On this page
- Departments (3)
-
Text (13)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
2Ta Meatoev$ antr Corr^Wttlr^ttjj*
-
%toai antr ^tm tot $Ytelli&ettce>
-
TEE JN T ORTHESN STAE. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1842.
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
MR . 'COKKOR TO MR . O'BRIEN . - London , AprU 25 th , 1842 . Deak 0 'BErE-N , —The very unaccountable and uncalled for manner in which you have endeavoured to mix my name up with what you term an intentional attack upon yon , demands some notice from me . I shall be brief and shall strictly confine myself to dates and facts . . , . About Ares years a ^ o , just ¦ when the Birmingham men deserted the Convention , you made the following observation to me , " By Gr—d , Feargus 0 " Connor , if this agitation fjoes on , and if you are in earnest . the
middle classes will murder you . I replied , " xnat zs I had commenced it , I would finish it , even at that hazard . " 1 merely remind yon of this fact , in order to shew you that their attick upon me at Birmingham and Manchester prove yon to be a good prophet , inasmuch as all who do stand up in support of popular rights in the hour of danger , and ia opposition , to every direct and indirect attempt at disunion made by the middle classes , are sooner or later in jeopard ; : acd to assure you that even such anticipation shall not seduce me into dishonourable safety for again I say , th&t I will go on straight forward , should I fall a sacrifice in so doing .
I shall now show you , that you state what is not correct , in the Tery first paragraph of your letter . You say that it was not your intention ever again to have troubled the editor of the Star with any communication . You appear to _ hava forgotte / i our TeTy last conversation , which took plw , e en the day that tue Birmingham Conferee ce broke up , in which you spoke as follows : — ** Feargus O'Connor , I wish to write a series of letters in the Star , if you will allow me ap * 3 e for them . " I at once acquiesced , and said , "I was glad to have it in my power to afibrd you £ be opportunity of doing soT *
Before I come to the main tjnesriea , as to the misreprcseiiiatiBB of your speeches , allowene t-o dispose « f the objection which y » now make to my letters ^ mind , not wishing to enforce a belief that letters may not be writtea . -at one period meeting ¦ with your approbation , white at another period . same writer Eay incur yosr displeasure ; but my observation bears upon the charge of denunciation . On the way feom Eccles te Manchester , on the day of the Manchester demonstration , and which was the first time v ? e had met since our respective liberations , yon said tome : ** Feargus O'Connor , your letters from York"Casile , especially those en Ireland t bare 4 one us great good ; but 1 have two great eiceptions to make ; £ r 5 t , you should haTe denounced the Scoich
ChanistCnrist ? ans as well as the English ; for believe me the Immbugs will do us eqnal damage ; and , secondly , you should haye backed Watkins in his noble attempt to destroy those London ruffians ; for by G—d their aim is to get hold of the people , and then to destroy you and me . and every other man connected irith the Chaxtis : cause . If I had a paper as you have , I would have despatched them in six lines , fike commonpitkpeckels" I mention' ihis fact for lie purpose of reminding you , that you do not always object to denunciation ; but on the contrary , that yoa denounced me for not denouncing ; and also to remind von that the very men whom you designate as . vickpockcis , are the very men who are now at the head of the new more .
i now come t-o youT complaint of misrepresenta tion ; and I trust , upon rtfi-iction , you will feel youreelf bound to confess that if you have been misrepresented , that you , and jou only , have been the cause In order t-o lay the whole question plainly before , the ¦ country , I feel myself compelled te revert ro the whole week ' s proceedings , dnring the sitting of Conference . On Tuesday , the Conference met , as did the Delegates from varions parts of the kingdom , appointed by the people for the defence of onr cause . A meeting was am-ounced , by large placards , to be held in Dnddeston-row , to back us . Yon wera announced in the bills as one of the speakers . You did not attend . On that night we had a glorious meeting in the Hall of Science . You did not attend . . After the meeting , the Delegates met at ten o ' clock , when you were present ; and , to our delight , reported the Conference proceadings of the day as follows : —
" Well 3 they have acknowledge the principle of Universal Suffrage , and to-morrow the six points are to be discussed seriatim ; and I promise you they shall swallow the whole bog , bristles , and all , and wash them down by gulping the name . " Wednesday we sat night and day . You did not come near us ; but you attended a meeting at O'Neil ' s Chartist Church at night . Thursday we sat night and day . You did not come near us . On Fr iday , feoih Conference and the Delegate Meeting broke up , without the delegates seeing more of you . After all the proceedings had terminated , I met you in the street . You accompanied me to my lodgings , and did me the honour to dine with me . And now 1
come to tue most important portion of my communication . I then understood from you , for the first time , that you were not & mere visitor at the Conference ; bnt that yoa had been elected by the people of Wotton-under-Edge . Yen said : — " Feaigus O'Connor , I wish to lay my exact position before the country ; if I furnish yon with an outline of the course I took , will you write an article upon it ! " I replied , Indeed , O'Brien , I will not , and for tfcis simple reason ; because I should be sure to do wrong . Bat I tell you what j write an article yourself , send it to me . I trill be at the trouble of copying it—a job I hate—and it shall appear in the Star . " " Well I will do that ; febhaps that ' s the best wat , " was
your repiy . I beg to . remind yon that the above conversation took place on Friday . That in the Star of thai week the Editor announced bi 3 intention of waiting for the report promised by the Nonconformist , the accredited organ of the Conference , before he ventured to comment upon proceedings of which he had no report . On the following day the Birmingham Journal came out with substantially the same report as the Nonconformist ; and althongb you had a week's notice of vhe Editor ' s intention to make his commentary , and although you had the Birmingham Journal on Saturday and
the Nonconformist on Wednesday , which shoaM have rendered your determination to right yourself more necessary , yet yon never correct one word of the H misrepresentation" which appeared in either of those printB , and upon which the Editor of the Star was bound to found his reasoning . I ask any sane man whether or not it was yon who led-the Elitor into wilfal error , and allowed him to remain in interested , ignorance , for the- express purpose of an attack ; or , whether the Editor , in the discharge of his duty , js liable to the gros 3 , and I must say , unjustifiable imputation soughi to be cast upon him ? 1 .
