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Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th February 1838, Edition 1 of 2, Page 7

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    • AXTI-POOR LAW PROCEEDIXGfe. AT MAXCHESTER.
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      T > e jB&io&ttied ? fire Hoft-M ^ T ^^ rtuld an QPBP ^ ffJgff ^ iLit ^¦^ FfSf * v * t E- fr ^^ y ^*—*^ and . -pre poang Sttci / ssi ^ Sm ^ ts asTre iaigb . V think need-Mr » BAINES asked Trhea » er-fii ^ 6 o ? eniifient 1 iad directed its attention tq the alteration of . the French tariff tin-linens sndlinen yams ? Mr . P . THOMPSON staled , that as soon as the Government heardof the rnmonr of the intention to alterihe dutie * -oirfinens and Hnen -Yarns , no time had been lostin -making' representations at Paris against the proposed change ; but from the com-Binnic&iions made to Mm he was not ied to hope that the decision which lie French Government vonld come to on that point would be satisfactory to himself or to the Hon . M ember ( Mr . Baines . ) Mr . F 1 ELDEN , after adverting to the inclemency ef the . present season , asked what measures had ^ w . ^ l .,: ^ . - ^ Rl r

      been tazen by the commissioners of inquiry "with respect to the suffering hand loom -weavers ? Lord J . RUSSELL S-answer Tras not distinctly heard . We understood the Noble Lord to say , that he was unable to giye the Hon . Member the information he desired . . At the same time , he took the opportunity of asking the Hcin . ^ Member -whether he nad given any persons authority " to collect mobs to oppose ihe - intrbdHction - of the ¦ New Poor Law qnrtemin hisnraghbonrhood ? " Mr . FIELDEN said he thought it is duty to instract two persons to inquire into the operation of the New Poor Law , and he had reason to believe that they had done nothing to promote disturbance . If they Sad , they had gone beyond their instructions and n " o one would regret the ' circumstance more than himself ( Hear , hear . )

      XEW TTRIT . . 31 r . E . STANLEY moved for a new writ for the Hgin district-of burghs , in the room of Sir A . L . Hav , who has accepted the Governorship of Bermuda . "

      mURXET STEAMER . Lord EBMNGTON wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade "Whether the attention of the GoTemmenthad been directed to the recent loss of ihe Killamey steamer , and whether Ministers had any legislative measure in contemplation for the purpose of securing passengers against the risks to which they are constantly exposed on board steamboats as atpresent conducted r Mr . P . THOMPSON said , the ¦ unfortunate accident to which the Noble Lord had alluded had occurred * p recently , that the Government had not had time to investigate the circumstances attending the loss of the KiUameT steamer . Jt was , however , a

      subject welT worthy of consideration , and it was -unquestionably of the greatest importance to ascertain whether in regard to steam-boats generally same restrictions could not be made as to the quantity of live stock shipped on board those vessels , similar to those restrictions which existed in regard to other passase-boatSi Mr . O . GO&E wished to < isk the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce any declaratory bill in consequence of a decision which had been recently come to in the Court of Exchequer . - " ' " Mr . RICE said , " that before the Hon . Member had enta « d the house he ( Mr . Rice ) had given notice af 3 . motion relative to the subject to which the Hon . Gentleman alluded .

      Lord ASHLEY wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Heme Department , whether an authentic copy of th <* evidence relating to the Glassow ( as we understood ) Cotton Spinners could be laidTjefore the House ? ¦ Lord J . RUSSELL had received a copv , but he did not think himself warranted in ordering its publication . . Mr . S . O'BRIEN wished to ask the Hon . Baronetthe Member for Warwickshire , whether anything had been done , as the consequence of his motion of last year , to obtain greater accommodation for the Members of the House of Commons in . the House of Lords .

      Sir E . "RTLMOT said he had understood that the Government had had some communication -srith th ° ir Lordships on the subject ; but he was not aware that anything had been done for the attainment of the object he had in view . Mr . PARROTT . as we understood , gave notice , that early in March he would call the ~ artention of the House to tha causes which had prevented the efficient operation of the act for the commutation of tithes in England and Wales , with the view of providine a remedv .

      After a sleepy discussion , the Irish Poor Law Bill was read a second time , and ordered to be eommitted _ on Friday next . A discussion then took place on the Paklia-3 IESTXRY Electors , and Freemen ' s Biil . " On the motion of Mr . R , HINDE : that it be an instruction ro-the Committee to divide the Bill into two Bills . On a diviabn there appeared * For Mr . Hinde's motion . . . . . 63 Against it . . " . . 158 - ^ Majoritv against the dividing of the bill ...... 90 The House having resolved itself into committee

      Mr . T . BUNCOMBE rose to introduce an amendment » - ( rhich , as he thought , would be agreat benefit He proposed to leave out the last" two lines in the first clause , except such as shall have become payable from him previon « l y to the 11 th day of October in the preceding year . " " The eSect , if the omission which he suggested were adopted ' by the House , would be to enact that , after the passing of that act , no person should he required , in order to have his name retained in die li = t of voters for any city , town . ot borough , in England , for any year , to have paid anv poor-rates or assessed taxes . —[ Hear , hear . ] This was a simple and summary mode of repealing the rate-payin ? clauses of the Reform Act . —[ Cheers and lanshter from the opposition benches . ! It was

      for the House to say whether the clause should be repealed , or-whether the remedy which he proposed was not preferable to the homceopathetic provisions fcrihe MIL —[ Hear . ] Motions to the same effect iad already been brouffht forward in the House , which , for a considerable time had been generally rejected , but at the same time they were gradually "more favourably received , and at length one which he had introduced to the House in the year 1837 was carried by a majority of eleven . Some observations had fallen from an Honourable Member opposite that the more respectable classes of society * were those by whom the rates were more generallr paid ,

      but he was prepared to say that this was not the case , for in the parish of St . George , Hanover-square , which was well known as the most aristocratic parish in London , containing the most of the fashionable streets and squares , there were 5 , 144 persons rated , and who would be entitled to vote , out of whom nrenty-two only had paid their ^ rates . This at least showed that it was not always the disreputable portion of the community who were negligent in this respect . The clause completely reversed , the order of things , for it not only required many to be taxed , tut it also required that they should pay the tax before they could Vote . He did not see why it should apply to £ 10 householders , and not to those win

      rented houses at the yearly value of £ 50 ; and he knew that £ 50 householders had expressed their wish that the disability should apply to them , because they could then' disfranchise " themselves if they chcee , and relieve themselves from the unpleasant situations in which they were frequently placed ( hear !) . It was thrown out also by an honourable member opposite that the bill would not be Tefl Tecerred elsewhere . Be believed it would not ; tut if the House adopted his amendment , it would have the effect of showing to the pubh ' c the opinion of the House ; and he was persuaded that if the noble lord would adopt his amendment he would have the public feeling very much in his favour in consequence . Therefore he sincerely honed that he

      would perceive this point ; a point he was convinced which would give ^ universal satisfaction to trne Reformers , and he would then be able to send the bffl to the other House with the greatest satisfaction , and with the greatest confidence in the effect which it would produce in the public mind ( hear , hear J ) . Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the proposition of the hon . member for Finsbury would make a very much wider alteration in the effect of ihe law than he contemplated ; and at the same time that he introduced his ( Lord John Russell ' s ) proposition he must say that it was . not one which frftri originated with himself , but which had been suggested to Mm by the honourable and gallant member for Westminister . It was placing we elective franchise on a ground which he thought a jnst one , the punc-^ zi payment of rates . It very often happened , it ¦ ffasi rue , that persons might fail to pay exact

      attention to the rates , so as to enable them to be placed on the register ; but ihe proposition of the honouraHe member for Finsbnry would extend the franchise to those to whom it was never intended to be gren by the Reform BpL The Reform Bill was framed on the constitutional principle as regarded * ot and lot voters , which as to the point of rates * ould be necessary to give a title to vote . It was * ff ? ed b y the hononrabfemembw that the payment « E rates was no means -of judging of the solvency of ™ e parties , and that no such tests of the solvency of Persons should be required ; but-if this principle Tfere admitted it would be impossible not to see that tae whole principle of the Reform Bfll would be deeared to be altogether wrong . After a smart discussion , the committee divided , ¦ when the numbers were- ^ - For the original clause . 306 ¦

