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Among the moat important of the Parliame...
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AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOUljlir ¦ ^ ¦ _ ^ ...
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VOL IV. P. 746. LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUA...
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Destructive Rifle.—An American of the na...
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[As the columns under this head are open...
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MASTER ENGINEBlp STRIKE. ..# LKTrsR^j^v ...
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Elkcuokibbino Ikibuiobncb.—The Right Hon...
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LABOUR VBRW&W&RM. : A pvblic meeting, oo...
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THE AMAZON. MORE LlVfiS SAVED. Southampt...
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Bkrious Cohflaorahok is Tauston.—On Wedn...
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Among The Moat Important Of The Parliame...
Among the moat important of the Parliamentary Inta of the week , we may notice the motion of tfr StASET , for the purpose of taking steps towards fluitatine the industrial associations of working „ It will be seen from the debates that Mr . SSet withdrew his motion . "We suppose he could rTe done nothing else , for the temper of theBauae Snot give hope for a chance of success . What Mnce there was of help from the Whig Govern-Ipnt was shown some weeks before the Session com-SLced when a deputation waited upon Mr . La-Shebe the subject That functionary , ^
upon Sle admitting , or half admitting , the principle , iTip a true Whig disputed the expediency of its pre-It app lication . He said that now , in consequence S the dispute between the operative Engineers and the emoloyera . was a moat unfavourable time for m-Jrodacin * such ameasure . Just at themoment when L peojle most want the ability to co-operate is the ^ timeto give it to them ; perhaps , when they Have managed , with infinite difficulty , to struggle through the obstacles which at present environ them , the ? may have what they have ceased to want . And the assistance which the Whigs would not give was
not to be expected from any other party . The Tories would probably have stood neutral . The Conservatives would have banded themselves against us , and what aid we should have had from the Free Trade party is pretty clearly indicated by the tone of Mr . Cobden ' s speech . It is curious to observe upon this question the condescendingly indifferent manner of the hero of the Kepeal of the Corn Laws . He does not think toe ability to associate freely for productive labour , its want is of any consequence at all . In fact , it
or does not matter a pin , one way or the other . It is something like ' a chip in porridge , * neither good nor evil , but rather to be avoided than otherwise . Looking down from the sublime height of his political economy , the Olympus of his great intellect upon the -wayward yagaries , the futile wishes of us poor mortals , he speaks much as one of the fabled goda of old might be imagined to have spoken . ' Well , ' he says , * if they want , let them have it , if they can get it I do not think- it would do them much good . I do not believe they would gain by subverting the natural
relations between capital and labour . I do not at all suppose that they could manage manufacturing and trading establishments profitably . It seems tome , in fact , that they would rather lose than gain hy the change ; bat , if they want to try the experiment , I am rather inclined to say let them allow them to suffer for their folly , and buy experience . ' It was thus , Mr . CobdEiV , the apostle of Free Trade in Corn , threw cold water upon Freedom of Trade . In that fashion , he damned the project with something
fainter than faint praise . It could not of coarse be worth his while , or that of any body else , to take any pains about such a matter . It was useless even to inquire . What was the use of inquiry ? Mr . Cobden and his party , in their great wisdom , had nothing to learo about it . Their minds were made up , and the question was , perforce , allowed to slip through on a sort of a promise upon the part of the Government to do , or think about doing , an indefinite samething at a very uncertain period .
There is no use in concealing the troth that this is a defeat . In this Session , at all events , we shall have nothing done towards facilitating Industrial Associations . Yet there is scarcely anything which is more needed ; and it would be difficult to point to a more moderate reform . It is not a new system ¦ which is asked for , hut one which has been tried in a neighbouring country , and has succeeded in spite of greater obstacles than it would have to encounter here . It is not the creation of a new power that is desired , but simply the removal of certain Legislative restrictions . No class interests—no rested rights are attacked , but the demand upon the part of the labourers , is that they may be enabled to elevate
themselves by their own efforts , and their own capital ; and this is the attempt which Mr , COBDEN , under the guise of affected indiffence , sneers at with assumed contemptuous pity , and induces the Whigs to disregard it . But the desire for legal and intelligent co-operation—though baffled for the time , based as it is upon pressing social want , will constantl y reappear and make itself heard in the Legislature—perhaps in the next Parliament ; a few , at all events , of earnest advocates , will find their way into what should be the Peoples ' s House , and then it will assume a form , in which it will need something more than the supercilious criticisms of Mr . Cobdes to put it down .
