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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th March 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, TO THE. CHARTIST BODY. Friends,—At foot ...

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    • TO THE WORKING CLASSES
    • CfcartiSt JnteUigeme*
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      To The Working Classes

      TO THE WORKING CLASSES

      Ro From Tbe Day I Ventured To Assume The...

      ro From tbe day I ventured to assume the office of li ( nMic instructor , I have , upon all occasions , asked r ( L readers to wei gh my writings in the scale of ir ihiir owa unhiassed judgment , adopting what apr tne * Tcd reasonable , rejecting what appeared unreasonable , an a ^ g for explanation of all that * jnpeared doubtful . In the course of my busy career i 3 jt has fallen to my lot to have to deal with saucy , d 1 insolent , conceited and ignorant antagonists , who e tri ed more upon abuse of me , and your credulity , ii tlan upon their own understanding I have always Ic held , that a virtuous , independent public writer , was

      flic most valuable of all public functionaries ; and , anon the contrary , that the hired writer was the most debased and insignificant wretch living . The Mtssrs . Chambers , by a most unaccountable process — to me a riddle—have wormed their way into the confidence of a large portion of the comparatively sa tined of the working classes , and they have very exiensively presumed upon the gullibility of that order . In truth , they have published more rank nonsense than any set of scribblers within the same period . It once before fell to my lot to expose their servility and ignorance , and this week it has pleased God to " deliver them bound HAND and TONGUE ,

      to my mercy . As a matter of right to me , and of pride and jiHtice to yourselves , I ask you to read their published op inions—upon a principle on which the mind canno t much vary—in 1845 and 1847 , and then ask voarselves for an explanation of such heartless brutality , and you wilt find spite for my exposure of ferir former folly the answer . As yet , you have seen comparatively nothing of their duplicity . They have published thirty-two whole columns in one number of the most extravagant laudation of the three-acre system . You shall see every word of it , and then your indignation will be complete . As lor g as I have been a public man , I have not met with one instance of similar depravity—that is the

      only word in the English language to characterise their corruption . I implore of you to read ray answer to the article of W . C , and to come to some resolution upon the conduct of those public instructors , and send your verdicts for publication in the Star ; and let them feel the weight of your anger also . Tell them plainly , that their insolence is an iniult to your order ; and that you will not support such depravity . Now , a word—What would you sav of roe , or what punishment would you consider sufficiently severe for me , if the Star had thus doubly dealt with any subject of like fixity ? My Land and Chartist friends , —if the Trades wish to be gulled , don ' t you .

      Chambers is your most deadly enemy ; and as 1 have only one means of punishing such a fellow , I resort to that plan . I will aid and encourage a few well-informed men , of sound , good principle , in bringing out a weekly publication in every way superior to Chambers' trash , for Id . I will write gratuitot sir for it , and would rejoice in such an auxiliary . " This week ' s letter to Chambers is my greatest triumph . No man can meet me in opposition to the Small Farm system and Spade Husbandry as a means of elevating every class of society , and making these countries independent of the world and their people independent of the domestic tyrant and foreign invader . 1 hope the Manchester men will g et Mr . "W . Grocot to read mv answer to Chambers , and that

      all will listen attentively . Ever your consistent instructor , Fkakgcs O'Cossob

      The Higher A Monkey Climbs The More He S...

      THE HIGHER A MONKEY CLIMBS THE MORE HE SHOWS HIS

      Chambers Convicted Of Corrupt Malicious,...

      CHAMBERS CONVICTED OF CORRUPT MALICIOUS , AND WILFUL LYING .

      To Mr. W. C. Sir,—I Dare Say You Are Awa...

      TO MR . W . C . Sir , —I dare say you are aware that the first large letters which strike the traveller on alighting from a train are W . C . on a certain door , and I assure you the same letters appended to your paper entitled , " A WORD ON LAND , " in your Journal of the 20 th of February , v ? ry forcibly reminded me of its legitimate use . Now , you must bear patiently with this sort of reasoning upon that article , as I shall presently prove , to ihe satisfaction of the merest dolt , that when you wrote it , you knew you were writing a mean falsehood . No man is disreputable in that situation of fe , to which it has pleased God to call him , so long

      as he fills it to the best of his ability . A sweep with his eye up a chimney , is not at all a ridiculous object ; while he WOULD be an object of ridicule , if fouad investigating the planets through Lord Rosse ' s telescope , with the intention of instructing the world in astrology . The BAWD who sells her beauty and fascinations indiscriminately for hire , is an object ti profound respect , when compared with the PROSTITUTE who indiscriminately hires himself as a writer . There is no more dangerous instrument than a pen in a corrupt hand ; while a standing army would have but a sorry chance against the battery of a virtuous press . You have mistaken your calling—you were made for the SCISSORS , and not for the PEN .

      As long as you confined your labours to the art of compiling , you were a useful LITERARY COOK , and not unfrequently gave us savoury hashes from other men ' s brains , but whenever you have stepped from the narrow and easy path of compilation and selection into the unbounded field of originality , you became lost in the vastness of space , and were unequal to the task of recovering your narrow limits prescribed by nature . So long as you confined your research to bees and ants , moles and frogs , you were at home , but THE LAND AND ITS

      CAPABILITIES is beyond your genius . You have attempted a long and rambling article upon a subject of which you are wholly and lamentably ignorant ; indeed , so much so , that I venture to assert , if a wag fastened a turnip-top to a " cricket ball , " and drew it from the drill in your presence , you would describe it as the discovery of a new species of black turnip . You possess some influence with the aristocracy of the Trades , especially with the ATHENiEUM TRIBE uf that order , and you—not unreasonably—suppose them gullible upon a subject of which they are as ignorant as yourself . The blind leading the blind ! ] had reason to hope that my refutation

      of your Malthusian Free Trade philosophy would have had the effect of making you more cautious in your future experiments even upon that class of -nibble readers ; but I was mistaken . There is much more lenity due to an adversary who errs rota ignorance , than to him who LIES FOR HIHE ; and 1 should not deal so harshl y with your article ip' -nthe land , if I was not in a situation to prove your tue * nness from your own lips . 1 shall now proceed to comment upon the article in question ; and in order to show vou that 1 rel y upon the poison carrying its own antidote , I have given it at full length in t he second page .