      For the amendment , „ . 107 _ ¦ Majority ...... ...., „ < & vn our return to the gallery we iband ¦ Mr . BAINES stating that he had an amendment ^ LPropose , the object of which was to render it rnjoent «> r the elector to have -paid one year ' s * t « s before bis name was entered on die register , ^™ ont any inquiry whether he had paid any former , ti ^ i taxes . This , he conceivedV wauld answer * " tae purpose * of the -Reform Act , and would ™* kr Tumecegga— ^ th ^ delaT in searching r ^ f SQent books ior years past ; -which at present so | f& % retarded the proceedinesin ihe Revising ¦^^ sters Courts , If bis proposition met with the

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      approbation of tire Noble Lord , and of tSe _ House , he-woold press iiT ^ inen'dinehti it not , he ^ waala : not trouble the Housd-to divide upon it . _; Lord JOHlf . JmSSELIi-thought that 4 he . que > - tion conld * be better discussed when the Registration Bill was before tfcein /'~ HwT 3 ) rcIship approved of the suggestion , - ana expressed his surprise at the division which ! iad . T § j > dflred : the inquiries into retrospective payments necessary . . . .-Mr . " BAINES then withdrew his amendment ; " - On the question that the clause , as amended , stand -part of the bill , 1 r - -11 T 1 1 T 11 " T'

      -Mr . MACLEAN said he would divide the House against the clause . - ' The House divided accordingly . The numbers were— ' - ' . "' For the clause .............,.. ; .......... 214 _ " Against it ........... ............., ; . 113 Majorityinfevourof the clause ... — -96 Mr . JERVIS proposed a clause for the purpose of abolishing all payments of money which are now exacted for the purposes of registration . The CHAIRMAN ( Mr . Berhal ) said such aclause could not Reinserted in the bill under its present tide .

      Mr . ¦ JERVIS withdrew .. his amendment ; and gave notice ot his intention to move , when the bill again came before the'House , that it be re-committed and he would then move , that it be an instrnction " to the committee to insertgnch a clause . . Mr . GGULBURN begged to inquire when it was proposed that the House should go into a committee of suppl y ? - . . -. ¦ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER : On Fndaynext . The Court of Session ( Scotland ) Salaries of Officers Bill went through a committee , and was reported without amendment , Mr . BERNAL brought up the reports of the Committeea on the Sheriff ' 8 Court ( Scotland ) Bill and the Court of Session ( Scotland ) Bill .

      - OtfALIFTCATIOJi OF MEMBERS' BILL . -After a few observations from Mr . PRAED , who maintained that , if it were intended to remove all qualification , the bill did not go far enough , and that there should be either a sound qualification or none at all , the Qualification of Members' Bill was read a second time , and ordered to be committed on Thursday . " Adjourned at a quarter before twelve o ' clock .

      HOUSE OF LORDS . MONDAY , Fee . 5 . Mr . " ROEBUCK appearel at the Bar of their Lordships' House to defend the proceedings of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada , occupying several hours in an eloquent speech , very similar in detail to the one reported some weeks ago as having -been delivered in the House of Commons on the same subject . After which the Canada Bill went throngh committee and was ordered to be read a third time on Thursday next .

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      v Monday last was a day that was looked to by the people of Lancashire . Cheshire , and the "West Riding of Yorkshire , with great and anxious expectation as to the demonstrations of feeling ihat would be manifested at the great delegate meeting agaius-t the New Poor Law . Nor could they be disappointed : the express-ion of feeling then given was not only most decided , bnt it manifested such a degree of ' abhorence to the law , and such a determination to oppose it ^ as nnist haw convinced e very rational inau that , wen ? the law in its ultimate effects ever so good , it would be unwise and unsafe , a » well as despotic and tyrannical , to force it upon the people while it is so uiii ^ quivocally detested . N » r was that expression of abhorrence confined to one township , one parish , or one county : but all the delegates cave the most

      positive assurance of the entire and unanimous disapproval of tlie law in the townships which they represented . Th&meeting was advertised for ten o ' clock , but , owing to the late arrival of some of the delegates , business was not commenced till nearlv eleven . Mr .-G . W . Sked was unnjiimou-ly called to the chair . He read several letters from " jrentlemen who had been invited to attend the meeting , all of whom expressed their hearty concurrence In the object they had in view—the repeal of the New Poor Law . Amongst tho letters read , th-re was one from Earl Stanhope , Mr . King . Rev . G . S . Bull , Mr . Blakey . Mayor of Morpeth , General Johnson , Messrs . John and James Cobbett . and a Ions and interesting letter which contained a variety of important facts and

      arguments from Mr . John YValter , late Member for Berkshire . The advertisement calling the meeting . wasthen read by the chairman , and ^ petitions were received from the following places : —Statley-Bkipge , No . of signatures . 5 . 420 . Bl . \ ckeurx . 4000 . BraT , 3 p 00 , presented by Mr . Smedley . Maccles-FrELT > ,- 2000 . Scttox . " 1 , 039 . Hertsfield , . LowxKWrrHixGT 6 s . l 57 . Aplixgtox , 150 . Kettle-Lcme . 143 . Ratso , 443 , and Etox , 79 , besides a number of _ other townships in MACcLEsriELn , in which petitions were being prepared , and would be sent to the committee in a tew davs . Oldham . n' ^ 90 ,- Mr . Milk . CHAnPERTOx , ' 1 , 051 , Mri George Booth . Cbomptoji , 1 . 442 , Mr . Jnmes Shaw . Mippletox . LG 00 , Rev . Mr . Hart . Bltjeswobth , 14 . 300 , Mr . Edward Ges . Prestwick

      1 J 53 , " Mr . " Charles Grhnshaw .. Glossoj ^ . 3 , 120 , Dr . Thome . Thor ^ ham . 40 D . ilr . John Kine . MosELry , § 12 , Mr . Samuel Taylor . Boi . lixgtos , 1000 , Messrs . Lucas and Iiermit . Rochdale , the borough petition . 3000 : and in six neighbouring villages , about l , !? 00 . Mr . Tavlor . Lees , 1 , 035 . beside * a petition risued by 254 females . On the mention of this last petition * a quest ion arose as to whether females were allowed to den petitions : all the delegates were of opinion tbat Had they had their petitions . signedby females the signatures wonld have been increased four-fold . One " gentleman stated that in the Macclesfield union they had two females as guardians ( loud cheers ) . It was then unanimously decided that it would be batter to eet tit > a ¦ n-n-m'hf . ' r

      of petitions signed exclusively by females . —Ashton . ogSS , and two female petitions 2 , 080 . 31 r . Clark ^ the delegate , said , had there been time to have toe female petitions properly attended to . there would have been 20 , 000 signatures to them . Mr . Stephens said there was another petition from a public meeting signed by 5 . 000 ; and another from tbe Reform As . -cciation- signed bv 4 . 000 . —Leek , 1 . 800 . The delegate from this place , whose name we did not learn , said ^ -that they had had considerable difficultv in getting np their petition , having been opposed bV the anthor ines of the place , in connexion with the masters who had threatened to turn away all their workmen who sipied the petition . The agriculturalists , too , in that district were vervmneli nnw- ^

      to the law , but" dreaded the influence of the landlords . It had been nnite a new thing to petition in Leek ; ' there never was known to be a petition from that place before , and had it not been for the accursed Poor Law Amendment Act , as it was called , there would have been no occasion to petition now . ( Hear , hear . ) A gentleman from Glossop then stated , that he believed there was now in that place only-one individual that was friendly to the bfll—a Methodist local preacher . When they first began to sound the people ' s minds on the subject , there were two or three ef them who had to do it alone . Mr . Ellison , a steward for the Duke of Norfolk was so inveterate against them , that he pulled down the bills from the walls , and opposed

