Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 9th March 1850, Edition 3 of 3, Page 5, BRITISH COLLEGE OF HEALTH, 2Siw Eoad, Lo...

Page 5
Page 5
5 of 8

On this page

  • Text (11)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      I The Wolyes And The Sheep. I Nothing Ap...

      is ofthe most lamentable and appalling character , in * lhe midst of loudboastiiigi of the magnitade of our commerce—the vastness of our wealth--the wide extent of our dominion —and the augmenting quantity of exports and - __/ _. _j . _i __ t i i-i . 1 - __ J _nnallinrr

      ohaimports . Surely such a slate of things demands some attention and some remedy . For the sake of those even , -who imagine it serves their interest it is desirable that something should be done to lessen the discontent and sense of oppression -which ferments in the bosom of society . Mi . _Subse t ' s motion for au unpaid

      _coininisaon , and his suggestions as to _reme-^ _jjj me asures , _Tvere so very small and inadequate that ihey need have fri ghtened no one . If granted , they ivould have little , if any , _direct effect npon the condition of those -whose wretchedness he so truly depicted ; hut they ? mi ght , at least , hare laid the foundation for more practical and more efficacious measures . But the House of Commons thinks all

      powerful interests ought to be protectedall weak ones to be neglected . Railways have their Board—not of unpaid , bnt paid commissioners—Trade and Navigation are duly supplied "ffith a paid Board , to watch over themall interests , but Labour , have their representatives in Parliament , and their Governmental department , by whom their interests are cared for and protected . Property , -when realised—Property , when in the process of realisation , t _» y means -of _trader manufactures , or commerce—Prop erty in lands , houses , or money ,

      are the _soleirards of the British Constitution . "For the industrious classes-r-by whose labours all these lnnds of property are supplied—• there is ho protection , no care . They are exposed to be plundered , oppressed , and degraded , by all who choose to take advantage of tlieir weakness , their ignorance , br their _disumion ; and when they complain , theprofessors of the " dismal science" of Political Economy tell ihem their murmnrings are impious , because £ hese things are ordained of God , and in accordance with the laws of _Mature ! " How long , 0 Lord ?"

      M And Appalling Cha- The Public Have ''"...

      ¦ ¦ - ¦ - - ¦ - . ¦ - .. ¦¦ .: ¦¦ .. ¦ _-.- ¦ - . . ; _,-j ... _ _- . ; -: , ;; .. .- ; : ¦ :- - - .......... ., ¦ _^ .... . ' ¦¦¦ :. _. . _* _.-,., ...... .. . . y . . _ _. _.--.....,. ¦ _¦•" _; ' . . . ¦ _—H '' : / . Mabch 9 , 1850 . - THE _NORTHERN STAR * mmm _^ ¦ _¦ _¦^¦^¦ _»» - ~ _ii _^ - _^ _' _- _' - _' *************** " * " *"""*"""""""""""""""""" _iiii * _ii "" "" """* ' ' — _. _^^ _mmw— _. ¦ ' ¦ r i ¦ ' ' ¦ _.. L . ¦ * ' - _» ¦ " _, - - - > _- ¦* " * - ' 1 I i " _^^^^^^^™***** " "**"""* * " * " *""'" '" ** " * " _** " ** " **""* " * "

      Parliamentary Revietv. Ihe Illness Of Th...

      PARLIAMENTARY REVIETV . Ihe illness of the Chaxcellor of the Exchequer has served as an excuse for _postponing many promised measures until after Easter , and has served as a convenient answer to nnanv "inconvenient" motions made by independent members . It is probable that , by . these means , the end ofthe Session will arrive , and leave the same meagre result as the pro--duct of such mere " talk'" and trouble as have distinguished former Sessions under the present incapable Ministry . " Much Ado about 2 fo--flring _*" ' seems to be the only play they can perform in .

      Most of the Gfovernment sittings have been -occupied since our last by the discussion , in Committee , of the Bill granti ng facilities for the mannfectnre of Whig constituencies in Ireland . The Tory opponents did not venture upon repeating so flagrant a system of factious obstruction , as we noticed last week ; bnt they have fonght every clause with numerous amendments , whichprovehowstrong is their determination to leave no stone unturned in order to maintain Tory domination in that country .

      Despite their opposition , however the two principal clauses in the Bill have heen carried —the one fixing the borough franchise at £ 3 rating , and the other , the county franchise at - £ 5 to tenants in fee , or in tail , or for life , or of the rated value of £ 5 . The majorities hv which these clauses were carried—after pf olongeddebates and repeated divisions—were large enough to induce tiie Peers to suffer their passing , without damaging opposition in the "Upper Honse .

      To the proposal of Mr . Reynolds , that the borough franchise should also be reduced to £ o , the Government gave the unusually ingenious answer , that if they did so , the same thing would he asked for England and Scotland , and as they did not mean to give it to the one they would not to the other . In fact , throughout the debate , the real object of the -measure , that of giving the party in power a preponderance at the next general election -was transparent , and all but avowed in words . The measure is a sham reform—one of those

      things that are " neither fish , flesh , nor good red herring . '' The people of Ireland , we "believe , are not snch fools as to believe that it will confer those electoral rights aud privileges upon them , which are essential to their political freedom , and their social improvement _TTe have noticed , in another place , theresult of the devision upon Sir . Home ' s motion . ! Fhe Ministerial organ treats it as a mere * ' show question , ' * which means nothing more ihan the harmless gossip of a nig ht about an unattainable and Utopian crocthet . "We confess that we have a suspicion , if the matter

      was left in the hands of some of the " respectable" advocates it had last week , such was likel y to be its fate for many years to come . "The manner in which Mr Hume , Mr . Page _TTood , and others who voted for the motion , revenged themselves for being obliged to do so , "b y abusing Mr . O'Coxxor , -was very amu--Bing . "Why should the Chartist leader , and the Chartists as a body , be thus maligned and vituperated 1- They have surely as much light to propound and maintain their six points of political reform , as Mr . Home has his "four . " Mr . Page Wood , who is a

