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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th March 1847, Edition 3 of 3, Page 1, JtU Tllti U11AK.T15T UUD*. FntK*fns,—At ...

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    • TO TUE WORKING CLASSES
    • Cfjartfct intelligence*
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      To Tue Working Classes

      TO TUE WORKING _CLASSES

      ' Mr Friexds, Fr From T!,E Day I Venture...

      ' Mr Friexds , Fr From t ! , e day I ventured _, to assume the office of blipoblic instructor , I have , upon all occasions , asked : lTOV readers to weigh my writings in the scale of eiitbeir own unbiassed judgment , adopting what apirpeued reasonable , rejecting what appeared unreari " _o-iable , and asking for explanation of all that ipi appeared * doubtful . In tbe course of my busy career b it bas fallen to my lot to bave to deal with sancy , i ? c insolent , conceited and ignorant antagonists , who li relied more upon abuse of me , and your credulity , ba tban npon tbeir own understanding . 1 bave always tl held , tbat a -virtuous , independent public writer , was

      fc < the most valuable of all public functionaries ; and , op upon the contrary , that the hired writer was tbe im most debased and insignificant wretch living . The M Messrs . Chambers , by a most unaccountable process — —to me a riddle—have wormed their way into the cr confidence of a large portion of the comparatively s : satisfied of the working classes , and tbey have very e _; extensively presumed upon tbe gullibility of that o : order . In truth , they have published more rank n nonsense tban any set of scribblers within the same p period . It once before fell to my lot to expose their s servility and ignorance , aiid tbis week it has pleased I God to deliver tbem bound HAND and TONGUE ,

      1 to my mercy . . As a matter of right to me , and of pride and : justice to yourselves , I ask you to read their pub' lished op inions—upon a principle on wbicb tbe mind cannot mucb vary—in 1845 and 1847 , and tben ask yourselves for an explanation of such heartless brutality , and you will find spite for ray exposure of tiieir former folly the answer . As yet , you have seen comparatively nothing of tbeir duplicity . Tbey bave published thirty-two whole columns in one number of the most extravagant laudation of the three-acre system . You shall see every word of it , and tben your indignation will be complete . As long as I have been a public man , I have not met

      with one instance of similar depravity—tbat is the only word in the English langu age to characterise their corruption . I implore of you to read my answer to tbe article of W . C , and to come to some resolution upon tbe conduct of those public instructors , and send your verdicts for publication in the Star ; and let them feel the weight of your anger also . Tell them plainly , tbat their insolence is an insult to your * order ; and that you will not support sich depravity . Now , a _word—AYhat would you sav of me , or what punishment would you consider sufficiently severe for me , if the Star had thus doubly dealt with any subject of like fixity ? My Land " and Chartist friends , —if the Trades wish to be culled , don ' t you .

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

      all will listen attentively . Ever your consistent instructor , Fkahgcs _O'Cossor

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

      THE HIGHER A MONKEY CLIMBS THE MORE HE SHOWS HIS CHAMBERS CONVICTED OF CORRUPT MALICIOUS , AND WILFUL LYING .

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

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

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

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

      of your Malthusian Free Trade philosophy would have had tbe effect of making you more cautious in your future experiments even upon tbat class of gullible readers ; but 1 was mistaken . There is much more lenity due to an adversary who errs rom ignorance , than to hira who LIES FOR HIRE ; and I should not deal so harshly with your article npon the land , if I was not in a situation to prove your meanness frora your own li ps . I shall now proceed to comment upon the article in question -, and in order to show you ibat I rely upon the poison carrying its own antidote , I have given it at full length ia the second page .

      You commence your observations with a kind of apology for a former article on some very meagre experiments made by Lord George Hill , end having committed yourself when commenting npon those experiments , you are compelled to say that " you 1 renounced no opinion on tbe question of land allotments ; " however , you do admit that you said _1-onl George Hill DESERVED HIGH PRAISE , and therefore wc mav naturallv conclude that he did tot deierve censure , the reward which you would _1-cstow on the CLAP-TRAP HUMANITY-MAN , v , -bo _** e experiment goes much farther ; perhaps too fir for tlie benefit of your Free Trade clients .

