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Northern Star (1837-1852), 5th December 1846, Edition 3 of 3, Page 6, *0-«ITEO SOCIETY OF JOOKXEV.MEN BASKET M...

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    • *. : : CraBts' f-Blofcemcms*
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      0 ,. 1 \ The ^.Nhbfckb^ -•- ¦¦¦ ¦ - ¦¦¦¦...

      0 ,. 1 \ THE _^ _. _NHBfckB _^ - - ¦¦¦ ¦ - _¦¦¦¦¦¦ _— — - ' - --- _. ¦ _•^ ¦¦ _^¦ - _^

      *. : : Crabts' F-Blofcemcms*

      * . : : _CraBts' _f-Blofcemcms _*

      *0-«Iteo Society Of Jookxev.Men Basket M...

      * 0- « ITEO SOCIETY OF _JOOKXEV . MEN _BASKET MAKERS . To tp . e ronuc is the _NEiciinonnnooD of _wolveb-UAMTTON , _BIRMlKGUAH , & c . Wc . the Executive Committee , of the' ; ib . re society , bavin . ! Toad a _piMMgr-iph which appeared in the _Rirmixg-Jium Journal of the 14 th ult ,, which is so far at v . » viaiics wil ! . Tin * trial " , thai we feel _cal- ' ed upon to set ihe _pui _. lic T * ; t ? iT . by lu-. in . ; f _. _cts l _.-f .. ro thtm , which wc dure- the " Writ r in the i ? irmiii /; i : l » l Ji »( r-j < tl to r . fnte . We are fnl ' y awr . re ol the unc _. ju il contest in which we _h-ive _eiigxi-d , owing to t'ie fact , that tlie columns . of those _newipspers , which the employ _erssclect" for ilie v v _0 : iu _** - - " tiun nf iheir falseho _••!? , ure mostly closed * igaiu- _* t the _W-v ' _iarii . and , therefor j , they have to adopt tiie _oiiiy _cour- * cleft , viz ., "To appeal to the « _-ily l"l" - _' ¦•¦ _*¦ _¦* _' ' _--d * janic * to the _woikingclasics , the Northern Star , or tbe more csn .-n-. ive one of pr _intius placards . Ut " master * however , rest assured , that r . c will spare n-itlicr _l'ahimr nor _expense in the course of " Right against -Might"

      . We will „ ., w e-. ll the attention of the public to the _statement contained in the paragraphs alluded to . Tiie writer of which states , that ih _* . lOtiMieymcii basket makers w . -, _ntol all advance of 25 per cent on tl . crecc . it flrir r _* . Iflw knew anything of ihe ..... Uer , he was well av ir- that this was a gross aud malicious _talschf-od , and published it for Hie purpose of _leading - ihe public into crr .. r . and t <> injure thc men mi strike , by _depriving them ofp _. i ' * _l-:-sy-- _*) _i'athv _through _mi-ivpiv-eiitation . or , if h < - ditln _. _ii kn . W * _lu-tacts , di I it to gratify the tyrannical will of th <* ¦• _ia _"" t--rs , _and . iii tit ier case is justly iuiiiltd the _indignittMiit . faninipariial _a-id discerning i-ufol _' itr . and we boldly _asii-n , that the advance asked for by the * men is only * _l'i per cut . Th . * joarneviii . 'ii _ba-ket makers , ot Wolv . rhampton , * D ' rji : * n _£ h : _nii . and their vicinities , have for a length of time * > . - -m working f _»> r wages , which are inadequate tn tha d . *; n jnJ 5 .. I ' _thrfir families , and . _seeing an advance

      take plncrt in almo-t every other branch of trades , they felt _coaliduit toat tiiey were justly entitled to the same treatment , from tlieir employers , _ib-it other men were _* _£ _»¦«*! - - -in ; . ! . Thev , therefore , made th-- _request for tilt * ah _.-. ri _* -i : i _^ : it ; oned advance 1 H tlieir wages , and as a _con--sincing proof that their demands were both just and Teas >* i ; tt *' e , we are proud to state , that a portion of thc _employers at Birmingham are giving the advanced _pricj . V . " * e cannot refrain from calling the attention of the pnl . lic t 3 th ** gross ignorance oi the writer of that paragraph _wb-. _'n be states , " the employers are not able to pay

      the advance owing to tiie competition «> f the box case and crate makers a great * r proof than this . " A greater proo : ' than this _cjiinot be produced , that the writer in the 2 _? in . Uii ;// crin . _^ Hr » aJ understands nothing of the business of tne it _isHet making . And this specimen of his abilities make him l . iok very redicu _' . ous in the eyes nf tin * trade _, in fact , the _intelligence of that man is at a low ebb , who is «< it a-v . _ive that neither boxes or crates wili answer the _sam-j purpose as b _. _skeis . We would , therefore , seriously advise him , when he again takes upom himself to enlighten ihe publ : _«* , to select a subject that he perfectly _tw- _' erstaads and at the same time to stick to the truth ,

      We can _scarcely refrain . ours « lv _< s whilst reading the follow ! -g , which has emmanated from this man of the _Jinnnd . We gi .-fi in entire so that it will not lose any of iu _bsauties : — " The _masters »•« re forced to refu-e empi . irment to any person belonging to the General "f " a "« _.: i . in consequence of thc dictatorial conduct ot _committers located in _dis'antpjrls of the kingdom , and who "were tntaily ignorant of thc peculiar _character of the tr . _' . de iu the towns which they attempted to bring under arbitrary rules . " In _.-in-iiver to this we beg to state , that only about _eitht oi fte employers in the whole of the _kingdom have taken this un warrantable advantage of the men for belonging to the General Union . We are also told that , " there is dictation-.. ! committees iu distant parts of the cjuu-ry . " We _arenotaware _of-tiiy committees with the exception of one a > id the seat of government of th . society , a : id as for being "ignorant of the p _.-culiai ch ; -. r . T . _-i . r of the trade ** , we are notaware of-my pcculia _* . character , whatever , in basket making that the trade in general is nit aware of .

      Eat then , forsooth , we wish to place them under ' ¦ arbitrary laws . " In order to _j-liew the public the _niiur _^? .. i' our nrbitraiy conduct towards the employers , we _coj-v th- 77 th Law ofthe basket maker ' s Society ami _leav-- then to ju ige for themselv _.-s , whether we wish to _ac ; i : i an arbitrary manner or not . _TTlh Lie . "— " That no metnbtr shall he entitled to bis _trampcirl unless he has finished all the work be may _liavt-roiniaenced or ret k _* med forat the simp which he _U _leavrns , or _tvoikinir up all the stuff he may have wet or prt ¦ _j . -sr _. cd _, or _soiceothrr person _undcrt-ilccs to work it uji l \ r _iiim wnh the emp ' overs con-em . "

      n e now fail the at ' entiou of the publie to another portiou o : _ni ? production , which says ;—** That the _empliys _^ _u _^ . ve _iio objection to the norkuvn ibnuiug a Society _t v . t : un * ntheir owu locality for regulating the rate of w _ge- * s : _; c the nours of labour . " Of v . iiat use we would ask is " Local Unions ! " They ars alti >» ther pouvrless in _tffieiually resisting the _encroachments which unprincjp ' ed employers are ever _making upon their werkmen . This has been proved by sad _esperU-Efe iu all branches of industry , but how much i : i « . e iu the flasket _making trade ' where the number . *

      are so suinil t ! . at tiiere wa ? noasiistai . ee rendered them ba ; wb = ; t _th-ry _cou'd render _themselves iu time of _ntedia th _**; r own _lociUries they would ever fall a prey to the g _riu _^ ii _. g _aiid uvcr-reaching practices of those who are desirous . n robiiinjr th . in ol the _rights of their industry , — Hi ! 1 _iLis Ills' _filip ' _i . yers are _jirrli-cslv aware of . Hence their willingness for the men in their e « iploy to be in the j . o-sc _^ si . _*^ of a power they could crush at any moiieut Tbt-y a * e co »' .-inced that if the ii . ilu-nee of ti . e whole _xrade i > _brought to Icar upon any loraiity , the men have thepow _.-r . of _deuiandinj a "fair days wages for a fair < lnr « -. vcrk . **