      lawyer , has a great horror of " abstract propositions , * "' and took the hon . Member for _Nottingham severely to task for indulging in them . One of these " abstractions " was , " the labourer shall first lie . partaker of the fruits . " That was , in his opinion , a very dangerous doctrine . _XHiow _, we believe that Mr . Wood prides himself upon being a very xeligious man ; we presume , therefore , he has Tfiad ihe Bible , and we ask him if , in tilO course of such reading , he never stumbled upon this dangerous " abstract doctrine" in that boot ? Oh ! but the learned gentleman

      may reply , the doctrine must be taken as it i s expounded by the parsons and the lawyers . It must not be rashly meddled with hy the ? unlearned , or even "thehon . and learned Member for _"Nottingham . " In the language of iis own profession we ask , "If not , why not ?" Ia truth , these airs of superiority are _ridiculous and laughable assumptions . Mr . "Wood and his Colleagnes may assure themselves , tbat we shaU neither trust in their dogmas , nor in their interpretations of " abstract doctrines , " so long as we can read and think for ourselves . Protestant England has asserted and maintained the right of private judgment ,

      "With respect to the doctrines pertaining to things spiritual . It is is not likely to set up a Pope in the person of Mr . "Wood , and accept lus dicta as infallible npon things temporal . "We beg to suggest to Mr . Hume , and his supporters in Parliament , that they will do their work more graciously , and more effectual ! v _, if they will in future keep all their arguments , satire , and energy for the opponents of all reform , and leave those alone who see a little farther than themselves , but who refrain _& ° n \ opposing them . They may , who knows , otherwise provoke an . out-door collision , _"Bhkh would leave them in as great a minority _?^ t of doors as they are in .

      _^ Mr . Ehzrot has introduced a Bill of great importance , namely , an extension of jurisdiction of tiie County Courts from _£ 20 to £ 50 Ihe advantages conferred by these Courts , in bringing cheap and summary justice within the reach of all classes , in eases where the amount does not exceed the former sum , have been abundantly demonstrated . "During the Bhort time they have been in existence , upwards of a million cases have been decided in them— -being in the proportion of more than four to one , as compared with the trials in Westminster Hall . This sufficientl y tests public opinion . The Lawyers have _lost how-

      Parliamentary Revietv. Ihe Illness Of Th...

      ever , as the public have gained . They are no longer able to fleece their clients by running np heavy bills of costs , and making law so dear , that persons deliberately preferred to submit to injustice , rather than seek redress . They complain bitterl y ofthe " heavy blow , and sore discouragement , " their profession has received from the Small Debts'Act , and they will no doubt stoutly resist any further aggression npon that portion of the domain , on which they can yet grow rich at the expense of the unhappy wretches , who are forced to appl y for their assistance . s » i > n _« _t-haTMihltnliair / i h _«*« . _J rro

      The tone of the Attorney-General , and other Lawyers , with reference to Mr . Fitzroy ' s Bill , indicated the determined hostility it will encounter from " gentlemen learned-in the law ; " and looking at their immense influence in Parliament , we fear there is small chance of the measure being carried . Mr . Wortley has re-introduced his Bill for legalising marriages within" certain degrees of affinity now prohibited , and succeeded in carrying the second reading by a majority of fifty-two . There are a few of the more objectionable clauses of last year omitted , but the Church party seem to have as strong an objection to it as ever . The great object is to

      legalise marriage with the sister of a deceased wife—a measure which appears to us , consonant not only with the natural course ofthe affections , but with the best and highest social and domestic interests of society . By a forced and far-fetched interpretation of certain passages of scripture however , the opponents hurl against the Bill—the charge of being opposed to religion—and thus add one more to the long list of instances in which that holy word is made subservient to the purposes of intolerance- and obstructive ofthe public well being . We fear that the majority is too small to carry it through the Upper house , especially if the Bishops unite in opposing it .

      In repl y to an attack by Sir B . Hall—as the mouthpiece of certain allottees of the Land Company- —Mr . O'Connor made an effective reply to the charges which these people most ungratefully prefer against a man who has laboured too earnestly for the welfare of such persons . There can be little doubt , we think , that Parliament would grant a bill to protect the Directors , and to wind up the Company , should ingratitude , desertion , and deceit , compel a recourse to that method of dealing with that question .

      ¦ *•**¦ Monies Received Eor Thk "Vve*Jk ...

      ¦ _*•**¦ MONIES RECEIVED Eor thk " Vve * jk _Ernnso Thubbdat , March 7 , 1850 . TIE H 0 NE ? TY FUND . Beceived by W . Eider .. j _$ 2 S Gs , Sd . Ditto at Land Office .... 18 8 3 Total £ 46 15 0 * m « OPENING OF THE BRITANNIA TUBULAR BRIDGE . —THE FIRST TRAIN THROUGH . The opening oi this magnificent structure across the Menai -9 traits came off on Tuesday , with the grandest success , at dawn . The event is one of national importance , not only as demonstrating in a decisive manner of the suitableness and safety of a new design , and of a daring digression from the beaten path of bridge building , but as completing , with the exception ofa short sea passage , the route between England and Ireland . At half-past six o ' clock a . m ., three powerful engines , the Cambria , the St . David , and the Pegasus , of from fifty to sixty horse power each , decorated with flags of all nations and union jacks , steamed up and harnessed together , started from the Bangor station , carrying Mr . Stephenson , Mr . Bidder , the engineer , Mr .