I was at Leeds on Saturday , the day after the Conference broke up ; and my last words to Mr . Hobso 2 , my publisher , who accompanied me to the train , were these : — " Hobson , if any communication conies from Mr . O'Brisn , see it pat ia hand "immediately ; and should 1 have anything to say upon the Conference—( this had reference to your promised communication )—look to the sense * ; I write so unintelligibly when I am hurried . And the first moment yon have time , look carefully over all the type we have not in use , and pick out the best , that may do again , as 1 promised it to O'Brien . " Now , this dots not look like a conspiracy , on my part , to XDjore you , or thwart yon . or destroy you . '
B'li 1 return to Mr . Porter ' s bouse , where yon dined wiia me , as I before observed , on the Friday . I told you of our contemplated demonstration on tho following Monday ; thaxyour name was in tbe biils ; and . that I considered it a glorious opportunity for our meeting once more before the public ** Now , " said I , " O'Brien , I tell you what . I propose that yoa should head the Birmingham procession on Monday , and meet me and the Somh S . afordshire demonstration at half-past ten within a half mile from the town . " Your answer wa ? , " Weil , well , well , I don ' t care . " " Well , " said I , " but will you do so V and you said , " Yes . " Mr . Porter , and Mrs . Porter , and myself , were ell delighted : and iir . Porter immediately said , "Well dent' hy G—d , that ' s the way to make the tyrants
trenas . e . loa accompanied me to the railway gtitiou ; and said that ' "the Conference were a set of ruidui ^ -class humbugs , trying to get rid of von iii : d me , to destroy the Chartist movement . " You said that " You were not astonished at Arthur O'Xeil , as he was puffed np with vanity and conceit ; fcai you were astonished at Yincent ,-who , you ia- - zl- ^ a . j-3 considered a good-natured fellow . " This was with , reference to the meeting at the Chariisi church . Well , I left Birmingham on Friday ; travelled all night to "Manchester and J ^ eds , s . nd returned to WaiTerhampron and Bilsion on Snncay , where I announced the glad intelligence that you would meet os with the Birmingham
procession . \ S h ' - -n we arrived an Birmingham , I asked where you were ? and no one knew . When I arrived at Mr . Porter ' s , after the meeting , I learned that you b&d ' BBid tint yoa would sttend the meeting . if a deputation waited upon you at eleven o'clock , at Mr . Porters ; and that you were very angry at your name being in the bills , although it was done with jour perfect consent , as stated by Mr . l . inney , who sras depm « d to ask yoa , lest you might consider it a . liberty . I learned also that a deputation had come to Mr . Porter ' s ; and another came ; and another ; and that jou were not there to meet them ; neither did you . attend our meeting-, for which you were announced ; bat yoa did attend a ticket meeting , conv « aed for the very same evening , id the Town ¦
Hall . . - Trusting that you will not attribste to me a desire to misrepresent you , I here transcribe one passage from yojsr speech made upon that occasion , as reported , cot in the Nonconformist or Birmingham Journal , bat in the Staieanan , who appears to have had a speeui reporter present . You are reported as follows : — 3 ir . ' 0 'BKIElf then said , "That though he had no private acquaintance wiat € ver Trith Mr . Sturse , he solemnly declared Mb belief that tbere -was pot , on British soE , a man better suitea io le . ad ? u : s jkove-HZ . XT . *
2 fow , O'Brien , I ask yea , in plain asd simple laaguage , whether or not tLi 3 is tantamount , to handing our . nwremeat orer , oeci &ud wop , to tie par-
Untitled Article
poses of that party which you " would have despatched in six Iine 3 like commoii pickpockets'' ? I ask you more ; whether or ^ ot your countenance , co-operation , and aid , were aot absolutely necessary to keep up the drooping spirits of our lingering clients- ^ -to inspire their , Vith confidence in themselves , instead of paralysing us in the eleventh hour , by thfi delusive ho '^ e of an honourable union with a party whose m&oiiinations , views , * nd motives you hav 6 so ably exposed 1 With respect to denunciation , either by private letter , in conversation , or in the Star , I defy you , or any other man , ' to point out a single instance in which I have , directly or indirectly , denounced , weakened , or inured the character of a single
Chartist leader . 'On the contrary , the general charge against me has been that I have beea too lavish in my praise of UTideserving individuals . O'Brier-j , if you could lay your hand to your heart as I can , before God , and say th * . t "throughout the whole of life , since I knew yen , your happiness , popu ! y . ritjj and independence have been . matter of fond and anxious consideration , " jou would be a hapr > ier man thin you appear to be . Fj-e I close , let me assure you , that no power on eaJ . th shall ever force me ii > to the false and wicked position in which jou Eeem to wish to plaea me—as One of your revilers ; while , upon the oilier hand , no dread of vour wrath , your Eatire , or anger , shall ever deter me from discharging any single duty which I owe to the brarest , the noblest , tho honestest people upon the face of God ' s earth—the working
classes 2 To them boih you and I must leave tho dnty of distinguishing between their friends and their enemies . They are quick to praise , and slow to censure . They look to the straight walking of those who profess to lead them . They will not tolerate a wabble withont a warning . I see no reason why I should meet you in angry controversy , or heated discussion , while you yourself have been the wilful cause of all that misrepresentation of wh . ch you complain , and which you would now saddle on innocent parties . Had not tbe Edi ' or of the Star commented , fearlessly , upon your conduct , equally as upon the conduct ot any other individual , I , for one , should have considered him highly deserving of censure . He did so comment ; and I think mildly ; while you have thought proper to reply in a most indecent strain .
O'Brien , you have yet to learn that the world was not made for you or me . Not a word in this letter is intended to annoy ; while all © fit is necessary ; and , in conclusion , allow me to say , that should the world frown upon you , you shall ever find a welcome from Your sincere Friend , - Feargus O'Costnor .
