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IHE ' ffO&THEfiN STAi ' . SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 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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PREPABIKG FOB PUBLICATION , THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION , for 1843 . BY JOSHUA HOBSON . HP HIS Year ' s Compa . yion will contain the greatest JL nass of the most valuable Statistical Information on several Questions of Social and Governmental Polity evtr yet given at the price . Next week we shall be able to announce the day of Publication , and give a List of Contents . The price will be , as before , Threepence .
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10 THE EBITOH OF IHS N 0 K 1 HE&X STAB . Sib ,. —I am desired on behalf of the . Chartists of Saifcrd lo give you & summary of * vents of Borne importance , -which have \ JUls day occurred in the township of Saiford . I mnst preface Xny report by stating that the very excellent letter which was published by Mr . O'Connor in the Star cf ore of the weeks in la ^ t May , directing oir attention to our local goverrni ^ nt , induced U 3 to give strict attention to the form of government under ¦ which -we tired in Saiford ; and -we found that -we had governments for Yariout purpose As Surveyors of the Highways , ' Overseers and Gurdiansot the Pool ?' ^
and fo ? the preservation of the peace , a BorooghrecTe , ¦ frfth two constables , and on « hundred and twenty Commissioners of police—the whole fonaiog a body corporate for watching , lighting , and cleansing the township , with a power of kvyinu a rate ofone EhttJLng and sixpence in ths pound , and no ruore , for tbe -gtceral purposes of the act , which is of coxrse , one passed for the government of S&Uord alone , and wa » passed some twelve or fourteen years ago . The C ° m-Bissioners are elected ont of those peisons who are assessed at twenty pounds and upwards Ko the local rates ; and they aie elected by the wht . te of the ratepayers who have paid all poor and police rates of the township due in D . cerab-r last
The township is divided into eight districts , and the election of the Commissioners for th& first four districts took place on Friday , the 21 st , and for the last four on Monday , October 24 th . Concerning the first four districts , I may merely observe , that we ^ ot in , through a l'Ule txertion , four gentlemen who are fer Universal Suffrage ; but the chief tug ww to be in districts 5 , 6 . and 7 . The members of the association were upon the alert early this morning , as the election of Chairman in each district caeie on at Bine o ' eiock precisely ; it was necessary , therefore , to bring « p the voters before nice , in order to be ready for the strangle for the chairman .
In District Ko . 7 , those well known and indefatigable j frifccr . s of the people , Messrs . Rankin , Littler , Stork , and Suniuer , assisted by other worthy men , mustered ! the working men in goodly numbm ; and jest at the : hour of nine , one of the Saiford Whigs moved " the i BoronEhrefcve taiB the chair , " upon which , without ¦ waiiic ^ for the motion to be put , the B jroughreeve , who is a little old man , named William Lockett , who in by-past dajs was a fus :: sB-cutter , a circumstance , which by the way , he appears by no means anxious to
keep in remembrance , immediately procetded to take the chair , when his ears were rather dissyreeably saluted with these words , uttered by friend Littler , "I beg to move , as an amendaent , that Mr . Juseph Wain- j wright Hodgetts take the chair , " and upon a show of hanis being taken , it was found that the Boronghreeve must retire to make way for Mr . Hodge ' . ts , as there w&s an overwhelaiing majority of the tlec ; urs in favour of that friend to Universal Sntfrage taking the chair , which , as a mailer of course , he immediately took .
A list of six names was then presented by 'Messrs . Stork and Stunner , as fit and proper persons to represent the interest * cf tie much abused working-men of Saiford , ia the Town Hall , as Cenuniasioners of Police . The Whigs of Saiford then presented their list of men , more known for their tyranny than anything else , whom they proposed as Commissioners of Police . Tbe Whigs , not liking the looks of the working-men , declared they would have a BALLOT , which means , in our Police Act , a scrutiny , making every man write his came , and who he voted for , then seeing by the Towns Bwks whether he had paid his rates or not , to the last halfpenny , for if tiere was one halfpenny not paid the vote was lost .
When the actual struggle came on , the Whigs , with all their cuDning and power , could not musUr as many votes as the working men ; we po ' . led ttn for their one , tnt owing to the rates not beirg all paid , lhey succeeded in throwing off some hundreds of our votes , anil jet we placed two of our men upon the floor of tic Tcwn Hall , as Commissioners of Police . Thus , after a fight of eight hours , ended the campaign against the Salford Whigs , in District 2 fr ) - 5-District Ka 6 was soon ended ; the enemy made a poor fight , and owing to the exertions of Messrs . Sanders , Mitcheson , Brassington , Gillibrsnd and others , we succeeded in electing thrte cf the friends of the people on as commissioners for this district
District No . 7 was pretty well managed by Messrs Smith , Roberts , Evans , Copeland ( who by the way had been imprisostd by them some days for exhibiting the placard of the Executive ) and soiiie f « w others . Mr . W . Willis moved that Mr . Stuiib take the chair , ¦ which was seconded and carried by a . very large majority , upon which Mr . Willis moved and Mr . Piers stconued , a list of six sterling men as represents- ; lives of the working men of SalforJ . which } h > : was opposed by the Whigs most bitirr ' y . They moved su amendment , which they lost by tbt * 2 xJ and ability as wtll as the numbers of their opponents . The Whigs of Salf . rd at any rate will now kuow »> . ¦» - tw : . r rtesDised foes , the Chartists , | are neither dead COr dy 1 D . 7 , bat thai tUfcjr are Uxcro&sing iu li ^ tiibar * and in know ledge , and that shortly they will bs the rultrs of Saiford ehi } of Manchester too— WUggery may fcte&rae defnrct Gharti * m never .
A member of cur assoa&ticn encloses hi 3 remarks ¦ with a statement if a few of the facts in this business , therefore if this brief account , together with the enclosed , will serve the cause of Chartism , the Saiford Chartists will have great pleasure in seeing them in this week ' s paper . lam , Most respectfully , Salford . Oct . 2 * . 1842 . J . M .
