Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd June 1838, Edition 1 of 3, Page 6, Untitled Article

Page 6
Page 6
6 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • i ii b ¦ 9 ORI(rlXA"L coRRRSPONntfNrnp.
  • Text (9)
  • 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.

      Untitled Article

      CANTERBURY BUTCHERY . The following Petition has "been forwa-ded to 2 ilr . Fieldex , from the Loxdos Democratic Association ; and a similar one to Earl Staxhope , for presentation to the two Houses . To tlte Honourable the House of Commons of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled , the Petition of ifie London Democratic Association , Htmblt Shewtth , That we , your Petitioners , have heard , through the medium of the public press , with fewlings of the most poignant regret , of tJae deplorable event which Las lately transpired in the neighbourhood of Canterbury . That from reading in the public papers the jarring statements , the contradictory evidence , and the unjust inferences deduced therefrom , we have arrived at the conclusion , that it is a matter so serious in its nature , so important in its relations , as to call for the interference of your Honourable House .

      ^ That therefore , for the following reasons , deduced from the above assertions , we your petitioners do aarnestly pray your Honourable House to appoint a committee to enquire into the fact * connected with the above-mentioned lamentable catastrophe ; and , inasmuch , that for the » btaining the ends ofjustice , it is necessary that the persous . now imprisoned on the charge of murder be liberated , for the purpose of giving their nncontronled evidence before the committee < o appointed , we implore your Honourable Honse that the said parties be forthwith discharged . , y ^ we submit to your Honourable House the following reasons : —

      Firstly , it is alledged , that the unfortunate man known l . y the name of Sir William Conrtenay was a madman ; and various proofs have be ^ n advanced to substantiate this allegation : and yet , in contradiction to thi * , and in contravention to the law , ¦ w hich does not take cognisance of the acts of maniacs as being criminal , the said individual is branded as a murderer ; and his followers , who have escaped ihe tragical end of their brethren , and of whom it is alleged , that they were afflicted with a species of mental derangement , fanaticism , are committed to prison as accessories to his crimes ; which crimes , considering the circumstances of alleged insanity your petitioners believe conld only have existence xn

      the imaginations ot those parties who are ever ready to wreak vengeance upon the heads of all who dare to advocate the cause of the oppressed . Tliat , secondly , it is admitted by all parties , that -previous to the tiling of the man , Nicholas Mears , - ^ ao went in the assumed capacity of a constable , cut-who , it has been proved , iras not a constable , to arrest the said Sir Wflham Courtenay , no breach of Uie peace had been committed j and consequently , as was the fact , no magisterial authority had been delegated to the saidindividual to act as he attempted to act ; your penuoners are-therefore oi an opinion , SfJ £ ? ^ 1 ™ ^ o ^ MmdnaKni the part of S , L ^ S ^ 1111 ? ' * ^ justifi ab ly fPfM- ^^^ att empt * of bis ' ^ ani

      as * ^ 25 % . f laws of our country , authorise the That , thirdly , it isstated ^ at the said Sir Wm . Courtenay ana Hi followers were rioters , and * o being , the militarj-trere called out to aid ' thTcivS power in quelling the alleged riot ; bnt your wsutioners submit that no proofe have been adduced to substantiate thi » statement ; but , on the contrary , it has' been distinctly stated in evidence that they , the alleged rioters , did- not riotousl y Assemble , while an obscure intimation is gratuitouslT given iiiatitthey meant tobe riotous ^ ' but the facv xhat the magistrates present not having done their

      duty , as prescribed By . thelaw , ^ treading the riot act , is to our mind tuffident evidence 4 hat the said parties were not riotous , and w © forther- think that in neglecting this important part of their dnty , the z ' Ss&S ^ ^^ t&toend them **** justly respon-; ' ^ g ^ awful Jesuits , partkmkrlT whence take ^^ K ^ g ^ tion the instramdns frreir-to the JSglg ^ P *; Poore , that ^ ihey w * re-, trite ^ Sg ^?*** eralrre ; " coapledtoo with th& fact ^^^ fcdeace It oM of fee witnesses afr the lS ^ & ft b ° 3 r of Li « it « M ° t Bennetti 52 ^*^§§ r ¥ <* ?> enc © d the afiray , which liSf St ^ T * destracton of hi * own life , and in -Sport Pi tool ms unoffending countrymen r&& -V > " ¦ ¦ "

      Untitled Article

      That , moreover we - year petitioners are of an opinion that it is not to " Fanaticism" on the alleged "brutal ignorance" of the people that is to be attributed the gathering in this particular instance of the agricultural labourers , but on the contrar ,, it is the consequence of unbearable distress , arising from the operation of bad laws , more especially of that unnatural law miscalled the "Poor Law Amendment Act . " ; We your petitioner * de therefore moit urgently call upon your Honourable House ) to appoint a Committee of enquiry , to investigate the circumstances of this deplorable event * and to cause all judicial proceedings connected therewith i » be stayed , until your Honourable House shall have received the Report of jour Committee , and hare coma to a decision thereon .

      And your Petitioners , &c . < fcc Signed on behalf of the Association . THOMAS IRELAND , Chairman . GEORGE JULIAN HARNEY , Secretary

      Untitled Article

      HAND LOOM WEAVERS . Tie Rev . J . R . Stephens being requested by R . M . Mugreridge , Esq ., the Assistant-Commissioner of the ** Hand Loom Weavers Inquiry Comminsion , " to state hi * news of the question , made the following observations , at the close of the examination on Friday , the 18 th of May , in the Court House , Ashton-under-Lyne : —

      Verbatim Report from Mr . Muggeridge's Notes . Mr . Stephens . — " 1 have found , Sir , the Hand Loom Weavers , in consequence of their abject poverty and distress , and feeling at the same time the lull influence of the ancient spirit of independence now , unhappily , so much weakened in this country , rather than expose their dilapidated wretchedness to a public gaze , appear almost to withdraw themselves iroin all places of public observation , especially on the Lord ' s-day ! I believe very few of them , or their children , as compared with other sections of the working classes , attend either church , chapel , or Sunday school . They are not irreligious or immoral people , but they choose rather to worship God at home in patient resignation , than to mix with their

      betU-r-drepsed and more comfortable fellow operatives in public assembly . In many instances I have luund their children uubaptized , and on inquiring the reason , I have been told that they really could not afford to pay the baptismal fee . 1 have heard the evidence of Mr . Owen , and of Mr . Clay , this morning ; and of Jlr . Broadbenf , Mr . Leech , and part of Mr . Stewart ' s evidence , Vi-sU'rday ; aud I can add my testimony to theirs , us to the high moral character of the hand loom weavers . I believe there is a higher sruse of honesty among them than prev : iils in muuy other quartersj they pay . their way , as it is called , " as far as they can ; * they are very thrifty , very sober , very industrious , aud Lave a spirit of independence traditionally from their iiithors , wko - » r « re einyloyediw the domestic branches of industry now extinct . I attriW ^ thismorality tu the fact of their their

      having chiMreu more immediatel y under their own eye . F ; tther , mother , and <» jl > jjring still make up one * household . The natural affections aud social syinpn th u-s , and the relative taniesof man to his neighbour aiid Lis God , are implanted and cherished iu this its native ' school j and it is to me , and to many , ior 1 have conversed with hundreds of hand loom weavers , a matter of -sur prise and regret that th « Legislature should not ¦ my have allowed ^ uch a branch of industry to nave l > t » c - \ ine so far impoverished , but should also h : ve all > wed this nursery of religion , morals , andlovnhv to have "been aluii'st destroyed , whilst , at the s ^ . tnv tune , it h ; is fiK » ur ;» i . 'ed , and still continues to fo > Ur by artiticial ani expensive means , that system of manufacture which hnpsiirs the health , injures the morals , nud destroys the social character of our home population . 1 mean the factory system !

