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Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th May 1841, Edition 1 of 5, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      JiTfBOSE WHO LOVE FREEDOM AND V HATE SLAVERY . v fBiEyps , —Allow me to repeat a sentence from - nee ^ ° P ° B 0 PeniD s' my Radical commission at 2 ** t , now nearly six years since , I then jj : — JHj object ' * to nMke J " ? ^ onfl wfll » ¦** Ottt -Hat will to farm the basis of year future eonstito-* * flje auction day wfll arrive , whea both parties * alid f ° r T 0 U i ^ wr ^* to Tonr valae ; to increase fltila * ^ to J ^ P ** Toa for & * ABetioa , shall be ft * - " &A Ter 8 tty lrOTda " * ** ° » " ^ **"

      ^ THE HOUR COMETH . T » ft » d * y of auction is at hand , and who -win bid a , fell Tfclae for public support is now the question . f ^ B&U in the first lot for another season , if the f ^ t bidder ofers a single doit Jew than "ft * ta&ofe jl * w never placed one single crotchet before the v ^ . I haTe Bot allowed the public mind to be dia-^ iky sadden changes and convulsive throes . I Vfl njhered , through years of stormy abuse ant —aBicm to the one , the single question , Universal wjaie . I have ^^ T 0 U t ^ 3 * t tbe figure which I was ^ 5 ^ with others , in completing , could not be pru-^« MbHed until the several parts were ready for yg pet together . They are now " fried up , " and -U ft * being " pat together . "

      MgiluBSK , Irifihmfa , Scotchmen , and Welshmen , ^ fjm of the world are now npon you . The French - ^ tifl now silent upon popular feeling in England , ^« ith remonstrances against resisting the popular £ , Ris is novel The press of France , as the press I Bntiis . u the mere organ of a faction ; aad the Mfc journals fear the infection of English opinion , ajpac ^ e of Prance , any more than the people of wfcad , have no organ . The Ministry of France mid join the British Ministry to suppress all popular tf * . but , thank God , the will of the people is now

      » fcog f ° * * U factions . jfjtneads , the crisis has arrived , and may God Bjtsiat we prore ourselves equal to the emergency ! ;« sr » brave and determined , we cenqner . If we Htwatdly and waTiring , we fall . jshrfd the rtake— " LIBERTY ! " The gift of God ; ^ sobtet possession which man can enjoy . Liberty ) tfes people is death to the tyranny of gas . If , then , we resolve to be free who can gpte bj in oar coarse T That we may be valued , let , pages ill that is most valuable in man . Let us be Mt , consistent and brsv * .

      fb » 1 reflect upon the great stake now to be played fc , I shudder lest one false step should lessen our £ bk of winning . It is a noble thing—a holy sight , >«* 1 he " poor oppressed" fighting against the "/ ich ajnnr . '" The balance of power is now in oar hands -jjata acknowledged . With us , then , the consideratashasM be , how to use it for ocr ovx benefit , &Ej regardless of both factions , and , aboTe all , of the ymbal interest of camp Jbliotcen , who will claim pass title to public confidence , and ask us to make ajeftkm to our general rule of action in their particukaK . I say rto exception . If our rule be good , let it ¦ afijafly followed ; if bad , let it be altered .

      Mold , then , our position . The Whigs , the » i » & * t" faction that ever hell in its wrath sent ga earth , are on their knees licking our feat , -while fc desolation which they hare caused rings through ibt ererice of this sea-bound dungeon . They hare feaoe bankrupt , and would accept any amount of jBBSK 4 o-be-paid , after convenience , well knowing feflsey had no intention ever to meet their engage-BBtL la B £ ask you one question . Can you trust them Sjk tine yean of sad and melancholy trial , when you Bject that their greatest assaults npon liberty were sasisths days of their greatest strength ?

      lei npon what question do they vainly hope to arouse sbSc sympathy ? Why , upon a set of problematical ¦ R& , which , should they terminate to the full extent da « ir anticipation , would but injure every . working SB , Thi ! e they would serve every man of fixed fcana—every placeman , pensioner , stsie pauper , and siasd official Theirs is the battle of the csnfecfcaer , the grocer , the Cuba and Brazilian slave-owner , it fcadholder , the architect , the ship-builder , the aMae-msier , the nmber-merchant , and the corn-factor , gBagt labour . >" o woDder that Joe Hume , a large lafijolder , ahoald think " brown bread good enough fefee Spitalfields weaver , " while he would cheerfully , * aiase his own hot loaf / or less money , produced

      niosE LiBors . What does he care where it comes faa , provided he ^ has it * Do not the " anti-monopofS » , ' u they whimsieallycan themselves , know full WSQiatif all the articles of life are made cheaper , Np » , placemen , pensioners , and persons with fixed iosnes , will be so much the richer ; and d o they ttespi either to rednee their « jl *¦<•?« to the " sliding ois , ' a do they propose to lessen the general burdens f 2 b eonutrr ? 2 fo , in faith . ' but , curious enough , the a 35 y vjaated measures have sprung out of State scanty . It was not because the people wanted relief Kb * Majesty's popular champions proposed their » " brift" but because , without it , they could not t » i ? ee ! and this is called patriotism , and the act ffiEAT COiLMERCIAX REFORM ! " And the ?

      'fxae" free trade" with ustaxed countrieg , that is , take you run a race with fetters on your legs , 43 * joni competitors are unshackled . ' Bit aark their real love of the principle . While the = « % press echoes " free trade , " there is a Bill pass-% tfaoagh Parliament to rob 160 of the poor op-5 , fey depriving them of a common , to enrich HSj-fiTe rich oppressors . Yes , " Whaddon Chase '' tea ? stolen from ISO poor men , by twenty-five rich * Tae 16 » poor men have beggared themselves to

      ^ thsir right , bat have failed ; and this , Joe ° « * cald call "freed trade . " fenifpnt a question to you . Would you have 5 a 9 ^ for a moment , to a single speech made in 8 House of Commons upon the subject , at a pariih f *^ , without bestoTring copious hisses upon the "Hapspeakers ? No , not to a single one . Tbeques-* tb » is , are we , who fight for principle , and * fcsTe Buffered so much in our stroggle for prin . & to be caught in the new WMg ministerial

