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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th October 1838, Edition 1 of 1, Page 6

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    • ^—^ii^i1—i^——^^— ^^ mm ^^ m ^ m ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
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      SADICAL MEETING AT TOPMOBDEN . ' Yesterday weei , a numerous meeting . of & » Ra&cils of Todmorden to convened in Spnngwell field , for the-purpose of lending theirsupport and influence to fte National Petition . TBe day " on -which-tie meeting was convened , happened to be eneof&eFaxr days , which , doubtless , was the means of ¦ B reyenting » ] gre ? t . ina : ny persons from being present , en B « wmt of . having business to attend to ,. who etherwise would have swelled the meeting to a much larger number . _ Considering the population ef the Tillage , the meeting was not only exceedingly numerous , "but very enthusiastic . There , could not fee less than from two to three thousand persons ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ B ^^^^ ^ ^^ SADTCAT , MF . KTTNS AT TOP 3 COBDEN . ?

      present . Mr . Wm . Robisson , of Stones , was called to the chair . He introduced the bp > iness of the meeting "by stating the objects for ' which they assembled . He descanted at considerable length on the conduct of ttle "Whig Government , and the manner in which the bopes of the people had been frustrated— -those Lopes which they were so unequivocally led to entPrtain at the passing of the Reform BflL He . spoke of the necessity of an entire change in the represents ^ system ; as _ the only means by which the disappointed iopes of the people could ever be realised , and that peace and prosperity restored to our country which her wealth and intelligence demand

      should be the constant companions of « her industrious-children . He congratulated them on the present movement of the Radicals , a movement more formidable and determined , and yet characterised "by more , " order and intelligence than ' any movement of the kind hitherto known ; and concluded by telling them that the zeal , and temperance , and : order copld not fail ultimately to obtain for them that right of representation in Government to which all men are by nature entitled , and without -winch , they must for ever remain slaves . The speaker was loudly cheered throughout his address .

      Mr . Dayies , watchmaker , moved , and Mr . Wai . Greenwood , grocer , seconded the first resolution , to the effect that the time was now come when men ought no longer toremain the slaves of those who possess £ E § franchise , andthat it was necessary , in order to the peace and prosperity of the : nation , " that the right of voting forMembers of Parliament should "be conceded to every man of the age of twenty-one years , "being of sound mind , and untainted by crime .

      Mr . Joseph Hisst moved , an < T Air . James Gibsox seconded the next resolution , which was—H That the National Petition be read to ths meeting . " The resolution being carried , the " chairman read the petition , during which time he was often interrupted by the loud cheers which were given in response to the sentiments it contains . Mr . Jacket Butterwobth then mov *» d , and Mr . Sa ^ tukl Fieu > es seconded the next resolution , which was— " That the petition read to the meeting be adopted . " The proposition was carried with three cheers .

      Mr . Matthew Firth moved , and Mr . Hexry Helliwell seconded a resolution , to the . effect that that meeting shonld send a delegate to the Convention , and that Mr . "William Greenwood , grocer , be ¦ fiie delegate . The whole of the resolutions " were carried unanimously , except the last , against which there were one or two hands held np . This busine <« being finished , The Rev . J . R . Stephens was then introduced to the meeting , and was received with much cheering . He said theirs was indeed a sweet and lovely valley , and he knew no reason why it shouldnotbe a happy valley . " '{ Cheers . ) Mr . ridden , their Meed , theft representative , and their champion , had said that it

      was a happy valley , and , "because he had said this he was laughed to scorn by her Majesty ' s Secretary of State , and they , the inhabitants , had been treated with derision and contempt . He asied who it was t&atmade ihat valley happy , and who it was thathad done all he conld to make ltmiserable and wretched , —not only ndsprable and wretched for those who then lived in it , but wretched by mortgaging the existence of generations yet unborn to a thraldom and bondage , and abject wretchedness ten thousand fold worse thin that which they then bore . ( Hear hear , and cheers . ) Was it God that had made Tod-TnoTrfen an -unhappy land to live in ? Did that sun dart arrows of fire and death upon them ? Did that its

      sxy sena pestilence . " mo . those towering hilk frown the wrath and anger of an Almighty Being ? Or did those lovely slopes send out bitterness and death amongst them ? Or did they not rather in spring time , and in summer , -and in harvest , send ont the fruits of the earth , each in their season . ( Load-cheers . ) God had been good ; his tender mercies were over all his works ; and whether they had to complain of rich men at large , or whether they had to complain of capitalists in the aggregate , they had not to complain of one rich man . ( Cheers . ) Thsre was a man—there were men in Todmorden who loved the health , the wealth , and the hamraiesa

      of the people more than thousands of gold and of silver . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Stephens proceeded at ereatlength , and with much eloquence and eneiyy , to chscaut on the varied and extreme sufferings of the working classes , enteringinto the several causes of fhese sufferings , tracing them to their legitimate source , andproposing as the only remedy , Universal Suffrage . ^ He adverted , in terms highly commendatory of their conduct in reference to the manner in whiclftheyhad withstood the atrocious New Poor Law , and congratulated them on having such a bold and unflinching leader , as their beloved Fielden . The speech , -which was prolonged to upwards of an hour , was received with the most enthusiastic

      Mr . FEABGrs O'Coxxor wa ? then introduced to the meeting , and was received with enthusiastic cheering . He said they knew perfectly well what had brought them to that meeting , and he also knew perfectly well why he had come thither likewise , for the same reason that Mr . Stephens had not prel viously presented himself before me working classes of Todmorden , for the self-same reason-he . had absented himself . It was because they had already constituted as their parliamentary leader a man whose kindness of heart and disposition had endeared him to the working classes of that happy valley . ( Loud cheers . ) He must now bring back their attention to fiie objects of the meeting . They . - were assembled

      there to gam for themselves that great and powerful weapon , which had worked so much good for their enemies and so much evB against themselves . ( H ear . ) Mr . O'Connor proceeded in his usually animated and eloquent style to show that it was Universal Suffrage that the people wanted , in order that laws might not be made T > y and for the few , but by and for fiie many . ( Cheers . ) He adverted in his speech to avariety of interesting topics connected with the present agitation ; the press , the landlords , the money-mongers , the Corn Laws , &c &c ., 6 n all of whickie spoke at length and with great effect He congratulated them on their oppo > ition to the accursed New Poor Law , and assured them that with the