      them in every possible way . Ultimately , however , he became friendly to their project , and used his best endeavours to forward it . —( Hear , hear . )—Coljte , 1000 . Great and Little Marsden , 600 . Barrowford Booth . 500 . Forest of . Froden , 400 . BarnoMswick , ittthe Skipton Union , 460 . Foulbri < W . oOO . Rough Lee Booth , 160 , Mr . Joshua Wtitson —He could not describe the feelings that existed against this law in his neighbourhood . He believed it wts intended shortly to bring it into operation there ; its effects were but very partially known , but v ^^ e - ^ ere they more fully known , it would be difficult to keep the peace . The people there regarded the law as an invading enemy close at their doors -they thoughtof it only with the greatest

      ureaa apaaoaorrence . . Leigh , & . 5 S 5 . The delegate from this place , Mr . James Fenney , said that the body oi the people were much opposed to the law ; they regarded it as written in characters of bloodas a measure intended to smite down like a thunderbolt the laws oT . nature , and the authority of jnatare ' s God . —( Hear , hear . ) They were determined to leave no means untried to get rid of this abominable measure .- ( Hear , hear . ^ HEYiVoon , 1 ^ 064 delegate , Mr . John Hanson;—The people ot Heywood were determined to resist the law , even unto death .- ( HeaT , hear , and cheers . ^ h-RoysVoxE 1 , 320 ; delegate , Mr John Kay . In Roystone there were only tvr 6 mdividuals known to be favourable to tne . new taL and they were two thorough-going ^ S ' " . ? ^ teaT ' ^^ laughter . ) T £ ey hal said ^ iat at the next election they would nominate Irnardians , and vote them in themselves '—{ Hear hear . ) BnixLET , _ MT . Benjamin Chaffer said he had

      afejr names from Burnley , but it -was a new thing in flat 4 own , and therefore not much undergtood . ^ He had applied to several clergymen , who aD saidit wasa very good bill—would do great things for the-poor , and they wonld therefore < dgn no petitions against it . ^ He had , however , obtained the sgnatore of one clergyman— - ( hear , hear ) in the township . He begged ~ to be allowed to inform the meeting that he had been summoned by a clergyman tat . Easter _ dnes $ and he believed that a sale would then be going on at his old house for the amoont for which he . was summoned . —( Shame , * hame . ) - This ' was done , no doubt , to keep him away from the delegate ¦ meeting ,. but it was no use . The people of Burnley rwere doing their du ^ ; he had a ^ pefition rigned by 4 ^ 72 persons . —( Cheers . Berbton-cum-Smithwick , 64 > -Mr . Josh . . Potts said thatoutof the whole of the bona fide rate-payers of this- township , there were only three individuals against them—three Whig farmers . They had

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      tfcgpB&ggfc ngBatta ^ Sais ^^ aW yrtlie nomBer would have been | impiensK ^ ' . ( Ther had had a meeting _ a fe ^ cv | r ^ s ^ y ^ piij the subject of the petition ; and _ he wou ^ sayjiat in alt his life he aever was engageoTin"Sny cause in which hand and heart ^ eerned saxompletely jolued as'ih this , ho tar as they had gone , the petition was but small , but the ^ circumstance of " confining their petition exclusively to rate-payers , would furnish a sufficient explanation . Bnt though their numbers were ^ ot great ? ttey were , with them with , all their hearts . ( Hear , hear . ) Conoikton , 1815 . Smaxiwood , 10 / , prmcipally fennew . Swtthenham , 172 . Summerxiuurnto 1 11

      rynu , , au iarmers . Buolawton , 385 , farmers andmannfacturers : delegate , Mr . Wilcock . He said the opuuonof the manufacturing interests in Congleton and its adjacent townships was for a partial repeal of the bill ; amongst the agricultural interests a total repeal . —( Hear , hear . ) There w ^ re thirty-one townships in Congleton ^ in all of which petitions were being prepared . At Congleton many at first refused to sign : but the fact was that afterwards many of them had begged to be allowed tongP- a petition haring learned the nature of the D Even tb ' e Mayor of the place had signed their petition and offered them the use of the Town-Hall to * an , Anti-Poor Law Meetiug . There was one fact which -Mr . Wilcock could not allow to pass unnobced

      . Since the estabushment of the regulations under the New Poor Law at Congleton , the rates had been more than doubled' —( Hear , hear . ) He had canvassed all the townships in Congletox , and he had beeen told by alf the Guardians : that they entirely concurred with him in his opposition to the act . In one township £ 300 had been collected for onequarter ; a sum much greater than had ever been known to have been collected before for poor rates ; and out of that sum £ 150 had been distributed amongst the poor and nobody could give any account of what had become of the remainder . —{ Shame , shame . ) Taking the whole of the townships in the neighbourhood of Congletox he thought he might say with perfect truth that they

      nad determined either to have a total repeal of the bill or nothing . —( Hear , henr , and loud cheers . ) Clithehoe . —Mr . CHAFrEii was happy to inform the meeting that at Cntheroe things were going on very prosperously in reference to this business . Seven clergymen and two Dissenting Ministers had signed the petition —( hear , hear ;)^—a great number 6 t the principal men had also come forward and given their support , and in the town and neighbourhood they had already mustered 5 , 000 signatures , and they would obtain a great many more . —( Hear , hear , hear . ) Tlieyhad called upon Mr . Fort , M . P . for Clitheroe , to solicit him to present and support their petition . This he had refused to do ; although when he contested the last election he promised to

      vote for its total repeal . This too was the man who had voted for every clause of that measure while it was passing through the House of Commons . But he was a Whig , and what could they expect . ( Hear . ) Ohmskirk , 1 , 200 . A female petition was also in course of signature from the same town , and the Bnmestobe appended to it were likely to be very numerous . In that district the principles of the New Poor Law were well understood . Thu whole bill was LtTERALtY hatet > , und from the feelings of the inhabitants in general , he was sure that any attempts to enforce the nien .-ure would be resisted to the peath . —( Loud cheers . ) The Rev . J . R . Stephens thought it right to state a fnct which ought to be known hoxh hy the Guaruiaus aud tlio

      Goveniment . He would ( herefore state that fact then .- -At-a meeting , which he attended the other , dayat Stockport , au agricnltnral labourer came to him and showed him a clasp-knife , which lie had bought while in the agricultural districts , and with which he had determined to takf the life of nuy Gunrdinn or any other man who should ever attempt to separate him " from his wife and children . —( He . nr , hear . ) This mrm hod bo ; -: ht tins kuife while in un agricultural district in which he had heard none of those incendiaries , as tht-y were denominated by tlie press , and he could not th-refore be infl-uuiice ' d by any other notions than tliose" which had arisen from a secret dread of the me .- . isure . of which , as } vt ho had only heard a few country people express their

      opinions . He thought it necessary to mention that fact asahilluitrationofiviiatmust ' be'thL inevitable result of the general in troiucHon of that Law . . The Commissioners were completely nonplussed ; witit regard to the' Ashtox Union . Power had never met them in public , and he had n « w ceased to p ' ny . them any private visits . His practice now was to write to Mr . Robinson . Chairman of the Board of Guardians ; to meet him ( Power ) in Manchester . Robinson , who was " a er- 'af advocan ? . of the law , a thorough going Whi ? . and tlie author of a pampli--latin favour of the Law , had" at last done his duty . by telling Power and tne Commissioners , that aiiy attempt to introduce thi- - measure iutotlmt district might be / ittal to inany of them .. ( Hear , hear . ) Tlie Commissioners had latt- ' v sent tnem a .