Another topic of great interest is the proposed embodying of the Militia , for the purpose of providing for the national defence of the country against foreign invasion . The debate upon this subject brought up several remarkable facts , and puts in a si-ong light the many inconsistencies on the part of the lit tle great men of more than one party . It is very evident , that notwithstanding their forced and awkward expiations of confidence in the good intentions of the Presidential homicide of France . Lord
-Jons Bfssell and his party are really afraid of the future . It may be that Lonj > John Russell , has for three or four years nursed the idea of increasing our military resources in the way proposed , but no one will believe that it is not something more than a mere coincidence that the step is to be taken this par ticular year . If it had been with the Whigs a time of quiet and leisure , they might possibly have brought in a Militia Bill for the want of something better to do . But it is incredible , that now their hmh are full to overflowing , they would pile up more outne
ss ; and it is still more impossible of belief that at the last gasp of official existence they would court opposition without good reason . Notwithstanding tee amity which they profess to believe exists , they are amply sensible of danger , though afraid to con-I J * - They know as well as we do that the promise leaking perjured assassin is not to be depended up ™ , and th ey wish to prepare without seeming to prepare . Not less remarkable is the fact that Ireland » as been exempted from the operation of the Bill , under
a sense that loyalty and obedience to the law « e not prominent characteristics of the Irish people , f ! 'tw * hstnnding all the twaddle which has been « Red b y Irish members about the fidelity of their leli o- * countrymen to the Crown , we think that , 0 IU ) j ° hx Russell will be very hard pressed before « e arms the inhabitants of the country of riband *' 'cietjes , orange lodges , agrarian murders , and special Amissions . In certain counties they pay their ren t with the blunderbuss pretty effectually , but the ^ linie rifle would furnish a much more certain means
™ discharg ing obligations of that character . We « ney that the gentlemen who represent the Green «! e may talk tffl they are hoarse , of ( he kind disposition of their countrymen toward the 'base brutal 3 ' « i bloody Saxon / and their respect for the Act of union , without raising in the minds of English ^ misters a conviction strong enough to induce them «» arm and train any large" portions of the people ™ Irela nd . In this debate too , Mr . Cobden took a prominent Part , and certainl y managed to go beyond himself . Absurdl y as he has sometimes talked when his own Particular crotchets are in danger , on this occasion ho uut-Heroded Herod . * After a little bit of prophesy , winch Mowing his past failures in that line , is we
: ~^ . t 0 De much regarded , he ventured on the assertion of a belief of the most monstrous character . « e actually expressed an opinion that there is too 'go . a sense of honour among the officers of the trench army to allow of their lending themselves to a E if descent n P &* AoMB of England . It is J DCIU \ we allow , to estimate the action of military war m the French army , but it does certainly » hr i , ° thaa ^ ang 6 . t <> pretend that those men * arf een tralDed " mtile Barbarities of African « uf 0 ar 6 T ' have lent themselves as instruments to < W - ^ despotic usurper—who have shot sonnf the 9 treeta of I * 41 * " » cold blood , their own lv . ^ and country women , would be restrained - ^ y Sentiment frnm infligtinn ininnr nnnn < Yiorfi . 4 MUVi /
vltm 11 ——~»* w **»/«** « uu « u « uug « JJU « , * jv »» - » - ^ en h 0 D ' ' 0 ar idea of the materiala of . tne that armJ We con ^ ess tead * 8 ns to the conclusion , li 0 D a ' enge for Waterloo , ' which hold out the t /^ ° f plunder , would be anything but distasteful 8 1 f , * ^ they went with alacrity to Home to tb A j toother Republicans , it is hard to believe ^ nd . J M not much more readily come toEng-> ' au to must rest our safety upon their want of T t otu F r tter than of wiU * Vnvr Mng as we are to a ^ ' ^ Shtly upon an imputation of insincerity , we to think « , ^ 0 BDEN S intellect so much injustice as K 'hat he believed his own arguments | and we
Among The Moat Important Of The Parliame...
look upon it as another to be added to the many examples of the length to which a man will go when hard driven to defend a favourite theory . We cannot , however , help acknowledging that it will be a great hardship upon the peaceful , unmilitary people of this country to be compulsoril y taken from their occupations and forced to spend their time in being drilled . We heartily sympathise in what we believe to be the general feeling upon that point . Still we do not know what else is to be done . If a Government of the present day would do what it
is not at all likely they will—permit the people to form Volunteer Corps—we do not think that any large body of men would voluntaril y submit to be trained to arms . Beyond that there is no alternative between greatly increasing the regular army and calling out the militia . The first is almost impossible , because those gentlemen who are continuall y crying out 1 peace , peace , where there is no peace , ' would never consent to the imposition of increased taxes , and the only remaining resource is a militia . If we are to trust to the force of arms—if we are once more to commit our destinies to the decision of the
God of Battles we must be prepared , for it is impossible not to see that there is imminent danger of a European war . Our best hope that it may be averted from us ia that the despots of the Continent are beginning to show a hostile front to Lotjis Napoleon . In love as they are with tyranny , it appears that to please them it must be legitimate and hereditary tyranny . The representative of the Corsican upstart-however closel y he may , imitate the aots of the Jfeapolitan Bourbon—¦ is / ndt ? exactiy to
their taste . To please them barbarism must be hedged in by divine right , and perpetrated by ' the tenth transmitter of a foolish face . ' - If we may believe report , the august Emperor of all the Bussiaa has already intimated to the shadow of his uncle that he will not countenance the erection of an empire on the foundation of a Napoleonistic dynasty . What Russia says , of course Austria books , and , therefore , the request of the Prince President for leave to remove the remains of the Due de Richelieu to France
has been refused . In Italy the Imperial armies are being augmented , and the encouragement given to the Pope to weate an army of his own points to the expulsion of the French from the Papal States . " All these instances taken together , afford ground to suppose that the storm may be averted from , as ; and in that case England might well be content to stand b y and see the Absolutists—legitimate and illegitimatefight'it out among themselves . But be that as it may , the time will come when it will become matter
for grave consideration , whether it is not both our interest and our duty to exercise our power in favour of the people of the Continent . It is possible that the day may come when every nation and every , man will be forced take a side , and as the world is not yet prepared to submit to moral or intellectual dictates ; as the sword is , and for some time longer unhappily will be , the final arbiter , such preparation as a militia will necessitate , may be . regarded , notwithstanding its present inconveniences , as the better of two evils ^
In purely domestic intelligence the weak is unusually barren . The subscriptions for the Holmfirth calamity may he noticed as likely to reach a large sum , bat the fact will be lost sight of , that there ought to he some one responsible for the loss of life and destruction of property which has taken place . When great Capitalists , by their negligence or carelessness , cause great suffering , society seldom or ever thinks of calling upon them to pay the penalty . When a railway accident happens , the drivers and guards are sometimes sent to gaol , but Directors always escape scot free . When an untried vessel like the Amazon
is . sen ^ toseaand wholesale deathensues , the Managers of a great Company are , of course , not culpable . So when , for the purposes of trade , embankments are built to dam np water , although we are told now , that" the quality of the work has always been suspected , yet no odium rests upon those who , in order to make money , accumulate the destruction which is let loose upon a whole valley . A paper-has said lately that the best way to prevent railway accidents would be to make a Director sit in front of every train . And there will he no safety for society at large against the recklessness of those who ' make haste to grow rich , ' tell they are made , either in purse or in person , responsible for due precautions being taken for the safety of the public .
