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Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th August 1851, Edition 2 of 2, Page 1, fWtrftjMgft

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    • OSE OF THE CAUSES OP LABOUR'S v WRONGS.
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      Ose Of The Causes Op Labour's V Wrongs.

      OSE OF THE CAUSES OP LABOUR'S v WRONGS .

      "Pabscity Is The Soul Of Justice."— Best...

      "PabScity is the soul of Justice . "— Bestbam . Jlr . EDITOB , —The civilising agency of a Free Press is an accredited truth ; and the Newspaper baa become ao necessary to our well-being , that it is now received as part of the food of life , -without which we die . A Free Press is , ia a word , the perfection of humanity ; for as men thirst for the possession of an unrestricted press , the closer do they approximate to Christian love and Christian charity .

      But , asrespectg the Newspaper-sheet , the British Press is not a Eree Press . They deceive themselves who pronounce it to be such . A greater impediment to the growth of Political power , or a more effectual means of suppressing the distribution of Political knowledge , never could have been devised than that which a British Government imposed on the nation , when they decreed that all 'News ' should be printed upon a stamped sheet of paper . Unable as the law officers of the Crown

      ever have been to define the meaning of this word' News , ' they have arbitraril y ruled it as imperative in its application to all kinds of political information . Thus , to publish the Debates in Parliament , or comments , in the form of leaders or addresses , thereon , or information , the nature of which relates to the events of the hour ; the Bankrupt List , and matter taken from the 'London Gazette ; all such particulars have been construed as evidence , proving that the medium through which the same is disseminated should be taxed .

      And the effect of snch a ruling , and the operation of the law itself , in stuffing the people with a kind of mental food for which , they have no appetite , and , consequently , cannot digest , are before us in the number of dail y papers the three kingdoms possesses , and the tone of Political Knowledge they respectively

      assume . Fornearly eighteenmillions of soals , theEnglish Daily Press consists of six Morning and five Evening Journals , viz . : — The Times , ' Morning Paper , The 'Dail y News , ' „ The * Morning Advertiser / The 'Morning Chronicle , ' The 'Morning Herald , ' The ' Morning Post , ' The ' Globe , ' Evening Paper , The ' Shipping Gazette , * „ The ' Standard , ' „ The ' Sun /

      The 'Express , ' „ which is a second edition only of the ' Dail y News / All these are published in the Metropolis . To this list there are to be added : —For Scotland , the 'North British Daily Mail , ' published in Glasgow ; and for Ireland , two evening papers . In all , seven Morning and seven Evening Journals , represent the Daily Press of the United Kingdom .

      With the Newspaper as with all other things that are bought and sold , price is a great element of their existence and success ; and for the diurnal journals the magical sum oitivepence is the cost . Now , when we observe the political bias of these organs , we are reminded that , without exception , all classes in the community are more or less represented , save one , and ( paradoxical as the statement may appear , it is nevertheless true ) that class is the Labouring Class , in number five-sixths of the others , for which there is no daily organ that pretends to give expression to their

      opinions , —that will give np its columns to the publication of their social wrongs , —or be their advocate , when heartlessl y assailed , either by the inhuman tyranny of some grasping capitalist , or by that portion of the said press whose ' motto is ' things as they are . ' The price of these papers has completely made them the representatives of the Commercial and Trading interests . For the oppressed working man they have only words of abuse ; but for the capitalist , they have a soothing

      syrap and a healing balm . Test it ; and the youngest , and reputed to be the most liberal , of the London journals , will devote half a column to the report of a great meeting of four hours' duration , and , in , a few days afterwards give up four columns and a half to the publication of an ex parte statement by one of the most unscrupulous of masters that has ever been compelled , in cross-examination , to publish to the world bis own double dealings and chicanery .

      It is literally true that the artizan and mechanic , factory and agricultural labourer , are as much unenfranchised , as respects the advantages of this mighty power , as too many of them are as pertains to their political xights . And the cause of this is , not that the working man does not appreciate the advantages in question , but because the Stamp and Excise Laws have , by their imposition , made Newspaper property the privileged trade of a few . Hence the worker must take what lie

      can get ; there is no choice of viands offered to him ; he is compelled to drink from fountains that are as impure at their source—for the good their advocacy will do him—as our famed Thames is ,. in a more physical but not less Objectionable cense . The daily press of this country is the advocate of the idle , and the well-to-do orders of men ; the fundbolder has no warmer friend ; the bullionist no more devoted admirer ; the merchant and the trader no truer exponents , than the London daily press ; and just as it is the truthful expositor of their feelings , so is it the destructive enemy of those who , by accident of birth only , are beneath them .

      Look at the Weekly Press also , and again we see evidences of the injurious operations of these unjust restrictions . Papers that are reputed to be liberal in their tendency are but the advocates of the same set of opinions , slightly modified in their grossness , but not a whit more advanced in the cause of progress . To speak of exceptions to this rule la but to admit its general correctness ; and whilst I am perfectly prepared to acknowledge that the "Weekl y high-priced press has three or four talented and advancing journals , yet amongst them all I have to look for the advocacy of the people ' s rights—not to speak as propounded in the Charter only , but in Manhood

      suffrage , and cannot find one that espouses that great principle , the 'Northern Star' excepted . As we descend in price , so the opinions promulgated become increasingly popular ; but , admitting another exception here , still the milk and water diet is alone prepared for the political nourishment of the people , and that too , of a most inferior quality . In the weekly as in the daily press , the money-holders have got almost exclusive possession ; and so long as the Stamp Laws allow them to hold on as they now do , the field of Newspaper thought ¦ will be their own , and the labouring classes will always be denied the right of common entry .