      iou commence your observations with a kind of apulogy for a former article on some very meagre experiments made by Lord George Hill , and having committed yourself when commenting upon those experiments , you are compelled to say that " you pronounced no opinion on the question of land allotments ; " however , you do admit that yon said lord George Hill DESERVED HIGH PRAISE , ^ ' 1 therefore A \ e may naturally conclude that he did fiQt deserve censure , the reward which you would teaow on the CLAP-TRAP HUMANITY-MAN , * l'Ose experiment goes much farther ; perhaps too far for the benefit of your Free Trade clients .

      I cheerfull y accept the name of HUMANITY . -MAN , and I shall now proceed to quote your objections to the small farm system for two purposesfirstly , to refute them seriatim ; gad , secondly

      To Mr. W. C. Sir,—I Dare Say You Are Awa...

      that the W . C . of February , 1847 , may be confronted with the same \ V . C . of May , 1845 . On the true Malthusian principle , you commence your objections to the small farm system with a falsehood , supported by a vague assumption as to the probability of a REDUNDANT POPULATION being the result . In speculating upon the chances of wretchedness and poverty caused by an overpopulation , you say : —

      Such must inevitably bo the consequence of every scheme for allotting pitches of land to poor agricnttvrrtets , unlets at the same time provision be made for employing or carrying off to new fields of enterprise the redundancy of tbe population . After the long experience of the wretchedness produced by patch-farming in every part of the empire , Ireland in particular , it strikes us as something very remarkable that men should be seen advocating the institution of the practice on a wide tcale , as a means of national prosperity . Fascinated by the seem , ing humanity of bestowing allotments upon paupers , and gratified by the first appearances of prosperity which probably ensue , they altogether forget what is to come next —over-crowded cottages , new pauperism , and poor-rate which may pretty nearly absorb the whole rental of the parish .

      Now , I was the first person to distinguish between what you call " patches of land" and a sufficiency to employ a man and his family every day in the year . The one I described as perfect freedom , the other as GILDED SLAVERY , which tied a man to the caprice of his TYRANT LAIRD , while , as to the effect of the system in Ireland , you appear to he wholly ignorant on the subject . The cause of Irish poverty has been the breaking up of the 40 s . freeholders , and the throwing hundreds of small farms into one large one . The curse of Ireland is not the small farm svstem , hut the WANT OF

      TENURE PRINCIPLE . You base your guess upon the presumption . thatthe HUMANITY-MAN proposes to give the occupants small allotments ; and from these false premises you arrive at the forced conclusion , that crowded cottages and pauperism must be the inevitable result . Foolish , ignorant man ! If we live for 500 years I will talk with you upon that subject . But have you ever thought , that a shilling a week paid by a father from the time two children arrive at the age of fourteen , till they are eighteen , will entitle each to four acres of GOOD land , a cottage , OUT-BUILDINGS , and THIRTY POUNDS CAPITAL , to make a home for himself of some spot which the griping hand of trade has depopulated and made barren ? And , don ' t you

      think a boy ' s labour , from fourteen to eighteen , is worth sixpence a week , or one penny a day , to his father ? And , don't you think , when the boy arrives at the age of twenty or twenty-one , he will take unto himself a wife from the family of some neighbourfreeman , and go cheerfully to that location which LOT shall assign asHlS OWN—HIS FUTURE , HIS HAPPY HOME ? And , don ' t you think he will be a better man , and she a better wife , than if both were bred up in an immoral manufacturing town ? You next come to the cream of your ^ opposition . — Silly man ! How could you be so foolish as to throw yourself thus into my power ! What has given me so much strength as the ignorance of malicious fools , whose folly requires but the repetition to insure its refutation ? You sav : —

      At this moment a scheme is on foot in England and Scotland for buying and giving an acre of laud to every working man who is a member of a certain association . In other words , a section of industrious and well-disposed operaiircs have , through the agency of some clap-trap humanity-man , been deluded into the fancy that each ot them would be happy if he became the owner of a morsel of land—land aicuated , perhaps , hundreds of miles from the place of bis ordinary occupation . W « have no hesitation in denouncing this project as one of the greatest follies ever concurred . While Nature ' s laws work as they are doing , there cannot be a doubt that it will ttiaaiuatt in the loss and discomfiture of all concerned .

      \ ou commence here again with a falsehood . There is no such scheme now on foot in England as that of giving AN ACRE to every working man ; and then you come to Nature . YOU SAY ,. WHILE

      NATURE'S LAWS WORK AS THEY ARE NOW DOING . Foolish man!—what has Nature to do with leases and their harsh conditions ? with cotton lords and their tyrant oppressions ? with scribblers and their folly ? The very , thing the HUMANITY-MAN is endeavouring to do is , to bring man to a more natural state , by taking his artificial shackles off" him . You follow the passage I have quoted , with one of the OLD SYMPATHETIC Free-Trade appeals to the working classes ,

      "BY EARNESTLY INVITING the members of the association to ponder well over those things ;" and then you are obliged to meet the selfrespect and pride with which the possession of a house and land of his own inspires the workingman . Ay , ay , Mr . INHUMANITY-MAN . That is just the fulcrum by which I hope to raise him beyond the reach of your debasing folly , by which you would reconcile him to the poor pittance doled out by his tyrant master .