      Suffrage they would be able to repeal the Poor Latr , the Corn Law 3 , and a thousand other bad" laws in the course of a single day . Mr . O'Connor continued his address for nearly two hours , enlivening his subjects with a variety of welltimed and interesting anecdotes , and was most enthusiasticall y cheered both during his address and at its conclusion . Dr . Fletcher of Butt , was then introduced to tlte meeting and tm also received with continued cheers . He expressed himself highly gratified at having an opportunity of coming toWe a word with the men of Todmorden , were it for nothing else than their determined resistance to the New Poor Law . ( Cheers . ) He hadindeed only come with tfcP' fi . pi ; n < ,

      of paying them respect , for it would have been rid £ cufous to come to preach politics to the men of Todmorden ; they were already in such good hands that any attempts of that sort must be useless . fCheess . ) . He had come only to catch a portion of theirspim , thathe might carry it back wfthhimto arouse his own town to fresh and more vigorous exertions in the good cause in which they were engaged . { Very lond cheers . ) When he was more particalady engaged in agitating- against the New . Poor . Law he seldom addressed a large meeting without putting in a word for Universal Suffrage , and now when he was coming to speak- about Universal Suffrage he would not do it without sayine that however convinced of it , necessity howevlr >>

      „ might have striven to the utmost of hia abilities to asa « t his fellow countrymen to maintain their rights , liZ ° ri ^ P the agitation of the New Fmt £ aw , he would not cease his resistance to it , Sl ^ r . O'Connor had told them it was a SS ^^ s s ^ ass ss SSSSsSH&Sse ^^ JS ^ IS ^ ' ^ SSSSS Johh Fielden , Esq . M . P ., was then in * r « , i ^~ , j * the meeting , and w ^^ ceired * £%$£ gg * & cheering . He addressed the meeting i ^^ SrJi ? si ^! fef ? - « ***** « £ ? XS ? £ k

      . Time * on Wednesday last , in which the ^ forTf 2 jJ * article had given a new appellation to those who Tiad taken &e lead and assembled on KersTl " f ? . ** 0 *** ! last . The writer of the article « M tu ! did not know whether the people there * SKmbled were Radicals , \ TTug-Radicals , or Des ffi » JTheyhad heard Irf alTrW names »^ , but those who were now taMng ft * tori in Brhbf'JS : ^^ ayounng to obtain tie people ' s SgE ^ -asKa&siE JMfe ^ tt ^ &SS

      been mi about capital by those whoweTe S »~^ Honof it to oppose those who * ad £ cSfiXS ; a the labour of their hands-rhear , teaffigjgj

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      should like to prit the question in the other way , and ask those who made capital every thing , and labour nothing , what would be the valne of capital , without the labour of men's hands , " to make that capital tamable ? f Hear , and cheers . ] What would be the value ol the land on which they stood if there were none to cultivate it ? [ Cheers . ] What would be the valne of all their factories and all the machinery which they contained , if there were no hands to work that machinery ? [ Hear , and cheers . ] If , then , it was true that there was no value in capital without labour , the balance of the argument was decidedly on the side of the labourer . "[ Hear . ] Then from this it inevitably followed that the first duty of a Legislature , and of every virtuons citizen . ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ shonia Hke to pnt the question in the other way ,

      was to take care of fixe labourer—to take care of life andlimb—to take care that those who were the producers , Bhonld be the first partakers of the fruits of their indu try . [ Loud cheers . ] This was a principle laid down in Scripture , for it was there emphatically said that the labourer was worthy of his hire —[ hear , hear ]; and also that the husbandman should be the first partaker of the fruits of the earth . Now , if they were all left ' to be the first partaken of what they earned , theywould take care that they had enough [ Cheers , ] Then , it was thia object they had met to obtain . [ Loud cheers . ] They had met that they might have the laws of the country so reconstructed , mat all those innovations which had been made upon the institutions of this country might be

      removed , and the laws restored to their original purity . They were not , then , "the kill ' em and eat ' em " men ; just the reverse was the case , for their governors would kill them . [ Yerv loud cheers . ] He observed a flag in their meeting with the inscription upon it that " Taxation without representation was a tyranny . " Nothing could be more true than this . The laws of our country recognised the principle that every man had a right to be represented either by himself or by his representative in Parliament In order to be represented , they must nave a voice in choosing those who were sent to represent them—[ cheers ];—and without that they were the mere serfs and slaves of those who exercised the votes . They were as much the slaves of the £ 10 occupieraof

      houses , who had got the franchise ( that was those who lived in houses below £ 10 , or who occupied no houses at all )—they were as much the slaves of the £ 10 occupiers of houses , as the slave * in the West Indies were lie property of the slave-owner . [ Very loud cheers . ] They were in as mach subjection to those who voted for Members to represent them iu Parliament , and who made laws that could make the people either happy or miserable—they were aB mnch the slaves of the voters who returned those men , as the negroes were in any part of the world , who were deprived either altogf ther or of any part of their liberty . [ Hear , hear , and cheers . ] Not only so , but the people were in a much worse condition than the condition of the black slaves . A number ot

      canting persons , who could see oppression whic ; i was at a distf > nce , but could not see that which was at home , would tell them of the miseries under which the slaves had to exist in foreign climes . But the Ministry who voted twenty millions of British money tor the emancipation of those slaves , secured to them also , in return for their 45 honrs' labour per week a sufficiency of shelter , and food , and clothing . [ Haar . ] Yes , those very slaves had been belter treated siuce they were emancipated , than those white men who had not the exercise of a vote , and by whose money and labour the freedom of thoce very slaves was purchased . [ Very loud cheering . ] Had they iiad a choice in making the laws , they would not have-sent the same representatives twice . [ "No , no . ' '] Would

      they have sent their Morpeth or Strickland for Yorkshire , or would they have given their votes or countenance for the M embers for South Lancashire ? [ "No , no . " ] No . They would have said to them , " Let us have even-handed justice ; let ns have as short time for work as the black slaves have . "" They were seeking , by their resolutions , to possess themselves of that power which would enable them , to no this , by having the free choice of those who make the laws under which they lived , in order that they might obtain those things of which they ought never to have been deprived , and that they might have them secured to them in future . [ He ' ar . ] He , as a Member of Parliament , had been engaged for a number of years in endeavouring to obtain for them

      what they wanted . [ Hear hear , and " You have . " ] When the Reform Bill was passed , he rejoiced that the rotten boroughs were destroyed . They expec ed a better state ef things to follow ; for they had often been taught that if the rotten boroughs were destroyed and the towns were enfranchised , that better men would be sent to Parliament , and better laws 'vould be enac ed —[ cheers;]—giving more satisfaction , and preventing the necessity of thr-ir political agitation . Had this been the case ? [ "No , no . " ] No ; all their labours had been blasted . He hadbeen trying these six . Sessions j he had been using all his influence , first taking one part and then another in order to induce them to pay some attention to the wants of the people , but he had found all

      bis efforts tobe unavailing . He had been defeated time after time in his attempts to benefit the labonrer , till at last he had been compelled to tell the House of Commons that this would be the next move the people would take , nd in that movement he would back the people . ( Loud cheers . ) He asked them whether they would be true to themselves , and whether they would support him . ( Cheers , and M Yes . " ) Did every man of them wish to have a vote r ( " Yes" and " why not r" ) Then would they all follow those men , who were leading them on in a peaceable manner , united in heart , and never retire irom the contest till every man had secured a vote ? ( ' Yes , yes . " ) He was " glad to hear them say so . Most of them were acquainted with the course he

      had pursued since he had been re turned as a member of the House of Commons ; and most of them were equally aware of the entire frnitlessness of his endeavours to benefit the people . He referred particularly to his exertions on behalf of the hand-loom weavere . ( Hear , hear . ) There were in one large manufacturing town ( Manchester , ) 6000 of them who were not able to earn more than three-halfpence per head per day . ( Shame , shame . ) He had brought in a motion to the House of Commons to the effect that " the weaving body , being a class of industrious people whose labours could not be dispensed with , who were employed in fabricating clothing for the rich , -who could well afford to pay them for their labour , it was the duty of the

