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GLASGOW.—A meeting was held iu the Universal
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TO THE LANDLORDS OF IKELAOT). 1
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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LETTER T . Hv Lords and Gentlemen , I never , ¦ with one single i eeeptioB , felt so self-satisfed -with any poor service I $ jX I hive been able to render to the labouring classes , } „ I do with the success of my letters to yon as far as j Bjgy hare gone . 3 > o not mistake me , however , and j suppose that I mean thereby that thtir coatentsias j bad any , the slightest effect upon you -. no such thing ">>
X never expected such a result My satisfaction flows j bom tne countless assurances irbich I daily receiTe ' jfom mj clients , and not a few middle class converts , j one all testifying high approval of my letters . But ' , jjeyond such positiTe proof , I hare the still greater ; jgg&tiYe assurance of the strength of my positions , the jueastaWeness of my arguments , the necessity of the \ adoption of my plan , and tee practicability of its workings , in the gfleace of the press .
At the outset I assured you that if I wrote one hundred letters , yet would not one single newspaper in the fcinrdem copy into its columns a . sentence from one of tfcem- I told yon that the reason was , because in not one ironld they find a line to serve the political purpose of politicsl faction ; and that they require not , nay , wish n st , for knowledge upon matters affecting only ite comfert of those for whose rights alone all profess to con tend - , as far as I fcuow , not & paper has noticed & jingle line . I shall just tell you the one exception to vfc icb I allude above , and shall Ihen proceed with nj saVject .
J allude to the holding of a " sacred month" as it was oiled , when from the 12 th of August till the 12 th of September , 1839 , the ¦ working people of this empire jere invited fcy a set of merchants to fast and pray , jndbe shot at , to carry a point for the said merchants . Id that 1 eiw the seeds of a revolution , for which the e ^ ip irators were well prepared , but for ' which the neools were not at all prepared ; and I ttinnV God that % t tba risk of popularity , and of even life itself , I
steuped in and stopped what , in my ccnscienee , upon suture reflection , I believe to have been a deep consp iracy hatched by a set of as great cowards as ever ETed , to experimentalise -upon the excitability of a ujiicn of braTe and oppressed people , condemned Jot a month , "without stores , provision , or ammunition , to sustain an useq ^ a ] conSict against an organised military force and a leH-sapplied and thorou ^ hly-anned com . mmirv , unirrd without distinction of sect , creed , or politics , so long as the campaign listed .
Yes , my Loris and Gangsmen , it is now two o ' clock in the morning , « nd , Desimctire as I am , I lay down E 7 pea , and with uplifted hands , return grateful tlauks to Almighty God that I was made the humii » instrument to stop the effusion of human blood , izi . tte great " ¦ weeping , and wailing , and gnashing of ið" which must have follo wed so hellish a confpincy , had the experiment been tried . ' My Lords and Gentlemen , I now proceed with my gc ^ sc : , but eo : as premised in my last latter , -wherein I& : d that ihis one should be devoted to a considers ;!;* cf a Repeal of the Legislative Union betwten Great Britain and Ireland .
I fear , firstly , that such course -would prejudice you acainst say portion of my letters , ¦ which might other-¦ wise receive a favourable consideration at your hands . Secondly , that inasmuch as you wish to remain wholly Ignorant of the subject , it would be throwing " pearls before swine . " And , thirdly , because I have not yet by ary means exposed the full amount of injustice ¦ which yocr follies to call your sins by the Boldest nssie ) entail upon yourselves and the
axiii-a at large . My course , therefore , shall i > e to cone '; ude my letters to you in another number , ana ihen addr ess a series cf six letters to my friend and countryman , ilr . O * 31 alley , upon the subject of Repeal ; after which I shall wind up with one letter to the iadustricus of all classes , pointing out what in my mind win ensure , and speedily , the adoption of my social plan , and likewise the political means of insuring its full scope and permanent establishment .
My Lords and Gentlemen , never lese right of the principal object irMch 2 have in Tie-sr . That object is la redne-2 to practice the great and mighty principles which all profess to contend for ; namely , to hitter the audition of the uvrkity dasses . Be the dispntants landlords , manufacturers , merefczsts , traders , or shopkeepers , rnnUhnsians , freetndeis , political economists , monopolists , or anti-xoonepiliti , all are agreed upon that philanthropic result
Such , then , being the ease , I have a right , as ac credited advocate of a majority of the whole people of this rreat nstion , to insist either that my positions and KjnsieEts shall be boldly met and refuted , or candidly Esntsdered to and acted upon . It will not do to pass m » by in silence . I assure yon that the whirlwind of the Homr . i Chronicle office , created by the contrarious Kasti of " Diogenes , " "A Bagman , " "A Working Han , " and " Agricola , " and eneh pigmy controTertialfaii , or bfcllo-s-s-blowers , ¦ will but throw the dust , as ill whirlwinds do , in the eyes of the immediate pas-W 2 IETS . I never read such stuff since I was bom .
So much fcr the corps dramatique of one of the peat stage-nunsgers ; while he ef the rival House attests to fence your estates against tfce raging " Piagne" by " a cordon samalairer of & majority of HKte eighty oi ninety participators in abuse . Such is the vain hope cf the Times . While the rival fictions would thus whimsically use yon for thisr respectaTe purposes , I contend Id principles ¦ which "will make you independent of both .