      1 : ^ sj , they -wocld set the captive free- I Bl ** let me rot in prison rather than my liberty , ; fwaed by Whig clemency , should procure a j * fa the ruffians who have trampled upon all r ** J- I have not lived in solitary confinement ^ Ssir teea months , without learning how to F" * the value of liberty ; neither have I P ay time t « so bad a purpose as to make my |^ p * 7 more precious than my character . If I can only

      r * * y freedom by an abandonment of my prin-P * then may the loathsome dungeon be znj dwelling-** ' ink life remains . ' ^* shocked , and horror-struck , to hear the very *~* tf a compromise at the meeting held last week ^ Crewn and Anchor , and my principal reason " "sag now , is , to enter my protest , upon my own ^; Haisst sach a course . And then , I am told that Is win get me free . Good Heaven ! my limbs , ^ tfrong , would refuse their office when told ° » ea their liberty to my country's greatest op-**• VT :. at : be allowed to walk abroad and say , *•« Ms freedom to the Tamworth Baronet . '—the * i > ae name stands second only to that of Cafftle-** i the bloody book of Ireland's sad catalogue of

      ^ oppression . ' Who has gone farther to set 7 ** against Protestant , and Orangeman against ^ Iiish , than Sir Robert Peel ? > ' o one . And am ** & abroad as a living monument of gratitude to ij *^ Possession of that liberty of which he has " « * Jtwmtry ? Xo , kevkb , keveb ! NEYEK ! * wash O'Connor ! «« ap «> mije has sealed my doom for the rej *» « my dreary impriwnment . ' For by the ghoet ^• ttardered Irishman , and by my country * ^ 1 twear that if an order for my liberation come ^» fcmi a Tory government , I w 31 not leave my ^ . ' tod ttey cannot eject me , as my committal h to Sh * U ** he 3 d ^ txutodl ^ tH I enter into « s ^ k * mj *** coodwt for two year * . There-, ^ J « oacribed by thu coBpromise , even by the ?*«««« m efit do

      ^ T ^» a me the justice to admit that , notwith-^ tfft * 7 Steitttic ***** of Mx- O'Connell and the . the Irith press , yet has not angry feeling , for S * Uoir 6 d ^ to resent personal injury by = 7 country . Who ever heard me abuse

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      Ireland , even in the midst of the intolerance of her paid patriots ? Upon the whole , my friends , believe me , that neither Whig or Tory win allow me to roam » t large one single hour before the 11 th of November next ; andttea I will pay them twenty-five shillings in the pound ! mi ! Now , my friends , let me explain what oar course should be . Six years ago , I said I would prepare yon tat sale . Two years ago , I published » plan for your local organization , and , three months ago I republished that plan . I was well aware that only in the excitement of a contested election would either band of robbers bid for the virtuous people ; that hour has now come , yet

      are you not prepared with your committees , sub-com mittees , treasurers , and secretaries of electioneering clubs which I recommended : but as I never fight with my own party , bat always try to make up for their lioness by my own extra dDigene * . I tell yon low to get your machinery ready . Le . . vterj locality have its election club . " Bxa Charter ntembe n there is no hope thiselection ; not the slightest ; but this election is the foundation of all hope . Upon lov , the people , will depend the result , whether you furnish to the House of Commons a sufficient number of tools to be used by any Administration for your ruin , or whether you furnish such a House as must be dissolved in less than six months from its formation .

      2 fow , msrkme-welL If you return as many as S 00 Whigs , you win prepare improved machinery for fraud , persecution and tyranny . As our only struggle must be for the Charter , a sufficient number of let-well-enough alone , or any-thing-rather-tkan-a-Radieil-House members will be found to join the Wbigs to carry on with a Tory Souse without again tempting the sttrm of popular wrath , of which they will get a taste upon the ensuing contest If you return but a few Whigs they cannot form any coalition with the Tories and must constitute out ' s and the Queen ' 3 minority .

      The greatest blessing which eould happen to us would be -the return of 65 * Tories ; but that is impossible . If we had a House full of Tories their position would very much resemble that of the Kerry man , who came all the way from Kerry to see London from the top of the monument ; but when he got there he was so dialed that he got frightened and requested a friend to cover his eyes with his handkerchief , for God's sake , and lead him back again to Kerry . Now , if you had 608 rampant Tory devils they would be frightened at the sound of their own voice , and would imploringly ery O . ' for ax opposition . "

      It is said that no wife eould survive a year if not one * contradicted ; I tell you that no minister can survive the want of an opposition . The Tories being better tactitians than the Whigs , actually led them to the altar , and then offered them up a sacrifice to an opposed lust . It was by not opposing the Whigs , in their aggression against popular rights , that the Tories brongbt Whiggery into disrepute . Let us therefore benefit by example ; and as the Whigs died of surfeit , let as kill the Tories by repletion . Let us gorge the House with them , and , inasmuch as the struggle , at last , must be between Che nominees of a faction and the whole people , it must come to that ; and if we are not prepared , why then , let us at once give up .

      I say , that with a compact minority , too large for a faction , and too small for a party , at work inside , and the whole people at work outside , nothing can with * stand us . As a matter of course , the " bloodies" will now " pat you on the back , " and aak for your support ; but for what ? Would you , nine years ago , have entertained anyone of the great "commercial reforms , " as they are called , or would you have considered them as any part of the great measure ' : Assuredly not ; and , after nine years' drilling and training ; after nine years' disappointment ; after nine years * sessions of unexampled tyranny , persecution , lewd sway and distress , are you now to entertain them as a "whole ? Have nine yean of tea chine taught us no better than this ?

      My friends , nothing can be more laughable than the complaints and sore things of the Whigs , in their very , very incompetent journals . They really imagine that we are still in leading strings , and that we should be thankful for correction . They still call themselves our natural allies , and the Tories ou £ . natural enemies ; and , forgetting that we dissolved partnership in September , 1835 , and set np business on onr own account , tbe ignorant creatures have the folly to find fault with our tactics i Well now , can anything be more absurd ? and , when well weighed , can any praise be stronger than this intended censure ?