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And National Trades' Jouljlir ¦ ^ ¦ _ ^ ...
AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOUljlir ¦ ^ ¦ _ ^ ___ _ „ ^„_^—_«——„_^_^„^_„^__
Vol Iv. P. 746. London, Saturday, Februa...
VOL IV . P . 746 . LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 21 , 1851 ^^^^ m ^ r
Destructive Rifle.—An American Of The Na...
Destructive Rifle . —An American of the name of Jones has invented a rifle which fires twenty-five distinct shots with one loading . The rifle has the appearance of the ordinary double-barrelled gun , with the exception that the bar rels are placed one above the other , and the lower barrel is rather shorter than the upper . In the lower barrel are placed twenty-five bullets of a conical shape , each about an inch in length . The upper part of these bullets is charged with powder , and by a slight movement of a small lever , they are brought into the upper barrel one after the other as the previous one is discharged from it . In the stock there is a small box for holding a number of detonating pills , quite on the homoeopathic principle , wbish one by one fall under the hammer of the trigger , and do the duty of the ordinary copper caps . The operator discharged his gun twenty-four times in about a minute , and said that he could load and reload his gun and fire it 12 a times in less than five minutes . The gun is under the consideration of the Board of Ordnance .
Mr . Fearoos O'Coxnor's Liberation from Prison . —On Friday Mr . O'Connor was told that as his term of imprisonment would expire next day , he would be at liberty to lea to at a very early hour , if be thought proper to do to ; and be did avail himself of the offer , and left the prison at nine o ' clock , in s cab , which he ordered to drive to Graven ' street , Strand , attended by one or two near relations and private friends . On leaving the prison gate he shoo ^ hands warmly with the governor , and expressed bia deep gratitude and thanks to that gentleman for his courteiy anq kindness to him while under his care . The prison autho-.
rities deemed it inexpedient to enforce the full rigour of their powers in his person , oj thrusting the prison dress upon turn , lest snob a step might tend to produce violent symptoms of the mental disordtr under which it is now confidently believed ha is labouring ; neither has h » been confined to the strict limits of the prison regimen , and indeed in all other respects he has been treated , not only with great consideration , but great indulgence . However , his personal appearance hat undergone considerable change for the worse ; his once florid complexion has entirely disapppeared , and a sickly palor has supplanted it . — Morning Paper .
Thb Seafobo Ciif * Expiosion . —The late experiment has not answered the purpose for which it was intended , for considerably more than one-half of the chalk thrown into the sea has been washed away by the operation of the tides . A circumstance has recently occurred which shows that the whole of the cells were not ignited by the voltaic battery . Large bags of gunpowder have been discovered , in the cliff , to procure which the labouring men in t & o neightatnboDd have risked their lives . " We under * stand that one man has in this way procured several owls , of gunpowder ; and that government having been informed of the fact have issued placards cautioning persons against keeping it , and that in consequence a large quantity has been placed in one of the Martello Towers . — Brighton Gazette .
PaoiEcnoH ieou Dakgrrous Ammals . —On Monday a bill in the House of Commons was printed to extend the power of magistrates in England and Wales regarding dangerous animals . Justices may order any dog proved to be in a rabid state to he shot , and may order all dogs within ten miles of the spot to he kept muzzled for ten days . The parties disobeying the orders are liable to penalties . There is a provision to prevent dogs from being used for drawing carts , & c , beyond the metropolitan district . Bulls are not to be allowed in fields near highways , unless fastened with a tether . Prosecutors , beyond their expenses , may be allowed a part of the penalties . Thb Beer Qcestioh . —A joint-stock brewery company has been formed , with a capital of £ 200 , 000 , in 40 , 000
shares of * o each , lor tne purpose ot establishing breweries on a comprehensive plan , to supply the public with un ^ adulterated ate and porter at prices herow those at present charged by the London brewers , and yet with a handsome profit on the capital invested . Branch breweries are to be opened in various districts . There are also two features of great and novel interest in the scheme . To meet the cats of persons who may be unwilling to incur the responsibility of shareholders , it has been determined to admit subscribers of £ 1 each , who will be entitled to a reduction ox their own purchases ; and the workmen regularly employed by the company are to he allowed a participatten in all profits exceed'ng £ 5 per cent , upon the capital used , in proportion to the value of their labour , as measured by the wages earned attbo ordinary rate .
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[As The Columns Under This Head Are Open...
[ As the columns under this head are open for the free expression of all opinions , the Editor is ' not responsible for , or committed to , any . ] THE UMTED STATES BANKING SYSTEM , FROM THE TltACT ON CURRENCY , BY " JUNIUS "
TO THB EDITOR OF THB NORTHERN STAR . Dear Sir , —In my last I gave your readers "Juniua ' s " account of the currencies of the United States , his opinions of what money or ourreney is , and ought to be , and the proper functions of gold and silver as money . It is only necessary here to say , that I do not agree with him , as to the necessity for making gold and silver the basis of a currency , or in the utility of boarding immense masses of these commodities to lie idle in the banks , or that gold and silver are the proper standard and measure of value , — according to reason , justice , and Dr . Adam Smith , labour is the only source of wealth and universal standard of value ' , — and before there can be any useful " organisation of labour ' or justice done to the working classes , labour must be made the standard of value in practice . But we must now proceed to give you " Junius ' s" account of the American Banking System , and return to the other parts of the question hereafter .