      You next tell us a story about a laird , who preferred 4 s . a week at home to 14 s . in Edinburgh ; and I honour him for it . Were you sober when you , the advocate of the working classes , wrote the following beastly passage?—The heritable possession of dwelling houses , or scraps of land , wo repeat , may in many instances be injurious to working men . It indisposes them for removal ; fixes them to a spot ; whereas , in order to make the most of their labour , which is their capital , the ; ought to bold themselves ready at the shortest notice to remove to { . laces where ( he highest wages are to be obtained . What , then , your object is to make men mere transportable machines , allowing them no local attachments , no home , no neighbourhood , no associations bevond those imposed by dire necessity !

      How the following passage , so entirely in keeping with the HUMANITY-MAN'S project , and so at variance with your little attempt at reasoning , happened to creep into the WATER CLOSET , I cannot understand : — With respect to land , it is , in the greater number of cases , also advisable to leave it in the ownership of persons who lease it to others as a means of livelihood . Thus , for example , if th « annual rent of an acre of land be £ 4 , it will be greatly preferable for an

      agriculturist to pay £ 400 for the use of a hundred acres , than to expend tbe sum of £ 12 , 000 in buying the property . And why ? Because in the one case he is binding up a groat deal of capital , which might be of service in hisown proper business of husbandry—besides putting an embargo upon his personal freedom ; while , in the other , he would not only keep his capital to farm the land properly , but be so fnr at his ease , that at the end of a term of years he could remove to % larger farm , or , without loss , altogether relinquish the tiade of an agriculturist .

      Why , Mr . W . C , that is just the marrow , the essence , the whole of my plan . I quite agree with you ; and , for that reason , I propose giving every man capital at the rate of £ 7 10 s . for each acre to enable him to get on in the commencement . You proceed then , after a little rubbish—A tradesman , laying out £ 100 in a speculation in J a " nuary , may have a final return of £ 200 bsfhro the cud of December . The landowner has nj such clianc . In England , a freehold property in land may res >' , jse temper cent , per annum on the outlay ; and in Scotland , it rarelj returns above two and a balfpir . cent . What a mistraolc affair is this !

      At tins critical juncture the ahove announcement was dangerous to the cause o ? your clients , because every working man will very naturally ask himself whether the cent , per cent ., or the £ 100 profit , on the £ 100 spent , was made by fair speculation , or STOLEN FROM WAGES . You should be cautfcysjhow yOU rjamn your clients * cause in your

      To Mr. W. C. Sir,—I Dare Say You Are Awa...

      attempt to damn the HUMANITY-MAN . Then you go on : — By no process can an agriculturist take more than one crop pe annum ; and so neither can a landowner get more than a year ' s rent for a year's use of his property . While the manufacturer and merchant are daily planning extensions of thsir business , sometimes losing , but more frequently making large sums , in reward of their ingenuity and enterprise , the pour landed proprietor is left to pine on his meagre rental , or draw consolation only from the prescriptive fancy that be is the salt of the earth . How can you insert such unmitigated nonsense—BY NO PROCESS CAN OUR

      AGRICULTURISTS TAKE MORE THAN ONE CROP PER ANNUA ! ! Now , what do you think of a crop of rape sown upon a wheaten stubble in August , eaten off by ewes and lambs and cut for cows in spring , a crop of early potatoes , planted in March , cleared off from middle of July to end of August , and turni ps sown and transplanted as the potatoes are cleared ? Now , there are three of the most profitable crops for you in one year . What do you say

      to four crops of clover or four of grass ? Go to a Sunday school , booby , and don't make yourself a laughing-stock for the Lothian farmers . Yes , yes , your friends , the manufacturers , do MORE FREQUENTLY MAKE LARGE SUMS , but not by their ENTERPRISE AND INGENUITY , but by the PLUNDER OF THEIR HANDS . Again , I ask how , in your endeavour to pull down , you could have so propped up my system as by the following commendatiun of fee-simple property .-

      —This entail system is more rigorous in Scotland than in England , and has greatly damaged the general and individual interest in land . Reducing the proprietor to the position of a life-renter , he is indifferent to improvements ; and , if otherwise disposed , he has not the means to execute any beneficial alterations on his property , I quite agree with you , and the very same argument applies to farmers , who cultivate other men ' s lands on bad titles , or no titles at all , and it is just one of the main abuses which I seek to remedy . You

      proceed—Each child has now twenty acres , and the same law again operates to subdivide . Suppose each to have fiv » children , then each of these get four acres . There are now twenty-five proprietors instead of one . But the sub ' division does not stop ; on it goes , generation after generation , till at length the whole land is cut up into paltry sections not the size of a cabbage garden , Man alive why stop ai this simple progression ? why not proceed g eometrically , and suppose these 25 had each 25 children , and these 625 had each 625 more ? Now the only observation that J shall condescend to make on this portion of your folly is this :

      —As I was going to St . Ives I met nine men and their nine wives ; each wife had nine sacks , each sack had nine cats , each cat had nine ; kits , each kit had nine tails , and how many tails , kits , cats , sacks , men , and their wives , did I meet going to St . Ives ? None , as they were all coming from St . Ives . Now , so exactly with redundant population , they would be all going to another estate . Of the French system you know nothing ; however , you have the grace only to predict the consequent evil , and at a very distant period ; so remote , that , as the judges say , "WHEN THE CASE ARISES WE'LL

      KNOW how to deal with it . " However , you arc compelled to admit that " even in this abject and precarious state , they enjoy greater tranquillity and independence than their forefathers prior to the revolution . " Ay , and you might have added , that while your well-paid migrating operatives with HIGH WAGES are starving , those PAUPERS are safe from famine . I seek hut to deal with the errors of my time ; if the condition of the French people has been bettered b y the revolution , you justify the revolution ; I hope to gain a better result without violence , revolution , or bloodshed , or even

      spoliation of any kind . Now , Mr . W . C . before 1 proceed to tell you , or rather to make you commit suicide by drawing YOUR OWN PEN ACROSS YOUR OWN } THROAT , I have merely to observe , that all I desire is a field day with the COMBINED PRESS , from the" THUNDERER . " to a little thing that calls itself the " LONDON PIONEER , " and that would not know a cucumber from a hand-saw ; and 1 promise , single-handed , and without the aid of mortal man , to demolish you all upon the question of the Land , and the principle that the adoption of the Small Farm System is the only hope of the country ' s redemption and the labourer ' s escape .