      " 1 haw heard many hanii-looin weavers object tliat they should be expected to sen 1 thi-ir very Young children to the factory , as a kind of make-weight towards their scanty * subsistence . Thev think it unreasonable and unjust thus to be compelled . I 1 . »* ne bean ! many of thfin say they would rather " tower on' and do the best they can than part with iheir children in snch a way , and for such a purpose , because they lx * heve that the readie . -t way to destroy their children , both bouy and soul , is to smJ them into a cotton factor } ' . 1 have known hand-loom weavers endeavour to" emigrate , and on asking them how they could bear to leave the laud of tkeir lathers , they have said , that 'in England they have nothing

      to live upon , and nothing to live for . ' 1 should wish hmher to add that although the hand-loom weavers iia \ e been reigned , and still are patient , there is an opinion amongst them that forbearance has and uughl to have its limits . 1 have heard hundreds of them , aud other operatives reduced to the * aine staie of destitution , declare that it is but right the Government ot" the country should be in possession of the fact , that unless the legislature can and will protect iV > m , they must and will protect themsei VOs . By protecting themselves , meaning that they are to be considered as bej ond the pale of society—thrown back npou the original resources of nature , ready lor any thing that circumstances or chance may throw in their way , and determined to avail

      them-.-ehes of it . I have also heard them say . in reference to this comrusaion , that it is with extreme reluctance , and under a species of protest , that they have consented to have the veil removed from the rickeuing sights thus disclosed from the recesses of their domestic privacy . They do not like to be asked where they live , and how they live;—how much they can get after working from before sunr ise till after tun-set , and how much their wife can earn , instead of taking care of her children , and how much their children can earn instead of being nurtured : vnd educated as they were by their fathers and mothersin the olden time of household labour , household happinpis , and household independence ; and they think , and 1 think , this investigation unfair

      a : id uicianplete , nnless a parallel investigation be instituted into the income , expenditure , domestic arrangements , social habits , and pr ivate charactt r of the higher classes in society . If the country must know how these men ' live , move , and have their being , ' upon hard labour , aud scarcely any wages at all , the country ought likewise to know how nobles , manufacturers , and merchants 'live , move , and have their being , ' out of the produce of the labour of the iadustrious classes . It has further been a matter of complaint , tha . wkilst the case of the hand-loom weavers has jiow for many years been in various ways under the notice of Parliament , whilst it is apparen : lvy the object of the Commission , not so much to ascertain or elucidate

      as to record afr-sh the facts of their case—whilst it was known to the Government , never denied , I believe never questioned , that very many thousands of the hand-loom weavers , in these northern districts especially , were either altogether or in a great degree out of employment , and consequently n a state of partial destitution , the Government should have thought it necessary or politic to ef . - ablish in the very heart of these districts , in the midst of all this misery on the spot , an office for the purpose of importing , either by force or fraud , numerous families from the south ot England . These importations have , amongst other causes , tended to depress thehandloom weavers and other operatives in this district . They cannot understand upon what principle , or what anthorkv

      the * e emigrations should have taken place . They know that influential persons , especially Dr . Kay , of Manchester , have been employed and salnried by the t . uvemment to make the mo ~ t wicked and wilful misrepresentations as to the state of the labour market , and the condition of the labourer * in this district , there being at the time no want of workpeople beyond what the neighbourhood itself conld have more than supplied , and the condition of the labouring population being any thing but the paradise as described by Dr . Kay and others ; and it is a tact wtuch I know the hand-loom weavers and other operatives wish to have recordedthat these sonth

      , couiitry labourers were hired for terms of one , two , and three years , at prices below the avt rage of the same class of hands in the same kind of work . I wish to takethis opportunity of s ± ating , aa the results of this inquiry naturally bear upon the labour question at large , that tue emigration system having come yery much under my own observation , has , in myepinion . not only injured the native population oi uese districts , but has produced almostunqnalified distress and misery amongst the poor creature * whowtre so brought over . Most of them that I have known have ' found their last state worse than theirhraL "

      It is also the opinion of many intelligent operatives , and my own , that no ultimate aud permanent good can be euected untfl some legislative measure be adopted to specify what shall be the minimum the labourer shall receive m : ¦ exchange for his labour . This has been -done before , —they think it ou ^ ht to be done again . They are likewise of opuiionthat the old system of poor law ? , if administered according to the spirit , would materiall y asastboth the Government and the country in their endeavours to find out and fix this minimum .

      "It has also been fonnd in these districts that the whole Iabouring 3 > onulalion has receired such a shock since the passing , pi the Poor Law Amendment Act , 4 « thpy . can never recover from , unless the principles on which that Act is fouHded be exploded , and the opposite ^ pnnciples—of the tight of every English man , uncharged with crime , tolive in hft own house , to have his wife by M * side , and iis children around him at home , and in the enjoyment of the decent means of fife , —be re-asserted , re-established , and generousl y acted "opon throughout-the land . I can

      r v . if tunon yto the peaceable and moral character at the nand-loom weavers , and of the other operatives m * & *?* ' * ^ ever yet heard any man utter , a word which seemed , to carry a " feeling , of ill-will , natrea , or ^ mtended injury to his richer neighbour . All they * ant , aU they ask , is , a fair day's wages at ^ ^ ° I ^ * . - The J know the ^ have \ f . $ ^ ' ^ vul 1 ' if Possible , to h * * e it at the nands ot Goyerument , undW the laws and institu ^ ns of the country : they have waited long in patient expectation that the Government would lend