      House of Commons to pass some measure whereby to raise the wages of the weaver , or to put a stop to taxation on all the articles which they consumed , that was by returning them the full amount of the taxes on . all taxed articles which they bought . " ( Hear , hear . ) No proposition could have been more reasonable , for , small as their income tras , one half of it was taken from them by the taxes . A debate ensued on the proposition , and he was attacked in the most virulent manner by Mr , Poulett Thomson , the representative- of that town . He had charged him with desiring to appear more humane than other members of the House of Commons ; but # fter the division how wasit ? There were 11 men out of the 658 !—just 11 men in that house who veted for

      that reasonable proposition . Now , if six hundred and fifty-eight working men had had vote 3 would they have treated the proposition as it was treated ? Certainly not . While the debate was gcing on he was entreated on all hands not to press it to a division . They knew that they would vote against their consciences , and they threw every difficulty in the way of the debate on the question by saying the thing was impracticable . ( "Hear , hear , hear . ) But when they wanted to remove taxes from the rich they could readily propose and carry out the means for doing that . Witness the pr inters and others who consumed soap in large quantities , but who had some influence over Members of Parliament . They would find that for soap used for printing and other

      purposes there was a drawback upon it ; and every man who purchased a quantity of soap got what was called a drawback upon it back again . ( Hear , hear . ) It would have been an easy thing to return to the weaver half of what he earned . If he earned for example five shillings a week , they might have given him half-a-crown a-week . But it was the unwillingness to entertain the question from which they might leam the real character of the House of Commons . That was one instance in which he had failed . At another time , he proposed the repeal of the New Poor Law ; and after a night spent in debate ^ on that abominable measure , —a measure which if they had a House of Commons in which the working men had a voice , would be repealed in

      an hour , —after a night ' s debate , and after petitions had been signed by 2 , 500 . 000 people , how many did they muster to vote for its repeal ? There were sixteen ! ! ( Loud cries of " shame , shame . " ) Tnat was proof enough that the House of Commons needed a further reforming . [ Hear , hear . ] Now he asked how they were to do it ? They had begun to copy the example of the Birmingham men in establishing unions . He recommended them to go on and be united together as one man . Let no man divert them from their object . [ Cheers . ] What was the effect they had already produced ? They were on all sides invited to apply for some practical thing , such as the Corn Laws . But they should remember that the same party who proposed Hie agitation of that measure had been in the Houre of Common * for the last six . years , and had done nothing : and they were now as insincere as ever they had been .

      [ Very loud cheering . ] They wished to draw away the attention of the people so as to divide them , and thus prevent them from getting any thing at aB . [ Hear , near . ] Let them not , therefore , be deceived by * ° * e who would advise them to ask for a repeal of « * e Corn-Laws . If they would repeal the . malt tax , ute soap tax , and a hundred othera equally iniquitous ^ and put on a property tax , then they would go with them ; but they did not want to be reheyed at tixe expense of others who were equally as distressed as themselves . During the sitting of the Committee on the New Poor Law / he had mlde great exartoons to obtain proper evidence , and had canvassed almost every part of the South for t ? L J ^ ET ' Jy ** " **** ? the county of Bedforf , where it was && to WOrk so welL After he had been appointed on the committee , he moved for certain returns m order to obtain the

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      beat evidence as to the operations of that law , auu having got hold of three ' tunicas where he deemed it necessary to make enquiries he sent two men for that purpose and maintained them for several months . They went from house to house to ascer tain what was the condition of the labourers . Their enquiries had been confined to the Ampthill and the Woburn Unions ; they had been prevented from enquiring into the other , because theyhad a picked committee . If they ( the people ) would read the report they would find enough , to harrow lip every feeling of the soul . He had directed his attention especially to Bedford ; because in the years preceding , when he had attacked the New Poor Law , Lord John Knsspllbad said that the law was working ^ a ^ best evidence as to the operationaof ttatlaw , auu

      in a most excellent manner in that county ; that he had some knowledge of the manner in which it was worked there , and that he could nay . from his own knowledge that it was giving great satisfaction , for they had got a well-organized workhouse in the Ampthill Union . Now , thefirst thing that came to his ( Mr . Fielden ' s ) knowledge after he got into the committee was , that there were the most abominable transactions carried on in that workhousetransactions that wnre too abominable for him to mention at that meeting . [ Hear , hea . ] He would have enquired more fully into them , bat he could not obtain an enquiry ; for the chairman stated , that if he persisted in enquiring into that subject he would vacate the chair . [ Shame , shame A As

      to the state of the labourers , he had , selected one E arish . that of Westmin ; and alter his enquiries e found that the labourera were almost in as destitute a condition as the hand-loom weavers , of whose hardships he hod been complaining for year * . [ Hear , hear . ] He iad cross-examined the sheriff , and proved out of his own month that these men , labouring diligently from week to xeek , did not receive more than 2 d . or 3 d . per day after deducting all the necessary expenses for food and clothing . [ Shame , shame . ] I . hat was the state of the labourers on the land . Now , would they have any feelings of humauity in their bosoms , if they were to ask that the price of corn should be reduced , which should place those men in a still more miserable condition ?

      [ No , no . ] They were not , he was sure , so unfeeling as to ask for it . They might say that the landlords ought to reduce their rents . [ Hear . ] If it was odIv the landlords that would be . punished by a repeal of the Corn Laws , he would be as anxious as any body f ~ r thrir immediate repeal . [ Loud cheers . ] But they wonld not reduce their rents till they were compelled to do so . ( Hear , hear ;) The . first time a complaint would come to the ears of the landlord would be from his tenants : and one class of tenants af er another would be ruined before the landlord vould reduce his rents . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) The tenants , consequently , would reduce the labourers' wages lower still , and they ( the meeting ) di > i not want them to do that . ( No , no . ) They

      wanted the labouring class in the bnd to be as well off as themselves , and that must be done by sweeping away the whole of the excise laws , and substituting a property-tax in their « tead . ( Cheers . ) He would advise them , therefore , not to be induced , on any account , to be led away , or to give up the Suffrage , because some fellows might come ana agitate on the Corn Law question . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) They would sooner get the Corn Laws repealed with Universal Suffrage than by any other means . ( Very loud cheenng . > He was sick -of-this ' -piece-meal labouring lor the last six years to benefit the people , luall his attempts he had failed ; , and they might rely upon it , that every one else- would fail in th ^ - > ame object , without a thorough Reform of the House