      LOOK ON THIS PIGTUnE AND ON THIS . Chambers' Journal , Chambers Journal , May , 1845 , No . 72 , of February , 1647 , NEW AND IM- No . 164 , PROVED SERIES . NEW SERIES . The only point that All things consivemains to be settled tiered , we arrive at is one connected with the following propopolitical economy . It sitions respecting llie is alleged by the lead- tenure and manageing political econo- meat of land . First , mists of England , that that land , like every cottage farming ( see other commodity , article Cottage Sys- ought to be at the

      tern in the Encijclo- free disposal of its pecdia Britannica , proprietor , to sell it while calculated to or bequeath it as he promote the growth of thinks proper—sub-& population of pan- ject , of course in the pcrs , is only distract- latter ease , to making ing manual labour a reasonable provision from its proper field for widow and chilof employment . But dren . Second , that this allegation pro- land should be agriceeds on an un- culturall y managed proved assumption . If in that form which it could be shown that would cause it to every able - bodied y ield permanentl y the man could make five largest amount of proshillings a-day by duce at the smallest

      working as a weaver , expenditure of means , at a factory , or any If it can b & shown , ! other branch of la- therefore , as we conhour , the assertion fidently believe it can , would in part be cor- that largo farms , by reel ; but such is not an exact economical the case . There are management , will give countries in which re- to the nation food in muueralivc employ- greater abundance , ment cannot be per- mi \ at less cost , than manently had , and in smaU farms couU such situations—TO propose to do , l \ m \ WHICH SOCIE- LARGE FARM ?

      TY IN ENGLAND ARE IN EW l SEEMS AD VAN- RESPECT 'r ai CLNOr-tlie choice is MOST SU 1 T . ABLI in a great measure AND HE'COM between SPADE MEN DAB ? jE am HUSBANDRY an esm , ; tve c ' nUin , AND S T A 11 V A- UD of properties ougli TION , not between to he deprecated , as spade husbandry and solU y . f gcnen well-paid employ- impoverishment an ment . Besides , the j lsaster . W . C . political economist entirely overlooks live fact , that THE CO f-

      TAGK-FA UnER DERIVES IMMENSE ADVANTAGES FROM

      To Mr. W. C. Sir,—I Dare Say You Are Awa...

      From Chambers' Journal , No . 72 . THE LABOUR OF WHO WOULD HIS WIFE AND COMPARE THE CHILDREN , not ORDERLINESS of one of whom , most MANNERS , THE likely , would be able SOBRIETY AND to earn a penny at THRIFTINESS of any kind of labour in THE PEOPLE , towns . It is by call- AND THE SMALL ing up these engines AMOUNT OF to assist him that he CRIME IN THAT

      can outdo the large COUNTRY , WITH farmer with all his THE VICE , INcapital and machi- TEMPERANCE , nery-a fact distinctly AND POVERTY , proved , at least as re- FOR WHICH ENspectsthe keeping of GLAND and SCOTcows and selling their LAND . WITH ALL produce ; no JOINT- TH EIR LARGE STOCK COM- AND SPLENDID PANY OF COW- FARMS , ARE KEEPERS BEING NOW BECOMING ABLE TO COM-

      UNHAPPILYDISPETE WITH THE TING UI SHED ? MI SC EL LANE- It might be difficult OUS AND UN- to prove that large MARKETABLE farms have been , in LABOUR OF A any material degree , HUMBLE DAIRY- the cause of the social MAN AND HIS evils now exciting so FAMILY . * As to much attention ; but the allegation that it is clear that they cottage-farmingwould have not prevented cause a deterioration those evils . Without in society , it is also going so far as to say FOUNDED ON that cottage-farming

      NARROW VIEWS , would furnish a uni-In some parts of the versa ! remedy , we canton of Vaud and think that , independelsewhcre in Switzer- entry of its use in land , where the farms increasing the proare all small , and ductive surface of the mostly WROUGHT country , it would at BY THEIR PRO- least afford some re-PRIETOHS , there lief , and add to that IS NO PAUPER- section of the popula-1 SM WORTHY OF tion which is still in THE NAME , NO a healthful moral OVERPLUS PO- condition . PULATION : AND

      Svyy* - /Y^^U^ /^ S -'% ^. . Y./,T

      svyy * - / y ^^ u ^ /^ S - ' % ^ . . y . / , t

      He M O ^Tm Es' Mm, "And Natinal Tkad Jou...

      He M O ^ tm ES' Mm , "AND NATINAL TKAD JOURNAL . , M VOL X- NO . 489 LONDON , SATURDAY , MTBMiriiJT ; . » JgJTg gsij ^ ; l ^^ ~~ — ¦— ¦

      * Are Not The Chambers Humbugs ? Now, Wh...

      * Are not the Chambers humbugs ? Now , what do you say for yourself , and how do you feel ? But 1 have not half done with you yet , I have commented upon your article in No . 164 , but have only taken the concluding paragraph from that of 72 , the whole of which thirty-two columns you devote , exclusively to prove the advantage of small farms and spade husbandry over large farms and the plough , and in which jou adopt Mr . Vavasour ' s plan , and enforce its , ' practicability , that upon three acres badly managed , a man can make 42 / . a-year , after paying rent and for seeds .