Untitled Article
THE PEEL TARIFF .- " FREE TRADE . " The measures of Peel are sure to pass . The Income Tax Bill is progressing through the House of Commons at a pretty good rate : for the wind of the opposition inside seems spent for want of popular puffs outside . The Tariff is the next in order , of Peel ' s measures , to be entertained by the House . The discussions upon it will shortly be had . No doubt
that it , too , will pass , and mainly in the Bhape proposed by Peel . Some slight modifications may be determined on by Parliament : but Peel having staked the existence of his Ministry upon the principles of the Tariff , there can be no donbt but that it will pass . Peel ' s party cannot do without him : and however much they may object to his "freetrade" concessions , yet they will suffer him to drag them up to the neck in mud—nay , souse them over head and ears—before they will lay aside their party warfare , and J make common cause with the working people .
The Tariff , then , may be looked upon as carried ; for carried it is sure to be . What will be its effect 1 What alterations will it make in the condition of the people ? These are questions upon which none can do more than merely speculate . The old adage that * ' the proof of the pudding is in the eating , " fully applies here . The proof will be in the e&ting !
Meanwhile speculation is rife . One party is promising great things to the nation from its adoption , inasmuch as it is an acknowledgment , as far as it goes , of the principles of " free trade" ; while another party prognosticates ruin to many interests in the state who haTe hitherto enjoyed protection , and disappointment and loss , instead of benefit to the nation at large .
lime will soon discover which of these two opinions is the most correct ; which of these two parties has studied and applied the true principles of political economy . The revision of the Tariff , i ? , no doubt , a concession , by Peel , to th 9 " free traders . " It is a sop to them ; and in our opinion , it will prove to be a sorry sop indeed ! The cry of " free trade" has been raised and kept
up mainly by the manufacturing interest . But what they have always meant by that cry has been , a " free trade in corn , " and protection for manufactures . Every one of the bawlers has been for " free trade" up to himself . Pkotect his business or calling , and free trade" was right and proper for all the rest J Thin is the meaning , when you sift it to the bottom , of the manufacturers' cry for £ roe trade . "
Peel has , however , very adroitly turned the doc > irines of the "freetraders" upon themselves ! He has reduced , but not removed , the protection given to the agriculturists by the Corn Laws , while he has removed in many instances , and greatly reduced in many more , the protective duties upon several branches of manufacture . He seems to have formed the purpose of letting the ** free traders " have " free trade" amoDgst themselves , and afterwards asking them " how they like it ?"
They will cot like it I The operation of the Tariff scheme will not suit them . They will get a Eurfeit of "free trade , " and will be the first to call out for «* iptarn to the protective system !
Untitled Article
ThisAVould be all right and proper , were there not others to be affected by the measures . Bat there are others ; and !^ they will have no cause to thank the "free traders" for compelling Peel to grant a modified free trade . There are the working people ! On them and their interests Peel ' s "free trade" will have a most destructive influence ! True , the Tariff will reduce the prioe of food ; true , that it will reduce the prices of nearly all articles of produce ; true , that this will be one of its effects : but another " . of its effects will be to reduce wages } for wages are the * PRICE" of labour , and are reduced along with other " prices" whenever a general reduction takes place ; and IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF TAXATION 111
Already are the manufacturers at work , to meet the anticipated " altered circumstances" ! Ten per cent , here ; fifteen per cent , yonder j and twenty per cent , in the other place , are already being deducted from the PRICE of labour ! and by the time that the new measure cornea into full operation , that " price" will be generally reduced as much ( and in many instances more ) than the reduction in the prices of provision ! Small indeed will be the benefit that the working people will reopive from the reduced prices of food !
We formerly showed , clearly and unanswerably , that , while the taxation , of any country remains at the same fixed money amount , every reduction in the prices of produce entails upon the community a real increase of that taxation in exact proportion to the decrease of prices . Taxes can only be paid in produce . It is the wealth we cause to be that pays all , —taxes , rent , profits , and wages . And as long as the value of that wealth is measured by a money st andard , and as long as the taxes are fixed at a certain money amount , so long , and inevitably , will every reduction in the money value of wealth cause more of that wealth to be necessary , and given , to pay the taxes 1
Whatever , therefore , be the reduction of prices of produce consequent on the "free trade" Tariff of Sir Robert Prez ., in exact proportion to that reduction will the working people have to produce MORE for the tax-eater !! ! Then , look at its effect upon several of the trades of the kingdom ! Want of employment is said to be one of the causes of tho horrible amount of destitution everywhere prevailing . To remedy this , Peel ib going to set the FOREIGNERS to work , to make shoes , and boots , and furniture , and beef , and pork , and leather , for us ; while onr own ar-. tiz&ns and labourers are to continue idle ! And this is the "free trade" system ! This is the "free trade" way of providing for our own population " pl&ytt to do" 1 !