      Untitled Article

      them its protective a . xa in' the attainment of tUW «' but , if the Government have not the power , or should the Government refuse to exert the power , my opinion is , after some years' acquaintance with the working classes , they will not wait much longer . I "At present the Government experiences very little annoyance j the ^ people do not even trouble them with petitions . They seldom meet in public to discuss their grievances ; They appear to an inexperienced spectator very little Concerned about any thing that takes place of a public nature . They but seldom express their sentiments in private , and that only to a very few . I have often" heard men say that they had given over talking , but they thought the more ,- —that nobody should know what

      they were until the tune came , and that when the time did come , they thought they could taka care of themselves . I can assure you , Sir , ; that the labouring classes of these districts consider themselves , in conscience , in equity , and in law , released from the allegiance which they owe to the Gdvernment . I think them so released . They are not protected . They are allowed to starve , though working much harder than their black slave brothers in the West Indies , for the amelioration of whose condition an additional burden of 20 , 000 , 000 / . sterling ha * been laid on their shoulders . ' They have long , been in a state borderingon despair , and the threatened introduction of a law by whicu they are to btf , perhaps , transported to the south , as their poor . brethren of

      the ^ south have been transpprtea to the north—by which they are to be imprisoned and starved under a lock and key , wearingafelon ' s dress , and separated from their wives and , children , —is rousing them from that state of despair into a state of frenzy aud desperation . "As a loyal constitutional subject of her Majesty , having lived nearly six years in the midst of .-this , population , I would , with . the greatest reverence and utmost respect , and yet with great earnestness and importunity , through this Commission , not ouly of the state of the hand loom weavers , but of the state of the whole labouring population in this country ; because , I am convinced that unless provision is made whereby the labourer , without any process or

      sense of degradation , can obtain a comfortable and an independent maintenance for himself and .- hi * household , without , as at present , being compelled to . mortgage his own life apd the life of his wite and his little children by excesive and unremitting factory labour , it will be impossible to uphold much longrr the existing institutioun of the country . Ignorance , crime , want of natural affection , aud vict- of every kind will first demoralize the population , and then lund , as a necessary consequence , to revolution , anarchy , and its inevitable but awiul results . ' "I only wish ' to-add ' that ' I have frequently been called upon , as a minister ,. to visit the houses of the hand-loom weavers when they have been sick . 1 can confiim Mr . Clay ' s statement , both of their destitution and ot their habits of cleanliness . "

      Untitled Article

      — — — — — ^— ^^— - »* - - —^ - ^— — ^^ ^ ¦ ¦¦ ^^ ' ^ . ^^ ^^ ^ — — ^^_^^^ ^ i j ^^^ m The Ettilort of « The Northern Star" wish to be distinctly lilidenioutl Oml in ujfirrdiiig a vehicle Jar the discussion oi -feat Public Questions , they are not to U- iUrnti J . eU with the Scn ' . imeittt vr the Luiwauge of their several Correspondents .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE EDITORS OK THE NORTHERN STAR . Gentlemen ' , —A parajrraph having appeared in your paper of the 2 nd iuslant , reflecting oil our conduct as collectors of Easter Dues , ut ilaworth , tor the Vicar of BradforJ , and stigmatizing us as tyrannical extortioners of the poor , we feel anxious , by a few plain facts , to clear ourselves from an imputation' which we know will most readily be made by those from whom the least has been extorted . ' The writer of the paragraph accuses us of having " dragged from " their . fainishirig families" nine " poor , " simple , " " half-starveu , " " hunger-bitten" ' people , to enforce before the Magistrates payment of a sum evidently too enormous for theni to Lear . Such expressions only admit of two . interpretations , and a list- of the persons summoned , with their occupation * , nnd the sums for which they were liable , will best determine whether their purport be truth or falsehood . This list gives uji— -.

      . , , £ s . d . John Bramley , butcher , without family ... 0 0 ( j William Parker , beerseller and butcher ... o' 0 G H . Newell , woolcouiber , with one voung child . . " ........ 0 0 4 Joseph Iloyds , woolconiber , ( abusive when called on ) 0 , 0 3 J . Fawthrop , single man , ( paid nothing . ) ... 0 0 0 R . Green woo . t , woolsorterand grocer ...... 0 0 7 £ Joseph Denn , farmer and freeholder .. 0 1 o ' G . Mitchell , farmer , grocer , carrier , and master shoemaker ............. ,. 0 10 James Hartley , grocer 0 0 7 k

      Total 0 4 10 Really , the feeh ' ngs of our accuser must be tremendously aristocratical , if they can persuade him that these men , all in better circumstances , pt-rhap ! * , than he is himself , are yet « o low and wretched , as to be incapable ot clubbing Jive shillings for the payment of a legal demand ! But lest his high heart should swell against us to bursting , we beg to assure him that put of 1 , 000 cottagers in the parish , liable to the payment oi Easter Dues , only 310 have been called on , and these lor a sum in the whole under XG 10 s ., which will give an average of fivepence por man !

      If our princply-minded accuser still entertain doubts of our humanity , we here invite him to an inspection of our books , which will perhaps prove to him that , " unenviable" though our-characters mnv be , we still possess more kindly hearts , aud are actuated by a more Christian charity than himself , when he , in so small a " number of lines , could pen against us so many and such groundless falsehoods . And we assure him that , despite his concluding . sentences , he has done bur poor justice to our generous and respected Vicar , if i e fancies him capable oi selecting heartless servants , or authorising tyrannous deeds . . Apologising for the space we have taken up on a subject of so local an interest ,

      -We remain , Sir , Yourhumble obedient servants , WM . STANCL 1 FFE , A . WHITHAM , THUS . WEST . Ilaworth , June 13 , 1838 . P . S . No further communication from our accusers will be attended to , unless authenticated by a real signature .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE RT . HON . EARL FITZW 1 LLIAM . My Lokd , —Since I -wrote my last letter to your Lordship , it would seem that you have been hard at work , readingand pondering over the great " nEt-REE . " It is well , my Lord ; you will there learn more of true legislatorial wisdom in five minutes , than by presiding over a Board of Guardians , as the grinding tool oi the three Commissioners , for five years , or by fox hunting the whole of your natural life . I « nd , already , that you are fast progressing , and tuat even now ? iew lights are continually breaking in upon yonr mind . 1 st . You discovered , that "the decree , promulgated immediately after . Ute fall , " - contained no clause ' empowering kings to receive taxes . That was good , — very good , my Lord . Then ,

      2 d . 1 on found out that the same " Decree " prohibited the pauper from receiving any relief . That was better , —still better , my Lord . And now , SA . \ ou have satisfied yourself , according to that ' Decree , that monarchs have no right to be cnoH-jfEO This is best of alj , my Lord , —the very best . VV hat fools have we all hitherto been ! Blinded and stupified by prejudices in favour of the 'ridiculous , ioolishandidlepageantry , ritonlyfqrasemibarbaroufi age ! But now that your Lordship has seriously betaken yourself to the study of ypur Bible , we shall soon get right . With the . «¦ Decree of t / ie Supreme Governor ojthe Universe" in your hand , you cannot lead us far astray . My Lord , I would not . howhave deceive

      ever , you yourself . I do assure you that the people of England are a tfiinfcing race . They have long been reading their Bibles , and they will not consent to stop , just where your Lordship may please , at kings and paupers . There are other nuisances , not ordamed by the " decree , "besides taxes and poor iiates : — there are RENTS , my Lord . Do you hesitate ? Look over the " Decree *' once more , and you will there find not a single word from "the Supreme Govei-nor of the Universe " in support of rents . My Lord , this is no joke . You have not blushed to question the monarch ' s right to taxes , and to a crown ! You have been cowardly enongh to deny the right of the pauper to helief and I will not shrink from boldly demanding of von !

      that yon be consistent , and , by the same authoriui proclaim , that you have no right to receive rent if you hesitate , or refuse to aboUsh rents , you will Uien prove that you are only a ; selfish , one-sided , uiterested , disloyal and tjTannical expounder of Gods " oecree . " You will then demonstrate , that your apparent zeal for the honour of God , and of His " decree , " is neither more nor lessf than a most Jbarefaced , piousrfraud , intended to rob Kinits and Paupers , that , with the spoil thus impiously obtained , you may enrich " your own orderr Onwards ! my Lord , onwards ! abolkh bents , Or cease , forever , to ennoble yourself by the name of ' ¦ - ¦