      'f his . _triLrrfore , and not the " dictatorial conduct" of lie _Ciiinuiit'Oi ! . is what lll ., _kts th *; e : nj . ! oyc _* rs wish to _brsah up the General Union , what , we ask , would be the _c-, _* _' * _-Shi-j ] i of the men when either the want of work , or th ? tyr . u-. - . iiCtl conduct of their e : iip !« y _* -vs , _compels them to g _> on tramp . If the Unions were _loc-il , _nh-.-re tvould _sb-v _;_; -i _thjt _ars-iitunstf so neeess-ir v to am in on _iramp ? 3 _T i . a' ,, ijr Scribbler , wc _ba-e lsarnt by sad experience , t " _a-st'i " oar Union must be _useful , it mast be national , in orce * ;> _tmbleus to counter » ct those evils resulting from t - . _^ _11-ie : u _itsoii in trade _, aud , if you will , to _prevent cmplo _/ _ti-s d . c £ . tt : n _^ their own ter- _'us lo thc workmen . _Tlit-rei \> ro tv-ry _reasonable mau will see the ruinous conseq :-nces which would inevitably follow tbe adoption of iii _. _rr _' v Local Unions .

      v . c are treated to a _precious rigmarole about " Travel _lin _; Co _:.-: t ! _iinetS . it * ., '' living upon the industrious , and Liiuging misery : ; nd distress on hundreds of families . " _Cui _--. li-.- _tiouble ourselves with such falsehoods ! the _ivh' -l- ua _* * ' _oelonsiug to the Unions ill the kii . _gdoill , is «! . _!» - a ! _.-c _* u ; SOO , so much for the _iruilifuluess of the writer in t ! _. _i . * i : > ri ! ihigham Journal . "SVc _vii \ now lake leave by calling _atsention to _w-hat ths master . - * , ia tbeir circulars , states about the liee-hire shep . They say Uiis shop is not occupied by Wolverhampton Mil ! but _sirangirs .

      They know perfectly well th ' s staten . ent is false , and _tliil the men c . npioyed at iliat shop , are U , e men lab . * in t ' i ! eemj .- ! . vintiu ofthe masters oi that town , and from thv _uei _gii l-jmhr : od . Hut we t-nui _.-t not be surprised at tl e laTiii _^ s _tuid wcali _iuventiovs of the employers , when _i . _V-7 see liie _wurkiucii of tliis country are adopting the p } a : i _... f w _.-rking for themselves in cases of strikes , _insi-:-A o : walking the stteets in idleness as heretofore _"T ' sii is , indeed , galling to them , and be _.-iting them with t ' _j-. Ir own rods . And we trust that the public of Wo ! verj _:.=: ii ; i :. _i : iaud the neighbourhood , will fee their interest _t . i p . _irciias . ug ba _« ketsfrom thine who are _eneink-. s _toup-J-J---C-- n wherever it U found , and who are nuiv proving _t ' _ri- - " eat fact , tint ivoikint'ii call work fir _thetnselv _. s as v . ; r _; i _x > _t-.-r _u'ljdoytrs - . vl : og _; t rich anJ Consequently _nrrjgia : uu ; 'jf ' the _tvoikaieus im ' _usirv .

      Signed iV _. r , and on _belialf ofthe _Eret-utne Counnittec ofthe United Society _oi'llasket-makcrs , J . A . l ' _jLMElt , General Secretary

      TERMINATION OF TUB STRUGGLE BE _'i'WJXr TIIE WOOLCO . MUKRS OF _ItElGli LEX A . _NU T 11 EIR . EMPLOYERS .

      TO TM 2 PCBIIC JIT lin « E . _"Kost Respected Friends , —The strong and protracted strsggleiu which we have lately _heii engaged with our _tinj _. _loyers having beeu _brought to a sudden ami unexpected termination , we consider ourselves bound in dity to lay the c-.= _tse _hefore-you , hoping our conduct will meet the : ; jiprobat-. jn of all our friends and _supporters . You are aware that our struggle commenced under peculiar _civcuxusianccs , nnd that we were driven into our p . sitiou against our wish . The fact of three influci . ti-jl manufacturers having given us the advance ofa tanking per pound on combed wool , induced us , in justice to Uulll them and ourselves , to endeavour to briug others to that standard , and iu the prosecution of this object ivc w » re turned from our employment . Being thus deprived not

      only of the means of prosecuting our object of procuring the advance from the manufacturers sectionally , hut of thc means of existence itself , the only alternative left , us , was either to humble ourselves to our employers by asking liitir _forgiveness for trying to better our miserable condition , or to appeal to the public , and trust to their _stippoit . To the first of these alternatives we were _dettruiinei never to submit , and decided upon the latter through _necessity . How far this appeal to a humane and generous British public _succeeded , may be best explained by tbe fact that twelve or fifteen hundred woolcombers without work , funds , or other ordinary means of existence , hare maintained a struggle with their employers for fourteen weeks , without being beholden to them during that time for one stroke of work .

      As oar object bas always been the improvement of our condition , a _* id not the boast of victory over our employers , we have given them every opportunity of settling the dispute upon fair aad honourable terms , and have omitted no chance of waiting npon them wben they seemed inclined for an interview . For this purpose wc wailed upon thein a few days ago with several propositions , ou the _rejection of whieh we had almost decided upon jnakiag no more overtures , but of trusting entirely to the chance of carrying our point through the strength of _publicsupport , Whilst _deiib-a-atiaj upon this , a me-

      *0-«Iteo Society Of Jookxev.Men Basket M...

      diator , in the person of Frederick Greenwood , Esq ., J . P ., of B . y * hworth Hall , presented _hinwelf _amonfiSl U ! , and , after _expressing his sympathy for our sufferings , and the sincerity of his wishes for the settlement of the dispute , he proposed terms of a compromise which we considered equal , if not . _periiap ] . superior , to some of those we ourselves had proposed . One of the hie we had _presentad to our employe , b was , "Would tl cy Rue us the advance « : 1 . he first . lay of January next f » while Mr Greenwood ¦ _propped that we should resume our woric at the present wages , and be assured ofa permanent advance from that day and forward , unlc 5 S some verv _-a-vere depression in trade prevented it . Our Ions dependence upon thc Public and their noble conduct towards u *> , induced us to lay the case b < _-fore soi ! ieofuurb ? . * -t Friends and Supporters , who on Riving their approval ofthe measure , and the confidence we had in the inlluenre aud respectability ofthe Gentlemen who had proposed it , produced our present decision _.

      In bringing this long and _hard-foa- 'lit battle to a close , the Conunitleo return their most , sincere thanks to all individuals and bodies who have contributed towards _tli . irsnpport . This struggle has convinced them that a determination exists amongst the British Public both llich and Poor , that the condition of the Labouring Man shall be improved . Our true conditi on has gone forth to thU Public , ami although we have not yet received the snnll advance f «> r which we have been contending , wc now feel confident of both that and something more . Wo believe that on no previous contest for wages has anybody of mea met with more generous sympathy Ol' support , and we believe that few have ever felt more grateful for it .

      We tru' _- . t that our own conduct durin , ' this extraordinary _struggle has been such as to meet the approbation of all who hare hut us a helping hand . Although surrounded by circumstances oftlie most aggravating nature we are happy t > say we have not been provoked to one single outrage or nicich of the peace . We have had working men coniuig in bodies to our town , from the surrouiiding towns and villages , to take away our work , and prevent us from realizing the small benefit we required for both th cm and ourselves , while in the very town of _llradford , thc seat and centre of the worsted trade , which should have set the example of supporting wages , hundreds of miserable beings in our own line of business , have been ready * to fight with one another for our work carried thi'vc by our employer , yet in the midst of these terrible disadvantages we have contcndcU for our right in perfect confidence of the justice of our cause , and thc support of d kind and intelligent Public .