( From another Correspondent ) Some time ago . about two months , on the Sunday , the Caartists of Saiford were assembling as usual , in their own room fjr the purpose of listening to a lecture , \ which would have been given bad not the " authorities " dared to interfere wi-htbem ; but they did so , and ; actually turned them ovi of their own loom ! assi ^ nin ? no ifeason for such outrageous conduct . Of course , what ; could a set of poor working men do against snrh 3 body i cf cugu £ t personages as the Boronghreeve and Consta- j bles , who had given orders to their menials to " clear i ont that den of infauy , and send the rascally Chartists : home , if they will not go to Church , "
We , however , determined not to let the matter rest We called a meeting of the members , to consider . what steps should be taken , and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Boroughreeve and Constables at their next meeting , to know npon what grounds such a ftigraut injustice and outrage had been ptrpetrated upon nj , and all the satisfaction the deputation could get was , " Oh , we can ' t enter into such an enquiry at a 1 ; besides , we are a corporate body and can ' t suffer strangers in our presence . " The parties were again sent to a subsequent meeting of the Commissioners , but all they got said to them , after sending in their memorial and waiting for Bometiae outside , was " No answer . " We then thcucht of taking our case before
the magEtratts , to Eee if such a shameful trampling down of rights , and such a sweeping destruction of the liberty of the subject , would not render the perpetrators amenable to the law regulating the " civil and religious liberty , " but we coccVuded that it was likely , as we were poor despised Cbarthts , we eonld not ge % justice , though "we west with Teady money to purchase it And so the matter rested until the time arrived for the election of new Commissioners , which was last Monday , when such a tremendous re-action took place that shook the whole fabric cf corruption to pieces , and in walked Six of our men as Commissioners ! some of whom were elected in three different districts , with overwhelming majorities !
Thus , we , the insulted Caartista , have taught the insclens cubs in office a lesson they won : ecran forget j they will bs cautious for the fntnre how they excite the indignation and hitherto dormant energies and lion strength of the working men of Siiford . We are cow more thoroughly convinced than tver of the troth and value of Feargus O'Connor s remarks in a letter some time back , that if we nv .-i-S succeed in reforming a corrupt national govemnit ^ t . -we musi first reform the local governments of the cuiiiitry , and th % re needs ro argument to prove that .
Now by way ef informing and indctic ? our Brother Chartists all through the country ta be up and doing the same , by which they will not only force the " upper classes" to respect them through their pewer , but they will virtnally subdue the national Government , and bring them upon iheir kneez before the sovereign people ; for really and truly the national Government is only the creature of the local governments , and the local governments may be made to consist ef the people , if the people will Go their dnty ; and the men of Saiford , I am proud to say , are df termined to do Ibeir * . They have been Vexed into a ¦ ense of their duty during the scrutiny of one of the districts , when the villanons nature of the laws was ao forcibly illustrated by the disfranchisement of scores of their friends for the non-payment uf a siDgle ba ' : f-penny of their poor ' s rates ; and tbe brave fellows are further determined never more U live in houses where the owners compound for the
rates . Cheer up , my friends , for , with all their vallanous power , we will defeat them , and by this mode of attack we not only disappoint the hateful monster , oppression , from springing upon and seizing with deadly certainty , his prey , as heretofore ; but by » haring power with -them , and being in their company , we cas civil'zs and bumanrse them , and make them love liberty and j&stice , when erta-blished , because then they will feel the blessings that would flow from the same . ° Yen will perhaps be able to judge of the extent o / onr mccessftil victory , by reading what took place in Xo . 7 district ; early in the morning we calitd upon our
friends and marshalled them down to the Tows Hah , and by acting promptly , and strictly in eccordance with their own law ( the Police Act } defeated them in the appointing of a chairman , which so much chagrined them that one of tbe party , named Jenkiusc-n—a bright and exemplary specimen of Whiglibernliiy—jumped up and demanded a Ballot , " for , " says he , " f don ' s lie the looks of you ; " and from wn strength and determination , he bad not the smallest reason for liking us ; neither did he like the testa we had printed and circulated , and which one of our candidates ar . swered in the /^ lowing mftnnpTj which mad& them TriL ^ e during the while ;—
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Question 1 st . Will you do all in your power fcj ' resi ^ the incorporation of the borough of Saiford ? Ye * , because I cenceive were we to be incorporated , the majority of the people would lose the few Winaining rights they have left unusurped by the eomm' ^ sloners of polsre , who , even now set the people at defiance , and imperiously trample down , in & shampjul manner , all law and justice ; but which they could do with greater impunity under the proposed charter of incorporation , therefore , would I reaUt its introduction ; and I sincerely believe , furthermore , that none wish for such a charter but knaves , who wish to ba * k in some snug roost of office , and thus fatten by place and pelf ; or Tain and weak minded men , who dream and rave about the prospect of shortly seeing themselves pressed up to tbe height of their own petty ambition , in the gewgaws of office , fluttering in tbe throng of a lord mayor ' s show , like a butterfly in & flower garden .
Question 2 nd . Will you do all in your power to obtain a full extension © f the Suffrage in the election of commissioners of police T Yes , because , as a lover of justice , I would give unto my neighbour , irrespective of rank or station , the same riehts which I possessed myself ; for we are all human beings having equal natural rights ; and for me it is no reason why—because a wicked arrangement of society has set up conventional grades , and established artificial riffhis by which the people have been surreptitiously robbed , that such should longer continue ; no , bnt that all should have equal rights and power , none wishing to take advantage .