      of Commons . ( . Hear , hear , and cheers . ) He advised them , therefore , to keep united , and to follow the . example . set them by the men of Birmingham , in their Political Union . ( Cheers . ; He advised them to meet together , to discuss what was proper to be done , and be guided'by their delegates . ( Hear , hear . ) He would just inform them of what use those delegates were to be . They , perhaps , might uotbe aware that a practice prevailed of going to Members of Parliament , to induce them to support any measure which was likely to be brought forward . Now this would be the employment of their delegates ; they would go up to London , and go amongst the members , and do whatever they could to prevail upon them to adopt the petition ; and when the

      people got a House of Commons of their own they would have no-need of deputations . ( Loud cheers . ) So long , however , as they were under this system , it was necessary that there should be men to go up to Parliament , to tell that house of the danger ot resisting the peopled application for their rights , and that was what the forty-nine men would have to do . And if Parliament would not heed the National Pet ition , they would likely hava something elsie to do . ( Cheers and laughter . ) These torty-nine men would get all the best information and counsel they could , from those in the House who were tavourabk to their measure ; and having those to correspond with , they must make a movement that would shake England to her centre . ( Cheers . ) The trying point

      must arrive . It was not at all unlikely that the present movement would cause the Government and its supporters to have recourse to coercive measures if they dare . ( Loud and long continued cheering . ) They must notforget that upon other occasions when the people had made strenuous efforts to promote their liberty by gaining an extension of the franchise , the Habeas Corpus Act . had been suspended , and the promoters of those measures haul been immured in dungeons never to come out again alive . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) The same game would be played over again unless they were united and allied to each other as one man . ( Hear , hear . ) He was glad on the part of the people of Todmorden that they had commenced this movement . ( Hear , hear . ) He was glai to see that they had done it themselves and

      that he had had nothing to do with it , not having known anything of it until he had seen the placard on the walls calling the meeting . ( Loud cheers . ) In conclusion , then , he would say to them , " never be deluded by any man , but hold together ; and if a day of trial should arise , if there should be an attempt made to rescind the laws , and visit with some terrible punishment those who had taken the lead , be you at your post and ready to act when you are called on . ( Very loud cheers . ) If they would only do this and encourage others in every part of the country where they were acquainted to do the same , and act in unison , and go on peaceably , —( 1

      beg yon won ' t forget that , —let nothing on earth induce you to do anything that any person could complain of )—they were sure to succeed . ( Loud cheers , and " We will . " ) In former times charges had been brought against them that they were an unruly crew and wanted to possess themselves of the property of the rich . You must tell your rulers that you want to destroy no man ' s property ; hut that those who have property should be prevented any longer from robbing you . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Assuredly as you act like men and stick together , as surely you will obtain your rights ( Enthusiastic cheering . )

      A vote of thanks was then given to the gentlemen who attended from a distance to address the meeting , and also to the chairman , after which the meeting separated , to hold another meeting on the same subject at the Unitarian Chapel at 8 o'clock .

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      MEETING IN THE CITY OF NORWICH . A preliminary meeting was held in Norwich , for the purpose of determining the best method of obtaining , by public meeting , a demonstration in this city in favour of the People ' s Charter and the National Petition . According to public announcement by handbills , the working classes and others were invited to attend on Tuesday evening , Sept . 25 th , in the large room at the Bath House , St . Martin's , at Oak , at seven o ' clock . At about eight o ' clock , Mr . J . W . Gbeeves wascalled on to preside , and having at some length detailed the object for which they were on this occasion assembled , hoped that the utmost perseverance would be exerted by those by whom he was surrounded , to procure the means to carry into effect the great principles of Universal Suffrage , Annual Parliaments , Vote by Ballot , no Property Qualification , and the Payment

      of Members , and thus follow the example of the men of Birmingham , Newcastle , Glasgow , London , Manchester , and other places . The first resolution was moved by Mr . BRioHTwell , and seconded by Mr . Love , declaring that the cause of all the corruption in legislation , as well as distress and misery of the working classes , is , that the representative system is based upon exclusive and unjust privileges ; and that the time has arrived for establishing a system on a foundation more in accordance with the principles of justice , and the increased knowledge of the people . After some well-directed remarks on the exclusion of the working classes from all share in making the laws they were called upon to obey , and that they ought not longer to submit to such degradatidn and insult , the resolution passed without a dissentient voice . - V ;

      The second resolution was proposed by Mr . Wil Fox , jun ., and seconded by Mr . W . Kemp , jun ., declaring that the principles of representation , as defined by the National Petition ( which was read ) and the People ' s Charter , are just and reasonable , and that all possible exertions be made in this city to support the principles therein contained . Both the speakers very ably urged Upon the working classes to arouse from the apparent lethargy into which they had fallen , andfor once unite their energies for the attainment of that political power which they were now excluded from , - and not on the present occasion to have the power weakened by mixinjr m > with this

      question th « inhuman Poor Laws and Cum Laws , which would speedily be put an e&d to when the poweirto make the laws was placed in their hands . Thelatter speaker particularly dwelt upon the necessity and importance of the people to sudport that portion of the press which was ' advocatinjr their cause , and not to take in or support those that were opposed tothenv He ^ particularly pointed out to the meeting that they ought to supportthS Champion , Northern Star , London Disoa&h and andChronicle ,. which had deserted the canse ^ the industrious mUhons . The resolution was thto , but from the chair and earned unanimously .

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      : The third resolution was proposed by Mr . Lynes ^ and seconded ; by Mr * D arken * that a committee be appointed to adopt such meaaures as may seem fit to carry into effect the foregoing resolutions , and that the persons now named form that cominittt'e , with power to add to their number , viz . —5 ir , Greevesj Mr . Darken , Mr . Brightwell , Mr . Love Mr . KempvMr . Lynes , and Messrs . Fish , Hall , Fox , Storey ! and Thrower , After the resolution had been warmly supported by th « moverand the names g . g , The tbwdresoldtioii ^ was oroDOsed bv Mr . Isrxvai

      , agreed to , a subscription was commenced , and the sum of £ 1 0 « , 6 d . immediately obtained ; the cojhmittee agreeing to meet the following evening , to commence operations for a general subscription . The meeting , which was begun at eight o ' clock , did not ^ tenninate till after > n , and the utmost unanuflity prevailed , evei-y one proiiaising to promote the obiect for which they were assembled . It was calculated that from 150 to 200 persons were present , and many , it was understood v went away unable to obtain admission .