We all desire to better the condition of the people , l \ least we profess it ? Very well : I defy you by any eae social or political process , to effect that object , ¦ without establishing in the outset , some standard value lor ma's free labour . You cannot do it without that ; it is impossible ; nor can yen , in a mercantile country , where fictitious money and artificial labour is brought into competition with raal money and manual labour , accomplish it otherwise , than by throwing the siourer npon his " otm resources ? " by "which 1 mesn giving him an opportunity of applying his labour ind capital to the greatest advantage , and for his own bessSt And inasmuch as the land opens the only field fix the exercise of those resources , you cannot
accomplish your professed j ^ ject otherwise by locating men upon the soB , allotting to each a sufficiHicy for the expenditure of his labour , which is his capital . Until thin is done , the inventive mind of man day set one portion of society living as legalised free ' looters -epen another portion , according to the immediate ascendancy cf political parties ; Governments may bseome a band cf licensed smugglers , or a preventive service , according to expediency , and by the diat of brute force , may either force their contraband goods there , and prevent tie importation of centraband procVnee of ether nations from coziicg he re ; bat believe »« , that the crew , although secure for a while , will , EK long , be exposed to ail the dangers cf eo precarious leallis ? .
Hy Lords and Gentlemen , I will show you that you csanot deal -with , check , or mould , the manufacturing interests of this country to national purposes , otherwise thaa through , the agency of a free labour market established by the Email farm system . I defy you to deal -with It ij law . You cannot do it . ' Let us try . Suppose you say tax steam-power ; I answer , you are tooliie . You hate hade hesistasce tvoeth x ix voxruos . But suppose yon cenld effect it , what Siea " ' ¦ You -would but have sharpened both edges of
iaSFsrcrdfor the destruction of labour . FirsUj , the ^ ssufaeturer having worked the very fl . e * h from the bcass , ¦ w ould see through the transparent skin of his « &ve , before he -would allow himself , with his class Power , to be mulct to the amoat of a pexmy in the poend , as his share of the impost . Kay he -wcrald Bake p » o £ : of the tax while he complained of its kjasr-K : Secondly , you would leave all tho 3 e grie-Tssees to -which your monopolies expose the labourer , ^ redressed .
" Seduce the hours of work . " To that I answer yon asst £ rst practice the operative as the Frenchman did & * borse , te live upon less and It 53 till at length ( like B * Frenchman ' s horse , who unfortunately died just as ^ master , hoped te had succeeded in the experiment ) Joa bring John Bull to live on nothing ; as be •¦ tredjthemaster ' s motto is " nothing for noiMvg . " His Knfiis win be the last plank in the vessel ; and at
pre-* * * h 6 operative cannot procure more than enough *^ ° fourteen and sixteen hours of hard and incessant 1 ** ° ia to insure a mean and scauty subsistence without Cns linSIe enjoyment to mate " his chief pride ( o cm-^ «* fte rr-odesi coT . foTis cf his rosd : 7 icr .. " This much * R 8 ss to the limitation cf maefcintrv : let US 16 W W ^ der ths TJvipian scheme for its extension . ( ll ? r e e trade , " eets the political ecocoia : st la what ? 'In produce . " Olwhst ? "Why of cotton and wool . " In
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What state ? " Manufactured of course . " Ho-w pray ? "By l&boni , of course . " What labour pray ? "Wny artificial labour , of course . " Well bat that labour is too free already , and the freedom is in the wrong hands . The Tery thing of which I complain is , that the profit * on artificial labour is made free of all the markets of the ^ orid , -while the owner of natural labour is restricted by laws , by custom , usuages , and
conditions , from taking any part whatever in the great question of labour , beyond the slaves' part of working for a mere subsistence ; without ene pleasure f ot the present , or a pleasing anticipation for the futnre , beyond wfeat the delights of a tyrant-system may afford him , in old age , a time when his labour should have insured for him a happy fire-side and calm repose , without the fear of the wolfs approach , the rich man ' s vengeance , or the law ' s oppression .
" Free trade . " In -what pray ? In corn ? Nonsense ! To whom is the freedom to be extended ? To a joint stock company and starve beggars , who may , by their political power , apply any hocus-pocus sliding scale for the regulation of the price of food with equal success , ; and perhaps unequal pressure , as a government of 1 magicians representing the said joint-stock company regulate those matters at present ? What guarantee have the people that Jheir position would not be made more dependent by this double freedom of their taskmasters ? and wherein have they the people , ever
¦ srithin the memory of man , derived one single benefit from any measure projected or supported by their unnatural enemies ? What guarantee have they that all the burdens now pressing so heavily and unequally upon labour , and upon labour alone , would not act with a double pressure when the same amount was to be paid annually out of the proceeds of labour reduced to continental competitive prices ? while every salaried person , and persons with fixed incomes , would be placed in the happy situation of being able to purchase just twice as much of the produce of labour as they now can for the same salaries and incomes ?
" Well , but trade would increase . " So it would , and prodigiously , for a while , until , by a corresponding increase of machinery , the masters could place themselves In a condition to do the thing in the cheapest way ; and , in the meantime , just one-word about SOS , 000 of the most valuable portion of society , and their families—the hand-loom -weavers , the natural strugglers against artificial labour . What is to beeome of them ? " 6 , go to the mill , to be sure ! " Why , I tell you that you have now more goods than yon know what to do ¦ with , without such an accession ; and if your scheme succeeded , yon -st-onld drag the "world "with your prodnea , and drug England and Ireland with corn , while the land at hem e would be uncultivated , while the thing was finding its level , and the people starving in the midst of plenty .
If you produce to the extent to which you desire , and if you take corn in return—( for , mind , that's the whiini —firstly , will the foreigner give you corn for more of your produce than he requires ? and will you give the corn because your steam labour brings it in abundantly , for nothing . to those whom it displaces ? Now , that is my position . If machinery is to be man ' s holiday , & 3 it ought to be , allow the Trades' Unions—the capitalists , to make what they can , and the more the better , provided the fiesh and bone idlera on compulsory STBi&E are xcell maintained by the mules and spinning > mnies ti trerk .
