix had thirteen sovereigns in her purse ; she was awoke during the night by the prisoner feeling about her pillow , but not surpecting anythiag , did
not examine her purse , and consequently did no ; miss any money ^ until Saturday ni ^ ht , when she missed four sovereigns . She charged Cowburn with the theft , who denied it , but on searching her , fonr sovereigns ( for which she could not satisfactorily accoantj were found in her pocket , and two aprons , also . the property of the pro ^ tcutrix , were found in her box . Tie members of Mrs . Riiey ' s facily had lost various articles , which were found cenoealed in different parts of the kitchen , no doubt for tbe purpose of bemg taken off . The woman made the usual defense , that the things were her own , and after examining all the witnesses , the woman was committed for trial .
. Plug Drawieg . —On Saturday last , three men , named Edward Chappell , cloth drester , Hunslet , John Sampson , miner , Birktushaw , aud John Scott , miner , Beeston , were committed to York Castle for trial , by the Leeds Borough Justices ; the former charged with beiDg concerned in "drawing the plug " at Messrs . Taiham ' s , at Huibeck , and the two latter being parties in a similar offence at Rojd ' s mill , dariiig the recent disturbances .
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Fehmknt amoi « g thb Bishops , —We understand that the serious illness of the Archbishop of Canterbury has occasioned an extraordinary ferment anioiig the Bishops , all of whom are as busy as a certain notorious personage is said to be in a high wind . Ex-jtrr has laid aside his intention of paying a second Tisit at the public expense—to the SciJly Is , and =. and is preparing , instead , a pamphlet , whose object is to prove that the present Gorernmunt is the best of all possible Governments , and Sir R . Peel the best of all possible Premiers ; while London , equally on the alert , has been seen frequently , within the last few days , flittiDg uneasily to aad fro between Whitehall-gardens aad Downing street . The Episcopal Bench has not been so active a 3 it is now since the death of the last Archbishop . The news of the Pope ' s landing at Dover with a cargo cf faggots wonld not occasion half such an excitement among them .
Dreadful D « Axa from swallowing Vitbiolic AciD . —On Friday , one of the mechanics employed in tbe moulding department of "Woolwich dockyard , died in the Marine Hospital , in consequence of the extensive internal in juries he received by swallowing a large quantity of vitriolic acid . The deceased , it appears , was at work in the workshops of the moulding department , and , becoming thirsty , he took up a mug containing that fiestruciire liquid , conceiving it to be spring water , and took a draught , which burnt hi 3 mouth and throat in a dreadful manner . He wa 3 conveyed to the hospital , where every aiteauon was paid , but , alter lingering for nearly feny-trght hours , he expired , having suiitred the greatest agonies . It appears the acid is an article frequently required in the ^ work . The deceased , whose R&me was Edward Nicholson , was a young man only twenty-five jears of age , aad had bu ; reccntiy beer * married .
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Rotai Visit to Scotland . —Her Majesty , Prince Albert , and suite , left Windsor Castle on Monday morning at tweaty minutes past five , and arrivedat the Paddington terminus at ten minutes to six . From the terminus they started direct for Deptford , where relays of horses were waiting to oenvey them to Woolwich . It having been generally known for some days past that ii was her Majesty ' s intention to embark at seven o ' clock from Woolwich for Leith , great preparations had been made by the steam-boat proprietors for the immense number of passengers who it was supposed would leave London at an early hour for the purpose of witnessing the departure of the Queen from the shores of England . The
morning at four o'clock was calm and beautiful , and gave every promise of a fine day . As the day broke , however , the clouds began to gather , and at a quarter before five the rain commenced filling in torrent ? , and continued in on 9 unintermitted pour until after ei ^ ht o'clock . The rain at about half-past six o ' clock somewhat abated ; aDd at Woolwich the sight , notwithstanding the chilling influence of the weather , was exciting in the extreme . The Royal George , with the Royal standard flying at her main , her yards manned , and her officers and men at quarters , formed the most conspicuous object . Close alongside her was the Commissioners' yatcht , the Wiliiam and Mary , wiih her yards manned . She was profusely decorated with flags , The Lightning , the Salamander , the Monkey , and several other steam-vessels were in attendance . Flags were s-en floating over the dock-yard , th 8 barracks , the
arsenal , and the other public buildings . The shores on both sides were crowded wnh spectators . Precisely at seven o ' clock a royal salute , fired from a battery stationed in the dockyard , answered by another salute from tho arsenal , announced the embarkation of her Majesty . In the course of a few seconds the Royal George got under weigh , and being taken in tow by the st am tug Monkey , W . Bryant , proceeded at a rapid rate dowa the river . The Royal George was preceded by the Lightning steamer , Lieut . G . Suell , which cleared the way for tho progress of the royal fleet , also the Shearwater , Captain Washington , the Fearless ( steamer ) , Captain F . Bullock , and the Radamanthus , Lieut , T . Laen , brought up the rear . As the royaJ fleet passed down the river , royal salutes were fired from the barracks and from the arsenal , as well as from the dockyard . The royal squadron was off the Nore at eleven o ' clock this morning .