" Ambbicah Bashixo Ssstxm , " The Banking System of every country should be adapted to the genius and wants of the people , We had great resources , but wanted means to develops them , and thus to augment our wealth . To this end an augmentation of the circulating medium over and above the specie basis teemed to be required . How could this fairly and prudently be done ? " Why thus : —Here is real estate worth «* «» y time one hundred thousand dollars , and here are ten thousand dollars in gold and silver ,. Put . > fhetfi one hurrtred ' an & lWtftfflfaW * dollars together raider statute regulations as a capital held liable for -the debts of its . Trustees ' in their corporate
capacity , and give them leave to issue on this basis not more than thirty thousand dollars of a paper currency , for which this capital is held exclusively liable . If the trust be honestly administered , and the penalties of fraud should be exemplary , the security is ample and the public safe . In caseof suspension the capital is three to one of the claims against it . Now inark Well , reader , this is the principle upon which all the tanh of issue in the' United States are founded , and that principle is to have three times as much paper money incinu ' ation as they have gold and silver in deposit to meet it with , and yet ail of them pretend to engage to pay for all their notes in gold and silver on demand ; but here him further-on this subject . ;
" Now , although this case does not indicate all the usual functions of . banking , nor in all cases its exact shape , it 18 sufficient to characterise the great principle oj' 6 yr ^ American system , to wit , to provide a circulating medium' / equal to the xom & ' of the country , with a-suitable regard to the safely of bill holder s and other creditors . . . - ; ' "How socu a Ststem Operates . ' ..: ., ; " With the exuberance of our resources and exterprise it affords the means of multipljing wealth in a manifold degree . Instead of having one dollar to trade with , we have several , and the . v ate all good , being convertible ' into specie on demand , or , if in an extraordinary crisisthe banks
, are forced to suspend for a season , the notes are still good , while the capital Halle is two , three , or five to on * of the demands . By thus augmenting the circulating medium ; greater scope is given to enterprise , and increased facilities to trade . It is to this system of a sound credit currency , that , as a nation , we owe our unrivalled march to prosperity and wealth . By the use of the principle of credit thus modir fled and guarded , it has anticipated means , and produced incalculable wealth , out of resources , which otherwise must have been dormant . Credit is the moral peculiarity of civilisation , to think of living without it , is turning the eye and footsteps back to barbarism .
" The only hazard of such a system is a sudden run for gold , and consequent suspension , in extraordinary emergency , of trade . Rightly understood this need be no subject of alarm , as it is known by the conditions of the law , that the banks are allowed to Issue more paper than , they have specie in deposit , and , consequently , if surprised by a run for gold , in excess of the deposits , that they are obliged to suspend . But the abunbance of other capital held liable , is a safficient security for the holders of their notes . " How , » 3 this boasted American banking system is in principle a credit system , and there are always , it seems at least , three times as large an amount of bank notes in circulation as the banks have specie in deposit to meet we ask these wise bullionists how they can put on the face to toll men of common sense that the whole of this paper money is
based upon specie ? And if the shareholders in the banks were actually to deposit writings and securities of unincumbered land and other property , why should they not be allowed to circulate paper money to that limit , under the sanction of the legislature of each state , with whom the writings and securities for the property , should be lodged , and remain so long as such paper money was in circulation , and after being signed or indorsed by some state government officer appointed for this purpose ? Why should not tuck paper money be made a legal tender ( at least at that state )? Why should gold or silver be allowed to affect the currency of any country at all ? They are simply commodities , the produce of certain countries , like iron , lead , cotton , or corn , and there will always be dealers in these as there are in other articles , and if either natives or
foreigners want them , let them buy them in the market as they do anything else ; and if there is none to be had , they must either take some other kind of goods or paper money to settle their accounts . These remarks will equally apply to our banking system in England as they do to the banking system of the United States . The banks in both countries pretend to base their notes on specie , and to make them payable in specie on demand , whilst everybody knows , or might know , if they would pay the least attention to this important subject , that our hanks of issue never could , cannot now , and never will , be able to pay off all their notes in specie on demand . Because , when Peel ' s bill passed in 1816 , a schedule of a largo number of banks of issue in England , Scotland , and Ireland , were still allowed to circulate many millions of pounds of their own notes ,
without being required to keep a single sovereign in deposit to meet them ; and the Bank of England was allowed thus to issue fourteen millions of their paper ; and it is only for the surplus of notes that they issue over and above that sum , that they are required by law to keep a deposit of gold in their vaults . Whatever the consequence of this state of things is , that the trade , commerce , manufactures , and labour of the country , lie continually at the mercy of the buUionists and money-mongers , Jeios and jobbers ; who make a razzia every five or six years on the industrious classes . Awful rumours are circulated in the newspapers that a crisis , as it is called in money matters , is at hand . Confidence at once disappears , and all rush to the bunks for gold . The current run of bills are obliged to be refused altogether at the banks , and the best paper only discounted by the bullion holders , and at an awful discount . Goods , manufactures , and produce of every kind , are soli at ruinous prices for cash , and tradesmen become bankrupts , and thousands oi
workmen are thrown out of employ . And what caused all this ruin ? Why these bullionists persuaded us fools that it was absolutely necessary , for the purpose of creating a sound and healthy trade for the future , that we should mafce the ten or fifteen millions of specie , lying in the Bank of England , pay off two hundred or three hundred millions of bills and notes in full in gold , whilst they are filling their pockets , and laughing at our stupidity and foily . Make money plentiful , you reduce interest , and improve trade . Reduce money , you increase interest and destroy trade , for the price of money , like other things , depends on supply and demand . " Junius , " in the tract from which I have been quoting , thus describes the direful effects that resulted in the United States , from the scarcity of money in 1843 , arising from an unwise attempt to carry on trade there , principally in specie , which produced a panic there similar to ours of 1847 , under the head , ** A National Paper Money Indispensable to Supply an Adequate Circulating Medium . " He writes as follows : —
•• Everybody feels , and it is apparent , that we have not an adequate circulating medium now—1843 . It has been growing less and less—lighter and lighter , for a long time . In some parts of the interior of Pensylvania the people have been obliged to divide bank notes into halves , quarters , eighths , and so on ; and agree , from necessity , to use them as money . In Ohio , with all her abundance , it has been hard to get money to pay taxes . The sheriff ofMuskingham county , as stated by the Guernsey Times , * in the summer of 1842 , sold at auction , ona four-horse waggon for 5 dols . SO cents ., ten hoes
at 6 J cents , each ( 3 d . sterling , ) two horses ( said to be worth 50 dols . to 75 dols . each ) at 2 dols . each , two cows at 1 dol . each , a barrel of sugar for 1 dol . 50 cents ., and a store of goods at that rate . In Pike , county , Missouri , as stated by the * Hannibal Journal' last winter , the sheriff sold three horses at 1 dol . 50 cents ., one large ox for 12 J cents ., five cows , two steers , and one calf , the lot for 3 dols . 25 cents ., twenty sheep at 13 i cents , each , twenty-four hogs at 25 cents , each ( about Is . English , ) one eight-day clock for 2 dols . 50 cents ., seven hogsheads of tobacco at 5 dols . per hogshead , three stacks of bay each 25 cents ., and one stack of fodder 25 cents . ...