      MAN .- . . . ¦ . . ¦' ... . - . . ' ..- ' ; My Lord , there are no rents mentioned in the ' decree —no coronets—no servants—no race horses —no hunters—no fox hounds—no mansions-no parks—no carnages ; and , above all , no teats in the House of Lords . : All these things are " innovations of man ' s invention , or , as Jour ^ Lordship more properly has it , vf # ff *«»* C . w * K * itKorddle wise t / dis ^ nse with , Jit only for a semi-barbarous age" O ! inv Lord , I do thank ^ you right heartily , for teaching me \ hat word ! If you proceed in your investigation of Dnine trutib , you will hnd that God hai ^ aid , ' •^ oe unto them that join house to house , tliat

      Untitled Article

      lay : field to fie \ &y till there beiw plaice , that they may be placed alone in , the midst of the earth ! " Arid thenheaddsin another placeV ^ Theirinward thonght is , that their homes shaUtcontinrie for ever , and their dwelling places to all generations ; they call tbeir lands after their own names , '' And again the Lord says , Ofatnith , i many nouses shall be desolate , even great &&&fair , without ^ inhabitant . " You will have already perceived ^ my Lord , that I am not content ^ that your Lordship should take only your ownpickingsaoi of the 'Wecra ?;'' I am resolvedj and I do not hesitate to tell your tordship so to your face , either to have aw or none . I can see nothing more to be desired in rents , than in taxes arid poor rates : Nothing more sacred in noble lords

      , than in kings and pAtoFEits . If you will have no taxes anrfnoptwr rates , why then , I insist upon it , that you shall have no bentsJ If nocrown , then down with your paltry , coronets ! Ah ! iny Lord , these things naay be * idle pageants , " but , once persuade the people that they are so ,- ^ -uproot those oldi ' ashioned prejudices , Mihich have taught thenj . to value the baubles , which your Lordship affects to despise , and you may burn your title deeds . From that time forward , they will avail you nothing . Look to > ' your own order , " and , as you ; wish to support it , learn to respect the jvights of your superiors and inferiors \ Your conte mpt for " the pageantry © f the coronation , " may , or may not , be a proof of your " want ofloyalty : " that itis a proof of an entire absence of

      gallantry , no person can , for one moment , doubt . Youb loyalty , ( forgive me if I smile at the thought of Fitzwilliam loyalty , my Lord , ) has not been of much value , since you proposed to pay his late Majesty no inore taxes . You well observe , 'Hhat her Majesty is too much respected , and reigns too firmly in the hearts and affections of her subjects ^ to care much about the pomp and ceremony of a coronation . " As far as her Majesty is concerned , that is all wise and true enough . But , my Lord , if the nobles once begin to destroy our prejudices , and to wean us from out attachment to " the pomps , ceremonies and pageantry of a semi-barbarous age , " I can assure you , that they ( the Nobles ) are not at present . " so much respected , and so firmly seated in the hearts and affections of the people , ' as long to retain the ' more solid privileges of "their order . '' And , my Lord , I

      hesitate not to tell you , that if they continue to withhold from the people their riuhts , they will neither deserve , nor will they be able to keep their own . Look to it , my Lord , these ' ¦ ' ¦ idle pageants" are of much more moment to you , than they are to me . I have hitherto had very strong , old fashioned , English prejudices . I have been a great admirer of the Aristocraey . 1 havehoped much for my country from their high bearing and their noble feeling . When some zmworthy members of " their order " have attempted :- 'to degrade them , in presence of great masses of the people I have , at great personal sacrifice , endeavoured to re-seat the Aristocracy of England in the hearts of the people . But , my Lord ,, when 1 see them bent upon plunder ing the poor , I ani constrained to fear , that the spirit oi' their ancestors 'is dejHirfcrt from them .

      Well might my Lord Ashley exclaim , " TP'hut a state we are now in I" I do assure you , my Lord , that thousands of sober minded , intcfiigeiH , reading , thinking Englishmen are beginning seriously to enquire—arc our Legislators sane ? Just put the two or three following things together , and tell me , would any men , pretending to be legislators , for a great empire , in an enlightened age , " present themselves before the people , entangled in such mazes ot folly , if they were not mad ?

      I ; our years ago , our Legislators declared England to be ruined ; and they asserted , that the cause oj her ruin was the existence of a law " for the etYisctual rvlief of tin ) poor ! " Thisyear theydeclare Ireland to be ruined ; and , they assert , that the cause of her ruin is the « o ?« -e . \ istence of a law for the effectual relief of"thtt poor ! " They assert that thu poverty of Englajjo is only to be removed by repeal ' ulg Poor Laws altogether ; and , that the poverty of liii : i . ANj > can only be rcmoced by establishing an " effectualPoorLaw !!" .

      On these glaring and self-evident contradiction ? , they are now endeavouring to make the two countries rich and prosperous ! To this end they are legislating for " England , with a view ' ¦ ' ¦ ton ' o Poor Law at all ; " and , for Ip . ki-anp , they are at this very moment , preparing a law "ybr the more effectual relief of the destitute Poor !/ ., '" Nay , with the Decree in your hand , you have the impious audacity to assort that neither in England no Ireland have " the able-bodied poor" a right to dwell in the land and be fed ! ! You would make us believe that you are more charitable than Almighty God , because you are willing to tax yoursi'hes . in order to build Workhouses for the infirm !! ! Now , my Lord , I defy you to contradict one word that I have stated . May it not be asked , seriously askud , are our Governors sane ? Have our Aristocracy lost the stamina of their forefathers ? .

      But , my Lord , this is not all . You may well laugh at " idle pageants , " now a days . You may well boast of " the march of intellect " There is at prosent on the table of the House of Commons , and I suppose yon will very soon have it on the table of your Lordsbips' House , a bill for the KeguJation of Factories . After having kept the country in " agitation" for twenty or tlurty years upon that question : after the expenditure of many hundreds of thousands of pounds;—after the labours of many select Coinmittees in Parliarnent , and an expensive R « yal Commission to boot ; after the establishment o ' f a regular factory-inspection staff , at an expense of about ten thousand a-year ; our erudite goverriori have found a mare ' s nest , or at least they think so ;

      they ha . ve absolutely discovered the grand panacea for all the evils of the factory system ! and , will your Lordship be pleased to guessVhat it is ? No , you cannot ; I am sure you cannot . You are not learned enough ; but Lord John Itussell can . He is very learned , my Lord . I will save you the trouble of inquiring . I will tell you , on one condition ; which is , _ that yoti do not laugh . I do assure your Lordship , most .- . seriously , that there is at present a bill on the table of the House of Commons , Mr . Fox ^ fAULE laid it there , ( and Lord Ashley sent me a copy of it , so I cannot make a rnistukp , ) actually containing a clause , advancing , not some village pedagogue , but her Majesty ' s principal Secretary of State

      for the Home Department , the Right Honourable Lord John Russell , son of his Grace the Duke of Hedvord , to the high and important officP of ^ -what dou think , my Lord r Nuw once more , I beg that you will not laugh . If that bill pass into a law , little Lord John will be legally installed , —not the Chancellor of any of the Universities ,-r-but Editor and Publisherottilittle bvhf A . B . C . " Hornbook " —a little " reading-made-easy , " for my little factory childen ! ! ! Now , I can assure you that it is thought by the Government , that the pretty //«/