Foreign boots and shoes are to be admitted to this country at a greatly reduced duty . Foreign furniture , and foreign vegetable produce , are also to be admitted at a reduced duty . The operation of thi 3 portion of the Tariff scheme will be , upon the shoemakers and cabinet-makers , and ( to a certain extent ) upon the market-gardeners , just what the reduction of duty upon foreign silks has been upon the Spitalfielda and Macclesfield silk-weavers ! Shoemakers 1 look out 1 Cabinet-makers J how do you like free-trade i I You can answor us this question very feelingly in two years from this date ! >
Foreign silks have nearly superseded our own manufactured silks in onr own markets . The prices of English Bilks and the wages of English silk-weavers have been driven down to nothing . Precisely such will be the action and consequence of the operation of " free trade" upon the English shoemakers and furniture makers ! French boots and shoes will eupercede our home made ones ; and German furniture will drive our own out of the
" cheap" market . Foreign fruits and vegetables Wt » shall have in abundance , siz weeks or two mobths before our own is ready for the market ! Of course the English market-gardetier , when he comes to market with his produce , will not find his customers supplied ! and of course he will be able io command the price he formerly obtained !} And this is Peel ' s method of finding remunerative employment for the unemployed !! This is " fbrr-tradb" ! ! J
Let us just see what the protective system would have done in this case ; or or rather let us see what the protective system did do , when many thousands of the working people were formerly thrown out of employment through the operation of a partial " free-trade . " We have now lying before us on our table six large folio volumes ; each one as big as a family Bible ; containing all t ) ie statutes of this realm from Magna Charta down to the end of the reign of George II . ; and amongst them we find some very curious and admirable laws , that oftentimes induce us to think that , in this age
of " science" and " learning" and " enme , " we have not much IMPROVED upon the wisdom of our ancestors . " On former occasions we have given one or two of these laws verbatim from the old book , and applied them to the questions we have been discussing . Our readers will , of course , judge for themselves with what force this has been done ; and whether the' inferences we have drawn from them are correct or not : and they will also judge as to their relevancy to the respective subjects in hand . Having detailed the method adopted by Peel to provide the unemployed with " m . emty-to-do , " we shall no n quote from our black-It tter book , a whole Act of
Parliament passed in the nine-and-thirtieth year of the reign of Queen Elizvbeth , being Chapter U of the Statutes passed by Parliament in that year , 1596 ; the reader can then contrast the mode adopted by the Parliament of that d » y , to provide means whereby M many thousands" of working people were " to live and well maintain themselves , their wives , families , and children , by the benefit and use of their trade , " with the planB that are resorted to , now-a-days , to remedy tne distress and privation endured by all classes of artisans and labourers in the country , arising from want of remunerative employment ! Here is the old plan . — ¦
" Whereas many thousands of woollen card makerei and card wytr drawers of the cities of London , Briatol , Gloucester , Norwich , Coventry , and of many other her Highness cities and towns within this realm , have heretofore lived and well maintained themselves , their wives families and children , by the benefit and use of their trade and faculty of card making and drawing of card rryer uriihin this realm : and now of late time , BY REASON oj the common bringing in of foreign cards for tcooll out of France , and other foreign parts , the said card makers and card -wyer drawers hate been so much impoverished , that scant the twentieth person that hereto fore lived by the said trades , is now maintained and set on work thereby . . -. ¦¦'¦" ¦'
"Be it enacted by our Sovereign Xady tbe Queen ' s Majesty , and by the Lotds Spiritual and Temporal , and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled , and by authoiity of tba same , that no person , or persons -whatever , from or after the feast day of purification of the bl&Esed Tirgin St Mary now next ensuing , shall bring , send or convey , or cause to be brought , sent or convey&d into the realm of England or Wales , from the parts beyond the seas , any cards for wooll , to be sold , bartered or exchanged within tbe realm of England or Wales , upon pain to forfeit all such cards ' for wooll , so
to be brought , sent or convened contrary to the true meaning of this Act , in whose hands soever they , or any of them , shall be found , or tho very value thereof , the one half whereof to ba to oxix said Sovereign Xady the Queens Majesty , her heirs and successors , and the other moiety thereof to him or them , that will aeiza the same , or sue therefor in any Court of Record of the Queen's Majesty , her heirs and successors , by action of debt , bill , plaint , information or otherwise , in which actions , Baits , plaint * or informations , no wager of law , eisoign or protection shall be allowed . "
AW , what does the reader think ? Does either Pbel or the " free-traders" possess all the wisdom in the world ! Are they the Solons they would pass themselves off for ? Do they go the best way to work , to get the nation out of the difficulties into which they have plunged her ? Whether does " free trade , " or the protective btsteh , care most for the labourer that produceth ! Peel ' s Tariff will augment the national distress amongst the labouring classes and the shopkeepers It will entail upon the former less of employment , lower wages , and an increase of taxation ! It will entail upon the latter loss of custom , and less profits
Untitled Article
upon the business « iey do . Low prices are not what the shopkeepltinabes the m 03 t by * Low prices bring lower ^ gea ; and ^ he great consumers of the shopkeepers ' , Itook buy less in quantity than they did before t . wifii high prioes and higher wa ^ The shopkeeper has a per-centage upon the money he turns over . If he turns over a large amount , his profits are commensurate : if he turns over a smaller
and smaller amount , ftis income diminishes I Pebl's reduction of prices will reduce the shppkeepera ; but it will ADD to tho income of the annuitant , tho pensioner , the salaried man , the einecurist , t ^ e deadweight reoipfent , and all those who possess fixed incomes ! It is only another taking from those who produce ! and a giving to those who produce liOTill . ' : ¦¦ r- " ¦ ¦ : ¦ ¦ : \ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ : ¦
Here , then , is our registered opinion of the famous Tariff scheme I . Wa have thus givtnit , and thus registered it , that it may be referred to another day . A short - ' time- -will - shew whether we are correct or not ! A Bhort timo will serve to shew whether the "free trade" measures of Peel will have the effact anticipated from them by the " free traders" ; or whether they will not be found to sicken the nation of all "free trade , " andall "free trade" advocates !!
To Time , then , we commit our opinions ! our prognostications ! To Time the Tariff will soon be also committed ; and if Peel , or auy other Minister , can manage to squeeze from this people ^ £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year , either by indirect or direct taxation , or by both ; if Peel , or any other man , can manage to do this , with the reduction of prices consequent on his Tariff , without producing misery and destitution throughout the length and breadth of the land
compared to which the misery and destitution already existing ( horrible and appalling as it is ) would be happiness and plenty itself- ; if Peel , or any « ther Minister , canj with a reduction in the prices of produce , raise , the required i £ 6 O , O 0 O , 006 a year , without breaking up society from its very foundations—then we shall be willing to bo accounted ignorant indeed , and confess that we know nothing of either politics or political economy !