" Thus has property been sucriSced in a }} parts of the country , for want of money to buy it . But we need not further attempt to prove what all know . " Now these were the direful effects of attempting to carry out in actual practice , the impossibility of paying off in specie all their bank notes ; and we know to our sorrow that similar effects attended our own mud attempts to do the same in 1847-8 , and I fear it will not be long before we shall have to go through the same ordeal again ; for till the cause of those panics is removed , the effects will not cease . If we do not destroy bullionism , bullionism will destroy us . I am , dec , Liverpool , Feb . 15 , 1852 . ' ° HIJ ^ inch ,, San .
Master Engineblp Strike. ..# Lktrsr^J^V ...
MASTER ENGINEBlp STRIKE . .. # LKTrsR ^ j ^ v ^ TO THE EDITOR OF THB NOBIRBRK STAB . Dear Sib , — The engineers and labourers ( to the number of 20 , 000 , it i « estimated ) wbo » e : ; average ; earnings amount to 20 s . per week each , have ; be , en : ; 0 ut : ofiemployment " about five weeks , and thus wealth has heen ^ f vented from being created , which would have .. givie , n ,. ^ innjJ ) 0 Q ., in wages , to engineers and labourers alone , whilst tha ^ terialg , and the master ' s profits and expenses ,, have , ; bee | f a-lo ^ of at least £ 100 , 000 more ; this money , is lost-fpjrii 8 ^ eri . ; But this is not half the evil ; how many Bhopkfieperi ; ^ y . eib « en half ruined , or . entirely ruined , by giving to ? e 4 l . ti , t <) . jthe / amilies of these poor men , or by the loss- o ^ . th ^ toustom ? How , many iron makers , steel makers , ; . anp ^ . iwo ^ k ^ e ^ jn ; other trades , where employment depends on machines and : steam engines , have been thrown out of : wprkAmioBsequehce Surelv those who have caused a ^ :, thia ^ miSerJ : haye a great
deal to answer for to society . But ; the niorah . ipfluence of this strike is of far more consequence for the- future than all these pecuniary losses . " It has settherlofragftinst " the poor , and the poor againsWh © rich ^ th « c ? pl | alis , t'against the labourer , and the labourer . againsfcthe oapitalxst ; and , instead of its breaking up the working men ' s unions , as it was intended , it has only convinced rthem wthe' necessity there is that they should unite more $ eM # Uy , ; a ; nd more firmly , for the protection of the MemtM ^ Mlif / Jind thus , unfortunately , the breach that ; was alMOTy ;^ op , ' vW ; ide , between the different classes in sooiety , i ? io « i .:, open much wider , audit will take themoretime « jd : » bo «< toheaht . I was at the splendid public raeetinftlit"theiifanohester Free Trade Hall on Thursdayfevehih | p l $ p ;^^ admired the speaking on bottfeidesjof tW | n »»^^ most pleased at the ( upon the whole ) patienvjh ^ Sng they gave to Mr . Curtis , on behalf of ttesiMtis ^ jinaitheir . Association ; and , after . M ^* MM ^^^ uktS ^^
W *^ fri £ M » mf > i ^ of the masters , a redoncilmtipa . fflighf eh & fryweffeowu , on the following grounds : —' ¦ ¦ •; *• . */; Firstly , —The masters ' to do as they please about keep . Ingup their own Association , and leave their workmen to do as they pleasoabouUheir associations , clubs , andTrades ' Unions . k - ¦ ¦ \ " . ± 8 econdly , 4 The Masters' Association to withdraw the declaration that they have drawn up for the men to sign altogether , and open , their shops for the free reception of all parties , unionists or not unionists . Thirdly , —The Amalgamated Society to withdraw their notioo about overtime and piecework , for the present , and not io . issue . it again , to come into operation previous to the 1 st July next . :. ' .... . . ' .. ' . . . t to
Fourthly , —The men working at each establishmen try , in the meantime , 'to come-to . some satisfactory arrangement , separately , with their employers , about cwtjjnewid piecewofk ,, dh terms not in opposition to the laws of theAni ' a 7 garai $ a \ j | fciety ; gh . < jj . if all tbemasters enter into such : amicable . arrangement , the ' Society ' s notice to be withdrawn altogether , ah ; dlif . not , the notice to be served only , on ' such maste ^' as ' ifefijse to come , to an . agreement . In settling thia buaii ^ B-neither p ' avty ^ to ^ require or' insist upon the other signing ! ahy-writjeh . document whatever——but may ' do so if mutually agreed upon—by masters and men in any establishment ; I think :- it . monstrously .-unjust . for-the . masters , after depriving 17 , 000 men , whOj-ha / d jgiventheinno cause of offence , of nye weeks' labour , to require them at the end of
that time , ' oh ' pain of starvation / to sign a paper that will effectually , prevent them from > eyer getting any assistance from their fellow workmen . oh " any business of a similar kind id future . If . the masters had paid the non-Society men the five weeks ' . .. wages of which they have been , according- to their masters' own acknowledgment , unjustly deprived , and taken them on again , on the same free terms as they were working before , there would have been something like justice in it . Suroly , if those men arc willing to return to their work without making such a reasonable demand , even that is more than themaaters have any right to require of them . I fear if the masters of this country continue toadopt every means in their power to reduce the « ages of labour , as they have done for many years past , they . will very soon have cause to repent it bitterly . Tho " Manchester Guardian" of this day has the following