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      GREAT BADICAL MEETING AT MACCLESFIELP . Notwithstanding the forebodings of both WluW and ^ Toneij the meeting of Monday last was an overflowing bumper . The old hacks of corruption ainticipated ' a failure in the hope and from the expectation that long misrule had damped the ardour of the people jhowever , it , was not so . At an early hour the :- ' - streets of Macclesfield presented a lively spectacle ^ groups were to be seen watching for the move from the neighboiiring district , and as the h ^ urfor forming the procession which waa intended tomeetMesfrB . Stephens and O'Connor approached we observed great masses wending their way to the hustings , while others formed in the procession A t

      halNpaat eleven a vast conconirse of persons left town with bands , and splendid and appropriate banner * 04 e in particular attracted oor attention ; it was a full length figure of a female- tipon a splendid new green sflkflae . In one hand \ ras a staff J > earine jfra cap of liberty ; in the otber was the Charter 1-he flag was surrounded by the brave and virtwras women of Macclesfield , and , thoajgli expensive , was bought out of their poor earning * . At about two miles from the toWHy the procession met , the depuation which had been sent to Stockport to escort Messrs . Stephens and O'Connor , Upon meeting one general burst of exultation seemed to rend the air . ISo time was lost in arrangement ; the cavalcade proceeded to Macclesneld and swelled in ifa march till upon reaching the market-place ; the

      whole population seemed io be in motion . Immediatel y upon edtering the town the procession was joined by the Society •( Gardenersj which gave to the spectede the most splendid appearance . The most fantastic and beautiful figures were ingeniously wrought in flowers rich and rare , which seemed like so-many morning flower knots , and added much to the novelty of sucb a scene in Macclesfield . At one o ' clock the procession reached Park Green , where an excellent and commodious- hustings was preparedy and upon Messrs . O'Connor and Stephens presenting themselves , Macclesfield re-echued a peal to which ^ her streets were , strangei * aforetime . Mr- Stubbs was unanimously called tp the chair and when lie rose to open the proceedings , there

      could not have been iewer than from 9 to 11 , 000 persons- present , and which number continued to encrease as the proceedings progressed . The chairman , was received with loud cheers . He said that a donble duty devolved upou the people that day , namely , the duty which they owed to themselves as working men and Radical ! 1 , and the ^ duty which they owed to the Mayor , who had placed the most implicit confidence in th « disposition of the men of Macclesfield ; . —[ cheers]—ao much so that he had not thought it necessary to swear in one special constable , ichors . ] The National Petition and the Charter were to be discussed—the value of those documents would be discussed by men more capable of doing them justice than himself ; but he could

      not avoid , casting one glance over the tyranny of past years , when he saw men now doing that without molestation , for -which , somfe twenty years ago , many suffered pains and penalties , and not a few were hurried to a premature grave . ( Cheeri and Aame . ) Let them recollect that this was their first battle for themselves , and . upon their conduct this day , depended in a great measure the failure or the success of their cause . ( Cheers ;) Macclesfield was not an unimportant part of the country . Macclesfield was the key to Cheshire , and the people of Macclesfield had been ever noted for their enterprize and their industry . ( Cheers . ) He would not take tip more of their time , but would call upon Mn Bacnettto move the first resolution . ( Loud cheers . )

      Mr . Vv . Baunett rose , and was received with much cheering . He said , that he , together with his brother workingmen , had been long looking for an opportunity like the present , to throw off their apathy , and join with the brave men of Lancashire , Yorkshire , and Birmingham , in . one grand struggle for the regeneration of their country . ( Chews . ) The all absorbing question now was the Suffrage ^ the only obstacle offered by the enemy , was our ignorance . ( Laughter . ) Aye , no wonder the people should laugh , when those who lay claim to exclusive knowledge , have made laws , which no man in his senses can understand ;—( cheers )— -but surely we ought to have some representation ; and yet inMacclesfii'ld we have none , our voices are

      neutralised b y a Whig and Tory being sent to Parliament , [ Cheers . ] The five great points of Radicalism are contained in . the resolution which he would have the honour to submit , and those were Annual Parliaments , Universal Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , No Property Qualification for Members , and Payment of those Members . [ Cheers . } As strangers were present he would not now enter into the merits of the question , but -wonld simply move- — " That the National Petition and People's Charter be adopted by this meeting . " ( Much cheering . ) Mr . Richards came forward to second the resolution and was loudly cheered . He said that the Radical principles were based upon justice ; that as all paid taxes all should have a vote ;—( cheers)—and

      with regard to Annual Parliaments , the aristocracy practised it in the hiring of their servants ; and , indeed , if they were discovered trifling within the year , they were sent about their business;— [ cheers ] - —but we were bound neck and heels to bur masters , who were our masters instead of bur servants . [ Cheers . ] If he had time he could show the justice of the No Property Qualification ^ princi p les , and also of the Payment of Members ; but as he would have frequent opportunities of again discussing the question , he would now give way to those gentlemen who had nobly come forward to join the men of Macclesfield in their righteous demand . He would second the resolution . [ Loud cheers . ] Mr . O'Connor was then introduced by the

      chairman , and was received with the most rapturous and enthusiastic applause . He said this was another step in the great move , which if properly directed , would eer long trample corruption under foot . [ Cneers . ] It Was not he wmo called that meetingit was not they who called that meeting—it was the tyranny of the one faction and the treachery of the other which had thus assembled them . [ Cheers ] It was now plain that in proport on as the rulers refused all appeals for justice , in the exact same proportion did popular demand increase . [ Cheers . ] Nine years since , the disfranchisement of Gatton , OldSarum , and East Retford , with the enfranchisement of Manchester , Birmingham , and a few large towns , would have ; stopped the cry for reform .

      [ Cheers . ] A partial settlement of the Tithe question would have silenced the . demand for a total abolition of the infernal tax —[ cheers ]—r-ahd if our demands are resisted . Radicalism will be transformed into Republicanism—^ continued cheering ] --and then the obstinacy of our rulers will have shaken the thrbne , to which in his conscience , he believed they were wedded . [ Cheers . ] What wa ? the difference between the present and the reform agitattion ? Then your leaders used you for their own lewd and corrupt purposes ; their battle you foughtjby setting Bristol m names , Nottingham on fire , and Newcastle in a blaze—^[ cheersl—and then you were a patriotic and a peaceable pepple— - [ cheers and be

      laughterj- ^ -but now that yiu cannot induced to burn , hurt , or injure , you are a rebel gang , a lawless crew , a ruffian inob . [ Great cheering . ] Well , be it so , but you shall not burn—you . shall not fight , because we can do without it , but if we could not then he would be talking to them . [ Uproarious applause . ] One of the speakers observed that the representation of Macclesfield was neutralised by the return of a Whig and a Tory : he mistook , however , ! for no jnatter whether two Whigs or two Tories , or Whig and Tory represented Macclesfield . the spirit of the Constitution went to promote the constituent body , ; whether . represented in Parliament or not . [ Great cheering . ] If twoWbigs represented them , the Tory middle-class , the Tory

