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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th November 1842, Edition 5 of 4, Page 4

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR , SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1842.
    • THE POLITICIAN'S TEXT BOOK.
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      Untitled Article

      JHAK CHESTER , 6 RA 2 vD FESTIYAL IN HONOUR 01 ? T . S . DUNCOMBE , ESQ ., M . P ., AND FEARGCS O'CONNOB , ESQ . .. A Tea Party and Ball was held in the Carpenter ' * Hall , Old Garrett-road , Manchester , on ilonday evening , in honour of the above illustrious gentlemen . Six o ' clock was the time announced for the tea to be npen the table ; bat long before that boor thousands were congregated around the doors , anxious to be admitted . Notwithstanding the committee had limited the number of tickets to one thousand , such was the demand for them , and the importunities of the people , that they

      • were compelled to break through their original arrange ments , and grant a second issue . The committee had neither spared trouble nor expence in decorating the room . The platform hid an imposing cfiect upon the light ; over the frent of it was erected a toagnificient trinmphal arch , in the centre of irhich was suspended the portrait or T . 8 . Dancombe , Eiq . ' in & splendid rosewood frame , supported on the right by that of P . O'Connor , E ? q ., and on the left by the ever-to-belamented John Frost , in frames of the same material . Around the Hall were many , small banters bearing appropriate mottos . An excellent quadrille tend was in attendance , and played erer&l popular airs duriii ? tea .

      About eight o ' clock , Mr . Dancombe , accompanied by Mi . O'Connor , entered the Hall , and here en&ned a scene that Vaffies description . The people rose upon their feet from the tables ; moved by one common impulse to do honour to the men who had advocated their cause through good and evil report . The cheering at this moment surpassed anything that we ever witnessed before . The waving of bats and handkerchief ! continued tm a considerable time ; in fact , it appeared as if the people thought they could not sufficiently slew their gratitude to these nobles of nature , -who h . vi done bo nracli fur the rufft ring sons of ton . It was with considerable difficulty that they made their way to the platform , upon mounting wbick the cheerine recommenced and lasted for several "minutes .

      Order b-ing restored , the people commenced consuming the good things set before them ; and , notwithstanding 1500 persona took tea , sitting down at four different times , yet , all was conducted with the utmost decorum and good order . The people were highly delighted with the arrangements made by the committee for their comfort , and sJl were perfectly satisfied with the quantity and quality of the proviw * ms provided for them . Upon the tea equipage being removed , Mr . Djxon moved that Air . J . R . Cooper da take the ehair . The motion being seconded and pnt to the meeting , it wag carried unanimously .

      Mr . Coopzr said that he would not occupy their time by any preliminary remarks , but just observe that on account of the crowded state of the room and the lateness of the hoar , it had been thought advisable to omit a large cumber of sentiments that originally stood upoH the list , reserving only three . Yet there iu one that he could sot dispense with , be would read it and call upon Mr . James Leach to respond to iL " The working classes , may they enjoy the fruits ol their own industry by the speedy abolition of class legislation , and become united , happy , and tree . " Mz . Leach rose amidst loud cheers aad responded to the toast in a speech which did houour both to his head and heart , and retired amid the plaudits of his fellow townsmen .

      Air by the Band— " Scots whs ha ' . " The Chairman ssid that the next toast was one which all would hail with delight , it was : — " Out illustrious guests , T . S . Dicconibe , Esq ., and P . O'Cennor , E--q ., and may they live to receive the congratulations of a free and happy people for their disinterested advocacy of their rights . " This -was received with . ttemendoua cheering , 'which was repeated fur several minutes . When order was restored , . Mr . DunceuBB said—Ladies and kind Friends , — Tour most excellent Chairman has truly said , if there is anything worth living for , it is to know that we have honestly done oar duty to our fellow-man , and in return

      receive the thanks of a grateful people . The flattering reception that you bave given to me , an entire stranger amongst yon , has so overpowered me , and ' embarrassed my mind , that I feel it a difficult task to return to you the thanks which you deserve , or to find words adequate fco convdjf to you the feelings of my heart on this occasion- Bit we are sot strangers in reality ; for although we reside at a distance from each other , yet we have fought long together against oppression and injusticewe have long been struggling in the same cause . Mr . Doneombs then said he remembered the honour the -vodtiag classes conferred upon him in the last cession of Parliament by entrusting to his care the National Petition—ileud cheers )—and he also remembered the

      manner tbst that Petition was treated bj the House of Commons ; and the language made use of by the mem-Urn at XtaX House . They had called toe cnarttsts spoilators and destructives . Bat he . ( Mr . Dancombe , told them it wss a libel on the working men of England . Tuat petition told the truth concerning your grievances , and pointed . out the only remedy—the People's Charter- That petition also prayed for your delegates to be heard at the bar of that House . But they durst net bear you—if they had , yon would have told such truths as would have made them ashamed of themselves ; and would bave laid bare to the whole country the grievances you complained of , and at the s&nu time the justness of your demands . Mr . Dunccmbe then commented in severe terms upon the conduct of the members of the House of Commons lpon that occasion . He ( Mr . Dancombe ) thought it would have been time enongh to have called them < 3 e-

      stracaves , and to have cavilled about the wording of the petition , when they had keard what you had to say upon the subject . He would tell them how thai petition was received by the men calling themselves the representatives of the people . When the vote was taken for you to be heard at the Bar , there were 51 cut of 658 , for your being beard ; and if a proof was wanting to show that the House required reform , this vote fully substantiated the fact , that nothing short of a remodelling of the House of Commons weuld ever benefit this country . He lamented that fatal vote ; he called it a fatal vote ; for if the House of Commons tad not come to that vote , the late disturbances would not have taken place . If they had instituted an inquiry into the distress of the country , the people would have bad something to have hoped for ; but by that act they doomed them to despair . Had the House done its duty to the country at that time , hundreds o ! fsmilieawould not at this timB have had to lament the death of their natural