      What is our object ? To destroy Whiggery , and establish Chartism . Well , then , are Whigs likely to be much in love with any course which tends towards the accomplishment of that desirable end ? Bo they ask as for advice , &s to how their proceedings ore to be conducted ? No , in frith . What would any one of you think , suppose you sat down to a game of cards , and that your adversary , after vain endeavours to win the game by fair play , said , " O , but you must shew me your hand , and play

      your cards as I direct you ? " What , I ask , would you think of such a proposal ? and yet it would not be one whit moreridiculous than the appeal of our Whig opponents , to play our game as they direct us . My friends , so long as we did play this faat-and-looae game , so long were we a- laughing-stock ,- but the moment tee pbaytd one hand in Birmingham , in 1839 , according to our otcn judgment , thai moment did our adversaries say , " 0 , these felletvs play ihe game too veil , and tee musl bludgeon them ; pack the cards , and run < $ vnXh the stake . ' ! I "

      Well , « p to that period , we were tbe ridicule of all parties , and despised by all ; but sines then we have played ear own game , and now we have arrived to " the diffvily of being ha ' ed . " We we no longer despised ; we are now hated , because we are dreaded ; and no political party can be great till it is hated . Thank God , then , we are all hated , and I the most . ' O , how I enjoy Whig and Tory hatred ! It is balm ! cordial !! consolation !' . ' .

      But what has made you great ? The things that have made you hated , of course . What are they ? The pertinacious manner in which yon hare np&et every clap-trap meeiiDg ; the noble consistency you have evinced in standing by your friends and y « ur Charter , through unparalleled persecution , insult , and distress ; your " useless displays"' and manly expression of " a > "ght feelisg" have done the job ; and hence was it a principal object of Mr . Joseph Hume to lull yon into quiet and c&lm ; into " non-resistence and passire obedience" before the hour arrived for treating Whigs on the hustings as they treated us in the House . Is it not self-evident that conduct which

      would entitle yen to Whig praise , would subject yon to popular suspicion and censure , and having wellesrned a large stock of Whig hatred , we are justly entitled to a large share of popular approval For four months this dissolution has been in cogitation , and during that time the ' leading Chartists " have been " saturated" with letters to subdue Chartist " angry fedxvg" at public meetings , and to set their facesagainst " listless displays . " Our duty tfcen it , for the present , to fill the House with Tory poison ; yea , to load it to the very muzzle , so that it may explode and blow them all up , and then will come our turn !

      Now , my friends , as I have never waited upon public opinion , but have always " come out" upon principle—at once , and , in the outset , I Bay , " down with the Whigs ,- " and , in every instance where you have the power , return Tories in preference to Whigs . Do so for this reason—Because you will thereby beat one of your enemies . By returning Whigs you cannot , in the slightest degree-, weaken Toryism ; inasmuch as Whigs in office are mere Tories . What have we to expect from the Whigs in the way of reform ? Have they not already ruined themselves in their endeavour to ruin you ? In depriving you of your wages have they not left an empty Exchequer , and themselves without their salaries , to . insure which they must now play a game at thimblerig *

      In God ' s name , what have you to do with Sugar Duties , Corn Laws or Timber ? Wai it be any consolation to you to know that you have cheapened bread , sugar , and timber , for traffickers and consumers with fixed incomes , while , to accomplish it , yon have lessened the price of your own labour , and thereby deprived yourselves of the means of purchasing any portion of the cheap suxets ? Tim humbug ! and they know it ; and they can only hope to cram it down your throats bj bribing your leaders ; and just give me leave to ask , why these immense collections by the " Plague" just now ? Agitation costs them nothing . Beware , Beware , Beware of Mr . Gold .

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      Let us jast see the principle upon which &U tbe wealthier elaates are now marshalled on the Government side , in support of the great " Commercial Reformers . " The foolish mill lords imagine that they can bay cheaper and sell dearer , and still preserve peace , regulate demand and supply , and stop gambling ; therefore they are bottle holders to the WWgs . The bankers know that their discounts will be Increased by an increased demand for paper to gamble with—yoar labour sad liberty being the "take . The Insurance Offices know that their business will be increased at your expense . The grocers and bakers , —poor silly fools ! —think that they will be enabled to buy very much cheaper , and perhaps tell more !

      The judges , parsons , barristers , solicitors , placemen , pensioners , fund-holders ; in abort , all those with fixed incomes ; the whole swarm of lice on the beetle , imagine that they will be enabled to do twice ss much with their fixed salaries , and yet that order sod peace will continue . ' The poor fools of shopkeepers and tradesmen , imagine that they will ' be enabled to sell just ss much and to live cheaper . Silly , silly men ! They can only

      live cheaper by making labour cheaper , inasmuch as that ingredient forms nineteen-twentieth * of every thing they consume ; while their whole means of consumption is furnished by labour , and labour alone ; and when labour is reduced , they roust be reduced . In fact they are all mad . The Whigs have literally persuaded them that poor John has yet something in him , which the" Great Commercial Reforms " is to extract ; but they will all find . themselves mistaken , and that ere long !

      I have shown you how the Whigs have fought their battle , constantly changing their position and tactics without reference to ns . I have shown you how the Tories have fought their battle with , reference only to their own party purposes . And Daniel O'Connell , being another corporation , though a corporation sole , let ns see how he proposes to fight his battle ( Ireland ' s battle ) , without reference to any earthly object but keeping himself in place and his hands in poor Paddy's pockets . I shall not lose much of my space in flnt » hfog this eaviotdimorouminot ( " self tormenUr . *)

      Pray ! pray ! pray ! mark , learn , and inwardly digest , the mode by which this charlatan proposes to redeem all bis pledges to unhappy Ireland . Firstly , observe , Repeal is the watch-word of Ireland , as the Charter is that of Britain . Secondly , bear in mind , that a Parliament elected favourable to Whig principles would have , at least , a six years' lease of office , as friends of the Queen ' s youth .

      Now , how , think you , the begging rascal proposes to snitch Repeal out of the fire of party , or even to make the god-send a stopping-stone to Repeal ? Why , he postpones it for the present ! lest its introduction should injure " the base , brutal , and bloody Whigs "—the " West Britons , " the coercers , the police enactors , the arma ' -bill enactors , the appropriation concocters and abandoners , the rascally Whigs !