      We arc now convinced that had one half of our coura » e , resolution , ( and we may add ) good couduct ' becn exhibited by the woolcombers of Bradford and surrounding districts , not only an advance of one farthing , but of one penny per pound might have been added to their miserable wages . Returning you again onr most sincere thanks for your unexampled support and kindness , and trusting that although our aispme is sett ' _eil for the present , you will not forget our still miserable condition . Believe us to remain , Yours most truly and sincerely , The Committee ok ihe Keighlet _Wooi-cojinERs . The following _resolutions along with this address , were all pas « ed unanimousl y , at a public meeting Of u'oitlooinbers and others , on the evening of Monday last , November- ? : ? . 1 SIG .

      1 st . That we the woolcombers of Keighley and its rielnity in public meeting assembled , do hereby return . ¦ ur most sincere thanks to Lord George _Bvntiiu-k _, M . P _., W . _IJ . Ferrand , Esq . M . P ., and all other Noblemen and Gentlemen who have supported us by pecuniary and other means during our long and protracted struggle . 2 nd . That a vote of thanks is due and is hereby given to the Grocers , Drapers , Publicans , Butchers , and the rest of the tradespeople of Keighley , for their unexampled : _* nd cheerful support . 3 rd . That our best thanks are due to the poor-loom weavers , shoemakers , joiners , stonemasons , workmen of the various iron trades , with all others of every other trade , who have so honourably and so powerfull y assisted us . 4 th . That we return our best _thinks to all the _inhabitants oftlie surrounding towns and villages , as well as those of other towns throughout the country who have kindly responded to our call for assistance .

      5 th . That our best thanks are due and are hereby given to the Metropolitan and Provincial Press , who have advocated our cause ; more especially the Daily Times , the . Morning Post , the Nortliern Star , and thc Halifax Guardian . tub . That the thanks of this meeting are due and are hereby given to the workpeople of Mr . William Lund , for their generous conduct on behalf of the woolcombers , and also to Mr . Lund himself , for his impartial and honourable conduct in taking back his workpeople and wuolconil . ers . 7 ih . That the thanks of this meeting are due to the committee for their steady and persevering conduct in conducting and guiding the struggle . _Kcighly , Nov . 54 th , 1 S 4 C .

      TO TIIE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL UNION OF

      CARPENTERS OF GREAT BRITAIN . _Brothejis —We , the Members of the London Lodge , iu now addressing you , wish to call your serious atteil tion to our present position as a Trade . We have _bet-n united as one trade throughout the country for fourteen years this time ; and we have only be .-n able to maintain the defensive posiiion . Witness the movement that has been made in Manchester , Birkenhead , & C , this summer , and judge for yourselves why that step was _uniucc _. ssful . Was it because we , as a trade , were not united , or that we Were not united with all other trades , so that there _mijjht be one unity of feeling and action , one common cause for the sons of labour to aim at , so as to destroy that jealous feeling that unfortunately has too long existed between the different sections of labour , the hkh and low paid trades '

      \\ e readily admit "the labourer is worthy of his hire , and whether he be a baud-loom weaver or a uiill-wright , he ougi . t to receive * " a lair day ' s wage tor a fair day's work . " But how is it that they who produce _everything have no command over what they produce ? and that they who produce nothing , and have nothing but capital , ( accumulated _latHiur ) , have the power in their hands to c .-u > h your labour and yourselves , whenever the diinon , a-. aiice , may prompt them to do Su ? The reason is plain to us ; they only rule by your sufferance ; they gain all their power by your apathy . Were we all united in _•• ue common cause , " each for all , and all for each , " and to know no grade or class , and for labour io support iabour _, as capital docs capital , then wu might expect a brighter day to dawn on the sons of toil ; but till then we arc creating a monster ( capita . ) that is not only robbing us of our share of the fruits of our labour , but is using our labour to defeat us in every way , " and cur like bites the kand that feeds it . "

      3 ut , Brothers , is it not time that we should look for a better system to work on , iu maintaining what little we have , or in endeavouring to gain what wo arc justly entitled to ? Past experience has too p _' _.-tinly told us that , individually , we arc helpless ; sectioualiy , we have failed ; hat nationally , we must gain our object , aud to gain that great obj-. ct , ( which ought to be the aim of every working man ) the rights of labour , we call on you , with us , to join ties National Association of Thadls for the Protection of Industry , and thereb y concentrate your power with your fellow man ' s , so that when you or any other producer is attacked , we shall feci his cause as our own , and rise as one man to resist it ; not by ihe old , now almost obsolete , method of subscribing our pencil to enable them to walk about the streets producing nothing , but to light capital with capital , aud by creating a capital of our own , place the working man in such a position that he may be independent of those that have nothing but their capital to depend on .

      We have watched the progress of ihe above Association from its birth ; wc have ever been ready with our mite ; we believe it to be the best and surest step that could be taken in our present _position to gain our rights , and the rights oi alloth- rs ; and having had a better opportunity < _. f judging ofits capabilities than many of you have had , we call on you to aid us in carrying out the grand object it has in view , viz . —the emancipation of labour . By referring to the Balance Sheets of the Association , jou will perceive that nearly all the towns where we have a large number of members , our trade belongs to it ; _Scotland and Ireland ( though of late they have been scpat at ; d from us ) belong to it ; and by our Union be . longing to it , en masse , we shall generate and cultivate that brotherly feeling which ought at all times to exist beiwicn man and his fellov . ' man , without any distinction ot trade , creed , country , or colour .

      Brothers , we wish you seriousl j 11 reflect on this . We should deeply regret _bsing obliged lo withdraw from that Union ef our Trade whieh we have so long adhered to ; and we are convinced that the majority of our members will not continue to belong to our Union as it is at present constituted , with only a portion of our lodges in the Association . It is our wish to hold out the hand of _frit-iid « hip to all that circumstances has obliged to leave their Homes to seek for labour witli us ; but wc would ask you , would it not be better for us all to belong to tho National Association for Mutual Protection , whtreby wc aii _^ lit avail oursulns of the _assistaueu of all , aud thereby employ our men in ease of a turn-out ( which all must admit is far superior to paying them for producing no-! hing ) , and keep our own Union for relieving our tramps , ths making good losses of tools by lire , thc burial of our dead , and the shaving the expense of sending away those _individuals who are ever too ready in all strikes to encriiaeh on the pecuniary resources of their fellow man when he is struggling for his rights .

      Should tli ! - whole of our lodges throughout the coun . try join the Association , it will greatly reduce the expense of our Uniou for the support of turn-outs , as , by belonging to both , an allowance of one-fourth the average wages iu case ofa lum-out , in addition to the as . sistance from thu National Association , would place the men in such a position as the employers would soon come to terms ; and wu will endeavour to show you the evil that wculd ensue if only a portion ofthe _lodges belonged to it , as by that ( as it is at present constituted ) a lodee at

      24 s . per week turning out against a reduction , or for an advance of wages , would receive ( if not employed ) from the Association 14 s ., and from our Union I ' _. ' s . per week , thereby r . reiving more wages than if in actual employ . We will briefly state a few of the benefits conferred by the Association on the working man . The document was presented to a number of shoemakers in London last February ; the Association took up the case , and have employed the men ever since . It materially assisted in causing the document to be withdrawn from tlie builders of Lancashire , Cheshire , and Yorkshire , last _suuiuaer : it

      *0-«Iteo Society Of Jookxev.Men Basket M...

      nabled the shoemakers of Denbigh and Holywell , i « North Walcg , to pin an advance in their miserable wages ; it has employed the horscnall makers of Worcestershire , that their masters attempted to reduce , the silk glovers of Duffield , and fiMmowork-knitters of _Nottingham and other p laces , that the masters have at . tempted to sacrifice for taking a prominent part during trade disputes ; and later still , have gained an advance at Camelin , and prevented a reduction nt St . Ninians , Scotland , among the _nail-inakcrs , at a trifling cost . We havo great _plo-isurc in stating , that , in every case where they are employing the men , they iind a profit instead of a saeritice .