      protectors . The consequence of that neglect was , that the working classes , seeing they had nothing to expect from the House of Commons , struck for an advance of wages , -which they" had a perfect right to do—nay more , as the law at present &Uuds , they . ha ?* , a right to combine together for that purpose if they thought proper . They also might say to the werkmen of another employer , " you ought not to work for that man Without he will give you a certain amount of wages " : further than this they cannot go . If they compel others from working against their will , then tjjey fall a prey to the pangs of the law . And if ( said Mr . Ihmcombe ) what I read at the time was correct , I have no hesitation in saying that the law bus been stretched by certain parties to suit their own

      purposes . Englishmen have the right to meet , peacefully to discuss their grievances ; and if the assembling of a few hundred persons outside of the building where the meeting is held makes the meeting illegal , why this may be called an illegal meeting : if that is the Jaw , the House of Commons is often surrounded bj a grumbling crowd of people , and therefore their meeting must be illegal . The authorities had no right to Interfere with your delegates , who were peaceably assembled together to do your business : it -was their duty to see taat the crowd in tae street did no violence , but it was illegal for them to disperse the meeting , that was peacefully doing their business imide of a building . Bat that is not all I have heard since I came into town of the conduct of the magistrates of this place ,

      remanding men day after day for thirteen days , and in othj instance for nineteen days , and then discharging them , having no evidence against them . If this is the way ( said Mr Dancombe ) that the laws are to be administered , then farewell the liberty of the eubject 'Where is oar boasted Habeas Corpus , the pilladium of our liberties ? Mr . Duncombe commented upon the conduct of Lord Abinger , and hoped the men of Manchester would fellow the noble example of the men of London , and get np s petition to tbe House of Commons , and get it as numerously signed as possible and forward it to your representatives . —( Cries of It's no use to send it to them . Oh , yes , ( said Mr . D ) they are rtry respect able men . —( Cries of They will not do . ">—Well , bnt ron must try them . He ( Mr . Dancombe ) would do all

      that was is his power to bring about the necessary enquiry . —( Loud cheers . )—Mr . Buncombe then said that the Corn-Law-Repealers thought that if the Corn-Laws were repealed that that would heal all our evils . He ( Mr . D . ) was of a contrary opinion . There was . othlng would save this e * untry but the Suffrage , aad to that point all real reformers should rally . The Repealers were going to raise £ 50 , 000 . Well , he ( Mr . D , ) hoped they would get it ; and he would advise the Chartists not to throw any obstacles in their way . It wtmld be a failure ; they would not succeed . It would only be a feolish waste of money and time ; and after that has proved useless they will come to you—( loud cheers ) . Gentlemen , the suffrage must be extended before any good can be accomplished—and come that mnst , and come it wilL The Home of Commons But be reformed before the Corn Laws or any

      tifcer law * for the good of tbe people can be repealed . Then are six yean of the term , for the Tories yet , and when 70 a bring any thing before them , they as gced u say the Septennial Act is in existence , and you ¦ omt talk *¦ 700 will , we are secure for tbe remainder of the term . Mr . D . said that he bad stated is his place in Parliament , when he presented the petition containing three millions and a half of signatures , that he would never again be tbe means through which that House shoald insult the working men of Eagland . Be ( Mr . D . ) bad very tittle faith in petitioning the preseat Hoase of Commons —( cheers ) . Ton must rely ¦ pan your own strength . Unite together for the overthrow of oppression and injustice ; and whatever littte I can do towards bringing about that change so desirable at present for the ¦ msJVimaon of the condition of the working

      Untitled Article

      classes , I sball feel * pleasure in doing it . Mr 2 > nne > mbe then referred to tbe peace with China , and said be wished it was in his power to proclaim peace between the people and those who governed them . If he had tbe power he would tell Her Majesty that tbe only way to secure the stability of the throne was to give equal iawB and equal justice to Ibe subject ; and on the other hand if there was no protection for tbe poor man ' s labour , there could be no security for tbe rich man ' s property —( cheers . ) Mr . D . then thanked them for the hearing they had given him , and al * o for tbe reception he had received , and retired amid thundering rounds of applause .

      Air by the Band— " Anld langByae . " The Chairman then gave tbe following toast : — "Tbe People's Charter , with all its honest advocates ; may they continue to struggle in tbe glorious cause until its principles become the basis of our future laws , thereby giving peace and prosperity to the community . " Feahgcs OCoMfOB , Esq ., then rose , amidst tremendous cheering , which continued for a considerable time . After the cheering had subsided , Mr . O'Connor said , Mr . Chairman and Brother Chartists , it is seven years this very week , if not this very day , since I first advocated the principles of Chartism to you in Man-Chester . Yon and I have fought many a battle together since then . We bave passed through obliquy aud

      misrepresentatioa We have suffered persecution ; they have incarcerated some , and entombed others . Though they have murdered a Clayton and a Holberry , still their spirits beckon us on to greater exertion in the cause ef Chartism . Mr . O'Connor then eulogised the conduct of Mr . Duucombe , for the manly course he had pursued in the Commons House of Parliament But he ( Mr . O'Connor ) differed with that genileman wh-n he said that he was a stranger . It was true that they resided at a distance from each other , but the people of England were not unmindful of those that dared to stand forward in the cause of the toiling millions . It ; was a great mistake to say that the people were fickle : if any person said that to him , he would tell him that he w&s a renegade , for tke people never left their

      friends until they proved themselves unworthy of their confidence . Mr . O Connor then gave the Plague a Bevere castigation , and referred to Mr . Duncombe ' a remark , concerning the £ 50 , 000 being a failure ; and , said Mr . O'Connor , by the blessing of God , it shall fail , and soon too I He then stated that he was called a victim , and he gloried in the name ; it was an honour to be a victim iu a good cause . He was no conspirator ; he never in bis life had attended a seeret meeting ; he never belonged to any secret association . It was the law that conspired against him , and not him against the law . But if they imagined that they could put him down by persecution , they reckoned without their host . If they put him in prison every day of tbe week , and he only had Sunday left , he would agitato the one day in

