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Northern Star (1837-1852), 7th June 1851, Edition 2 of 2, Page 1, 3fr FftlEXDS,—Perhaps yba have seen a re...

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    • TO THE WORKING MEN
    • £%axti$t mtelliqtutc
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      To The Working Men

      TO THE WORKING MEN

      3fr Fftlexds,—Perhaps Yba Have Seen A Re...

      3 fr FftlEXDS , —Perhaps yba have seen a report ot the attack made upon me by jHOttiSOX at half-past eleven on Friday pinto last , as I was coming from the House ^ Commons . I met him as I was -walking from the turnpike down to my own house , and vralked a considerable way with him , reminding him of hia insolence to me , but that , nevertheless , I -would render him any service that I could , by publishing his present state in the " Jfbrthern Star . " We parted very good friends at nine o ' clock , and at halfpast eleveno ' clock , just as I was going to bed , I heard a tremendous noise outside the halldoor , and afterwards such a knock at the door ^

      as I thought would have knocked the house down . My landlord came up and asked me if he should have him taken into custody ? I said certainly . He got two policemen , and jost as I walked pat of the hall-door , to go with him to the station-house , lie attacked me , put his hand into my collar , and , ' with a big stone in his hand , tried to knock me down . I hit him , however , on the side of the head and knocked him down . One of the police took out his truncheon and was going to hit Mm on the head , but I prevented him . I « ould not describe the riot . There were fifty or sixty people just opposite the door , and the ladies and gentlemen in the adjoining houses looked oat of their windows , thinking the house was being robbed . -

      I dare say you are aware that this fellow was Imprisoned for two * months for smashing the windows in the Land Company ' s Bank . ; and he walked up and down in front of the Bank for several weekv swearing that if he saw me come "there he would shoot me . * jThe police took a carpet bag from him , in which he had two large hammers , pincers , and a chiseL no doubt for breaking open the door .

      I dare say you are also aware that this man once lodged with a poor widow in the Vale of Leven , and after being for several months with her he said he was going away for a fortnight or so , and when he returned he would pay her . He left two large carpet bags full of clothes , as he stated , as security , and , not returning for some months , the poor widow opened the bags and found that they were fall of hay .

      Ift ' no or ten years ago I was travelling from Manchester to Leeds outside the coach , and he said that he had a silver watch which he was going to pawn , that he would ' be much obliged to me if I would advance him five pounds npon it ; however I declined . This fellow , when outside my door , said that I owed him £ < 0 or £ 80 , . but when he was brought before the magistrate , he said that he said no such thing ; although the policemen proved it . This fellow , in the attack he made upon me , knocked my hat off , broke my watch chain , and broke my eye glass ; however , the magistrate behaved very fairly , and bonnd him over in . recognizances , himself in £ 40 , and two sureties in £ 20 each , and fined him a pound ; and he is to be iried . at the next Middlesex Sessions .

      If I had not been a powerful man and able to defend myself , this fellow would have smashed my head with a huge stone that he had In his hand , or , perhaps , with one of his hammers . I . will give you the following account , extracted from the " Dail yNews , " of Monday . Here it is : — Tidiest AsSiOLT upos Mb . Pkabous O'Cokxob , M . P . —About eleven o ' clock on Friday week a disturbance took place at the residence of Mr . F . O'Connor , 24 , Notting-bill-terrace , occasioned by an attempt being made by a man named Thomason , a tall powerful Scotchman , to commit a violent assault upon Mr . O'Connor . Police-sergeant Davis ,

      F 20 , and constable 240 , hearing a great noise in front of Sir . O'Connor ' s residence , went , into the front garden , where they found Thomason with a bag of housebreaking implements in his possession , and requested him to leave the premises . He refused to do so , and said he would not leave till he had seen Mr . O'Connor , who , he said , was a thief and vagabond , and owed him between £ 60 and £ 70 . The sergeant told him he might take legal proceedings for the recovery of his debt , but he should not stop there . Mr . O'Connor came oat of the house , and requested the police to tike him away . Thomason then flew upon Mr . O'Connor , and seizing iiim by the throat , attempted to choke him , broke bis eye-glass and watch-chain , and it was

      with the greatest difficulty the police could pull him off . The bag in his possession , on being searched , was found to contain a large chisel , a pair of pincers , and two hammers , with which he said he intended to break into the house ; and close to him was found a large stone , weighing eight or nine pounds . He was taken to Kensington station , and conveyed on Saturday afternoon to Hammersmith police-court , before T . Paynter , Esq . —Mr . O'Connor attended to prefer the charge , and said Thomason bad laid wait for him at the House of Commons , on Friday evening , and had abused him there , and then followed him to dotting Hill . —The prioner stated , in defence of his conduct , that the honourable member had inserted a letter in his

      paper , the Northern Star , which had caused him to lose his employment , to the value of £ 60 or £ 70 , and that he had wished Mr . O'Connor to insert a letter in the paper in contradiction , but he had refused . —Mr . O'Connor said he had not written anything against the man himself , but a letter from a poor widow , whom Thomason had lodged with , and to whom he owed a sum of money , had appeared in his newspaper , stating that she had applied to him , Thomason , for money , and he had desired her to pay herself by selling the contents of two carpet

      bags he had ieft at her house , bat on examining the bags , she found them to contain nothing but hay . — Mr ! Paynter having cautioned the prisoner as to his future conduct , fined him 20 s . for the assault , and ordered him to find bail himself in £ 40 , and two sureties in £ 20 each , to appear at the sessions . — The fine not being paid , the prisoner was taken away in the van . Mr . O'Connor said the prisoner had been confined before for two months , for walking up and down outside his bank io New Oxford-street , breaking tho windows , and threatflnin < r his life .