      The World , upon the subject of Dan ' s last letter , has these few pithy lines : — "With much contained in it we coincide ; while from other parts we totally dissent . Mr . O'Connell we think perfectly right in not recommending that a Repeal candidate should be started , at this juncture , where his chance of success would be doubttuL " Aye , " where his chance of success teould be doubtful " —there ' s the rub ; and that one scorpion sentence will render the return of a Repealer doubtful in every part of Ireland ; and that is the sole , and only , object of the deeeitfnl stuff

      But , suppose he had said , " men of Ireland , now is your time . O . nwabd to Repeal . Every Repealer may be relied upon as an opponent to Toryism ; let us have men of double force—first , anii-Tory , and then pro-Repeal , thus do we effect a double purpose at one and the same time . Kill the enemy and resuscitate our native land . " Suppose he had said that , what would have been the effect ? Why , just this ; that in many case ? , where the order will render the return of a Whig doubtful , the course which I recommend would have rendered the return of a Repealer jcertain . But what is tbe fact ? Way that those very Whigs , now to be returned , will be Ireland ' s bitterest enemies , and the very stanchest anti-repealers , and that ' s the secret , —that's what O'Connell wants , a stumbling BLOCK IN THE WAY OF THE MONSTEBS OF HIS OWN

      CREATION . But then , a bit of religion , —the old seasoner of all dishes , —is brought in . By heaven . ' it is enough to make any man wild , and to set an Irishman mad to think of the barefaced vill&ny of this old woman . Well , my friends , thus they all act , as they profess to think , best for their interest , and without consulting us . Now , let us , without reference to any of them , do the best we can for our Charter . Let us , wherever we can give , give 20 , 30 , 40 , 50 , yea , a hundred of either devils for oae Chartist O , how easily Glasgow could return my dear friend Moir , by giving them 20 Tories , or 20 Whigs , for Scotland for this one honest Chartist . That is , suppose Dundee , Donfermline , and several other places , were to make common cause with Glasgow , and

      that the Chartists of those places were to say " 20 Whigs , or 2 t Tories , " " which you please , my dear ; choose your devil , and your devil ' s colour , and have him in exchange for one Chartist angel . " Leicester , Hull , and Nottingham could do this ! Leeds , Bradford , Halifax , Huddersfield , and York could do likewise . Rochdale has its out and outer—honest Shaxm&nglorious Sharman—amiable Shannon . Manchester , Stockport , Bolton , and Chorley could do likewise . Oldham has the two best men to be found— -who will dare to oppose them , I should like to know ? Then you have a little knot of Chartists well able to speak upon the hustings , I fear I should be considered "despotic " if I was to particularize , so you must judge for yourselves .

      Now , my friends , to the point . " Ctesar ' s wife should not only be virtuous , but should be above suspicion . " No man shall ever suspect me , and , therefore , although solicited by many constituencies to offer myself , free of expence , -where my return may be considered certain , as all and every sacrifice would be mode in a whole county to insure it , I have coino to the settled resolution not to accept a seat in the next Parliament , if offered to me—not to allow myself to be put in nomination anywhere , and fur this simple reason , that my recommendation may stand discharged of all selfishnesss .

      Our time for returning the whole House is at hand , believe me , or a bleody revolution ; one or the other is inevitable . I must keep my conscience clear , and my friends clear . I will not offer myself for any place . I will support a Chartist everywhere , at all hszsrds , and will join in returning a Tory in preference to a Whig , where the contest lies between the Devils and the Devils in hell . I do this from my bitter and unconquerable hatred to the Tories , from the hope that they will kill themselves .

      Now my friends , as to any compromise for my liberty , I will not owe it to Peel , even if offered ; but believe me , that on to-morrow night on Dancombe ' s motion , he will indignantly repel the assertion made at tbe Crown and Anchor . No , no ; Sir R . Peel is too cold-blooded a politician to bear with temper such a taunt , as being charged with as act of justice . ' I will not come out of my cell at all upon a compromise . —I will break the contract—I have been no party to it

      As to my getting out just now , you shall judge from the following true " unvarnished tale , "" whether or not it would be justice to me to enlarge me at the present moment , when bo much would be expected from me , and when I should not be able to take any part whatever in public affairs . When I came here first , I kept my voice by reading aloud about two hours every day . This I practised till the winter

      compelled me to have fires , and then my cell chimney smoked to such an extent , that , by degrees , I was obliged to give up not only reading aloud , but speaking above my lowest tone . 1 could net speak without pain . When spring returned , it brought no charms for me . I tried , when the smoke vanished ,- to read aloud again , but found that I always spit blood , when I nade the attempt , before I got through many pages ; so I gave it up .

      Now , I ask you , would it not be certain death to place me upon a public Dustings or in a public meeting ? Never was man treated as I have been < not one single restrictien has been taken off since J une 1 st , 1810 , to the present moment , bat several fresh ones

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      have been added . I pay for every thing I use , even my coals ; and I pay £ 10 8 s . a year ' s rent for one of the condemned cells ! Every letter I receive is read every letter I send through the post is read ; every visitor is accompanied , for five minutes , by a turnkey , and every word we say is reported . I am in solitary confinement ! and shall be in the fourteenth month oh Toesda / week , a punishment unknown to the law !! In one of my recent letters , I stated that it w *« such s pnnishment as no man had ever endured / or any crime since England was discovered ; but someone altered it to had ever before endured for libel

      Now , again , I tell you that the law knows of no such punishment ; and the Judges dare not , nay could not , sentence to such a punishment for any crime : and having borne thirteen months of it , unjustly , shall I say , "t&ank you , " to the « coundrels who made me un . justly suffer , and , if guilty , would now UNJUSTLY liberate me for their own base ends J No , —damn them!—never— "No surrender . " " The Charter , " and " down with the 'bloodies . '" Ever yours , Fergus O'Connor .

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      • ^ pi .. ^ s ^ n ^ W TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN 8 TAB . Dear Sir , —I have to enclose the following resolution passed at eur meeting of this day : — "That in consequence of the letter received this morning from tbe Executive at Manchester , a letter be sent to the said Executive , and to the editor of the Northern Star , requesting them immediately to transmit to Mr . John Cleave , Shoe-lane , London , our unanimously elected treasurer , all moneys which have been , sent to them for the use of the Convention or committee . " I am , fee , 55 , Old Bailey , Thohas Waix . 21 st May , 1841 .