The coal whipfers of London struck work on Wednesday , in order to relievo themselves from a large per centage which reduces their pay from seven farthings per ton to one penny , and which is exacted by certain middlemen called " under-undertakers , " at Shad-well ani other places below London ; and to throw off their thraldom to agents who are also publicans , and who obliga the men whom they employ to consume certain quantities of beer . Tue Deans Papers mention three brutal murders . Thomas Long had his brains dashed out near Limerick , on Saturday ; Honeen , WDtfd-ranger to Mr . Vandeleur , was killed by a drunken companion , a . s thfty wore Roing to renew a broken temperance pledge , in Clare , on Friday ; and on the 10 th , one Mercer was beaten to death at Glenkean , near Londonderry . No cause was known [ or either ot these niurderB .
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THE WEST-INDIAN CAPITALISTS AND FREE LABOUR . Two important Parliamentary Reports in reference to Africa and the West Indies , have been laid upon the table of the Houss of Commons ; and as we deem them of considerable importance , we take the present occasion of inviting public attention to them , as documents in which the labouring population of this country are deeply in t erested . The war of capital against labour is as unequal as it is unjust . The powers possessed by the antagonistic parties are such that the one must , undei existing circumstances , yield to the other , and in every state where capital gains the ascendanoy over labour , an injury is inflicted upon industry in every
part cf the world . Thus it appears that the rampant dominion of thenon-producingclasses in England , has excited the hopes and the cupidity of their brethren in the West Indies , who are now straining every nerve to rob the emancipated negro of the fair results of that freedom , so dearly bought for them by the toiling millions of this land , and should th « y be allowed to succeed in their infamous and murderous design , we may rest assured that their doiug so will , as a natural consequence resulting from the laws of action and re action , result in an increase of depredations on the part of the monied classes over the industrious bees of this island hive . And henco arises the necessity of watching most carefully any emanation from that den of darkness in which the
demon of class legislation and legalised oppression forge the chains by which honest laboar is to be fettered to the earth * The first report to which we are desirous of calling the attention of our rraders is that of a Select Committee on the West-Iadia Colonies ; and was got up for the purpose of examining into the effects of the Emancipation Act upon the prosperity of the planters . " The questions immediately submitted to the Committee which first reported were , whether Negro Emancipation has or has not entailed certain evils , in
withdrawing large numbers from the labour-market of the West Indies , aud bringing tbe planters , through the compulsory payment of lavish wages without securing adequate supplies of labour , to the verge of ruin ; and 'whether those evils can be repaired by free immigration of negroes from Africa— offidna genlis . The Committee examined witnesses both for and against the planting interest , from the Colonies of St . Vineent , Trinidad , Barfcarioes , British Gufana , Grenada , Antigua , St . Kitt ' s , and Jamaica . They had no time last session to make a detailed report , and therefore they sum up their conclusions in the subjoined resolutions ; which they introduce
thus" In recommending those resolutions and the evidence to the attention of the House , your Committee feel bound to state , in conclusion , that they cannot regard tbe present state of tbe West-India Colonies , unsatisfactory as it is , with any feeling of despair . They believe that the distress now prevailing in those colonies is very great , and requires immediate attention : they cinnot indicate any remedy by which they can be sangpine enough to suppose that such serious distress csuki be speedily removed ; but they have offered suggestions , in the subjoined resolutions , the effects of which they confidently hope may be ultimately though gradually successful .
" They believe that if those suggestions are considered and acted upon in a spirit of equal justice to both proprietors and labeurera , prosperity may be restored ; and that , under the blessing of Divine Providence , the world may witness the complete success of the great example which this country has afforded . All this at first sight may appear reasonable . The Committee would ovidently induce the House and the country to conclude that tho inquiry has been gone into without any bias one way or the other ; and we are sufficiently acquainted with human nature to believe that they have in reality persuaded themselves into a belief of that which they are evidently most anxious to impress upon
the public mind—their own strict impartiality . Still we must noc forget , and the people must not lose sight of the fact , that this Select Committee wa 3 composed of men of property , and that the investigation was instituted on behalf of the Capitalists and Planters in our West Indian settlements . Bearing this in mind , we request our readers to ' mark , learn , and inwardly digest" most carefully the subjoined resolutions , and we much mistake if they do not find in them another additional motive for continuing and increasing their exertions , until the Charter is obtained , the enactment of which can alono give just protection to property by securing and upholding the rights of labour .