      Now I think this will show you the kindness that I receive from a man that I have been kind to . myself . I declare to you that if I was to fill the " Northern Star " with an account of the riot that he created , I could not sufficiently describe it ; but although he is a powerful fellow , and a ferocious fellow , notwithstanding the implements in his possession , I knocked him down , and had it not been for the police , I would have given him such a thrashing as no fellow ever got . My throat is

      Etui very sore , as he pat his knuckles into my collar , and thrust them . against my throat I do not think I can give you a fairer definition of the treatment I receive from men io whom I have been sometimes kind , for , as you are aware , I allowed this fellow to make an appeal to the people in the "Northern Star ; "' and when we parted on Friday night , before he appeared at the house , he was most civil . Tour Faithful Friend and Advocate , Feabgus O'Coottob .

      To The Editob Of Tbe Northern Stab. Sib,...

      TO THE EDITOB OF TBE NORTHERN STAB . Sib , —Mr . O'Connor in bis letter of last week remarked that I have in my possession a clock which was formerly at tbe Land Office , but be Omitted tbe fact that J bought it , and that I paid the outside price for it . I hold a receipt for the money . Mr . O'Connor remarked that I had sent a copy tfUovfs Newspaper to the ParBamentary Commit no . and that I am ia tbe employ of the Financial Bsformera . I have only to observe that both of these statements are totally untrue . I am , Sir , Thomas Clabe . Office of the Rational Land Company , U 4 , High-Holboro . From -wham did Mr . Clark bay tbe clock ? & r . Doyle -wrote to me stating that it was Jfr- C . who sent " Lloyd ' s Paper" to tbe Committee . F . O'Coskob .

      Seed Job Asotheb Bbvomjthw. —The Qiomale...

      Seed job asotheb Bbvomjthw . —The Qiomale « Itoma of the 17 th ult , publishes a sentence of the Supreme Tribunal of the sacred consnlta , condemnttgPietro BrcoIi , aged tbirty-foOT , to tbe galleys S twent y years , for baring on . the aightof the 1 ftli of May attempted to prevent one I « uigi Gian-^ from lighting a cigar he wanted to smoke . , « « calculated that the coal-fields of JJorthfcmwrland and Durham would yield the annual BBppJy * aey now do for a period of eight centuries .

      Seed Job Asotheb Bbvomjthw. —The Qiomale...

      ADDUESS OP THE CHAUTISTS A ! ND LAND MEMBERS . OF ASHTONUNDER-LYNE TO " THE . DEMOCRACY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND . " He who permits oppression shares the crime . " In consequence of what we and every unprejudiced mind must see in reference to the general bad treatment of Mr . O'Connor , we deem it a duty we owe to the cause of freedom and a deeply injured individual , to address you on this subject .

      Every individual among you ,, who has paid attention to the passing events of the last twenty years , has seen foremost in the van of the progressing army of Democracy the recognised leader of the Chartists- of this country , viz . ; our mutual friend , Feargus O'Connor . And , however some of you " may have differed front the policy-he has sometimes pursued , all must admit that his ' untiriDgzeal , " Bismdo mitable ' perseverance , and almost Herculean labours , are such as few men either ; can or would go through , to carry Out the principles of government best suited to the emergencies of the age , and the Social advancement of the

      working classes of this great country . However the people may have slumbered , he has always been alive to a sense of more than his share of public service ; and it is now the solemn duty of the Chartists of this country to show the unprincipled allottees , the government , and press of this country , together with tbe Committee of the House of Commons , that Mr . O'Connor shall not lose a single shilling of his money ; that now , in the hour of his greatest trials and persecutions , you will rally round him with the same tenacity and devotion that he has clung to the principles of " equal rights and equal laws . "

      It is well known to all those who attended the Conference at which the Bank was established that Mr . O'Connor was hostile to the project ; but true to the principles of Universal Suffrage , he has allowed himself to be governed by a majority ; and , we ask , would it be honest or right to allow him to pay tire expenses of carrying on that Bank ? Is it right that those individuals who have paid no rent to the Company , but have drawn rent from the letting of their allotments , should receive compensation ? And because Mr . O'Connor would not agree to bo monstrous a proposition , he is not to receive again the money he has advanced—and proved to be owing to him by no favoured source—namely , two government actuaries ?

      Mr . Herbert , in the House of Commons , calls those allottees who have paid no rent a part of the " noble people of England . " A greater misapplication of termsnever emanated from the mouth of senator or fool . But this refusal of Mr . O ' Connor ' s claims , and sending him to Chancery for his money , is another exhibition of the kind of justice he has received from the government , judges , juries ,

      the press , and the hosts of cormorants who thrive on the famine of the people , exist on the spoils of a misgoverned state , and would hunt to the farthest verge of the green earth any man like Mr . O'Connor who holds up to scorn and contempt the present unjust system , which makes vtillionaries of a few hundreds , and keeps the millions toiling within a- week ' s march of the poor house . We ask , will those hundreds of thousands of Chartists who

      have cheered Mr . O'Connor in his denunciations of wrong and his support of right , stand listlessly by and see him robbed and ruined without any semblance of decency 1 Our Sheffield friends whose numerously signed invitation attest their respect for the Chartist Leader , will , we are sure , assist us in setting an example for the establishment of a fund to repay Mr . O'Connor his money . As the House of Commons has sent him to Chancery , and the chances are that he will never get his money , we suggest the establishment of a fund for this purpose , to be called " THE

      EQUITY FUND ; " to which every Chartist in the empire ought to contribute his share True , there are many calls oh your bounty , but this is an especial case , demands immediate and prompt attention , and gives all an opportunity of showing their gratitude for a life-long service in tho cause of freedom and social rights . It will have the effect of relieving on the one hand , your friend from any pecuniary embarrassment , and on the other , of baullriiig the enemies of progress in then intention to rnin Mr . O'Connor , for it must be evident to you all such is their intention .