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      HOW TO STOP THE BANK . TO THB EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —In my letter to you of the 5 th isstant , I ask , " whether yen think , if it were notorious that the Chartists really had the power to stop the bank if they pleased , such notoriety would be likely to be of any service to them ia their efforts to obtain tbeir Charter f " In your Star of the 15 th instant , in your notices to correspondents , you say , referring to roy inquiry , " We certainly think that such notoriety would be likely to be of service : will he shew us the how 1 " I will endeavour to do so , and thus I proceed . , Let every Chartist who can save at least one penny per week begin to imitate my example , and let him never discontinue such imitation until either the bank be restrained from paying its notes in gold , or the People ' s Charter have become the law of the land . But before I proceed to state what I do myself , and what I want everybody else to do , I think it right first to state what I do no * do .

      In the first place , then , I do not lend my little savings to the Government , by depositing them in any Savings ' or other Bank ; for , by so doing , although I might receive a paltry dab of interest for my money in tbe course of a year , I should only be enabling the Government to appropriate the principal , or , in other words , to expend my own money ia buying swords , and pistols , and bludgeons with , to cut , and ehoot , and knock me about with . I , therefore , and for another reason , do not lend my money to the Government . That other reasen is , that if I were to lend my money to the Government , or to my employers , or to any private individual , it would remain in circulation ; whereas it is part of my scheme to withdraw it from circulation , and to have its placa supplied by constant drains upon the coffers of the Bank of England . I , therefore , not only do not lend my money to the Government , but I do not lend it at all ; I keep it myself ; I hoard it , and in odd and silver , and not in bank notes of any denomination .

      I will tell you how I manage . Every Saturday evening I drop into my " savings'box" ( of which I have constituted myself sole and exclusive govern w , director , treasurer , and secretary ) as much out of my weekly earnings as I can possibly spare ; sometimes , it is more , and sometimes less than others ; but as it is not lent out at interest , nor spent , but hoarded , you must ( I think ) perceive that that money , however small in amount , is yet so much money withdrawn from circulation ; it being distinctly understood all the while that I hoard nothing but metallic coin , gold , silver , and copper , but no paper money ; tot if I were to hoard paper money , the place of the identical notes which I had so withdrawn from circulation weuld not be supplied by gold and silver from the coffers of the Bank of England , but by other notes , which the local bankers ( here at

      Leeds , where I am living ) would instantly and at no expense fabricate and put in circulation , whereas tbe place of the gold and silver which j is hoarded must eventually come out of the coffers of the Bank of England , as I will presently demonstrate . I have now told you what I do not do and what I do do , and I hive stated my reasons for not doing the one and for doing the other , and having done so , I beg further to observe , that to what little money I have already hoarded up , it is my intention to add weekly until the People's Charter becomes the law of the land . The money so already hoarded up and to be added to , as I have before stated , I do , and always shall , consider to be a sacred fund and dedicated to the ChartiBt cause ; and it is my firm and unalterable determination not to touch it or any portion of it until the People's Charter be the law of the land .

      Such is my plan or scheme , and I do firmly believe that if the Chartists would individually begin now , each according to his respective means , to imitate my example , and would persevere in such imitation , the Bank of England would suspend cash payments before tbe last day of the year , ( and I think so for reasons which I will explain in my next , if you should agree with me in the opinions expressed in this , ) and whenever that event does take place , from no matter what cause , it will be attended by at least an immediate , and most extensive and sweeping Reform , of the Commons House of Parliament I have already shown that

      the hoarding of paper money does no good , for it does not annoy the local bankers or the Governors and Directors of the Bank of England . But the hoarding of gold and silver to any considerable amount would not only annoy but would absolutely terrify as well the local bankers as the Governor and Company of the Bank of England , fox it would cause a drain to be made upon the coffers of the Bank of England for a sufficient amount of gold and silver to supply the . place of the gold and silver so hoarded , and consequently withdrawn from circulation , as I will now endeavour to

      show . Let us suppose that the average amount of gold and silver constantly in circulation here in Leedsis £ l 0 , * 00 or thereabouts . We will next suppose that in this town there are one hundred persana , eack of whom , upon reading this letter , is determined , according to his respective means , to adopt the principle here laid down for his imitation . We will further suppose , that at the end of three months , each of those persons has hoarded up £ 0 in gold and silver which would otherwise have remained ia circulation . In that case tht so one hundred persons would not only have withdrawn from the circulation £ 500 in gold and silver , but would be in possession of it themselves , which they would not otherwise have been . In that case also , the £ SM so

      hoarded up would be missed and felt , if its place were not supplied . There would evidently be a wont of a sufficiency of small change for the daily purposes of life or business , its place , therefore would be supplied ; but how ? We shall eoon Bee . A tradesman , a butcher for instance , finding that his customers did not pay him so much gold and silver as usual , but more £ 5 notes , leaving him to pay himself and give them the change , would every now and then send a package of £ 5 notes to the different bankers here , who had issued them , and get them exchanged for gold and silver , f « r the accommodation of his customers . The baker and all other trades people would do tbe same , until by that process the place of the £ 500 so hoarded up would be supplied . But those bankers would then have in

      their tills £ 500 less in gold and silver to honour their notes with than they had before tbe hoarding commenced ; and they would th » n scrape together £ 500 in Bank of England notes , and send them up to their agents in London to get converted into gold and silver , and that gold and silver remitted back to them instead of the notes . This the agents would very easily do , by simply going to the Bank in Threadneedle-street , in London , and there exchanging the notes for gold . There then is a drain upon tae coffers of the Bank of England for £ 500 in specie !! But it must not be forgotten , that the hundred sturdy fellows in Leeds don't relax in their efforts or their principle , and in another three months they have got another £ 500 , whose place would be supplied in precisely the same manner .