Question 3 rd . Will you move or second a motion for an application to Parliament to grant to Saiford , a new police act , giving every male inhabitant of 21 years ef age and upwards , a vote in the election of commissioners of police ; and making the qualification for a commissioner to be the approval ot a majority of the voters ? I will , and for the following reasons , first , because the law of this land recognizes him as a man at that age , and makes him responsible for all bis own acts . Secondly . —Because every individual , male or female , old or young , is equally interested in the good and cheap government of their borough , therefore , we ought to have more mind and interest brought to bear npon this subject than the present franchise allows .
And thirdly—In reference to the latter part of this question it is the only sensible and rational qualification an honest man would look for . No upright individual would , because possessed of money ( called wealth ) , no matter how got , whether by villany or trade , or any other species of gambling , thereby claim to himself rights which are denied to poor men ; and honest men would scorn to have riches considered a quahflcatien ; they would much more value the good opinion of a majority of their fellow-townsmen . Question 4 th . —Will you vote to stop all supplies of the police funds to the orders of the boroughreeve and constables , until they are all rightfullyelected by the majority of the people in public meeting assembled ?
Yes , I would do all that lay in my power to stop the working of the present machinery , unti ! full justice is done to the people ; and for this reason , that when a body of men have the power to elect or appoint themselves to important offices , and in defiance of the people too , whose servants they are , and whose business and money they have to manage , there is a strong probability that the one will be badly done , and the other will be recklessly and extravagantly jobbed' away . The only senrce of legitimate power is with the people in public meeting assembled , and never could it have been wrenched from them but for their sluggish apathy in not looking after their own affairs , together with that unmanly , that revolting slavishness , that devotional willingness to fall down and worship ' rank , ' that spaniel-like readiness to lick the dust from the foot that kicks them . Is it not a lamentable fact greatly deplored by all men worthy the name , that no sooner have the people appointed one of their fellow-men to
fill any effice , than tkey fall before it as to an idol , crawling and cringing with servile meanness , and approaching it with bumble submission ; yet it is but a creature of their own creation ; and no sooner do they find themselves snugly ensconced in office , than they turn round to insult you , and trample upon your rights , and when you want them to do any thing for you , do you not say , " we reverently beseech you" to do so and so , and if you will do it we will " humbly pray V Out upon such abject slavery ! tell them in a manly voice and manner , stand erect like men before your servants , and tell them yon wish them to do so and so , and if they do not attend to it , you will send them about their business . What are your parliamentary petitions but wretched samples of grovelling slavery ? a vile disgrace to any nation sending such . These things have given arrogant power to wealth it otherwise would not assume ; but whilst you are slaves you must be content to be treated as such .
Question 5 th—Will yon do all in your power to give the people their rights in the election of Surveyors of Highways , which is now wrongfully usurped by the body of Commissioners of Police ? I will , as well because they ought to pessess them as I conceive they are the best judges of the fitness of the men who are to do their work ; aud the people ought to repudiate w ^ thsupremecontempt , scorn , and indignation , aoy man who offers his services and will not pledge himself to these tests , because they contain nothing that an honest man can object to ; and he who does object , I maintain cannot be sm honest man .
Ihe ' Ffo&Thefin Stai ' . Saturday, October 29, 1842.
IHE ' ffO&THEfiN STAi ' . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 29 , 1842 .
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THE PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT—THEY MUST BE EDUCATED . A very notable instance of the contemptible hypocrisy and damnable tyranny of faction occurred last week . Every one knows how the ignorance " and " brutality" of the " lower orders" is harped upon ; every one kxews that the grand reason for denying to them tho right of Suffrage is alleged to be . not that the right is untenable , bat that they are
unprepared to use it vith advantage to Bociety because of their defective education . The gross habits of the people—their intemperance and general love of sensual and animal delights—though certainly not nearly so disgustingly displayed as in the aristocracy and" higher ranks" by whom they have been always most carefully nursed and promulgated—have yet afforded too much appearance of plausibility to .. the objection .
Had there been siaceritj in the objection , and honesty in the objectors , every effort would have been made by them to remove the ignorance and ameliorate the grossness which thus operated to the hindrance of justice . But this was not the policy of faction . The end being robbery and the means fraud , it was necessary that the "ignorance" and the" ^ rossiic £ s" should be perpetuated that the pretext might remain . Hence the whole course of that legislation which draws the support of government from the extension of the very " ignorance" and " groasness' complained of . Hence the nine millions yearly , wasted , to a great extent , upon idle and immoral blackguards in the shape of
parsons . Hence the legalization of gin palaces , tippling shops , aud all the other , the resorts of idleness , vice , and infamy : hence the munificent granting to the people of £ 30 , 000 of their own money for education purposes , while a like sum is niched yearly from them to buy breeches and garters for a German boy , and £ 70 , 000 is appropriated to the making comfortable of the Queen ' s horses ; and hence too the fact that the gradual disappearance of that popular ignorance and general grossness of taste and habit before the spirit of intelligence and enquiry fills them with alarm and rage ro such an extent as renders concealment of their real ., character impossible .
An application was made latelyby Messrs . Hethkriugton , Lovett , and others of the New Move" Society for a music license to their Hall in Holborn . It was stated that the object of the applicants was to diffuse the blessings of moral and physical education ; that music was included as a- part of the education laid down in Mr . Lovett ' s book ; and that it was one of the rules of the association that spiritous liquors should not at any time be admitted into the hall ; that even those who might hire the hall for
public meetings , must take it under that . condition . The people of the neighbourhood were in favour of the application . The parties applybg had no interest or hope of profit to themselves , from the granting of the license . They gave gratuitously their labours . They had already established classes of their own members for music and dancing ; but they were desirous of extending these humanizing benefits to all who might choose to avail themselves of them , and they wished to de so in respectful accordance with the l&w : hence the application for a license .