      _^ 1 cheerfull y accept the name of HL'MANITY-¦• IAN , aud I shall now proceed to quote your objections io the small farm system for two purposes . Firstly , to refute thera seriatim ; and , secondly ,

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

      that the \ Y . C . of February , 1847 , may be confronted with the same W . C . of May , 184 b . On the true Malthusian principle , you commence your objections to tbe small farm system with a falsehood , supported by a vague assumption as to the probability of , a REDUNDANT POPULATION being the result . In speculating upon the chances of wretchedness and poverty caused by an overpopulation , you say : — Such must inevitably be the consequence of every scheme for allotting- patches of land to _pooragriculturistf-, unless at the same time provision be made for employing

      or carrying off to : new fields of enterp _rise the redundancy ofthe population . After the long experience of the _wretehednerf-pVoduced by patch-farming in every part of l _* ti « ? mg ? r , Ireland in particular , it strikes us as _somtthingt _^ y _^ epiarkable tbat men should be seen advoeating the ' _institadoo of the practice on a wide scale , as a _meaMofnatto _^ _-Qrosperi ty . Fascinated by the seemins ; humanity of bestowing allotments upon paupers , and gratified by the first appearances of prosperity which probably ensue , they altogether forget what is to come next —over-crowded cottages , new pauperism , aud « poor-rate which may pretty nearly absorb the whole rental of the parish .

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

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

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

      At this moment a scheme is on foot in England and Scotland for buying and _givia _; an acre of land to every working man who it a member of a certain association . In other words , a section of industrious and tvell-dispcsed operatives have , through the agency of soma clap-trap humanity-man , been deluded into the fancy that each ot them would be happy if he became the owner ofa morsel of land—land situated , perhaps , hundreds of miles from the place of his ordinary occupation . We have uo hesitation in denouncing this project as one of the greatest follies ever conceived . White Nature ' s laws work as tiiey are doing , there cannot be a doubt that it will terminate in tbe lots and discomfiture of all concerned .

      You commence bere again with a falsehood . There is no such scheme now on foot in England as tbat of giving AN ACRE to every working man ; and then you come to Nature . YOU SAY „ WHILE NATURE'S LAWS WORK AS THEY ARE NOW DOING . Foolish man !—what bas Nature to do witb leases and tbeir harsh conditions ? with cotton lords and their tyrant oppressions ? with scribblers and their folly ? The very thing the HUMANITY-MAN is endeavouring to do is , to bring man to a more natural state , by taking his artificial shackles off him . You follow the passage

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

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

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

      agriculturist to pay 1400 for the use of a hundred acres , thau ta exj » end tbe sum of £ _l-. ' , 0 ti 0 in buying the property . And why ! Because in the one case lie is binding up a great deal of capital , which might be of service in his owu proper bufir _. _ess ol husbandry—besides putting an embargo upon hii _jierson . il _free-de-m ; while , in the other , he would Hut only keep hu capital to farm the laud properly , but be so fur lit his ease , that atthe end ofa term of years he could remove to u . larger farm , or , without loss , altogether relinquish the _tiade ofan agriculturist .

      Why , Mr . \ Y . C , that is just the marrow , tbe essence , the whole of my plan . I quite agree with you ; and , for that reason , I propose giving every man capital at the rate of £ 7 10 s . for each acre to enable him to get on in the commencement . You proceed then , after a little rubbish—A _tradesman , laying out £ 100 in a speculation in Ja " _nu _.-iry , may have a dual return of £ 200 lisfore the end of _IK-coinber . The landowner has tu such chance . In England , afm-hoM property in land may realise four _pe-1-ee-i . t . _pt-r annum on the outlay ; and in Scotland , it _rti-. lv- returns _bbove two and _» half per cent . What a _iiiher . _- . _tilt .. STiiir is this !

      At ibis critical juncture the above announcement was dangerous to the cause of your clients , because every working man will very naturally ask himself whether the cent , per cent ., or the £ 100 profit , on tbe £ 100 spent , was made by fair speculation , or STOLES FROM WAGES . You should be _cauiious'how you damn your clients' cause in vour

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

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

      nonsense—BY NO PROCESS CAN OUR AGRICULTURISTS TAKE MORE THAN ONE CROP PER ANNUM 1 Now , what do you think of a crop of rape . sown upon a wbeaten stubble in August , eaten off by ewes and lambs and cut for cows in spring , a crop of early potatoes , planted in March , cleared _oJT from middle of July to end of August , and turnips sown and transplanted as the potatoes are cleared ? Now , there are three of the most pro - fitable crops for you in one year . What do you say

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

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

      proceed—Each child has now twenty acres , and tho same _laev again operates to subdivide . Suppose each to have five children , then each of these get four acres . There ar ? now twenty-five proprietors instead of one . But the subdivision does not stop ; on it goes , generation after gener i tion , till at length thc whole land is cut up into paltry sections not the size of a cabbage garden , Man alive 1 why stop at tbis simple progression ? why not proceed geometrically , and suppose these 25 had eacb 25 children , and these 625 had each 625 more ? Now the only observation that I shall condescend to make on this portion of your folly is this