      Hero let me not be misunderstood ; I have merely supposed a case for the proper illustration of my assertion , that if the Chartists were to hoard weekly as much money as they could , the place of the money so boarded must eventually be supplied by drains upon the coffers of the Bonk of England . But I do not mean to assert that there would be \ exactly 100 or any other given number of persons who upon reading this letter either would or could hoard weekly , any ' sunTof money which in exactly three months , would amount to exactly £$ , or any other given sura , but I do believe that there would be some such persons here to be found , who upon reading this letter , would board up weekly asmacb money as they possibly ould , and therefore I further believe that there would be some such persons to be

      found in every town , cfty , pariah , village , and hamlet in this country , whose united hoardings I do believe would in three or four months amount to such a sum of money as would make an evident diminution in the quantity of the gold and silver in the coffers of the Bank of England ; if so , it is evident that the Chartists alone , and unaided and poor as they ore , can , if they please , cause such a constant and continuous drain upon the coffers of the Bank of England for its gold and silver as if persevered in , must eventually end in the stoppage of the bank . I fear that I hdv « already trespassed upon your time too long , but I cannot conclude this letter without expressing my conscientious conviction that the mere knowledge by the middle and arlstocraUcal classes of the power which I have con-

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      tended that the Chartists possess , and more especially of their determinatitnto exercise it , would be more likoly than any thing . else to procure for them the speedy concession of all their political rights and privileges . I remain , Sir , Your obedient servant , . A Middle Class Chartist . 22 nd May , 1841 .

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      NORMANBY AND THE PRISONERS * LIBE RATION CONVENTION .

      TO THB EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —As onr interview with the Marquis of Normaaby , in regard to the presentation of the memorials for Bronterre O'Brien , has aot been correctly stated in the papers , we beg to lay a plain statement of tbe same before the readers of the & / ar . At the time appointed by Messrs . Bnller and Hawes , that is twelve o ' clock , we proceeded to the Home-office , bat found that the Marquis of Normanby would not b » there before one o ' clock , and an appointment was made to meet them ( Messrs . Bailer and Hawes ) at four , or something later . We went sad found they were there before us , and were closeted with the Home-Secretary . We waited a considerable time in the ante-room , and were joined by the two gentlemen . They informed us there would be no difficulty in getting the memorials to her Majesty , as they would , if we would chose , undertake their presentation ; but this , not suiting our

      wishes , was of course declined . They next told us that the Marquis would see us , bat that we were not to enter upon a discussion as to the contents of the memorials ; because that mighOTead to some language which would not be pleasant to either party . With this understanding we were admitted to his Lordship's presence , and bis Lordship told us that he could not see deputations in regard to criminals , as that would be inconsistent with his duties as a Minister of the Crown ; but that be would receive the memorials which we then had , and give them his serious consideration , and that whatever opinions or arguments which we might have to adduce , he would thank as to put in writing ; and , npon these grounds , he wonld give our wishes every consideration . In regard to Mr . O'Brien , he had caused enquiry to be made , and he found that his case was n » t so bad as it was represented to be . This was in substance , nay , indeed , everything which passed between us and his Lordship . We are , yours , L . Pitket hly , Mono . Williams , M . Cullen .

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      TO THE EDITOR OF THG NORTHERN STAR . Dear Sir , —By inserting the following address in this week ' s publication , you will greatly oblige those friends to O'Connor whose names are attached thereto , and likewise your humble servant , Thomas Clarke . Temperance Yard , Hillgat © , Stoekport , ' May 19 th , 1841 .

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      THE CORNrLAW QUESTION . ( Concluded from our last . ) . " Po yon not perceive , do yon not feel in what a despicable viow you are considered ? Were it in their power , they would binder you from sharing even the light of the sun . That you breathe , that yon enjoy the faculty of speech , that yea wear the human shape , ass subjects ot mortification to them . "—Liv * . We want Agrarian Laws , not Corn Laws ; fcnt hoir are we get them—how « sa we obtain any good—how can . we remove ray evil nntil the People ' s Charter gives us the power ? Oar Gracchi are imprisoned and would have been murdered if the nobility did not fear the people . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ :. ¦ ¦ ; : S : ' - ¦" / ' :: ¦ ¦ ' : '¦ : '' ¦ . "¦ ¦

      , , O , say the owners of the waste lands , they are not worth cultivating—they ^ wbnld not repay the expence Would they not ? Many broken fanners , -who are wiser than to emigrate at your bidding , retire with the remains of their fortune to . some freehold moor , where they buy and enclose s few acres . I know one near Pickering , who gave eighteen shillings per acre for about twelve acres , and by his own labour alone , wa improved the soil , that in the course of ten years , be increased its valme t » £ 30 per acre , besides maintaining himself the while upon its produce . The method

      is this—yon pare tbe moor and have turf fuel which supplies you with ashes for vaanure ; yon get stones out of the ground , with which yon wail round your enclosed space , and set potatoes , or sow oats ; in process of time , cowslips will spring where nothing but black heather was seen' before , and yon will make * garden in the midat of the desert , where the rose will blossom and the thrush will sing . Nature will supply you with almost all things needful , and you will not be troubled with the tax gatherer . There is the best herb-gale or moor-too . In winter time , we make besoms . . -:

      Now , if Government ; would colonize our English moors—if it would employ felons to drain bogs in Ire * land , instead of sending them off at an expeaee of £ 60 per head to Van Diemea's Land—if the unemployed poor were set to work to kid the whins that now grow for fox covers , and to clear away underwood , each man might earn bis own keep , besides increasing the national resources by improving the capabilities of the soil . Who has not witnessed with pleasure the pride which a working man takes in cultivating a pertion of ground which he can call his own ? Though he may have been labouring all day in a stone-quarry , be goes at night cheerfully , as he west at morn , and trims his own allotted land . Pity that industry should be lost or go unrewarded . " A time there was , ere England' s u * es began , ed

      When every rood of ground maintainits man . ** But our lords want the land for other purposes ; and so they make Corn . Laws , ; Game Laws , and Poor Laws They wish the poor to cease from off tbe land ; and , as they increase instead , we must have additional soldiers , additional police , and , of course , additional taxes Injustice is not maintained at a little cost . ' We have discontent at home , and the contempt of foreign nations . The people never complain without a cause ; they are too slow to complain ; oppression must madden before it will rouse ; they suffer insult without being provoked by it . The Roman populace could be excited-by wrongs , and bad spirit to revenge them ; but there is no hope for this nation , except in the infatuation of Its rulers , when drunk with impunity .