As the resolutions are but short , yet most important , we give them entire : — " Resolved—Tbat it is the opinion of this Committee , " 1 . That the great act af emancipating the slaves in the West Indian Colonies has been productive , as regards the character and condition of the Negro population , of tbe most favourable and gratifying result * . " 2 . That the improvement in the character of the Negroes in every colony into the state of which this Committee has had time to extend inquiry , Is pr « ved by abundant testimony of an increased and increasing desire for religious and general instruction , a growing disposition to take npon themselves the obligations of marriage and to fulfil the duties of domestic life , improved morals , rapid advance la civilisation , and increased sense of the value of property and independent station .
" 3 . That , unhappily , there has occurred , aimultaneously with this amendment in the condition of the Negroes , a very great diminution in the staple productions of the West Indies , to such an extent as to have caused serious arid in some cases ruinous iDJury to tho proprietors of estates in these coi . nieg . 11 i . That -while this distress has been felt to a much less extent i& some of the smaller and more populous
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islands , it has been so great in the larger colonies of Jamaica , British Guiana , and Trinidad , aa to have eaused many estates , hitherto prosperous and productive , to be cultivated for the laat two or three years at considerable loes , and othara to be abandoned . " 5 . That the principal causes of this diminiBked production and consaqueut distress are the great difficulty which has been experienced by the Planters in obtaining steady and continuous labour , and the high rate of remuneration which they give for the broken and indifferent work which they are able to procure .
6 . That the diminished supply of labour ia caused partly by the fact that some of the former slaves have betaken themselves to other occupations more profitable than field labour ; but the more general cause is , that tbe labonrers are enabled to live in comfort and acquire ¦ wealth , ¦ with out , for the most part , labouring on the estates of the Planters for more ttan three or four days in a week , and from five to seven hours in a day , ao that they have no sufficient stimulus to perform an adequate amount of work . " 7 . That this state of things arises partly from the high wages which the insufficiency of the supply of labour , and their competition i ifch each other , naturally compel the Planters to pay ; but it is principally to be attributed to the easy terms upon which the use of land has been obtainable by Negroes .
" 8 . That many of the former slaves have been enabled to purchase land , and the labourers generally are allowed to occupy provision-grounds subject to no rent , or to a very low one : and in these fertile countries , the land they thus hold as owners or occupiers not only yields them an ample supply of feod , but in many cases a considerable overplus in money , altogether independent of and in addition to the high money-wages which they receive . " 9 . That the cheapness of land has thus been ( he main cause uf the difficulties which have been experienced ; and that this cheapness is the natural result of the excess of fertile land beyond tu « vranta of the existing population . /
' 10 . That in considering the anxious question of what practical remedies aro best calculated to check the increasing depreciation of West Indian property , it therefore appears that much might be effected by judicious arrangements on the part of the Planters tberase ! vea , for thair own general advantage , and by moderate and prudent changes in the system which they have hitherto adopted . " 11 . That one most obvious and desirable mode of endeavouring to compensate for this diminished supply of labonr is to promote the immigration of a fresh labouring population , to such an extent as te create competition for employment .