      communication , recommending -thyni to ]) roceed cautiously and to take some steps to remove all hindrance ' s out of the way before tli-y began to enforce the law . Throughout that district kifowledee was' progressing , there was every . peaceabi ? disposition ; " l .-ut they held th-. nr personal rights and liberty as Englishmen to walk free , and oe free wherever they were—they held that freedom dearer than life , ni ' id only with their lives would-the . perub of the Ashton- - Union , submit to . this infernal measure . —Mr . I ) kk (; a . \ from Staleybrjuge , said that . tsiu * . of their Gnardiani ! . 'Mr . Edward Hall , had "' subscribed veh- libi .-rally towards defraying the exepnst » s of their * petition '" :, and . his onh-iootive for remaininir on the board ' . " was that he misrut give any information resardiu ? any means that mi ^ ht be * made use of by ' the Commi / - siouers for enforcing thi * l . iw . ( Hear . henr . )

      Mr . Richaed Oastl ;; -.:. —He said lie was not aware that he was appoints A a delesate . except by report , and he had , therefore , no distinct statement to makefromany party ; Imz as he waswellacfjuaint ed with the state of feeling against the law in Huddersfieid , he would relate to " tlie meeting the general feelings and opinions of the ' people . of that town , relative to the nuv . sr . r * . If there was . im part of the country more opposed to the bill , however it might be attempted to be enforced , it was the people of Muddersfu-ld . Thev were alwavs ¦ una-

      nimous , male and female , rich and poor , ( lissen ' ttrs and churchmen ,-Whig < .. Tories , and Radicals , they were all unanimously determined that'they would not have the Law . The ministry on the other . hand .-determined tint Hwy should * have it . Mr . Oastler then prnc ? f vlv'd to detail tlie events of the 29 th of Jan . the-days which the Commissioner .-had fixed upon for the r . ppoiutment ofn ckrk to the Board . Mr . Oastler ' s aj Jress which was extended to a considerable length , -. vas listened to with great xittention , and responded to with loud applause .

      Mr . Pitkethly next r .--l ' : ressed the meeting on behalf of the HuDDEHsriniin people . Hodeuiileda var iety of circumstances ' that had occun \* d in lirn-PEitsFiELP and its neighbourhood , as exliilmiug tlve feelings of the peop ' e generally against this law . At this moment a bundle of petitions came into th . * room from Preston—twenty-one in number , and containing about 7 , 600 Kgnitures . —The Chairman then , intimated to the . meet ing ' that-petitions had been received , contr . iniiig in all about sixty-three thousand signatures , and that petitions were yet " to come in from Todmordex , Saddleivoiith . Wiga >; , Prescott , Orhskikk , StoVkpokt , Padiham , Cjiok-LEY , Hipe , Haslingoes ; mdotliwi > laces .

      Mr . John Kxight , of Oldham . . then moved that the females in the different towns from which the petitions had been received , and were yet expected , sLouldbe re ^ uesied also to setup petitions . Mr . Pitkethlsy secondeu tlie motion , which wa . s carried unanimously . Mr . A ' lexaxder Taylob , of Olpham ,- then moved that an address be presented- to Earl Staxhope , for his actirity and 7 . f ? al in defeiidiuir the poor , by his opposition to tiii ? measure . Mr . Midrletox seconded tlie adJre . is . whicli was then rea-d , and being put to the-meetinrwns earned unanimously . A vote of tlumk * ~ alS 0 " passed to Mr . " ft-alter , late member for Bkxkshiue , forms dL-smterested advocacy <> :. ' the ricMs of the poor . A vote of thanks was " also dveirto the Rev . Mr . Browx , J'icarof Prislury .

      Mr . Brows replied in an inter-stinff speech , in which he considered the . C i U ^ stion of expense of the fteffLaw , and the couseqjcnces of its jvgulation ? , relanve to confinement He said that in Macclesfie lp there were forty tmvnsliips—four commercial and thirty-six agricultural , and that for the la « t three years , during the existence of-the Old Law , the whole expense of the poor had ' cost no more than Is . 8 id . !! And yet , the New Poor Law was to effect a considerable saving in the rates . ( Hear , near . ) He then touched upon the cmestion of connnement , and drew some interesting and most affecting pictures of real distress , yet mingled with tne j finest exhibitions of social tenderness and love In his tale he burst into tears , and could not proceed for-some time ; indeed : there was scarcely a person to be seen in > the room who did not weep to hear and see the near . He said he had been minister of the parish for thirtv-eieht and haA

      years seen every description of distress . He meant not that Aristocratic show of Snef which showed itself with a white handkerchief in one hand and a smelling-bottle in the other ; but he had opened the cottage door of a poor man who was Ulm bed and exceedingl y poor ; his wife was sat by tne side of his bed weeumg in the greatest distW : —Hear , hear . ) She clasped the hand of her hus-Dand . bhe wiped away from his face the sweat and the tears , with her youngest child hanging on her bosom asd theother chiltren surrounding her with tears andi begging her not to cry for daddy would be better . More than once he ' had witnessed such scenes , and was he . to be told that these -nprmTe

      uadno teehng—that they had less regard for their wives and families than the tiger had for his whelps ? it was a gross , and infamous , and infernal falsehood —there was not a word of truth in it . He had seen the contrary , and he would not give Up his knowledge to any philosopher . i- ( Hear , hear . ) The Vicar proceeded at considerable length to detail the

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      wiK $ ¦ ¦ £ te » so 0 ft 4 Mmjmm ^ mt ^ mnm to the ^ ey ^ aw , ; ana : thB steps that hp beftfl-taken topreteatthe ngbnrwith Which it " migtit Otherwise havebeen enforced .- --., ^ . ;~; ; ; . A ^ roppsition was then made by Mr . Oastler as the , best means for opposing the law , which Mr PiTSCTHtY seconded ; hutbn fhe suggestion of Mr ; aTEPHBss the potion wal ; ta lie over , for discnaaioti on an afte ^ parfc of the day . The meeting sraarated about half-past three o ' clock'in th ^ aftentt ^ p . A porUon of the delegates were- to xoeet again at halfpast fonr to discuss the motion ' of Mr ! Oastler : ¦ ¦¦[

      —; " lnat the . ¦ fust duty ; ; of ; every ' township is to meetand felectj " 'ai ' . Gii' ^ dra ^ ' ^ 'iiiostgtren ]] - ous opponents of the law , whbare \ quaKfiedin ; their several townships and , if none are fotrad within the township , then to search the whole IJnionsfbr fit and proper persons ; t / 6 letrit be wen published , and by this , and other arrangement , make sure that every Guardian will be astaunch " opponent of the law . "but it was ¦ withdrawp on the ground that it would be better to aroid , if possible , taking any steps whatever ^ hat ndghtlead , to the introduction of the law . ¦ At a httle before sewn , the deleg ates adjourned to holda : ' " : : v

      MEJETING IN THE CARPENTERS' NEW ¦ ' - .-. ' '¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ : ¦¦ ¦ HA'LLv . ' ¦¦ . ; . -.. ¦'• .. ¦ ¦ ; .. ; ' .. ; . . ¦ : ¦ .. ¦ " This meeting was called for half-past six o ' clock , and the . chair to be taken at seven . The buildm * in wmchtms meeting was convened ^ is a spacibul hall , calculated to hold between five and six thousand persons ; it was nearly nlled ' with anxious Mr . Ricmm RoHTEhti was called to the : chair , who stated the object of the meeting , arid hoped that those who spoke would keep to the point in question . .. : . . . ¦; . . / .,: -. '¦/ : ¦ ¦ ' . ^ 7 \ : ~ .: ; -. • ; ¦ . ;¦ ' - ¦ : ; - . Mr- Hopgetts was calledpupott to move the first resolutiou . He said that as there , were many gentlemeu present who had knowledge to . 4 x 5 ) lain and boldness and' energy to ' - enforc ^ the resolution , ^ . ^^ "Id : content himself with adverting to two

      point&ouly . The nwt was to exhort them to unite in ^ their opposition to this and all other measures which they felt , as -grievance ' s , and the second to remember that all the proceetHrigs of the present >> hig G overnment tended to degrade thelabburiiig classes , and to reduce them to as complute a titate of destitution and mise rj ' as . their poor Inshbrethrerii —( Hear , hear . ) He wished them to remember that point well— -to consiHer the case of the I Jbrchester Labourers and the Glasgow $ piiiners , whose only crime was ; combining to keep up wages . —( Hear , hear . ) . It was well known that il the present low ; price of wages was kept up , the present System of Government could not stand- It had required enormous sums of money , taken from the toil of

      the industrious , toi feed and support the idle . — ( Hear , henr . ) The numbers of those who had lived upon the public money had increased every year , in proportion ; -to-- those who had to labour for it ; and after all had been said that could be said , there were only two- points to be aimed atthe revenues of the clvurch , and the- wages of the working man . The ! Whigs had attacked the revenues of the dmrch ; but the parsons . were ' too stiff a corjyoration for tliem ,- ^( ht ? ar , hear >)—thvy bad then turned upon the people . with the New Poor Law . This . ivns only one of thi'jr inensures " but it might be spoken of as a fair specimen of the rest . —( Hwar , hear . ) "The Rural Police Bill , passed at midninrht , was another sample of their , .