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Now , one would hare thought this an application at which the respectables , " the friends of order , and enlightenment , aud morality , and ameliorated habits , and extended education , would rejoice . It was natural to suppose that the magistrates—the guardians of the peace and welfare of societywould not only at once grant the license , but subscribe liberally to the objects of mioh an institution Did they do so ! Not a bit of it ! The application was refused with contumely . It was characterised by the hired mouther who opposed it •* professionally" a 3 " one of ( he most impudent and profligate applications that had ever been made to a court . "
Upon this truly "impudent and profligate" observation , a contemporary well remarks that " a judge has argued that a Chartist must have violent intentions , because his principles will never be quietly conceded by the aristocracy ; and so a barrister follows up the logic to the conclusion that a Chartist cannot desire the legalization of concerts but through impudence and profligacy . The one argument is parent of the other . The gaol , and not the music room , is the place for suoh people . The hard construction from the bench generates the virulent abuse of the bar ; ' and the spirit of an Abingeb inspires the tongue of an Adolphus . "
Not only , however , was the application for this license opposed by the hired and mercenary blackguardism of this Mr . Adolphus : it also assumed the more tangible shape of a written document in the form of a memorial from the vestry of the joint parishes of St . Giles-in-the-Fields , and St . George , Bloomsbury . Now , this "joint vestry" would , of course , consist of the " respectable" inhabitants of those parishes ; the middle classes ; the merchants , the shopkeepers , and the gentlemen ; those who are most anxious for the improvement , and the education , and the oomfort , of the poor . What did it set forth as the ground of objection to the granting of this lioense ! Let the following extract tell : —
" The said Henry Hetherington , and also William Lovett , and Benjamin Huggett , two other of the applicants , are members of a society calling themselves' The National Association of the United Kingdom for Promoting tbe Political and Social Improvement of the Poor-, ' and the said W . Lovett ia secretary to the association . " That some of the professed objects of thlB association , as set forth in a printed address ' to the political and social Reformers of the United Kingdom , ' are , ta establish in one general body persons of all creeds , classes , and opinions , who are desirous to
promote the political and social improvement of the people , to create and extend an enlightened public opinion in favour of the ' People's Charter ; ' to appoint missionaries to visit the different districts of the kingdom ; to establish circulating libraries ; to print such tracts and pamphlets as tbe association may consider necessary for promoting its objects ; to erect public halls or schools for tbe people , such balls to be used during the day as infant , preparatory , and high schools , in which the children am to be educated on the most approved plans the association can devise , embracing physical , mental , moral , and political
instruction , and to be used of an evening by adults , for public lectures on physical , moral , and political science , for readings , discussions , musical entertainments , dancing , and such other healthful and rational recreation as may serve to instruct and cheer the industrious classes after their hours of toil , and prevent the formation of vic ' ous and intoxicating habits ; to establish normal or teachers' schools for the purpose of Instructing schoolmasters and mistresses in the Biost approved systems of physical , mental , moral , and political training ; and to establish such agricultural and industrial schools as may be required for the education and support of the orphan children of the association . "
Such are the grounds upon which the respectable middle classes base their opposition to the application of Messrs . Lovett A Co ., fer a license to their Hall . Is any thing now wanting to convince these gentlemen , and all other middle-class-mad New Movers , that the effort to obtain honest assistance in a democratic movement frtm the middle and higher classes , is as futile as would be the effort to draw down the moon with cords ? It is not in them .
They are , as a class , tyrants to the heart's core * They would sooner see society involved in all the horrors and bloodshed of revolution than invest the masses with the mantle of that legislative power which belongs to them . Nothing eo much alarms , uothing d « uuob infuriates them , as tbe progress of intelligence amongst the people . With an ignorant , sottish , and brutish people , they could deal easily ; but an intelligent , high-minded , sober , and moral people , is sure to give them much trouble to uphold their unrighteoui domination .
What lesson , then , should the people learn from this and such like occurrences ! Should it sot be the lesson , of renewed perseverance and entire selfreliance ? Should it not be tbe lesson which during our whole carer we have inculcated , that their own work must be done by themselves ; for that there is no hope nor prospect of their deriving extraneous assistance 1 No mistake is more stupid or more mischievous than that of those who tell us that the working-people cannot work out their own emancipation without aid from the middle classes . Every new incident confirms the truth that he who supposes that the middle classes ever seriously purpose to assist them , may be a kind-hearted and good-natured man , but is a very short-eighted , unobservant , and ill-reasoning man .
We say , then , to our " new move" friends , in whose anxiety for extended education we most cordially participate , go on with your good work Of humanizing , enlightening , softening , and guiding , the minds and passions of your fellows ; permit not the stinking rampancy of power to affright you ; you have testified your respect for the law , by appealing to its provisions ; hold your concerts and your balls without license , for which you have been
reused the license , and let the treatment of your middle-class friends teach you how grossly you have miscalculated in making these your w arm of strength ! " while we again say to the whole people rely only on yourselves ; acquire knowledge ; exert your intellectual faculties ; let prudence , peacefulness , aud determination , be the characteristics of your patriotism ; and smile contemptuously at the " impudent and profligate" displays of factious ignorance and vice , even though clothed with power . ^¦^ S ^ VS ^ W ^ VN ^ W ^ S ^^ WM ^^^ WirA ^^^ ' ^^^^^ 'V ^^^
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THE EXECUTIVE . PRESENT DIFFICULTIES REQUIRE PRESENT
REMEDIES . We direct attention to two documents elsewhere inserted ; one from the president and secretary of the Executive , and the other from the Executive pro . tern ., in reference to the election of proper persons to fill up the places of those members of the Executive committee whom tyranny has driven from their post . It will be seen that , including that " most improper person , Mr . Morling , " nine persons have been nominated—Of them Mt . Watk . ins declines to serve ; so that only eight remains to choose from .