" 12 . That for tho better attainment of that o ' oject , as well as to secure the full rights and comforts of tho immigrants as freemen , it is desirable thai such immigration should be conducted under the authority , inspection and controul of responsible public officers . " 13 . That it is also a serious question , whether it is not required by a duo regard for the just rights and interests of tho Wo ^ t Indian Proprietors , and the ultimate welfare of the Negroes themselves , more especially in consideration of the large addition to the labouring population which it is hoped may soon ba effected by immigration , that the laws which regulate ilxe relations between employers and labourers in the different Colonies should undergo early and careful revision by their respective Legislatures . "
Wo are sura that our readers must see at onco that a decided bearing to the fancied interests of the planters is visible throughout the whole of these resolutions . It is admitted that the Emancipation Act has , as far as the condition of the negro population is concerned , ' been productive of great and manifest advautages . And , in proof of this , wo are told that in every Colony into the state of which inquiry had been made , thero was , on the part of the enfranchised blacks an increasing desire for religious and general instruction , a growing disposition to take upon themselves the obligations of marriage , and to fulfil the duties of domestic life ;
improved morals , rapid advance in civilization , and increased sense of the value of property , and of independent station . This , to a mind rightly constituted , would bo a source of unmixed satisfaction and delight . But property-men , as a class , whether ia the Colonies or at home , have no conception of great and philanthropic principles . Their hearts generally a \ e in their purses , and to look fox the noble feeling * and generous sympathies of humanity among such worshippers of gold is an act of the greatest absurdity . The negroes are free , and arc becoming moral and religious ; but they demand remuneration for their labour , and this the planters are by no
means disposed to give . This country gave to them the costly offering of £ 20 , 000 , 000 , to purchase freedom for tho slave . They willingly took the gold , and now they would introduce indirect slavery , as the introduction of it in a direct form is no longer possible . They complain that the labour market is not sufficiently supplied , and this pliant Committee endeavours to persuade the Legislature to sanction the importation of fresh workmen from Africa , in order to bring down the -wages of the newly-emancipated bondsmen , and realise a vast profit from a people reduced to starvation , in addition to the blood money bo generously paid by the mother country .
Tfee Committee tells us that " They believe that the distress now prevailing in those Colonies is very great , and requires immediate attention ; " and of course they direoted their best attention to devising a remedy for such distress . We will examine the proposed remedy in its proper place , but let us now look at the evidences of distress which are glanced at in the resolutions , and upon which the belief ot its prevalence is founded , if such belief existed at all . The first proof of distress whioh seems to have struck the notice of the Committee is the increasing prosperity of the negro population . The West India Colonies are on the verge of ruin ,
because the negroes are evincing " an increased and an increasing desire for religion and general instruction , a growing disposition to take upon themselves the obligations of marriage , improved morals , rapid advance in civilisation , and increased sense of the value of property , and independent station . " All this appears to us very questionable evidence of the prevalence of general distress . Let us l « ok &t proof second : —The Committee states that " unhappily there has occurred a yery great dimunition in the staple productions of the West Indies , " which diminution they trace to the great difficulty experienced by the planters in obtaining Bteady and continuous
labour , and tbe hi & h rate of remuneration which they give for the broken and indifferent work which they are able to procure . '' This looks something like distress , to be sure , but it is only on the part of the planters , who are , even according to the testimony of their own committee , in part at least , to blame for their own mishaps . We agree with the committee in thinking that the planter ? have themselves to blame for the distressed condition in which they find themselves . But we slightly differ from them as to the particular acts to which blame is to bo attached . According to tho resolutions , the plantera are a most generous and ill-used body of
men . They have let their former slaves have land for little or nothing ! They remunerate them bo highly as to injure themselves , aud yet the ungrateful wretches will not work , bat by their idleness are reducing thoir tetder hearted benefactors to absolute ruiu . Let it be remembered however , that these same idlo rascah are rapidly advancing in civilization ; taking upon them the obligations of marriage ; and though the most unprincipled villains , only evincing their villainy by conducting themselves like sensible and honest men . The planters may indeed exclaim "Save us from our friends , " when they receive this extraordinary string of resolutions .
Then comes the third evidence of distress , which is presented to us in the shape of a complaint that the negroes are too comfortable and too industrious " Some of the formar slaves have betaken thamselves to other occupations more profitable than field labour . " And again , " The labourers are enabled to live in comfort , and acquire wealth , without , for the most part , working on the estates of tho planters , for three or four daya in a week , and from five to seven hours in a daj . " We fear the Committee are somewhat inconveniently troubled
with defects of memory . We recolleot that when tho emancipationists urged as one plea for the abolition of slavery , the arduous nature of the labour performed by the blacks , they were told , that the toil endured , except at particular seasons , was far less than that to which the majority of the working olasses in England were subjected , and that the negroes had ample time to secure their own freedom , if they were disposed to do so , by extra labour . If their statoments are forgotten by the eolooists , their friends are not eo ready to forget .