      You enforce the fact , that a man earns , by twenty days' labour for himself , on his three acres , 21 / . 2 s . i while , by 285 days' labour given to the farmer , he only earns 211 . 7 s . You speak of digging three feet deep , anil of reclaiming land to a depth of twentytwo feet of moss , and with great advantage ; and you show , and you enforce , a preference for the spade over the plough , on Mr . Scott ' s authority , who tried equal portions of the same field , and had fifty-two bushels of wheat from the spade , and ftaty . two from the plough ; and how he saved a whole year ' s rent of land , by digging , instead of fallowing ;

      and you give , in a table from X to A , as much as would kill an ordinary man ; and this you term having three stories to your land , and show that four acres dug may be thus made equal to twelve ploughed ; and you speak of the improved morals and laugh at over-population;—and , in short , you have adopted every word ever written in favour of small farms and spade husbandry in opposition to large farms and ploughing ; and you have wound up No . 72 , as I have shown , and so excellent were those

      compilations that I shall give every line of them in subsequent numbers of the Northern Star . And now Mr . Watcr-CIoset , you may rely upon it that your agents will receive orders in thousands to stop Chambers' Journal , as the time has really arrived when even clever men can no longer gull their dupes . Your attempt has been insolent and pre sumptuous . You have got out of your depth ; stltk to the scissors , and abandon the pen . I remain , Mr . W . C , Old Robin , THE HUMANITY-MAS .

      Cfcartist Jnteuigeme*

      CfcartiSt JnteUigeme *

      To Iiit. Ouaivi'lsi's Of The .Eup1/.{,E7

      TO iiit . ouAivi'lSi'S OF THE . EUP 1 / . { , e 7

      " Whatsoever Thy Hand Findeth To Do, Dtt...

      " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , dtt , ^ nj \ j } cyy , ' » "Solr yDKHi , Brethren , —The aphorism contained ) in mv \ ex ^ has been once more forcibly impressed upon my mind by the circumstances attendujjftiipr , the recent motion in the House of Commons ^ bjt o' 4 r unchangeable and unflinching advocate , Mfc . * j uncombe lor tlio repea of the rate-paying c » wjjat j snick . named " the B * lorm Bill . " \« - Chartists , cannot be ignorant ot the muotavr , ' eftects of those clauses . It has been preaoM ir , your ear 3 ti , innumerable since the passing of tllil ' t infamoua mea

      sure ; tovynaian exieni » * . ^ „ hto which it falsely pretend ^ to ^ d how . , complicated machinery wr ed at e { t sluicM through which tbe stream of corruption , silently , though surely , 8 o ffi Jeft com ^ at the mercy ohrres ^ as- lblc hirelings in the shape ot revising barristers u > d even the insertion v oi your names on the ** at the option of the petty lunrtionanesof t !»* r , 0 vilefactio whogo ^^ could be easily coiftp , nsated for the oraissiwi ] eaTing ffi" " . ™ ft ? ! what was worse than the disease " ! S „ SS , osure 8 lately Published , in which « i , y . it extent the system had been car . "f ' i ^ T ' -wuaparUhes in London and elseivheie , mm uav 0 auaea another proot > ifanatuei . ffffrt w ™^ . yhat ; it was more than time a strong eiioru nvkn jnade to scotch ' the snakn at ) i > a * t . if w »

      it £ ?« w y - P r « Pare t 0 destr 0 ? it . Tuo poisonous l P IT e 2 vh , cl 1 has al 1 Dut deflated this fair land , nas w- , n for ages extending its accursed branches , ufc-i v . creasing its terrible bulk ; its roots have pene-W , d to the centre , and its head has reached to w . clouds ; to uproot it is not the work of a day , a v cek , a month F > or a year : but while our united energies are applied to accomplish th « destruction of the towcrin ? evil , it is ; surely sound and necessary policy on our | part to lop off such of the branches as impede the progress ot our labourand prevent vast

      , numbers of our fellow workmen from rendering US their assistance to accomplish this mighty work . And the question is , has this been done with the spirit , the zeal , the promptitude , which is demanded , even to deserve success ? Has that unien of mind , that devotedncss of spirit , that oneness of purpose , been exhibited by us as a ; body , been manifested on the occasiun of the lato motion of Mr . Buncombe ? A general and timely noti ce was ( jirai of tke intention of our unflinching advocate to bring the obnoxious clauses under the consideration of the house ;

      hoping that the enormity of the evil , and the increased liberality of the age , might induce that branch of the legislature to consent to wipe away that abomination from the statute book . Mr . Dunconibe { had the encouragement of the time ; it was towards the conclusion of the existence of parliament , and ero long the candidates must stand as petitioners on the hustings before their constituents . Bu t in pleading for the people ' s rights he expected to be able to show that he was expressing the people ' s wishes , and that numerous petitions would be poured in from all parts , proclaiming , as with one Yoige ,

      " Whatsoever Thy Hand Findeth To Do, Dtt...

      that tbe evil was unireraally execrated , and as uni-i vcrsally demanded to be removed . Was this 4 oo much for your unpaid friend to expect , when it was for your own interest he was labouring , and not for himself ? Was a public meeting , without loss of time or material expense ; to be got up ; your opinions to be recorded upon a solitary sheet of paper , and signed by your chairman , in the name and on ' the behalf of you all , and sent off for presentation under cover of a penny postage stamp ; was this , * J say , too great an exertion" to be made in due time for the cause of god-like Liberty ? Let tho * e who have been guilty of the neglect answer the question . I know not how far the apathy has extended , bubl see by the public papers that a petition has been

      presented , ' got up at tbe Crown and Anchor , in town , and one from Ltiwst tr \ Yes , brethren , from one of the most wretched , the most degraded , the most impoverished place * bounded by the four seas which encircle Britain * where the few Chartists ^ which traitors and hypoerites have left , would have been staggered to raise the few pence necessary foi » the purchase of the few-sheets of paper which w » uld have been necessary if the names of the petitioners had been appended . It ia no excuse to say now whether meetings for the purpose were in pregrca » . Shake off , I beseech youy my dear friends , this , miserable apathy , and ever ?

      bear in mind , and act upon my text , —what is done cannot be now remedied , but be alert for the future . Remember that the National Petition has bfeenn before the public for months for signatures , and we know not how soon it- may be wanted , and yet Lseathat in many places meetings are only now called for its adoption , though the importance for its numerical strength is ( great *„ and I trust I shall not be thought egotistical when I say , that our povert y , stricken friends here have obtained more Vtanikvtn howand signatures to . that document . I amw Brethren , Your faithful servant , T . It . Stttmri .