      Let it be done quickly , and let us see by the beginning of August , such a sufficiency of money raised for the emergency and inserted in the ** Star " , as shall do credit to the old and young guards , and will be like gall and wormwood to your enemies ; and if this bo not done the world will know that Iip ^ sympathy is the only kind of support the democracy of this country give to their most devoted friends and advocates . We now hope , in conclusion , that every Chartist will use his best endeavours to raise tbe Equity Fund , and do justice to their old friend , and disappoint his enemies . On behalf of the Land Members and Chartists of Ashton , Samuel Newton , Chairman . "W . Aitkin , Hon . Sec .

      And National Trades' Journal " — — — - -...

      AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL " — — — - -- ¦— - - ———*—***—> fc—M * - ~— — ¦ ¦

      M. By. Go .709. London,Mibwlwim. -¦ . ¦ ...

      m . BY . go . 709 . LONDON , MIBWlWim . - ¦ . ¦ ^ . ^ JSgSSZr

      Chartist Missionaries. To Ths Editor Of ...

      CHARTIST MISSIONARIES . TO THS EDITOR OF TBE SOOTHERS SMB . Beau Snt ,-Very often in your valuable paper we see letters from almost all parts of the kingdom , principally , ! suppose , from working men , ail endeavouring to propound means for theirown amelioration , and I must say , that I admire the tone as well as the principles which they embody . 1 douot not of the sincerity of these noble champions , wflo are identified with the army of "fustian jackets , blistered hands , and unahorn . cnuis . '' I believe that much good has resulted from their united energies . But still , sir , I think von will agree with me when 1 say , that the Chartist movement is not at present , and has not been for some time , working as well as we would like to see it , or as it ought to be . There are many parts of the country where the I inhabitants have a strong desire for the principles of the Charter , but no one is found to introduce the

      National Charter Association to these places ; in some parts they want to be enlightened a little ; in others , they want some person to take them by the hand . After this is done they would be able to conduct their own affairs , under , the superintendence of the Executive Committee . Do you think , sir , that one of the Executive could not mission the various places , where he would be likely . to meet with success , or any one else whom the Executive might deem qualified to perform the work . The expense of such an undertaking might easily be covered by each of tbe various localities , in favour of the resuscitation of Chartism , contributing their mite What is to be done for the . people must be done by the people . The aristocracy will not aid tbem : the middle classes , generally speaking , will not aid them ; therefore they must , of course , do thekOW r ; emain , dearsir , yourstruly , Dalston , Cum berland , *&»»» . ' June 2 nd , 1851 .

      Tim Wab M*Dai.. -His Grace The Commander...

      Tim Wab M * DAi .. -His Grace the Commander in -Srf hi extended the period for the , receptmn and fovestieation of claims to the far medal to the place . —United / Service Gasettt *

      Tim Wab M*Dai.. -His Grace The Commander...

      PARLIAMENTARY REFORM . ' A public meeting was held onlMonday evening at the King ' s Arms Tavern , Upper Holloway . Mr . Erle was called to the chair , and explained the objects of the meeting ; it was the first meeting that had been held in ilollowuy for that object , hut he trusted that prosperity would attend their efforts . Mr . Reynolds addressed the meeting at considerable length , showing the effect which politics had upon the interests of both middle and working classes . It was a fiction to suppose that they had a constitution—it was one of the prejudices by which society was guided . They were told that under their nicely ^ balanced constitution they enjoyed more peace , more liberty than any other , people . So

      far . from this being the case , since the time ot' tne Conquest they had had eight civil wars and nineteen . rebeUions . This did not say much for the peace or liberty enjoyed by Britain . ' . They were told that under their nicely-balanced constitution each power was . a check upon . the other , and all were thus prevented , from . encroaching upon the rights of the people . He would prove this toibe a fiction . The crown was onlya talisman representing the grandeur aiid dignity of the nation , . but it was powerless to effect any good to the masses ; and it was so environed and / encompassedrwith the « s ' pirit of , . aristocracy , that it was , almost impossible for it to lie otherwise than entirely aristocratic in action . The House of Lords , composed of peers , spiritual

      and temporal , exercised the real power that governed the nation . The power exercised by the Commons was a mere farce , as far as it professed to be a representation of the middle class . A thousand taxes pressed peculiarity upon the middle classes , which they were powerless to remove . Out of 65 B members of the House of Commons , 350 were by birth or marriage allied to tho aristo * cracy ; they did not in any way represent either the middle or working classes . If the middle classes were represented would they , allow fiftyfour million a . year to be levied npon them in the shape of taxes ? Would they submit to pay the infamous pensions , sinecures , & c , which they were now compelled to pay ? The speaker then went

      into the claims of the aristocracy to wield this power . He illustrated it as follows : —If they agreed to form a society for any purpose , would they elect a man as secretary , simply because he professed to be the son of Greenacre the murderer ? Would they elect another as their treasurer because he professed that his mother had got her living by walking the streets ? Yet these were the claims which a large portion of the aristocracy had to their present wealth and positions , lie then contrasted the expense of the English government ; with that of the American , and showed the utter ' subserviency of tho present House of Commons by the manner in which they had acted in reference to the pensions of Queen Adelaide and the Duke of Cambridge , upon their demise . Mr . Reynolds then showed tbe manner in which the government misrepresented the doings of the Charr tists in 1848 , and that they would catty oat tbe

      same system in 1851 , if the Chartists gave them the opportunity . He then referred to the treatment of Ernest Jones , as contained in his petition to the House of Commons , and contrasted it with that of O'Cohnell and others . Tlie speaker concluded by explaining the six points of the Charter , and showed the superiority of that measure over every other measure of Parliamentary Reform , and demonstrated that the manner in which the working classes had conducted themselves throughout Europe when all power was in their hands , and where oppression had done all it could to brutalise them , was a sufficient proof that Britons , who were still more favourably situated , wuuld not behave in a less worthy or magnanimous manner than their brethren on the continent during the year 1818 , They had also the experience of America demonstrating the same fact . Mr . Reynolds sat down loudly cheered .