      I have directed attention chiefly to the metropolitan papers , and my experience in various counties in England assures me of the appositeness of my remarks to the majority of the provincial journals . I make no charge against any one of them—for whom they appear they doubtless are the beau ideal of perfection— but simply say the cause of the working man is not indebted to , but has a long Ecore against , them for any service hitherto

      rendered on his behalf . TVhy the working classes are without power in this respect , is attributable greatly to the workings of the laws under notice . For a man to start a daily paper , he must be prepared to hazard some 50 , 0001 . ; for a weekly paper , not less than 10 , 0001 . The journal to be patronised by the artisans of this country , as a daily paper , must not exceed in price threepence . What with the penny stamp and the

      "Pabscity Is The Soul Of Justice."— Best...

      workings of the duty on paper , one half of this sum ( three halfpence out of three pence ) , will be clutched by the government officers ; the news-agent will then come in for twenty per cent , more , which with the fifty per cent , just mentioned , leaves but thirty per cent , for the discharge of the" thousand and one expenses incidental to its publication . But this is not all . There are but few men who , possessing the means , sympathise with the progress of popular opinions , whilst those who do , are comparatively poor in respect to the amount required . A threepenny daily paper to be

      successful must sell 80 , 000 copies ; and to publish it , for one week only , according to our present arrangements , would require the proprietors to disburse—for stamps , close upon 2 , 0007 . ; for paper , 1 , 440 J . ; for printing , 1201 . ; making a total , for three items only , of 3 , 560 / .: probably the total expenditure of such a paper , in the working department only , would not be less than 3 , 6007 . weekly . Here , then , I say is a sufficient reason why the Mechanic is without a voice in the great struggle

      of party conflict . Such property must fall into the hands of wealthy and usurious men j and hence the interests of this class only find support . But it must be apparent to all , that if the first item could be dispensed with , the 2 , 000 / . ; and the twenty per cent , on the paper saved , or 2847 ., in all 2 , 2847 ., out of 3 , 6007 ., not needed for the accomplishment of precisely the same ends , the remaining 1 , 4167 . would not assume so terrible a shape to risk , by persons prepared to help the people in the way proposed .

      The postal regulations are not desired to be disturbed , when they seek for the removal of this objectionable tax . What is required is only this—those who are resident out of the town where the paper is published would pay one penny more for their paper than those located in tiie district ; this extra payment being for Postage . This is the system already in practise with such papers as the 'Athenaeum , ' ' Builder , ' * Punch , ' & c . Stamped copies of these publications are fonrpence , unstamped threepence , an equitable arrangement , because a service is rendered . But the London subscriber

      to the * Northern Star' pays one penny to the Government , not because he has troubled its officers with the carriage of his paper , but simply because he may do bo if it suit his purpose , as the authorities always reply . But , Mr . Editor , your readers in thefitrge towns would get their copies at the unstamped price , it being ascertained that the cost of the carriage of each bale of paper , as made up by the London agents , would be so trifling in amount , that the reduced price of paper , consequent on the non-visitation of the exciseman , beyond the reduction of the one-penny-half , penny per pound , would compensate for the railway charge .

      But here I must pause ; not that the proofs are wanting , if indeed they have ever been , showing the abomination of these laws , but because my space is exhausted . So , for the present , I close my letter with this observation , that the penny stamp is not imposed for postal purposes—that is the pretext , not the cause ; nor for revenue purposes ; but simply to keep the mighty engine of the press out of the hands of the labouring classes , that they may be kept politicall y ignorant of the rights which pertain to their order , and insensible to the wrongs which a grasping moneyocracy are hourl y committing upon them , Cbjjsok .

      And National Trades' Jourllllgl

      AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURllllgl

      Fol Bv. P. 721. London, Saturday, August...

      FOL BV . P . 721 . LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 50 , 1851 . ** 2 ^ iJ £ ^ % & — ' : ___ Lr wrre Shillings and & ixp « ace per Quarter

      The German Agitation Union Of Losno.V.— ...

      The German Agitation Union of losno . v . — Under this name a society has been formed for the pnrpose of " re-estabiiahing the lawful rights of the German people , " by means of " agitation within the limits of the laws of England . " Dr . KatlTauseman , of Vienna , is certificated as its representative , and agent by the following names : —J . Rckler , Dr . G . Franck , A . Goegg , D . Hertte , J . Rouge , Dr . A . Bonge , F . Sigel . Dbhbtshibe Stockisgbhs . —In Melbourne there are twenty-one framework knitters , eleven silk glove hands , and three plain hose hands—the ribbed

      hands are getting the lowest earnings I ever heard tell of—I found two of them making half hose socks , namely , one man making the plain foot part , the other man making the ribbed ancle part , at Is . 6 d . each a dozen ; they have to work very hard to make three dozen a week , which is 4 s . 6 d . a week each ( warehouse price ) , from which they are stopped as follows : — Making three dozen at Is . 6 . each £ s . d . s . d . dozen ... * 6 DEDUCT .

      Frame rent eighteen gauge ... 0 0 10 Machine rent 0 0 1 Seaming ... ... 0 0 6 Needles ... 0 0 2

      0 1 7 2 11 eaving only 2 s . lid . for a man ' s week work when fully employed ; when out of work he has to go to the parish , or tramp in the street a begging . W . Mason . FioBEscK , August 19 th . —On Sunday night an Englishman , named Walker , and three or four Florentines , who met in his house to read the B ble of Diodati , were arrested and conveyed to prison . Mr . Walker is a great friend of Count Guiccardini , who was exiled from Tuscany for a similar motive by

      order of the police . We shall see what the government will do , for the cise cannot be tried by the ordinary tribunals , since the Tuscan code does not consider as an offence the fact of a few individuals meeting to read and comment on the Bible , even though it be a Protestant translation . Hitherto everybody had been at liberty to follow the creed he thought proper , but since bigotry has crept into the policy of the government , matters have completly changed , and the inquisition no doubt will soon be re-established . — Opitaone Of Turin .