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

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

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

      LOOK ON _THfS PICTURE AND OH THIS . Chambers' Journal , Chambers' Journal , May , 1 S 45 , No . 72 , of February , 1847 , NEW AND IM- Xo . IG 4 ,

      PROVED SERIES . NEW SERIES . The only point that All things consiremains to be settled tiered , we umve at is one connected with the following _propopolitic-il economy . It sitions respecting the is alleged b y the lead- tenure and manageing political econo- ment of land . First , mists of England , that that land , like every cottage farming ( see other comr . 111 . litv , _eirticle Cottage Sys- ought to be at the tern in the Enajclo- free disposal of its

      padia Britannica , proprietor , to sell it while calculated to or bequeath it as he promote the growth of thinks proper—suba population of pau- jeet , of course , in the pcrs , is only distract- latter case , to making ing manual labour a reasonable provision from its proper field for widow and chilof employment . But dren . Second , that this allegation pro- land should be agriceeds on an un- culturall y managed proved assumption . If in that form which it could be shown that would cause it to every able - bodied yield permanently the

      man could make five largest amount of proshillings a-day b y duce at the smallest working as a weaver , expenditure of means _, at a factory , or tiny If it can be shown , other branch of la- therefore , as we conhour , the assertion fideutl y believe it can , would in part be cor- that large farms , by rcct ; hut such is not an exact economical the case . There are _management , will give countries in which re- to the nation food in niunerativc employ- greater abundance , ment cannot be per- and ut less cost , than nianently had , and in smaH farrns c 0 ll _* _, ' such . situations—TO propose to do , then

      WHICH SOCIE- LARGE FARMS TV IN ENGLAND ARE IN EVERY SEEMS ADVAN- RESPECT THE ClNG-ihc choice is MOST SUITABLE in a great measure AND RECOMbetween S P A I ) E MENDAliLE ; and HUSBANDRY , ji excessive cutting AND STARVA- up of properties ought Tl ON , not between to be deprecated , as ti spade husbandry and source of general well-paid employ- impoverishment and ment . Besides , the disaster . W . C . p olitical economist entirely overlooks the fact , that THE

      COTrAGE- FARMER DERIVES IMMENSE ADVAN . TAGES FROM

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

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

      can outdo the large COUNTRY , WITH farmer with all his THE VICE , INcapital and machi- TEMPERANCE , ncry--a fact distinctly AND POVERTY , proved , _atleast as re- FOR WHICH ENspects _thej _& eepiiig of GLAND and SCOT * , cows _angling their _LAl _^ DM'lWMtX produce _^ noJOINT- THElft LARGE STOCK COM- AND SPLENDID PANY OF COW- FARMS , ARE KEEPERS BEING NOW BECOMING ABLE TO COM-

      UNHAPPILYDISPETE WITH THE TING UIS H E D ? MISCELLANE- It might be difficult OUS AND UN- to prove that large MARKETABLE farms have been , in LABOUR OF A any material degree , HUMBLE DAIRY- the cause ofthe social MAN AND HIS evils now exciting so FAMILY . * As to much attention ; but the allegation that it is clear that they cottage-farmingivould have not prevented cause a deterioration those evils . Without in society , it is also going so far as to sav FOUNDED ON that cottage-farming NARROW VIEWS , would furnish a

      uni-In some parts of the versa ! remedy , we canton ot' Vaud and think that , independ _* elsewhere in Switzcr- cntly of its use in land , where the farms increasing the proare all small , and duetivc surface of the mostly WROUGHT countr y , it would at BY THEIR PRO- least afford some re-PRIETORS , there lief , and add to that IS NO PAUPER- section of thc poptila-[ SM WORTHY OF tion whieh is still in THE NAME , NO a healthful moral OVERPLUS PO- condition . _PULATIONrAND

      * Are Not The Chambers' Humbugs ? Now, W...

      * Are not the Chambers' humbugs ? Now , what do you say for yourself , and how do you feel ? But I have not half done with you yet , I have commented upon your article in No . 164 , but have only taken the concluding paragraph from that of 72 , the whole of which thirty-two columns you devote , exclusively to prove the advantage of small farms and spade husbandry over large farms and the plough , and in which'you adopt Mr . Vavasour ' s plan , aud enforce its ? practicability , that upon three acres badly managed , a man can make i 2 l . a-year , after paying rent and for seeds .