      Mr . Coedello next addressed tbe audience , and regretted that Mr . Reynolds bad not beenmoi $ with them in their late parochial agitation . He differed in some points from Mr . . Reynolds . In tbe parish tie Tories had complete rule ; but , on the late election , the Radicals were but in a small minority . In parochial matters in that parish , a man was compelled to have a £ 20 qualification , whereas , a £ 10 qualification was sufficient for the parliamentary franchise . He believed that Mr . Reynolds ' s eloquence would have roused the inert , and have changed their minority into a majority . They now intended to extend their sphere noma parochial to a political agitation . The Vote by Ballot would be a great shield in parochial matters , hut he thought it would DOt be so in political

      matters . Mr . Reynolds explained that it would be open voting in the House of Commons . Mr . Cohdello stated , that with that explanation , be believed tbe reformers of Islington would be entirely with Mr . Reynolds ' s views . He objected to Payment of Members . He thought that plenty of middle class men would represent the people , without being paid ; it would be an enormous expense for little profit , Mr . Rktholds explained at some length , ; combating with great energy the opposing portions of Mr . Cordello ' s speech , and promising them his influence in parochial matters . As far as bis exertions could extend , he never would agree that the working classes should be represented by middle classmen .

      Mr . Whmhsb also supported the views laid down by Mr . Reynolds , and still further illustrated them . Other speakers followed on the same side . Mr . Clark wished to know why some members of the Chartist body advocated the policy of the National Reform Association , and others opposed them ; he believed that a split had taken place in the Chartist body , and that Mr ; O ' Connor and Mr . Reynolds differed . Mr . Reisouis explained . A vote of thanks was given to Mr . Reynolds , and a locality of the National Charter Association formed .

      The "Chartist Pbogitammists." [From The ...

      THE " CHARTIST PBOGItAMMISTS . " [ From the Leader . ] [ The following is a letter addressed to the Editor of the Dundee Courier . In two hours after the questioned article was issued the writer of the letter went down to the office , but , not finding the responsible editor , Mr . Holyoake appeared before him later in the day , as suddenly as an apparition of tbe

      Executive , and demanded to know what the editor saw in him that was " hungry , " that he should publish him as a voracious agitator ; and expostulated generally upon the assertions of the article . The editor said it was not intended to bear an imputative construction . "In order that such a disclaimer might be made to the public , the rfinonstrator forwarded the following letter , which has duly appeared in the said Courier : —]

      DEFENCE OF THE CHARTIST PBOGItAM-• MISTS . , . . To the Editor of the Dundee Courier . Sir , —Being on a visit to Dundee , I bad the opportunity of perusing your Courier of this morning , May 14 , in which I . find an article on the " Chartist Programme , " ahout which it concerns me to say a few words , as I am one of those responsible for that document . ' ¦ There is that quality about your article which Lord John Russell ascribes to Thomas Slingsby Buncombe's speeches ^ -namely , " an' agreeable levity " If one is abused , it is a consolationto be abused well . One can admire the variegated

      superficies of the panther even while entertaining a profound aversion to his indiscriminate habit of springing on every person in his way . Toatett tm yon "thought Chartism defunct , and ascribe your mistake to overlooking that there were "too many interested in keeping it alive . That this "interest" is to be understood as venal , you mark beyond doubt by observing in the next sentence ; that" you consider what a flock of » hh S"T ( patriot * have been fed , and how many unattached agitators have received employment , by means oi the Chartist movement ; " and infer , therefore , that

      " it is not wonderful that an effort should be made to perpetuate sucha profitable concern . " .... Now , what I wish to ask is , by what right you represent the Convention here alluded to as composed of hungry agitators and interested patriots ? For myself , what do you know to my disadvantage that you should make ; no exception ? I have nothing to hope from tho Chartists that I should cajole them . I have nothing to fear from them that I should flatter them .. I am simply an . independeni servant of them and the public , able to live at the bench , by my pen , or the platform , or ia the classroom . And the same is true of m y colleague ? , as

      The "Chartist Pbogitammists." [From The ...

      * J ? * ™ D , eaD 3 of existence . There is Thornton Hunt , son of Leigh Hunt , the poet and politician . The same Thornton Hunt who was the playtellow of Shelley , and to whom Charles iamb addressed yerses , and who has realised all the noble promise , of his boyhood-whose genius must a ways command for him affluence , as his integrity always commands for him respect wherever he is known . ' "On - what' ground do you include him among the " hungry patriots ? " Is the Reverend Mr . Duncanson , of Falkirk , delegate from Paisley , whom we all listened to with respect , one ? What charge of this kind have you to lay at his door ? Woud you point to Julian Harney ? Certainly venality is not his crime ; for he ,, to all our knowledge , made as ' large sacrifices to what he deemed public duty as any editor to whom you can point . Nor can you cite Ernest Jones , who with the precedents of a gentleman , has often accepted penury

      rather . than forego the advocacy , he deemed mokt useful to the people . What you may think of . Mr Reynolds I know . not , but certainly his pecuniary advantage ' s as a Chartist have . been confined to paying certain bills as . treasurer when , we had a bottomless Exchequer . 'Will you taketh ' osWof humble station ; Your townsman VamWGr ' ahamfhasno other crime to answer for , ¦ ¦ t h & Vl ever heard of , than that of being a working man . ' i ; As he Jia & appeared as a delegate in London , youassfliiie tnat'hehas relinquished his " honourable calling : of a weaver . " How does this follow ? Jf every man who , by delegation , represents others' interests in a distant city , is to be hold a !) deserting his honourable vocation , many of your fellow-townsmen among tbe middle class and the religions ministry deserve your instant exposure . Go , sir , through the list of our delegates , and you ; will in all cases fail to substantiate your imputations .: :

      Some of the propositions you point out as erroneous in our Programme several of us . thought so . The columns of the leader hare recorded how some of us struggled against tbem . Expose our want of wisdom where you find it , and we are your debtors . But when you deny our integrity—when you paint us as hungry patriots and venal agitators , we beg , respectfully but emphatically , to protest against you ; for if we keep silence in such a case we shall appear to consent to the infamy you impute to us . The vice of imputation has been the besetting sin of . Chartism , but it may be forgiven to us on account of our , inexperience and bur privations , But

      should a middle class journal set us tbe example of continuing what we are trying to forget ? If we should say that any middle class movement you patronise isselfish and interested , you would feel at ouce the injustice and rudeness of the accusation . And if your own gentlemanly sense of courtesy does not'teach you to restrain your imputations against us , the obscurity and helplessness and sufferings of those who appointed us 'to represent them ought to protect us from rudeness . ; I am , Sir , yours respectfully , ¦ ¦ . ¦' . ;¦ ? ¦ George Jacob Holtoake , Member of the Chartist Executive .