      SUWBKSSION OF REIJOIOUS LlBSRlT JN GeBMANT . —Johannes Ronge , the great German preacher , has addressed to the "Daily tfews " a letter on the great continental conspiracy of Jesuitism and Absolutism . Of the Protestant kingdom of Prussia he says" The worship of the large parishes having been in existence for more than six years , was not at once prohibited . Riots were apprehended . But there was a police measure at hand . The government took away from them the chapeb which were lent to them by their Protestant fellow citizens . So it happened to the parishes at Berlin and at Breslau . To the small parishes the command of prohibition at once was handed over . The Lord ' s Supper of tree parishes has been published in several towns by Imprisonment . So it happened ia Konisberg-

      Public officers , who were members of free churches , have been dismissed . Even the support of the poor children of those parishes is forbidden , and the schools which the free churches hud erected were shut up . In Breslau , where to the free parish belong 10 , 000 souls , the Ladies ' Union proposed a public auction of objects , which they themselves had worked , for the benefit of poor children . The Berlin government prohibited it . " At Breslau and at Kadhausen , the " children's " gardens ( Kindergaerten ) of the " Ladies ' Union " are dissolved . What do you think these gardens are , that they should frighten that warlike Prussian Government ? The " Kindergaerten " are playing-rooms , and gardens for young children from three to seven years , in order to be educated there by playing together under the

      superintendence of members of the " Ladies' Union " ( Fralion Venn ) . Indetd , the Pope could find no better tool for his destructive purposes than this Protestant king and his abominable government . " He concludes with a " practical proposition : — "All free parishes of the European Continent , and of the United States of Sorth America , have to submit to an " United Committee'' which resides at this moment in London , in order to pursue the struggle against Jesuitism and religious oppression with combined and well-directed force . Tne United Committee appeals to the sympathy of the English people , and appeals to every one who is a friend of religious liberty and of the progress of humanity , to support their labour and to join them . I am , & e ., Johasses IIoxgb , Lower Mount Cottage , Lower Heath , Hampstead . " j

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      National Charter Association. Office—H S...

      NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . Office—H Southampton-street , Strand . The Executive Committee of this body held their usual weekly meeting , as above , on Wednesday evening last . Present—Messrs . Arnott-, Holyoake , Hunt , and Milne . A note was read from Mr . Reynolds , apologising for non-attendance through press of important business . Messrs . Harney , Jones , and O'Connor , being out of town , were absent , as was also Mr . Grassby . John Milne was called to the chair . A large mass of correspondence of a highly progressive tendency was read , including Ernest Jones ' s weekly

      REPORT . " On Tuesday I lectured again in-Newtown ; the splendid Town-hall being crowded in all parts and a large enrolment of members taking place-making about fifty in all , and twenty-four cards disposed of by the Council . " Oh Thursday , the 21 st , I was in the Corn-exchange at Birmingham . Nothing can exceed the apathy and inertness of this large town . I was told ic was the largest political audience that had assembled for a long time ; if so , all I can say 18 , bad is the best . Trade is yet too brisk—when the

      panic , crisis returns , all will doubtlessly be excitement . How strange ! that the people after , such manifold experience cannot see beyond the length of the present moment I The temper of the meet ^ ing itself was excellent ; eighteen members were enrolled , a fair proportion out of the number present . Such is democracy in Birmingham . I must however add that there were three or four unusual attractions open the same evening , in the shape of theatrical , juggling , and " pleasurable " exhibitions , and that Thursday is a bad day for a meeting in Birmingham . '

      " On Friday * the 22 nd . I lectured in Walsall . The large room was crowded , and such were the numbers present that great numbers assembled in the space outside beneath the open windows , almost equal in amount to those within . The best spirit prevailed—and , on the chairman's invitation , at least 100 stepped forward to be enrolled , when some members of the Chartist body would not allow an enrolment to take place , or even take cards for future use . I invite particular attention to this fact . —On my asking * the reason , ' the answer was 'Policy 1 '— 'they bad been waiting on the leading middle-class men of the town , and hoped to win them over ; ' with a good deal more about'Baptists' ' Unitarians , ' & c , perfectly unintelligible to me . This miserable , pusillanimous spirit must be put an end to . No wonder Chartism has been at a low ebb in Walsall . By truckling to the middle , classes , by a tortuous , servile twisting through the crooked paths of ' policy ' , no movement ever yet

      made headway . The Charter is a manly movement for a manly purpose , and not to be handled by the paralysed fingers of old women . Had a manly policy . been pursued on Friday last at Walsall , there would not have been a flourishing locality of at least fifty members , that , with attention might soon amount to 500 , for nowhere than here have I found a better spirit to exist . I may here observe that many gallant minds are to be found among the local leaders , and that all , even the timid , I feel convinced , are well-meaning and honest ; but , however honest , ilieirs is * . ot the way to win the Charter . They want to please everybody , and will find that they please none . The way to carry a movement is , to do what is right , and let everybody think and say just what he likes about it . "On Sunday I was at Peterborough . An openair meeting had been called for two o'clock . About one o ' clock a most violent and continuous storm

      broke over the old tower of the cathedral ( the parsons would say it was over tke Onanists ) * , however , a considerable number had congregated at the spot under an umbrageous old oak . The storm increasing in fury I moved the adjournment of the meeting till- five . In the meantime the largest available room in the town was procured—and the Council dispersed to intimate the fact to the public . At five o'clock those who had assembled under the oak , were brought to theroom , andcrowds flocked together from all parts of the town . The concourse was very large , notwithstandingthe clergy had been preaching that very forenoon against the meeting . Lon / f before the time appointed , numbers could no longer gain admittance for want of room . It is calculated that five hundred congregated