Untitled Article
THE . GOOD FAITH OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES WITH THEIR VICTIMS . The times are now most critical ; aud the people never needed more of caution , of prudence , and forbearance . The factions have , by misrule , brought as to the very depth of degradation and destitution , and in the spirit of that misrule are yet preparing to open "Beyond the lowest deep stilUpwer deeps " of misery into which they seek to force the people , out of whom they live . We were Rorry , but not surprised , to find in the Sun of Tuesday evening , the following statement
from a correspondent : — "Dudley , A plil 25 . —This morning a body , consisting of several thousanda of nailers from the surrounding country , came , into this town , for the purpose , as they stated , of remonstrating with the hail masters against the reduction in their wagea , amounting to not less than 20 per cent . The poor creatures appeared in a most wretched and famishing condition , many of them carrying in their countenancea undeniable attestation , to their declaration , that they had not eaten a morsel of food for the last two days . Up to the time of the reduction , the most expert men of the body could with difficulty earn four and Mxpenco a week each . But the
proposed diminution , should it take place—an eyent most probable , from the condition of the masters themselves—will It ad to suflerinif hitherto unparalleled in this district . The Magistrates met for the purpose of consultation , ¦ & . $ * ¦ which a proposal was made to tbe hungry multitude to select twelve of their body to confer with their employers on the subject of complaint . It is much to be lamented that from some cause , not yet made public , this eotiference did not take place , as the people readily submitted to the proposition regarding it , and waited with exemplary pitience the result . Meanwhile , a detachment of the 6 ih Dragoons arrived from Birmingham , and proceeded at once ,
with drawn swords , to disperse the people—a task they found no difficulty in accomplishing . Large numbers of the nailers are still in the neighbourhood , and asthey suspect that the proposal for the conference was only a trick to obtain time to send for the troops , they are highly indignant ; and the inhabitants of the town are in a ttato of great alarm , lest the multitude may return when the soldiers are removed , and , under the influence of irritated feelihgS j proceed to violence . ¦ . ¦ The magistrates deserve all credit for their
prompt atteutton to the circumstances , but it is thought by many that matters would have ended letter , had argument and [ expostulation , with , if possible , a promise of some concession , been employed before the troops proceeded to the business of dispersion . Though Xho town was grtaily excited , the Bhops being closed , and business entirely suspended , yet the assembled multitude showed no disposition to riot , and an address suxtei to the occasion , expressive of sgmpalliy wth the people under their hedvy bufferings , delivered by the Vicar , ( who unfortunately was on horsetook amongst the military , )
Untitled Article
would have done more to allay irritated feelings , and to prodiice tranquillity , than any coercive " 'frade ia in a mo 9 t lamentable condition in the neighbourhood , and an irruption of the colliers , a far more dangerous body of men than the nailers , when stimvilated by the pangs of hunger * ia anticipated with , great alarm . " ? 'Tis thas , that by the middle classes whom ^ they sustain with their sweat and with their blood the poor have been ever treated ; their confidence haB invariably been mocked and taken advantage of ; and
wo confess that wo have little hope that this classof necessity the kites arid ravens of sooiety- ^ will ever act otherwise : we have no faith irt any promises made by them , and attach , consequently , little importance to any proposals coming from them ; 8 iuce all experience , in much and in little , shows them to be , as a class , characterised only by rapacity and insincerity . The exclusive power afforded to them by class legislation of directing the energies of steam and other inanimate ageats , and of thus increasing , at their pleasure , cheap production , has enabled them to create a surplus population ; that is
to say , it has enabled them , to a great extent , to do without the people , who are now only so much vermin upon the land , which they are glad of obtaining any pretext to " clear off ; '' hence we doubt not , that a pleasure truly diabolical , would be experienced by a great many of them , if the people could be goaded into open resistance iu sectional detachments ; knowing that , from the same circumstances , whence they derive power to oppress , they derive also power to destroy . It is this very
thing against which we have had mainly to combat during the whole existenceof ^ he Northern Star ; and it is because of our constant warning to the people , upon this head , that the wretches , hating and fearing us , are continually bellowing out about " the violence of the Northern Star , " and about our incitements to physical force : while our whole life and labours are expended in counteracting their diabolical schemes to entrap the people into collision with their armed myrmidons .
Thanks to the people ' s good sense , maugre all the bitterness of their oppressions , they have hitherto , generally speaking , baffled the foul , fiendish , tempters ! and we implore them still to continue so to do . Most heartily would we re-echo the excellent advice of their own Parliament given to the whole people ; and we would especially recommend it to the poor nailmakers , colliers , and others of the neighbourhoods now so fearfully disturbed by middle-class tyranny and treachery . They will find it elsewhere in the address of the Convention to the industrious , and starving , and we intreat them to read and poii der it most carefully .
Untitled Article
Grow and Tyrrells Breakfast Powdeb . —We have received a letter , signed by twenls / ' ftve Chartists of Nottingham , who have tried this Chartist beverage , and speak of it in very high terms . We have notroom fortheletter ; butwe cordially second the recommendatxsn it contains to all Chartists to patronise this beverage , as the manufacturers contribute handsomely from the profits of it to the support of the Executive . This beverage and Finder's blacking ought , if properly supported , to produce abundantly sufficient to pay the Executive , the Convention , and all the public lecturers . Stockport . —The paragragh about the " unknown " wouldin all probability bring on us another prosecution . This we suppose our friends do not wish . A Woolwich Cadet must excuse us . His letter
looks a little too much likekicking a dead . ' ass . J . B . Smith must have read the Northern Star of last week very carelessly if he did not see the column of Forthcoming Chartist Meetings , " in ihefifihpage . ¦ ¦ ¦ The Sunderl&nd Meeting , and the Cheers fob , Mr . Sturgb . "— We have received a communication signed by a number of Chartists contra * dieting the letter of Messrs . Moridrch and Mowatt , of Sunderlandy and affirming that the cheers were given . An Old Radical . —Thanks , MR . Griffin wishes to inform his brother Chartists toAo write , him , / or the future to address No . 8 ,
Robert-street , Bank-top , Manchester * James B . O'Brien . — We have received a blackguard letter bearing this signature , with an intimation that we may either put it into the Star or the fire . We shall do neither . We shall preserve it as a choice specimen of the ravings of an angry man who has " put his foot in it . While it suited the purpose of James ; ' 'B . O'Brien to write on matters of public principle ^ we readily afforded him the use of our columns , on any subject and at any length . For Billingsgate he must seek some other vehicle . J . Sweet begs to acknowledge the receipt of ' 2 s . 6 dl from Bagthorpe , Nottinghamshire , for the
Contention , and also 2 s . 6 a . for the fehtxqn Demonstration , from the same place , which sums have been duly forwarded to Mr . Cleave , London . 5 . Pilling . —His communication announcing the lecture 6 f Mr . Leach , and the intended lectures of Messrs . While andBairstove , was not received till Saturday . Mr . John VVatkins . —We are happy to learn that this gentlemen is much recovered . He wishes us to stale that tellers for him should be addressed to him at Battersea . Caroline Maria Williams writes us to complain that having recently opened a school for infants , at Bristol , with a fair prospect of success , the
parish clergyman took the trouble to go round the neighbourhood and advise people riot to send their children to her as she was a Chartist , by which her school has been very seriously injured . We can only say ^ that if it be soy the parson is a busy , dirty , meddling fellow . Philanthropia writes us to say that the Chartists of Truro have sent lQs-, by post-office order , to Mr . Cleave , for the use of Mr . Powell , their delegate in Convention . Tbowbridoe Cliartists . — We have not room for the address of the Council to the inhabitants of Trowbridge .