      In 1 R'J 8 , this is called legislation ! In" thesemibarbarous agfis" of eur ign < y > -a » t , unenlightened , and prejudiced forefathers ? , it would have been culled tom-foolery . They would have laughed such legislators to scorn : —but they were fond of "idle pageants , " and we live in the age of the triumphant " march of intellect ! ! " I do not wonder at Lord Ashley now , well might he exclaim , " What a state are we now iii !!" It is , indeed it is , my Lord , time "to cease from man . " Your Lordship has at length wisely resolved to throw over board , all the . useless , " idle pageantry" and Ifgislative lumber of the semi-barbarous ages , " and no longer to be deluded by the unhallpwed philosophy of the age of themarch ofinteilBct .

      \ ou haye extricated yourself from the quagmire of a vain philosoph y , you now enjoy that freedom and enlargement of intellect , which is only to be found in- the volume of ih ' spiration-. You are disencumbered—you have led us to the fountain , of true wisdom and impartial ' justice . You have appealed to the only unerring standard of truth , " The decree of the Supreme Governor of the Universe . " By that , I am contented to abide . Upon niy word f my Lprd vbut we are in an awful state . This moment I have received a newspaper ( the Chanipion of to-day , ) containing an account of a bloody riot near Canterbury , about the New Poor Law—of disturbances at Heading , about the sudden discharge of a number of workmen , of an incendiary fire Melton

      near Mowbray , —of another incendiary fire at Silverston , in Northamptonshire— -of ^ an incendiary fire near Epsom ; and of eight different incendiary p lantation fires in the . neighbourhood of Sunninghill , Bagsliot , and Oakingham . " What an a \ yiul state we are now in !" But , my Lord , how : is all this ? I was in your Lordsliip -s house not long ago , and there I heard one Noble Lord after another rise in his place , and solemnly assure their Lordships , " that the agricultural labourers were delighted with the : effects of the New Poor Law ; that they were very iiiuch improved in their condition , Circumstances , and behaviour ; that instead of being idle and insolent , and ungpvernable v and itngrateful , they were now industrious and respectful , and obedient , and thankfuL" Ah , my Lprd , whilst I listened , I knew that these Noble L , ords . ' > were speakingjaeace , peace * where there was

      np peace !" . But your Lordship has often joined in their jubilant . I" therefore , how ask you right seriou « ly , how do you account for these riots , < fisturbances , and fires ? Ybn would not believe mej when I spoke of the smoulderingsof discbhtenti which Iknew were burning under the smooth faces of the peasartry ! . I was langhed at , when I warned the Government of daJiger . AVhatsay you now , my Lord ? -Do you blame 'Vthe agitators ? " So far as . I know , the districts where thise fires , these disturbances , these riots have taken place ; are entirely free from the curee of " Anti-Poor Law Agitators . " They are fainting in the iron embrace of the accursed Poor Law Commissioners !¦ But , notwithstanding the absence of agitators , " my Lord , you cannot ke « n the surface even . Some few sparks , it seems , will now and then be emitted from the smouldering fires beneatn ! These are but sparks , ray Lord , awful ox

      Untitled Article

      they are , they &re but sparks !! Once more I warn you , if , in spite of heaven , our Governors are resolved to ENFOBCE the Devil ' s LA ' wvagainst . iGoB ' s own " DECBEEj" you will soon -witness a blaze > which will burn up , and for ever annihilate all " iheidlepageantry of the semi-barbarous agea . " Qt , that our Governors might now be prey ^ ed upon to forsake the vain philosophy of man , and seek for trae wisdom , where alone it is to be found , in " the decrees of if , e Supreme Qovernor of the Universe . ' ¦ " . Again , my Lord , I ask , why these Jwes ?—why these riots f-rwhx these disturbances ? Nothing shall prevent me ^ ^ from telling you the truth ; There is a cause ! You have set yourselves np ag wiser than God ; you havft dared to legislate against the

      " perfect Law of Love I " : You have oppressed the poor ; and that oppression has driven them mad ! Your accursed system of immigratioh- is now producing ( as I always said it would ) its natural results . The agricultural labourers . in ' . the south were drivenfroin their native fields ; they were falsely ^^ promised plenty and comfort in the manufacturing districts . But these northern counties they found to be none other than * the Valley of the Shadow of Death . " The bones of many of these outcast wanderers are now mingled with the clods _ of our valleys ! The few who ' . 'have escaped with their lives , " are now returning ; their " weeping and lamentation" are heard in their native villages . Despair has seized on their inhabitants . They

      have proved that "the tender mercies of their Governors are cruel ; " and they are how beginning to avenge themselves on theiroppressors ! " You have sown a storm , you are about to reap a whirlwind !" All this I have long foreseen , and have forewarried the Government ; but , when I endeavoured to prevent these awful evils , I was denounced as an " incendiary . " "They were deaf , they would not hear ; they were blind , they would not see . " Thank God , // z ^ w districts are not yet in fl ames . Here , the people still hope—they hope , even against hope . My Lord , hear me , I must speak . We have petitioned byhundreds , andby thousands ; and ^ by hundreds of thousands . The people have been orderly and patient , nay , forbearing . They were fold by " the agitators , " that such conduct would ensure to their petitions the favourable attention of the legisla ture then

      . Judge , my Lord , of their ' disgust * when one of her Majesty s Ministers , ( Lord Ho wick ) pointing to those very petitions , signed by or on behalf of a million of Englishmen , sneered at them , brcuusethey were not backed by fires and murder ! treated them with contempt—bocaiise the districts , from which they came were not disturbed I because their authors were orderly and peaceable ! My Lord , what can the people do more ? It is useless ¦ to talk of their submitting to the New Poor Law I he Law of nature ^ -the natural affections cannot be extinguished by a parchment Statute ! Since the petition ^ of the people were thus rejected , they have remonstrated . ' Oh that God would open the eves and soften the hearts of our lawmakers ! Surely , your Lordships will now listen to the voice of millions of the people , still crying " Repeal the Accnr . sF . D Law . " '"

      My Lord , it is qmte possible to reduce Enoland to the miserable condition of Ireland . But it is not possible to keep her so . Ireland is kept in subjection by means of the taxes raised in England Strip Englak n , and " you have killed the hen , which laid the golden eg ^ s , " I am certain , that ifihe NewPoor Law be enforced in these districts , in two years afterwards , l / fe and property will be at a discount of 50 per dent . ! It may be treason thus to speak the truth .. I have no interest in the matter— but I do love niy country and her institutions . I implore those , who nave most at stake , to besur themselves . 1 know that the people will resist the accursed New Poor Law . They have been very still , very quiet : they have petitioned , and remonstrated , and waited with much patience , but their resolution is unshaken ' . They ara loyal to their Queen ; but they will kill and be killed , rather than submit to the cruel despotism of the Three Traitor Kings !!'