      legislationand for any thing ,-they , knew , some , of their emissaries m ' ' 2 ht be iii that room disguiseil as working men . There was a ; probability also , thut tlie present-session- of Parliament would liot pas s Over without some measure to put down Trades ' Unions , —( hear , . h ' eii ' r . )—for the Whigs had lorijr been working to accomplish - this ,- now - 'that- their ' party was in power . —( Henr > licar . ) Let them then recollect that with all fhe « t ; "things the . '• Whigs wove crushing the people harder and harder , in order that they niisrht live in luxiiry and idleness , from the profits of their toil . He therefore eordiallv inovod tlierL'splutioii . —( Cheers . ) " Wm . Ci-kgg . Esq-.,. seconded the resolution , which was carried , unanimbusly .

      . Mr , ^ li . nnhrrr . ox / Vin . ovBjrtbe . - . ne ' xtre . 'solu-ti . oH .: He " would be like his frjend who preceded liim , imdhot trouble the meeting with a , lone ; speech , but he Was of opinion that thje right to live on the land which gave him birth . was tlie natuml and : ijialienable right of every mini of every country . .- Wt « re' tills riot tlie ense any landlord wlio lived near tlie sea shon ? might if he phoose drive all the people iii Ivis land into thy son . ( Ii .-ar , hear . ) The New Poor-Law however bad pone far to deny tli .-it r i lit . and rob the people of their last sind only resource ? . Jblm Locke had said that , if " a nian whs not allowed to live from the land which gave him birth Ho was no better than si slave ( Hear , hear . ) It was said' by the supporters of this l : uv . that able-botlied meii should be shut up in a

      workhouse - where the scute of diet was reduced to the lovi-est-possible state ; and all this was to prerent able-liddied men from ¦ doing ¦ mischief ! ' ' "What a monstrous idea ! ( Henr , hear . ) It had been complained that the rnros wore high and that tlio poor were eatins up the land . Wliut was it that made the rates , so high ; ? Was it tho capitalist or the : labourer r ( Honr , henr . ) Was it not in consequence of laws made to suit the purposes of wicked governments r , ( Hear , hear . ) Was . it not by- reason of the nitionnl . «! el ) t \ vliich had been contracted merely to place a Kin > : on : the . -. throne- of ; France whom the peoplo despised and hatt'd . ( Haar , lieur . ) Was it not in consequence" of the opopiion of tlie com-la , \ r , that lnfp . moits ¦ scheme . l > y which the poor labourer

      was robbi'u even of the broad ho oucht to have for tlie subsistence of himsrlf and Am fuiuily ? ( Hear hoi . ir . ) Bv means of this | t was utterly ' impossible for any labouring , man to kei-p Ids wite juiil children as-tlitn'oiight ( o be kept ;; ftnd because he could not do jtlns he was to be treiUed worse tlian if he were a thief . ( Shame ,, shaihej . ) . There-wem many clauses of the bill to wliich he had the . strougest ( . iHjeetion indeed he objected to it as a whole ; : " bnt he would * mention ono clause in particular which , he believed was very liltleknowii , piirticulariyamong : ¦ workinc men . It was well known tlnit when a man wjw ballbtted " . toserve in t ) ie militia tlierewas formerly au < allow . « -iucfiof Is . ( id . to er . cli-, of ^ his children pel week tv . iiJ 2-- ' . for his wife- ; : This ' p llowaiire , iuiwevfi

      thpyougiit-to rememl-e--, « as r .-penled by the New Poor-L ; r . v . ( Loud cries of shame , shapae ' . )" - " A ; man mifrht be called out on duty to risk his hie in . defence' 6 f nis country ; . before lie Was sont Lome his wife : miglit have occasion ' - . to " njjply for relief , seeing that the allowance for mintia money was discontinued , and if she had thus occwsioil tb-sedc' " . nssistaiice it would he denied her unless she choose to sell all her little stock of fumitui-e , Jiud-witU her childrenrenter tlie workhouse to he treated like all other paupers , worse than felons ;; herself in one part ot the . workhouse , and her children in another , exposed to every species of- hardship , separated from each othersi company , and all this \ -: hi , Ie the poor husband Wii . ssacrificin « lns

      property , and risking his lite , to defend the : property of other people .. fTremenduous -groans , and lou ' l continued expressions of indignation . ) But this was not . all . The poor man mi / ht escape death , ¦ and return to his fomily . Wh ' at then was the result ? after he hadbeen -fighting : tor his employers and the aristocracy , ttfter he Imd been separated from all his domestic comforts , to endure hardship mid danger of every kind , he might find that Ms tauulyuud be ^ u troutilesoine to the parislv : and he must , therefore , set ; n ]> ou t . paying all , the expense they iiad incurred during , his absence ; . ( Continued cries of dame . ) : ; How ; j did ; the ; working itieh like thatr ( Groans . ) jBut still this . wjw . not the end of " ¦ l \ th e , roa-ii refused tb . riay the . moiiey that might have b ^ n . given , from the :-parish tb , support KW .

      w ; ie ahd : family , the parish officers yould go to his employer and dtmnnd a part of his . wages to be stopped for payment of tlusdebt ;; aiidif the emuloyev rehise . to do soj hisyoyru :-goods . were liable to be seize . % payment . ¦ . . ¦ .. .. ( Indiscribftblo ; aiidigmition . ) " iiuc-there . were-other clauses-: of the : bill equally ns bad . Thare was in fict iu ) t a good : clmise in it . . Aiany people said ; remov (!> the despotic power of the Lommissioner ? , and it would be a pretty good tliin ^ liut even ; taking away ; tlic power of the Commissioners ,: there would still be ; the militia money clause and miny ^ others equclly ; as bad .-It was full of sneh ^ ke despotism ; iWith it . it hii htbe , trulysaia : thwr ^ irth . ; but tliey : were in .- . thestrictestsenseof ' the > vord the ; lowest and mbst degraded of slaves . \\ ith these remarks he movfd tlie rpsblutimi . ? lr