      Wc wish to impress an forcibly as poisiblc on your minds , that our ot . _jtct is to create union , not toilestroy it ; and , bv placing our Union on a firm basis , to do the _greatest _possible amount of good to our trade , and all others . We hope you will seriously consider thc points set forth in this address , aud favour us with the opinion of your lodges as soon as you can . Signed , by order of the body , JiiREMUH _Cassidy , President . John ISusii , Corresponding Secretary . 1 , _Yot-k-strcet , Lambeth , London , . V . Nov . 'Jolh , l ! -UC . _ : __^ Z

      THE _SPlTAIiFIELDS * WEAVERS . On Saturday night , at nine o ' clock , a meeting of the Broad Silk llamlioom Weavers Union of _Spicalt ioltls , was hchl at the Crown and Anchor , Waterloo Town , _Bc-tliii'il-green , to consider tho expediency of adopting the principles of the " National Association of United Trade : - for tlie Protection of Native Industry . " Deputations attended from that Association , and from a branch one in _S'litalfiolds , consisting of Air . Robson , Air . Sully , Mr . Cutter , _o-c ., who explained the principles of their plan at a previous meeting , from which this was an ad j ournment " , * g _^\ j Mr . ( J , _berdintuulu in the chair . The meeting was _addressed by Messrs . T . Ferdinando , Berry , ltib-5011 , BranchHower , De la Force , and l _' oyton . Tlio followiii" resolution was adopted : —

      That wc . the members of the Broad Silk Ilandloom Weavers' Union , of Spitaltields _, do . fully appreciate the views of the _National Association of Trades , and are deeply sensible that the Assoeiition is esipablu to liroduee avastamouutof bene'it to the _working classes of this country ; but seeing that the silk trade of this country is severely injured in the superior branches by foreign importation , we are therefore of opinion that the National Association of Trades cannot work out the redemption of thc silk trade oi this country without Guvernnienialiiiterferein'c , by securing the home market for British producers ; and we are also of opinion that some restrictions should be placed uu machinery , seeing that manual la . hour has been superseded without producing a corresponding beuirit to the entire community , and wc aro also of opinion that the National Association of Trades cannot emancipate the working men of England while foreign importations are allowed to paralyse the British inai - ktt . Finally , we adopt as our motto , " Protection lo British Industry , Agriculture , and Manufactures , "

      THE MIXERS OF _NOttTlIOMBBaLAlilD ASD DUHIIAM , It appears , are once more awaking from the dormant and letiinrglc state . The largest meeting that has taken place iu either of these _counties since the termination of the strike in August , 1814 , was hulden on the 19 th ult ., at _lti-udwt-11 Hills , in the county of Durham , ut , which such a glorious revival was displayed as lias not been witnessed since the Monster . Meetings of that ever ineui ' orabl _* . ' period in this district . Fov many months past

      scarcely a pay day has gone by without producing and indicting its manifold grievances moro severely than those of the previous one ;—stoppages of wages earnedhardly and ho :. estly earned—were become of common occurrence ; aud tints , unduly nud unjustly _lmicd , were thc discouraging expectations of thc workman on his approach to tlie pay table . This system , _generally speaking , has not been a stationary , but a progressive one , until at length " the lust straw has broken the camel ' s back : " the circumstance alluded lo ,. we will brh Hy relate : —

      TIIE UERWEXT MINISG COMPANY ( aud let them enjoy the whole of the unenviable distinction which our CAPITALS can give them , ) \ _uswtii _« i Uv _. a - . taw _b _* j"i should be " put" upon a tram road in the pit that was so broken up with wear and tear , as to be totally unfit auy longer to be used for its original purpose , in fact , the boys had not suilieieut strength to move the loaded waggons of coal along the inequalities of the broken rails Tire three ' * putters " stated to the deputy overman their inV _.-ilitj to perform the work rtuuh ' _i'd until the rails were put into a proper state of repair ; this demi-official insisted they should do so whether strong enough or uot ; the rails did well enough last month , why not this one , they were something the worse for wear , but what ol thnt . Thc resuit was , the boys ascended from tlte pit ,

      and on the next day tiiey refused to descend again until the tram road . wis properly repaired . In this dilemma , the overman alluded to insisted upon live of the coal hewers " putting" iheir own coals along the broker rails : —this mandate the hewers did not refuse to obey in words , but with that sullciincss , oppression is wont to produce , retired silently Irom the ucrlbriuatice of the unusual task assigned them . Irritated at the very idea of its commands beiug unobeyed , though not tangibly disobeyed , was intolerable and unbearable . The strong arm of the Laav must lie put in requisition , uud so it Was —ti . e live men and the three boys were aroused trom tlieir rest at near midnight and taken into custody ; they were subsequently conveyed to Lanchester , and charged before one magistrate with a breach of that clause oi tlieir bond , which binds the men to labour during certain terms , but doss nut bind ihe employer to supply tkat employment , or make recompense to tho employed for

      the loss they have to sustain by being laid idle . Iu vam the men—unassisted by professional talent—contended that they were not bound men , they had signed no bond , hnd . never been required , or even asked , to sign oue : — equally vuin for the boys to assert that being _uuiiors as well as miners , they could not become legally bound without the consent and participation of tlieir parents , or guardians in the act . No . No . All this amounted to nothing in the estimation of thc Justice , (? ' he had patiently heard the statement of Jlr . Joshua Whitfield , thu viewer , that a bond wu 3 in _, tlie colliery ollice , —that tlie affairs of the colliery , and all employed on and in the works , _mnstjieeessarily be regulated by that bond , —that they considered every mun so employed to be bound by that document , whether hu knew ofits existencu or not , and that the very fact of his entering the service of thu company wns prima faeic evidence of his duty to obey the conditions of Till * BOND IS THE OPl'ICE , whether ii had been specifically pointed out lu him or uot .

      1 his specimen ol the task-master s logic from so perfectly undoubted au authority as Mr , WhitSeld _, was supported with ardour by Jlr . Jlarshall , of Durham , solicitor ; in fact , it was thought by some that his lee on this _occasion had been more weighty than usual , his hasty , bouncing , and unmeaning noise seemed to indicate this to have been the case : but to be brief , and draw this pari of the narrative to a close , it is suilieieut to state that the Justice (?) , the onl y one on the bench to hear the case , took upon himself—single-handed—to exercise an authority , the _legality of which we not merely douiit , but confidently _llEiVY . He , the said Justice , took upon himself the responsibility of sentencing the five men and the three fuys to various term . *; of imprisonment in the county gaol of Durham ; they were committed accordingly , and at the time ne write are still languishing in the cells of the dungeon—wc hesitate not to say — both improperly * and illegally .

      There , reader ; now you have a clue to the cause why the long smothered flame of freedom has again burst forth—thanks to the tyranny that lias produced it , notwithstanding the decided preference we should have given , had principle produced the like effect . Good will arise from evil . These tyrannical acts aroused the entire district as magically as the mandate ofthe tyrant Geslt'f emboldened William Tell , and aroused the brave to a just sense of their DUTY TO THEMSELVES . Au attempt at re-uniou was simultaneously made , and a deputation sent to Mr . William Kolk , _Newer _.