, My Lords and Gentlemen , it has been often said that ¦ , the agricultural and manufacturing interests should go ! hand in hand . So they should . But who prevents , them ? » nd who severed those hands which should be I united ? and which while etery man ' s value was im-; pressed upon each man ' s own handywork , were united , i thus making England the envy and admiration f of surrounding nations ! What was England . then ? A great national family , the several branches consLting of agricultural weavers and ¦ weaving agriculturalists ; of producers and consumers regulating demand and supply , and living united in heart and
band m 'small agricultural communities ; composing themselves the civil power of the country , as having themselves the greatest interest in the peace cf Hie country ; iiscovnicnancin g crime and rice lest it sh * uld furnish an ' example to the rising generation ; making settlement a necessary qualification for a demand upon 1 the poor man ' s saving bank , ¦ which you have converted i into a blood-money . starve-beggar . reduce-iabour . degradethe-poor-fund . You found the hands tbus united—you found England by euch a union a nation . You have served the twin I rothers , and would now reduce your country to the humiliating condition of being a beggar at the door of foreigners .
The law of primogeniture is the eldest son of class legislation npon corruptien by idleness ; and unrestricted artficial power is the younger son of the same parents ; and the very same discord which the law of primogeniture has caused in families , has class legislation caused between the agricultural and manufacturing interests , -which should be as twin brothers , nay , as Siamese , literally dependent the one upon the other foi
existence Jiy Lords and Gentlemen , —It is enough to make a less excitable person mad to think upon the state to which you have brought the finest peasantry of which history makes mention , —the English , the Irish , the Scotch , and the Welsh people ; and , in truth , J must blow off my wrath in a turn or two in my stone ceffin before I am ¦ fit . to resume my subject dispassionately . Before I start again , I thank God , that if my real offence did not entitle me t « the honour of a felon's dungeon , my exposure of your oppression , and my resolution to conquer it or die , jostly entitles me to your hatred , if not to your disrespect .
My Lords and Gentlemen , —I now return to my client ' s case ; and having eo far disposed of some of the abuses of both parties , I shall proceed to comment upon a fallacy or two of good hearted theorists , who would correct , the whole of the evils of both systems by reclaiming our waste lands and just observe how plainly I deal with this subject , and also mark how difficult it is to deal with perverse and obstinate men , who , while they profess to agree upon an object , render its attainment impracticable by the whimsicallity of their means for its accomplishment . I entirely agree as to the propriety , the prndence . and the necessity of
bringing all waste lands into cultivation , every inch of them ; it is the lean beast , and man ' s labour alone can make it fat . But then , waste land ia not the field wherein the labourer can acquire the full amount of his labour ; it is not the market for establishing a just standard . Labour expended upon waste land as to labour expended upon improved land , is just what the labour of a hand-loom weaver is as compared with artificial labour . In the one case the man is hired according to the market price set upon his labour by the capitalist ; and in the other he works for himself ; and his industry establishes the standard of his and of other labourer ' s
value . Capitalists alone <* " » reclaim land by hired labour , and that labour will be hired at as low a price as possible , if iis value it not somehow established in a free and open market- The poor man , with only his health , his strength , and his industry , could not reclaim a cold swamp that required expensive draining ; a mountainous heath that required fencing and heavy manuring ; or scrub and- stiff soil that rtquired much labour and manme in the commencement That is the field wherein the capitalist can insure a good interest for money laid out in reclaiming ; but it is not one in which the poor man could find any market for his labour without a money capital ; of which money capital and the means of judiciously supplying it , more hereafter .
I unhesitatingly assert , as I before stated m a letter which I addressed to the anti-Repeal landlords of Ireland in 1532 , that rent , ( I care not what the amount if at all ia reason } while labour is free , is but an item , and an inconsiderable cne , in the labourer ' s Eccount-I therein showed thatlainieotslkToughBeveralprocesses before yielding any ciop ; and that each and every one of those processes involves an expence greater in amount than the rent : aEd the neglect cf the proper
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performance ot any one of them , would make the lowest rent of the best land high , because the loss of all is involved in this single neglect Indeed , by good fortune I have by me a number of that very letter , and I shall here insert it , just aa it stood . It is as foliowP" Let us see what rent really is . It iSj in fact , one of the smallest items in the fanner ' s account . Let us contrast H with any one of the other items . The rent is 153 . an acre . Let us consider the expence of the different crops in their different stages . We will begin vrith Potatoes : £ a- d . Seed of an acre of potatoes , 4 loads at 3 d a weigh ... 0 12 0 Cutting at 8 d a load 0 2 8
6 14 8 This is one item . How near the rent ! Take the expen . ee of another stage : — Expence ef patting out manure , ISO loads to the acre ( very moderate . ) Six horses at 20 loads a day , at the rate of 2 s . 6 d . a horse 0 15 0 Expence of cultivation , one plough 0 5 0 Eight men at Sd . hacking 0 5 6
15 6 This item you see is 10 s . 6 d . more than the rent Let us take another : — Eight boys at 6 d . sticking ¦ 0 4 0 Sixteen men earthing and second earthing ... 0 10 8
0 14 8 Within fourpence of the rent ! Let us try again : Digging—30 men at Sd ... 1 0 0 Picking—10 women at 3 d ... 0 2 6 £ 12 6 This item is one half more than the rent . And , bear in mind , that every one of the processes above enumerated and estimated are necessary , and that if any one of them be neglected , the whole will be lost , rent and all . So much for Potatoes . Now for Wheat , the farmer ' s great crop . Half a Lag of seed Wheat at 253 0 12 6 One horse ploughing 0 2 G
0 15 0 Just the amount of the rent . Try again . Expence of reaping , 5 men at Is 0 5 0 Bindin ? , 2 * at Is . 0 2 C Thrashing , 5 hundred , at Is . per hundred ... 0 5 0 Cleaning , shaking straw , and taking to market , 0 2 6 0 15 0 The rent again ! Indeed , the same result will come out , in whatever light we view the matter . We -will now consider the small profits from an acre of land , putting aside , for the moment the consideration of the larger profits . From these , too , it will be seen that the rent , I 03 . per acre , is but an item .