A . M'Gregor . —We have a perfect reliance on the honesty and truthfulness of our Sheffield Correspondent , and we think it quite likely thai he , upon the spot , would be able to judge of the facts , speeches , or other proceedings of a meeting at Sheffield , at whichhitwospresent for the purpose of reporting , more accurately than any gentleman at Edinburgh , who may reasonably Me supposed not to have been presents Mr . Bairstow must excuse vis inserting his letter The mistakes are not very important ones , but our space is very important at present , We have sent his letter to our Correspondent . Eccles Chartists . —Had better write to Mr . Barrouf .
Geoege Lindsay . —The case is one among thousands of similar ones . We have not just now space for itsinserlioni A Real Democrat . —The letter of the Chartist shoe makers of Northampton was received three weeks ago , and was not noticed becausewe received by the next post another letter purporting to be from the same parties requesting us not to notice it . The Readers of ^ Northern Star in anytown in the East and North Riding of Yorkshire who have not yet joined the union , wishing to have
the services of a lecturer , may conmmunieate with Edward Burley , 19 , Billon-street , Layorthorpe , York , staling the amount they can pay ieeekly towards his salary . A Poor Artisan will get all the requisite information respecting the trades , employment , labour , and prospects of working men in the United States from ChamberB'a lnformatioa for the People , parts 5 and 6 . J . Brook , Bradford . —TF have some recollection of the sixpence , but really don't know what it
was about ? Will the party who sent it say ? Mr . Wh . ActT , of Daw Green , istheAgent forthe sale of Roger Finder ' s Chartist Blacking . MB . Dewhirst ' s motion of thanks to the working classes , in the Slurge Conference—Mr , Sntyih writes w that ¦ '[ thenumber who voted for that motion was seven , namely . Dewhirst , Brock , Smyth , Burrow Hodgson ; AfCartnejf . and Cooke . Agminst Mr . Parry ' s amendment'fiise , namely , Oewhirst ^ Brooke , Smyth , Burrows , and M'Cartney . "
Untitled Article
FOR MB EXECUTIVE . From Ipswich , per W . Qarrard ... 0 io o „ Plymouth , per John Rodgera o io q „ Joseph Morgan , grocer and cheesemonger , Deptford , being proceeds , at the rate of 2 | per centupon the articles purchaseA athiaahop by the Chartists ... 0 4 2 „ Montpelier Tavern , Camberwell locality , J . Parker , Bub-^ Secretary . ; . .,. ... 1 11 «
TOR MBS . PBOST . From J . W . Smith , Mansfield ... 0 0 4 v . a few friends at Fenton ... 6 3 o „ ditto . Longton ... 0 4 11 FOE MR 5 . FROST , MRS . WILLIAMS , AND MRS . JONES , From Marple , per "P . Parker ... 0 5 0 FOR THE -WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THE INCARCERATED CHARTISTS . From London , p * i" Edmund Stallwood , being proceeds of a ball and concert h « ld in the Temperance Halli Chelsea ... ... 0 5 9
Untitled Article
BRADFORD . —Manor Coubt . ^ Clarkson v . Whitney . ^—In this pause , tried on Friday last , for , recovery of money received by the defendant on account of the Bradford yictim Fund , in 1840 , and not paid over , a verdict passed for the defendant ; which being contrary ' to evidence , notice has been given of an application for a new trial . uaiCESTER . —Our borough is in a state of military occupation . Two troops of the Tftird
Dra-§ oon Guards have been marched into the town * everal hundreds of special constables have been , called out , and are beheld parading the streets mingled with the police . The cause of all the alarm into which these threatening circumstances have thrown the public mind , ia the erection of a hand corn mill at the bastile , at which oat-paupers are compelled to work , at two-pence half-penny per day , to be deprived of all relief for themselves and families .: The mill has been broken twice while the men have been at work . The first time the men
were charged with the damage . They were acquitted by the magistrates , after the bench had listened to the able advocacy of Mr . Wood , attorney , who has taken a Chattist card , and avowed his conversion to democrat io principles . On Friday week , four men were arraigned before the bench charged with tho the second damage of the mill . Mr . Cooper se cretary of the Shaksperean Association , having taken the office of clerk to ' Mr . Wood , appearedi before the magistrates , to plead the cause of the then . The miller , however , had finished his evidence before Mr . G . could get into the court , and could not be cross-questioned . Owing , chiefly , to this circumstaace , the cause was lost , ana the four men were sentenced to four months' imprisonment eaob
An exasperated crowd hooted the miller all the way to tbe bastile , and broke upwards of twenty panes in the bastile windovra . Last Monday' morning three persons were tried for this last offence , under the name of " riot , " before the Borough Magistratep Mr . Cooper defended them ; but , after four hours ' trial , they were committed to the sessions . Three more men were then charged with participating in the act of breaking the mill the second time . Mr . Cooper entered on their defence ; and , after three hours' contest , in which he clearly convicted tho miller of perjnry , and also of wilful and malicious neglect in the management of the mill , the magistrates determined to adjourn the case till Wednesday morning . The Market-place was crowded daring the day—the police and special constables were on doty , and a few foot-soldiers on recruiting service in the town , were called out to display their arms . A crowd followed the miller to the Bastile ,
again hooting on the way , and some threw , stones . In the evening all was peaceable , although thousands thronged the Market-place . Mr . Cooper and Mr . Beedham , from a waggon , addressed the multitude on the Charter , and an address to the Convention expressive of the resolution of the working men of Leicester to abide by the Charter , and the name , and to support the Convention and the Executive , was carried by acclamation . On Tuesday afternoon the Dragoons arrived , raising increased exasperation in the town ; and at the present moment of writing , ( Wednesday morning ) the magistrates have not yet pronounced sentence on the adjourned case , and it ia uncertain what may be the next stage of public opinion , or resoiution . Mr . Peter Brophy . ojf Dublin , gave us two stirring lectures , in the Shaksperean Room , last week ; and Messrs . Cooper and Beedham preached to attentive and excited audiences , in the Market-place , on Sunday afternoon and evening ; >^