      36 , Sanvey Gate , Itaicester , 28 th Feb ., 18 A & WHITECIIAPB-L . —At a general meeting of the Brass Founders' Arras locality , February 2 Sth » . ife was unanimously resolved : — "That a vote or thanks is due andiheveby given to Mr , T . Clark ; . far-Ms energetic and . noble defence of the six , points-of the Charter in tho-discussinn with Mr . Gumey ,, "' TOWER . HAMLETS .--At a public meeting heia on Sunday evening , February 23 th , at tbe Globe and Friends , Morgan Street , Commercial Road , the following resolutions were unanimously carried :: — " That a petition ) be sent to T . S . Duncen . be ,. ES <| , M . P ., for presentation to the Commons House of Parliament , pr * jing tor the abolition of tho-ratepayingclause *\* . the Reform Act . " "Thatavote of thanks begfoen to Thomas Clark for-the able and masterly manner in which he discussed ) the principles of the People ' s Charter with A . Gumey , B ^ q . "

      THE CENTRAL REGISTRATION AND ELECTION COMMITTEE met at the Assembly Rooms , 83 ,. Dean-street , Sohe , on Tuesday evening , March the 2 nd . Mr . T . Clark was unanimously called to the chair . Mr . Stall wood gave in * a report of the recent meeting st the CrowQi andi Anchor Tavern for the repeal of the rate-paying clauses , together with the balance-sheet oft receipts and expenditure for the same , and handed in * £ 1 7 s ., beinjf the- balance of receipts ovei » the expenditure . A vote of thanks was unanimously . awarded to Mr . Stallvfooil for his zeal and ability iivgsttine ; up and conducting the late meeting to a > successful issue . The conuaittee next resolved , ia < ord * r to show their determination to carry on the struggle for the repeal of tkos » obnoxious clauses , " - 'What a deputation

      consisting of Messrs . T . Clank ; and ' , Jl Milne , be appointed to wait on Messrs . f ) iincon ^ be > and VVakley , M . P . ' s , and consult withi them : as t » the next best steps to ) be taken , and lay . the- result of their deliberation before the committee , ait its next meeting , with a view to the taking , of imrr . ediate active steps for the accomplishment of the desired end . " " That the Executiw Committee-be n ; quested to draw up a short address-calling the- attr . ntion of the country to the division , list on Mr „ Du ncombe ' s motion . " " That in fut / ure the me & opo ) itan local secretaries of the registration , comm ittees are requested to meet tho central , oomroit tee on the first Tuesday in each month ( afc . thujp-ottj ce , at eight o ' clock in the evening . ' * Tho- eam \ nittee then adjourned to the 9 th instant ..

      SHEFFIELD . — 'fihe- council ef the National Charter Association held its uswi w eekly meeting on Sunday , February 3 § th , Mfr . J ackson in the chair . After the fcisuicial business o f the association was disposed of , on the motioniofiMr . Dyson , a committee of six was appointed ? to . seeu ro signatures to the National PetHipn . A goodiky number of sheets were disposed of for the counfay i istricts . Persons , wishing to have-sheets in thsic- w irkshops may havethem by applying to George- & mu )' i , 33 , Queen-street . We have already obtained seww , 1 thousands of sig ~ natures . As far as ShoHM 4 is concerned we are determined to . do our full shoro towards the required four millions .

      BIRMINGHAM . —Mow usual weekly meeting on Sunday last , Mr . P . Caompbell in the chair , Mir . O'Connor ' s , letter wj » , « wwt from the Star , after which tho following ; nesolutiou was unanimously passed : Moved by m % . Porter , and seconded by . Mr . FusselU " That we highJiy approve of the suggestions of Mrv O'Connor on , « . « half of Dr . M'Doual | ,. and that we immediately open a subscription for the abow purpose , udjiohi shall be-kept open till Miobaelmns-next . " A subscription was then entered into , and ! the sum oflrK 0 d . collected , after which , a vote »& thanks was . passed to Thomas SIingsby buncombe , Mi . V ., an \ t ' tope ? members , who voted with , hjiu upon his late Tuo &> nj for repealing the rate-pa $ ing clauses ofthe \ lefi »» Bill .

      THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER WBRARY , ANJ j DEBATING SOCIETY . —A . public discus-» iort on " Tho Evils of the Law oS Primogeniture " took place at the Temperance IlaJJ i . Broadway , o » S aturday , February 27 th . Mr , Johnson was called to theishair . Mr . Bowler ably opened tb . % debate , in favour of tho abolition of the law . Mr . Castleiur followed or »& e opposite side . Mr . Edward Stallwoob * SJnid loud applause , replied to him . Mr . Trumble ably followed on the same side . Mr . lnvi . se also ably supported the abolition of the law . Mr . Gallagher looked on the law as the great cause of vice , injustice , and immorality .

      Mr . Thomas supported the Law of Primogsmturo , by sundry deductions from " Hol y Writ . " Mr . JCewsoms , a Chelsea pensioner , opposed the Law of Primogeniture , and said the working classes could not be blamed for the introduction of laws , seting that they had no voico in making them . Mr . Catlkv replied to the several speakers opposed to the Law of Primogeniture , and concluded by declaring , that he wished , or rather that he did not care , ho w soon it was abolished . ' - ( Laughter and applause . ) ,. ... , . . . The discussion on this subject was here concluded , and "The Land and the Charter , " selected for Saturday ( this evening ) March 6 th , During the debate Chambers' philosophy came in for some > ery severe

      rubs , whilst Mr . O'Connor ' s Small fcarms was highly eulogised . Tho room set apart for the discussion was densely crewded . In the library we found many volumes of highly useful books , including the woilcs of Thomas Paine , William Cobbett , & c , Ac . Works of every phase of politics , morals , philosophy , and theology , are contained in the library . The « ost to the members is only one penny per week , PUBLIC MEETING AT IIULL .-A public meeting was held on Monday night last , for tho adoption of the National Petition , in the Hall of the Court of Requests , granted for tho occasion by the Mayor . Mr . Peek , Town Councillor was unanimously called to the chair . Mr . Hancock moved , and Mr . Jackson seconded , the first resolution .