The stalks alone of an acre of early potatoes are worth , for cattle , nearly a year ' s rent . The B'raw of an acre of wheat , at five cwt . to the acre , and at 5 ; . per cwt . will be worth £ 1 5 s . —ten shillings more than the rent . The straw of an acre of oats , say five cwt ., at 3 * . 6 d . per cwt ., will be worth 17 s . 6 d . —two and sixpence more than the rent . Indeed , the very weeds taken out of a potatoe field are worth a great part of the rent . "
I have been a very extensive farmer , and & very extensive employer . My skill in farming has been generally acknowledged ; and I have no hesitation in saying that I would rather give £ 5 10 s . per acre for ten acres ot land worth only £ 0 , than give 153 . per acre for land ¦ w orth a pound ; provided that the scale of the respective valne ef each was justly established by some correct standard . And why ? Because , after payment of Tent , I should have three times as much for my labour upon the good ground ; and this again proves
the value of labour over raw material . Give a goou workman without capital , ten acres of bad land at 10 s . per acre ; he will work away at it , and will not do much more than live , and pay his rent , at first ; but he will certainly , if it is bis own at a corn rent , by degrees improve it , and make it a savings' bank for his labour deposits . However , when 1 start at a ten shillings rent , I Btart from the very lowest at which man can work , pay his way , and live- without capital .
My Lords and Gentlemen , I have now shown you and , I think , plainly , that the reclaiming system , While it would certainly increase our produeing powers , and pay the capitalist a good per centage , would not , however , be the proper field for ascertaining the real value of a working farmer ' s labour ; and as that is my object , and in order that a difference as to means should not lead to a split upon the principle , let us see if , by agreement upon proper details , we may not even yet agree upon this reclaiming system . In the consideration of this subject , I open a great national question well worthy the attention of statesmen who would yet reclaim Uieir country , and make ber -what she ought to be .
The term " reclaiming , " of course , applies to the practice of bringing barren and heretofore uncultivated soil into cultivation , and the process requires capital . The question is , how the double object can be achieved of opening a free market for labouT , and reclaiming waste land at the same time ; for 1 am not for reclaiming any thing that will not reclaim my clients also . Waste land , if it is to be thus reclaimed , must be made a proper field for the exercise of free labour . My Lord ' s and Gentlemen , it is a sad and melancholy fact , that the philanthropist cannot discuss tke simple question of digging or ploughing the ground without finding himself hemmed in and hampered on
all sides by the mysterious science of politics ; a science at a perfect knowledge of -which no man can arrive , while the knowledge of to-day may be iguoranee to-morrow ; a science whimsically worked into practice by the most opposing principles—those of Whiggery to-day and of Toryism to-morrow ; a science -which makes the greatest statesman and boldest tyrant in office quail before a single night ' s mildew , and break before " the wind that sheds the corn , " while he refuses to bend to a simple system which would make man independent of all casualties save those with which God in wisdom thought proper to visit him ; a science which makes man ' s happiness , nay his very
life and the peace of tke country , and the very existence of society to depend upon the rule of farthings . Ah ! my Lords and Gentlemen , the wild hypothesis of the metaphysician , or the complicated and unravelable assertions of the theorist , provided they are wrapped up in classlegislation dresses , pass current in the world of letters as wisdom and philosophy ; while the simplest assertion of the philanthropist , if it tend to the elevation of the poor man , is set down as infidelity and heresy . However , as the rays of knowledge begin to Bhine through my prison bars , and as they are sure to spread their benign influence abroad over the whole face of the earth , I am nothing daunted ; and shall therefore , despite the
political-economist , thefarthing-sliding-scale patriot , and the dread-shower statesman , proceed at or , ce to my purpose which is to apply details to your principle of reclaiming waste land . Of that laud you have in Great Britain and Ireland more than fifteen millions of acres capable ef rvcl&matiou . It at all events can scarcely be called your own , and is therefore out of the Newcastle principle of doing what you please with it By its proper appropriation , you net only do not suffer damage , but , on the contrary , I propose to do for you what you cannot do
for yourselves : to make it valuaWe . I estimate that laud at a rent of Is . 4 d . per acre . I calculate that each acre in the outset , taking the tenant ' s house and stock , and means of subsistence , till the land is brought to bear , into account , would require somewhere about £ 7 per acre , or a capital of about £ 100 for every fifteen acres . The fifteen million acres allotted in farms of fifteen acres to one million heads of families , would thus require a capital of one hundred millijns of pounds sterling to aid the working communities in their work of reclamation
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The value of those fifteen millions of acres , at twenty years' pnrobase , at a rent of Is . 4 d . per acre , would cost Government £ 2 O , «« e , O ( 3 O . Now what I propose is , that Government shall purchase the lands from you , say at that rate , and then under proper official management , at the head of which should be a Cabinet Minister , to be called the Minister of Agriculture , lease those lands at la . 4 d . per acre , in lots of fifteen acres , with a capital of £ l 0 » advanced to each tenant , subjecting the tenant to a rent of £ 5 per annum for the land , » nd the interest of £ 100 at four per cent , that is £ 1 for land and £ 4 for interest
This sum of £ 120 , 000 , 000 I propose to consolidate into one national fund , which shall stand as a mortgage upon the fifteen millions of acres , and over which the Parfimeut alone shall bare contwul ; and that it should not be a transferable stock , or a stock allowed to be made the medium of exchange , barter , or traffic in the . Jew ' s temple ; but that the Government shall merely be agent for the fund-holder and * fund-payerreceiving from the sue and pay Ing to the other .