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From all that appears , the plaaiers are m a rao 3 pitiable condition . They have a . coil so fertile that it produces more than abuudauoe wiih comparatively little labour ; they are surrounded by a population from whom they have nothing ts fear , but who are > on the contrary , forming the best of all the elements of national prosperity—a moral and industrious community ; a community which finds its present condition and future prospects so cheering , that it resorts , to the hymeneal altar , without even the shadow of dread or alarm as to the contingency of raising up a surplus population ; and they
have received their own price , £ 20 , 000 , 000 of British gold , as a compensation for the supposed loss te which the new or'ior of things might possibly expose them . We ask for what was the £ 20 , 000 , 000 given if thi 3 was not its object 1 It was not voted because the-right of the planters to acquire property in human flesh was recognised , for that was emphatically cenied by the whole body of abolitionists , both in and out of Parliament . But it was said that capita ! , to a vast amount , had beea embarked in West Indian property , under tho sanction of British law , aud that the act of emanci
patioa would entail numerous losses upon West Indian proprietors , unless compensation was granted . And we are ready to admit , that probably no grant ever passed the House of Commons , with so much of popular approval as that which was to purchase the freedom of 800 . 0 GO of our suffering fellowmen . And now we call upon tke advocates of the negro race to speak out , and to declare that the rascally avarice of the insatiable planters shall not frustrate tbis mighty effort of British generosity . The planters have had their price , and the aewly enfranchised population must be secured in the freedom whicfc this costly offering procured for them .
We are satisfied that the frieuds of the negro never intended to redeem him from the lash , in order to leave him exposed to the still more horrid scourge of starvation and ill requited labour . Yet this is the fate to which tho tender mercies of tbe planters would inevitably doom him ; but from this fate he muat , and will ba saved , it'the people of this country are not prepared to forgo every claim to be considered either men or Christians .
But is the condition of the planters indeed such that their estates will not yield a remunerating profit for the labour bestowed upon them ! Let us reason from analogy . The eighth resolution tells us that the late slaves holding land as owners or tenants , find it so productive as not only to yield them an ample supply of food , but in many ca-ses a considerable overplus in money . Now , if the provision grounds of a late helot be
thus profitable to him , is it not fair to infer that the rich planter , with all the advantages of capital , might make hia large plantations equally productive . Of course it is , and we must therefore come to the conclusion , that it is act a t ' uk rcmuueratury piofit that is sought , but such a command of the labour market , as will enable tke rich to trample upon tho rights of industry , and to establish slavery in reality , though not ia na-ruc .
The great distress , then , which is said to exist in the West Indian colonies , is all on the side of the planters ; and we must remind our readers , thut , when to suit , as it afterwards appeared , their own purposes , they rejected the boon held out to them in the apprenticeship clause ' s of the Emancipation Act , they not only virtually declared that tho Negroes were fully competent to eserciae the rif ; ht 3 of freemen , but that a state of labour in which the workman was at liberty to make his own terms with hia employer , was likely to he of more advantage to both parties , than the apprenticeship system
proposed by Parliament . The relinquishmeut of tho apprenticeship system was hailed with delight by the friends of Africa in this country ; but soon the application for , and the granting of cart am orciera in Council , authorising the importation . ' of foreign labourers into the colonies , tore away tho mask , and displayed the planters and their Whig supporiors at home in their native and rno ^ t disgusting deformity . Nor must it be forgotten that it was at that time deolared , and the statement was not contradicted , that the reason why the blacks refused to
work was , that the . wages offered by the planters were inadequate to supply the necessarjeo ana comforts of life . Another fact should also be borne in mind , namely , that , according to the colonial press , such was tho non-productive character of slave labour , then enforced by the lash , that many of the estates did not pay the expences of cultivation ; while the same press , espeoially ia reference to Barbadoes and Jamaica . declared that under the influence of free labour the i&lauds were rapidly advancing in prosperity and improvement .
Leaving these somewhat contradictory statements to be reconciled as be 3 t they may , by tho 3 e whose interest and business it is to reconcile them . We proceed to inquire into the nature and effoctB of the remedies pointed out by the committee for this problemmatioal state of distress . The first remedy it is thought might ba found in " judicious arrangements on the part of the plaater 3 themselveSj / or their own general advantage , and by moderate and prudent changes iu the system which they have hitherto adopted . "
We are not told in what the 3 e " changes" and "jadiciou 8 arrangements" are to consist , but we can make a shrewd guess , even without pretending to the spirit of prophecy . The committee' tell us that land has been obtained by the blacks on too easy terms . That they , caa get a good living , and earn money with but a moderate amount of labour ; tha for field labour the planters pay a rate of wages much too high , and that a portion of the coloured population have discovered means of employment which will pay better even than field labour and that using the privile ft es of freemen , they have betaken themselves to such employments as may enable them to ' acquire , property and attain to independent station . The remsdv of course
for this disastrous state of things would be to advance the price of land , bo as to render it all but non-productive to the occapant , and which of course , would be a death b-ow to their prospects of prosperity . The rate of wages paid for field wark must alio be reduced , and means ba devised by which the produce of Negro skill and industry may be rendered unprofitable when brought into the market . All-this , might to some extent be effected by a combination amongst tho planters and this is ' . he plain English of the suggestion of the committee . The advice contained in the tenth resolution is really to lee tho planters combine to starve tha Negroes into any terms they please .