      We cannot blame our present Ministers for thinking ill of mankind , because they know-each other , nor for being indifferent to the sufferings of human beings , because they know , that though exempt from punishment themselves , they richly merit it ; but we do blame the middle classes for having so little consideration for the interests of troth and humanity as to support such a Government , and we blame the people for their apathy . If others neglect them , there is ail the more reason why they should attend to themselves The Government that turns men ont of work , should find them food . The conntry in which one willing working man wonts food , and clothing , and education , is badly governed . There , are millions of such proofs , that our present Government is a bad one , and that our

      social system is even worse than the Government Our present Ministers seem to think that the greatnesss of their offices is an excuse for any littlenesses which they may commit in them . Their very method of obtaining office , shews them unworthy of retaining it , much more so their conduct in it They came into power under the banners , Reform ! Retrenchment ! Peace ! Their reform was to make bad wotso—their retrenchment was to take from the poor and add to the stores of the rich ; and their method of maintaining peace Waste provoke war all over the world by a most iniquitous breach of tbe law of nature and nations . They keep office as basely as they obtained it meanly . Borne into power on the backs of the people , they formed a treacherous alliance with the very enemies whom they were sent to conquer . But they could not thus have degenerated into tyrants , had not the people been sunk to slaves . They are

      supported by a system which makes merit a discommendation to its possessor— -which gives that encouragement to vice that should be reserved for virtue only—which punishes the victim instead of the criminal , so that conscientious men have declared that were they to sib in a jnry upon the life of a murderer of their own sons , they could not bring him in guilty , because crime is caused by the system , whose supporters should be made amenable for it Among the foremost of these supporters are the clergy—yes , when we hear of any atrocious crime , we should thank the Bishops . The worst thieves and knaves justify themselves , and justly so , by the example of our Ministers , both of the law , and of the gospel . There is now n * crime in the people—their crimes are their misfortunes , as their misfortunes are made their crimes— " in a despotic state there is but one criminal—the tyrant- "

      The people ught to be proud of their present advocates—men who have sacrificed ail and suffered all in their cause—men whose arguments are unanswerablewho have proved themselves " morally and intellectually superior to the people's enemies—why do not the people render them physically bo likewise ? Why do they suffer their power to be used against them ? Do the people think with their tyrants that each year should increase its tale of misery and sin—of sighs and groans and teara , of heartbreaks , and failing intellects , and suicides ? " Many on old man's sigh and many a widow ' s And many an orphan ' s water-standing eye , Men for their sons , wives for their husband ' s fate , And orphans for their parents' tuneless death—Have rued the hour that ever Whigs were born . Let us not forget , while we at large enjoy this beautiful May weather , ottr dearest / friends are pining in dungeons for our Bakes .

      What then must the people do ? In vain you complain , in vain you petition , you threaten in vain . The avarice and luxury of the proud curse the humble with hardship and privation . No greater proof of your poverty of spirit a » well its of purse than that you do not rid yourselves of yourpresent rulers—of the tyrants that increase your burdens and weaken you at the same time—that load you and gall you at once . Our Neroes enjoy their follies amid the very miseries which their crimes occasion—nay they taunt the people with being the authors of their own miseries—the people whose complaints they punish—whose redress they pervert There would have been a mutiny on board of the ship Britannia , and the crew would have had the helm before now . if they had been men {

      England ! thy rose withers on thorns—Scotland ! thy thistle ia so closely ' grasped by the hard hand of tyranny that it cannot sting—Ireland ! thy shamrock is a weed . They would have been the most contemptible of all creatures that have done this , if we had not suffered it to be doae . Britain

      « Hath made a ahamefal conquest of itself 1 " We must redeem , the land before we ean redeem ourselves . This task ia set us . to accomplish on earth , before we can hope for Heaven . Let as do it or die .

      " In great attempts , 'Us glorious e '« a tofau r Let us no longer be villains to ourselves—to 001 own . flesh and blood—to our souls and bodies . Let us swear by God himself that while * he continues to shower bis fatherly gifts from Heaven upon oar own land , that his free bounty snail not be absorbed or engrossed and abused by rioters and revellers , who keep both onr share and their own—let us swear that there shall be no more hanger , ner thirst , nor nt&ednesw , nor wandering about night and day to die on the stones in the street *—swear it and do what we swear . Do it for the

      love that € kod bears us , who is true to us and eaus on us to be true to ourselves . Do- it that we may live and not die . B * killed or kill rather than forced from the land that is yours . Live in it , Englishmen—die in it , be buried in it . Mix the ashes with the ashes of your sires . Let us not constrain you in vain . Do it or die . Liberty first— -then all the blessings which liberty confers . Death to hell-bora , tyrants , and may their curses go home with them to roost Life and the land for zaI John Watkins . London , May 24 th , 1841 .

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      Worthy of Imitation . —We have received for publication a balance sheet of tbe proceeds of a valuable barometer , given to the National Charter Association by a friend to the working millions m the Metropolis , to be disposed of for the benefit of the Political Victims . It waa disposed of by way ^ or raffle , and the total proceeds amounted to £ IS Us .. od . —leaving , after expences were deducted , more than £ 12 for the victims ! This is a moBt praiseworthy instance ofpatriotio feeling . Twelve hundred tickets for the raffle were printed , and distributed among Chartists of the Metropolis for sale . They produced from the several localities the following amounts : —

      £ s . d . City of London ... ... ... 2 11 6 City of Westminster ... ... 2 3 6 Borough of Marylebone ... 1 3 6 Kensington and Chelsea ... 1 15 6 Globe Fields ... ... ... 0 6 6 Finsbury and St . Luke ' s ... 1 16 6 St . Pancra 8 ... ... ... 0 3 6 Tower Hamlets ... » ... ... 014 6 Bloosnsbary ... ... ... mA * & * &txv \ j r * Walworth' ... BDIIHhRW

      Wandsworth ... ... ... OfflW ^ R . Borough of Lambeth ... ... 033 rt » v ^~ -i "CsT \ . Bexmondsev ... ... .., A , Jr * JI ; l ^ ije \ ZPfc \ tf ' ^ ^* * , i # feii ' . ! Z \ % ^\ vM ~ iiL : - ' ^ V ^ - ^ -fS ^ s ? ' ^

      »- #Rfetnal Gotvcgptntomte. _

      » - # rfetnal Gotvcgptntomte . _

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      TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . Honoured and Patriotic Sir , —We , your fellowcountrymen in exile , and members of the National Charter Association of Great Britain , seeing you surrounded on all sides by numerous and pertklfous enemies , take this opportunity ef assuring you that we place the most unbounded confidence in you , having seen nothing to lead us to a contrary conclusion , after closely watching your every act , both in the legislature , and in your struggles amongst the people , in endeavouring to obtain the universal rights of wan ; notwithstanding the call which has recently been made by Daniel O'Connell to his countrymen in England , to form no connection with * the English Chartists , and also bis indirect way of persuading the people to "get rid of yon , if possible , " who , we are aware , have been a sore thorn in his side , and a stumbling-block to those Whom he so strenuously supports .