      _stle-upoii-T . vne , the assistant of Mr . IV . P . Robert _^ tho niiii ui' 3 ' attorney-general , with instructions for him to request the attendance of the latter gentleman ou the scene of tyranny as speedily as possible . No time was lost in making the necessary arrangements for his visit , and US 50011 as these were completed , Mr . Price , one of the accredited agents of the Miners' Association , left Newcastle , and held a preliminary meeting on the evening of Wednesday , the 18 th , at the spacious rooms of Jlr . Michael Walker , Heed well Hills . In the . course of his well received address on tae necessity and benefit of Union , He was frequently interrupted by the loud cheers of his delighted

      audience . On Thursday , the lath instant , the morn broke forth with unusual splendour for this period of the year . Early in the forenoon , a phraton _, from Newcastle * conveying _Mussrs . Kolk , Hammond , Embleton , ifcc , ifec , to the place of meeting , was recognised passing ' through Shotiey Bridge , and was greeted with hearty cheers _, which echoed from one body of men t « another , as they _contiuusd tilth * route along lllack Hill , Lead Gate , Bury Edge , die ., to the appointed place of meeting , Ueadwdl Hills , on their arrival at which they were received with thundering cheers . Shortly afterwards the niu .-ic ami cheers in the distance anuounceil tho near approach of

      W . V . BOUEKTS , ESQ ., accompanied in his vehicle from Durham , by Mr . Michael Walker , the worthy host of the inn _n-ar which the meet . t » g was to be held , This had the efl _' ect of causing the vast multitude assembled almost instantaneously to form in procession , and march out to meet thoir friend . The scene that ensued was truly an exciting and glorious one . The loud and long-continued cheers of such an _immense body of workmen of various grades and occupation !" , the _incessent congratulations of their wives mingling in sweet concert to the tune of

      " See , the conquering hero comes I " which the Bury Edge band played with great spirit and precision , and the banners floating in the breeze , ill the sunbeams o ' er his head , must have given to Jlr , Huberts a reception on his re-appeuraiico in the north he cannot but be proud of , however conscious he may feel tbat his former services and present devotion to the cause of labour eminently deserve the dUtiueiion voluntarily awarded to him . On his arrival at Iteadwell Hill , he alighted under deafening salutes—not of tho murderous cannon , but ot the spontaneous cheers of the groat assemblage .

      Public Meeting was held at 1 , p . ni . On the motion of Mr . James Price , that old veteran in the cause of the miuers , Mr : William Hammond , wus called and most enthusiastically elected to the chair ,

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      Mr . Hammond , who , in a neat and concise speech , opened the _biisineBU of the day ; on rising , be was loudly greeted . He stated the honour he felt to be conferred upon him by the meeting unanimously calling him to the chair . He hoped the miners would soon confer a higher honour on _themsalvcs by again uniting . ' He trusted the e ; ood sense ( of the meeting would chfVrce impnrfiality , g ivoevery _speakerfrirunintei'uptcdhearing , andinreturnj invited each one who desired so to do , to _requiro an explanation from airy speaker tit the close of his observations . He dwelt feelingly on the duty of both speakers and hearers , and trusted the day wns near at hand when the latter would cheerfully adopt tho advice of the former . With thesu few remarks , he begged leave amidst loud cheers , to sit down , and introduce to the notice ofthe meeting .

      Mi-. IIenjamin _EitnLETON , who , on presenting himself , was also loudly cheered , and advised thc meeting in the words of Milton — "Awake , arise , or lie for ever fallen . " Tiie old " man of wars man" made an excellent speech , nnd was loudly cheered . Mr . James Piuce , of Lancashire , who was equally received , went into a very lengthy detail of the almost _innamorablo adv : mtages which the miners of Lancashire had derived trom their union . Mr . Kelk _, on presenting himself , was received with the hearty plnudiis of the immense assemblage . He congratulated the meeting on the improved aspect of the affairs of tlio miners of the North , and exhorted them boldly and fearlessly to imitate , ' ndivii ' ually , and collectively , the _pl-. n adopted , with success unexampled in tho struggles of labour against _tko undue _inlbicnce of capital , by iheir brethren of Lancashire , and thereby exteud to the North a continuation of the train of blessings which nil ion— - well based and well managed union—had

      eonf _.-iTcdapon that district . Jlr . Price had tru ' . y observed the einpbiyers of thu miners in Lancashire would employ none but unionists , Why would thet not ? Because the men had the management of their own affairs , were united , and would strike at any colliery in a body as one man , should the employment of one not belonging to their body be attempted . Mr . Kelk then drew thc attention of tbe meeting to the undue operation of superabundant wealth overall labour , and kindly explained that , whenever production exceeded the required consumption , all the excess found its way into the hands of wealthy speculators , aud added greater weight to the iron scourge that oppressed them all . To remedy this _growing evil , he advised all producers of wealth to produce _, no more in any department than the actual consumption required therein , and adopt a restriction of tlieir hours of labour as a means , —combined with union —lo that end , and concluded a well received speech amid thc hearty cheers of his hearers .

      W . P . Roberts , Esq ., who , on presenting himself , was received with rapturous plaudits , commenced somewhat humourously by stating that he scarcely knew what he had come there for , or what he had to say . He thought the principal thing he had to iiifonn them , was , that ho was there and gave oceulnr demonstration of that fact _, and that he was now quite ready as he ever had been to come among them , redress tlieir wrongs , and preserve invioliitK their rights ; but , to enable him to do this , they must give him strength , and that strength could only rise from their UNION , and that without it he was weak and powerless for tlieir good ; but with it , he had no doubt he could soon emancipate thc miners of these two countries from the gross _at . duu ' ust oppressions they writhed under . The speaker hero burst into one pf those eloquent and inspiring strains , for which he is proverbial , and concluded amidst shouts of applause .

      it had become quite dark before this important meet _, ing concluded . Thanks were voted to tho chairman , Mr . P , Roberts , and the others , and the meetiiij ! terminated . Soon after which , Mv . Roberts accompanied by Mr . Price , left Reedwell IlillsToi Durham , and _JlesiiB . Kelk and friends on their way for Newcastle .

      GRAND MOVEMENT OP THE OPERATIVE BAKERS FOR A DIMINUTION OF THE HOURS OF LADOUR AND TIIE ABOLITION OF NIGHT WORK . a public meeting in favour of the above objects , was held in the Belgrave Assembly Rooms , Ebury-strcct , Pirnlico _. _fon Saturday evening , November 28 , The large room was tilled with anxious and attentive men , just freed from their almost incessant toil , with whom mingled a few of those benevolent employers who deeply sympathise with the overwrought operatives , and evince n desire to see the projected change _effectGd as speedily as possible , Mr , Wallace was unanimously culled to the chair , and introduced Mr . George Read , author of the "Practical Baker , " & c ., < tc , secretary to the Operative Bakers Society , and a HH'mfcer of ihe deputation from that body . to explain the object ofthe movement .

      Jlr . Read rose amid the _mr . st hearty and cordial welcome , and said—Brethren , there was a time when we were called and classed as gentlemen by Act _Of'Parliament , being rated with writers , attorneys , ite . ; but that time must have passed away , for now we are the most overwrought of all slaves . No class was so badly treated as the journeymen bakers —( hear , hear )—or worked so hard as they were , both night und day , and consequently allowed no time to relax their bodies or improve their minds . ( Loud cheers , ) The Society to which lie had the honour to be secretary , conceived that the present system by which master bakers conduct their business , was the principal cause of the degraded condition of the journeymen ; that the number of hours men were compelled to labour precluded the possibility of

      tlieir obtaining any mental or moral improvement , domestic enjoyment , or recreation , which all men have a right to expect when tlieir toil is done ; and which both their bodily and mental health demanded . ( Loud cheers , ) Night work was a great evil , as it enabled masters to exact more labour from their mei \ then they otherwise could , and that too for a small remuneration , placing masters in an unequal compction , enabling the larger master to ruin the smaller —( loud cheers)—this state of things keeps many men unemployed , whilst those in employment have frequently to work from eighteen to twenty hours per day , thus rendering men . id and infltni before they have reached what otherwise would be th . ! prime of lift ) . ( Great applause . ) Philan thropists had Searched all quarters of tlie globe for

      objects on whom to bestow their sympathy , they hud even hunted up the African , and expended twenty millions of our money in effecting his emancipation , whilst they had overlooked the whiteslave , the poor oppressed overwrought operative baker . ( Loud cheers . ) True they did not ask lor charity , they only _sought for a redressal of those crying evils- —overtaxed labour and high work , and then a ould the baker b _» independent , living by his own industry , enjoying domestic felicity , and using his improved menial culture iu the advancement of general liberty and univeral happiness . ( Immense applause . ) Would thc fact be credited , that a fellow-being had recently at the East-end of this metropolis been compelled to work from eight o ' clock on a Thursday night _niitilelevc'ii o ' clock un the ensuing Friday night , and this