      Trevethick , locomotive manager ofthe London and North Western _Ra'Iway , Mr . Edwin Clark and hia brother , Mr . Latimer Clark , Mr . Appold , and Jlr . Lee . At precisely seven o ' clock tbey swept over thc threshold of the stupendous fabric , and progressing at a speed of seven miles an hour , were lost sight of in the recess of the iron corridor . The total weight of the locomotives was ninety tons . They were brought to a standstill in the centre of each of the great spans , and rested with the weight of all wheels on the floor of the tube , but without causing the slightest strain or deflection . The first processthat of going through the tube and returning , occupied altogether ten minutes . But another and more critical ordeal had to follow—to ascertain how the vast machine was capable of sustaining the

      equilibrium of forces , and the result was such as to prove beyond cavil , the accuracy ofthe first experimental conclusions arrived at by Mr . Stephenson and his staff of engineers . The second experimental convoy that went thronjzh consisted of twenty-four heavily laden waggons , filled with huge blocks of Brymbo coal ; in all , engines included , an aggregate weight of 300 tons . This was deliberately drawn through at the rate of from eight to ten miles an hour , the steam . working at quarter power . During the passage through the tube a breathless silence prevailed , and when the train rushed out on the other side loud acclamations arose , followed at intervals by the rattle of artillery down the straits . Upon the return—which occupied about seven minutes—similar demonstrations ensued , and during the progress of the train those who stood npon its top to ascertain any possible vibration , reported they could

      detect no sensible deflexion . After this Mr . Stephenson and his staff steamed up to Plas Llanfair , Mr . Foster ' s seat , and partook ofa handsome breaki _.-ist . Meanwhile the locomotives were engaged pou 5 _ettioj > up and down the interior of the tube , proving—if it may be so said—its strength almost to provocation , but without eliciting the slightest manifestation of strain or ill temper . An ordeal stronger still was then resorted to . A train of 200 tons of coals was allowed to rest with allifcs aplomb , for two hours , in the centre of the Carnarvonshire tube ; aad at the end ofthe time , on the load being removed , it was found to have caused a deflexion _ofonly-HOtbsofaninch ; and it is a remarkable phenomenon , that this amount of deflexion is not so much as one half-hour of sunshine would produce upon the structure ; it being , moreover , calculated with confidence , that the whole bridge might with safety be deflected to the extent of 13 inches .

      British College Of Health, 2siw Eoad, Lo...

      BRITISH COLLEGE OF HEALTH , 2 Siw _Eoad , Lomio ** .

      FALLACY OF ANATOMY AS REGARD 3 THB CURE OF DISEASES—THE BUEKIXG SYSTEM—B 0 CT 0 RS BUYING DEAD BODIES WITH THEIK SHIRTS !! * 0 > _* 2 As persons are continuall y disappearing no one knows how , it may not be ont of place to consider whether the birlang system is not still carried on to a great extent Had it not been for tlie terrible discoveries made on Burke and Hare ' s trial , there can he no doubt that thousands would hare been sent into tlie next world in order to feed doctors with human flesh , so tbat they ( the doctors } mi- * ht fill tlieir peckets at the expense of suffering humanity . This dissection , onr readers shonld know , forms one of ths sery / ucratite emoluments proceeding from 'hospital practice . ' For instance , the professor of anatomy pays , we will say , eight or ten guineas for a dead body , and then makes fifty or sixty out ofit from the medical students who have paid their money in order to find ont , as ' they are told , the

      cause of disease in a dead body !! Was there ever a more infamous fraud ? -Where is the doctor who knows bow to cure a disease from dissection * They aU know it to bo a shameful piece of humbug , and tbey are not a bit the wiser irom dissection , as far as regards the cure of diseases . It is all to make money ! money !! money !!! that the rascality is kept np ; dost is thr-nm into the eyes of the public , the doctors teU the lie ( the tricked lie !) that anatomy is requisite to understand the cure of diseases . The only anatomy really required is BONE SETTING , in case of accidents , which might be learn by designs ; the Vegetable Universal 31 edicine 'will then do aU that is necessary , by keeping the blood pure and healing the parts — operations for stone , cataract , cancer , & c . are perfectly useless , which is proved by the disease always cominj again , because its seat i 3 in the blood !!! Burke , the murderer , found _« _BIIrkhlg the best trade going—be used to smother people , and tben take them to the doctor almosthot , some

      even with their SHIRTS ON , * and used , without the least difficulty , to get his £ 8 for each body . Now there can be ne doubt that the doctors must mv ** known thatthe victims had not come feirly by their deaths , yet they blinked at the whole business in order that they might niiTHEm pockets . Talk after this about the'honourable ' profession , the 'liberal' profession , and such bmmbug . We say read the confession of theBurkers here given , and ifyou can believe that these doctors did not know at the time that the parties had heen murdered , why then you must have more credulity than we give you credit for . The deadly chemicals ofthe doctors and their burkingg are both on a par , only the first is not so easily detected by the public as the other ; but that a day of retribution will come we make no doubt We understand tbat poor people will no longer allow their relatives who die in the hospitals to be mangled hy the knife of the human butchers . Ko wonder . 0 Bend the official confession of Burke made in the gaol , tobe had of all the _Hy-jeian Agents . Oh ! oh I the Guin «( Trade !!

      As Americas C* Kei>I*"-Aj-.. — The Presi...

      As Americas C _* kEi > i * " _-Aj-.. — The President of Mexico announces in his message that Pius IX ., in order to manifest his gratitude for the lively interest taken in his welfare by the high functionaries of the republic and its ecclesiastics , has signified his desire to coBfer upon some Mexican bishop the dignity of cardinal . A Pontificial agent is expected at Mexioo , and if this cardinal is made , he _will bo the tost , o ! that sort on thin continent .

      . ,'. '"''. ' Letters.. To The Working C...

      . , ' . '"'' . ' LETTERS .. TO THE WORKING CLASSES . LXXV 1 II . «• Words are things , and a small drop of ink Falling—like dew—upon a thought , produces That which makes thousands , perhaps millions think . " nviwv . T vnnvEina

      THE TAXES ON _KNOWLEDGE . Brother Proletarians , The debate on Mr . Hume ' a motion—occupying nearly the - whole of the evening of Thursday last—occasioned the postponement of Mr . Milner Gibson ' i motion for the Repeal ofthe Taxes on Knowledge , wliich motion at present _stauds for Thursday next , March 14 th . In my Letter in the "Star" of February 23 rd , I described the several Taxes on Knowledge , and laid bare many of the evils resulting from their operation—I desire now to offer a few comments on the history of those taxes , and the iniquitous laws by which they are enforced and maintained .