I propose thatafter the first eleven years the tenant shall yearly pay ten pounds in liquidation of his debt ; thereby liquidating the whole amount at the end of the next ten years , or with the twenty-first year of his tenancy ; at the close of which period—twenty-one years—I propose that the tenant shall pay no more than the original chief rent , of Is . 4 J . per acre , and all local taxes ; or a pound per annum for his holding for ever and ever , and amen—until sorao future generation , in its wisdom , shall see the State necessity of making the then occupiers—themselves being parties—pay something more as their quota of any national requirement Now , those
who are in love with a national debt as a bond of union , have it herein the flash and the spirit ; those who so loudly call out for the cultivation of our waste lands have here the only chance by which their desire , which is improvement and fcbe bettering of the poor man ' s condition , can ba simultaneously effected ; those who " fear that population presses too hardly upon the means of subsistence" have here the means of obviaMng that disaster ; those of the school of political economy have here the practical illustration of one of their daring principles—that " when circumstances close up
one channel of speculation and industry , other circumstances open another channel ; " those who would gladly find a resting place fur the " surplus population , " made such by the substitution of artificial for natural labour , have here the harbour open for them ; those who would add t © out no w , as they say , ' too scanty surface of wheat producing land , " have here an extension offered to them ; while , although I would much prefer the more improved field for the establishment of a free Jabour standard of value , I have no abjection , provided he gets me means , to allow my client to work out his own salvation in the more barren field .
Here we have a means of immediately providing for seven millions of people ; and in less than ten years of providing for fifteen millions of people ; iwl at the expiration of tweaty-one years , the original farm a of fifteen acres each would be capable of being subdivided for the families , into farms of five acres each , if necessary . Thus would our present tvaste lands , New England , Ireland , and Scotland , of themselves , support on the spot , twenty-one millions in affluenca , comfort , and splendour , at the end of twenty-one years and for ever .
The laws to effect this purpose need not occupy more than a folio sheet ; while the difference between Three-and-a-half per Cent ., at which Government could easily raise the money , and four Per Cent cheerfully paid by the labourer , would more than cover all the expences of adding a new and necessary department to the state machinery . But it is too visionary ! ' tis complicated ! because the interest of the poor man is concerned ,- while if two hundred millions of pounds were
required for a speculation to build a floating-bridge across the Atlantic , or to make a tunnel from Dover to Calais ; if the subjugation of labour , or the importation of foreign troops , was the object , every angle in a fascinating drawing by some happy draftsman would be scanned , and all FOOLISH objections overruled by " Bagman" " Diogenes , " " a Working Man , " or " Agricola ; " and " the wind would be raised" in spite of all perils by land and water .
In the sixth chapter of my book ( for I have got so far , treat this subject more minutely , and shall , therefore , for the present , allow you to chop upon it ; just asking you if you imagine that any tenant of New England , New Ireland , or New Scotland would require the process of the Ballot to make him ty to the cry of" The Staie , ( of which he composed a part ) is ia danger' ?—or even as a cloak to cover hia face while he declared who should be bis reprentative . No , no—Those , like all your arrangements , are but poor substitutes for the plain and simple rights which man should possess ; and the -want of which makes national service a badge ot slavery , instead of being a work of pleasure .
My lords and Gentlemen , the fact is this : the people have now had quite enough of the great cricket-match between Whigs and Tories . The Tories had a long innings and left a heavy score before they were run out ; the Whigs in turn have been bowled out ; and they have not made a bad innings ; but now , we must try a match of all Britain aud Ireland against the oligarchy . And believe me the Britons and Irish will catch the
oligarchy out at every ball they strike . Will you never learn wisdom ? or do you not see that the time has come when a great nation must have some better Charter of its rightsrsome better security against starvation , some more defined policy for its government , than what fickle faction may whimsically eke out of the address of a defeated minister' to his supporters , or out of the plausible speech of an expectant minister to his wellfed and welcome cuests 7
We must have some aBsnrance that a night ' s mildew or a day ' s heavy rain shall not consign us to famine ; and we must have some better rule for regulating our supplies of food than the farthing or fractional sliding scale of political economists . I can find no such rule except in a free labour market ; and therefore for that I eentend . My Lords and Gentlemen , hitherto you have played your cards badly . Ton never should have relied upon other wealth than the highest cultivation of your own natural resources and artificial
advantages , lour iron , your coal , your insular position and green fields , added te your mechanical advantages over all other nations , and the hardihood and bravery of the people , should constitute your wealth , your greatness , and your pride . But in order to make slaves of the people , you have cheerfully joined in every experiment for their oppression , degradation , and humiliation , until at length yon have made them declare in their wrath , that if injustice and this great disparity between man aiud man , Is to be perpetuated , It shall only be so by the right of conquest , and not by the sliding scale of obligarchical whim .
My Lords and Gentlemen , no man has a more thorough contempt than I have for the mere professional patriot , who lives upon abuse , while he looks upon dissension with the same interest that a lawyer looks upon a good complicated Chancery suit I have now opened every door of the temple of corruption in which you have been long pent up , so that no obstacle should be opposed to your advance to meet popular opinion , so long appealing to you in vain . I have denuded the buggaboo Chartism of the party garb
in which faction has long dresBed it I have shewn it to you in all its Destructive simplicity . I have explained the modest results anticipated from its success , and tUe great national advantages to be derived from its substitution for the present pauperizing , sterilizing , brutalizing , degrading , peace-destroying , hatred-creating system-I have shewn you that the people neither court idleness , or contemplato plunder , but that their principle is strictly Malthufiian—amounting to a desire to be " thrown upon their own resources ; " and thereby to
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prove that " their chief pride censists In the modest comforts of their condition . " I am , my Lords and Gentlemen , Your obedient , And 4 ery humble servant , Feargos O'CONNOR . Aug . 4 th , 1841 . P . S . My Lords and Gentlemen , I have this moment laid down the Morning Chronicle of the 3 rd of August , and I cannot avoid the temptation of a postscript , to which the following , among many equally ridiculous passages , extracted from a pamphlet of the Hon . and Kev . Baptist Noel , invites me . Now , pray attend . He says : —
" There is an opinion sometimes expressed by well meaning persona , that we ought to keep up the agricultural population , and prevent the multiplication of great manufacturing towns , with all their disagreeable accompaniments of dirt and smoke and noise . But this opinion is surely thoughtless . The land is already so thoroughly cultivated that while the number of families in Great Britain employed in agriculture in 1821 was 978 , 656 , the number employed in the same manner in 1831 was reduced to 961 , 134 . The land , therefore , cannot , employ the additional population ; and to endeavour to prevent multiplication of towna and the extension of manufactures , ia to endeavour to secure that the whole additional population of Great Britain and Ireland should be without employment and without food . "
In God ' s name , I ask , is it wonderful that we should have 400 , 000—nay , 4 , 000 , 000 of stray sheep from that flack of which the Hon . and Rev . Gentleman is shepherd in common with the fleecing Church ? What , O ! what can equal this manifest , this egregious , this consummate ignorance ? Well for the man he is a gentleman aud no Chartist . ' else would he have written himself down for a fool . But what think you of the leading political Journal of the ' ten years' Reform ministry" bestowing much above a
column of laudatory comment upon the absurdity ? I shall tike the above chapter from the lamentations of the Kev . Baptist Noel , as the text for my nest letter ; and if the man , who wrote the comment for the Chronitle , ( I hope it was " an old aud valued contributor , ) does not hide his face for very shame , why then bo is a man of stoel indeed . Perhaps the whole thing may be a puff . If so , it has succeeded ; for , upon reading the above , I instantly wrote to my publisher to send me the Rev . Gentleman's whole book , with the intention of exposing its fallacies , heresies , dogmas , and falsehood .