But this experiment m ; ght fail . Many of tho blacks have beooino holders of laud , and they can produce more than they consume , and thus have something they can bring into the market ; and thia might induce thorn to assume an independence of character by no means in accordance with th « desigusof their monopolising employers . This con tingenoy the Committee Have foreseen , and in the eleventh resolution they propose a remedy . They say " That one most obviou 3 and desirable means of endeavouring to compensate for this diminished suDply of labour is to promote the immigration of
a frem labouring population to stick an extent as to create competition for employment . " We request our readers to mark well the words we have printed in italics , and to ponder well this diabolical scheme of the indefatigable planters to destroy and blast the prospects of their so recently redeemed bondsmen . Observe the Committee , and here , at all events , it is tha mouth-pieca of the planters , recommends the immigration of a fresh labouring population , and that to such an extent as to create competition for employment .
Now , bear in mind that the laud ia so fertile , that with moderate labour it will produce an abundant supply for a much larger population than is at present to ba found in tha Colonies , and recollect also , that the negroes are taking upon themselves the obligations of ^ marriage , and are seeking to fulfil
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the dntiet of domestic life , the result of . which must be a gradually , increasing population who would be attached'to t"h ' a s ^ fTby that " mys ' . erioVs tie which binds man by ' a . paduliar affsctioa- 'td the land of hi 3 bivth ; and then say whero is the neca 33 i'y o ? rereplenishinsf the h'bour market by an imurgniika of new-comers . The necessity cxiats uowUera : ; ut in the foroi ^ n-trade mania , wjich seems as ripe ia the West Iadi-33 aa in Engliad . Tiny wau-- a population so numerous as to create a competition'for labour . Or rather they would by indirect auans extirpate the race of negroes who have been wres : ed from their merciles 3 grasp , and whom th ? y hate with tho rnostdeadly malignity , and at the same time , they
would grind down wages to the siarrarion poiui by so overstocking the labour market , that they could dictate their own terms whenever ifc was found convenient to do so . We have no doubt but thnt the design is to despoil the pre 3 snt coloured ' population of the rights they have acquired in the soil so soon as it can be done with safety ,- and to so overwhelm the native artizans by a now laboar population , a 3 to check the growing , propensity for marriage which has done so much iu the way of improvement for tho negro race . In their resolutions not one vr ^ rd is said about securing to the emancipated bhick 3 the legitimate fruits of that freedom which this country purchased for them . All the care of the committed is directed to the welfare of the now-comers . " to
secure the rights and comforts of the immigrants , and that of the West Indian proprietor , and for that end they recommend "that the laws which regulate the relations between employers and labourers in the different Colonies should undergo early and careful revision by their respective Legislatures . " These Legislatures , bo it recollected , are composed of the employers , and in them the labourers have not even the shadow of representation . We think it will not require much skill to discover how far the interests of the working population would bo cared for in any revision of laws conducted by such assemblies .
But let us now look for a moment at ths ? -ccoecL report ; iu order that we may discover from what source this " fresh labouring population" is to ba derived . The Committee on Western Africa begin by exp l aining-that their appointment originated in the discovery in 1839 , that foreign slave-ships were permitted to trade for goods at the British se * i . lcment 3 on the Gold Coast ; and in Dr . Madder ' s report of the inquiry , which , on that discovery , ho was deputed to make . Their Report relates to the several subjects of the British settlements , the state of tlv slave-trade , emigration from Africa to the West Indie *
On the subjeot of emigration some calculation ? , though not very precise , are made re ? p : cti : i £ the population whose emigrants might b . * drawn to the Gold Coast , among the Krocmcn , at the Gambia , p . nd at . Sierra Leone ; coming to the general conclusion , that if emigration were permitted , the aiate . rials . fpr it would probably prove to he considerable . Aad then they proceed to cnquiro , whether it would be a desirable chaugu for these
various classes to be ia the West Indies rather thaa in Africa , As dara the Committee quote , at considerable length , from official documents—iho despaiches of Sir Charles . Metcalfo- aud tho reports of Magistrates—r : speccing the temporal , tho moral , and religious advantages to be enjoyed by tho black in the three principal colonies , Jamaica , British Guiana , aud Trinidad , ranged under the several heads of those colonies .