      The curse of these taxes was first inflicted on the people of England in the reign of Queen Anne . Partl y to aid in raising the necessary means to carry on the war against France , and partly for the purpose of checking the growth of " seditious papers , " and the spread of " factious rumours , " the Government of that day devised the Taxes on Knowledge . The progress of public opinion had put an end to the censorship against which Milton had protested , in his immortal " Appeal for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing . " But , apprehensive ofthe people becoming too enlightened , if permitted to slake their mental thirst at the fountain of unchecked

      Knowledge—a scheme as injurious , though more safe :. and less odious than the censorship , was devised for preventing the progress of political information—the scheme of fettering the press by fiscal restrictions . The results have full y answered the expections of the schemers . For a long time , the masses ofthe people remained deplorably ignorant as regarded political questions ; and to this very hour , the detestable taxes under notice , constitute the chief barrier to the enlightenment of that too numerous section of the community who are yet uninformed on political questions , and , as a natural consequence , are yet indifferent to ¦ their own rights and interests , and the general welfare of their order .

      By an Act passed in the tenth , year of the reign of Queen Anne , authority was granted to the Government to levy duties upon soap , silks , calicoes , linens , stuffs , stamped vellum and parchment , paper , and on certain printed papers , pamphlets , advertisements , & c . "' I am unable to state the precise , amount of duty originally levied on paper ; the sum at present levied is ( as I have before stated ) three-halfpence per pound weight . For a lengthy period the duty on each advertisement was , in Great Britain , three shillings and sixpence ; and in Ireland , two shillings and sixpence . In the reign of William IV ., the duty was reduced to one shilling and sixpence in Great Britain , and

      one shilling in Ireland . This reduction was immediately followed by a great increase in the number of advertisements . In the year previous to the reduction , the entire number of newspaper advertisements was 921 , 943 . In the year 1848 , the number had advanced to 2 , 109 , 179 . The entire repeal of the duty would be sure to cause an increase in the number of such announcements still more striking : and were that repeal accompanied by the abolition of the other Taxes on Knowledge , there can he no doubt that the number of newspaper advertisements-in this country would soon equal , and very probably exceed , the number published in the free journals of the United States , which may be estimated at not fewer than twelve millions annually .

      The tax on public journals and political pamphlets , as imposed by the enemies of knowledge ih the reigu of Queen Anne , was one halfpenny on each copy—a small sum compared with the amount subsequently exacted . But small though it was , it sufficed to immediately extinguish a considerable number of periodical publications : others lingered for a time , and then went the way of those whichhad preceded them in giving up the ghost . The act came into operation on the 1 st of August , 1712 , and forced Steele , the proprietor and

      editor ofthe " Spectator , to raise the price of his publication from one penny to twopence . The sale of that periodical immediatel y decreased one half , and within a year it ceased to exist . As a writer in the " "Weekl y _News" not long since forcibly observed , "It was the duty of one halfpenny that crushed the publication of those classic specimens of English literature—the " Spectator , " the "Tatler , " and the " Guardian ; " and in the space of one year , the writings of an Addison and a Steele were suppressed by taxation . "

      As the country progressed in population and material wealth , the demand for intelligence of public occurrences increased ; . and , in spite of the Taxes on Knowledge , newspapers did multiply , though by no means to the extent they would have done had those taxes not existed . Seeing the demand for these vehicles of information , the over-grasping rulers ofthe state added , from time to time , halfpenny after halfpenny , until the stamp-tax amounted to fourpence on each copy . As a matter of course , not a solitary newspaper existed really devoted to the interests of the people . Owing to the operation of this tax , even Cobbettnotwithstanding his gigantic mental powers

      and great popularity—could not establish a newspaper ; for his immortal 'Register , ' though a newspaper in the eye of the law , was not a newspaper in the ordinary sense of the tenn , The " "R egister" was largely read , but was bought by only the few . Its price placed it beyond the reach of themasses . It is not too much to assume thatthe " Northern Star" could not have succeeded , and would probably not have been attempted , had its projector been forced to publish it at eig htpence-halipenny or ninepence per copy . Under the circumstances existing at the time of its creation , it owed its success principally to the energy and popularity of Mr . O'Connor ; but that gentleman could not have succeeded had not the violators

      of the law gone before him , and made the path straight , by compelling the Government to reduce the stamp-tax from fourpence to one penny . The celebrated " Six Acts " of Castlereagh and Sidmouth , having rendered the publication of political periodicals ( unless published as newspapers ) all but impossible , a band of resolute men determined to set the infamous laws affecting the press at defiance . Foremost amongst these men , was the late Henry Hetherington—a man who laboured most sincerely to leave the world better than he found it . Thousands of the readers of this journalwere readers of the celebrated " Poor

      , Man ' s Guardian , " which bore on its head and front the daring avowal : "Published in defiance of law , to try the power of rig ht against might ! " A multitude of similar publications sprang into existence , including thc " I > estru-jtive , " the " Working Man ' s Friend , '' the "Cosmopolite , the " Man , " the " Gauntlet , " the "Republican , " Cleave's " Police Gazette / ' Cousin ' s •¦ Political Register , " & _C & c . To crush these " violators of law and order , " "the authorities" engaged in a crusade against publishers and vendors . Henry _Hetheringftra suffered two terms of six months imprisonment ; Mr . Watson suffered twelve i months . The late John Cleave , and a host of

      publishers and vendors in town and country , were punished with " tlie utmost rigour of the law . " The writer of these remarks had his share of " Government patronage" in the shape of three incarcerations—on one occasion for six months . Upwards of five hundred persons were dragged to gaol for selling the "Poor Man ' s Guardian" only . It was a

      . ,'. '"''. ' Letters.. To The Working C...