      upperclass , and . the 1 orylower-class , cbuldeqaally make merchandise of their labour —( cheers ) - —which after all was the secret and the fact of mere representatien , was now become , but matter of personal distinction and ambition . ( Cheers . ) Whig laws protect and sanction Tory monopoly , and Tory laws do the same for the Whigs and your labour is the draw farm from whence ; all are fed * That ' s the whole secret . ( Great cheering . ) Do not Whigs arid Tories equally dread and equall y attempt to obviate our present meetings ? vo they not intimidate their hands from attending ? ( Cheers , and ' *• Aye . " ) They do , but , he had thought upon an expedient to frustrate such

      an mteiterence —( cheep)—should they again inters fere with the constitutional right ; of the people to meet under the xanopy of the broad blue sky ; He Feargus O Connor , would summon them , fin every town and districtj to a torch li ght demonstration . ( Indescribable cheering , and u rVe'lidoit" ;" T ^ t' 8 it" ; " Now you have U . " ) yes , and they * ould meet on Saturday night , after the week ' s "work behind them and Suttdaybefore theix forrepo 3 e . ( Cheers , ) This would give ; a Hew colour to agitation as far as affected light , and shade , time and apace ; Let Universal Suffrage be their motto , their watchword , and their neverceasing demand . ( Loud cheers . )

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      ^¦ WMMM ^ M——i ^ MW—i—¦¦¦¦ TheRevi . JohiT WjLMAM ^ Minister of I > ean-rcri » V Chapel , WflmsloW | Cheshire , caine forward to move the second resolution , which was to ¦ tke following effect ' .:- ^« That thia ^ meeting fully wnenre in the prppriety of sending delegates to the ^ National Convention . ' The Rev . Gentleman was received with load cheers , and made several very able and pertinent observations with , respect to the present agitation . He sincerely approved of the five great Radical principles , and did hope that no impediment would be offered to that which now appeared to be the allabsorbing object of the people , namely , UniTersal Suffrage . ( Loud cheers . ) TWR « : JnHWWiixiii « 1 LMiBi . t . ^ r ^ . n

      Mr , SamueI' Sajiister seconded the resolution , in one of the ablest speeches we ever heard from' a working man , in which he pointed but the grievance ? under which his class laboured . He shewed the deterioratiori ' which' had taken' place in the working man's wages , while tlie aristocracy had increased in wealth and luxury : he complained , in bitter ^ terms , that after the hardest work and great abstinence and privation , that although he appeared with a decent exterior , yet bis friends could neither see his shirt or his stockings , and consequently they copld . not read his heart and his heart-burning . ( Great cheering . ) We regret that want of space compels us to cut this and the many other excellent speeches short . - .- ' :.

      Mr . Stephens , who was greeted with load and hearty cheering , said- — -The men of Macclesfield Were holding their yearly holiday . Their wise and . good forefathers , whom it now betokened superior intelligence and especial patriotism to sneer at and despise , had given labour time- ; : to breathe and braco herself again for coming toil . The field work was over - the yellow crops were gatheredin—the reapers shouted the glad harvest-home from a thousand hills , and the lawmen of the old world thought it was but right that the children of the soil should sit dowa together and rest awhile , and then rise up to play , making merry with the gifts which a bountepua Providence had bestowed upon them all in common .

      These were goon nW times . Th « plough , the sickle , and the flail were in the Hands of men , wtom the Constitution looked upon as the most valuable of all her children T and whom the Church folded in and fostered as the peculiar heritage of the good Shepi herd of the sheep . There was , in . those days , some principle in legislation—some charity / in religionsome loftiness in the love of country ... ( Hear Thear 0 There was something in the law * of the land—in the institutions of the Church—in the usages and customs of the people , that gave the token of bro . therly kindness and goodwill . But it was not sa now . It wa * the very opposite . Selfishness in its worst shapes , seeined to be the pervading spirit of the

      legislation — predominant power that everywhere ruled the actions of men . All were trained up and taught to do the best they could for themselves , and to : care nothing about their neighbour . Wealth , however acquired , was made the only standard of respectability ,, and gave to its possessor consideration , influence , and power to doetill greater evil than before . He appealed to them whether auch were not the fact ? Whether the spirit of charity were not almost , if not altogether , banished from the conclaves of the clergy and from the councils of the court . It was to revive this spirit—to restore to the country the blessings it would confer upon all—more especially upon the poor that he appeared be ' rore them , and before his countrymen elsewhere ; FHear . l

      the speaker , who had last addressed them , had most correctly stated the case before them . It Was a question not of speculation , but of experience—not of theory , but or practice--not of abstract politics , bat of social rights and social duties , everywhere equally sacred in the sight of God—everywhere- of equal ' obligation upon all men , one towards another . It was n question of hats , shoes , and coats—of food , covering , and shelter , convenient for them . It came simply to that . Were the hard-working ,, steady , virtuous labourers of England , to have enough for the supply of their daily wants ; or were they not ? Was a man , after a day ' s sweat and toil ^ to earn and get , ashis hire , what he needed to keep himself as a in

      an- —to keep his wife as an English mother , whose house ought to be her only work-shop , whose household duties ought to be her only employment—16 keep his children at their plays , and sports , and pastimes ,, until old enough lor learning—until strong enough for labour ? ( Hear , hear . ) Was that to be the acknowledged right of the labourerand was he to possess and enjoy it , or was it yet to be withheld from him ? He ( Mr . Stephens ) contended it was hisright . The Bible said , " the profit of the earth was for all ; and the king himselt Was served by the field . " Christ said , " ¦ the labourer was worthy of his hire—the workman was worthy of his meat . Paul said , "the husbandman was to-be first partaker of the fruits . " The whole scope- and tenor of the Bible went to maintain the holy rights of labour , and the still more holy privHeees of novertv

      and casual distress . Now , -he- wanted to know what was to be done with the word of God , unless those who professed to believe it would act upon its dictates . He implored them to begin to turn their attention to the subject . Unhappyy the people had hitherto been left as sheep without a shepherd . The pulpit , the platform , and the press had bten made vehicles of party opinions ^ tne great struggle which is now being made , would , he hoped , however , set all things to rights , and place the Word of God above the reach of Infidel Bishops and their abettors . Mr . Stephens spoke at considerable length in his usual unequalled strain of glowing eloquence , and retired amidst the most rapturous and deafening applauses V ; -

      Mr . W . Parker then moved and Mr . Robinson seconded a vote of thanks to John Fielden , Esq . MP . Thomas Attwood , Esq . MP ., Feargus O'Connorj Esq ., the Rev . J . It . Stephens , and other good men in the cause of Radicalism , which Was ably spoken to by Mr . Beabovr ; after which a vote of thanks was given to the chairman , when the procession again formed and proceeded to the dining-room , where about one hundred staunch men sat down to an excellent repast . When the cloth was removed * the first toast was Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., and success to the Great Northern Union , which was responded to by Mr O'Connor .