      Mr . SiKrusNS moved , and Mr . Currie seconded , the adoption of the National Petition , which was supported by Dr . M'Douall in one of the most able speeches that has been heard in Hull for s « mo time . Mr . Hancock moved , and Mr . Stephens seconded , the memorial for tho restoration of Frost , Williams and Jones . # . The resolutions and petition were all carried unanimously , A vote of thanks was gWen to the Doctor , who in reply moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman , which was carried unanimously . A number of signatures were attached to the petition .

      DERBY . —A requisition by 150 electors has been presented to the mayor of Derby , requesting him to call a public meeting to adopt the National Petition , tie declined , excepting at eleven o ' clock in the forenoon . It being impossible for the working men to attend a meeting at that h » ur , we have resolved on taking the Mechanics' Lecture Hall , for a meeting to adopt the National Petition , which will take place on Monday evening , March 15 th , at 8 o clock . HULL . —Doctor M'Douall delivered a lecture in ' the White Hart room , on Sunday evening , in the course of which he fully explained the principle of co-operation , as exhibited in the Land Scheme and Labour Bank . He also explained the capabilities of the soil , and concluded a most instructive and argumeutative address , by pointing out the great necessity of the Land membera ( whilst seeking to redeem themselves by locatUn on tho * iand ) struggling to ! obtain , tlw enactmentuf ttio People ' s Charter , ua the

      " Whatsoever Thy Hand Findeth To Do, Dtt...

      best means of l & mlobtfliningtho land andkatping it when obtained . 4 . Aftfcra vote of thanks to th * Doctor and the chairman , the meeting , which was * vers good one , quietly separated , highly gratified . MANCHESTER ,. Subdat Evemno . —The chairman commenced by- , introducing Mr . Grooot , who read Mr . O'Connor ' s letter from the Northern ¦ Star , , which was listened to with great attention , and called forth general applause . Mr . Ernest Jones ' s speech was then read , whichigave great satisfaction ; after , wards the editorial awiclein the Northern star , w * ich was received with approbwom About this time Mr , Clarke arrived and was . received with applause . He commenced his aildreaa-hMuuwing the erroueoua ^ ri .

      ptructionsof old prelacy , in Attributing the present calamities to Providence . Cobbett had predicted from natural causes the-failure of the potato crop yet no attention hadf bten- paid to that prediction and hence the baneful result , and , forsooth , they laid the b ' ame on Providence , which went to say that Btovidenco was improvWent V . The history of'the human family clearly demonstrated the evil effects ot man ' s inhumanity toman * .. Towns had been thrown in , a state of riot through famine , nations had re belled against the wicked Jaws-of selfish rulers , Mid * kiogdoms had been revolutionised , when famine , occasioned by avaricious tyrants , had naturally forbidden further forbearance ,- Still further lessons were wantinc ; all had not vet been sufficient to teach .

      mankind that the greakevil ii * society was too much love of self-appropriation .. The lecturer then oon « demned the political economists of the present day . Bree-traders , and Protsctionists , and Aristocrats , were aU conspiring ag * in » t < jlabour ; monopolioine the earth and the l ' ruit * thereofi . God gave the carta a common heritage to man * , bat man had perverted the will of Providence . by his-selfish craft over-Mi tellow-man . Moral means combined with universal intelligence would soontemancipate mankind from privation and misery ., List the people avail themse ves of the laud and work for themselves , they iwould then obtain a remucerative encouragement . After commenting on the utility of science when ^ roperly directed , and the evils-of the present system of

      distribution , ho concluded-aa interesting discourse amidst loud applause . A .- \ few questions were asked the lecturer , which he t-answared to every one ' s sat sraction , and the meeting terminated . MACCLESFIELD ^ rha membera and friends of the Mutualilmprovement . Clansinlconnection witiijtha Macclesfield Branch of tk » Rational Charter A & sociation , met in their room on Monday evenin / jjast , when Mr . John Wesfrielivered an address on . the present prospect and ¦ position of parties , with a review of the sebem s * ppopoanded by them , for the amelioration of the condition , of the people . Mr . West will deliver a lecture next Monday night at the same place , at S o ' clock . Subject— " The real cause o the present Faminein lreland , and the real Reaedie to prevent its recurrence in future , "

      Sown Loudon Gil & gTtsrr Hall , 115 , Blackfriarsroad . —A special meeting , of the members of this distric- of the National Land Company will be held at half-past six o ' clockvpreoisely , on butii ) es . s ol ' urgent importance , on Sunday ewiaing next , March 7 tb , and at eight o ' clock ., preosely Mr . J * SkeUim will deliver a lecture * . Su ' bjast , — " Education . , versus 'Theology . " GREliNWICII AND ) DEPTFORD .-Avspecial meeting of thajOhartists . of the above locality was held at Mr . Paris ' s , . Gold Bath , on Tuesday ) . March 2 nd , Mr . John Woodwanliin the chair . Thcfollowing resolution was- unanimously adopted : — " That the Executive be requested to furnish each locality with alistt . f the divisionB-on . all important quotums introduced into the llouso-ef Commons sine 8 , the year 1842 , so that eaahJocality may know thos 3 « who have voted for & vu \ against ths interests of the people . "