      glorious struggle , and was bravely and victoriously sustained b y the _championB of freedon , of thought and expression . After-a struggle of four or five years the contest terminated in the discomfiture of the Government . The Chancellor of the Exchequer , Mr . Spring Rice ( now Lord Monteagle ) , made the humiliating acknowledgment to u _Sament tbat " the Government had done all that was possible to enforce the law , but the law _ . _

      was unable to put down the evil . " Accordingly ( in the summer of 1836 ) the Government introduced a measure . for reducing the stamp-tax from fourpence to one penny . -Besides the stamp-tax on newspapers , there was a tax of one shilling and fourpence on every almanack published ; and at that time , two shillings , and half-a-crown , were the oru - w ry prices of the almanacks issued by the Worshipful Company of Stationers . " The publishers of tho unstamped _newsDanersholdlv

      published almanacks , also in defiance of the law , and sold them at twopence , and one penny each . The sale of these « illegal publications" was enormous and the Government thoroughl y beaten , gave up the entire duty . If cheap almanacks are of any utility , the public are indebted for that cheapness entirely to those who , at the peril of much personal suffering , refused to pay the unjustifiable exactions decreed by the "King , Lords , and Commons . "

      Unhappily the combatants for a Free Press were not so successful in tho matter of newspapers . The advocates in Parliament of a totally untaxed Press , numbered but an inconsiderable minority ; while the majority , composed of both Whigs and Tories , were supported and influenced by the stamped journals . A select conclave of newspaper proprietors employed all the means at their command to secure the maintenance of their monopoly . The penny stamp insured that monopoly , and deprived the unstamped victors of the full triumph they had struggled for—a thoroughly Free and totally Untaxed Press . The New Law came into operation on the 15 th of September , 183 G , and a more infamous

      law was never imposed upon a people faceti . ously denominated "free'' !!! A few specimens of the law will serve to show its atrocity , and the hypocrisy and tyranny of the faction by whom it was introduced into Parliament . " The Liberty of the Press is like the air we breathe , if we have it not we politically die , " was the text long preached from b y Whig orators , while yet on the shady side of the Speaker ' s chair , and , therefore , "friends of the people , " glorifier s of " Hampden who died on the field , and S ydnoyon the scaffold , " & c , & c ., & c . The hypocrisy of this party is transparent , when such sentiments are contrasted with the tyrannical edicts embodied in Spring Rice ' s act . By the seventeenth clause of

      that act , a penalty of twenty pounds is imposed on any one who possesses a single copy of an unstamped publication " containing any public news , intelligence , occurrences , or any remarks thereon . " The eighteenth clause inflicts a penalty of fifty pounds on any one who distributes unstamped newspapers . The twenty-second clause enacts that , upon information given by any informer before any Justice of the Peace that there is cause to suspect any printer of having been engaged in printing any unstamped paper , the said Justice shall

      be empowered and required to graiat a warrant to search the premises ofthe suspected person , and if , upon such , any unstamped newspapers is found , the officers ofthe law shall be authorised to make seizure of all presses , engines , types , machines , implements , utensils , and materials for printing , which shall be forfeited to the crown . The 23 rd clause empowers constables to break open doors for the purpose of search . What a commentary on the vainglorious vaunt that " every Englishman ' s house is his castle ! " .

      I shall return to this most important question . ' I have for this week set aside the consideration of the matters , that I might embrace the opportunity afforded by the postponement of Mr . Milner Gibson ' s motion , to again urge upon you to petition Parliament in its support . To assist , as far as possible , in this good work , I again print the petition suggested by the Newspaper Stamp Abolition Committee : — To the Honourable the House or Commons , tub Petition op tue Undersigned . ( Here insert their Description and Locality . ) _Showetii , That all Taxe 3 which specially and directly impede the diffusion of Knowledge , are injurious to the best interests of the Public .

      That the Tax upon Newspapers — called the Stamp ; the Excise duty upon Paper , and the Tax upon Advertisements , are direct obstacles to the spread of all kinds of valuable information amongst the great body of the People . Your Petitioners therefore pray , that the Excise Tax upon Paper , the Tax upon Advertisements and the Stamp Tax upon Newspapers , maybe abolished , leaving tlio proper authorities to fix a small charge for the transmission of Newspapers by the Post . And you petitioners will ever pray .

      This form of petition must be copied in writing , as no printed petitions are received ; every person _signnig it should sign his or her name and address ; it may then be directed , open at the sides , to any member of the Ilouse of Commons who will receive it post free . I will hot repeat the reasons given in my letter of the 21 st of February , in favour of signing the above ( or any similar ) petition ! I will merely add , that in addition to the vast

      moral and political benefits , which could not fail to flow from a repeal of the Penny Stamp , the duty on paper , aud tho duty on advertisements ; their abolition would give an immense impetus to every trade and calling connected with printing and publishing . Faper makers , type founders , printing machine makers , compositors , pressmen , public writters , & c , & c , would all find a new and immense field of employment opened to them .

      The prosperity of thoseparties could not fail to be beneficial to all other callings ; and cheap advertisements , published in cheap journals , read by thousands were now only hundreds arc read , would be beneficial to trade in general , and consequently , advance the welfare of the entire community . Let then from every paper mill , from every printing office , from every _Mechanic ' s Institution , from every parish vestry , from every town council , and from public meetings called for fhe purpose , let the voice of the people ascend to Parliament demanding the abrogation of the t yrannical law of 1836 , and the total repeal of the detestable Taxes on Knowledge .