We think the suggestions of Leach and Campbell , that : — " Out of the whole list of candidates put in nomination , those five that have the greatest number of votes shall be held in reserve , and whenever there occurs a vacancy , the candidate amongst the five who had the greatest number ot votes to be called to the vacant seat , and so on in succession until the last of the five should be called , if there should occur successive vacancies ; but
in all cases the rightful elected member to resume his seat if he be able and willing to do so ;" iB one about which there can scarcely be two opinions . It is the plan best calculated to meet the real emergency . As to its being an addendum to the plan of organisation , we suppose no one can object to it on that account , bo long as it is evidently called for by circumstances , and accords with the spirit of the organization .
Tde Executive very properl y require the votes of the members as a sanction for this proceeding if adopted ; and we BUggest to the members that their votes should be individually carried by each member separately to his class leader , and so returned to the sab-Secretary for transmission to Mr . Campbell , the General Secretary . In localities where no class leaders reside , every member should himself deliver his vote to the sub-Secretaries . The votes OUGHT NSVfiB TO BE TAKEM AT A MZETIKG 1 every
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suoh act being in legal phrase , the act of " apart or division" of the society ; and therefore an infraction of the Corresponding Societies ' Act . One thing the Exeoutive and their now assistants , the Executive pro tem . will , of course , see to ; that no return of votes be given for any candidate who may not happen to be a member of the General Council . We do not know whether all the candidates be on tha General Council or not ; but if any man be appointed to act on the Exeoutive Committee who is not a member of the General Council , it will not merely be against the law of the Association , but will vitiate the whole of the proceedings by rendering them illegal .
Nothing is more important than that we should comply with the provisions of the law ; at least whenever we can do so . In hope of making all its meshes obvious to the most simple Charti 6 t , we shall , now that the hubbub is over , go on again with onr articles on Organization , making the whole system and working of our National Charter Association plain to all .
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TO THE FOXES AND THE GEESE . Elsewhere our readers will find a moat'interesting report of a Complete Suffrage meeting , for enhancing the National Defence Fund . We give the report from the Evening Star ; and we request particular attention to it . We especially request that all working men who have been by the specious representations made to them by the Sturgites , induced to run after them , will readithis report . They see in the proceedings of this meeting an exaot epitome of the whole Sturgitecommunity . Johnston and Chaed are their own representatives , simple ,
good , honest-hearted men , who think others like themselves , and who , therefore , give the Sturge men oredit for sincerity ia their "talk" about demo craoy and right ; while Hahmenis , tho master tailor , and Dutton , the gentlemanly President of the Bristol Sturgites , make manifest the . real animus of STUBosand his co-workers in the "lead" of this Anti-democratic movement . If any confirmation had been wanting of the deliberate character of the insulting ** no " returned to White ' s committee , it is furnished in the proceedings . of this meeting . We
defy any man to use his own eyes and watch the movement of the Sturoe leaders , without coming to the same conclusion to which we have been driven ; that the whole thing is a snare , meant to deooy the people into the hands of the " extension of commerce " flesbmongers ; and the democratic cause has no enemies more bitter or more watchful than the insidious foes who put on the garb of friends . Another proof if wanted may be found in the conduct of Adam , the Sturge Newspaper Man , at Aberdeen , after Mr . Vincent ' s leoture , the report of which we have also given from the Evening Star ,
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NECESSITY FOR THE CHARTISTS ACQUIRING LOCAL POWER . THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS . i Wb have often endeavoured to press upon the Chartists of the kingdom the imperative necessity there , exists , if they would make themselves "respectable" felt , and feared , to obtain possession of those outposts to general government , —the local offices . The present is an opportune moment to repeal and enforce the advice .
Local Power is the key to general power . Local " authorities" have the administration ot general laws . Any law , even the most tyrannical , can be made to bear either harshly or mildly , according to the views and feelings of those who administer it . An expression of sorrow at having to put in force the infamous provisions of an infamous law goes a very great way indeed to procure the abrogation of the obnoxious statute . There is all the difference in the world between having reluctant instruments to do the tyrant ' s work , and having those who blurt out : " You have offended against the law ; and the law must be obeyed I the VENGEANCE of the law must be satisfied . "
Whenever the Chartists have obtainedjpossession of those outposts of general Government , from that moment may they date the success of their general endeavours to establish utoht . With unwilling administrators of bad laws , a bad Government cannot exist . Its power ceases the moment administrative support is taken from it ! It must aocomodate itself to the opinions and feelings of those who are to carry into force and execution its legislative enactments .
The Chartists can acquire this Local Power . It rests with themselves to put forth their hand , and clutoh it . It offers itself to their grasp . It is fairly before them , and within their reach : let them seize it ! Let them suffer no opportunity to pass o ? putting a friend in to office . Uproot the enemy from his stronghold . Do this generally , and the victory will soon be our own ! The advice we have given respecting this matter has , we are glad to say , been acted on . Wherever it has been enforced , good , great good , 'haajfollowed . It has brought our principles before the moneymaking sordid portion of the community in a striking and novel manner . It has stirred up
the cess-pool of looal corruption , and put the looal birds and beasts of prey into fearful commotion . It has upsat many a nest of thieving vultures , and put the fattening brood to unexpected flight 1 It has taught those who have hitherto treated us with supercilious scorn , and lorded it over us with all the airs ot established authority ; it has taught these that we are somebody ; that we have a power within ourselves ; and that we can deprive them of the plumes which they so proudly toss and flaunt I It has produced a wonderful change of tone towards the Chartists wherever it has been put in operation 1 It has even brought those who beforetime despised and reviled , to court and
praise . In this gathering together of power with whioh to battle the general enemy , we are happy to say that Leeds has taken the lead . For many months past have the " good men and true , " been on the watch , and suffered no opportunity of strengthening their position to escape . They have manfully and triumphantly asserted their principles ; and have gathered to themselves power and renown . They elected the last Board of Improvement Commissioners . On that Board were several well known and unflinching Chartists . While the Board
continued to exist , those men did their duty to the inhabitants who had sent them to administer the law . They refused to be parties to , or sanction in any degree , class or party efforts for distinction or advantage . Under their auspices , public meetings were holden in the Town-Hall , at which good Chartist measures were almost nightly advocated . At those meetings the old backs of party were put to the rout ! and the principl es of right and justice boldly and manfully asserUd in the hearing of the " great" ones of the town .