      seven ; and with that alone he would beat faction out of the field . Mr . O'Connor then called the attention of tbe meeting to the hubbub about the great distress that prevailed in tbe rural districts ; they were no politicians or they would know the cause ; they bad do brains 01 they would know the T&asen of that distress . He would tell them what it was that produced this state of things in the agricultural counties . The late Prosperity" was the cause ; during that prosperity they ' were kidnapped to serve tke tarn of tbe manufacturer , until they could get machinery made , and then they were thrown by like old cog-wheels in the lumber-room . And these were the men that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was to join ; with men that had ** plenty Ob their tonuegs . but st * rwatto * in their bands if

      —they mi ^ ht join them they pleased , but he never would . John Edward Taylor , that handsome young man , ( save tbe mark , ) says that there are only 13 , 000 Chartists in England—but there are three millions and a half at least . ( Loud cries of there are 4 , 060 , 000 . ) Yes , said Mr . O'Connor , 8 ; 000 , 000 , if we count the women . ( Mr . Leach eaid they were lsdus . ) No ; according to tbe definition ef Mr . Cobden . at Liverpool , ladies were bread-breakers Now , the working men ' s wives -vrere not ladies ; for they had left them do bread to break . It was Peel's 3 per cent in their inoomes that was making the shopkeepers wince ; and that was the ticket for Chartism . Mr . O Connor then remarked , that it mattered nothing to the working classes what we got from China ; it would not make one farthing difference to them if we got £ 500 , 000 , 000 from them . Mr .

      O'Connor then gave a glowing description of the growth of his principles in his own country , and showed in clear and convincing language the difference between Pa ! dy and John Bull . Itwas simply this , that we had to lire from hand to month—whilst Paddy , with all his poverty had , at this time of the year , four or tve months potatoes in the hole , and be would live upon one meal of these in the twenty-four hours , and agitate- without the fear of his employer . He ( Mr . O Conner ) would never rest satisfied until he had removed that state of things which left them at the mercy of their greatest enemies . Mr . O'Connor ' s speech was a master piece of oratory , and perfectly electrified the audience . He was loudly cheered throughout Air , by the band . — " A man ' s a man for a' that The Chairman then gave ,

      " The democratic press , more especially the Northern and Evening Siart , and may they receive tbe support of those whose interests they so powerfully advocate , and be thereby stimulated to more powerful exertions in the cause of human freedom . " The toast was responded to by tbe repeated plaudits of the meeting-Mr . O'Connor then proposed , " The thankB of not only the men of Manchester , but tbe working classes of England , to T . S . Duncombe , Esq ., . 11 . P ., for his manly and straightforward conduct in the cause of freedom . ' The proposition was seconded by Mr . Leach , and carried with tremendous cheers . Mr , DVNCOMBE returned thanks in a feeling speech ; after which the two illustrious gentlemen left the room , followed by the blessings of the people .

      The ball was then opened and the dancing and singing were kept up with spirit till five o ' clock in the morning , when the assembly dispersed highly delighted with the treat

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      T HAVE great pleasure ( and no small share of pride ) JL ia submitting the following encomium upon my little Compilation , tbe POOR MAN'S COMPANION for 1843 , to the notice of the Public generally ; convinced that the lovers of right and truth will be pleased , with me , that this three-penny-worth of " Facts and Figures" is calculated to be of use in guiding the public mind to a correct appreciation of several political and social schemes of ameliorai ; on advocated by the advanced sectioas of tbe Reformers . The letter , in which testimony to this

      effect is borne by a gentleman whose good opinion I value more than that of any other man breathing , is , as will be perceived , a private one to myself . I take the liberty , however , to use it in this public manner ; satisfied that Mr . O'Connor will not object to my doing so , as its publication can only have the effect of accomplishing his own desire , —ensuring the increased circulation of what he deems a good and useful book ; useful , I hope , to the Poor Man and to the Poor Man ' s cause . Jos . Hobsom . Leeds . Nov , 21 st , 1842 .

      London , Nov . 19 , 1842 . My deab . Hobsoti , —You will see by the Evening Star , that I bave made a good use of your invaluable little book ; tbe very best that ever appeared in the English language , and one which has taught me that I was a fool till now . You should have called it the " Whig Economist . " It is splendid . The tax-pByera on the platform Bt&rted again , when I read the extracts from it But I have not h * d time to do it justice . I

      forget the increased expence of sending Frost and others out of the country . That item is frigbtful Your book should be in every house , from the palace to the cobbler ' s stall . It is the very best book ever published : and I beg of you to accept my tkanks for it What labour it mutt have cost you in the compilation . Yours , very thankfnlJy , Feargvs O'CciNOR . P . S . —Our meeting was glorious . Tbe Shams are routed for ever 1 Not a Chartist would nibble !!

      The Poor Man ' s Companion maj be had at the Publisher ' s Offices , 5 , Market-street , Leeds , and 3 , Market-walk , Huddtrsfield ; of J . Cleave , 1 , Shoelane , Fleet-i-treet , and J . Watson , Paul ' s Alley , Paternoster Row , London ; A . Heywood , and J . Leach , Manchester ; Paton and Love , Glasgow ; G . J . Harney , and W . Barraclough , Sheffield ; and of all Booksellers and News Agents in Town and Country .

      The Northern Star , Saturday, November 26, 1842.