      £%Axti$T Mtelliqtutc

      £% axti $ t mtelliqtutc

      National Charter Association Offices—L4y...

      NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION Offices—l 4 y Southampton-street , Strand . Tbe Executive Committee of this bod y held their usual weekly meeting , as above , on Wednesday evening last . Present—Messrs , Araott , Grassby , Holyoake , Jones , Milne , and Reynolds . Messrs . Harney ( through indisposition ) , Hunt ( being engaged to take the chair at a public . meeting ) , and O'Connor , were absent . G-. J . 'Holyoake presided . The correspondence received was read .

      The secretary called the attention of the committee to the letter from the " London correspondent" of the " Glasgow Sentinel , " ' inserted inthattruly Democratic Journal of Saturday last , > and which contained several mis-statements relative to the public meeting recently held in St . Pancras . On the motion of Messrs . Jones and Reynolds , it was unanimously agreed , " That the Secretary be instructed to write to the Editor of the ' Glasgow Sentinel , ' in order to correct the mis-statements alluded to . "

      On tho motion oi Messrs . Reynolds and Araott , ifc was also unanimously agreed , " That a great ' . Public Meeting be held , for the purpose of calling the . attention of ; the public to the atrocious and inhuman treatment inflicted on the-Chartist prisoners generally , but more especially to support the case of Ernest Jones , now before the House of 'Commons ; and that the said meeting be holden on Monday evening , June the . 16 th ,. in the most suitable place that can be engaged for the occasion . " " '"

      The Chairman then , at some length , re * ported what he had witnessed of the progress of Democracy during his recent tour in the North . He had much pleasure in stating that he had lectured on Chartism in Glasgow , Paisley , and other places ; those lectures had been morel numerously attended than any he had previously delivered iu Scotland . Party and personal antagonism was subsiding ; the Programmeissued . by the late Convention had inspired the friends to the cause with renewed hope ; and although at present there appeared to be a lull , as to active organisation , yet he felt convinced that the time was not far distant when we should see a truly healthful and progressive agitation . . .

      After the transaction of financial and othei business , the Committee adjourned to Wed . nesday evening , June 11 th . Signed on behalf of the Committee , . . . V " . '" . ' . . John Aunost . Gen . Sec .

      Crown Asp Anchor, Cheshire-Street, Water...

      Crown asp Anchor , Cheshire-street , Waterloo Town . —At a meeting of the Council of the Tower Hamlets , on Wednesday evening—Mr . Hall in the chair—Messrs . Cummins , West , and Shaw stated what they had ascertained respecting the malicious demolition of the Sharp and Williams monument . It was proposed by Mr . West , seconded by Mr . Burge , and carried unanimously : — " That this meeting be adjourned to Sunday next , at three O ' clock , at the Hajl in Golden-lane , when it is expected that all who respect the memory of the departed patriots , and especially the original Monument Committee , will be in attendance to receive the report of the delegation . " i

      Jobs-street , Tottbsbaii-court-road . —On Tuesday evening a meeting was held in the Coffee Room of the John-street Institution , for the purpose of forming a locality of the National Charter Association . Mr . John Milne was called to the chair , and briefly stated the objects of the meeting . It was then unanimously agreed , "Thata locality be now formed , to be called the John-street locality . " John Arnott was requested to act as sub-secretary , pro tern ., and several members were enrolled . It was also decide * that discussions be held on every Tuesday evening , and that the subject for next Tuesday be "the relative merits of Free Trade and Protection , ? ' which Mr . G . J . Holyoake consented to open . A vote of thanks was given to the

      Committee of the Institution , and tho meeting adjourned . Fissnoar Democratic Association . —On Sunday last Mr . Worseldine delivered a lecture on "Ancient and Modern Eloquence , " at the Crystal Coffee-bouse , Vine-street , North end of Hatton-gavderi . He asked , what was it that made Greece and Rome so great and polished ! - -Not the splendour of their courts and the prowess of the ir arms , hut the thundering eloquence of Demosthenes in the one , and the graceful oratory of Cicero in the other . It was the eloquence of Demosthenes that Philip of Macedon feared more than the force of arras , and the eloquence of- Cicero in'behalf of the liberties of his country , that made Ctesar and Anthony tremble ; 80 that the Greek and Roman

      orators have , m every age , been admired and imitated—not for the sake of their antiquity , but for brilliancy of diction and tornado-like impetus . Hence Lelahd , speaking of Demosthenes , says , " From him ' critics have formed their rules , and the greatest masters in tho art have thought it an honour to imitate him . " The lecturer said that diffusiveness was the characteristic of modern oratory , contrasted with which was the conciseness of the great models of antiquity ; for instance , tho respective orations of Demosthenes and Jlsehines , although involving ' matters of paramount importance , might be readiii less than four hours ; the respective orations ofiCieero , - for Arcbias , Ligarius , and Milo , in fbivty minutes each ; and the four orations against Catiline ia « as hour each , Whereas ,

      Crown Asp Anchor, Cheshire-Street, Water...