article : — " From a Liverpool Correspondent . —Thursday . —During the-past two days , our port has presented more the appearance of the departure of an immense convoy than anything else . Some 300 vessels of all classes have spread their sails for distant climes carrying some 20 , 000 emigrants , and ' valuable cargoes of merchandise . Among them were several vessels for our Australian Colonies , who , from their appearance , represent a very superior class of persons . " Now , suppose the 20 , 000 skilled workmen and labourers , whom the Master Engineers have been trying , for five weeks , to starve into submission , should determine , one and all , to follow the other 20 , 000 , who , it appears by the ' Guardian , " have emigrated from Liverpool this week , they would all find employment-and better wages either in
Australia or the United States , than they can obtain in England . ' And with the * £ 25 , 000 the Amalgamated Society has in hand , the money these workmen have in the savings banks , their household furniture , & c ., they could all be pre-Sar ' ed to go at once . In such a case , of what value would e the boasted capital of the masters . If our men of wealth wish to retain that wealth and increase it , they must improve the condition of their workpeople , and not try to reduce their wages ; they must give them something worth living for at home , or most assuredly they will seek it in other lands . Buonaparte has broken up the Trades' Unions In France , and the consequence is that thousands of the most skilled French workmen are emigrating to America , Some millions of Irish labourers are already gone , and they have made abundant work there for many thousands of
skilled English workmen . I was told last year , by many of the largest Master Engineers in New York , Boston , and Philadelphia , that they had orders that would employ all their men for several years . They have 11 , 000 miles of railway now in operation , and 11 , 000 miles more constructing , besides all their immense number of steamboats , and engines and machines without end are required for their constantly increasing manufacturing and agricultural operations . I hope , therefore , that our government and wealthy classes will 'take warning in time , and do all they can to increase the liberties , and improve the condition of Our workmen . If they delay it till all the most skilled and experienced are gone , it will be too late to remedy the evil . I am , dear sir , yours , John Finch . Liverpool . February 14 , 1852 .
Elkcuokibbino Ikibuiobncb.—The Right Hon...
Elkcuokibbino Ikibuiobncb . —The Right Hon . Vernon Smith has been returned for Northampton , by a majority of 345 over a Conservative candidate . —Mr . 0 . Lusbington has intimated his intention of not again presenting himself to tho electors of Westminster . —Mr . Biggs , of Leicester , has visited Newport , and addressed a large meeting of electors and non-electors . Avowing Radical Reform , and anti-endowment principles , it was resolved— " That Mr . Biggs be invited to stand as a candidate for the representation of Newport at tho next election , " which , on being put to the meeting , was carried unanimously , and a requisition was prepared for the signature of the electors . — A conservative meeting was held on Tuesday evening at Harwich , for the purpose of inviting Sir Fitzroy Kelly to contest the borough . It is hinted that Mr . Crawford will appear on the liberal side . —Mr . Kinglake is a candidate for the representation of Bridgewater , at the next election
The warned gentleman states that he has ever held liberal opinions , and that his judgment , now aided by experience , sill leads him forward in the cause of rational improvements . —East Kent . —The nomination of a candidate to upply the vacancy created in the representation of the eastern division of the county of Kent , by the retirement of Mr . Plumbtre , took place on Barbara Downs on Monday . The candidates were Sir Brook Tf . Bridges and Sir Edward Dering , both of whom are members of the Protestant and Protectionist party in Kent , but Sir E . Dering has exhibited a tendency to " Peelite" influences , and a disposition to regard the Maynooth grant as a necessary evil . After the customary proceedings and speeches , the show of hands was declared in favour of Sir Brook Bridges , and a poll was demanded for Sir E . Dering Tho polling commenced on Thursday , and the following were tho numbers at the close of the first dav—IWina 1 84 ft Bridges , 2 , 037 . Majority for Bridges , 19 l ! 8 ' ' '
Singular Death from Lock jAw . ;—On Tuesday an inquest was held at Liverpool on the body of James Bradley a cotton-porter , twenty-eight years of age , whose death had been caused m the following singular manner . - —About a week previously he was employed in converting the blade of a razor into a knife by fixing it to a wooden handle , and used the sharp end of a file , heated , to bore holes in the wood . _ While so engaged the file slipped , making a deep burnt incision in the palm of his hand , near the thumb A carman put something into the wound , which he said was used for horses ; and the deceased continued at his work as usual , until two days before his death , when he complained that his jaws were quite tight , and that he could hardly open his mouth . The hand , which had been much swollen all the week , was now of the natural size and tho evening before his death , on leaving work , his ' neck was quite stiff , and his head all on one side . Then for the first time , medical advice was called in , but too late ; the tanushadsetin , and in a few hours afterwards he died . The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death . ' '
Antiquities prom NiKEVEH . -For the last day or two great excitement has prevailed in the neighbourhood of the St . Katharine Docks in consequence of the removal of a largo quantity of curiosities to the British Museum , broughtrfrom Nineveh by the shi p Apprentice : one piece in particular , consisting of a lion in marble , weighing upwards of fifteen tons , was removed by James Golding and Son , carmen London Docks gate , drawn by eleven horses , and followed by a great concourse of persons ,
Labour Vbrw&W&Rm. : A Pvblic Meeting, Oo...