      within doors , and a large crowd assembled under the open windows . Mr . John Arnott was called to the chair , and can testify to the Democratic feeling oi the audience . Thirty-two new members were enrolled , and since then there has been a considerable inquiry for cards . |« Let these meetings in the Agricultural West ' . and Midland be contrasted with the deadness of Birmingham—let the spirit of the gallant men of Peterborough be contrasted with the pusillanimity of some few in Walsall , and contrast the result also . Here a flourishing Uwality—thirty-two new members—more seeking enrolment—and an impulse to the cause—a victory achieved over prejudice and ignorance : —there , no realised result , but the middle class themselves laughing at the servility and

      folly of those who fawn upon them ! And let it not be lost sight of , that in Walsall , tho working men have far greater facility—here in Peterborough they are comparatively few in numbers , and ground down beneath a powerful Earl with immense land and patronage , a Bishop with immense revenues , all the influence of a cathedral and its staff , of nu . merous mismanaged and perverted charities , landlordism , priestcraft , and a proud shopocracy . Let some of the leaders at Walsall learn a lesson from the gallant labourers in and around Peterborough I am more than over convinced that the agricultural districts must be most diligently attended tothere the harvest lies—the manufacturing districts will remain slumbering till awakened by the hand of commercial re-action . But the propects are good and great : —formerly the agricultural districts were always torpid , when the towns were upbecause they were comparatively ' well off . ' Now the case is just reversed . But the crisis is coming

      for the manufacturing world—and the distress of the agricultural population will remain undiminished—therefore the time will come when both the great industrial section * of the population tvill be in distress at the same period—a conjunction hitherto unknown ! Let the Executive look to it—let them prepare the agricultural mind , so that the labourers do not fall into the snares of the designing classes . The agricultural districts are thirsty for democracy —let them not be neglected , as we value the future . But for this , the Executive must be supplied with funds—the little agricultural villages ( and these are the most important ) , cannot bear the entire expense Of meetings —> and often there are none to take the responsibility Of calling them—therefore the Executive must be supplied with funds—for they are under no fear of bishops , landlords , or others—they can take the initiative in the agricultural villagesand once hoist the banner , tens of thousands will soon be rallying around . " Ernest Jones . "

      On the motion of Messrs . Arnott and Holyoake , it was agreed : — "That in order effectually to carry out the Tract Propoganda , the following instructions be issued " : — 1 st . — "Tbat those who have time and talent , and feel disposed to write Tracts , be requested to forthwith forward their names and addresses to the General Secretary . 2 nd . — " That the Tracts be brief , plain , and underatandable , containing sound , political , and social information , calculated to instruct the agricultural labourer , miner , sailor , & c , in the principles of Democracy , and to teach them their position as men , and their duties as citizens . , .

      3 rd . — " That Tract Committees be formed m every city , town , village , and hamlet throughout the country , on a similar plan to that adopted by the Hoxton locality , " Collecting cards for the Tract Fund are now ready , and the General Secretary will be most happy to forward them to those friends who are desirous of aiding in the great and laudable undertaking , The Secretary was instructed to announce tnat the meeting to be holden on Sunday afternoon , September the 7 th , in the Coffee Room of tne John-street Institution , was not to be a meeting oi sub-secretaries and delegates only , but the msioi a series of monthly aggregate meetings ot tne whole of the Metropolitan members . The Secretary was also instructed to state tnat the next Monthly Circular would be pub ishedon September the 1 st , and therefore that all agents , & c , be requested at once to send their orders lor the same

      . The Committee then adjourned to Wednesday evening , Sep . 3 . Signed on behalf of the Committee , John Ansoir , Gen . Sec .

      The Crystal Cosfbb Houbb.—On Friday Even...

      The Crystal Cosfbb Houbb . —On Friday evening , Mr . William Woraeldine delivered a lecture on the *« Life , Genius , and Philosophy of Aristotle . The lecturer , after expatiating upon the subject

      The Crystal Cosfbb Houbb.—On Friday Even...

      fhenhvl ! f * V nany intricacies , not only in i « fi « IkS ' - ther tog'c , or dialectics of Aris-S ~ „ r Waa ^ 80 le autbor ° f »»» syllogistic hIS , ™ T reas ° "mg' whicb - until the time «* the + ho ii ^ ? acon ' Wfls in ereat repute among the schoolmen ; but the logic of the Stagirite had , 1 m « ! xtent » J ielded to the inductive system BO ably propounded in the Novum Organon , which was , doubtless , caused by the Organon of the Sta ' giua * . , leeturer remarked , that priests of eveey shade had been uniform in their hatred of enlightenment and their love of lucre-hehce the persecution of even Aristotle by a priest of the goddess Ceres . In fine , the works of Aristotle would cont ® t 0 . admired and imitated so long as men should desire to search into hidden things for the discovery of truth , and so long as they should develope their faculties and increase the ' aspirations of their mmds , than which nothing was more calculated to raise them in the scale of civilisation , and to cast a halo around l literature

      genera . FissBtmv'Democratic , Association . —A general meeting of members was held on Sunday evening ; at the Coffee-house , 21 . Vine-street , North End of Hatton-garden . —Mr . Pool presided . —Mr . Johnson r & jorted that the council had succeeded in securing competent conductors for the weekly Halfpenny Dempcttotic Journal , and that several thousand copies of tne jftrst number would be published on Saturday , " the 18 th of September ; also , that a public meeting would be held in the Teetotallers' Hall ,, Brick-lane , St . Luke's , on the 35 th of next month , to disseminate the principles of the association . Both , reports were received with great pleasure . —Moved

      Mr . Cater , and seconded by Mr .. Hindle : — " That in order to advance the principles of Democracy in this borough , ' we do now agree to establish auxiliary Democratic associations in the following districts , by means of holding public meeting , Ac , weekly—viz ., in the month of September in St . September , at St . Luke ' s ; in October , the east side of Finsbury-square ; in November , in Islington ; in December , Battle-bridge ; in January , Gray ' s-inn-lane ; in February , Clare-market ; and in March , Bartholomew-close . "—On account of the lateness of the night , the discussion was adjourned till next Sunday evening .