Glasgow.—A Meeting Was Held Iu The Universal
GLASGOW . —A meeting was held iu the Universal
Suffrage Hall , College Open , on the night of Wednesday , July 28 th , of those persons appointed as lecturers at a previous meeting . Mr . Calien in the chair . He opened the business of the meeting by stating that the object for calling them together was that they might adopt proper rules and regulations for their guidance during their lectures and the debates w&ich would follow ; also to draw lots for their turn of lecturing . Mr . M'Farlane considered it very probable that two or three of the lecturers might choose the same subject , and that it would be necessary to select a number of subjects for their adoption . This was opposed by Mr . Giile&pie , who moved that every one be left to choose his own subject , and that no other question bo allowed
but those winch embraced the wrongs of BritUU and their cure . This was seconded by Mr , M'Kay , When it was put from the chair , and carried unanimously . Mr . Rodger then moved that forty minutes be allowed to the lecturers in Giasgow ani suburbs , thos « frosu the couutry to be left to their own discretion , and , as a matter of course , the privilege of reply at the conclusion of the debate . This was seconded by Mr . M'Farlane , and unanimously adopted . It vras also agreed that ten minutes be the time allowed to each speaker in debate . Mr . Gillespie then remarked , that as their present object was not so much for the elucidation of important political subjects , as for the fostering and bringing out talent for the approaching Chartist campaign , he would move that no speaker be allowed
to speak more than once on the same night ; and that if any person moved an adjournment of the debate , said person shall open the question on the next night of debate . This motion produced a discussion , in which Messrs . Cjlq . ihoun , Rodger , Ross , Moir , Roy , Hoey , and others , took a part , when Mr . M'Fariane moved , as a rider to Mr . Gilleapie ' s motion , that if any speaker wishes to address the meeting a second time , he shall appeal to the chairman , who shall then take the sense of the meeting whether the person shall be heard or not . The motion and rider was then put and carried , it was also agreed that the chair be taken every night of lecture , at a quarter post eight o ' clock , and the debato to finish by ten , and that the first lecture be delivered in SI . Ann's Church , on Monday night , the 9 th of August . The lota weTe then drawn , which created considerable amusement . Messrs . M'Fiic ! zen , M'Dove , and Calder , were added to the list
of lecturers ; as Mr . Currie ' s lot was number one , be will lecture on democracy , and its adaptation to the present state of society . Mr . Gillespie stated that his question would bo the People ' s Charter , home colonization , co-operation , and emigration . Mr . M'Farlane , numbers , money , and talent , to carry on the agitation . Mr . Roy , the best way to promote the interests of teetotalism , is by carrying into law the People's Charter . Mr . Hoey , that general teetotalism would carry the Charter . Mr . Capell , the origin , of civil government . Mr . Cullen , the duty of civil governors . Mr . M'Kay , the absolute necessity of speedily gaining the Charter , and the best means to be used for that purpose ; the other lecturers are not yet prepared to say what their subjects of lecture would be . After some business relating to the late election had been discussed , the meeting broke up , after giving a vote of thanks to the Chairman .