      The health of Mr . Stephens was then druuk , and after the Rev . Gentleman had spoken , the gnests were compelled to leave for Ashton , at the early hour of half-past six o'clock . We trust , however , that the spirit-stirring scene will belong remembered m Macclesh'eld , for never did we witness a more glorious demonstration than that of Monday last which was entirely arranged by working meu .

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      The Edtiors of « The Northern Star" vish to be distinctly understood ^ that in affording a vehicle for the discussion o ' great Public Questions , they are not to be identified with the Sentiments or the Language of their several Correspondents . -.- ¦ ¦'

      To The Editors Of The Northern Star

      TO THE EDITORS OF THE NORTHERN STAR

      GENTLEsrEN , —I arrived at thi 3 retired spot this afternoon . Already I fancy that I am better . The ride from Woodside hither is beautifully romantic . The day was fine in -thus extreme . We drove to the Mostyn Arms , but were immediatel y , nformed , that there was no room for ns there . The landlord , very kindly , allowed us to place our luggage under his care , and we sallied forth , in search of lodgings . VVespon found very comfortable apartments , at a very reasonable price . So here we are , at the world ' s end , free from the noise and bustle of your manufacturing districts—shut ont , for once , from the din of strife— -breathing an air ^ almost as pure as wa 3 that of paradise—associating with a race of mortals who seem hot yet to have learnt that

      brother ought to strive against brother . There is something m the history of the Welch which makes one revere them- ^ there is such a simplicity and sincerity in their habits and character that I cannot help loving them . But the demon of Somerset House has laid his fangs upon them . I saw one of his temples erecting near to St . Asaph ! I have not had time to enquire about the feelings of th ^ people on the subject—I will soon do so—and let you know aljaboutit . : : Well then , here ^ by the kiidness of a friend , who furnished the ^ fieedfii ] , here T . ' anv set down by the seaside , in search of health . : If it please Almighty God to restore to me that

      great blessing , 1 will return again to assist you in the glorious struggle of justice and humanity , against the robbery and tyranny inflicted by the Government of thiB country , upon the most industrious and the most loyal people on . the-face : of the earth .. Perhaps it may not be uninteresting to you , if I mention somewhat of that which I have witnessed since I left Hoboersfielij . . _ I spent a few daVs with my friend Stephens . I found his people all busily employed , in preparing for the grand meeting on Kersa > Moor . \ Among other preparatory meetings , there was one of the little > piecers r my own pets , tfie Factory children ! Neither he nor I attended— -they had it all of their ^^ own contriving . .

      Iwas told that lj 500 assembled—it waaheldon Friday ^ eyening , after the mills had clo ^ edr-jasak that . . One boy ,: an orphan , who . took part & the meeting , was next morning discharged : from his employment . Now it sp happened that' I hejcrdol ttasi I found that the owner of the mill , his :- feat master , had ordered the overlooker , to instrabttlxe spinner at whose wheel the boy piecened i totdrn him off and get another in his place , and he * stopped jftewheeVnntil ^ s was done ! : In this ^ niDv I found that there was a notice posted , " that avfortaight ' s notice should be given to or by any and every person who worked , there . " I sent for the orphan ; after hearing his ^ tale , I told him to goto his retfl master , ( the factory master ) and ask him- ? to aUow W& to work the fortnight put , or pay him las wagea 2 ' I tqldhimto say "that ; * the Kifig wag in Ashton , aid could not allow his little subjects tobe tyrannized over contrary to law » " The boy went and

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      -Sf v 7 <> a B r ^ ft « toif master refused either to pay taa wagesi or give bin notice i He told ther ^ boy , >* that he had not discharge * to-that he onlf ^ stoppotf' the wheels , at S ? H W - IR *™*! i" This Si ^^ is really true ; Mid this mill-owner acmaUy pretend « tob © ^^ res pectabk ' . man ! He toid ' the boy , - that ft whn ^ wheer he ^ . -bad worked , was Ms mastwvani that he ( tie boy : ) mn » t look to him . " The orphan , on being told thisf was proceeding into the miiulo make arrangenientai with the spinner , when the real master seized him by the arm and shonWer , and prevented huh from enterinR !! Yon wUl Woi ^^^^ _^^^^ ^ ^ ^ ?~ S !

      believe that any man , ptdfesiang to be civilized , conld have acted witltgnchbarbaronsinjastice ! All this , however , w « s proved , last Wednesday , before a bench off six magistrates . Mr . Richard Gobbett atteuded for the boy . I saw the reporte : of the Manchester and S * lftrd . Advertiser in court , sof I ^^ « nppose , that there will be . a report of flBp / proceedings in that papeytoday ; -if ao , do , pray ,. i ^ y Ae wbolf * , and *§* y . ® ° f readers know your opinion and feelings on that subject . The application was unsuccessful , but x l ^ U not be so in the end . Cobbett did hhs work wdl } axwl I was delighted with the evident imuar-Uahty of the chairman . When the roatteir was ended for that- dayj Mr . CoBBETT applied'for a summons

      lor the factory master , for the assault upon the boy . which case will be tried next Wednesday y and , at the end of a fortnight , ; he will , try to obtain rhe fortnight ' s wages for ther boy . I hope that both thes » cases will be reported , and that yoii will copy them in ; the Stair . 1 can assiireyoD , Sirs , that hundred * of poor piecers are robbed of their rights * by being thu § cheated ; by those who , because they are rich , fancy themselves to be respectable . It is high tim © that the little piecera should know whether they are the Hervantf of the mill masters or of the operativa spinners ; and if of the latter , whether the law will allow the factory masters to stop the wheels , and thus force the operative spinner : to discharge th »

      piecersiOT / Aoirf a moment ' s notice , contrary Uo the empress and written laws of the miU- > uuderiichicA they are engaged . I am , pers «^ cJ " thaceyery factory master of chrarsictiBr ^^ and priodple will rejoice , as much as I shall , to witness the condign ; punishment of a wealthy , proud and cfneV mau , who dares to break the law of ^ theland- ^ wia ? if trample or hisotm law—for the pnrpose of punishing an ind-istrioug orphan boy , who bas maintained Mmsetf + by his own labouYy ever since he has 8 pearsv oldJ ¦ :. ¦ £ know that you will excuse me for calling yoiir seriouiattention to this ienpomint case . Last Monday I ] was at Kersah . Moor , at your great" demonstration "and truly it was a demonstration ! 1 netjd not

      attempt to describeit—you were there [ one jf you ! and I have no doubt that this day's Northttn Star will contain a description and a report ^ ! But about the numbers—ft 4 e Mane / iester Guardian * ays thatGol . Wesiyss says , " thatonly 30 , 000 persons werethere . " Ido not believe thattheiOolonel ever said so—if he did , he is a bad judge—no doubt it is a pure invention Of J ^ hn Edward . : But as tonumbers , I was taught to number crowds , by your very clever neighbour Mr . Baines . 1 have been at two" Reform" meetings in JJiEEDs the one called "the Queen groaning meetin , j" -the other " the capture of the IuVincible meeting at . the former Bapnes said there were 60 , 000- - -at the latter he said 30