We beg to call special attention to tho following extracts from thia report : — ? ' Now , after looking at f-uch a ' picture , * drawn from ths most unsiv ; p ;> cted sources , v / s cannot doubt tha * , whether for ttie homeless Nearro jaat ieeeusil from tha hoid of . 1 slave-ship , or for the ignorant anil ' uncivilized . African who comc 3 down to our settlements to pi ^ -k up a small nittanca by the hardest labour aa 3 to return with it to h : a barbarcui home , it would he of tVe highest advantage , it -would ba the greatest bussing to make such an exchange . ''
" To such aa thus ltsava their homes , a free passage back at the end of a certain period , say t ' . ree or four years , might bs promised , with full permission to them to return - at any time nt their own expense . To the homeless African , newiy liberated , tha option should be giyun of settling at once Iu th ^ West ladies if ha plsaao , with permission to reinm hereafte * of , bis own ci . at . or of removing frera Sierra Lsone , or of remaining in it on the firat ^ adjudication if he undertake for his own maintenance , or can find friends or relations who -will undertake it for him . "
We have not space at present for further extracts , but from these it is clear that the new labourers who are to compete tf-ith tha coloured population of the West Indies for the benefit of the avaricious and cruel planters are to b 9 drawn from their native homes in Africa by promises which will be falsified , ajd by hopes which never can be realised in their foreign home . Thia diabolical design mu 3 t be prevented , British patriotism and philantrophy must rush to the rescue , and thefriandaof the negro triuss resolve that their so anxiously-planted tree of liberty ''shall not be blasted- jii 3 fc when its fruits are ready to appear .
Let the object sought be ever kept in mind . That object is TO RENDER THE ESTATES OP THE PLANTERS PRODUCTIVE OF IMMENSE WEALTH , AT THE KXPKXCE of labour and inoustry . It is not a labouring population , moral , industrious , comfortable , and prosperous ; that is wanted . Snch a population exists , and is inoreasin ? . Bat it is a population ia which more hands shall be found than can obtain a profitable return for their labour , and who must in consequence become aotually slaves , bound hand and foot , to the chariot wheels of capital .
The Committee hope that a large addiiion to tha labouring population will be effected by emigration . What would be the result i First , a demand for provision grounds to such an extent aa would appear to j ' uStif . 7 the planters in demanding a ruinous advance of vent ; next the superseding the prc-.-cnt nice ef field Ubourers , who are considerably advanced in civilisation , and have acquired ' a tn . * ta for a superior style of living to that of . their less civilised fellows , by men but a few ' degrees removed , from tho savage state , and who are in con 3 £ quence capable of working at a much Ies 3 rato of remuneration thaa what is demanded and felt to be necessary by those wirh whom they are brought into competition . Third , tho
desire to contract marriages will receive a check , aad the religious and moral feeling 8 , now beginning to dovelope themselves , will , as a consequence , retrograde . Then , from the spirit of competition , and tha consequent continued diminution of wages , tho immigrants themselves must snffer , and iheir progress in civilisation be materially retarded ; until , at length , a maddened and starving population , seeing themselves , robbed of all the benefits which they justly expected from the Act of Emancipation , will make common cause with the betrayed and deluded immigrants from Africa , and rising in the Tinconcontrolled fury of determined resolution , will drive the guilty authors of their misery into that gulph of irremediable ruin which their insane folly has provided for themselves .
Now we ask will the people allow all this mischief to be inflicted both- apon the Colonies , Africa , and the mother country ! If so , then all the wrongs inflicted by the monster cap ital upon labour , will be , in appearance at least , sanctioned by the popular voice , and man will become in truth merely the machine made use of for the fabrication of wealth , and for subserving , the purposes of avarice and ambition . We call upon tbe good and wise of all classes
and of all creeds to unite in the prevention of this monstrous iniquity , and to declare , in a manner not to be mistaken , that the great act of Negro Emancipation shall have fair play until it becomes productive of its legitimate results . And we say especially to the working classes , let nothing turn you from your righteous purpose to achieve that freedom , and those politcal rights , which by securing the equality of all before ths law can alone give adequate protection to labour , either in tha Colonies or at Home .
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================== ^^ THE NORTHERN STAR . 3
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The Northern Stab,. Saturday, September 3, 1842.
THE NORTHERN STAB ,. SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 3 , 1842 .