Meeting of Directors . —A meeting ofthedirectors of the Lanarkshire Universal Suffrage Association was held in the Hall College Open . Mr . Clellaud , of Toll-Cross , was unanimously called to the chair , who , after ascending the pulpit , good humouredly remarked that his Glasgow friends did not require advice to conduct themselves in a proper manner , and of course his duties would be very easy ; he would , therefore , call upon their warm-hearted Chartist friend and worthy secretary , Mr . Brown , to lay before them -what they wtre now called upon to decide . ( Cheera . ) Mr . Brown then read the minutes of the above meeting , which was drawn up iu his absence , by Mr . Lamont , reporter for the Scottish Patriot ; the various motions previously adopted by the appointed lecturers , were
read over and unanimously adopted with the following amendments : —That Mr . GUlespie's motion relative to the wrongs of Britain aud their cure , shall be considered as having reference to political subjects , as certain portions of the religious world consider the peculiar views on religion as the ouly cure , and their rejection the only curse Britain has to complain of . Mr . Brown read a list of new lecturers ' , -which had been voluntary handed in : —namely , Messrs . Gi !) ffi : lan , Adams , GHffin , Moir , Todd , Houie , Kimnibiirgn , Pinkerton , Dixon , Cameron , M'Lardie , Clelland , Chisholm , Strathean , Dickson , Allan , Patterson , ( Whig , ) R . Lang , aud J . Lang . It was then agreed that all persons , whatever may be their political creed , shall have the liberty of taking part ia the debate . Sometime after , an
amendment was added that they might have the power of lecturing , providing they gut the sanction of the directors . Mr . Pattison addressed the meeting . The remarks of that gentleman should be kept ia mind by every true Chartist ; that poor hard-working men , with wives and families , cannot leave their employment , by solicitation , and go to different parts of the coup , try la order to lecture and pay their own expences . I ( says our reporter ) am satisfied that Mr . Pattison has sacrificed upwards of £ 50 since the commencement of the Charter agitation , in the loss of his work , asd his other expences , going and coming . Mr . Pattison , however , can suffer this loss ; bis wages being four times the Bum of ordinary workmen ; and it says much for Mr . Pattison , that he has ably taken up the situation of his
poorer-paid fellow workmen , many of whom suffered severely before they retired from a contest in which their hearts were willing but their purses were weak . la the two first years of our agitation , when application was made , out went the intellectual five shillings per week handloomvweaver , with the no less talented printer , manager , brass-founder , moulder , engineer , with from £ 1 10 to £ 2 10 s . per week . These individuals of course could very well afford to say we are quite disinterested—we want no remunerationwe will pay all our expences ourselves ;—while the poor five shillings a week jack-ass said— " , I am quite disinterested—atl that I have said or done is for the love of the cause , " while every working man within reach of hia Voice laughs him to scorn , and wishes they
could with propriety take a kick at Ms breech ; Ms wife and family is at borne ; he forgets them ; his soul is in the cause , and his sensitive mind will sot brook to plead poverty before strangers . These remarks , although coming from myself are the deliberate agitations fljwing to the minds of many present , and that we will not suffer whole counties to die a political death , while we have a fl iwer of liberty to send as a restorative from the baneful and narcotic drugs of Wbig and Toryism . A vote of tkinks was given to Mr . Clelland , for his wise and judicious conduct in the ebair , when the meeting , as usual for working men , broke up a little before twelve o'clock , a too late hour for those who have te rise to their bard and incessant toil at five o ' clock next morning .
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fiA '/ y ^~ y ^^/ L ¦ ¦ ' y _ NEWPORT . —Oa Monday night , the Chartists df this place held their weekly meeting at the Black Horse Inn . The room , which is a small one , was crammed to suffocation . After the transaction of some important business , &ai the enrolment of a few new member ? , the following resolution was carried ; — "That this meeting do now give Messrs . Edwards and Dickinson an opportunity of coming before a Committee of the * blistered hands , ' for the parpos * of seeing how far they will be able to vindicate naeir characters , and if they decline to do bo , they shall be discarded for ever ; and , further , we will warn the
country against them ? ' The Committee will meet at Mr . Jonah Williams ' s , Llanarth-street , on Tuesday , the 9 th day of August , at eight o ' clock in the evening . A vote of thanks was also Riven to Mr . W . Sheliard , of PontypooJ , for the brotherly manner be acted towards our old and tried friend , Mr Biack , of Nottingham . Messrs . PhiJp and Ckrke were highly censured for acquitting Messrs . Edwards and Dickinson without having a fair trial : they had promised to publish their correspond' nee , and then give us an opportunity of refuting it , but they have acted quite the contrary ; therefore , we cannot place confidence in them in future , unless thej offer some 1 apology for their conduct .
STaoUD . —The Stroud Charter Association having received a circular from the Executive in Manchester , its contents were read at their meeting on Monday evening to those of the members present , when it was agreed , on to call a general meeting of all the members , on Monday , August 9 th , to lay its contents before them . It in respectfully requested that all the members will be present on Monday next , as important business will have to be laid before them for their serious consideration connected with the welfare of the Association . The meet , ing will commence at seven o ' clock in the evening .
HUDDERSFIEI . D . —An overflowing and enthusiastic meeting of the Huddersfield Chartists was held in their Association Room , ( which was far too smalLfo ' r the numbers who flocked to the place , } on Monday evening last , Mr . Gailimore in the chair Mr . Julian . Harney addressed the meeting for nearly two hours , principally upon the question of Corn Law Repeal , exposing the fallacies , lies , aad hypo crisy of the " Leaguers . " Mr . H . then reviewed the past career of the Tories , showing up in first-rate style their former dark , despotic , aud bloody deeds Mr . H . concluded with a powerful appeal to hi ? audience , to muster all their force , and bring into action all their energies to put down the stand-p ; illdo-nothing-arist 6 cratic-Tory-faction , asthey ha-i put down the miserable , drivelling , villanous Whigs . The worthy leotnrer's address was responded to ruosl heartily . That old and well tried champion of democracy , Mr . Vevers , moved the thanka of the meeting to Mr . Harney , and these being awarded the meeting broke up .
HALIFAX , —Mr . Julian Harney lectured hero on Thursday evening , July 29 th . The meeting had been aunounced to take place in the Cattle Market , but the weather being very adverse , there was , no alternative but to hold it in the Association Room , which was much too . small for the purpose , great numbers being unable to get admission . Mr . Rawson was called to the chair , and introduced Mr Harney , who for an hour and three quarters rivet £ ed the attention and charmed the feelings of hi ? auditors , by his masterly exhibition of the crimes of the Whig and Tory factions , aad his powerful vindication of the rights of the oppressed people . His address was repeatedly and warmly applauded . The thanks of the meeting having been given to Mr . H . the meeting dissolved . A number of the fair sex graced the meeting with their presence . We are happy we can add , that they ( the ladies ) are already making active preparation for the reception of our Champion O'Counor .