      Once more , before I leave this place , I solemnly warn the Government—the possessors of wealth and especially do 1 warn the Whigs , that the enforcement of the New Poor Law in these districts will , most unquestionably , be a preclude toanarchy , burnings and murders ! I can have no interest in deceiving . I know that I run great risks by speaking such unwelcome truths . It matters not—I will run every riskrather than leave one effort untried , to save a district , to which I am bound by so many ties , from the ravages » f that " madness , " which , even in " ivise men , " is the offspring of" oppression . " The Whigs haye long sought my life—hitherto God' has disappointed their hopes . He has now permitted thpm

      todepnve me of my daily bread .. And oh ! how they exult ! 'Tis a poor triumph after all , for the governors of a greatnation ! 1 hey have gota Gentleman's Steward discharged , and that is all ! All will , however , yet be well . He , who for the good of his country , has always one lite to offer , can fear no evil . God will still provide for me , and 1 have no pleasure in the destruction of the Whigs . Oh ! that they would repent , and remember those large promises which they formerly made to the poor \ I-have the honour to remain , my Lord , your Lordship's Most / obedient Servant , ' i- v u „ TT ¦ RICHARD OASTLER . Fixby H all , near Huddersfield , June 2 nd , 1838 .

      P . S . —Since writing the above , my Lord , it appears that the representations made by the Ministerial Press , connecting the melancholy affray near Canterbury with the dissatisfaction which the people feel with regard to the New Poor Law , was only a fiction , invented by the disordered intellects of those editors , who , no doubt , whenever they hear of disturbances in any part of the kingdom , immediately imagine that ?* is the blood of the murdered paupers which has called down the just vengeance of Almighty (

      lOtl-If yonr Lordship will seriously ponder upon this fact , you will learn that even those very editors , who are employed and paid \> y the Government , to uphold the accursed New Poor Law system , perform THEIR OFFICE WITH FEAR AND TiaEMBLING . What madmen these hired scribes must be , to charge me with having connection with , a religious fanatic , of whom 1 had never heard , but who seems to have been well known to their paymasters . No one can read the accounts of that bloody tragedy without weepin " The poor lunatic could not be blamed ; but thosepersons , to whom the peace of that part of the country is confided , ought to have known , that the only proper way to secure a madman , is by stratagem . ' Had'that o ??/// rational plan been adopted , how many lives would have been

      spared . My Lord , you will have . it , that the people of England are in love with this wild , new fangled Tih : aso . n , called We New Poor Law Jlmendment Act I wish you could persuade all the Lords Lieutenant to call county meetings on the subject . Why not ? Your Lordship used to be fond of appealing to the people , —why hang back how ? I perceive , however , that the Aristocracy are coming ronnd . —A friend of mine , has just shewn me u letter from a nobleman , ( not one of those pa ~ triots who opposed the New Poor Law , ) in which he says " The manufacturing population is accustomed to vent its gr ievances at public meetings—but that is not the case with the agricultural labourers ^ whose resistance would be far more formidable and far

      , more difficult to overcome . I was informed , yesterday , that some London Policemen were now stationed at- — , but it is not known , from whose orders , or what apprehensions are entertained , except , t ' . at in a parish of that Union , and some miles from it , 150 labourers arc said to be provided with muskets and daggers , «« ri ' to meditate an attack , but when , or where i ^ uncertain . " As the labourers are so very fond of the New Poor Law , they are no doubt intending to " attack" those persons who wish for its repeal , ! Be . that as it may * my Lord , " M usKCTsaud Daogei : 3 " areno jokes . And yet it is the birthright of Freemen to can-y arms . "Will

      your Lordship oblige me b y calling for a return of the number of places , to which those London Policemen have been sent to assist in the enforcement of the New Poor Law ; as well as those places where they have been required to put down those , who are endeavouring to oppose it , contrary to the wishes of the labouring population . We shall then know how the ieeling of the labourers of England really ' stands on this subject . Let us also have the numbers sent to each place—the expense and all about them : and particularly whether they were sent at the request of the Magistrates , or of the Poor Law Commis sioners ; and whether the Lords' Lieutenant were consulted . Do , my Lord , let us know all about it . &O .

      Untitled Article

      TO TEE EDITORS OF THE NORTHERN STAR . RALAHINE . formation of character . —Continued . Preston , 4 th June , 1838 , Gaining , of every kind , was entirely prohibited among the members , and happy would it have been for this society if the law maker , had not himself been the law breaker . No individual was allowed to keep a four footed bea > t , of poultry , of , any kind ; as private property , all these were the property of the society . Hence , no bull dogs , fighting or paaching dogs , fighting epeksi &c ., could ; be introduced among them ; and all the foolery , cruelty > viJlany , and immorality , connected with themvwere

      effectually- prevented . Tobacco , and snnff , were not kept in their store , nor allowed to be used on the premistes . This put an end to some dirty habits , was a saying of money , prompted the . health of . the members , and preveuteti the danger of fire , ftoin carrying lighted tobacco among the hay and straw in the barns and stables , and if such practices were strictly prohibited in Liverpool , I . believe it would prevent the burning of many a warer house . Laws twenty six and twenty - seyen ^ guarantee " perfect freedom of opinion ; and of religibus worship , to all , and the arrangements for the observance of the sabbath , secured to all , young

      Untitled Article

      and p M » - mamed and smglej male and ^ niaV greatest possible faciKtie ^ foV this pnrpS % great majority of the members were" CathohW f owing U > &e incessant , illadyised , foolish aSr ^ atproselytism , every where making by ProS ?^ mlTgsnliqopinions equaUy as abfurdaUhef ^ the Catholic membera , moat of them at firrf ^ ignorant , urere for acbrisiderable time , naS * rogpiaoue ^ about the instruction given toi £ S dren by Mr /; yandelenr , and by Mn CraieSw * of them being Catholics . TheinfanSSi * firsttanpht by Mrs . O'Dea , from " he" £ w ^« School , Dubnn , > 8 he married Mr . ^ SrV ^ dener ^ hom Mr . V ^ ished the gociety toSc ei ^ a member , butthey knowing his temper andS ! terbetterthanhis master , put himtothe haDof ^ ^^ f ^^ A ^ f ^^ v ^^ ylawprovi , ^