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^ LEED 3 BREWSTER SESSIONS . The annual Brewster Sessions were held on Monday morning last at ten o ' clock . There were present the Mayor , ( who presided ) , JamesHoldforth , E q ., Anthony Titley , Esq ., J . R , Atkinson , E-q ., Ri ! ph Markland , Esq ., DarLton Lnpton , Esq .. Wm . Smith . Esq .. Richard Brainier , E ; -q ., Griffith Wright , E . q , George Goodman , Esq ., William Cadman , Esq ., James Musgrave , Esq ., and Haiuer Stansffcld , Etq . The Mat or addressed a few words to the assembled publicans , aad remarked that all persona to whom
licenses were granted were expected to ieep tfeeir houses in an orderly manner , not to allow the assembling , of disorderly company therein , bnt to conduct them according to the tenor of their respective UcenBes . The Magistrates had a list of those publicans before them against wham complaints have b&en preferred during the past ye ^ r , and the liwnaes of these persons wouid be withheld until an inquiry into their conduct had been made : the applications far new licenses ¦ would not be entertained until the others had been all disposed of .
Tie licenses vrere then proceeded with . The following were withheld for farther inquiry : — Mr . ThoJ . Moss , Queen ' s Arms , Kirkgate ; Mr . Thos . Eshelby , Gilbert ' s Arms , Wortley ; Mr . Robert Cross , Pack Horse Inn , Briggate ; Mr . Shires , Wellington Hotel , Wellington-street ; Mr . John Witton , Old Parrot Inn , Call-lane ; Mr . John Bairstow , George and Dragon , Marshlane ; Mr . Wm . Swale , Old Red Lion , Holbeck-lane ; Mr . Charles Cellirter , King ' s Arms , Holb&ck ; Mr . Charles Wainwright , Aire and Calder , Calllane ; -Mr . Joseph Bsevers , Drysaiters * Arms , Beeston ; Mr . Thomas Banks , Chequers' Inn , M&rshall-street , B > lbeck-These licenses will be farther considered on Wednesday , the 14 th of September , till which day they are suspended .
The magistrates thea proceeded to hear applications for new licences , when the following wctb granUd : — Thos . Hall , Queen ' s Arms , Sunny Bank-street ; Henry Robinson , Coach aud Ho « es , BusJiDgthorpe ; John Tate , Aire a d Calder New Docks . Crown Point ; Kslita Thompson , New Inn , Dewsbury-road , and to Jonathan Alderson , Gipton Wood Ion , Iioundhay Road . The two following cases were ordered to stand over until the afljocrced brewster sessions : — Matthew By water , New Inn . Wilson-street , Meadow Lane ; and Benjamin RDbertshaw , British Queen , Greenside , Wortley . The following persons had given legal notice of application , but were refused : —
John Black , Victoria Bridge Inn , School-street ; Tfaos . Thornhill , Waterloo Inn , Buslingthorp ; Wm . Craister , the Queen , Rou _ dbay-road ; James Thompson , Shepherd ' s Inn , Bridge-street ; Joseph Robir . sor ., York-street ; John Riplry . Chandler's Arms , Mill Garth ; John Castelow , Commodore Napier , Charles-street , Top Close ; Geo . Wiseman , Jolly Sailor , Kirkgate ; John Cummins . Hope and Anchor , Pearson-street , Pettery Field ; Joseph Webster , New Inn , Hnnsle' .-lane ; Samuel Clsy , Grey Mare , Hnnslet ; John William Hirst , White House , D- « "sbury Road-end ; John Critcbley , Prince Albert . Foster-street , Har . slel-l . ine ; John North ,
British Qnsen , Grape-street ; Jostph Cooper , Ciareraont House , Braiihwaite ' a Field , Hoiback ; John Chadwkk , Monrder ' s Arms , Watsr-lane , Holbeck ; Jchn Brooke , F * nrtiin Inn , Armley Ne"w Koad , Hoibeck ; George Horgard , Three Tuns , M&rsnali-slreet ; Jobn Morton , Gicbt ; Ian , Holbeck ; John Ni ^ hcLson , Barley Corn , New Wortley ; Thomas Cawo-d , Golden Lion , Bramley ; Jonas Hanson , Waggon and jd ^ rsQ " , Swinnow Moor , Bramley ; Jeremiah Shiers , Brown Cow , Swinnow Moor , Bramley ; Wm . Verity , Hough End , near Park Spricg Wood , Bramley : and John Ccoksoa , Queen ' s Arms , Chavel Allerton .
The further proceedings were then adjourned till Thursdny , the 14 th of September .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 3, 1842, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct769/page/3/
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