      that of Sheridan , in defence of Warren Hastings , lasted five hours and forty minutes .. The same with Lord Chatham ' s speech on tho American war . With tbe oxcept on of diffusiveness he did not sec any great difference between tbe Ancient and Modern orators ; both having trimmed their eloquence over the midnigbt oil . It was generally thought that Socrates was opposed to Rhetoric , but that was a great ^ mistake ; since his opposition , like that of Plato s , had only reference to tho perversion ot it . Indeed , the study of Rhetoric was cultivated by all the learned of that day , and was interwoven with their philosophy . For what reason did Charicles and Cntias prohibit tbe teaching of Rhetoric ? Was it not to annoy Socrates , who , so far from beim '

      deterred , argued the matter with Oharicles ? Bu £ » ni . u ^' -J might be referred to tho Gorgias . " . ell ! he did so , and used that work asa weapon with which to annihilate the public fallacy 1 Nay Tr $ u 5 cfemd t 0 the Sophists , the Protagoras , and the Pflcedms . The lecture . gave great satisfaction . After the lecture , resolutions to tuafbllowing effect were adopted , "That the Association procure a place of litsjwn to meet inVwhen a s ' ub ' s ' owplioh-list ^ w ' opened for that purpose ^ 'ThaVthe busincsslif tho association be transacted 1 oh Sunday night ! That a Loan Society be established for the benefit of members , and that no motion be entertained having for its object the union of this association with any other political party . Mr . Leno was announced to lecture on Sunday night next .

      Bihmingham , Ship Inn . —At the weekly meeting on Sunday evening last , after the usual business , correspondence was read from Ernest Jones and G . W . M . Reynolds , the former of whom stated that ho would be in Birmingham on the 23 i-d inst . A committee was formed to take a place of meeting , and make tho necessary arrangements for holding a public meeting on tho above day . Todmoroen . —On Sunday , last a camp meeting was held at Basinstone , a very high hill a short distance from Todmorden , which was very well attended and conducted . The meeting was addressed by Mr . T . Dickenson of Manchester , in bis usual , original , and convincing style for two hours . After the meeting Mr . Dickenson delivered a lecture in the Odd Fellows' Hall—Subject :

      " England and Englishmen . " The evening ' s lecture was a rich treat to all who felt an interest in the history of old England and her industrious sons . After the lecture a vote of thanks was given to Mr . Dickenson for his ardent exertions throughout tbe day , and the people separated , highly pleased with the advice and information they had heard . Manchester . —On Monday evening June 2 nd , at the weekly Council meeting of the Manchester Chartist Association , held in tho People's Institute , the speeches made at tbe London Tavern by Messrs . Hume , Cobden , and others , were read from the daily News , when the following was unanimously agreed to : —" Having heard the speeches of Messrs . Hume , Cobden , and others , and believing them to bo practical men to carry out

      Parliamentary Reform , wo pledge ourselves to render them all the assistance in our power iu procuring tbe greatest possible extension of the suffrage to the unenfranchised working classes . " Manchester . —Mr . Thomas Cooper from London has delivered a course of si : t lectures in the People's Institute , to crowded audiences . On Sunday evening , May 25 , he lectured on " Constantino the Groat , and the Corruption of Christianity on its establishment . " On Tuesday evening , May 27 , on " The genius of Sbakspere as displayed in bis Hamlet . " After the lecture a grand display of dissolving views was given . On Wednesday evening , May 28 , " Life and genius

      of Milton , with recitations from Paradise Lost , " dissolving views after the discourse . On Thursday evening , May 29 th , " Life and genius of Burns with recitations , " Tam 0 'Skanter , " dissolving views , & o . On Friday evening , May 30 th , " Astronomy , " < fce . And on Sunday evening , June 1 st , " Washington and the independence of America . " It has been a rich treat to the Chartists of Manchester , and done much good in drawing persons to our hall , who were surprised at the multitude of people assembled to hear a Chartist lecturer . It has increased our number of members , and we are weekly progressing . Our position is far more cheering , than it was six months ago . Thanks to tho zeal and abilities of the Council .

      Ashtosmjndbr-Lysb . —• At a meeting of the Chartists and Land members , on Sunday last , an address to the democracy of England was unanimously adopted , which will be found in another place . Isusoton . —This locality held its usual weekly meeting on Wednesday evening , at the Camden Coffee-house , Giimden-street , Islington-green , when , after the transaction of business , a deputation was elected to wait upon the Executive Committee , with a request that it will aid the locality by calling a public meeting as early as possible , at tho Islington Temporance-hall . The lecture was then postponed until Wednesday , the 18 th inst ., after which the meeting adjourned . Finsburv LocAHir . —The usual weekly meeting was held at the Albemarle Coffee-house .

      Albemale-street , Clcrkenwell . Mr , Feline in the chair . The minutes of the previous meeting wove read and confirmed . Mr . O ' Connor ' s letter baying been read , it was resolved : — " That we , the members of this locality , cannot agree with Mr . O'Connor in his praise of Mr . M'Grath , considering that Mr . M'Grath has done much to injure the Chartist cause . " The following resolutions were also adopted : — " That we highly approve of the arrangements of tho Executive relative to the monthly reports of progress , and the distribution of tracts . " " That we regret the apathy of the Chartist body in the cause of Louis Kossuth , and agree to present a petition to Parliament , praying that steps be taken to procure the immediate liberation of that patriot , and the rest of the Hungarian exiles . " " That a committee be formed to obtain

      signatures to a requisition for a public demonstration on their behalf . " "That we recommend the different localities throughout the country to take steps to obtain a searohing investigation , by Parliament , into the treatment of the Chartist prisoners and exiles , of 1848 . " The meeting then adjourned till Sunday evening next , at the Finsbury Literary and Scientific Institution , Leicester Place , St . Peter ' s Terrace , Hatton Garden , at half-past six o'clock , to transact the business of the locality , and to make arrangements for tho opening > festival of that institution , which will take place on Whit-Monday , June 0 , with a concert , soiree , and ball . Finsbury Literary as » Scientific Institution .