      to with only an hour and a half rest , and that oh the boards , and that others with only two hours' intermission did the same from Monday morning until Saturday night —( Hear , hear )—yet such was tlio case , Many 0 poor biikir . it the end ot * his week ' s toil found nature so exhausted thathe was compelled to crawl to bed on his hands aud knees—( hear , hear)—and was it not high time that tiiey united and devoted this tlieir only evening in the emancipation of themselves and fellow-men from such a statu of mental , moral alul physical bondage and dcgrediitiou . ( Loud cheers . ) Their salvation was in their own hands . L _* . _* t the journeymen unite together ¦ villi as many _meters us they could prevail on to join them , and demand twelve hours as the maximum day's work , two hours to be allowed their men for taking their

      menu , and the abolition of night-work , ( Grbat chering _. ) lie thought twelve hours quite long enough , and day . work far preferable to _night-work . ( Ljud _cheery . ) He was happy ta meet such a numerous assemblage and to find his fellow-men _embui'd with such a determination to effect tlieir _object , and he hoped to see them persevere until their great object was obtained . He found from Parliamentary documents , that iu _ISOi _mastii'S paid their men nineteen shillings per week , and found them in bivad , Hour , and lodging , aud _tiva men and a hoy were employed in making up twelve sacks of Hour , and now with this accursed night work , they were not satisfied if a man made up thirty-two sacks in the same time . Hehad much pleasure in moving the following icsolution : —

      "That this meeting considers the measures proposed by the . Operative Baker Society practicable and wellealeulated to improve thc moral , mental , and physical condition of the journeymen bakers .- ' Mr . Read resumed his seat amid shouts of applause . — The resolution was seconded and carried unanimously , Mr . Ives , another member of the deputation said , he never knew any question submittid to them of such intense interest as the one now under discussion . ( Hear , hear . ) The object was perfectly practicable and eould nc worked out by all the masters in London . ( Hear , near . ) It was not right that a man should be compelled to commence work at eleven o'clock one right , and be kept constantly at it until live the next . ( Hear , hear . ) lie thought ic positively necessary that a limit should be

      placed to the hours ot labour . ( Loud cheers . ) Other trades had a limited number of hours to work , and why should not they . ( Loud cheers . ) Tbeonly results of this excess of labour was injury to health , lo morals , and a sacrifice of domestic happiness . ( Great cheering . ) The strongest constitution must break down under such an unnatural pressure , and the Bakers life was usually some ten or lil ' teeu years shorter than other trades . ( Hear , hear . ) We arc sometimes told journeymen bakers are not such good moral men as they might be . He asked _uas the immorality not to be traced to the system ? Was a man after many long aud severe hours of labour , capable of seeking out rational and soul elevating enjoyments ? ( Great applause . ) On the contrary , disabled bv excessive fati"iic , lie seeks the nearest , and easiest , and

      most artificial mode of excitement , the public house—( loud cheers )— -but blame not altogether tho man , it is the system . ( Great cheering . ) However they had now commenced au agitation with a view to the reform of that system . The Draper . * . ' Assistants had commenced , and been successful , Tlie Factory Ten Hours Uill Agitation had gone on , and he thought he might say was now on tho very verge of success . ( Vehement cheering , ) Lot _ilR-ni proceed , the public would . sympathise with them ; _iiiiic-tenth of the masters were nlrcudy with them ; the Northern Star , and a portion of daily _prtss was with them , and with perseverance they must ultimately _Bueeaed . ( Loud applause . ) He had much pleasure in moving the following resolution : —" That this meeting considers the present system of night work and unlimited hours of labour , to be destructive to the moral { feelings , aud mental

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      developement of the men who are employed in the business , and ruinous to many of the masters , who are by such means placed in an _une-mal state of competition . " Mr . Hood seconded themotiou , which was carried unanimously . Mr . M'Clarre said , before moving the next resolution , he would read a letter from n Master Baker , and thus show them how favorable was a number of the masters to their movement—it was as follows : — ¦ ¦ " Piuilico , Nov . 26 , 1 S 16 , " Sir , —I should have been proud of the honour you did me in soliciting me to take the chair at tbe Belgrave

      _Assembly Rooms , on Saturday , but although illness prevents my doing so , [ am nevertheless favourable to your cause , and satisfied tlie more the employers and the employed are united together , as far as the two positions will allow , the better it will be for both , and that it will have a tendency to elevate the moral character of master and man , under these impressions 1 am tho advocate of measures which will have for their object the amelioration the condition of any of my fellow-creatures , particularly those I am more immediately identified with ; entertaining these views , I ' sinecrely with you every success in your present undertaking . " I remain , Sir , tic

      " Henuy _Eixis . " ? tich he believed were the sentiments not only of Mr . Ellis , but many other well disposed masters— ( hear , hear ) To remedy tha preset wretched state of things is tho aim and object of this society , and we this evening claim your support and co-operation in promoting and forwarding this great cause . ( Loud npplau ' _-e . ) jMr . M'Clarro ended by moving the formation of a committee for carrying out the objects of the society in this district . Mr . _MentoK , a master baker , seconded the motion . Mr . LiTTLEJtoBE , a member ofthe Metropolitan Earlyelosiug Association , rosv loudly applauded lo address the meetinir , and said that tne feeliiifj- that the people was

      _overworked happily seemed to pervade the whole of society _. He was very happy to see suuh a large meeting of bakers assembled for such an important object . ( Loud cheers . ) The Drap-rs Association had commenced and gone on until at length tbey had so far extended their society as to become not the Drapers , but the Metropolitan Early . closing Association . ( Loud cheers . ) He was perfectly satisfied it only required perseverance on tlie part of the bakers to insure success . ( Loud cheers , ) The resolution was adopted hy acclamation , the committee men duly elected , and the place and time of meeting were named as the _Sloane-square Coffee-house , _Sloane-sqnare , on Saturday evenings at eight o'clock .

      Mr . George Read rose to move " a vote ol thanks to the Northern Star , and such other Journals as had noticed their movement . " He hud the pleasure of seeing his and their friend the reporter of the Northern SU > _- present —( Loud cheers)—and as the press , and consequently the public , took up their cause and sympathised with them , hehad no doubt of a speedy and triumphant success . ( Great cheering . ) Mr . M'Clakkion seconded the motion , which was adopted unanimously . Members were now invited to come forward ' and enrol their names , and so f . r reat wag the rush that three persons were fully occupied for more than an hour in enrolling members . A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman by acclamation , and the meeting was dissolved . THE NATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION .

      After the appearance oftlie article in thc ' / tmes a fewdays ago respecting * the differences between the master printers and journeyman of Edinburgh , it appears that another member ( though an insignirjeent one ) of the newspaper press , has thought tit to publish to the world its peculiar complaint of thc "tyrannous and dictatorial" behaviour of the above body , this is the Hu'l Packet , a paper not over popular , for its proprietor ' s conduct , in reference to the trade . The grievance complained of by tho editor of that publication , is the fact of his men having refused to work any longer for him , because he had made arrangements for introducing two lads into the place in the room of one who was about leaving . The editor puts the ease thus : —Having three lads who would have completed their apprenticeship

      within the year , he found it necessary to introduce two to fill their places — but only one of these was to be brought up to the business . This appear ? not very creditable according to his own confession ; for one _offiee to turn out three lads in a twelvemonth is a fact that no reasonable individual could approve of . Hut he alleges in excuse that he had throe youths turned over from a defunct paper . The facts are simply these . The paper last referred to died—the apprentices upon it were thrown out—the Packe' proprietor eagerly accepted the services of these lads , who came to him to aseertaiti if he would take them on , without any turning over taking place , until after a considerable time had elapsed , and the overseer found that the printers' union was going on so _prosperously as to threaten his masters' wholesale

      employment of apprentice labour ; that at the first expiration of an apprenticeship after the association rules came into force , thu Packet had no less than eight lads , seven journeymen , that two additional ones were brought in Boon afier the young men above referred to became ' loose " , and that in these introductions the piecemen struck , leaving only two creatures of the overseer in the place , Under these circumstances , there would havo been no less than nine apprentices and eight journeymen . It requires little explanation to show that these numbers are so utterly beyond the hounds of reason , that no wonder need be expressed at tlie turn-out . The trade know the proprietor ' s answer too well to trust anv

      assurance that these two very boy . ? were tlie only substitutes for the three who were shortly to finish their time . In a very boasting spirit the editor concludes his paragraph by assuring the public that the publication is carried on _tiuitu satisfactorily to all parties . Thu trade in Hull know lull well that the satisfaction rests exclusively with himself . Were it not that such matters as these are of two local a nature to need lengthened remark , it would not be diflieult to exhibit to tlie world as rive specimens ofa proprietor ' s cool effrontery , an overseer ' s object to adisim . workmen ' s lamentable incapacity , and editorial ingratitude , as the whole of the three kingdom's could produce .