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

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

      subsequent numbers of the Northern Star . And now Mr . Water-Closet , you may rely upon it that your agents will receive orders in thousands to stop Chambers' Journal , as the time has really arrived when even clever men can no longer gull tlieir dupes . Your attempt has been insolent and presumptuous . You have got out of your depth ; stick to the scissors , and abandon the . pen . I remain , Mr . W . C , Old Robin , THE HUMANITY-MAN .

      Cfjartfct Intelligence*

      _Cfjartfct intelligence *

      To .. . ... -Jiuimsts Ob' Tlle I Eml-Ire...

      TO .. . ... -JiUimSTS Ob' TllE _i EMl-IRE . " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it quickly . " Solomon . Brethren , —The aphorism contained in my text has been ouce more forcibly impressed upon my mind by the circumstances attendant upon the recent motion in the House of Commons , by our _unchangeable and unllinching advocate , Mr . Duncombe , for thc repeal ot the _rate-paying clauses , iu what is nicknamed " tlie Reform Bill . " You , as Chartists , cannot be ignorant of the mischievous tfi ' octs of those clauses . It lias been preached in your ears times innumerable since the passing of that infamous

      measure ; to what an extent it destroyed those rights which it falsely pretended to bestow ; and how its complicated machinery opened at every point new sluices through which the stream of corruption , silently , though surely , flowing , left you completely at thc rneicy of irresponsible hirelings in the shape of revising barristers , and even the very insertion ot ' your names on thc lists , at the option of the petty functionaries of the two vile factions , whose interests could be easily compensated for the omission / leaving you no remedy but what was worse than the disease . The frightful disclosures lately published , in which was shown to what extent the system had been carried out in various parishes in London and elsewhere , must have added another proof , if another

      was necessary , that 'it was more than time a strong effort was made to scotch ' the snake at least , if we were not fully prepared to destroy it . Tlie poisonous Upas tree which hns all but desolated this fair land , has been for ages extending its accursed branches , and increasing its terrible bulk ; its roots have penetrated to thc centre , and its head has reached to tho cl mds ; to uproot it is not the work of a day , a week , a month , or a year : but while our united energies are applied to accomplish tho destruction ot tho towering evil , it is surely sound and necessary policy on our , part to lop otf such of the branches as impede the progress of our labour , and prevent vast numbers ot our tellow workmen from rendering us tlieir assistance to accomplish this _mighty work And the question is , has this been done with the spirit , the zeal , the promptitude , which is demanded , even to deserve success ? Has that _unii-n ol mind ,

      that devotcdness of spirit , that otieness of purpose , been exhibited by us , as a ; body , been manifested on thc occasion of tlie late motion of Mr . Dunombe ? A general and timely iv _> tic _« wns given of thc _intewtion of our unllinching advocate to bring the obnoxious _claui-es under the consideration of the liouse ; hoping that tho enormity of tho evil , and the increased liberality of the age , might induce that branch of thc legislature to lonscnt to wi | _-c away that abomination irom the statute buok . Mr . Duncombe lhad the encoarugement of the time ; it was towards the conclusion of the existence of parliament , and cic long the candidates mu-t stand as petitioners on the _kustiugs beforo their constituents . But in pleading for the people ' s rights he expected to be able to show that he was expressing the people ' s wishes , and that numerous petitions would be poured in from all parts , proclaiming , as wiih one voice ,

      To .. . ... -Jiuimsts Ob' Tlle I Eml-Ire...

      that the evil was universally execrated , and as universally demanded to be removed . Was this too much for your unpaid friend to expect , when it was for your own interest he was labouring , and not for himself ! Was a public meeting , without loss of time or material expense , to be got up ; your _optnions tobe recorded upon a solitary sheet of paper , and signed by your chairman , in tho name and on thc behalf of you all , and _sant off for presentation under cover ofa penny postage stamp ; was thin , I say , too great an exertion to be made in due time for the cause of god-like Liberty ? Let those who have

      been guilty of the neglect answer the question . I know not how far thu apathy has extended , but I see by the public papers that a petition has been presented , got up at the Crown and Anchor , in town , and one from Leicester ! Yes , brethren , from one of the most wretched , the most degraded , the most impoverished places bounded by the four seas whioh encircle Britain , where thc few Chartists , rvhich traitors and hypocrites have leit , would have beeh staggered to raise the few pence necessary for the purchase of tho few sheets of paper which would have , been necessary , if the names of the petitioners had been _appended .