      Bradford ( Yorkshire ) . —The Council held their usual weekly meeting on Sunday last , August 24 th , in the Democratic School Room , Croft-street , when the Secretary read a letter from George Julian Harney , stating that he should abide by the pledge he had previously given to the Secretary , Thomas VTilcock . A letter from E . C . Jones , Esq ., was also read , stating that he would visit Bradford in the course of the next fortnight ; after which it was unanimously agreed that Mr . Isaac Clisset of Halifax , be invited to lecture on Sunday evening , September 7 th . A public meeting took place in the above room , when Mr . Joseph Hudson was called to the chair , who read from the Northern Star . "Notes of Travel and Talk , " by Thomas Cooper , which attracted great attention . After which W . Smith delivered a long address , stating as his opinion , that Theology , as taught by the present professing Christians , was the greatest barrier to the liberty and happiness of the whole human family .

      National Loan Socie1t. The Attendance At...

      NATIONAL LOAN SOCIE 1 T . The attendance at this society was unusually large on Wednesday evening , owing to the near approach of the appointed time for nominations to be sent in for the appointment of an official manager ; Mr . Stbatton having been called to the chair , Mr . Wheeler reported relative to his interviews with MeaarBi Gray , Torquand , and Angler , three of the candidates . He had also ascertained that various other persons were in the field , who were using active exertions ; but he had been unable to procure any information relative to them . The allottees on the various estates were also nominating persons for the situation of local managers ; at some of the locations , and likewise in London

      an active canvass was going on in favour of a Mr . Earnest , a nominee , he oelieved , of Mr . Bradshaw , of Nottingham . At O'Connorville they were supporting a gentleman of the name of Button , who had been recommended to them by Mr . ' Fellows , a solicitor of Rickmanswortb , which latter gentleman was also a candidate for the office of local manager . He did not , however , think that such an officer would be appointed . After a lengthened discussion on the relative claims of the candidates , in which Mr . Beattie , of Minster Lovel , Mr . Kdge , a deputy from the Tower Hamlets , and Mr . Peircy , 006 Of a deputation from Bermondsey , took part , it was decided unanimously that the society should render their support to Mr . Grey , as the one most

      eligible person , one having the confidence of all parties , whilst the other candidatea were utterly unknown . Mr . Wheeler explained that Friday the 29 th , was the last day on which voting papers could be given in , which would deprive their country friends of an opportunity of recording their votes . On the last Wednesday he had been deceived as to the appointed time , which , according to rule , must be four clear days before the Master In Chancery hold his sitting . Several members expressed their opinion that the advertisement of the Master in Chancery did not g ive sufficient time for the operation of such a large company . The members present having recorded their votes , and

      steps having been taken to procure other signatures , Mr . Dowling moved the following resolution : " That the official manager be requested to pledge himself not to employ any person in the winding up of the Land Company , who had been in the employ of the Directors , or any one of the Directors . After a few words of explanation from Mr , Wheeler , the resolution was carried without a dissentient . The usual Loan Society business was transacted , and at a late hour of the evening Mr . Q . Wheeler , of O'Connorville , attended as a deputy from that location , to state their views respecting the appointment of an official and local manager . Several friends from the provinces were present at the meeting .

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      Mb. G. J. Holyoake In Scotland. To The E...

      Mb . G . J . HOLYOAKE IN SCOTLAND . TO THE EDITOR OF THB NORTHERN STAR . Sib , — Mr . Holyoake has been delivering lectures here , in which he shows much folly , little logic , and no democratic wisdom . One of his lectures was headed , "Roman Catholicism—the type of all churches around us , all of which preserve its features , though they reject its name . ' The battlefield of democracy is now the continent of Europe , where its sons and daughters languish by thousands in their loathsome dungeons , and none more so than those of the Papacy ; and yet this man , pretending to be a democrat , comes forward as the apologist and clumsy white washer of this Papal tyranny , by representing it as the only type of " British churches , " or , as he says , Of all the hurches around us . " What church around us has , as Gavazzi say ? , the bones of its impenitent broken

      by ropes and screws , the flesh torn by torture , or burnt with fire , the blood falling through the filter drop by drop ? W . hat church employs spies under the name of confessors , and make children accuse their parents , and parents bring their children to the scaffold ? It is no church , but an impostor , and the vilest of despotism ! And although its chief has but lately reascended his throne over the trunkless bodies of his subjects , giving their murderers his blessing—his worthless blessing . And although he and little Napoleon and all the despots of continental Europe are in league against the people of Europe , this pretender to democracy comes forward virtually as the apologist of Roman Catholicism . Democrat he cannot be—tool of Austria , of the Jesuits , or of Rome he cannot be—he is not worth their purchase . What he is I neither know nor care , but the apologist of the Papacy can be no democrat . I have the honour to be Your obedient servant , August 21 st . One of the People ,

      The Sew Forest At South Am? T0h, — All R...

      The Sew Forest at South am ? T 0 H , — All RCt Of parliament was passed on the 7 ch inst ., to entinpuish the right of the crown to deer in the New Forest , and to give compensation in lieu thereof . Among the provisions is the following— " That it shall be lawful for her Majesty , her heirs and successors by warrant , under the royal sign manual , to give and grant licenses to any person or persons to hunt , hawk , fish , and fowl , upon and over the said forest . " Persons who claim the right of common are to deliver theiv claima to the verderers , who are to held a meeting for the . purpose . The claims may be objected to , and are to be decided by the judge of the County Court of Southampton . A part of the forest is to be inclosed , and public roads are to be formed . The act is the 14 and 15 Yict „ Cap . T 6 .