      THE NORTHERN STAR , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 26 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      M THE REAL WORTH OF CHARTISM . " Usdeb this bead , the Times ha « published a paragraph , in which it comments , in its own way , upon j the balance sheet of the Executive , giren in the I Northern Star of last Saturday bat one . The ob-| ject of the Times is evidently to allay the apprej heneiouB of its patrons as to the growing influence of thoae principles of right by which the axe shall ere long be laid fairly to the root of the fell upas tree of class dominance , under whose shade the Times and its supporters have so long nestled . He affects to sneer at the amount of the quarter ' s income and expenditure , and to regard it as evidence j that the Movement to which it appertains must be i contemptible . Here is the paragraph : —

      11 Thb Real Worth op Chartism . —On Saturday the provincial organ of Chartism , the Northern Star , published th » ' balance sheet of the executive' for the last quarter . This ' casting op of accounts' will en

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      able the public to judge of the extent of Chartism , and the sympathy which its advocates find in the mass of the population , better than by the 3 , 000 , 000 signatures asserted to have been attached to the * National Petition . ' From the rearat disturbances in the North , it would be imagined by those who are not aware of tbe ease with which the unemployed and discontented workmen of that district are excited , that auoh a bustling place as Ashton , where Chartism boasts of having taken np a strong position , would shew a very respectable master of what O'Connor styles 'blistered hands ' in support of the Charter , and also a goodly

      contribution to assist iu Its consummation . The balanoe sheet , however , shows that Ashton has but sixty ' fraternising ' Chartists , and that their permanent resources for tbe quarter amount to exactly tbe sum of 10 s . At Birmingham , where Chartism is supposed to be , numerically speaking , stronger than in any other part of the kingdom , there are bat 175 bona fide ' paying ' Charti » ta ; and tbe amount they bs > ve ' Bent in ' to the Executive daring the last three months is 18 » . 4 d . ;—18 s . 4 d ., or £ 313 s . 4 d . per annum , from Birmingham in support of tbe Charter ! This is sympathy indeed . Coventry adds 100 Chartists to the ranks , and

      16 s . 8 d . to tbe funds . Carlisle Rives £ 6 ; Darlington £ 5 ; Derby £ 1 ; Huddersfield £ l 18 s . ; Bull £ l 12 s . 64 . ; Halifax £ 1 15 s . 4 d- ; Liverpool has 280 ' communicating' Chartists , and pays £ 1 13 s . 2 d . ; and Manchester , with its 524 brethren , sends £ 9 17 s . 4 d . Such are the bona fide indications of tbe strength of a faction whose noise and violence , artfully associated with the distress unfortunately so general in the north , have half ' frighted the isle from its propriety . ' The gr-ind total of the income of the executive for three months from the 3 000 . 000 of partisans , friends , and sympathizers , is £ 160 Is . 5 d . Tbe greater portion of the sum has been

      swallowed up by three of tbe principal itinerant lecturers : Dr . M'Donali ' s ' wages' and travelling expenses for two months amount to £ 35 10 s . ; Bairstow ' s to £ 33 8 ? . ; and Leach ' s to £ 2 i 10 s ,, —the three taking £ 90 16 s . This is agitating to some purpose . The extent , nature , and value of Chartism may be well judged of from the faot that a laborious organization , carried on in every county in England , has enabled its various associations to induce only 11 , 363 persons to enrol themselves as members , at twopence per qua . ter , and of these 11 , 363 there are no-fewer than 4 , 813 who hate neglected to pay their twopenoes . "

      Thus it is that the middle and higher classes are led blind-folded , and many of them prevented from forming due estimates of things by the oare taken to pervert the information which is furnished to them . This paragraph is fraught with folly as with virulence . The Times writes habitually for the sordid classes , whose god is Pelf , and who estimate everything , not by its right , its justice , or its

      necessity , but by its profitableness . He calculates , and in all likelihood , rightly , that his readera must think meanly of the powers of a Movement , national in its character , and afieoiiag all the interests of society , of which the sum total of its income is one hundred and sixty pound ? , one shilling , and five pence , for three months ! The Times knows nothing of the potency of principle ; nothing of the honest , earnest enihusiam which makes men

      " Doubly active in a losing game . " lie weighs power in the class-balances of money , and , at the rate of party payment finds £ 160 to give so small a modicum , that he becomes merry with his conceit of " the real worth of Chartism . " It may be be weil that we should help the reader * of the Times to a more just mode of reckoning ; one that is less likely to mislead them . We shall do bo presently , and ehow that this account of £ 160 for three months , is no statement of Chartist funds at all ; and that , were it tenfold more or less than what it is , it affords no criterion whereby to estimate the power or capacity of that Movement .

      But tbe ingenious dullness of the writer is most striking in his manner of making out the paucity of numbers devoted to the principled of Chartism . He looks down the column of cards issued during the quarter to each place respectively , and chuckles over his own blundering assumption that these figures indicate the number of enrolled Chartists in each place . Thus he cackles respecting Aahtonunder-Lyne : —

      " From , the ceoent disturbances in the North , it would be imagined that such a bustling place as Ashton , where Chartism boasts of having taken up a strong position , would show a very respectable muster of what O'Connor style-i blistered hands in support of the Charter . The balance sheet , however , shows that Ashton baa but sixty fraternizing ChartUu . " In like manner the gODse gabbles of " a hundred and seventy-five Chartists at Birmingham , " and o a hundred Chartists at Coventry" I

      Tne quantity of cards thus issued during the quarter to each place is cast np at the bottom of the column , and amounts to the number of 11 , 363 plain cards and 79 enamelled cards ; whereupon Goosey , still reasoning from her own manufactured premises , thus further cackles : — " The extent , nature , and value of Chartism may be judged of from the fact that a laborious organization , carried on in every county of Engiand has enabled it * varioni associations to induce only 11 , 363 persons to enrol themselves as members . "

      Now whether this be sheer stolidity or wilful misrepresentation , it is not the less likely to be mischievous , in causing those by whom it is read and trusted to mistake their own position , and the whole nature of the great matters to which it has reference ; and therefore we take the trouble of adverting to it . It is right that those whom the misstatements of the Times might otherwise deceive , should be informed that those statements are erroneous ; that the number thus given as the total number of enrolled Chartists in England is nothing more nor less than the number of new cards of membership issued by the Executive during tho three months ineluded in the balanoe Sheet ! and that instead of showing the total number of enrolled Chartists , it exhibits merely the increase during thai period I !