      It is no excuse to say now whether meetings for the purpose were in progress . Shake off , I beseech you , my dear friends , this miserable apathy , and ever bear in mind , and act up _« n my texf _* ,--what is done cannot be now remedied , but bo alert for the future . Remember that the National Petition has been before the public for months for signatures , and we know not how soon it may bo wanted , and yet I see that in many places meetings aro only _noii' called for its adoption , though the importance for its numerical strength is { great ; and I trust I shall not be thought _egotistical when I say , that our povertystricken friends here have obtained more than eleven housand signatures to that document . I am . Brethren . Your faithful servant , T . 11 . Smart . 36 , S . _tnvev Gate . Leicester , 28 th Feb ., 1817 .

      WHITECHAPEL—At a ueneral meetin ? of the Brass Founders' Arms locality , February 28 th , it was unanimously resolved : — " That a vote ol thanks is due and hereby given to Mr . T . Clark , for his energetic and noble defence of the six points of the Charter in the _discussion with Mr . Gurney . " TOWER-HAMLETS . —At a public meeting held on Sunday evening , February 28 lh , at the Glebe and Friends , Morgan Street , Commercial Road , the following resolutions were unanimously carried : — " That a petition be sent to T . S . Duncorcbe , Esq , M . P ., for presentation to the Commons House of Parliament , praying for thc abolition of thc ratepaying clauses in ; the Reform Act . " " That a vote of thanks be given to Thomas Clark for the able and masterly manner in whioh ho _etisnussed the principles of the People ' s Charter with A . _Gurnoy , E * q . "

      THE CENTRAL REGISTRATION AND ELECTION COMMITTEE met nt the Assembly Rooms , S 3 , Deaii'Sfrect , Soh » , on Tuesday evening , March thc 2 nd . Mr . T . Clark was unanimously called tothe chair . Mr . Stallwood gave in a report of the recent meeting at the Crown and Anchor Tavern for the repeal of the rate-payinjr clauses , together with the balance-sheet of receipts and expenditure for the same , and handed in £ I 7 s ., being tho balance of receipts over the expenditure , A vote of thanks was unanimously awarded to Mr . Stallwood for his zeal and ability in _gotting up and conducting the late meeting to « successful issue . The committee next resolved , in order to show their determination to carry on the struggle for the repeal of _tiiojo obnoxious clauses , "That a deputation

      consisting of Messrs . T . Clark and J J . Milne , be appointed to wait on Messrs , Duncorrbe and Wnkley , M . P . ' s , and consult with them as to the next best steps toj be taken , and lay the result of their deliberation before the committee at its next meeting , with a view to the taking of immediate active steps for the accomplishment of the desired end . " "That the Executive Committee be requested to draw up a short address calling the attention of the country to the division list on Mr . Duncombe ' s motion . " " That in future the metropolitan local secretaries of tho registration committees arc requested to meet tho central committee on the first Tuesday in each month , at tlieir office , at eight o'clock in the evening . " The committee then adjourned to the Oth instant .

      SHEFFIELD . — Tho council of the National Charter Association held its usual weekly meeting on Sunday , February 28 th , Mr . Jackson in the chair . After the financial business of the association was disposed of , on the motion of Mr . Dyson , A committee of six was appointed to scenro signatures to the National Petition . A goodly number of sheets were disposed of for the country districts . Persons wishing to have sheets in their workshops may have them by applying to George Cavill , 33 , Queen-street . We have already obtained several thousands of signatures . As far as Sheffield is concerned we arc determined to do our full share towards the required four millions .

      BIRMINGHAM . —At our usual weekly meeting on Sunday last . Mr . P . Campbell in the chair , Mr . O'Connor ' s letter was read from the Shir , after which the following resolution was unanimously passed : moved by Mr . Porter , and seconded by Mr . Fussell , " That r . e highly approve ofthe _suegestiens of Mr . O'Connor on behalf of Dr . M'Douall , and that we immediately open a subscription for thc above purpose , which shall be kept open till Michaelmas next . " A subscription was then entered into , and the sum of Hs . Cd . collccted _. jd ' tcr which a vote of thanks was passed to Thomas _Slingsby Duncombe , M . P ., and those members who voted with him upon his late motion for repealing the rate-paying clauses ofthe Reform Bill .

      THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER LIBRARY , AND DEBATING SOCIETY . —A public discussion em " The Evils of the Law of Primogeniture " took place nt the Temperance Hall , Broadway , on Saturday , February 27 th . Mr . Johnson was called to the chair . Mr . Bowlkr ably opened the debate , in favour of the abolition of the law . Mr . CAsn , Kn . 'R followed on the opposite side . Mr . Edward Stallwood , amid loud applause , replied to him . Air . Trumoli * ably followed on the same side . Mr . Ikvi . no also ably supported the abolition of tht law . Mr . Gallagher looked on tho law as the great cause of vice , injustice , ant ! immorality .

      Mr . _TnoMss supported tho Law ot Primogeniture , by sundry deductions from " Holy Writ . " Mr . Neivsomb , a Chelsea pensioner , oppo 3 ed the Law of Primogeniture , and said the working classes could not be blamed for the introduction of laws , seting that they had no voice in making them . Mr . Catlkt _replieel to the several speakers opposed to the Law of Primogeniture , and coneludeil by declaring , that he wished , or rather that lie did not care , how soon it was abolished !—( Laughter and applause . ) The discussion on this subject _wss here concluded , and "The Land and the Charter , " selected for Saturday ( thit evening ) March Gth . During thc debate Chambers' philosophy came iii for some Ivory severs

      rubs , whilst Mr . O'Connor ' s Small Farms was highly eulogised . The room set apart for the discussion was densely crowded . In the library we found many volumes of highly useful books , including the works of Thomas Paine , William Cobbett , < fco ., & c . Works of every phase of politics , morals , philosophy , and theology , are contained in the library . Thc cost to the members 5 b only one penny per week . PUBLIC MEETING AT HULL . —A public meeting was held on Monday night last , for the adoption of the National Petition , iu thc Hall oi the Court of Requests , granted for tho occasion by the Alayor . Air . Peek , Town Councillor was unanimously called to the chair . Mr . Hancock moved , and Mr . Jackson seconded , the lirst resolution .

      Mr . Stki'Ukns moved , and Mr . Currie seconded , thc adoption of thc National Petition , which wns supported by Dr . M'Ptiuall in one of thc most a ' ole speeehes that has been heard in Hull for s > # uic time . Mr . Hancock moved , and Mr . Stephens _seconded , ( he memorial for the restoration of Frost , Williams and Jones . The resolutions and petition were all carried unanimously . A vote of thanks was given to the _Dficte _*!' , who in reply moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman , which was carried unanimously . A number of signatures were attached to tin . 'petition .

      DEltBY . —A requisition by 150 electors has been presented to thc mayor of Darby , requesting him to call a public meeting to adopt the National Petition _, lie deelined , excepting at eleven o ' clock in t ! i « forenoon . It being impossible for the working men to attend a meeting at that h .. _ttr , wc have resolved on taking tlie Mechanics' Lecture Hall , for a meeting to adopt the National Petition , which will take place on Monday evening , March loth , at 8 o ' clock . HULL . —Doctor M'Douall delivered a lecture in the White Hart room , on Sunday evening , in the course of which he fully explaiiioil tho principle of co-operation , as exhibited in the Land Scheme and Labour Dunk . Ho also explained th * capabilities of the soil , ami concluded a most instructive and argumentative address , by pointing out the great necessity ofthe Land members ( whilst socking to redeem themselves by location on thc land ) struggling to ol _*'; aiu the enactment of the People ' s Charter , as the

      To .. . ... -Jiuimsts Ob' Tlle I Eml-Ire...

      best means of both obtaining tbo land and keeping it when ebtaiiiod . After a vote of thanks to the Doc tor and the chairman , the meeting , which was a very good one , quietly separated , hit-lily gratified . MANCHESTER , _Suxdat Evening . —The chairman commenced by introducing Mr . Grocot , who read Mr . _O'Connor ' s letter irom the Northern Star , which was listened to with great attention , and called forth general applause . Mr . Ernest Jones's speech ' was then read , which gave great satisfaction ; afterwards the editorial _ai'iicle inthe Northern ftar , whichwits received with approbarion . About this tune Air . Clarice arrived and was received with applause . He

      commenced his address byshowing the erroneous constructions of old prelacy , in attributing the present _cilamities to Providence . Cobbett had predicted from natural causes the failure of the potatoi crop yet no attention had been paid to that pradiotiian and hence the baneful result , and , forsooth , they mi « the b _' ame on Providence , which went to say thatJ _Providenee was improvident ! The history of the human familr dearly demonstrated the evil ettects ot man ' s inhumanity to man . Towns had heen thrown in a state of riot through famine , nations had rebelled against tho wicked laws of selfish rulers , and * kingdoms had been revolutionised when famine ,