      IT wereoougeaiQleave tne society at ihisi ^ rr tore . Mrs Craig , a sensible weUinfornied Wom ^" lately married to our worth y secretary , at MrW deleur ' greqnest , offered her services in the'& School , which were gladly accepted , but hS * soon after , that some of the parents were susS ? of her principles , and dissatisfied with he ^ in . r ^ tions , she wrote the following letter to Mr V » nT leur , dated November 3 d , 1833 y Dear SirSfe is probable I shall hot have a personal intervkwt ?^ you for some tnie ^ I take tmsmode of making l * statements which I deemnecessary is I hare ISI drawn my attention from the Infant School hS " ascertained that an impression exists in the S it SOm -f ,, *^ e P ^ 11 * 8 ' tIiat I am disposediwSJS the children doctnnes , contrary to those professffi themselves . Now a « I do not think : tbatany pS hasanght , to dictate or enforce hi » own \> 3 * religiouiopmions upon the child of anothf . r ' nrTf

      mgaditterent creed , it would not be agreeable ^ my feehngsto ^ attend the school , whUsUhlSj sion above alluded to remains . When I caXV Ralahine , I found the Infant School without air suitable person to attend to the education or moS of those interesting little creatures , and , at yonr reauest , I paid what attention my time would 5 ? mir , and so far wasl from inteifering in this matter that I followed np the same form of reliripus prave-l and thaLksgivings , which I found had been previously taught by Mrs . ^ O'Dea . After makinrftp above statement , and at the same time obsenint that I consider the proper education of the children as the most important leature in the society , I h » De you will not feel me disobliging , when I inform y £ , p my ^ ntentl on tp absent myself from the school altogether , unless the parents desire it otherwise ^ r ^ 10 ?^ my services have been gratuW

      Ycmauassure you , mat 1 have felt considerable pleasure in doing the little I have done for them ? am ° e ^ r 8 V' yoursrespectfully , ¦ ¦ .. ; MARY CRAIG lnis letter , r ^ ad at a general meeting of the society , had the desired efiect , it removed t £ doubu of the parent an . dM » .. Craig . unanimoSy recaHed to the school . I thinkl know Ireland , a 3 Fn < , 1 ^ W ° ^ f . W * . People , as well almost Sfh « W ^* ' and r M q ? ? stire ' that no " <* OA for the improvement of that country can succeed that is in any way connected with the religious mis sipnary and Bible mania that is now rapine the circumstance I have just related confirms that and state

      opinion , I now what I know to be a fact that great niimbers of Protestant Bibles ind Testa * ments , that are sent over to Ireland and given te Latnohcs , are immediately pawned for a few pence and the money spent on whiskey ; these Bibles are packed up m boxes , sent back to England , and sold tor half , or one third , of the price they cost the members of the bible Society . I have , seen these bo ^ es of Bibles from Irelan d frequently in a book , seller s shop m Manchester , who told rae that he received a box from Dublihalmostevery week , ani he offered m 3 Bibles for Is ., Is . ed . / 23 ., 2 s . 6 d . 1 *' m' \ 1 Y ™ rf ^ t * e Bible Society from 3 s . 6 d . to 8 s . The Irish are kind hearted . ^^

      industrious , and capable of great physical , intelletl lual , and moral improvement , only let their religion prejudices alone ; give them education , and give theth employment , that will enable them to earn com for taUt food , clothing , and lodging , and their will becmt ineh merT U ' ^ ' ^ COntent ^ ha VPy Peotfe I must not close this part of my subject , without making a few more remarks , on the improved condi hon of females at Ralahine , and the effects ^ thw produced on their characters . In allrespects , female ' were upon terms of equality with males , they re " , ceivedthe same education , they engaged in the same kind--of labour , ( but the easier parts were allotted to them , ) every mes . ns was adopted to remove , or to lessen domestic drudgery , and thpnpr .

      tormance ot such - ' services : " belonged to the vouthj under seventeen . The wages of the wife ma ' de her independent of her husband for support , and fin Society was the parent , and amply provided for the education and wants of all the children . The wife , therelore , was a help-mate , a companion , a friend an equal ; and not a senant , cypher , or slave to her husband , as m the present irrational state pfsocietv . I here being no restraint upon the union / of .. the sexa in marriage , as all know each others talents and dispositions , and had no motive to influence -ttek but pure ^ respect and love for each" othen all inarriaea among the members were marriages of affechon . uie tea

      ana r pt expulsion , prevented them fron forming imprudent affiances with those that wen u ^ me ^ ers- If , ? ^ man said to a femali " Mary Hove you , " she had only to reply , « Johi I have no objection to you for my husband if yoi love memarryme . " Nothing more was then necessan than to give notice to the Committee , under whos directions the society prepared for them i residence , the priest performed the cereinom according to law , and they become man and wift ' each enjoying the same privileges , and the same i * dependence as before . If married persons could noi agree to live together ^ they had a veiy easy mode d separation , for as long , or as short a period , as thei

      cnose . _ John had only to say : to Mary , or Mary & say to John— "I cannot put up with your ill temper * scolding tongue , dirty habits , Ac , if you do not be . have yourself better , I will leave the cottage , eatmi meals m the public dining-room , and sleep in tli d ° mt » fJ of the single members j" and as all tfc children were kept and provided for in the schools tins could be done at any time , without any inconvenience or loss to the society , or any bad effect ! upon the condition or morals of their children . Bu the dread of apublic disclosure of this kind , and i the taunts and ridicule that would attend such i circumstance , from their fellow members , compelled married persons to treat each other kindly , ed caused

      , them to live together like sweethearts . Even motive for unchastity was thus removed * and & ? n 0 1 ? F ^ rfnlOTcumstahws werecreated , to mah it both the duty , and the interest , of men and to men , to love each other , and te practice every mod , and _ every Christian virtue . If it be said tha : Christianity , in its present fwm , has done muci , to improve the condition of the female sei when it shall be purified from its corrupliok and ennobled by that great principle . " Thechqraiis of man is formed for him , " by the circumstances ' * w / iicli fie is placed , and the trahihig he receive ! , ' * Will do a thousand times more . Now let us compare th 6 condition of females at

      Ralahine , with their general condition in society ti it now is . Women , under the present arrangement af society , are denied e ? ery political , andeverysoil right , not acknowledged by our laws , eyea > rational human beings . Most means of independeBt subsistence are closed against them , them . selts mere adjuncts to their parents , or / to theirhustanifc deprived of all their property at marriage , subject to chastisement like children , entitled by : law » claim only a fraction of his effects at the * death of the hiisbund , ari education forced upon them among the wealthy , which is worse than lgnorap ^ and fits them for nothing , but to be the nbi ^ aniii - ing , singing , musical , dancing pnpuets , and prewj

      play tnmgs of their Lords . Amongthe ' poor , W . are generally ^ the most miserable drudges , and if the ! 1 Masters be drunken ^ idle , or \ icious , as is too oftc the case , the condition of themselves , and their chit dren , is far / worse ^ than ^ that . '" . of the West ln& ® Slave . But what slavery can be one hundreth part so galling , what tyranny conld invent , any thin ? 0 B ? hundredth part so crael , as the condition of thousands of unfortunate females , in London , Mancher ter , Liverpool , ahd in every : other large city » town , in this eminently Christian country . ^ seduced from , the paths of chastity , by the ctujn" ? wiles , and lying promises , of aome wealthy , d ^" ing , or dissolute , young Lord of the CbWJ ^' 1

      to whom our laws have lately given impunity " ^ crime , no bitter tears of contrition , nor any sotee queht virtues can ever / restore -. " theni to ' " > & . former station of society , but abandohecl , sconi ^ abused , and illtreated by al | v they are left to ~ m * opt amiserable existence , unpitied . victimspfpownj ' degradation ,: reinorsef" drunkenness , prpstitnfl ^ disease , despair ^ . and a premutare deaths & .. Z this suffering is ihttictediy a bible rettdaig . ChT ^^ people , upon the weaker sex forsooth , for , h j" ? J onlyoncefpllowed a natural propensity , ' : i ^ fie pf ¦ the other sex have not frequently . indulged 9 « r marriage . And so prevalent is thij evil , ¦ & ?^ ljw aflcertained not long ago , ' \ Mi U 0 & iActeW ?? nate females are living onthe ( vidgt ' sof . P ^^ r