      We , Sir , have been strict Observers of your conduct since you first graced the Senate House of Great Britain with your presence and splendid talents , down to the present moment . It is , therefore , with feelings of pride , that we Irishmen , in the face of God and our country , unbiassed and uncourted , voluntarily swear or follow you to the death , if required , so long as yon persevere in the righteous cause in whieh you have embarked , in the straightforward , manly , and upright mariner you hitherto have done . We tender our most grateful thanks for the past , believing that your exertions and integrity are unparalleled in tbe history

      of our eountry , for the furtherance of jast principles , and the general welfare of mankind . We consider that we would be guilty ot base iogratitude , were we to forget tbe many sacrifices which not only you , but also your noble ancestors , have made for our country ' s good . No , Sir , we do not forget that your illustrious , patriotic , and virtuous father , Roger O Connor , was sent to an untimely grave , for his devotion to bis country ' s cause . Nor are we ignorant of the fact , that your revered uncle , the brav « , venerated , Arthur O'Connor , was as cruelly banished from his home , his family , his friends , and his country , for bis honesty and fond attachment to our lovely Green Isle cf the West

      We would , indeed , be unworthy the name of Irishmen , if we were to allow this favourable opportunity to pass unembraoed , without informing the "Rat Catchers" that though you are bound baud and foot , body and mind , from your fellow-men , for committing no crime but that which your charitable feelings and good sense , and the misery of the people , and your sympathy for them , propelled you to do ; and , by-thebye , only a crime in the eyes of tyrants ; and while a contrary line of conduct , though not half bo praiseworthy in the eyes of the blistered hands and unshorn chins , would have caused you to have been lauded to

      the skies by tho same men who have resorted to the arm of the law to paralyse your designs , instead of reniovingthose grievances of which you have complained , and for which you have so indefatigably laboured ; that there are yet Irishmen whose hearts pant , and who wait with longing desire to see , and whose very blood boils to avenge the wrongs of "their Chief . " And we are constrained to declare that , though you were deserted by all the world , we , though poor , simple , unlettered men , we , at least , are determined to stand or fall with yon , and the great and glorious principles which you advocate consistently , honourably , and determinedly .

      Yes , noble O'Connor , you have justly earned , and truly deserve the respect and veneration of all honest men who really know you , and have witnessed your every act We admire the readiness with which you are wont to concede to suggestions in the public cause , although , perhaps , ia opposition to your own ; that you are willing to acknowledge when corrected , and to give credit where credit is due , even if it may be to those who have not bad the chance of receiving that education which is calculated to make them proficient in the most enterprising concerns of life . This , we conceive , is a sure indication that you are actuated by disinterested motives , and a desire for tbe well-being of every man , woman , and child in the British dominions . The above ia not the only token , by many ;

      there are hundreds cf generous actions—some private , which the world never hears or sees—besides public ones , which entitlo you to the love and esteem of every true lover of his country . We cannot praise you too much for your exertions in dragging before the public , and exposing tho atrocious doings of that notorious parson , Rider , alias the " Rathcorniac Butcher , " which exposure has been so nobly followed up by the Catholic representatives of "improved Ireland . " We have witnessed your endeavours for , and on behalf of the Dorchester Labourers , the Glasgow Cotton Spinners , the Welsh Matters , the Imprisoned Chartists , the defence of the Whiteboys , —in short , the unjustly persecuted of every class , clime , or coleur , have found in you the philanthropist , the vindicator , the sympathiser , and a benefactor .

      Honoured Sir , —If you remain true to your professions , which we have not the slightest reason to doubt , having been mauy times .-go well tried in body and mind , and never known to flinch , nor ever yet found wanting , your name shall be handed down to posterity , and our children will be taught to lisp it with the same admiration and respect , as those of the martyrs and patriots who have gone before , but who are firmly engraven upon the tablets of oar memories , and though even dead , yet ever living . The immortal

      Emraett , Fitzgerald , O'Coigley , MurpnyV Bagnall , Harney , Doyle , Roger and Arthur O'Connor , and the several other patriots , who fought and died for the rights , liberties , and independence : of Ireland . Not tho independence evidently sought for by the Exchange patriots , who feed on the misery of our unhappy , ( and , we are sorry to say , in fearfully numerous instances , ) deluded fellow-countrymen—men who , in your absence , and in an un-Irishmanlike and cowardly manner , take evefy opportunity to vilify and misrepresent you , the only man wbo stood by Ireland when it was

      " Treason to low her , and death to defend . " Accept , therefore , "kind Sir , the sincere ( better felt than expressed ) and heartfelt thanks of your affectionate and df , voted fellow-countrymen , Peter Welsh , Catholic , W , H . Owens , Protestant , Stephen Clark , jnn ., Catholic , Edward Caddy , Catholic Dennis Lenand , Catholic , William Cunningham , Catholic , Hugh Ewins , Catholic , Peter Fitz « mmons , Protestant , Thomas Webb , Catholic ,

      Dennis Morgan , Catholic , Thomas Culien , Catholic , James Farren , Catholic , Nicholas Murphy , Catholic , John M'Hindley , Protestant , Patrick M'Guinness , Catholic , Patrick Beswick , Catholic , James Holeran , Catholic , Peter Dunavan , Catholic , James M'Cawley , Protestant , Thomas Colbert , Protestant , James Starkie , OwenFygens , Thomas Clark , Catholic .

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      — ^^ __ THE NORTHERN STAR , v : . 7

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 29, 1841, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1111/page/7/