¦ BIEMINGHAM .-r / VOT our won Correspondent . j--There is a thorough steepl&chase in Bir « mingham amongst the clergy . It seems that there was a vacancy in a fat living ( about £ 600 a-year ) . Three of the clergy put up for the place , which is at the disposal of the parishioners , but one of them has since resigned . The election begins . to-day ( Wednesday ) , and ends on Thursday , at six o ' clock . There is as muoh bustle and noise about the affair as if it was a regular election . Cars are driving about with large placards stuck upon them to induce people to vote for this or that candidate , as the case may be ; There has been a great deal ofrecrimination between the parties , and altogether it will open the eyes of the public to consider well tho character
of tho ^ e men who pretend to take care of their souls . — - — Wednesday Evenings—The steeple ohaso of the parsons for the fat living of St . John ' s , Daritend , has terminated in the return of the Rev . Mr . Smith by a majority of 298 Over his opponent , the Rev . Mr . Storer . A more disgraceful affair could scarcely have taken place . The rival committees of the two candidates very liberally distributed " tickets of refreshment , " which entitled the holder to a certain amount of baer and tobacco ; and some had gotten so beastly drunk that they set on to fight ia the streets . There seems to be but one opinion amongst the thinking part of the community , and that is , that it was most disgraceful , and would open the eyes , of the people more than any speech-making COUld dO . " : "
The Mining Districts . —BiRMiNQHAM , Wednesday Evjbniag . —The town of Dudley is yet free from any marked violence , but I rather fear there are some grounds for supposing that things will hot end without some unpleasant disturbance ; The Magistrates are apprehensive , and have taken every precaution to keep the peace . Lord Clive has arrived , and is in constant consultation with the Magistrates . Th ' is ; morning , about two o ' clock , one hundred yeomanry marched into the town , and soonaf ter two pieces of artillery arrived , so that it would seem that the authorities ha J some cause of alarm . Nearly a troop of the Enniskillen dragoons a ro also stationed in the town *
&n 4 the rest of the two troops are quartered in the neighbourhood of Lye W * ste , Stourbridge , Hale 8 Owen , and other places . All , as yet , in these parts , are quiet ; but if the men cannot be prevailed upon to go to . work , ' . how .-brig it will remain so is uncertam . It is a fact that the colliers are expected to turn out on Monday next , and they are a powerful body . A reduction of their Wage 3 is said to be the cause j indeed , the whole district is , as I before wrote you , in the utmost distress , and there is no immodjate prospect of relief , f am sorry to kuoi ? that one man , named George Gill , was severely wounded , on Monday evening , in Dudley , his nose being nearly cut off by a sabre wound .
^ Child Mubder . —On Wednesday , an inquest was held at the A ^ hted Tavern , on the Body of an infant child , alleged to have been borne and murdered by Mary Ann Whire , a servant in the house of Mr . Henry Jacob , of 142 , Aahted-street , accountant . Several witnesses were examined j samo of whose evidence is utterly unfit for publication ; and from the whole it seemed that the girl had for formerly borne an excellent characier and was much liked by her mistress ; that there was no suspicion of her being pregnant until the morning of her labour , and that she had borce the child in the privy ^ beaten it to death with a broom , and then thrust it down the hole into the soil . The broom was found in the privy , the handle peuig bloody . There was also blood in several niches in the place , though water had been used to wash it away ; A verdict of Wilfal Murder was returned against tbe mother . ,
SONPBRt . AWD .-TEET 0 TALiSM .-0 n Thursday evening thero was an extraordinary large meeting of the teetotallers of Sunderland , held in the Arcade Room . It was generally understood that some members of the society intended to bring before the meeting the general conduct of the committee . After some of the usual hacknied speechca from , the " Adults / ' a " Juvenile" rose to address the . meet ing . This was the event of the evening ; at his riBing , the meeting gave hiin a simultaneous and enthusiastic round of cheers . This struck terror to the chairman and the members of the committee , who were on the platform . The chairman rose to stop thejuvenile speaker , becanse he said the committee bad not appointed him to speak , and none were to be allowed to speak but those who had beun so appointed . The youth , however , with great
presence or mind , and sound discrttion , appealed from , the . decision of the chairman and committee to the meeting , by requesting all those who wished him to speak to hold up their bands ; immediately nearly every hand in the meeting was held up , and the chairman , after a little fiirther opposition , eat down , and allowed the ycung man to proceed . The speaker then stated , that he was a member of tho Juvenile Total Abstinence SocitJty ; th * t it had done * great amouut of good amongst the young of the town , and its labours had the approbation of most of the leading members ; . ; of tho aault society , but the committee hid displayed a most un ^ eaerous spirit towards ihem ; first , in ' . asking' ilium an exorbitant reht > for the room , while the adults had it free of Charge ; and , next after they " - had let them it at a moderate rent , they raised frivolous objections against letting them have it a 1 ; aud aftar tbeir second meeting hid deprived then : of the usa . or »»
Untitled Article
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES . TO TBE SUFFERING AND STARVING . Fellow-Countbtmen , —We have received many important communications from various districts , describing the excitement and dissatisfaction which prevail in the minds ef those who have been driven into poverty and starvation by political causes , -which they have no power to destroy , and scarcely any liberty to describe in Parliamentary petition . We have decided on petitioning Parliament on Monday , the 20 th of May , to be heard at the bar of the House of Commons to lay befere the -world . A foli and honest statement of the cause of your grievances , the extent of your sufferings , and the grand remedies to be proposed for the immediate and permanent removal of all natural saSerin ? and social wrong .