      Hypocriteileajrri ofydni-master ; Ma « ter ; % htf *« f ° " was taken iiiadTiltery , in the ' very *? i » ' ^* J ! in the law , commanded that ; sijch should be 1 « t ^ but ythtA sayest&ion ? ' * . ; He said , « hethatisi 0 ^ out sin amoug you , let him j cast the first 8 t ^ fi . w her . " Convicted : by . i . theirI own ! cori 8 cience » i ^ J wentoutone byone , tiUJgsjisTirae left alone , r the woman standing ia the midst , and he said . ^ . her , " woman , ^ bere ^ are tfi ^ e thetf no man cond ^ mu- ' thee ?'' Sh ^ said , '" ; no m ^ J ^ L and lie said untt 1 herjneither do l'& $ tyiWr % & and ; sin ; no mprei Women of 'Engtind U'W ** yourselves ! ihef ' that would be frfr , have < m 7 willitl' - '"¦* :: *¦ : •;¦ : " / - ¦ : ¦ . -: «¦ '; ¦" : ¦ : y' - ; - v ' tb « In my next I shall give the Laws relating w , „ Government ef the Socifetyj and that will conJP one of the best codes of Laws ever firamed . I am , re » pe « rtfally , JOHN FINCH .

      Untitled Article

      JUSTICE I JUSTICE !! JUSTICE J !! The London Democratic Association to Feargiu O'Connor and the Democrats of Great Britain «» f Ireland . Fellow CopsTBTMEN—TTe had intended that ^ his , « nr first address , should have been an exposition of -our principles—a gUtement of oar objects as an A » - ¦ sociation—and the meant whereby we hope to achieve them . We were preparing thus to address yon , when lo ! a cry p f grief and horror resounds through the land , calling upon us to at unce arouse from our lethargy—tp at once commence our labours , and boldly grapple with the factions who are drench ingin blood the once happy cottages and peaceful fireside * of our brethren , the labourers of Kent The dying groan of the slaughtered labonrer hath

      -ascended to his Maker—the wail of the widow , and the cry of the orphan ascends to heaven ; their cry is for Justice—Justice for their murdered husbandsfathers—sons—and—brothers;—r-Justice for their homes ,:-. ade desolate for their heart's despair . On becoming acquainted with the Kentish butchery ¦ we -were aware , from sad experience , that not the -least dependence could be placed on the statements of the / Daily Press j we , therefore , at once , rejected -the disgusting fabrications of the alleged fanaticism of the people , and patiently , bat anxiously , waited for the comments of the Democratic Press , anticipating that there the truth would be found . We rejoice that wb have not been disappointed . Yes ! the all-glorious Northern Star hath shed its light upon this foul , this wicked deed , and every word written by that Friend of the People , Brontebbe , finds a heart-felt response within our breasts . Yes ! Msere-ecbo the demand of the ** Poor Man ' s Guarof

      dian , " we demand ^ Jiat ilte murderer * our brethren be delivered over to the decrees of Justice . Accept , Sir . our grateful thanks for the insertion of the glorious letter to which we have just alluded , and likewise for your editorial comments on the same snbject . Happy was the day for our coun t ry , when your glorious Star first apppeared—the great champion of the Democratic cause—but however excellent , * till the fact cannot be concealed , that being a weekly paper , it is inadequate to struggle ouccessfully with the factions . A daily paper is reqnired—a daily paper -we must hate . From the first intelligence of the Kentish tragedy reaching London , for upwards af a irreJc , the working men had no other guide to the discflvejy of the truth than the hireling writers of the Whig , Turv , and Sham-Radical factions . How different would have bt-eu the present state of the public mind in the metropolis and the country senerally , had tue projected Evening Star been in

      e . But amid the general corrnption of the press , it is cheering to humanity to ¦ witness hononmble exceptions ; and foremost * in the mnks of the free—iiutraminelled by party , untainted by the oppressor ' s gold—w «? gladly recognise in-our provincial press , as next in importance to the Nvrlfiern Star , that ionest and talented journal the Nor / hern Liberutur the eiiiturs of which have shown ihenir *; l \ es 10 be the Tvortliy jsnccesjsors of our lamented friend the virtaous and immortal Ueanmont . _ To return to the sauguiuury outrage , we deny that it was fanaticism that caused this gathering of the labourers—it was distress and misery . It has icen said , ; " The land ' s despair , Crit > * out to Heaven , tn . l boiiduiif tri-ws Too baTd foi even lie p » ot teo bear . " '

      And the poor thus situated , their prayers unheeded , their petitions scorned , have no akt-rnntive but t <> extort by fi » ar what will not be erauTed to them by prayer . So far from ths labourers being * brutally ignorant , " they know loo much for their oppressors . ; uid hence this united yell about fanaticism ; aud the object in view in enacting this preconcerted Uice . jV wns lo strike terror into the hearts of ihe peasantry ; that without further resii ' ance they mat ; submit to the i . ifamous Poor Law , and prepare tue 'i ay fur a rural police !

      The * ile Whig press Jiave l ~ , ng threatened the ** AnU-P « or Law Agitators" wiifo the terrors of the law ; already h " . s the ivicn of terror commenced ; nnd those who adored the yrJlant Courtenay while living dare not say a word in his defence now thai he is no more . The following extract from the letier uf the Times'" correspondent will enable the working rlasses to see how deep is the hatred of the factions towards those who dare struggle to emancipate their country and mankind' The village of Dunkirk , from which most of them ( the »• rioters '") come , labours under a most disgraceful regulation . The pen are said to be poachers , and of the women it is enongh to say . thai titey had their reasons for making Lourten ' their Jarourite . '

      Will the men of England submit to this ? No : let one burst of execration from the Tweed to the Land ' s End repel this foul slander'bn our sisters ; let one cry resound through oar father-land , invoking justice on the heads of those who have murdered oar brethren . For ourselves , we are unable to do all . that we could desire ; we are unable to ^ perform all that as an Associat ion" we hope « jv » fi ! 51 y to be able to do . Howev -r , we intend forthwith to petition the legislature , demanding an investigation into this wholesale assassination . Situated as-we at present arc . wepledge ourselves that all we ran . we irill do—at least , it shall not be said that when our countrymen were given over to military execution , we sanctioned the outrage by our apathy , er . tacitly approved the ierrio deed by our disgraceful silence .

      1 our Fellow Labourers , the Members Of the London Democratic Association . ( Signed on their behalf . ) JOHN TURNER , Chairman GEORGE JULIAN HARNEY , Secretary London , June 12 , 1838 .

      I Ii B ¦ 9 Ori(Rlxa"L Corrrsponntfnrnp.

      i ii b ¦ 9 ORI ( rlXA"L coRRRSPONntfNrnp .

      Untitled Article

      - s- T ^^ :, -u ^ - | i ^^ fc : i ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 23, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1011/page/6/