LABOUR VBRW & W & RM . : A pvblic meeting , oontm t ^ bT ^^ Council , was held on Wedneida ^ yenijBft ^ at tho Temperance Hall , 86 , Royal Mint- » tteetf & omr } amMii to considt * the above subject . The largo & all wa « feweil filled . Mr . . Clarke having beenr tiifed tOi * fi » -oniiri commenced the proceedings by remarkihg that the reccntflttaok of the employers in the IronTrade » L » howed the necessity of th « meeting .. ... , (' ;( ' ., ,.. * -.- " ¦ '' -1 > - - •• ¦ : Mr . E . Jones moved the ' f < MWin £ resolution : — " Thi * Meeting pled ges itself to resist . the aggressions of . Camtsi "gatoRt Labour by every ipst means , andbelwvingtbatpo ii ^^^ a lone ^ ili - ' enabietbe wbrkingWelfees to da-Birov : their nnni « i w-.. ^ „ . . ; . t __ ji , j n _« ji «» : ito uniMim iw i
in nMifUAl "" "" nnHlga , 'TeSUlVeB Wi uo ™ S' «» » .. « . . w t » fcSt g" »» atio £ for / cstablishlrig the Sovereignty of Sfefc ffi'W W * Besideslthe aristoortoy of land and ^ llv th / ^ ° ther Btillmore insidionsand dangerous rnZT nfci ^^ ^ Labour . It . was . difficult and 3 ffir £ „ . aE the r «» l truth en that subject ; but how-JffoteThi 7 : t ? X £ VV ° ^ " hlS nflrfnrm Whiii A ! : i of a 11 consequences , he would ? t w ° ™ not E ^ uEatorA ^ ° ^ his opinion the very SftS ?^ Than * ' ever 5 JK ) aboqre ? S ; tp ; fail back « p \ n , JjJ ^ fe . m ^ w «* Jabourfaj } fail toww ^ 'Ke ^^ fi ^ ffifS £ ^ . ^ a bourT m ^ y ^^^ j ^^ dqjn 4 htm wore eleven aorerof gSod hiuo Th « h » . iZ
proauoi ; iye power , and only needeu the duitfibhtive mmf ' In ; manufactured goods- they > proouoed . tdght ' v hundred mb > ions . worth annually . They were ^ l ysa . population ? f . twenty-lame , million , .. consequently ; also they . only needed ' the distributive power . There were seventy-eight million * acres of land in this country . ; of these twenty-eight vnvUioa laid , waste , twenty-two million were monopolised in woods parks , Ac , arid the remaining part was only half culti- Tated . How came there to be a surplus of labour ? Farms ' of TOO aor « s employed" only about eight -families , wherea *' if . they allowed seven acres to each man—and it had bees protfld that he could lite on two—they f would afford tub * . Bistenoe for 100 families . This was where ; the surplus , la * bqur came from . ; They most roturn / tbem-irom the tojrn » to the agricultural distrfctB ., Howww < jtbi » to , be done . ?' They must get political power ? Theyimusl !; gay . to thesa holders of land— " H ia ours : w ' e MlLotftisfos fair to you .
SL tag ? possession of it . " When this , was done , the surplus k " . * would be removed / in' a similar'Mriner to that in whwh it had been created ; ' To attempt toiremove the surplus labour without that : potter was ufterly futile . ThejH would op only dealing : withtW « ffeat'wi ^ uk removing th * f Cause . ; . i , jii * -i ¦ ¦ - ' ^ I j ^' - ¦< % >¦/ . \ S ' . Mr . Strj ^ taniwiBhedMr . Jo nlH |^ o ^^ i ^ t ^ hoir \ j ' iS | pfepo ^ power # ^ SW * —4 S political' power . ' « w » tjw j s ., * u * ' If ? P iied > t !> at Co-operation would never effect " this . They might get a lot of Iron votes , until they at last got possession of an Iron Borough , and returned a member belonging to the interest of the Iron Trade . Bat during Us progress they would find either that their plan had become a mere wreck , or that they had created a fewaristocrats as blameable as those they now condemned . Al experiments showed that this would be the result . Political power would ever be brought against them when . they , had a prospect of just success
. « . w . Murfuy seconded the resolution . He believed that Co-operaton would never enable them either to obtain tho land or political power . While they , had the present system of currency they never could carry out a safe syst « n of'Co-opwation . Even if they could succeed they would be put down by the strong hand of the law in a similar manner to that in which tbey had been put down in Lyons and Rouen . The result of Mr . © 'Conner ' s Land Plan , which he believed to be sincerely meant for the benefit of the . people , showed that government could at anytime so cripple them as to ensure their ruin . He ' advised- 'them in that district to look at once to the moans in their hands for achieving that political power , in the representation of the metropolis , to which they wore so well entitled . : '"' ¦'
Mr . llolt said , though an engineer he did not belong to the Amalgamated Society , but he thought that Mr . Jones , after going through a whole series of arguments , only gjanced at the real question asked him . He told them that the Amalgamated Trades would never emancipate themselves , but that combination by getting political power would be their only remedy . The Amalgamated Society was but a recent experiment , and all society must follow their example , ere they would attain power of any description . The only argument Mr . Jones used was , that amalgamation was not combination . He told them that now was the time for the ill-paid trades to take advantage of the struggle of the high-paid trades . This was not combination , or brother feeling . Mr . Jones might have uttered it without evil intent , but it was calculated to produce evil . He thought that instead of endea * curing to crush tho Amalgamated Trades' Union , they should encourage all efforts towards combination .