They elected also a Chartist lot of Churchwardens-These officials are in office now ; and we challenge any party to say that they do not perform the duties ef their station with efficiency and in a good spirit . They are , by their conduct in office , heaping honour upon the cause of Chartism , which seated them at the Vestry board . Hudderspield , too , has followed , in some degree , the example of Leeds . Some weeks ago , the new Constabulary Act came | into operation . The good men of Haddersfield were called upon to meet , to
put in force some of its provisions . They did meet . They responded to the call made on them by the Overseers of the Poor ; and , when so met , they did their business ! They passed a list of names from whioh tbe Magistrates are bound to choose Constables ; and whioh list contains the names of well known Chartist friends . But they did more than this : they rejected the police system in all Us shapes and forms I In consequence of that meeting the Hudderefield people are released from the burden of paid policemen which for some years they have had to bear . Liu . March next meetings will have to be again holden under this Cojsstabulabt Act : andiwe shall
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in due time Rive : our friends all over the country instructions how to proceed on that occasion . It is a most important measure ; and may be wielded to great popular advantage if we bestir ourselves aright . ] Let the reader , toot refer to the account we this week publish as to the noble exertions of our friends in Saiford . There is a lesson given to every Chartist in the kingdom ! See that it be duly learned ! and as duly practised 11
Tuesday next is the day appointed for the taking of the election for Common Couneilmen , under the Municipal Corporations Act . Every Chartist who resides in a Borough , has a most serious and solemn duty to perform on that day , both towards himself and the cause he has espoused ! If he has a volet and gives that vote to swell the ranks of party or faction , he is a traitor to his principles of right and justice . If he has not a vote , and yet neglects to use all his influence to damage faction and promote the return of firm and undeviating advocates of universal justice and opposers of general and sectional wrong , he is no less a traitor !
Iu the matter , too , of asserting Chartist principles at Municipal elections , the men of Leeds have also taken the lead . On this occasion many of the candidates for the " sweet voices" of the electors ha / e had to emblazon on their banners the motto—Universal Suffrage . Others have contented themselves with singing out " Complete Suffrage : " but in nearly every case , has the " Suffrage" been required as a test . In this read and see the progress of Chartism t
The Chartists , however , have not been , on this occasion , satisfied with the mere utterance of the phrase " Universal Suffrage , " by those who look merely to the 1 st of November as the day whioh is to seat them in the Council Chamber for three years ; and who , when there , conveniently forget all about Universal Suffrage and the Chartists too , except in the way of sanctioning the authorities ia their measures of coercion to put Chartism down . They seem to have become " fly" to the " artful dodge '' of the 1 st of Nov . Chartists , and the 2 nd of Nov . Whigs !
For the right assertion of their own principles , it was determined that , at least , one man who was well known to the Chartists and Char turn : one man who was well known to all as a Chartist ; who bad fought and battled for Chartism through good and through evil report ; whose whole life had been devoted to a resistance of oppression , and the advocacy of right : it was determined to bring forward such a man as this , and return him to | the Council Chamber , as the Chartist representative . Mr . Hobson was the individual selected with whom to fight this good Chartist battle ; and the men of Hunslet had tbe high honour of being the first to offer to return him for the considerations just set forth .
This was a step of no ordinary kind . It was of great moment to both the Chartists and the Whigs . On all former occasions the Whigs had contrived to secure to themselves the Chartist support , under the plea of " Union" to " keep out the Tory . " " Merge your minor differences" was the motto ; and the Chartists had faithfully acted on it , and returned for the Whigs Whig Councillors , when , without such Chartist support , the Whigs would have had to flounder in the mire . This proceeding , then , of the
Hunaletlmeu was calculated to test the sincerity of Whig profession , and the honesty of Whig action . If they really had a desire to "keep out the Tories ;" and if they were sincere in asking all sections of Reformers to " sink their minor differences ; " and if they were prepared to "do * unto others as had been done unto themselves , " they were bound to cordially " unite" to return the single Chartist , in consideration of the scores of Whigs that had been returned through Chartist support .
Ah ! no ! Whiggery hadf not so read the call to " Union ! " " Union" was all right when it served the Whig turn , and secured Whig men ! but * ' union" to return a Chartist!—Not so ! The appearance of Mr . Hobson as a candidate threw the whole Whig camp into commotion ! Consternation and alarm prevailed on every side . The Factions had had a sample of Mr . Hobson ' s business talents , and of his mode of dealing with Faction ' s crimps , while he occupied a seat at the Improvement Commissioners' Board : and from that sample they dreaded the openingin upon them of
Chartist eyes m the Counoil Chamber ! To defeat the efforts of the Hunslet people was now the sole object of that faction , whioh has hitherto enjoyed the sole and almost undisputed sway in the Leeds Corporation since it was Reformed . To this end every dirty and dishonourable means were used . Misrepresentation and calumny were resorted to . The power of the press to poison the minds of the Burgesses against Mr . Hobson was put in requisition ; and , so well and faithfully did the truth-telling Mercury labour in its vocation , that it openly charged Mr . Hobson with acts of incendiarism I which charge , we
understand , he will shortly have to make good in a court of l&w , or be content to take the consequences . The destruction of Mr . Hobson ' s character , and the prevention of his return by the burgesses of Hunslet , was a matter of so much importance to the Whig faction , whose loot our neighbour Mercury is , that he laid aside hia usual caution and brought against the individual whom he wanted to run down , a charge so tangible and so direot » that it can be dealt with in a courtof law ; and that , too , without the possibility of mistake as to the result .