      Military Guard at Balmohbl . —A detachment consisting of one captain , twn subalterns , two sergeants , and fifty rank and file of the 42 d Royal Highlanders , were to march from Aberdeen to Ballater on Monday , to act as guard of honour during her Majesty residence at Balmoral .

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      - Affairs Of. The Land Company' , Meetin...

      - AFFAIRS OF . THE LAND COMPANY' , MEETING ; AT GLASGOW . A public meeting was held here on Thursday , August 21 st , to hear a lecture fromftfaineB Beattie , on the affairs of thei National Land Cbinpany . ; The bill wbh headed ^ .. reargue Q ' . Connor online Great Land S windle" -riij ; which he professed to . prove that > t was nothing but-, * . ' a . delusion and a snare , " and tbat the ¦« Great would-be Leader "was dishonest trom beginning to . ehdrThemeetihg was ' crowded , many expecting to hear . revelations of a new character . - ¦ - "" ¦ '' ., WiX \ J ::. ' ' -m .,. ; 5 . ;; -:: ' V 1 ; ¦ ¦

      •¦ Mr . John OAMBRoH ^ oalle ^ tbtheehair , and , alter a few remark * oa ^ thebHsirioas of-the evening ; introduced , ' sl-,. ix . r ,.-: ¦ { . ' ^ ¦ ..,-.... ¦ ' nf ^^^ m . ^" ™ ' W *<* 'tt ^ lJaqatod allottees ' of H «»* SE ? iUp estate ; . He spokerfbr ' ah hour and a quarter ; on the griev ^ ces ' of thfrSHottees , himself nohided , andg ^ eiiSia ^ ory ^ fJthei passageiof lfeJ ^ ri ^ ^^^ ? ^ P ^ y ^ thrbugh ) House of Commons : ; he . madesome of ^ the most ¦¦«• 'fayje ^ ' ^ ktemWtBi ' vfa-wIlitioiis ^ fb th e aflSirs of th ^ Oofflpany , andwashot ^^ spaying j n his abuso ' bf Mr ^ WGdnnor / andHhebDKapt dM . jBii t when he c * meftded r 4 U ^ artj ^ font was riotmhg . but ^ taaolditory " over againnothing new , although every one inthe meeting " ei pected something startling , ; from ' the flaming bill upon the streets ; altogether it was a complete failure . When he had spun his yarn to an end ,

      Mr . Sherrington rose and said , that as only twenty minutes were allowed him to reviow the lengthened harangue thoy had heard , he would bo very , brief on the several points touched upon by Mr . Beattie ; he said he was prepared , if time permitted him , to prove that the speech just delivered was a tissue of falsehoods and erroneous statements of the condition of the allottees . But he said , that before he entered upon these subjects he had a few words to say regarding the lecture himself . It was his opinion , that when a man stood forward to impeach another with dishonesty , he at least ought to be able to defend himself from a like charge . He then gave an outline of the character of Beattie , and the

      practices that he had been guilty of to tho shareholders . That he had let three acres of his land for £ 13 per year , and had the same paid injadvance j and , although he had received that money , he would not pay one farthing of rent ; also , that he had never cultivated the acre remaining in his own possession ; that although he . had stated his Stock was sufficient to consume ail his produce , he believed it was the case , as it would not take a great quantity to do so , as ho believed he never grew so much as would have fed one pig . That his time watt entirely taken up with creating discontent amongst the allottees , and giving forth the most villauuus

      statements to the press ; and by that means he and his associates had depreciated the value of the estates at least fifty per cent . ^; thereby robbing the shareholders of the sum of £ 50 , 000 . Was this the character to come bufore a meeting of those he had been the cause of injuring to such an extent , to complain of injustice ? Mr . Sherrington then read two letters—one from Mr . Price , and the other from Mr . Willis—and asked tho meeting whether they would rely upon the statements of men such as these , who had proved themseive to be honest , industrious , and sober , or would they take the word of Beattie ? He then gave him ( Beattie ) one of the most severe oastigations for ( he Conduct 1 ) 0 had been guilty of .

      Mr . Beattie rose to reply , and , in doing so , craved mercy at the hands of the meeting , trusted that they would not be so severe , and re-asserte < l some of his former sayings . James Adams also came to his aid , but boih failed in making any impression on the meeting . Mr . Robbhx BuRRELLputa number of questions to Beattie , which made him truly ridiculous in the eyes of the meeting , and set the whole house m a roar of laughter at bim . Thediscussion having endud , a number of resolutions , amendments , and cbuiiiiir amendments were moved , butallwere withdrawn in favour of a vote of the fullest confidence in Mr . P . O'Connor , which was moved by Mr , John Rice ; a blind man , but one of the right sort . When tli $ Chairman was about to put it , an amendment was moved by one of Beatie ' s friends that he receive a vote of thanks for his address . "—Fourteen voted for it , and the whole of the rest of the meeting for tho motion .

      A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman , and the meeting separated , Beattie and his friends rereceiving such a defeatas we trust they will receive in all other places they intends visiting . We trust that Shareholders will be on their guard , as it is strongly suspected that he is a paid minion to assist in having " Bradshaw's" agent in London appointed as the party to wind-up the affairs . Members ouuht to be up and doin £ . If he be appointed by the Master in Chancery farewell to all dividend . Some one will receive a ' bargain ; as I rather doubt kia intention is to have another stab at the character of Mr . O'Connor , by making things look as dark as possible .

      Political Victims' Association. This Bod...