Mr . Stratton at some length advocated the doctrine of Co-operation , and regretted that Mr . Jones had not stopped to answer the questions he bad wished to put to him . Working men , by simply co-operating to save the money they they now uselessly spent , would speedily bo enabled to effect a great change in the currency of this kingdom . Every job of work done by the Amalgamated Iron Trades was work taken from the masters by the men . To the extent they enriched themselves , they impoverished
their employers by absorbing the profits ( enormous as they now were ) which he had previously enjoyed . Mr . Murray said he agreed to some extent with the last speaker , and explained the difference between them relative to the question of the currency . The resolution was then put and carried unanimously . Mr . Bligh at great length moved , and Mr . Hall seconded , a motion agreeing to the formation of Chartist localities , which was carried , and Monday evening appointed as their night of meeting .
The Amazon. More Llvfis Saved. Southampt...
THE AMAZON . MORE LlVfiS SAVED . Southampton . —Intelligence has been received herefrom Dorchester , that two men , named Thomas Sergeant and Allen , belonging to the Amazon , landed on Wednesday , at Weymoutlt . They assert that they were picked up by a Dutch vessel after floating about , with two others ( who perished from cold ) , for two days upon a life-buoy . Sergeant states tbey were not far from the Amazon when she blew up , and that a piece of the wreck struck Allen on the shoulder , and that he thought he was killed . Allen is said
to have the mark upon his shoulder now . Tho above is the substance of the details which have just been telegraphed from Dorohester to this place . The statements have been made in the presence of highly respectable persons in Weymouth and Dorchester , who are strongly impressed with its truth . Tho list of names of those missing hy tho Amazon has been carefully looked over , but neitner Sergeant nor Allen ia found therein . It is not improbable , however , that the men have shipped under assumed names . The news is scarcely credited in Southampton , and will require further investigation to establish its authenticity .
Bkrious Cohflaorahok Is Tauston.—On Wedn...
Bkrious Cohflaorahok is Tauston . —On Wednesday afternoon the handsome and spacious residence of Edwards Beadere , Esq ., generally known as Highlands , situate about a mile from Taunton , was burnt to the ground , nothing remaining but a few walls , Tho building in question was an elegant structure in the Elizabethan style , and covered principally with thatch . The fire originated in the chimney of the school-room , which commuincating with the thatch , cauied the devastating element to spread with fearful rapidity . Shortly after the first alarm the engines were in attendance , and the flames were kept in check sufficiently to
allow many valuables—the plate , pictures , & c—to be removed . A great portion ot the furniture , however , was destroyed . The damage is estimated at about £ 2 , 000 , but the premises were amply insured . Tub Glut ot Gold . —It is stated on very good authority that , in order to stimulate the circulation of gold in this country , it is intended to limit , ii not altogether stop , the future issue of £ 5 notes from the Bank of England . Should this p / an he carried out , tho public will have to us « more bullion in small money transactions than is at present customary . Some notes of other denominations will , it is stated , also be more limited in number than hitherto .
Thb Forbidden Titles not ubrel * " A . scrvbb » . "—On Sunday morning pastorals were read in all tho Roman Cathelic placet of in tho metropolis and environs , and collections made for the support of the orphanages established at Norwood and North Hyde . These documents emanated from Cardinal Wiseman and D >; Grant . This being the first time the latter prelate had addressed " the faithful " of the " diocese of Southwark , " some little excitement prevailed as to whether Dr . Grant would take the forbidden title . The subject of the pastoral was purely spiritual , and it concluded with the words " Given at Southwark , on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin , 1852 . Thomas , Bishop of Southwark . " The pastoral of Cardinal Wiseman recited his full titles at the outset . These facts will show that Lord Grey was iu error when he stated in the House of Lords last week that the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill had had the effect of deterring the Roman Catholic prelates from assuming the prohibited titles .
Dismissal or thx Master of St . Pahcras Workhouss —On Wednesday , at a fully attended vestry meeting of the parish of St . Pancras , held in the vestry-hall , King's-road , Camden Town , Dr . Gregory moved the following resolution : — " Thali it appearing from the minutes of the board of directors that Mr . Eaton , master of the St . Paucras Workhouse , has forfeited their confidence , and that , they recommend the vestry to declare tho situation of waster vacant , the vestry resolved that the services of Mr . Eaton be dispensed with on and after the 25 th of March nest . When put to the vote , the numbers were-For the dismissal , 50 ; against it , 4 ; mnjority , 46 . The master was then called in , and informed that after the 25 th of March
his lervices would be dispensed with . Thb GATisiRorHii at Hoimpjbth . —On Wednesday , Mr . Dyson , coroner for the Halifax district , and the jury rc- ^ assembled at the Town Hall , Holmfirth , for the purpose of further prosecuting the inquiry into th » causes of tho late dreadful calamity , by which nearly WO lives , have been sacrificed . Captain Moody , R . E ^ attended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the government ; Mr „ Jacomb , solicitor of Huddersfield , and clerk to the commissioners ol the Holme reservoirs , was present on bahalf of that body . —A great number of witnema were examined on Wednesday and Thuraday , and the . inquiry Wa , resumed on Friday morning .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 21, 1852, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_21021852/page/1/
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