      , 000 . The ^ truth was ,. I dare my at out half the numbers-stated each time . Now , L saws ys keep those meetings in my mind ' s eye , when I enjdeatour toguess at the numbers of a large assemblyi Idii so at KERSAii Moor ; and I am sure no m ^ n conld take more pains to form a correct opinion . 1 was ia every part ot" the meetiUg . —I . saw the diffenmt divisions take their stations—and I am surd that if there were 30 , 000 persona at " the Queen jroaninff meeting' ^ or : 15 , 000 at " the capture of the invincible meeting , " ( only half what Baines said there were , ) then I am snre , that on Kersaj . MoOb there were 300 , 000 persons . If Lord John Russeu . believes the Mdncheste uruaraian

      , ne may tind himself mistaken ^ Nehen it will be too late . —Let the Whigs get such a meetine together , and I will be bound that John Edwar » Taylor will swear by all the gods of Whiggery , that five hundred , thousand persons swelled his train . On Tuesday morning I heard , that , in th | S neighbourhood of A&hton , somewhere about 130 persons were discharged from their employment ,. " because they had been at Kersal-Moor l ' If so , the em « ployers of these persons , should not blame ! them if they become desperate . 'Tisvery foolish ; for men of property / Ams . to exasperate their servants ! ' Tis very wicked of these men of Dower , thus tn .

      rob their neighbours of the means of livmg honestly !—When will they be wise ?! Since 1 _ saw you , I have seen some lawyers * the ttuestioii Of " armmg' was discussed . —I need not tell you how surprised the lawyers are , that any one should ^ start at the declarati <» . of such an undeniably constitutional doctrine ^ I have not room to tell you what the lawyers said aboutit , ndr i » there need that I should ; in my letter to the Earl of Haddington , which you inserted some months ago * I told you what the lawyers' master * said . I Trni however » alad to find that their scholars are not slow to assert the doctrines of their teachers .

      Do try to convmceyburreadeis ^< Aa / oMr Gwernort are traitors , and that , if one vestige of the constitu-Uon is to be saved , it can only be done by the power of a loyal people ! I am as ; fully convinced of these truths , as I am of my own existence . Once let thenr estobksh theix Riiralpolice , and then allm ( lost , but whatcjw / war may restore . That willindeed ^ e an awful remed y—but even that , our fatheris thought , waapreferable to slavery ! the subject is too dream too awful tp contemplate . I , will change it . Yob remember , some time ago , insertinga correspondence which I had with 4 he Earl of Radnorabout the

      , MORDER of some sixty persons in the Coventry workhouse . His lordship said that he believed the old Poor Law was to be blamed for those tragical events . I , on the contrary , assured him , that I had been informed that the New Poor Law commissioners were the sinners , and I begged his lordship to move for information on the subject . A dear friend of mme , was curious enough to visit Coventry for the purpose of making enquiry . He wrote to me ah account of what he there learnt—so I wrote the following letter to his lordship . . ' .: ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ .

      " To the Right Hon . Earl Radnor . " ^ My Lord , —As I have not yefe heard that your lordship bias not moved for a copy of the communications between the . Poor Law Commissioners or their assistant , and the directors of the Coventk ? workhouse relative to the alteration of the dietary of that place ; and , as I feel assured that your lordship must wish to know the truth , I beg to hand you the information which I have just received from a-frien'i who ^ as virfted Coventry ^ / for the purpose of ascer taining whether the dietary was altered at the recommendation or suggestion of the Poor Law Commissioners or their assistanti My friend is a gentleman of honour—and he . is a member of an

      an 8 tocraiac family . In bis letter to me , he says , "I had heard already , in the town from other sources , that the diet had been altered as you were informed ^ AT THE SUGGESTION OF ONE OF THE PbOB LiVf Commissioners ^ and Mr . ——f the - — . ' who by theway is rather inclined to favour and support those gentlemen , con firmed that statement . The Directors altered the diet at the recommendation , I understand , of Mr . Earl , an assistant Poor Law Commissioner , who came down about three months previous to" the melancholy deaths , th » report ot which the Earl of Radnor sent you . rhe Directors issued the order , the . Poor pa commissioner prompted ; the Poor Law commissioner threatened that they should be placed under the con * trpul . of the Somerset House . Commissioners ; sothe

      diet was altered twice , first , in 1836 , and secondly , 9 few months previous to those shocking events . There were no other instances of cholera in the town ; and the doctors differ , some declaring it teas Asipnp cholera , ^ others declaring that it was not . ' My friend visited both the workhouse and thepwo «» he says , ' giveme the gaol , Mrv Oastler , if ever I am a pauper , and no misteke as they say . ' , I have deemed it to be my duty to give your lordship this information , in support of Ae fact , thdt the dietary of the Coventry workhouse was allerei at the suggestion of the Poor Law Commissioners , ano consequently that , the murders of those unfortanatB paupers are attributable to tiie acciorsed New Poot Law . I have the honor to remain , my Lord , Your Lordship's most obKged obedient servant ,

      RICHARD OASTLER . Kxby Hall vnearHuddersfield , Aug . 7 , 1838 . ^ Hisiordsmpha ^ not replied to the above , I ; thet 0 r fore take ^ it for granted , that ^ e has now . found-ui * the commissioners had deceived him , " and that the * murders are really ^ ^ chargeable to their influence , ami notto the Old Poor Law . ^ 1 remain , Gentlemen , Your obliged seryant , ' - RICHAKD OASTLER . : Rhyl , N . Wales , ' ' . ' / ;";¦ ¦ ,.. : ^ -- |; ' - " . i ::: Sept . 29 th , 1838 . : /

      P . S . Praycanyoumformme ' .. if the select 001 * inittee of the Lords , ever mentioned these CovOT ' try iMoBDERS ? If they did not , I fear that thef were as much the ¦ slaves of Somerset Hou ^ desponi , as were the Select Committee of the Cba * mons . Talk about Has tin of . " arming ^ ' indeed V Arming against . blood y , traitors who ^ in thrg months , murder , actually mcrder , in one wort hbusevsoine sixty of her Majesty ' s most defenceMT sub ^ eote I i Sayyeii so , Cpnserwtiyes ? Isit neaxff a * m to arm agajnBttrpasoivand murd « ri If suff * be yj ^ ippinion , I thank God , X never entered m » yourcOTmoils ^ : R . u *

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      • I purposely omit ttonwne « ha office of j ^ w , «« wf ™ S taowie . alTpossible that he might te ntfwed , if it w *« kiwwn Out he l » 4 tgU the truth _ ^

      ^—^Ii^I1—I^——^^— ^^ Mm ^^ M ^ M Original Correspondence.

      ^—^ ii ^ i 1—i^——^^— ^^ ^^ ^ ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE .

      Untitled Article

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 6, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1026/page/6/