      POLITICAL VICTIMS' ASSOCIATION . This body met on Sunday evening at the Dog and Duck Tavern , Queen-street , Sob . 0 , Mr . Prouting in tho chair . After some arrangements relative to the monetary business of the Association , Mr . Martin proposed a string of resolutions relative to the future government and the admission of members to tho Society , which were ultimately withdrawn until a future occasion . Mr . Fusskll moved that the Secretary be instructed to draw up an address to the victims of the United Kingdom , founded upon the resolutions previously adopted by tho Association ,

      Mr . J . Shaw seconded the resolution , which was ultimately adopted . Mr . Fussbli . spoke at some length in favour of the objects of the Association , and expressed his opinion that it only needed publicity for all true democrats to rally round it , and render it that pecuniary support necessary to secure the objects they had in view . The Secret art reported tbftb they had been tendered the use of the Finsbury Literary Institution , and it was decided that a public meeting should be held atjthat place on Tuesday , September the 9 tb . On the motion of Messrs . Fossbll and Small , a vote of thanks was given to the " Northern Star , " for the publicity given to the meetings of the body .

      Mr . Bryson then delivered an interesting lecture on the objects of the Association , which was followed by a discussion , in which Messrs . B . O'Brien Wheeler , Shephard , and others took part . The following resolution waa then adopted : — " ADDRESS OF THE POLITICAL VICTIMS ' ASSOCIATION . " Brother Victims and Democratic Friends . — We , the victims of 1848 , now residing in the metropolis , having formed ourselves into an association for the purpose of calling the attention of the House of Commons during the next Session of Parliament , to the illegal and unconstitutional treatment we received at our trials and during our imprisonment , consider it our duty to lay before you , in as brief a manner as possible , the objects we have in view , and the steps that have already been taken to effect them .

      " For some years past , the prison authorities ( either with or without the sanction of government , have been gradually imposing restrictions contrary to law , upon political offenders committed to their custody—compelling them to labour—degrading them with the felon ' s dress—restricting them in their communications—making them submit to the brutality of the silent system—confining them in unwholesome cells , and when they refused to comply with these abuses , feeding them upon bread and water beyond tho period that the law allows , even in cases of felony .

      " To prevent a repetition of these atrocities in future , Lord Dudley Stuart will , with the assistance of some of our other Parliamentary fltfends , apply nest session for the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry , to investigate the conduct of the prison authorities from an early date , relative to these encroachments ; and thus , if possible , ascertain whether the visiting justices and gaolers acted from private malice , or under the secret approbation of the government , It ia therefore tho duty of every person who has suffered any kind of penalty at the instigation of tho British government , lor any alleged political offence , to forward his name and address to the secretary , that he may be enrolled as a member of the Association i and if , while in custody , either before or after trial , he had to endure any illegal or tyrannical treatment , he is requested to forward a statement of it also , with the nature of the evidence that is still available to prove the truth of the allegations . " To enable our Parliamentary friends to induce the House of Commons to grant the required Com-

      Political Victims' Association. This Bod...

      mittee , we must assist them to the utoSst o ^ o * f $ *^> ta « oll ^ the aubjeofTand place itf . in tfiblr hl ^ 'a lTeSi'iysag possibleVWoi iwbibhjpurpo . « e tfie ^ ndotf-VJU . timg . ^ Mi ftf $ « presentHkoi as the Committee ^ the ^ Association , andSmCet : . weekly ( seBiiotioes Id the p ^ r ;) r . TOreoeixeco . mrouniejuionafronfthose rasifc ^ to ^ ewMfpmi ^ m . p ^ entatiop . ' - 'T • iiSS & W- ¦&* ^« hcom : ihg : M ^ aga -te t fn > arrives ; and we' purpose : rai « ng thenvihyVweekly Ste ^ EJ !^! ' ?^ ironi

      TW «««»» v »» tnoae whoeanfapp ^ ciate . the ; utility ofoun > rooeeding < . with occasional pui > ho . meetings in the metropolis , to show the oeonle the necessity of restraining the government W > U als within the limits pfthe hm ; and as we ate al « personally interesird in the Buccess .- ' ul termination , of the inquiry , and noting gratuitously from a nunse of the wrongs we have endured , we trust this will be a sufficient : guarantee to our brother victims , democratic frjends , and public supporters , tK . . t no unnecessary ; expenditure will . take place .... These are the primitive but not the permanent objcc-U of the association . . ' -. ' .- ' . " ; ¦ ;' C ; * , 'J- "M . 'Bryso . v , seo . "

      . Important To Trade Societies. In Conse...

      . IMPORTANT TO TRADE SOCIETIES . In consequence of an objection having' been raised to the rules of the Amalgamated Sooiky of Engineers ; & c ., oh thegroundof their .. illegahfyinasmuch as ithey empower : their , district , > C ' ' » m > mittees and ExecutiveiConnoil ,,-to advise members , : when necessary , to refuse toy work on certain vonditions , and if discharged in . consequence ot-auob . refusal , to . be supported ' ouTof the , common fund of the Society—it was deemed advisable to take the opinion of , the Attorney . Qehdrar ' spbn the subject ; and we are here enabled to ' subjiit ^ botli the caseand opinion to our readers ; for ' it % s one t » be valued by every member of a Trade-Society ., . ia the country : — - ; ¦* '•• , :,. ; . . ;^ VK . : ' -r ,.

      f » ' ihe \>; matm' of- the ^ Amalgamated . Society of ' CABS FOS ' THX 0 KN 10 N 0 * IBB ArfoRNEV-aCTKKAli . " " "A . number of societies of persona . belonging to the above-mentioned ! trades have been ii'i existence for the last twenty-five years , and their object has been to afford mutual support in V ;; ises of accidents , sickness , superannuation , fm' the burial of members and their wives ; and also for the assistance of members who may be out of amployment , either for refusing to allow the encnj :. chmonts to be made by the employer upon their interests , or through a general depression of trade . "In September , 1850 , a delegate mcetii . g of these Societies was held , and a code of rules adopted , which merged the various Societies into one . ( Copy of rules herewith left . )

      "A question has now arisen as to whether the members ( now numbering upwards of 8 , 000 , ) acting under the rules of the above-named Society , are liable to any prosecution or indictment for con « spiracy or illegal and malicious combination , whether actively engaged Of not . Counsel's attenklon is particularly directed to the 22 nd and 23 rd rules , which entitle a committee in each district to advise and persuade any member ( who may apply to them for advice , ) ' to resist any encroachment attempted upon either his or their wages , or hours of labour ; and if either ho or they are discharged in consequence of following the advice given , tho Committee have power to place them on the funds of the Society aa recipients of 15 a . per week .