      Hull Branch . II . Wuite , Secretary 0 , Portland-street-West , Spring . street , Hull .

      TIIE OLD "TIMES" VERSUS THE XEW _, 'The machinery of the Association of United Trades for the Protection of Industry , " affords too strong a temptation to club orators and pothouse politicians , and too favourable an opportunity for the exercise of their powers of mischief . This monster combination is a signal example of the dangers of centralization . "—Vide Times , Monday , _Xt- . vembi-r 10 . Jill . _EdiTOII . —In olden times , the years just past . it was the old practice of the " trades , " acting by the direction of the old school bauds to enter into " strikes" offensive and defensive , without calculating the odds of thc encounter , whether they were strong enough to enforce their terms , or thc market good _enoti'li to enable the employers to give the price they

      demanded for their labour . 1 he employers , on the other hand , without studying either tlieir own interest or the men ' s ; without calculating tlieir ability to give or resist the _demands of the labourer , have adhered to a dogged determination of resistance or encroachment . Thus _tlii'omrh weeks and months of idleness , have both parties stubbornly persisted in ( to say the least ) a very unwise course , seeking not , but rather avoiding , all intermediate means cf accomodation . This mode of procedure , " all time honoured as it is , " though sometimes cosilyvictorious to the "trades , " and of toner ending expensive conquests to the employers , is , at length , discovered to he in every sense unprofitable . The narro * v views and maudlin plans of former days ( sometimes erroneously termed the " wisdom of our ancestors ") have , in the past

      struggles between employers and employed , been " ivied and found wanting . " Yet , "out of evil cnineth good . ' * Truth is being poured forth ; from out the mist of error , that has ton long tortured and confused the human race , anew era is breaking upou us ; the last piece on the stage of old time , is drugging it : ; lingering , lengthened parts to a sure end ; the dark curtain of her last ni g ht is descending , and will presently hide her dvfirmed dra . man from our view ; and such of the actors as can shake off the prejudice of caste , andean make common cause with the people , may take an important part in the new _ajte of philosophy , truth , and general _hnppim-ss . The trades are bowing to this mighty change of feeling aud opinion , that is affecting * more or less , every class ofthe community . Even the Times itself , which some

      say always wis a changeling ' moderates tlie rancour of her pun . Then , wherefore , abuse the " trades " for changing their mode of operation ? Doifs the Times think that none should change but itself , lest the price of change should be reduced t The trades have long tried local societies , and found tliam powerless for good . They next tried general unions of particular trades , aud found that these could not successfully resist the eneroaehnients ot the task-masters , who , like those ot Egypt , were continually seeking to increase toil , and reduce wanes . They then attempted to form a National Trades' Union ; but it was broken to pieces through misniiinagemunt _, before it had grown into a "monster combination . " I tha . uk God that tho National Association of United Trades has arrived at that state . I thank tiie

      Times also tor trumpeting torth our tame ; and , to prove tlie sincerity of iny thanks , I can assure the Times that I have taken the extract at the head of this epistle for a text to that part of my lectures , entitled , "The Virtues ofa National Association , and the immense advantages of centralisation , as instanced iu the powers Of Church mid State . " All former unions of the trades having failed them , in the attempt to " hold their own ; " the trades have determined to " spread their wing wider , " and , by uniting all trades together , on the condition ot uiutll . il assistance and protection , to form a truly Ki \ . tional Association ; and , by moderate subscriptions , raise a fund sufficient to meet every ease of oppression , aud ultimately , by the influence of our numbers , wealth , and

      mediation ? , to put an end to strikes at once 1111 ( 1 for ever . And , in tho interim , when strikes are unavoidable , to employ the tmrn-outs at their own occupations , preventing idleness aud riot , or any other inconvcuUnce to tho workmen or the public . Tins is our view , and our •' signal examples of the dangers of centralization , " fov the 7 'i » n . _'j - has shown none other , and our rules warrant none otlnr ! What ! does the Times condemn " centralisation , as dangerous ? " Then is the Times guilty of sedition , for it condemns tbe "powers that be" —that rule this _mighty _uutiou . It condemns the church , the stale , and the army , fur theso aro tiie three great " centralisations , " three " mighty combinations . '; Or will it make these exceptions to the " dangers of centralisation ?" Will tlie Times sa _\ it is good to centralise the local aud

      *0-«Iteo Society Of Jookxev.Men Basket M...

      national government in the crown , or lu the _Minist - that it i g good to levy taxes , and rates , _an _fl _centM- the accumulated funds in the coffers of the _e . ment—that it is good to centralise the _"* _' * gion , the clergy , the bishops , the patronage _jn _' o _" Crown _; and last , to say it is good to centralise arm - it ) their generals , and all in the Crown—t | mt _' _!' Cood to send them forth to battle , and fight out the , ! ' * rels of kings—that it is good to set army against iiri nJ "' at the bidding of onoon cither side ; to thrust , and * and hack each other , converting the fair fields 0 f nat " into a pandemonium of hellish _passions , yells , shricK ( . 'loans , and torture ; trampling wounded , djin- , _* _' dead , in one common _slom-h , fit feu .-1 for fiends and ,. ' rion crows . Will the Times say that these c _(* i , ti-, K- ' tions are good , but that centralisations of the _workit ' ! ior io

      Km . * protection industry are bad ? If so ict _- enjoy its opinion , and with it the contempt 0 f the . J ! _awlinteUigent of every class . The Times lias ere ,,, a phantom for the National Association , wherewith . J haunt its own pages and the public mind : it _afW a " teuipiatiou to club orators and pothouse politician , and facilities to exercise their powers of misehief J il . is " mischief" must be lurking in his own brain , 4 he has not yet found it iu the Association . The 7 V _' _i « ,, Stigmatises " club-orators . " This is rich ! There ar Conservative clubs , and Reform Clubs , and these have their orators ; but have they . " powers of mischief ? " T ( , _STiiiics has said it , and the orators , in their next ovations

      will returu thanks , with great pleasure . Well , these s « i . _j political-parties do frequently—particularly at election times—get up dinners and meetings in taverns , in most parts of the country , and these club orators hold forth thereat ou political topics ; and , as a tavern is vulasil . called a pothouse , I suppose that ihe _Tinvs assumesl ' thas they are , therefore , _"pothousepoliticians . " How those gentlemen will like the compliment , I know not , an ' Shall , therefore , leave them to return it in their _OlVn fashion . Yet , notwithstanding the asseverations oftlie Times to the contrary , I cannot help thinking , that if these gentlemen do join thc Association—and tbey may do so

      tor our honourable president , T . S . Duncombe , Esq ,, _hj set them a noble example— . they will thereby augment their powers for good . I am , Mr . _Editor , with all due deference to the Times , A centralizer for g * P 0 d , _Sa-ioel Jacobs . P . S . — "With respect to the Times' denunciation of tlte Typographical Association , I am disposed to think , from its unfair attack on tlie united trades , that it has alsi * dealt unfairly with that _Association , and misrepresented the ease . The intelligent portion of its readers will see _through its clumsy and moan attempt to entail their acts upon a body < mite distinct therefrom , and wholly uncoil _, neeted with it .