      The gabbliugs of the Goose of Printing House Square upon her supposed discoveries of the strength of Chartism in this Balance-sheet are really not a little amusing . She thinks that" This casting up of accounts will enable the public to judge of tbe extent of Chartism , and the sympathy which its advocates find in the moss of the population , better than by the three millions of signatures asserted to have been attached to tho National Petition . "

      It is difficult to believe that the writer of this silly paragraph was unaware of the hollow and false character of these statements ; but for the mere common , credit of humanity we will presume it . Goosey infers that because only 175 cards have been issued to Birmingham , " the three and a half millions of signatures , asserted to have been attached to the National Petition" forms ho criterion of Chartist strength ; and that , in reality , the Chartists are a puerile and contemptible set of whom nobody need be afraid . We hare shown already that her inference rests on a false basis , and is therefore

      worthless . But the National Petition , quoth Goosey , is no proof of the general prevalence of Chartist doctrines and principles . As-we have no disposition to ^ be captious , -we sball not defend the . point . We may however whisper into Goosey ' s ear a little fact that is proof of this so much dreaded matter . In this same town of Birmingham , where there areen / g / one hundred and seventy five Chartists , and where of course the rest are all Whigs and Tories , neither Whigs nor Tories dare come honestly , boldly , and openly before a public meeting of the inhabitants to controvert any one of the principles of Chartism , for

      Fear these one hundred and seventy-five Chartibts should out-vote them ! In this same town of Birmingham , where there are one hundred and seventyfive Chartitts , and of the contemptible character of Chartism , in which Goosey cackles bo lustily , neither of the factions ever dare to permit these one hundred and Beventy-five Chartists to hold a public meeting , for iha assertion of their principles , when they can prevent it . The case is similar in every town in England . Will this enable Goosey to

      K judge of the extent of Chartism and the sympathy which its advocates find in the mass of the population better than by the 3 , 000 , 000 of signatures asserted to have been attached to the National Petition" * Poor Goosey finds herself aud her patrons in a mess , and we much doubt this blundering will not help it . Bat the money ! the money ! the " casting up of accoants" ! there is at all events no getting over that . The whole income of the ChattiBt movement , for a quarter of a year , has been little more than £ 166 . Aud what can be done for £ 1601 What alarm need

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      faction have on account of any body , or any code of principles , for tho sustenance of which only £ lft can be raised for * whole quarter ' , ! 01 what a pity that Goosey and her patrons know so little « f the indomitable spirit , the persevering energy , and the ceaseless activity infused into a people by suffering and poverty , tbe known consequences of injustice . To help Goosey and her patrons to some slight acquaintance with the matter , let us just look at what has been done by the advocates of Chartism , and the sympathy which those advocates have found ia ** the mass of the population . " What have they done ?

      They have baffled all the efforts of all Goosey ' s friends , whether Whig or Tory , Pro-Cora Law or Anti-Corn Law ! All the wealth of the whole nation ; all the power of the whole nationas weilded firat by a Whig and then by a Tory Government , —has been employed to put down Chartism . It has failed 1 All the blandishments of eloquence , so easily at the command of wealth , have been exhausted by the Anti-Corn Law League in attempting to persuada the " mass of the population " to give up their sympathy with the advocates of Chartism . The League has spent upon this single objeot very many thousands of pounds already ; they have contemptibly failed ; and are now seeking to raise £ 50 , 000 more to renew the effort . Failing in

      persuasion , they have tried jugglery and treachery ; they have pretended to espouse our principles that they might lead us from them , trying thus to cheat us out of that which . they couldu't cajole from us . They have failed , and are being laughed at , as they arc preparing to slink from our ranks like a discovered and well-ducked spy . The " free-traders ' have endeavoured to enforce compliance by starvation ; they have brought down wages for the avowed purpose ; they have , in many instances , refused employment to all men of known Chartist principles . Every means has been tried to induce the " mass of the population" to refuse to "fraternize " with Chartists ; but in vain : their " sympathy with its advocates" was too strong to be thus overcome 1

      The factions then joined together for the purpose . They agreed to "sink minor differences , " and make one mighty effort to crush Chartism . They played into each other ' s hands , the League forcing an insurrectionary movement , and the Government coming to their aid with Special Commissions , partisan Judges , law myrmidons , and all the paraphernalia of power and terrorism . The League orators , the Buckinghah and Chandos orators , the whole press of the " Establishment , " the Legislators of St . Stephens , and the Judgos on the Benoh , have all concurred iu describing Chartism as a dangerous monster , which , if not slain , would destroy property , and rank , and literally

      " Fright the fair isle from its propriety" ! All the powers of all these parties have been severally exerted and Unitedly combined to crush this same Chartism . It has all failed !! and Goosey now cornea to the affray with hope to sneer it from the field , because all its mighty efforts , offensive and defensive against the power of tyranny , seem to have been made at almost no oest t " The grand total of the Executive for three months is £ 160 Is . Sd . " !

      Had Goosey not been ' -either a | very silly or a very dishonest goosey , she weuld have cackled otherwise . She would have said , if Chartism , with an income of only £ 160 for three months for its Executive , has been able , thus successfully , to defy and soornus ; if with this paucity of pecuniary resources given from the pence of starving men , Chartism holds on its way , and lives against all odds , it is surely high time to inquire seriously if there be not

      good and ' suffioient reason for it t if a system so enduring in its character , and finding such perfect and universal "sympathy in the mass of the population , " be not based upon justice and upheld by truth f Had Goosey thus commended to her readers an enquiry into the merits of Chartism , instead of inspiring them with a contempt for it , her oacklinga might have been regarded as approximating much more nearly those of her ancient prototype who saved the capitol .