      —We perceive by a circular just , issued , that this institution , for thepurposo of promoting the cause of democracy , will be opened on Whit-Monday , by a grand concert tea party , and ball . It augurs well for Chartism when we find localities ( parti cuJarlyin London ) possessing , by their own exertions , a place to meet in for the dissemination of useful knowledge , and is a sufficient proof that the untiring labour of Mr . O'Connor has not been in vain . Classes for reading , writing , and arithmetic , lectures , _ discussions , and temperance are opened , subscriptions , books , maps , or the delivery of lectures are earnestly required . We also perceive that the institution will be let to trade societies .

      The Rbprksestatios O? Bath.—Bath, Wednes...

      The Rbprksestatios o ? Bath . —Bath , Wednesday . —On the elevation of Lord Ashley to the Upper House , consequent on the death of the Earl of Shaftesbury , has caused a vacancy in the representation of the city . His Lordship has issued tho following farewell address to the electors : — "To the Electors of Bath , June 2 nd ,-1851 . —Gentlemen , — By a domestic affliction , which has . just occurred , I am removed from the representation of the city of Bath , I take the earliest opportunity of expressing to you my deep sense of tbe nigh honour you conferred on me when I obtained the seat by your suffrages in 1847 , and , I must add , the lasting gratitude I shall feel for the kindness I have ever experienced at your hands ; nor shall I

      cease to entertain the liveliest intercjt for your individual and collective welfare . I am , gentlemen , with much gratitude , your very faithful friend and servant , —Ashley . " Captain Scobell , U . K ., has offered himself a candidate on the Liberal interest . A meeting of tho Liberal portion of the constituents was held last night , and it was resolved to-adopt the necessary steps to secure the return of the gallanl officer . It is stated that Mr . William Sutcliffo , of this city , will be solicited by the Conservatives to contest the representation . National Loan SocisTy . —A meeting was held on Wednesday evening , at tbe City Chartist Hall ,

      Golden-lane , Barbican—Mr . Endean in tbe chair . Correspondence was read from Sheffield , fiotherbam , Bccles , Blackburn , Carlisle , - Ashtou , Nether Haugh , Exeter , Galston , Wigton , Morpeth , BrightlingseaY and other places , promising in . nearly every iustanc , to render assistance to tho views of the Society . Several applications for loans were taken into consideration ; others which had been previously inquired into were granted , T Scrip was given to several of the members who had paid up their £ 1 shares , and in & talmentstpaid '; upon -others A considerable number of rules were disposed of Scrip to a large amount was deposited with , tho So ciety , and other Business transacted .

      The Rbprksestatios O? Bath.—Bath, Wednes...

      HEBREW JUSTICE AND CHRISmS CHARITY . ^ u . " ^ wr a * Ktdd lectured on Sunday evening ch . i ^ lterar y and Scientific Institution ; Johnstieet Tottenham Court-road , Subject , ' " The Laws of the Hebrews . " The lecturer commnieed . Lrf aI « H at no P * BOn in t } l ° w ^' ibisfory in « ° ? fl u i n ' oniilient than Moses , the Jewish , lawgiver . Ilia career was at , eventful one ; an orphan picked up on tho banks of tt Tie he became an inmate ot palaces and tho lawgiver to a people . However much of legend or myth might be mixed up . with his history , there could- be nodisputing the fact , that for some thousand vears " Jus doctrines had been followed by the Jewish nation , nnJ that scattered as they now were throughout tho world , they still reverenced hi »

      name and practised bis laws . The laws of , Mo > es were admirably adapted to the purpose and . pcoplo for whom they were intended , and there was much in them which was hig h ! / applicable to the present phase of society . The great object of the laws of Moses was to put : down or control the spirit of selfishness . He was aware of the fact , that selfinterest was the motive powevof human action £ but he was also awnre that an ignorant and mis * taken self-interest was . baneful to-the interests of humanity . AH his laws weio framed to preventono class of men from spoliating another , and it was a most remavkablo circumstance , that the Hebrew language contained no word which bore tho snmo meaning as the word " Beggar or " Pauper . " llotr wide a contrast to the civilised worli

      of the present day ! Tlie great evils of tho present day were created by the unchecked development of the spirit of selfishness . Men added house to house , and field » . o field ; they monopolised the soil , they monopolised machinery , utterly regardless whether by so doing they contributed either tO » . their own happiness or to that of their fellow men . The whole object of our system of civilisatioa gwi & ld appear to resolve itself into tho best means for amassing , wealth . . The . laws of Moses : were framed to counteract this , spirit . To pi'evenj thft monopoly of the soil and tho c ' ontinuerd ' ensiavenient of the poor , he established every seventh year as a jubilee , when all property was reverted back to its original owners , when the land became free , and the debtor released from the . claim of his creditors .

      This prevented the Jewish-commonwealth from exhibiting the extremes of wealth and misery , of which England presented such a mournful spectacle . In the eleventh century the celebratcdr Jewish ltabbi Maimonides , s ^ ent a long life in arranging the ancient Hebrew laws . These laws he was leu to believe were in a great measure followed by the Jews of the present . lay . Tho lecturer then read from the works of Maimonides tho belief of the Hebrews , and expressed his opinion , that though it was erroneous , yet that it was consistent throughout , and the same could not bo said of of any other sect of the day . The Sews were too learned , too philosophical , too material a people to fall into the errors and inconsistences with which modern Christianity abounded . The Hebrew Law was worthy of deep consideration in its treatment of

      the " Poor and the Stranger , " It did not acknowledge the word charity—it declared that the fruits ' of tbe whole earth belonged to the people thereof ? and , though it did not inculcate equality , it provided for all receiving a share of earth's bounties . The law provided , that when a field was to be reaped that a certain portion should bo left for tho poor ; the same rule applied to every description of fruit , & c . ; this was not charity—ifc whs tho law , and could not bo violated without subjecting the party breaking it to a severe penalty . Tho lecturer theu expatiated upon the laws relative to gleaning , to dividing the portion set apart for . the poor , SO that the aged and the infirm should be injured . Tho laws of Moses , in this particular , were most perfect , no detail necessary to ensure them from