      Without attempting to review tho debate on Mr . Hume ' s motion , I must remark that it is difficult to determine whether the speeches ( delivered on Thursday ni g ht last ) of oar avowed enemies , or of those who profess to , be our friends , were the most censurable . While on the one hand , Sir G . Grey and Lord John Russell , vied with each _other in giving delivery to the most hypocritical professions of respect for the working classes , coupled with tho most insolent denial of their sights ; on the other hand , the " "Parliamentary Refo-j- - mers , " while _professiag acknowledgment of

      the rights of the entire people , gave their _support to a scheme devised for the express purposeof leaving the mostoppressed and _snaring portion of the peoplo in the position of ' ¦ '• 'bondmen and slavea ; " at the same time going out of their way to libel and insult a party which , though perhaps not faultless , may proudly claim the virtue of sincerity , and a steadfast adherence to prinoiple — a virtue never known by tho " black ia white " , politicians , who , on Thursday night last , masqueraded in the character of " Friends of tho People . " Prom suoh friends , " Good Lord deliTer us . ' L'AMI DUPEUPLE . March 7 , 1850 ,

      Proceedings In Parliament. The Usual Pub...

      PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT . The usual public meeting took place on Tuesday last at the Institution , John-street , Fitzroysquare . Mr . Brown was called to the chair , who after a few observations , introduced Mr . Reynolds . Mr . G . W . M « Reynolds moved the first resolution , which ran as follows '— _* That this meeting regards as an insult and a _defianct , the refusal of the House of Commons to concede even the limited measure of reform demanded by Mr Hume last week ; at thesame time it expresses its indignation and _dfrgust at the wanton , unprovoked , and false attack made by Mr . Hume upon the Chartist body , whom he denounced as the enemies of all _™^^^^~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ _* " _***""** " ' , _"'»»'"*^^

      reforms ; and this meeting moreover recognises the absolute necessity of the working classes , persevering in a vigorons and energetic agitation on behalf of the People ' s Charter . " Mr . Reynolds stated that as the debate upon Mr . Hume ' s motion constituted the prominent feature in last week ' s Parliamentary proceedings , he should dwell especiall y upon that point . They all knew that the measure of reform proposed by Mr , Hume was insignificant enough in comparison with the great principles contained in the _Perple's Charter , and yet the government and the

      legislature had insolently and audaciously rejected even that demand for a poor and miserable instalment of the popular rights . The defiance was , then , again flung forth from St . Stephen ' s ; and the industrious classes must continue to agitate until their objects should be gained . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Hume ' s measure of reform was narrower and circumscribed enough . It only proposed to raise the electoral body from a million to three millions and a-half ; and as his scheme was precisely the same as that which constituted the programme

      of the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association , it was clear , from Mr . Hume s deliberate and studied statement , that the Association just alluded to had made a lamentable error in the emancipation of four millions in addition to the present million of voters . There was consequently a vast amount of difference between tbe suffrage projects of Mr . Hume , and the middle-class party on the one hand , and those of the Chartists on the other . Indeed , the value of the middle-class measure would , if carried , be comparatively neutralised altogether by the fact , that the

      principle of " paid-representation" was omitted from the scheme . ( Hear . ) Without this principle , the representation would continue in the hands of the wealthy classes as it was at present ; and labour would therfore still remain unrepresented altogether . ' Mr , Reynolds then proceeded to comment upon the scandalous attack made by Mr . Hume upon the Chartists in General , and upon Mr . O'Connor in particular . Mr . Hume had gratuitously and shamefully travelled out of his

      way to insult the Chartist body . ( Hear ) Who were the Chartists ? The most enlightened portion of the working classes ; and it w _» _s therefere against the great bulk of the intelligent masses that Mr . Hume had levelled his insolent accusations . He denounced them as the most dangerous enemies of reform . ( Cries of" Shame , shame ! " ) Ah , it was indeed a shame , as he ( Mr . Reynolds ) would proceed to show them . For Sir Joshua Walmsley , Mr . George Thompson , Mr . Tindal Atkisnson , and other leaders of the

      Parliamentary Reform Association _^ had constantly complimented the Chartists upon their conduct towards that movement : and it was likewise a fact , which he ( Mr . Reynoldsj _% ould unhesitatingly proclaim , that the very movement itself existed only by the sufferance and toleration of the working classes . ( Cheers . ) At any _. moment , any two leaders ofthe Chartists could bring the chiefs of that middleclass movement to their senses , by bringing forward at one . of tbeir public meetings an amendment in favour of the Charter . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Why , even in the very heart of the city—at the London Tavern—this course could be adopted at any moment ; and

      the . amendment so proposed would be carried by an overwhelming * majority . ( Cheers ) Well , then , the middle-class movement existed by the permission and the forbearance of the Chartist ; and the Chartist ought not to be reviled and denounced as the opponents of all measures of reform . Mr . Hume had taken a course vhich covered him with disgrace , and had ruined him in the estimation of the working-classes . ( Hear . ) It was now necessary to allude to another point . Mr . Hume , who moved the "Little Charter" in the House of Commous , assailed the Chartists in the manner just described ; did Sir Joshua Walmsley , who seconded Mr . Hume ' s motion , defend the Chartists and . rebuke Mr . Hume ? The

      newspaper reports said nothing of the kind , and he ( Mr , Reynolds ) was afraid that Sir Joshua Walmsley had not done what he ought to have done in that matter . Sir " Joshua had everywhere avowed himself _thoroughly a Chartist in principles , and had complimented the Chartists again and again for supporting his association . Then wh y did he not deifend them in the House of Commons ? Why did he not vindicate them from his place in Parliament ? It was a painful thing to speak thus harshly of Sir Joshua Walmsley , whom he ( Mr . Reynolds ) had always

      loiked upon as a thoroughly sincere , honest , and strai g htforward man ; but , really , this point required clearing up . Now , the fact was , that the Chartis ' s must take a decisive course . They must ascertain who were their real friends , and who were their secret enemies After the abuse which had . been heaped upon them in parliament by Mr . Hume , and the silence of other self-styled "liberal members " upon the subject , the Chartists must sonduct their own agitations upon principles calculated to absorb , if necessary , all other agitations for minor reforms . ( Cheers . ) , This

      course was forced upon the Chartists , by the scandalous way in which they had been attacked in parliament ; and now he ( Mr . Reynolds ) would promptly . and candidly teU them what he __ meant to do . There was a _© onference to assemble in London in the month of April , -ra Conference called by the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association . At that Conference all _members of the Association would be _ailowed to be present , and likewise . to take part in the proaeedings . _Evsry individual paying , a shilling to tbat Association and thereby constituting hiaiself a _mejnber ,