      - .. - .. G . ; W .. SEKp vsecon 4 ed ' the-Resolution ' —chr- '' ned unammously :: ; : ' - \ - f . ; . '¦ . ' : '<¦ ; . / ' Mr . MiErtscRoyT tJien adclressed the meetiii "; He ^ said , the resolution that had been react , declared the right of a man t 6 live in his native land . This ri ^ ht hud not till lately been , attempted to ¦ be derifed . JjJut the ^ ewPoor Law ,: alth 6 uguit did not directly de Hyi he J 1 " ^ lt d ' so indirectly ; by niiikirii ? relief so 4 irhcult of attainment as to amount iu efiept to ^ denial of the right ,- ( Hear , hear : ) It had ^ stablished a centralizing system by which the country T \? % *^ i * llito such a Variety , ; of new sections , " that the Jand-ninrk « f our neighbour was completely removed ; and thus instead of relief being administered asvbeibre , the iactwns Ihat lib person could ;^ be beheved w ^ ien he stated liis case , unless he came to this centre , which -might ^ bften be aclistancft of lourtecu

      or titteen miles , and . tlioh lie waif merely to get an jatisweras ; to ;; whether ; he , was' to have any thm-or not . - ^ Hear , hear ;) " Oftatoo had it happened . that whenparbes camasuen . ^ di « tance , thev were driven abbiitfroin place ; -io plaicb before they ' coaklobtain ^ my a ^ istance , and frequently-they . had . ' aU ^ rtroubltfaud ^ ams . jmdanxIe ty . fc ^ —( iJhame . ) Yet , the people were . told that relief J ^ t 0 be toaie difiicult of ' attainment s ^^ rderthat thepepplemightbe dflveiaupoutheirownx ^ S ^ THeaVj . heat . ) .: Their own Purees 1 swlyla S 13 ^ W ^ W ^ lubourbadheVti reduced to the . lowest fpssibte :. value , ' was to insult ' deSX " ^^ ° ™*** : #° & < &borrow , ; S SjtrfT ^ t # ** ° *™ m ^ ature . ^ Hear ; fnJ , fl , f * ? uWs ^ s the coy ^ equence oi-ihuving three men inLoiidbn i « : givp % w * aSilriu a

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      fSSi ,- ^®^ 1 * ^^ " ^ 7 &" *<* ^^ thecbuntey ; whSeSf ^ * S *^ T * P ^^^ ch ; no authority S ? - « C ° nl < 1 ^ e ont of . tneir hand 8 . 7- ( Hear , 2 ^^ H app ea rfedtbo ^ » , Another confecraence bf Sat ™^^ ' **¦ : ¦ $ * * ? ffri ? 8 = *«^^ 'Hn'Jaersheld ' ffi ^ ^ n ° , ^^ H fod it was not knowri wh ^ he ^ tent of thte precedentmigl . t beMHeS & £ ' J T ; theref ? J » decided Inemv ^ to every Portion of ' the . law . -Hebegged to givean instancl which occurred i ^ Littue Bovr < 4 illustrative of it 8-. working referenceto the bastardy clauses . Many Members for ^ Lancashire ha ^ stated that tne cases » f bastardy had decreased seventeen and a half percent . ; . He found , however , that : there was rib data whateveron which to make statement that

      any couH be rehe . dupon ; on the contrary he found that in some townships thei number of cases of bastardy had _ increased to such an extent as to be almost doubled . In one township there had been more cases in six months under the New Poor Lav ? than ever there were' known in twelve months during the operation of the Old Law . And so far from saving expence : it had cost ahoflier / township as much in one year as it had done for the . twenty years that preceded .-- ( Shame . ) He would not detain the meeting by . any further remarks and felt happy in supporting the resolution ,

      . Mr .: Richardson , secretary to the Lanenshire Anti-Popr Law Assbciatiori , moved the next resolution . As there were - many gentleinen present whom . they were arixipus to 'hear , aiid as they had often heard him , and would perhaps often hfear him agaihjhe ^ would leave the field to ; those gentlemem It was evident , however , as was stated in the resolution . ( Mr . O'Connor here entered the room , and was cheered for a considerable time . ) ---Mr . Rich-Hii ^ f Proceeded saying , it was evident that the « rd of Elizabeth was iii tended t 6 protect the poor man s labour and his right to live from the land , as a reward for the labour he had bestowed upon it . { Hear , hear . ) He attributed all the evils that afflict society , and which called forth the doctrines and theonea

      of political economists , not to the operation of the 43 rd of Elizabeth , but to the operation of subsequent acts— -acts which have not biil y robbed the poor of all the rights of common , and other prinTeges grunted to them , by ^ the constitution , but ^ which in proportion as the taxes and debt and pensions have increased , and in proportion as the common rights of ihe people have been taken aw ; ay , have swelled the poor rates to the enormous ambunt of £ 7 , 500 , 000 , and which ; had been the principal plea in the ]» assirig of this law , ( Hear . hear . ) : That he thought was a sufficient jus tih ' cation of the 43 rd bf Elizabeth , and he would now give way that btliers mi ght be heard . He moved the resolution , which was seconded by Mr . John Brodie , and carried unant mously .

      Mr . O'Connor then addressed the meeting at great length , in which , he entered into an ! exposition of the nature of the Jfew Poor Law * and showed its want of adaptation tb the circumstances and rights of the poor . He took up a variety of arguments which have been adducedm its faybur . showed their fallacy , and completely nullified their force . He thought tlie ^ e were many things objectionable in the 43 rd of Elizabeth , and saw no reason why mankind ought not to advance intheir comforts and e \ i ) nyments as they advanced in general science . His speech , which occupied nearly an hour , was received with the inost hearty approbation .

      • Mr . Dixon , the vrellknqwn Mimchester Radical . th _ eh addressed the ; assembly . He would never submit to the New Poor Law . Ever since he had been able to think for himself , -he' could never find out that any persbn had a right to starve him to death except the God that gave him existence . Mr ; Dixon deprecated the law . in the strongest : terms . He also entered into a lengthened investigation of the general policy of the Whigs , and pronounced this as a fair sample of their measures . He adverted pariicularly to the bill at •'¦ present '¦ passing . ' "through the Houseof Commons , to arrange that the lamllords should pay all rates on property rated under £ 20 . a

      year . Why was the distinction made . " ? It was to take away wherever this New Poor Law Was to be enforced the ; semblance of a poor man ' s right by not allowing him to pay ^ he rates . He would tell them that their highest interest was to pay their rates themselves , aiid never tb imagine that they would be l ) cnefitted by allowing others to pay them . Was it to be expected that other men wbnld pay their rates without obtaining : something by tbera ? they might rest assured tliat ; to say the least of the matter * the landlord , by this , bill " would pocket a considerable percentage on the rates , which they , ( the people ) themselves ought to pay . He moved the next resolution .

      Mr .. Walus seconded the resolution which was carried iinuniinously . Mr . Oastleh was then loudl y called upon , lie delivered along address , in which he informed the meeting of the general feelings againstthe measure at Hiiddersfielil , ahd . the various ' .-ways' iii which that feeling had been manifested . He entered into the history of tlie New Poor Law , unfolded the reasons rtiHvh'iclt it was pretended tobe based , and showed their entire futility , when applied to the wants of the people ; He condemned Lord Brougham in the srrongest language , aaid ^ did not spare those snpporr tersvof . th . e- bill , who , during its progress through the House of Commons said it was not intended to be universal in'i . t < application , biit was only to be enforced in certain districts . His address was listened to \ - \ tith the greatest attention . He Was followed by 'the ' . "¦ ¦ -- . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ - . - ¦' . ; ¦

      • ReVi J . It . Stephens , who addressed the meetiii < r for about an hour and a half . ° lie snid he was proud to stand before the men of Manchester who had now come forward as they ought to'ka \ e done long ago . He was proud to see the ricit-aud the . poor mingled together for tlie purpose of recording their opposition to this measure , and of carrying to the throne their determinate remonstrance ngaiisst the introduction of the New Pobr L ! i \ y . The time had gone by with him when his breatb mid his power , much or little ' -as' they might have bfeti wortli , sliould be employt-d ' -ih telling the poor any thing more about the New Poor Law , or in 'ujachi ' ng the . ' poor ,, any thing farther as to what they