      , occasioned by avaricious tyrants , had naturally forbidden further forbearance . Still further lessenu were wanting ; all had not yet been sufficient to tench mankind that the great evil in society was too much love of self-appropriation . The lecturer then condemned the political economists of tho present day * tree-traders , and Protectionists , and Aristocrat ? , were all conspiring against [ labour ; monopolising _the-eartlniml-the fruits thereof . God gave the earth a common heritage to man , but roan had perverted ] the will of Providence by his selfish craft over _hufrellow-man . Moral means combined with universal

      intelligence would soon emancipate mankind frora privation and misery . Let the people avail _thenii selves of the land and work for themselves , they ' would then obtain a remunerative _encouragementi After commenting on tho utility of science whin pro * - perty directed , and tho evils of tlio present system of distribution , he concluded an interesting discouria _^ amidst loud applauso . A few questions wero asked the lecturer , which he answered to every one ' s sat s « faction , and the meeting terminated . MACCLESFIELD .-The members and friends of

      the Mutualilmprovement Class inlconnection with ' _. the Macclesfield Branch of the National Charter Asso ciation , met in their room ' on Monday evening last ; , when Mr . Jobn West delivcrod an address on tho present prospect aud position of parties , with a review of the schemos propounded by tbem , for tha amelioration of thc condition of tlio peoplo . Mr . West will deliver a lecture next Monday night at the _samo . place , at S o ' clock . _Suf-ject— " The real cause o the present Famine in _Ireliiii ( l , " and the real Remedio to prevent its recurrence in future . "

      South _Lordon- Chartist Hail , 115 , Blackfriarsroad . —A special meeting of tho members of thia distric-of the National Land Company will be held at _half-pastt-ix o ' clock precisely , on business of urgent imporlance , on Sunday eveninc next , March 7 th , and at eight o ' clock precisely Mr . J" _Skelton will deliver a lecture . Subject , — . " Education versus Theology . " GREENWICH . AND DEPTFORD -A _rsrecial meeting of the Chartists of thc above locality wa 3 held at Mr . Paris ' s , Cold Bath , on Tuesday , March 2 nd , Mr . John Woodward in the chair . The following resolution was unanimously adopted ' : —" That tha Executive

      be requested to turnish eaeh Innality with a hut i . f the divisions on all important questions introduced into the House of Commons since the yeac 1812 , so that each locality may know thoso who have voted for and _against the interests ofthe people . " B _ERMONDSEY . —Ata meeting of tbe members on _lucsday evening , in ihi » _locality , the following members were nominated tor _eotmoillurs : —Messrs Grady , Chapman , Stratton , Law , Barker , Millward , and Thorpe ; Millward sub-treasurer , l'horpe subsccietary . It was also resolved " that a meeting ho held in Dockhead Chapel , for the purpose of forwarding the caused Chartism , and ' thu Co-operative Land Company . "

      MARYLEBONE LOCALITY .-Moved by Mr . Godwin and seconded by Mr . _Hutcliings , " That itis the opinion of the Marylebone locality of the National Charter Association , that a correct ' list of members ' names on thu books up to the lst of April , 1 S 47 , should be sent to tho General Secretary , so that ho may lay the same before the annual Convention , to enable the delegates to form an opinion how they can best advance the movement ; and that we recommend the Executive to _issue an address to this effect . "

      _^ METROPOLITAN COMMITTEE . —A meeting of this body was held at the office of the Executive Committee , 83 , Bean-street , Soho , on Thursday evening , Mr . _Caughlan , one of the delegates from the City locality , in the chair . Mr . Tapp reported on behalf ol thc City locality that * his constituents were exceedingly anxious that some steps should be taken to revive tho agitation in the metropolis for the People ' s Charter . Mr . Arnott and Mr . Milno reported to the same effect . Mr . Thomas Clark thought that it was the duty of the Chartists of the metro \> olis to secure an expression of opinion in tlio City of London , on thc conduct of Lord John Russell in reference to Mr . Duncombe ' s motion for the repeal ot the ratepaying clauses of the Reform Act . Ho

      _tiieref ' ore moved , " That thc various metropolitan localities aro hereby solicited to eo-operate with the council of the City locality , in convening a public meeting ot the electors and non-electors of the City eit London , to consider the conduct ot Lord John Russell , one of their representatives , in opposing the introduction of a bill to abolish the tax-pay ' _iug clauses of the Reform Act . " Mr . Milne seconded the resolution , which was unanimously earrieel . Air . Doyle moved , " That thc secretary bo instructed to write to the absent members of the committeo , requesting their attendance at the next meetiug . " Mr . Arnott seconded the motion , which wa * _s unanimously a * sented to . The committee was then adjourned till Wednesday , March 10 th . -

      Ar00114

      «* * ' ' .-., ' « And National Tmdes' Jo...