      We think it necessary , however , that the readers of the Times should know more about the matter than it is plain the Times does . The Times makes the gross mistake of substituting the expenditure of the Executive for that of the whole Chartist body . This it is for a goose to cackle upon matters of which it knows nothing . The Balanoe Sheet of the Executive has merely reference to one of the many departments of the Chartist agitation ; aud that the one which is or ought to be the least expensive . The Balance Sheet has merely reference to the expences of that general supervision of the

      whole which pertains to the Executive . Goosey seems not to know that every district , and generally speaking every locality , has its own funds ; and its own staff of lecturers , tracts , meetings , delegates , and other means of agitation , by which the strength and animus of Chartism is kept up , and through which its power is made manifest . Goosey never made a greater mistake , nor one calculated to do more injury to those who trust her o&cklings than in thus substituting the Executive for Chartism . We readily make Goosey a present of the inference , that if the real worth of CilPrtism

      is to be reckoned by the Executive balance sheet , it stands but at a low ebb ; but we warn Goosey ' s keepers that her cacklings are fallacious . We point them to the faot tnat with an Executive receiving but £ 160 for one quarter , and of that small sum grossly misapplying a large portion , Chartism has yet made head against all the power ef faction ; and we ask them to think what must have been its position , if their remorseless cruelty had not so bound down the hands of poverty as that £ 160 has had to come in the shape of deductions from the half-meals of a people half-famished ! We ask them to think

      if with an Executive grossly misapplying their , funds , the people have yet made head for Chartism , what will they do when those scanty funds shall be honestly disbursed , and wisely appropriated \ We ask the patrons of the Times to think upon these matters , and to consider whether it be not useless to prolong the contest of might against right ? when according to the showing of their own organ , a struggle so momentous so peaceful , so determined , and so perfectly national , as that of Chartism against faction , is conducted at

      a cost so trifling that even tha expenditure of an extravagant jobbing Executive is quoted by that organ as matter of contempt , because of its small amount ! while we bid the people see in thie another indication of their power , and another indication of the trembling fearfulness of faction , which so dreads the fair form of principle and right , that it refuses even to look upon it but obliquely , and tries to please and sooth itself , by conjuring up a creation of its own , of which to speak contemptuously as "the real worth of Chartism . "

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      starvation , and whose only offence was their peaceably assembling to discuss their grievances , and , according to the unquestionable right of the British Constitution , to raise the voice of remonstrance against that vile system of "Class-legislation , " which has produced , and would perpetnate such a state of things . ; The foul and tyrannical spirit in which the proceedings of " the Commission" were carried out , demanded the meeting ; and most nobly indeed did " the men of London" respond to the demand .

      To Bay that the great room of the Crown and Anchor ( estimated to hold w three thousand persons , '') was filled , would be short of the description , and tame for the appearance . It was literally crammed— " orammed to suffocation" —not only Women ( who were there in large numbers ) , but men , being so oppressed by the heat and pressure , as to be frequently carried from the room in a faint * ing state ; and all this , while " thousands" who presented themselves at the doors of the tavern were compelled to go away disappointed ,- —the lobby and staircase approaches to the great room being choked with a living mass of excited , interested , and anxious people .

      In the memory Jof the oldest " meeting goers , " no such crowded demonstration has before taken place , even within the walla of the celebrated Crown and Anchor . Even the oldest reporters of the London newspaper press , —men , be it remarked , accustomed te publio meetings , and whose opinions ( the result of experience and observation ) are worthy the highest attention—admit that they have never witnessed any thing to equal it .

      " The breath of the people , " says the proverb , " is mighty ; " and on { this occasion it was not only mighty in its "indignation , " but mighty in its " condensation . " Ascending in imperceptible vapour , it descended from the coved and lofty ceiling in large condensed drops—a rain-like shower—indioative of the wedged aad firm-set mass from whom it emanated . And yet here are men who say that ** Chartism " is dying , and that its members and advocates are falling off . Chartism dying 2 This great , this mighty meeting of " sympathisers , " or , in the words of the immaculate and pure-minded Lord Abingeh , of " a kind of people called Chartists , " looks like it —gwes the answer to it .

      Let the Government not be insensible to the importance of this great Meeting , in its collective form , and in its individual membership . Let it think , reflect , dwell upon , take a lesson and a moral from it . Let it be not as "the deaf addtr , " or " the moping owl , " insensible to what is passing , and to what so deeply concerns it ; but , if it have "eyes to Bee , " and " ears to hear , " let it" hear and see , " and judge accordingly ! Let it fling away the " oracles" and " spectacles" of the wily , willing , and ready tool , Judge "Jeffries ?— we beg his Lordsnip ' s pardon—Judge " Abin » eb , " we meant to

      say . Let the members who form and carry on the Government remember , that this great demonstration of men and mind was no ordinary one : that it was a mighty commentary on their proceedings ; and if they would not have it a lasting , and a destroying one , let them , while they have yet time ; reflect in their councils upon it , and regard it as a "light" held out by an outraged yet forbearing country , to lead them from the dark labyriath in whioh they are floundering , into the highways and broadways of justice whioh they have bo shamelesslj , guiltily , unblushiugly , and unprinoipledly abandoned .

      To the " Men of London" who constituted that great meeting—of London , "the ' mighty -heart '* ' of the Nation "—the highest praise is due ; and be the highest honour given ; for the manner in which they got np , and carried out , this astounding demonstration . To the rest of the country—to every City , Town , Hamlet , and Borough , within its bosom , we would say , " Go and do likewise . " The Great City has moved . Let the minor ones follow ; let the Towns , the Hamlet ? , the Boroughs , and Rural districts follow ; and in this way , without

      distressing any one , Buoh a " Victim" and " Defence" Fund cannot fail to be created , as will defeat tyranny , tear tbe scales of Justice from tbe polluted hands of a Political Judge , defend the innocent , defeat the unjust / and , by putting an end to "Class Legislation , " and building up the great principle of " Justice to aft ? ' protection to all , equality of " political rights" to all—make this country what she ought to be— " the glory and admiration of the World , " free in her institutions , and happy in the independence , comfort , and union of her children .