      1 i r \ I i j , > I i i i have it in their- ' power : 'to do in order to oppose its introduction . ( Hear , hear . ) Henceforward let this question remain , in the hands oF the rich to do as they pleawe . regarding it .. If it was the will . of the men of wealtU who then heard him ; ii" it was the will of the authorities of Manchester ; if it was the will of t ' le Home § ecietary ,, { iud the Poor Law Commissioner . s in London ; if it was their will that , this New Poor Law should be introduced , he would say so be it : if we werei to haw it , let us have it at once , and the Sooner we have it ^ the better . ( Hear , ; hear . ) - He had done wliatlittle he could do , and others had done much more , to show to the workhig men of England what the New Poor Law really was . At first the

      j , ' < ] i , , \ " people'diduot understand them ; they did not think it possible that nn act like ; tins could ever have been conceived ' by- the most infernal ; human being that ever breathed the breath of life ; tliey could riot credit that any Government of the day , and much lea * a Reform ( Jbyeniment to whpin they had . given their suffrages and : eonjidence , and iii . whom , were concantrat-id the hopes and expectations of half the country . ; they did ; liot think , it ; pqssibie that tl : 6 Government , so full of promise to the eye , cqiild thus . treacherously have broken that word of promise to the heart . ( Hear , and cheering . ) And ¦ therefore it was that he and others spoke , for a long time as those that were beating the air .: But they hud

      now . been comBeued to believe it ; fbr : couiity atter cbimty , city after city , town after town , and hiuiilet after ; ha , mlet ,. had seen the enemy ^ coming ; niid standing , ris-. it we ^ e , at the door of' thelpeople ; they had seen . that" -en . etn , y '; breakiii ^ tlirough every harrier of social fVeling ,, political right , and Christian faith , and tliey were now . compelled to , admit the _ fact , which ; foiir , years ngb . they could net believe , because they had been , doomed . to suffer the ferocious , cruelties , whicli that act had imposed upon . them . —( Hear , . hear . ) Buj ^ the . same people wtioneith'iriinderstobd nor believed in the existence pf ati act of tins cVescriptiorij now kiiow all about it ;; ' they understood it thoroughly , and they hated it heartily , and had * sworn , ¦ . . without ¦ -union , without comljmation , without organisation of any kind—

      -; hey had , each man for himself , each woman for lVeYSttlf ^ nd each , childfor itself—had sworn by God ^ by their ;' w ^; . and children , and fathers and mothers , and brethren and . sisters--tliey had sworn that rather than be separated , rather than be impnsoned , rather than be starved by Act of' Pariiameiii ^ ^^ ratherthan bedeprived of liberty—th . itrather than submit to all this , or one thbusandth part of this indignity without ej-en a charge ? of criine- ^ they had determined ; to idie a thousand deaths . — ( Loud cheers . ) He had no need fe talk to the masses of heads , and toappeal to the brave hearts

      which , were then before hmv | but he weiild say a wordor two tb the gentry of Manchester , whom he rejoiced to see yonder in the gallery . He thanked ( xodthat they were there at last ; he thanked fiod that-they had come , even .-. if it were at the eleventh nour ; and . their presence on that becasion amongs't the . operatives ot . Manchester , led him to hope that upon _ all subjects . ; afiectirig their mutual interests ^ the rich aiidtlie poor ; would in future meettqgethcjr arid together ackiipwledge tb : God ' as the maker of ¦ them all , that they were bfetbren and frieiids ; in conimoii ;• l ( Hear , hear . ) ;; Heyrouln beg : of the rich before him to look a little further into this law . He

      knew , that the rich wefe much in the reat in reference , to a kiipwledge . of . the operations of thisme sui * e ; but this was no disparagement to the gentry of that district and to , tUe / coTlntry at ; large » for the reason : why thp"bulk of the uhsoplust-icated portiori of the wealthy people are iii ^ favour of the act is , be ' - cause they ^^ do not understand the tendency of the operations ^ pf that act . ; They tMiikit to be One things yoii -know it to be anQthevit ( Hear , hear ;) Biit the tinfe was , come , at least he'thbughtityrasv hehoped it iva ^ the timt 1 Avas cpine .- wheu they would read , mdrK , Jearn ,, arid . inwardly digest , and then he did know , ^ ecrmse there ' was a ; God in heayeri—because they liada-heart to feel , and anuriderstauding tb tell

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      them ^ he did know whar ^ ouWbe ^ rerak totheir cause , what wonld be : the . consequence to tEeiforSef what : would bei the ^ ffec ^ ity this ' measure tb % eir property and . peisons , io > say jfioftnipg ( ffiirhaf they would be to the propjrtyjMia jersous of those called thehumblerrariks ofsbcie ^ T ( Heat , hear . ) . When God had enlightened theirinnidar ^ when'the ^ rrith had ^ purged the . filmjBrom theintejfefctueley « ,, and tne power b'f the living ^ Gf > d- ^ th 8 , gop < l . kiLd , a 31-mercifuL and almighty father—jjheA . ihat : power should-haye touched their hearts ^ ' tEen wbuldlh ' eV Know how to carrrinto effect Uie peaceful precept of the ; Redeemer ^^ ' Do uritp others as ye wbuldihat doctnne which he-was , about to propairate ^ a ^ a

      m ^ thei ears . of many ^ of those whom Mri O ^ Gbmor had designated as " brother ; Radicals ^ Tbe ? Rha « ir b ^ n taught to look to themMres- ^ to work fox thS selves-tbey had been taught that tfcey wereSe natural guardians of their own riehts ^ Segea ! He ^ acknowled that it was a true docUine in thel ^ sent ^ i prtunate and anti-enristian state of soaety but in an opposite state 4 society the ppppsitTdbctnne was the true one . The poor were iu&the Proper guardians of their own ' privilegea . the tichi the wealthy , the great , the WWerful of the laxid have this duty entailed upon them as the condttion on which they hold their yrealth-i-as the tenure BY which they call their estates their own—as theltenns of the bond—and as a part of the covenant bt'tween ttiem . And the other portion of society that they suould protect the noor in th « nnssps ^ nn « n « i «* * i *

      , enjoyment—^ in the pectceful possession an < I i » thertch and / ia ^) iierijoyment of thei r prwileges ^ with oat requiring of the ; poor , in ^ addition to otherburdens , that they ; should come forward' and take tipon themselves the niore important office of de * ending those rights which the rich have hiQierto monopolised for exercising that power with which tliey havebeen entrusted m opposition to tlie KapV pmess of the milUons . —[ LbaoV cheers . l To use the smuhe of the Word of God he ^ ould W to lh <* m , it ye being evil know how ; to give good gifts unto your cbilureft how much more shall your heavenly i' athermve unto them them that ask him ; " But when the father became a tyrant , and . the mother torgotthechUd of her wombthen their children

      , were compelled in self-defence to throw off " their : allegiance , to refuse to obey wicked and cruel fathers and todo the bestthey could for themselves . —[ Hear , hear . ] . Subh . was tlie case of the rich in the present day . The 43 d of Elizabeth had acknowledged the nghtof the poor to live in their native lanil . With . that enactment in force the people had riot then / to meetas they have to meet now for the protection of their lastresource . It : was enough under that law that a man was ppor . This being known he had a nght to claimreIief .-- [ Hear , hear . ] This , however , was all gone by . The rich had monopolised the property ' of the Church— [ hear , hear , ] which was ° ?? ? W ; property of the poor ; and' thus , ii i ^ ad of fulfilling their own part ot . the bond in the ebvelmnt