      would be _entitled to speak and vote at the forthcoming Conference . Well , at that Conference , he ( Mr . Reynolds ) now pledged himself to the meeting , and to the _country , that lie would , in his _capacity as a _member of the council , move that tie " _principle of " paid representatives " be R & _uea to th- _^ programme of the Association , and that the suffrage clause _specifying the claiai * ' to be "dated , " to . be altered so as to establish the _franchise _Gfhthe claim *• ' to be registered . " These propositions _wouhi he move a "; the _Conf- * $ !« _-Bce of the _National _^ Parliamsjutary and _Financial Reform Association . _^ Tremen dous _cheering . ) - Yes , _* he-would _perform this dv _^ ty _unflinchingly ; and let it be well understoad that , this line of

      policy was _, aow forced upon hira by the abuse and the _issults levelled at the . cause in which he _entrained _& o heartfelt an interest , and against the class tawhom his sympathies were devotwl . The _xssult of ihat line of policy would be to let the Chartists know who were their real frieads and who were their foes in the ranks of the middle-class reformers . They would then act accordingly . ( Hear . ) Mr . Reynolds then called upon those present to prosecute the Chartist ag itation with increasing vigour , zeal , and energy j and resumed his seat amidst loud cheers . Julian Harney seconded the resolution , and criticised the debate on Mr . Hume ' s motion ; his remarks elicited great applause . Mr . J . B . _O'Brien supported the resolution in a lengthy and valuable speech , which de-

      Proceedings In Parliament. The Usual Pub...

      servedly _calltfd forth the enthusiastic applause of the meeting . ; The meeting then _separated .

      Glorious Revival Of The Ag-L Tation For ...

      GLORIOUS REVIVAL OF THE AG-L TATION FOR THE LAND AND THE CHARTER . A numerous meeting of the members of the Land Company was held in the People '*) Institute , Manchester , on Sunday morning last , to take measures to promote the Honestv Fund . S _»« cbsjr was occupied hy Mr , John Sutton . Messrs . Clark and M'Grath were present and addressed the meeting upon the gross , unfair , and partial treatment _experientsed by Mr . O'Connor at the recent trial inthe Court of Exchequer . A committee was unanimously who immediatel

      j appointed , y set about the ' work of collecting , when aboire £ 4 was subscribed . The _following _resolution was moved by Mr . Rankin , _aniS seconded b y Mr . Gregory : — " That the Honesty Fund Committee be instructed to prepare a petition to parliament , expressive of the _fullest confidence in Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., and calling on the House to refrain- from all interference in the winding-up of the Company ' s _affairs r aa that business can be best done by Mr . O'Connor and the members of tbe Company . " The resolution was _unanimously adopted , ami the meeting separated _.

      _Afternoon _Meeting , At two o ' clock a meeting c £ the Chartist body was held in the Institute , the object being to rally round Mr . O'Connor , , and indemify him against the expenses of ths recent _prodoedings in the Court of Exchequer . The chair was occupied by Mr . John Walton . Messrs . Clark , M'Grath , _Leacb-, ' and other speakers , addressed the meeting . A fine feeling of sympath y with Mr . O'Connor ' s wrongs , and a _determination to strengthen him against his enemies , was evinced by all present . A committee was appointed , with instructions to act in . concert with the committee appointed by the Land member ? .

      Evening Sleeting . Shortly after six o'clock , notwithstanding the heavy rain which prevailed , the Institute was densely crowded in every part by an enthusiastic and spirited audience . Mr .- John Walton in the chair . A collection was then commenced , when upwards of £ _^ 6 was immediately siibscrihed to the Honesty Fund . Messrs . Clark , M'Grath , and Leach , addressed the meeting amid the _greates-t _enthosiasm and _applausa- During the delivery of Mr . Clark ' s speech , Mr . Feargus O'Conhor and Mr . Roberts entered the hull , amid the most

      hearty and protracted plaudits it has ever been our lot to hear . The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr . O'Connor and Roberts , upon the several topics of the day , including the present position ofthe National Land Company . Mr . James Leach was proposed to accompany Mr . O'Connor , Mr . M'Grath , and Mr , Clark , to Dublin , and a collection was immediately made to defray his expenses . The following Petition to Parliament was then unanimously adopted . TO ME HONOURABLE , THE COMMONS OF GREAT BRITAIN "

      AND IIIELASD , IS FARLIAMEST ASSEMBLED . The Petition of the undersigned Members of the Manchester Branch of the National Land Company , Sheweth , That your petitioners have heard that it is the intention of your Honourable- Ilouse to interfere with the operations of the National Land Company to the effect of compelling it . to wind up its affairs , under tho direction of persons to be

      appointed hy your Honourable House . That your petitioners became members of the said Company from the desire to possess themselves o £ property in land , and _from the unbounded confidence which they repose in the integrity , honour , and patriotism of its chief promoter nnd founder , Feargus O ' Connor , Esq . M . P . ; confidence which has been strengthened and consolidated , by his faithful and righteous discharge of the duties which have been imposed on him-in his capacity of Unpaid Builiff and Principal Director of the Company .

      Your petitioners are , from various reasons , anxious that the affairs of the Company should be terminated by being wound up * . but they respectfully suggest to your Honourable House , that such a proceeding belongs legitimately to their friend , Mr . O'Connor , and his colleagues—the other Directors , _* and therefore pray your Honourable House not to interfere in the business of the Company . And your petitioners wiU „ as . i _* i duty hound , ever pray , & e .

      At the conclusion of the proceedings , which may be regarded as the regeneration of the Chartist movement , three soul reviving cheers were given for Feargus OConnnor , and three for the speedy triumph of the People ' s Charter .

      Chartist-I^Iilioence. Provincial Committ...