The following address from Mr . Hobson ' s Committee will enable our readers to see the present position of the Hunslet contest ; and it will also point out to every lover of fair play ia that Ward the manner in whioh he should exercise his vote , if he would avert the direst disgrace from lodging on him and his fellow voters I
TO THE BURGESSES OP THE HUNSLET WARD . On Tuesday next you will have to exercise the Suffrage the Law has invested you with , in the election of fit and proper persons to represent yon in the Towa Council . " It behoves you to be mindful of the manner in which you exercise your privilege . The enormous , lavish , and wasteful expenditure of the borough funds ; the infliction of an expensive , unconstitutional , and unnecessary police-force ; the heaping of salaries upon officials of twice the amount asked ; the desperate and disgusting efforts of partt to
obtain party ascendancy in the council chamber : all these things call loudly for reformation ; and they never can be reformed or put an end to , ' till the burgesses send men to that Council who will make the general welfare of the borough at large their entire study and sole rule of action , instead of tseeking to promote class or party interests . And , Burgesses , what are the claims and qualifications of the several candidates who have been submitted to your notice , and for whom you are called npon to vote ! There is Mr . Arthiugtoo . What do you . know of him ! Has he been before you , to explain his . views on the momentous subjects on which he will be enabled to legislate , should he be returned ! Have you had any
opportunity of learning what he is ? of ascertaining what views and opinions he entertains on any question connected with looal Government ! Do you know whether he is disposed to vote for the abrogation , or a great reduction , of the unnecessary day policeforce ! Do you know whether he is inclined to put a stop to the wasteful extravagance that has lately been pursued in the Council Chamber 1 Indeed , do you know any thing of him ? Has he given yon any opportunity to judge of his fitaess or unfitness for the post he aspires to 1 None whatever I Yon know nothing of him ! He is to all intents and purposes , a " pig in a poke I" Can you vote for Buohaman ! If you do , yon deserve all the evils whioh you will have to endure resulting from bad Government .
Then there is Mr . Hobson , a man who has been known all bis life as a firm and undeviating advocate of the rights of the working man ; as an enemy to governmental extravagance , both national and local ; as an opponent of every measure inimical to the welfare of his country ; as a resistor of oppression in every shape ; as an asserter of the rights and liberties of his fellow-men , and one who has always opposed every attempt at their abridgment * In him you have a bold and uncompromising enemy of that unconstitutional and expensive foece whioh it is a nationaUdegradation for us to submit to ; and in him yon have one who will do his uttermost to remove the obnoxious force from off our pockets , and save us at least , some £ 3 , 000 a year I Ia him you have one who will not consent to be used as a tool of party , but one
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who will stand up for , and maintain agamtt all comers , the general interests of tbe general inhabitants of the borough . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . Arthinston was brought ont as a candidate at & private meeting of some half score Whigs , after Mr . Hobson haa been unanimously fixed npon by a PUBLIC MEETING of yourselves . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . Arthington ' s Committee have declared that they would rather see the council chamber filled with TORIES than see a REAL REFORMER there , ia the person of Mr . Hobson . Lose not sight of the fact that it is the Whigs , those who are supporting Mr . Arthington , who have introduced DIVISION and DISUNION in your ranks , for the purpose of
securing the return of the Tory ! Lose not sight of the fact , that Mr . Hobson publicly offered to leave the decision of the question as to whether he should stand or retire , to a public meeting of the inhabit * ants of the Ward , called for the espeOTal purpose ojt judging upon the respective merits and qualifications of himself and Mr . Arthington , so &s to prevent division and disunion , on the condition that Mr . Arthington ' s Committee should pledge themselves to abide by the decision of such meeting , and that " all sections of reformers " should agree to merge their minor differences" and cordially support the reformer thus fixed npoa , to the exclusion of the TORY for Hunslet from tho Council . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . Arthington's friends HAVE NOT DARED to accept this proposal ! That they have | not dared to appeal in any one shape , to a public meeting ia th&
whole Ward ! That they have not dared to take the sense of the assembled burgesses on their proceedings in any manner ! Lose not sight of ( the fact , that this conduct on the part of the Whigs can only arise from a consciousness on their par is , that what they are doing will not bear examination , and that they are afraid of popular opinion I If their man be a good man ; if he be a kaown Reformer ; if his qualifications for the office of councillor will bear tho test of scrutiny ; if his knowledge of the local matters appertaining to the office he aspires to can be made apparent ; if he , or they , be not afraid , why not bring him before the public f Why not accept Mr . HOBSON'S proposal ! Because their cause is a bad one ! Because they dare not face the day ! Because they know that their doings have deserved and excited such strong public indignation , that they dare not look the burgesses in the face !
BURGESSES ! Will you submit to be so usedin the hands of the Whigs , as to be made instrumental to the return of a TORY for the purpose of keeping a real reforming ferret from putting his nose into the Council-Granary where the Whig and Tory rats are feeding and fattening npon your corn ! Mr . Arthington's friends have not a shadow of a shade of success , notwithstanding their impudent and lying assertion that they have a largo majority in their favour ! They know they have not the least chance ; and this is proved by the fact that they are resorting to the most desperate and despicable means of INTIMIDATION to swell their ranks J Why shoal * Whig Masters be instructed to canvass the men in their employ , if the Whigs have a majority to begin with 1 This has been done ! It is true
that some masters have , to their eternal honour , REFUSED to be thus made the cat ' s paw of partizans : and those who do so far forget themselves as to do the dirty bidding may rest assured thatthey shall not be forgotten , but shall be holden up to the scornful gaze and deepest execration of their honest fellow-citizens . With you then , BURGESSES of the Hunslefc Ward , the matter rests , if you choose to be sold to the TORIES , support Mr . Arthington . But if you wish to have a man to represent you who possesses a knowledge of your wants and wishes ; whoso character for straightforwardness and sterling honesty is unimpeachable ; whose whole life has * been devoted to the advocacy and advancement of the cause of RIGHT and JUSTICE . Vote for Mr . Hobson .