      " The Executive Council consider , by Geo . i , C . 129 , s . 4 , that the workmen have a right to ' combine , to fix the amount of wages and houiij of labour , to assist one another out of a common fund when but of work , & c , and persuade their fellow-workmen to agree on these points , arid not to work for employers who either reduce the amount of wages , increase the hours of labour , or adopt ' systematic overtime , ' and ' piece-work , ' and submit there can be no such thing as an indictable conspiracy , unless the object ia itself illegal , or it is a legal object to be carried fay illegal means . " Counsel will please to look through the minutes , rules ( the preface to which clearly shows the objects ) , and report of trial of ' The Queen on the prosecution of Jone . i and Putts , against SeMiy

      and others , ' particularly where marked at pages 03 05 , and 66 ( as Mr . Baron Rolfe ' s summing up was there clearly in favour ^ of the Society ) , herewith left numbered 1 , 2 , and 3 , and favour the Executive Council with his opinion as to whether" 1 st . —Is it legal for men to combine to resist reduction of wages , increased hours of labour , or otlwr encroachments on their interests , and to persuade others to act with them , provided- that neither violence to persons or property , threats , intimidation , or molestation , is used or intended . " 2 nd . —Whether the rules of the Socitey are framed according to law ? Particularly the rules 22 and 23 ; and whether members of the Society strictly conforming to the rules , incur any und what liabilities . "

      ANSWER . "We are of opinion , first , that it is legal for men to combine , to resist reduction , of wages , increased hours of labour , or other encroachments On their interests ; and to persuade others to act with thorn , provided there is no violence done to persons or property , and the partiesavoid all threats , intimidation , and molestation whatsoever , vide sec . 4 , C Geo . i , c . 129 . Secondly , we think 22 and 23 might have been framed" with greater certainty ; but , notwithstanding , weareof opinion thay are not objectionable in point of law ; and the members of the Society will not incur any penalties in conforming to them , regard being always had to the law , ilS pointed OUC by us in answer to the first query . " A . E . CocKBunN , Aitorney-Gencral . " Samuel Joyce , Barristec-at-Law . " Temple , 8 th April , 1851 . "

      Lynch Law On A Woman. — The Ocwi Francis...

      Lynch Law on a Woman . — The ocwi Francisco Picayune thus comments on the hanging of a woman at Downiftville , in the mining district : — ' What were the circumstances of the case ? A p arly of drunken men , reeling home after a debauch , forced the door of a ^ private house , in which a woman resided , and insulted the inmates . 'J he house was not a brothel , nor the woman a prostitute . Of this outrage no notice was taken , but , on the party returning for the vilest of purposes , and insulting the woman with the grossest epithets , her southern blood boiled over with indignation , and , in a moment ot pinion , she snatched a knife , and inflicted upon one of them a mortal wound . For this she was taken

      to the cross-roads and hanged ! Now we venture to say that had this woman been an American instead of a Mexican— -had she boasted of white blood , as they call it—as though the caste of the woman , if it affected her case at all , should not have tended to make hev executioners more lenient—had she been of the Anglo-Saxon race , instead of being hung for the deed , she would have been lauded for

      it ; and , instead of an account appearing in the papers of a " horrible murder by a Mexican woman , " ev & ry press in the state would have rung with acclamations for the " heroic conduct of a female , " or the " determined defence of her virtue bv a lady in the mines . ' It was not her guilt which condemned this unfortunate woman , but her caste and Mexican blood . Of her trial we know not how to

      speak . We know of no terms which are capable o ' expressing the horrible—the savage brutality of it . Of course the witnesses were not sworn ; the men who tried her needed no testimony ; they thirsted for her blood , and the form of trial was an impediment to their desires , which thev cursed as they hurried through it . The judge—John Rose , of liose ' s Ranch—let his name be remembered—stated

      to the witnesses that they must tell the truth , 'just as if they had been sworn ; ' to which they assented—and lied , a physician who testified in her behalf was beaten , a lawyer who endeavoured to get justice done her was threatened with hanging , and ordered tO leave town , and amid the shouts of bloodthirsty monsters , whose rage could hardl y be restrained even for one short hour , the

      upright , intelligent , and impartial jury broug ht in a verdict oF " Murder , " and condemned her to be hanged in two hours , — which sentence was executed ! But one circumstance was wanting to make the murder of this woman unparalleled in atrocity . She was in a condition that would have made her life sacred , even in the most barbarous ages , and under the bloodiest code that ever cursed the world , An unborn infant perished with its murdered mother before it saw the light !' Registration of Yotkrs for the City . —Wo understand Mr . TY . M'Christiethe revising

      bar-. . rister for the City of London , has appointed Monday , the 22 nd of September , as fcbo day on which ne wi ll this year commence the important duty oi re vising the various lists of voters for members to serve in Parliament for the city . It is an extraordinary fact , ! { population in the United SUtea there ia m Ireland itbell .

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 30, 1851, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_30081851/page/1/