HOLiviFittTH . —Monday was a glorious day ia Holmfirth ; it being made known that Mr . C . Connor would deliver a lecture near the Shoulder of Mutton Inn , a large concourse of pf ople assembled to hear the lecture , a cart being placed for hustings . Wm . Cunningham , an operative , being called to the ctiaiTj he opened the meeting in a , brief and energatio speech , after which ho introduced Mr . Charles Connor , who spoke for upwards of an hour , touching upon the Corn Law , free trade and middle class policy , and proving to a majority of the vast assembly that nothing short ot the People ' s Charter would emancipate the working millions ; after which the worthy lecturer eat down much applauded by the vast assembly . After a vote of thanks being given to the lecturer , the people quietly dispersed . — Correspondent .
ILLINGWORTH . —An open-air meeting of the men of Illingworth and Bradshaw was held in . the neighbourhood of the . former place , on Friday evening , July 30 , to hear an address from Mr . Harney . That staunch veteran in liberty's cause , Mr . Benjamin Rushtoa , was called to the chair , and in an excellent speech introduced the lecturer . Mr . Haruey addresstd hia delighted hearers for an hour and a half ; at the conclusion Mr . Pickersgili moved the thanks of the assembly to the speaker , which ho having handsomely acknowledged , the proceedings terminated .
MILTON OP BAT » GOmE . —A public meeting of the inhabitants of this place was held on Friday evening last , in the School Room , for the purpose of presenting Mr . W . Melville , « f Markinch , with a token of respect for the straightforward manner in which he has advocated the principles of freedom and sobriety . Mr . Andrew Fhilp was called to the chair , and after stating the object of the meeting , called on Mr . Crombie , teacher , to come forward . Mr . Crombie rose , and in a neat speech set forth the
estimate of Mr . Melville b merits , and in the name of the meeting presented him with an elegant plaid , in testimony of their esteem for his services . Mr . Melville rose to return thanks for what he called the unlooked-for and undeserved token of their kindness . He had done nothing , he said , to merit such kindness , as he conceived in doing what he had dona he had only done his duty . The business of the evening being concluded , a vote of thanks was given to Mr . Melville , and to the Chairman , when the meeting broke up .
SAUBBT 7 R 7 . —The Rendezvous of Fifty-ninb Ecclesiastical Dignitaries . —Notwithstanding the worse than heathen * blindness in which the people of this ancient city hare been kept , they ore now making their way into clear light , and wending their way to the Council Room , of the National Charter Association . The Northern Star , the Western , or rather the National Vindicator , and the incomparable : English Chartist Circular , are now being purchased , on Saturday nights , to be read to family circles . Our meeting last Monday evening encourages us to hope for better things of Salisbury than we wete some time ago justified in doing . ' We must endeavour to convert every new member into a useful one , preachers of the Gospel of Chartism , tract distributors , visitors , ice . Those who honoured us and themselves with a visit ,
last Monday evening , promised to come again , and bring their friends . This is good—as it ought to be—it ia glorious ! How it will rejoiee the heart of Mr . Carrier to find an association here ready te receive him , and appreciate his services in our cause , when next month shall see him restored te what in this country goes for the name of liberty . It would be very wholesome discipline for every lover of liberty to walk down by his prison at least once every week , and give way to such reflections as his unparalleled case ought to call forth . Carrier has laboured hard , and is justly entitled to the best thanks of his country . We have as vet no better place to meet in than the bouse of oar excellent Secretary , Mr . Wilkinson ; but we intend shortly to engage a room , and invite Mr . Vincent to open it : after which , there is every room to hope that our progress will be more rapid .
TORE . —At a meeting of the O'Connor ' s Demonstration Committee , on Wednesday evening , July 28 th , it was proposed and carried unanimously , " That a triumphal car be provided for F . O'Connor , Esq , on his release from the dungeon in which he is now a prisoner , to bear him in triumph through the City . " A large white banner , with an emblematical design , ia also being painted for the occasion ; the men of York being determined to have a demonstration worthy ot the incorruptible patriot whom they intend to honour , and of the glorious cause for which he has suffered .
The Council met on Sunday , the 1 st fast , when the practicability of forming a North and East Riding district , for the purpose of supporting a Chartist lecturer , was discussed at length , and it was ultimately resolved that th « sub-secretary should communicate with the Chartists of Selby , Hull , Market Weighton , Pocklington , Malton , * c &c for the purpose of making arrangements for effecting the above desirable object . NORTH SHIELDS . —The cause progresses gloriously here . Ever since the late election the liveliest interest has been manifested by the entire working population of Shields . Mr . Mason was brought forward as Chartist candidate , and in one of the most eloquent
addresses we overheard won tke good opinions of every class present ; indeed , when he came down from the meeting , groups of the middle classes came forward and shook hands with him , and seemod confounded to learn that Chartism meant prosperity to the tradesmen as well as justice to the poor . The Tor ies even invited him to go and dine with them , for which he modestly thanked them , and refused . Mr . Mason has since held two meetings here , for the purpose of addressing the people , at which thousands attended , applauding his sentiments , aud proving the certain triumph of democracy . This gentleman will hold another meetiag on the New Quay , on Tuesday evening , the 10 th inst , for tbe purpose of extending the organisation of the National Charter Asaociatien .
jRRTSSELBURGH . —Public Lectpbe . —A lecture was delivered here on Monday night , in the Masons * Hall , to a largeand most respectable audience , by Mr , James Lowe , of Dundee ; Mr . John Blillock , a working man , in tbe chair . The lecturer spoke in a most eloquent manner , and gave much satisfaction , a number of the middle classes were present The causa is going on well here . They recommend Mr . Lowe to any association who may want a lecture , as a talented and able lecturer . Associations wanting his ser ? ces in the South of Scotland , may write to him , care of Mr . William Taylor , bookseller , Dalkeith .
To The Landlords Of Ikelaot). 1
TO THE LANDLORDS OF IKELAOT ) . 1
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VOL . IY . ffO . 195 . SATURDAY , AUGUST 7 , 1841 . " ^ SSJ ^ fSSS 7 " -
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AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVEBTISEB ,
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 7, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1121/page/1/
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