We -wait with patience and subdned feeling the result of our mutual prayer . We are faily sensible that it is almost a mockery of justice to ask the starving to be submissive , and the injured to bow their famished bodies to the footstool of oppression , still tbe sacredness of our cause , and the hopelessness of all attempts at violence , are sufficient to guide us in now calling upon you to abstain from any act likely to bring our principles into disrepute , and dye deeper the red tanners of despotism with the blood of our brethren . We deeply % mpatb . ise with yo » . We have expressed our hostility to the system which has stripped you , misled you , repressed your murmurs , by force , subdued your eomplaints by a demonstration of steel , and threatened butchery . You ask us for advice . We counsel you to watch the decisive answer of the Government Tne month of May will bring the intelligence to yon .
You ask us how you are to act Await the decision of the National Convention- Tour delegates -will carry with them the results of our deliberations ; and rest assured tnat we are too much alive to the danger of collision with an armed Government ever to advise it , and we possess too much experience ever to recommend violence as the course to be adopted in our struggle for justice . Fellctst CorsrRTMEx , —We have heartily , yet decidedly , adopced thi 3 cour 3 e , out of regard for you as well as out of respect for those principles which have progressed by tbe aid of reason alone , and needs no other argument , greater than , present necessity , to enforce them on the legislature .
We have placed it in the power of the Government to appease the rising indignation of millions by granting their advocates a hearing . We now await the result , and all we desire from you is , to sacrifice feelin * for a time , and imitate us In tae practice of rational patience , at the Fame time that we prepare to advise you on tie future course to be pursued the moment the legislature have given their negative or affirmative to a nation's demand . ( Signed ) Abrah Duncan , Chairman . John Campbell , Secretary .
Untitled Article
VALUE OF TORY SYMPATHY FOR THE POOR . THEIR PARTY OUTCRY AGAINST THE NHW POOR lAW . When the Whigs were in . and the Tories were ovr , it was the cue of the latter party to be horrorstruck with the enormities of the Ndw Poor Law . Now that they are in , small indeed is the song they ging to that tune ! Of the sincerity of the cry ravsed upon the hustings by many of the' Tory followers , we shall have > directly , a good opportunity of judging . The Tory Secretary of State / or Me // ome Department , on Tuesday night last , gave in the House of Commons the following notice : —
"Sir James Graham gave notioe that on Thursday , the 5 th of May , he should move for leave to bring in a bill to continue the powers of the Poor LawiCommissioners for a time to be limited . " Ministers , then , have determined to continue the New Poor Law abomination ! Will they , in this , be supported by their Tory followers 1 We shall see ! Dare they rebel against their leader ! We shall see ! Will they leave him and the Whig opposition to saddle the atrocity upon the people ; or will they help both him and them ? We shall see !
On Thursday next , then , the Minister for the Homo Department moves for leave to bring in a Bill to continue a law which robs the poor of their right to the first take , a living , from the soil ! And the Legislature of England will aid him in his purpose 1 i And yet they dare to prate about maintaining the institutions of the country !!! dare to prate thus , when they are abrogating , knocking down , the most famous and the most necessary institution of all !!! an institution in the absence of which nil private property is a wrong ! !!! Verily our Legislators are curious Conservatives !
This Poor Law question must be a little better understood than it now is . The poor , at least , must be made to comprehend it in all its bearings . Next week we shall endeavour to give them the benefit of our readings and reasonings on the subject ; and , amongst other things , we shall print , entire , the original Poor Law of England—the famous 43 rd of Elizabeth .
Untitled Article
THE NATIONAL PETITION . Ere we again meet our readers , the Petition will have been presented ! The Natiou ' s tongue will have given utterance to the Nation ' s griefs ! and we shall have heard theanswer of the chiefs of faction !! Let , then , the quiet and the patience of expectancy abide , until that answer shall be known . After it shall have been received , the people ' s delegates will doubtless iesue their instruction and advice , We shall , if necessary , throw our mite into the common tr easury of council , and consider , with our brethren
how wernaybsstmakegood our vantage , or continue to uphold the struggle . One thing lefc the people be assured that whatever good is to bo done for them must be done by them . If they hold not themselves in readiness to achieve the redress of their own wrongs , they will never have redress from those "who have inflicted and are seeking always to extend and perpetuate them ! The address of the Convention in reference to the petition and the position of the people , will be found elsewhere ; let it be read , and carefully !
Untitled Article
James Thompson , DtiNDBB . —Ye « .- / . ' : ' . ' . . An Old Subscriber , Leicester . —The fault is with the Agent : if be order Piatea when he orders his Papera he will get them . : T . G . HlBBARb .- ^ Write to the PostmastBr-QenewkL Thomas Cook , Ouston , —It wntbedone ; J . A . Hogg , Hawick . —The division of the 10 s ., noticed in the last Star , had reference to Hawick : Garliale never sentanstning . T . S . Stoke most xefer to the notieeB of cash received . ; . " ¦ . : . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ . . ;¦'•¦' ; ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ ¦ ' ' . - r FOE THE MAS CHESTER SUFFERERS . :.. ' ¦ '¦ - ¦ "¦ ' ' . . '¦ ¦ ' . - - '¦¦ : . ' . '•¦ £ a . d . ' " . From Loughbro ' per T . Eveleigb ... 0 2 18 i
2ta Meatoev$ Antr Corr^Wttlr^Ttjj*
2 Ta Meatoev $ antr Corr ^ Wttlr ^ ttjj *
%Toai Antr ^Tm Tot $Ytelli&Ettce≫
% toai antr ^ tm tot $ Ytelli&ettce >
Tee Jn T Orthesn Stae. Saturday, April 30, 1842.
TEE JN ORTHESN STAE . SATURDAY , APRIL 30 , 1842 .
Untitled Article
A THE NORTHERlSr atAB , .-: -: ''¦¦¦ . _ ' . ¦¦ ¦ . : ^ -J ^ . '
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), April 30, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct888/page/4/
-