      Up ! then , " Men of England ! " " Be up and stirring ! " Follow the noble and " soul-exciting example" of the " Men of London , "—an example which cannot fail to cheer the very ' Victims" in the solitude of their cold , dismal , desolate , and health * destroying calls . " Up ! " it is" the Voice of Libbbtt , " from your "native hills" and " valleys , " that calls upon you ; your suffering fellow countrymen , in their bondage , echoing the sentiment , call upon you ;

      " all Nature" calls upon you to be " up ! " Setyour meetings going ; and without violating any law , you will , we repeat , by - this course , create suoh a " Victim" and" Defence" Fund , as will ' enable you to beat the enemy , set your country and kind free , and lay the basis of a system of legislation and feeling , in whioh the Crown will Sad its protection , and the Community its wisest safeguard . —Evening Star of Wednetday .

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      ELECTION OF GENERAL COUNCIL . The eighth article of our General Organization provides that the nomination of persons to serve on the General Council for the ensuing year , shall take place on the first day in December in every year . There has been hitherto in this as in every , other part , of it , an utter want of attention to the working of the Association . It is the General Secretary ' s business to instruct all the Sub-Secretariea , and through them the General Councillors of the ; Association , as to the proper mode and time of

      performing this and all the other « duties that devolve upon them ; bo far a ? we can learn , this business has never been done ; a * . id the consequence is that abuses and disorders h ^ ve abounded everywhere , and we have literally , *» . n point of fact , had no Organization at all . Instead of having , as by rule we ought to have , a general annual election of Councillors , they have been elected in all sorts of ways ; some places electing tb / jm every three months , others every six months ; ? . nd some at one period , and others at other periods of the year . Nominations for General Council have

      been continually sent to us for publication throughout the whole year , without the observance of any rule upon the matter ; so that in point of fact the National Charter Association , so called , has been no National society at all . It has been simply by the Executive ' s neglect of dutyj a heap of disjointed local societies acting without either Bystem or concert , and exposing all its members to exactly the same legal riska as were incurred under the old Organization-without any of the benefits of the confessedly more stringentloharaoter of that Organiza . tion .

      It is high time for this state of things to come to an end . Seeing that the Executive , to whom the duty of carrying out the Organisation is more peculiarly entrusted , lack either the disposition , or the ability to do so , the people mast now do& for themselves . They do not need the Executive , but they do need the Organisation . That is their only effective rallying point against the enemy ; and that must now be carried vigorously" pnto effect . It mug ! be

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      done , as all other good things must be done , by tha people themselves . Let the people butido their duty , and the members of the Executive , ' . Whoever they may be , will be speedily compelled to do theiri . There could be no such doings as ~ have been practised by the Executive if tbexpeople did « their duty . Let them begin now , then . Now ia tha-time for tin general nomination ot the Coanoillora of the whofe kingdom . This nomination is the business of the several sub-Secretaries , for be it remembered that the National Charter Association cannot legally hatj any existence , but in the acts of it » functionaries , and the public registration of its members .

      It has beea very common , in several localities , for the weekly meetings to pass resolutions electing sach and 6 uoh men , as Members of the General Council of the National Charter Association . All such resolutions are illegal . The nomination of Councillors is the business of the sub-Secretary , anj of him only . But though the actual nomination is legally tbe business of the sab-Secretary , every sab-Secretary I does or should take for his guidance in it the only democratic " pole star , " Public Opinion .

      To make this plain , we will suppose the nomination I of members for the next General Council to be now I taking place . The Chartists of Bradford meet in tbeii J usual place of resort , on Monday evening ; among other I subjects of discussion , the relative merits of nine men who have started as candidates for tbe General Council , ji and out of whom seven an . to be elected , cames npoa I the carpet ; the people express their opinion upon the I matter by vote ; they have a right to do so ; it is a nut . I ter for publio opinion ; and though this expression of I public opinion forms no part of the actual operations of tbe National Chatter Association , tbe sub-Secretary , whose duty it is to noiuinate the Councillors , will of

      course nominate no other persons than those whom publio opinion has thus marked out ' or him . Should he dare to act otherwise , he would , in oar opinion , prove himself te be utterly unfit f » r his situation , and we should advise the Association instantly to replace him by a mote worthy man . The people must beat this in mind , that their weekly meetings , in their several localities , are not meetings of the National Charter Association ; they are meetings of the Char * tists thereabouts resident in their individual capacity . Tbe business of tbe officers , of tbe Association is , to watch tbe current of opinion in their several depart * menta of the Chartist world , and to regulate their movements accordingly .