      _«* * ' ' _.-., _' « AND NATIONAL TMDES' JOURNAL .

      Vol^ No. 489- """ London, Saturday; Marc...

      VOL _^ NO . 489- """ LONDON , SATURDAY ; MARCH 6 , 1847 . ____^^ S _^ 2 r _^

      Jtu Tllti U11ak.T15t Uud*. Fntk*Fns,—At ...

      _JtU _Tllti U 11 AK _. T 15 T UUD * . _FntK * fns , —At foot you will find an analysis of the division in the _IIouBe of Commons on Air , Duncombe ' s motion for the repeal of the Kate-paying Clauses of the Reform Act . Upon an examination oi that division , it will be seen that of the 58 who voted against the motion—22 are Government officials , and oO belong to the old Tory faction . So that , without the assistance of the Tories , the " Liberals" could not have defeated the _attempt of Air . Duncombe to abolish those disgraceful _e-lauses which tend uo much to limit and narrow the elective franchise .

      flic Executive Committee , along with the' Central Election and _Registration Committee , " are now devising means to bring the conduct of those " liberal" gentlemen before their constituents , ami they are not without hope of being able to effect some good . In the meantime , they consider it their duty to call the attention of the country to those men who have figured in this last act of the ' finality" farce , under the impression that steps will he taken by tlio Chartist body to lind _personi more willing and competent to do the work of _Icgi-da-ion . Ou behal f of the Executive Committee , _CiiRisTOi-iiEn Dotle , Secretary .

      Tonibs—29. Aclnnd, T D Manners, Lord J B...

      ToniBS—29 . Aclnnd , T D Manners , Lord J Bailey , J Jun Main waring , T Hentinek , Lord G _Packiugton , Sir J Uoldero , 11 G Plutliptre , J P Corthwick , P Poihill , Captain O .-pclatuI , A Rich , II Dick , _QuL-ntin Sandon . Viscount Forbes , William Shaw , F Graham , Sir J _Sjooncr , R Greene , Thomas Stewart , J llarcourt , G G _Tollemache , John Henley , J W Vesey , Hon T llervey , Lord A Vyse , R H Lygon , Hon Gen Wood , T Johnston , Sir J

      Official _MEMunns— -20 . Anson , Hon Col ... _Alaulc , Hon F Craig , W G ' Morpeth , Viscount Dundas , Admiral 0 'Conor Don Fox , C R Paget , Lord A Gibson , T AI _Pahueretmi , Lord Grey , Sir Gcorgo Parker , John llnwcs , 15 Russell , Lord J IlobliDUse , Sir J Rutherford , A Labuucbcre , 11 Somerville , Sir W _Aiacai'lay , T li Wyse , Thomas Libeeals not in Office— 'J Arundel , Earl of Mangles , RD Baring , FT O'lirien , U liuller . P S Stewart , W V Gore , Hon Robert Wilmington , Sir 'J Howard , P 11

      MlNOlUTl ' _-AtES 33 . Barnard , E G _Mok'swurth , Sir VV Blake , M J Alorri-, David Bowring , Dr Napier , SirC Bright , John O'Brien , W S Brothorton , Jos O'Connell , AI Christie , W D Pet-hell , Captain Collins , William _Pliimridge , Capt Crawford , W S Rieardo , _Ji'lui L l / Eyucourt , C T Roebuck , J A Duncan , Lord Soott , Robert

      Duuoiui _, George Tlmriiely . Thos _Diincaunt-n , Visct Turner , h _Ei-oott , « Villiors , Hon C Fielden , John } l ' Ak } '> l , Uisborne , Thomas } J . ? _^ ' t 0 , l ;„ _* L Hall , Sir Beta W . l _. anis , William Hume , Joseph lo **"* ll «« 1 '? & llumphety , Aid Maisland , II _„ _™ _™ _' Mitchell , T A Duncombe , _T _MulfattGeorgo Evans , Sir do L

      , Mr . l ' attison paired in favour of Air . Duncombe ' s motion tor his Registration o . Voters' Bill with Mr . F . _gcrtQii .

      R-. \» **< \ " T V ¦ Ir K . (•* ^ .. Y.;...

      r-. \» **< \ " V ¦ ir K . _(•* _^ .. y . ;'

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 6, 1847, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_06031847/page/1/