      , ruey iial led the way to all the present unhappy feeling that now existed : and this at oil * tunushed the reason why-thpnsands arid tens ' of thousands of the poor were meetirig together and endeavouring to do that work for themselves which the nch ought always to have performed , andthereby have preserved a feeling of mutual kindness , mutual respect , and mutual security . He called upbn the nch to come forward and resume their office—to step upandresume their duty . He : warned the rich that unless they would come forward and resume that work in good earnest the time would soon come When it would- be too late . He wished for no disturbance : all he sought was peace . He wished only to preserve property in the hands of its lawful owners 7 to

      ue Y , snea see me institutions of his country purged from every existing abuse , bnt at the same time preserved m all their pristine beauty and in all their mafety and glory . He had sought for no change . Np » one could ever charge lum with attempting to impose any new theory upon the pubUc mind \ Vheiiever he- ; had stood before them it had been simply to call their minds back again to the law of liod—to tne testimony of experience , to the charter —the old charier of their liberties—to that constitution winch , was once the ; pride of their ; Own countrj ' , " the envy of surrounding nations and the admiration of the worlds" and by the help bf God he wo . uld contirine : * o to do . ( Loud cheer * ) 13 ut he did sincerely a ^ k the rich for a moment to contemplate , it—if they dared tb contemDlafP if _

      he _ did ask them to pause that night and ask themselves -what ; would be the corisequence' pf the introduction of . this law , either in this district or iii nny other where it might be ; introduced ? Thfe Foor-Law Amendment Act could not come into Manchester . unless the'book , of God were taken from thGpulpit and tjae Prayer . Bopk from the readinc desk of every Church and Chapel of Ease inthe Empire —[ Cheers . ] If they went to the Book of . Godtte-V would : find nothing about testing the poor , investigations , scrutinies , scales ,, weights , and measures to - -ascer . tain . ; -hpw little a man cpuld eat and live 1 hey would"find that in . that Book all these thine ™ were in the inverse . Iii that Book charity was not allowed to be understood in the sense of a boon

      given by way pi indulgence , but it was inculcated upon therichas a duty . —[ Hear , hear . ] MnStephens then proceeded to speak in terms of great abhorrence of the separation clause . He said he had detained , them longer than lie intended to do , but he thought hehad some claim tb beheard when lie stated that though" he was not . a native of Manchester he had yet spent ; the early part of his life in tiiat to- ^ n , and- had received the greater part of his education at the Free Grammar School . He cbuH not , however , "leave the meeting : without ' telling them something ; more immediatel y connected with hmiself . The last time he addressed a meeting in Manchester , he had lieen informed on ''' credible ^ authority , that Lord Jblm Rxissell had sent down a osel

      reporterpurp- y from London , to curry a verbatim report of what he said , / That it had been whimp ered by the Boroughfeeve and Constable of Manchester that , tuere were other gentlemen from the Government in Manchesteras Veil as the reporter But what was all , this about ? : Wlnr should / the ¦ Manchester Guardian . tell him . that ha mifht . be arrested mnchsopuertlianhe expected ? \> hy all this stir ? He compkined not of that reporter . Lord Jbhi Kussell it . he hked miglit employ his secret service money for that-and ' each like purposes ; He thought it perfectly : right that Government should knbw -what he said ; and if . Lord John Russell wanted to know what he thousltt lie would tell him plainly a' -id tie might keep his . reporter at home . As to the Glasgow he

      spinners . believed they were innocent ; anct if they were guilty , he wassiure tlie manufacturers of ( ilasgpw and , Manchester were much more guilty than they couM bs . Had the charge been proved against them- ^ had it been just to send them to iiotauy Bay , it would have been equally ps iust to send nine-tenths of the : manufachirers of the whole kingdom . . Hadthfiy been hanged i it would only hove ^ een just . tliat nine-tenths of the manufacturer ' s should have daiigled alongside of them ( cheers ); If Lord John Riissell wanted to know what he th-outfht of the New Poor Law , he would tell him plainly ^ he thought it was-th ( i ; law . . ofde \ ils , and that it ought to be resisted tp the death , even , if the first main that ^ gM be slaughtered in opposing itshould be Lord John Russell himself . Theyhad at Ashton come to . the ; . 'detennia-atiori' ' that ; -wheh ^ ext-. ' Marcn- - « hbaTrl

      come , they would , vote no more for Gaurdlans . Let the man who Would dare . -to , accept tlie offiqe . of guardian take theconsetiTierices upon his own headV He told them this , bRCtrase he thought they ought to know ; . If it was . to coine , let it cpme ; it shpufd be an _ eye fbr an eye , a tooth for atobth , limb for limb , wife for wife , child for child , nian for man , aridblood tor blood— - [ Loud cheers]—so help their God and ¦ their ¦ - country . [ Coritiriued .. cheers : ]" - ; Should the best feelings of human , riatare tlius . be . ' torn asunder he . knew a law that would be stronger and mori powerful than : th . e ; law of : tlie knd ; -i-it was : the law oi nature . He knew a . force miglitier arid . more resistless than armed , policemen ^ hprses feet , artillery , ortrpops and dragoons . . it was the . force of the-tear tncklmg . from - -a daughter ' sieye ; V . tlie . sigh of the wife ; pi a working mail ' s bosomi . That force was -. the

      magic power that beairied in . a . wpmari * s ; eye , imr plpringji begging ^" lobkiug . ^^^ through hec ; tears ; and darting ; the pointed ^ shafts of . nature's :. eloquence" to ! the heart find- ' arm . of-her husl > au {! , and / exclaimini > v husband , husband , ' will you suffer this ? . will yoii allow the wife that caihe . tb . ybu , a- . b . looming nrid . iriripcent maiden ,, that came to share the : jpys arid sorrows of Vbux' cottage—tlie ^ : woman that . has borne you these ch ' iidren-rthat lias-. ^^ bimed others- ^ that ' li ^ s wiped the tear f bf ¦ sprrpw . from ¦ your eye and the sweat of anguish from yftur bfbw-mie woman tliat has been true whbh all ; things ; , else .. were falsei-kirid , when allothers have ^ een ^ unfeeling and relentless- — that has sympathised with' your > sorrbws , forgiven

      your wandermgs ^ whose .-aims have , ; always been opened to take ; you ; home , and wliose iriripcent br / ja $ hn ^ always been you r resting , place ? v it ; Ah ,. sir , said , he ., A ' cnii ^^ . gpvemnierit ,-cari . policemenj can . armies—all the armies of . fieiids--rcaii thej r ; 3 tarid against ; a nation ' s arm and fa nation ' s grasp when woman—when ! -piir- . own . 'wives ; aiid daughters h ' e imploring prbteciioii arid : , yengemice at our feet ? [ Tremendous pheer ^]; Ou ' ce more then , I-register before heaverivandrec ^ i ^ rbefore ^ you ^^ tion never in arijr . ^ ay , in nny shap ' e ; or ' at ; any time * tp pbey that law ; . The moment thatiawis . declar ^ d to beiri operation : in ; Ashton , the moment my office ^ as the people's . ' leader anxl guide ^ is at an end . ( Repeated and : lbitg . continued cheering . ) ; - x , - ¦ , " ' ¦ •{'• c

      Mr : THpMAt ' FiBtnEX , jiipved the , next , ; . resol ! u-: tiori , which WassecbBdedby ^^; Miv G ^^ , aftpr'JwHeb ^ Dr . FLE-fCHER delivered ; a ; sjSprt ad'd jess . T | e iiekt ;' resplutibh , which related- to the adbption bf the . pfeta - tion , was , moved By" JIr > Hpd | ertts ! , ' a ~ hd secon ^ d WMr . CtEiiu . ' ' ¦ A ' voto bf / thaiiM . w ^ th eii proposed by-Mi { . Pir&hrnvf- to / the' Xdrtfterri Sfti ^ fo ^; itg ! abie ' advocacy bf the rights : of the peopled vhichWas ^ sppnded to ^ bythreehearW ; ch > ersV ^ '¦ & ¦ vote of thanka was . theri given to tha ch > ir ^ three - cheew fc * ^ onp ^^^ fe ^ Stephejis ^ bceli fprG . a ^ tler , a ^ d ; lbree ; ibr %$ delegates , the meQtinaK separated : at ; nea ^ tweiv e ; ; o clbcl £ i ; : : < ~ , - : f ~ *

      Axti-Poor Law Proceedixgfe. At Maxchester.

      AXTI-POOR LAW PROCEEDIXGfe . AT MAXCHESTER .

      Untitled Article

      M ' ' ' ' haye tea February 10 , 183 & . . - THE . y <^ $ ^^ , / \^'?\^ : W ! f ^^ h tf-3 iv ^ L ^ -. ^ 1 I —^ ^— —¦ ' - " - " '¦ '¦ ¦¦ - ¦ - •¦ ¦¦ - : •'¦ ^ - :.: ¦ . : / - . - " ¦ : "" -- ' -. ' ¦ ¦ . - ; . ; , ;; ,., ;/

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 10, 1838, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct992/page/7/