      CHARTIST-I _^ _iiLIOENCE . Provincial Committee of . tee NA ' _TiOiS'At _; Chaeteb Association . —The first meeting of this " b 6 'dy , ' as at present constituted , was- held on Tuesday , in tho Coffee-room of the John' street Institution , Mr . : _JMilne in' the chair . John _Jfi'EOtt was elected secretary , pro . tern . He ( Miv _Arnott ) reported , - that an offiioe had been taken at No .. 1 * , _Southampton-street , Strand . Tho report was received ai satisfactory . After making several financial and other arrangements , the committee ' adjourned to Wednesday evening next ,. v » ben tliey ' will " meet in the said office , at half-past seven o ' clock precisely . Finsbury _Localu-y ,. Sunday evening , March 3 rd—Mr . Robert Juggeh in the shah * — Messrs . Allnutt and Blake gave in ; their report of the late

      Conference ; the report having been , received , it was moved by Mr . AJuggen ,. seconded _* by Mr . Jones : —• " That we , thb members- bf the Finsbury locality , recommend the _Exjecutis-8 Committee totakeimmer diate steps for the calling together of the Metrolitan Delegate Committee , as we are of opinion that that is the only menn 3- of arousing thc dormant spirit of the- Chartists of London . " — Carried . Moved by Mr . Hobbs ,, seconded by Mr Livsay _:-r " That _we-r . ecommen _*"? the Executive Committee to stand by tho third _rosolutior , as passed by thc previous Conference , aa-. wc are of opinion that if the resolution ,, as passediby tho late Conference , is to . be carriei into effect ,, that it will tend Xo damage the causo in the eye * , of all " well-intentioned persons , and retard the progress of the , . _9 epple's , Charter . " The meeting thea . adjourned _unjil Sunday avening , March 10 th . ; ¦ , _* - " ¦ ' ., ' -. ¦ : _* . ; . • ' ¦ _,.-

      Dei M'Doua&Ji Akdvthre' Char-Eists O^ Ke...

      _DEi M'DOUA & Ji AKDVTHrE' _CHAR-EISTS O _^ KE _. _WCASTLE-US-ON-f _YMBi . . ' .- _""*' - " TO TIIE . 2 DITOB OF T _^' _NOnTBERa-s STAR .-. ! Dear Sir , —I have been directed-by the Chartists _, [ of _Newcastle and Gateshead ; to info _? ni you , that the assertion made by you , hi the Star of March 2 nd , " Thatthe Chartists of _jSfowcastle-uaon- 'fyne were indebted t » Dr . M'Dourilithe sum _cit ' over £ 4 ,. for a fortnight's agitation isv _^ the service of the National Charter-Association , "" ' _& totally un _£ rue ; and as-far as * 13 knawn to the a _^ sst member of the Charter _Association here , _thay . do not owq . Dr . M'Douall a fartiiht **; . I was m _. _vsalS _secretary to the association at tha-time the _Dc-aj ; pi _> was her ? ,, and I can . assure you , ho was neveiy engaged _aa _. a lectuver . by . the _Choiitists of _Ne-fffiasilo within , the last 3 _tv years .

      The time the _Dc-ct _^ _a- was last here , ho _v-a _^ _-sent by the- "Executive "" _( _oro-mittcc , ar . _# it was in _, thp month [ o £ April , 1847 .., He was tliQ * i engaged , by . the Exc' cutive Commetitae of the _National Charter , Association ; and fc _^ _-hai heen in , ihis dists ' _ct . about two iwecks , wl \ 3 ** i _. ijsreceived _plotter _fnfjni . _tjie _Execuitive , _declining his furthest- services , on . account of the funds , Ot She Clnirtc _** _Associatian lalli * ag so lowthat thoy ; were unable to defray his . weekly salary . lie wa 3 _, _yiiis left in _JTftwcustlo without aay notice , or any _aioans of paying his travelling expenses home " ; Mr . 'Judo , Sfld myself , _Tfiote several letters to ths- Executive , _rowtuesting tliem to employ tha Bw _& or somo ti _^ . lonaer , so that he might be _carried to _lectsne- in the various towns between hero and his _hsiwe , but th < _# would not accede to the reoucst . "Sho Doctor ,- then said , that if we

      would get imq , course of lectures an Agricultural Chemistry , V thought we should pay our expenses , audi have a surpilis to take-him home -rith . We therc * _-l " o ** e engaged She __ lectui ' _* -J _* oom—bought a set of retorts , and other implements , for a course of _lectwi'ca ; but , _importunately _^ they turned out a failuro _; in fact , tliey left us above £ 3 in debt . _Eveatually , he _vsas engaged as a lecturer by the directors of the Livstd Compa » x ; and _wealway-jthoughfi here , that tho- doctor had , a just claim , upon tha Executive Committee o _£ the Charter Association for , at _leasi , a fortnight ' s wages , t , _o compensate him for b & lng _discharged ; without nrjtice , and having no means of taking _bAipself hom _^ ¦ and Mr . Juda and mysolf , have repeatedly wrjtten to the Execu _* tive , and to Mr . O' Doctor ' s claim .

      Yours most _**« ospectfully , _- On behrdf of tho Chartists of _^ _tapl _Gateahead , : 5 ; _^" * James _R-Mxft ¦ _r ' i _r _i ' _.-J ; ' ">< _b it _** osp £ Ctfully , _^ _irtistsof _^ ffi _«^ tiead , s * _* S * f JAME 3 _K-5 % ' _fT 0 ' ' ~

      Connor Also, To Enforce The _^ **«Ospect...

      Connor also , to enforce the __^ | onnor also to enforce the . _tfg _& _fsii _» aM __ ft- _** j & _Sss . , _*^^^^^ _W § 7 _^ _g _& r \ _rt _lAih _^ _- ; z % x _^^ ' _-. _^ _'m \ * - _\* . \ _^ _» , _:-. _? _s * -. _,- _>— " . _si-jd V . _"O •" ' ¦» ' . :-i . _r-- ' . _^ _OH

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 9, 1850, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_09031850/page/5/