During the past week , Mr . Hobson has also been started as a candidate in the Holbeck Ward , for reasons which are clearly set forth in the following address : —
TO THE LIBERAL BURGESSES OF THE WARD OF HOLBECK . The Committee appointed at a public meeting of your body to secure the return of Mr . Joshua Hobson , as a common councillor for tbe Ward of Holbeck , after he bad been nominated as a candidate for that office by the same public meeting , deem it necessary , both as a matter ot justice to themselves aud to you , to explain how it came to pass that that gentleman was submitted to your notice at all , and placed in such a position as to have a claim on your suffrages . It is quite true that at a former public meeting , bolden in Messrs . Marshall ' s school room , two other gentlemen , Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead , were nominated as candidates . And it ia also true that scarcely any one knew of tbe intention of the parties promoting that meeting to submit the latter gentleman to the notice of tbe Burgesses of the Ward . He was , hewever , so submitted , and nominated as a candidate along with Mr . Cliff
After the meeting , tbe Committee appointed to promote the return of the above two gentlemen , ascertained that a very strong feeling existed in the Ward , amongst the liberal burgesses , against one of the men they were asked to vote for—Mr . Whitehead . This feeling arose , it was stated , from alleged MiscoNDUcr ou his part towards tbe men in his employ . That conduct was strongly characterised by those who had votes to give . They spoke of him as a seduces of Wages , not only in bis own establishment , bat averred that he had also exercised his influence In other establishments to get their wages reduced too . It was averred , also , that tbe conduct of tbe managers in bis establishment towards the employed , was most disgraceful . It was asserted that in some instances bin own son had actually KICKED those placed under his charge M and that tbe father afforded no redress
for tbe gross an * brutal outrage , when appealed to ! AH these things , and many more of the same character , were stated to the members of Messrs . Cliff and Wbitehead's Committee ; and , as a matter of course , they came to be talked of generally . In fact this feeling against Mr . Whitehead was so manifest , that the Chairman of his own Con > mittee felt himself bound to bring the matter before his assembled colleagues ; and declare it a * his opinion that the feeling against Mr . Whitehead was so strong , that he had serious doubts as to the possibility . of their % eing able to carry him at all ; and that it was a question as to whether it was not tbe most advisable course to withdraw that Gentleman from the field , and bring forward another against whom no such objection * could be raised , as had been mooted and advanced against the man they had !
Under these circumstances the individuals who now address you deemed it necessary to bestir themselves } They knew of tbe feeling against Mr . Whitehead . They had no reason to be satisfied with him as a politician . Tfiey knew him only as a Whig . They knew that the Ward of Holbeck was decidedly in the advance of all other wards in the Borough , in political feeling . They knew that that feeling was essentially radical ; and they knew that if the Burgesses of Holbeck were properly politically represented in tho Town Council , a ' . ' Radical to tbe back-bone" would be their uao . They knew also , that if tbe strong feeling against Mr . Whitehead ended in his defeat , it would also end in tbe r « turn of a TORY ! and anxious to prevent this , they determined to look out for a man whose general and local
knowledge eminently fitted him . for tbe office of Councillor , and whose ability and efficiency none could doubt ; and against whose political and private character not even malicious envy herself could establish a charge } Such a man we knew that we should find In Mr . Hobson . Aware of the dirty and treacherous conduct pursued towards our brethren in the Hunslet Ward by tbe selfish and dishonourable Whig faction , we felt in some degree bound to evince out public estimation of that conduct All these circumstances pointed oat I line of duty , and we pursued it . We applied to Mr . Hobson . In answer to that application be promptly stated that " every citizen is bound to obey the < xdl of bis fellow-citizens , when that call involves the performance of public duties which every eitizen owes to his fellow-men . "
Upon this , we appealed to you . We called a pubus meeting of your body . That meeting was attended tf many of Mr . Whitehead ' a friends , —one of the Chair men of his Committee amongst the number . Those gentlemen pleaded for Mr . Whitehead ; bat only on tha ground ( of bis having been nominated at tbe forme meeting . And the result was , tha carrying of resolutions , with only three dissentients , that Mr . Hobsoo should be placed in nomination ; and that a deputation should wait up « n Mr . Whitebead ' s Committee , to request tham to withdraw that gentleman , on account « the feeling described above .
The result of that Deputation was this A motion was made in the Committee that the request ot the public meeting should be complied witb . When pn to the vote , one-half of the Committee voted for it , and titf other half against it Tbe Committee were eqaaSy divided ! TU true that the motion was stated to M lost by a majority of two ; but that " majority "*• , obtainad by two persons voting who were not membtn V theCommittee . . . Since that decision , a placard has appeared , purport * ing to emanate from Messrs . Cliff and Whitehall Committee , in which those who object to tbeistt * gentleman are designated " a faction" I > Bather curious " fiction" that , which consists of the majorjv of the burgesses and inhabitants of the Ward , and V * dudes in its numbers one-half ef Mr . Wbitehead ' s ot * Committee 1 !! "
. In that placard it is stated that " Mr . Whitens despises and defies" those whom be denominate " " designing calumniators , " and challenges tM » to meet in public to prove their assertions . " 7 Ua J ! mere vapouring and bombast Mr . Whitehead canWJ both " despise" and " deft . " The act of "drjSaflO * proves that he does not "despise" ! He affecU , tog to chALLEN oe" those who speak against him w " meet in public" This is mere affectation we t * *> Z the parties putting forth this pompous challenge vow have called a public meeting , ;[ and given jdl an . oppor nit ; of attending it
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4 THfE NORf HBBjlSf ; -S TAR . ¦ *'
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 29, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct777/page/4/
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