      evasioa was omitted . The same law which applied to > the poor Jews they extended to strangers . It Said , " Tho poor gentiles avo not to bo excluded from these laws , but are to share with the poor of Israel . " These laws were not only true to humanity , bub also to sound philosophy . Property was a trust , and not a right . Our greatest lawyers , including Blackstone and Bacon , held the doctrine that no man had a right to call tho fruits of the earth his own until the poor were fed . But in our days , when law was made a science , when we looked back with contempt upon the wisdom of our ancestor * , property was claimed as an absolute right . He denied that such a thing as absolute right existed , all rights were relative , all property was a trust involving certain duties . This might not ho the doctrine of

      the present day , but it was the doctrine of God , and it was the law of Moses . We professed io be a Christian country ; Christ came " ' not to abrogate , but to' fulfil the law ; arid if they professed to be Christian in name , they should show it by their acts , The word charity should be excluded from , every civilised community . Charity was the bastard child of justice ; justice was not blind as it was represented to be . It was far-seeing—it measured the wants of all . If the people of this land had ju-tice they would need no Soup Kitchens— tliey would not need the teaching of M . Soyer to learn the Spitalfield weavers to make soup at ono halfpenny per basin ; they would need no Charitable Institutions whatever ; such institutions were false irt prineiple and injurious in practice , and he prayed

      them to rid themselves of them as speedily as possible . Amid all our other discoveries we had found out that marriage was injurious ; Malthas said that a man should not marry until he ascertained whether there was room for him at Nature ' s table . Thia might bo correct , but they bad first to show that there did not exist accommodation for all , and thai ; those who were seated were so arranged as not to injure the coming guests ; that the food was not wasted , cor the few fed to repletion to the injury of the many . The lecturer then explained the economy of the Jewish laws relative to the portioning of marriageable orphans , and the delicacy and humanity with which their females wove treated , and contrasted this with the conduct of our own landreferring to the case of the Sloanes as an

      illustration . The Hebrew law provided , that if a poor man . was possessed of a house or vineyard , and poverty , compelled him to part with it , that he should not bo compelled to sell in the winter season when ifc was comparatively valuoliss , but that he should receive out of the tithes a loan oven to the extent of half the value of bis property , in order that his richer neighbours might not be able to take advantage of his necessities . How entirely opposed was this to our " buy cheap and sell dear" system . Under the Hebrew law , a man who got rich by taking advantage of his neighbour was treated as a criminal , but with us he was rewarded with magisterial and legislative honours . The lecturer then contrasted tbe effects of the tithe system under the Jewish and Christian dispensations , and , wbila acknowledging the imperfections of the former , showed that it waa immeasurably superior to tho system of tho present day . The lecturer theu traced the growth of commerce and manufactures

      among us , and showed how completely it had developed the spirit of selfishness , and how necessaryit was that we should legislate in the spirit of the ancient Jewish laws , and prevent the wealthy and the cunning from destroying the poor and the ignorant ; that we should cease to treat poverty worso than crime ; that wealth without virtue should no longer be deified ; and that to bring about these results we must establish the principle of regulation , instead of that of competition ; that we must be guided by the doctrine of proportion , instead of leaving all to the decision of chance . The lecturer concluded a highly interesting and much applauded discourse , of which wo have only space to giro a faint outline , by defending the Chartist Programme from the criticisms of the Times and the CaVomcfe , in relation to its advocacy of a poor law . After declaring the land national property , ho paid a high tribute to the honesty and earnestness of the members , and to the general correctness of the doctrines laid down by the Chartist Convention .

      Robert Owen.—The 81st Birthday Of Iiober...

      Robert Owen . —The 81 st birthday of Iioberfc Oweii , the philanthropist ; was celebrated on Wednesday , the 14 th inst . ( May ) , at the " Mount Pavilion , " Staten Island , where the Social . friends dined together , winding up the afternoon with music and dancing—New York Tribune , ( May 21 st . ) . . ¦ The Refugees . — At a meeting , held in TuramlU street , Juno 3 rd , Mr . Brown reported that five refu » gees had gone to Norwich ; He also stated he had engaged a military band of refugees for the excursion to Alperton , on Sunday next , and that a breakfast would be prepared for any friend * who called at Turnmill-street , on Sunday at seven o ' clock , before starting for tbe boats at Padding ton , hoping all would attend who laid claim to

      democracy , xne speaner concluded a lengthy address by again asking the friends , in the country or London , to take some of the refugees to work [ The monies will be announced next week ; the suma being very 'l ttle . A . little mistake occurred last week iu the money list The brushraakera should have torn Messrs . Hunwick and Back , with friends . -T Bbown ' ] - ^^ bootmakws ^ ** Co-operative Conpeuknoe . —At a meetin ? of tho committee , appointed by the Bury Co-operative Conference , held at Rochdale on the iviult ., ifc wastes ? ved to calla Conference in Manchester' ^

      he Friday , in Whitsun-week . In accordance with tlits resolution a Conference will bo lold in tho Mechanics Institution , Cooper-street , Manchester , on Fnday , tbe 13 th inst . / at ten o ' clock a . m ., when it 18 to be hoped , all societies interested in co-operativo movements will send theiv delegates . „ ; United Patriots' and Patriarch ! , ' Bkneht aw » Provident Society . —Wo are informed that tho annual festival of this society will be Iiolde"i at Highbury Barn ,, on Tuesday , July 8 th , wl . e » Mr . John Smith will take the chair . By the anr nual return , just published , the society appearsi to be making groat progress , the present « P «^ , 5 £ 8 , 154 ITs . ' m ., showing an increase suico last year Of * 632 03 . 7 Jd .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 7, 1851, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_07061851/page/1/