      TIIK VICTIM 01 ' CAPITAL . TO THE EDITOR OF THE . _VOBTHEHy STAK . I had expected that some one ot the many thou _, sands employed in tlie building trades of this metropolis , would not have allowed the recent catastrophe at _liromp . ton to pass into forgetfiilness without au effort to e . vposo the system of rapacity and murder to which as brick _, layers , carpenters , masons , & c ., they are victimised . That all of the above trades should be silent does sur . prise me . The death of _the-brkkliiyer ' 5 labourer at Alfred place . Old Hiomptoii , was a clear ease of man-killing . Jas , Casey was killed , in other words murdered : the iustru .

      meat used to murder the deceased , being inefficient bricks and mortar , and the olject gained by the murder is a saving ofa few barrowfuls of lime , or in effect the saving of a . few pounds to the capitalist . Suppose , I place the case as a question in the rule of three , for it is e 5 . * _entially one of calculation . It is not supposed , ai course , that the builder of tlie house designed the murder ofthe deceased James Casey ; the builder would , no doubt shrink back _ivith horror at the idea of the bloody ( _lut'd . But he did undertake to build houses for a given sum , which amount was _iti'ufHcient to provide such materials as in the using ot whieh no hazard to life would follow .

      Ii ith suell preface I place the case thus : — " If the building of _biiek-work at SOs . per rod , gives 4 s . per rod profit , prodding good materials , and incurving no risk of lite to the parties employtd , at what priee can 1 build had houses , use inefficient sand and lime , endangering thc lives of all parties concerned ? Answer , COs . per rod . Whether is sand and lime most valuable ? Answer , Sand and lime . James Casey is dead —killed—tmtra ' _ei-tt * —sand and lime saved—houses but ' . ' _, cheap !" Such , I conceive to be a fair and honest statement o { the case , and unfortunately for working man on tlie case of James _Ctt _' ey i ? not u _solilttv' . ' one . It is impassible to calculate the numbers murdeied annually by coal-pit explosions , railnay accidents , shipwrecks , iie ., to say nothing of the countless thousands that die by inches , whose lives are living deaths by being stewed up in filthy workshops aud factories , insufficiently fed and clothed , ic .

      But wh-. it matter as capital increases , railways are made , houses built , fortune accumulated ; King Hudson drinks his wine , the Messrs . Cotton and Cash ride iu their carriages , the master builder enjoys his brandy , all goes well ; everything is very cheap , it only causes a few millions of murders annually I Such a state oi things is the result of the present system . What a hollow mockery of right and morality is this boasted England ! It is writen on the walls of our churches , "Thou shale not steal , "— " Thou shalt not kill , " and if a _beggar steals an apple , he is punished

      we will be mora ! ! It a man cut the throat of his fellow-man , the murderer shall be hanged ; we will be ju « t ! Yet , we live under a system that murders many ; and steals from all . Capital must have its due ; dogs and burses must bu protected j _laboured mutdefid . Tha ignorant savage knows no such horrors ; his uncultivated lands are free , his wants grow with his ability to supply them , his existence is rude and precarious , but never reiined and cruel , such cannot be the tru > - _ol'jcCt of government and civilization , and calls loudly for a givat poiitical and social change .

      Hut the present system seems to engender all that is opposed to truth , -justice and humanity ' , a re _' _evene . * to the inquest on the body of Casey will provuniy case—and here it may not b _* out of place to state—that I know for a Oct , that tbe friends of the deceased Casey collected £ 2 , and offered the sum to a certain liberal _Jainer in London to attend the inquest , but no , the sidd liberal lawyer required his full le-: — £ i . E . Jones , Esq ., w . is nest nsked , and to his credit aud honour be it written , he immediately consented without asking or expecting reward . 1 hope such _circimstaoce "ill be remembered by

      all , who iu poverty , are subjected to the hardsiup ot employing a barrister to defend the rights and expose tlie wrongs of labour . Ou tlie inquest the Coroner did not a little tu burke the inquiry . He had always an over _, bearing objection ready cut s _\ wl dried the moment Mr . Jones opened his mouth ; and ho refused to hear the evidence ofa bricklayer ' s labourer—because he had "heard evidence suilieieut iVeui them . '' The jurors too were worthy of the Coroner . Mr . Junes requested the Coroner to order Mr . Holmes to produce his agreement with Messrs . Emmens .

      but" The Coroner objected , amidst a general outcry from the jurors , amongst whom were several builders , against its production . " How worthless after all in some cases is trial by jury . A jury raising "a general outcry" against u reasonable question . H . id sueii au occurrence taken place at a prouiiscous gathering of thousands , it would havo shown ignorance and _bi . d taste , but coming from a jury ' sitting on the corpse of a man , it seems almost inaccountable , It certainly adds nothing to the respectability of the gentlemen concerned , but reduees ihcm beneath the dignity oi a mob _.

      I have already said that the ease of Casey is not a solitary 011 Q , but suppose the deceased leaves a wife and children to mourn his loss . Their provider and protector is no mure . Capital hasbeen enhanced by his labour , aud what does capital do for those who are bereaved and loft alone ? Stiuls tiicm to a workhouse to be starved ami insuited , or leaves them the alternative of stealing and being punished as criminals . Am I _' told'enterprise and trade require such sacrifice ? , I answer , if so , _etiterprize and trade reap tlie _b-.-netit , and should by law be compelled to provide for the dependants of those so sacrificed , Things are managed ditt ' eretitly in Prauce , the provisions of the code Napoleon provide an indemnification for all injury sustained bv _labourers when ut work , _vesuUing

      _ii'Oin carelessness or other causes on the part of the employer . Some idea of the law now existing in prance , may be formed from the following case which appeared in tho Times of October _the'J 0 : Ii;— "One instance _vt'ill probably give our readers some idea of tho way they manage these things as well as others in Prance . Theworkmen ou the line wm blasting a rock in thc tunnel ; thoy dug the hole , loaded it , and primed it as U did not explode quite so quickly as they expected , a labourer , whose birthplace our readers will easily conjecture , went up to it , knelt down , and b ' ew the match . He lost his eyes and his arms by this not unnatural aceideut , yet the cuinpany were glad to ship him oft' again to the Emerald Isle , with £ 200 in his pocket , rather than risk the award of the court . "

      How lucky was the poor Hibernian labourer who , by sheer want of forethought , wag injured when nt work iu France , compared with what would have been his fate had his unfortunate accident befallen him iu England-An efficient and stringent law of deodund is required in this country—mcli a law as will secure a pension fov all the wounded soldiers in our industrious urniy , and provide for the wives , families , and dependants of all men killed when employed in producing capital j and iu all cases where death or accident is caused by the neg lect oi avarice of the employer—he to pay tlie sum settled by law as damages ; and in all cases , where death is caused

      by tho carelessness of the labourer , the dependants ot the deceased should be provided tor by the state . * * soldier in our fighting army if disabled in tho _si-rvici _' , !*| eiili tled to a pension ; and surely shunting men is no more honorably or necessary than building houses , or iiiak ! ng * _, rai lways . Suell a lueimite would prove n protection to the livt'S and limbs of our fellow working men , and contrasts to advantage alongside tvummry _leeommetuUtkm of the noisy _Hroinpt-. ui Jury , about party walls " with and without bond limber . " The party walls of our legislature anu superstructure are already too secure , they must ¦ I ) shaken , aud the working man ' s labour be r _upri-sentei and protected , as well as the landowner ' s hare or tne

      capitalist s pocket . A _Lels _raoM the Asnaw or a Shoemaker » ft Alt RETT .

      Wants A Vlace—The Wellington Statute. Ca...

      Wants a _Vlace—The Wellington Statute . Cart havo a two months character from the omnibus men and Sir Ercderick Trench .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 5, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_05121846/page/6/