      We shall shortly submit a still better , and more I certain mode for electing all the officers , and obtain- ( ing a general vote upon any question of importance , but there would not be time to put any new mode of action into operation before the first of December . The nominations , therefore , must all be now mad * in the usual way , and the chief thing of importance for the people to look to is the sort of men to bt nominated . The offioe of General Councillor is one I of great importance . They should be all men of I cool discrimination combined with a due sbaw I of zeal and firmness . They should be men of 1

      business-like habits . They should be men who tho- I roughly understand the Organization , andjWho will , j therefore , keep a watch over the Executive , and over tho members in their own locality ; vigW lantly guiding and guarding the one against , and , if necessary , restraining the- other from , or at least rebuking them for , its violation . They should be suoh men as the Councillors of Hull Above all things they should be oat and out heart Chartists ; they should have the root of the matter in them ; they should not be men who seek offioe , either from motives of interest or vanity . These

      are the kind of men whom the people are most apt I to put into office , and who are the most unfit for it , I Let these men be noted ; they are easily known : let I them be avoided ; they are dangerous . Where tha I people see a man , coming amongst them , who is very I fond of hearing himself talk ; who likes to be a for I ward man and a head man in every thing , n and who evidently Iike 3 to thrust himself into office ; 1 who likes particularly to be concerned in monej I matters ; and more especially if they have noted , I that such a man came amongst them very poor , and I that , without visible increase in his means , he hag , I since he became a leading and a head man in every * I thing , become more flush of money than is usual I with persons in his sphere of life : wherever tha I

      people note such a man , let them note him as an mitt I man for a General Councillor . A Councillor of the H National Charter Association should be above bust I ] picion ' s breath . He Bhould have the clean handi I ] and pure heart of a true patriot . There is II very unwise practice in some localities of II electing too many Councillors . It is of much less consequence to have many , than to bave them of the right sort . The people cannot be too cautious in these matters . The main work , after all , rest ! with them . Let them but do their own . work , and their officers can scarcely go far wrong . Let them remember , then , that a very important part of their work consists in the exercise of judgment and II prudence , in marking out proper men for nominv II tion as General Councillors . n

      The Politician's Text Book.

      THE POLITICIAN'S TEXT BOOK .

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      THE GREAT GATHERING . DOOM OF FACTION . It is with feelings of pride and pleasure th » we refer th e publio attention to the Great Meeting—for "Great ' in the strict sense of the term it was—heldat the Crown and Anchor Tavern , Strand , on Thursday evening last , to pronourjce " in the sacred name of the country , " the stroo g verdict of " denunciation" on those tyrannical r jroceedipgs of the present government , which fill at this moment our jails with "Political victims , " carrying

      desolation into the bosoms and hovels of t > je hard-working poor , and which have put in motion the heavy and foully concocted machinery of " Special Commissions , " with a bloated , bigoted , torturous-minded " partisanjudge , ' * and " backedV and " compliant " juries to work them out ; thus heaping censurable expense on the oos ' atry ; and , in violation and barefaced defiance of all sense of right and principle , inflicting punisbmer . t on innocence , denying justice to the injured , ar . d carrying , on the blasted and enveuomed wing ^ of revenge , blight , misery , and ruin to the wives and "little ones " of the accused , —those poor , but virtuous-minded men , whose case was

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      THE EXECUTIVE , THEIR BALANCE- I SHEET , AND THE ORGANIZ A . TION . I We call attention to the correspondence whioh wa I give elsewhere upon this very important subject . I It is vital to our movement that the people should I know well , and trust implicitly , the men who , as I Executive Councillors , have , to a great extent , tha I direction of the movement , and the handling of a I large portion of its funds . We should ill-disohargi I our duty , did we hesitate to probe , honestly and I fairly to the bottom , a discovered rottenness , thai I might , if not remedied in time , have seriously I damaged the constitution of oar movement . It is I reasonable that those who are entrusted with th « I

      highest offices , and with the greatest amount of I power and influence that Chartists can bestow , ff should be required to act in accordance with If their own principles . We esteem as highly as the ] || themselves can wish us the personal services of son * 11 members of the Executive , as lecturers and agit * II tora for the cause . We have no wish to de tnet II anything from those services , but we cannot persi ) the services of these men is one capaoity to blind us to their malpractices in another ; , nor must & * country do so . In reviewing their acts as an Eser cutive , the only proper course is to leave out of

      Bight all other considerations ; to look at the pW of Organisation , at the duties of the office , the defined powers of the office , and the purpose tot w ^ iich the office was instituted ; and to consider hoW far all tbeso matters have or have not been regarded * a may beat become good men and honest Chartist * To guard all the interests of a great pubfo movement requires great circumspeotness , tJ ^ I prudence and coolness , and great command <» temper . It requires that , as far as possible , disens * I sions and differences should be private and friendlTi I that the enemy may take no advantage of then I

      and hence , while we have always holden it to be tb » I duty of the people to keep a strict surveillance ort f R all the acts of all their publio officers , and *» | admonish , reprove , or censure as might be necessatfi 11 we have always deprecated the doing of this wi * undue harshness of expression , or in any maao * more public and offensive than was absolutely nee * sary . For this reason we have very fre quent abstainedfrom publioicomment both on the Exe ^ tive and other prominent and leading parties , . whe * admonition and reproof were evidently need *" thinking that doubtless other members of the As *"

      ciation were looking on—that the same' devi « ft * frwn striotly defined rules and duties , which s ^ us , must strike others—and that doubtless kindly P _ vate intimations , from perhaps many ^ aftr T would be sufficient to prevent a recurrence of w * which we wereready to ascribe rather to lack of eir * rience and inattention , than to any other cause . will be remembered that the balance sheet public * in July , expited , and very properly , mach discus * and muoh serious dissatisfaction amongst the D ** bers , and that an important meeting of deIe 8 * ' * at Leicester , consisting of not fevrer than twenty-o ^ II delegates , representing all the important local : * ' ** . JJ

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      The "country" is answering to this spirited and energetic call 1 It u responding to the challenge given it by the patriotic eona of toil in the metropolis . It is responding to that challenge most spiritedly . Look at the Manchester demonstration on Monday evening last ! The large room of the Carpenter ' s Hall filled ; and hundreds refused admission for want of accommodation . Look , too ,

      to the answer Stockport has given ; aud look also to the answer Leeds is preparing to give . ' The Chartists of other places are also getting ready ; and , by the time that Parliament meets , we shall have , we hope , throughout the country , such-an expression of indignant publio opinion as will drive the " Partisan Judge" from the Bench , and compel the Government to revoke the unjust sentences be has passed .

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      4 THfE NORTHERN STAR , ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 26, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct914/page/4/