      BLRMO ^ DSEY . — M * meeting of the members on Tuesday evening , in this loiality , the following members were nominated lor councillwa-r-Messrs . Grady , Chapman ,, Stwtton , Law , Barkwr Millward , and Thorpp ; . Milliard sub-treasurer ,.. i horpe sub * secretary . \ % was-ulto resolved " that a „ meeting be held in Dwkhead . Chapel , for the purpaae of forwarding the ciuse ot Chactiam , and the Cooperative Land . Compact "" MABdttJSBQ & a , LOCALITY .-Moned by Mr . Godwia , ajiiiisecoad « ikby Mr . Hutching ? , " That it is the opiniouofiths-Marylebone locality of ; the National Chartar : Association , thac aconect . list of members ' names-on the feeoks up to the 1 st , hi April , 1317 * 9 horJU . be sent to the General Secxejfiry . so that he may lay the same before the annual . Convention , to enable the . delegates to form an opinion how they can best , advance the movement ; : & ad that we recommend tho Executive to issue an address to this cfeet . "

      METROPOLITAN COMMITTEE .-A meeting of i his body was held at the offies ftf the Executive Committee , 83 , Dean-street , Soho , on Thursday evening , Mr . Caughlan , one of the delegates from the City locality , in the chair . Mr . Tapp reported on behalf oi the City locality tliat his constituents were exceedingly anxious that some steps should be taken to revive the agitation ia the metropolis for the People ' s Charter . Mr . Asaott and Mr . Milne reported to the same effect .. Mr . Thomas Clark thought that it was the duty oS the Chartists of tho metropolis to s > ccure an expression of opinion in the City of London , on the conduct of Lord John Russell in reference to Mr . Buncombe ' s motion tortherepeal ot the ratepaying clauses of , the Reform Act . He

      therefore moved , "That tha various metropolitan localities are hereby solicited to co-operate with the ; council of the City locality ^ in convening a public meeting of tbe electors and non-electors of the City of London , to consitlea the conduct ot Lord John Russell , one of their reprcsentatiu's , in opposing the introduction of a bill to abolish the tax-paying clauses of the Reform Act . " Mr . Milne seconded the resolution , which waa unanimously carried . Mr . Doyle moved , "That tho secretary he instructed to : write to the absent members of the committee , requesting their attendance at the next meeting . " Mr . Arnott seconded the motion , which was unanimously absented to . The committee was then adjourned till Wednesday , March 10 th .

      To The. Chartist Body. Friends,—At Foot ...

      TO THE . CHARTIST BODY . Friends , —At foot you will find an analysis of the division in the Haase of Commons on Mr . Duncombe ' s motion for the repeal of the Kate-paying Clauses ot the Rafovm Act . Upon an examination of that division , it will be seen that of the 5 S who voted against the motion—22 are Government officials , and 30 belbag to the old Tory faction . So that , without the assistance of the Tories , the " Liberals" eould not have defeated the attempt of Mr . Buncombe to abolish those disgraceful clauses which tend so much to limit and naascow the elective franchise .

      The Executive Committee , along with the " Central Elec-tionand Registration Committee , " are now devising means to bring the cwuluct of those " liberal" gentlemen before their constituents , and they are not without hope of being able to effect some good . In the meantime , they consider it their duty to call the attention of the country to those men who have figured in this last act of the " finality" farce , under the impression that stepa wilt be taken by the Chartist body to find persons wore wi ling and competent to do the work ' ot legislation . Un behalf of the Executive Committee , Christovuku Doim » Secretary .

      Toimts-29. Acland . Td Manners, Lord J B...

      Toimts-29 . Acland . TD Manners , Lord J Bailey , J Jun Mainwarmg , 1 Bentinck , Lord G Packwgton , Sir J Boldero , H G PlumpUe , i P Borthwick , P Polhill , Captain Opeland , A Rich , II Dick , Quentin Sandon , Viscount Forbes , William Shaw , F Graham , Sir J S ( ooner , It Greene , Thomas Stewart , J Harcourt , G G Tollemaehe , John Henley , J W Vesey , Hon T llervey , Lord A Vyse , R 11 Lygon , Hon Gen Wood , T Johnston , Sir J

      Official Members—20 . Anson , Hon Col „ Maule , Hon F Craig , W G Morpeth , \ iscount Dundas , Admiral O'Conor Don Fox , C R Paget , Lord A Gibson , T M Palmei-ston , Lord Grey , Sir George Parker , John Hawes , B Russell , Lord J Hobhouse , Sir J Rutherford , A Laboucliere , 11 SomerviJle , Sir W Macaulay , T B Wyse , Thomas LmuHALS no * is Office—9 Arundel , Earl of Mangles , It D Baring , F T O'Brien , C Buller . Stewart . W V Gore , Don Robert WinningUm , Sir T Howard , P H

      MINQRITT—Aim 33 . Barnard , E G Molesworth , Sir W Blake , M J Mom-, David Bowring , Dr Napier , Sir C Bright , John O'Brien , WS Brothorton , Joa O'Connel ) , M Christie , W D Pecueil , Captain Collins , WiUiaia Vlumvulge , Capt Crawford , W S Ricardo , John L D'Eyncourt ,, C T Roebuck , J A DuncanLosd Scott , lUbert

      , Duncan , George Thornely , lhos Duncanuon , Visct Turner , h & c * tt , B Yilliers , lIonC Fieldcn . John l } . ey ll tt GUhorne , Thoma * W"TWaihm Hall , Sir Benj JHHieJ , I Hume , Joseph l 0 , KC ' " ry 1 V llumpheiy . Aid M ^ cS ' fA ?—o , T . VlflattG eorgo Lvans , Sir de L

      . , . , . Mr l attisou paired in favour ot Mr . Duuccmuacmu u . o-. ion tor his Uegistratieu V Vetera' Bill with Auk 1 fer ^ Rt

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 6, 1847, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_06031847/page/1/