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Northern Star (1837-1852), 3rd September 1842, Edition 1 of 5, Page 3, riiE jyoftTHEBJsr stae,. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1842. THE WEST-INDIAN CAPITALISTS AND FREE LABOUR.

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    • riiE jyoftTHEBJsr stae,. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1842. THE WEST-INDIAN CAPITALISTS AND FREE LABOUR.
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      Untitled Article

      THE CHARTER . The Chartiita when they first began To advocate the rights of man , The factions ail lite tigers ran To crush out infant Charter . Bat to its rescue thousands flew , Whilst bold O "Connor did pursue , "Who from the fangs of faction drew Tie bantlicg from this murderous crew . The nation -with one mighty Yoica "With gratitude did then rejoice , And haii'd this champion as their choice , To nurse their infant Charter . The wily "Whigs did then ad-rise Their minion tools to paralize , ByVeashery and fiendish spies , The progress of oar Charter . This hellish plot they did pursue , "When soon fire hundred patriots true Were csst in dungeons by the few , For dsricg to maintain their due . Although frith gold they tried in Tain , Yet not one concert could they gain , Each s ^ -bre they eTer would maintain Their dearest rights , the Charter . The Cam Law League soon did advance To show there still -was left a chance 11 Tint Poiaud , Germany , and France Their Corn wi'Jj us would barter . But by restrictions we were bound From tracing with the world around , Whilst thousands 01 the poor were found To starve from want on British ground . " Thus did they rant to gain applause , Still cartlul to evade the cause Teat all our ills were class-made laws And only cure the Charter .

      Ihs people being wide awake The foxes" " clap trap" would not take , Which made the shopocrats to quake Lest we shou d have the Charter . Then erery shift they c-old invent By treachery , in conclave , spent Ticse cunning knaves , being firmly bent Oar glorious progress to prevent . They feign'd at last to sympathy With those who fell a sacrifice—Who 3 e biood for retribution cries As victims to our Charter . Bnt now Sir Bobby ' s Income Bill Will make thorn peep within their till , And force them ont asr / mst their will To advocate the Charter . Well may humanity recoil To eee the poor who sweat and toil , Whilst wantcn idlers waste and spoil The produce of this fruitful soiL * * ?> sw Movers all then pray beware , ~ Xist our hard fate should be your share ; To Freedom ' s standard now repair , 1 o gain the People ' s Charter . Reformers , then , of every grade , Who toil at anvil , loom , pr spade , >* o more of phantoms be afraid , Bn ' rjcin for Freedom ' s Charter . Ton ? country cow from ruin save ; No 1 oep £ * be a willing sltve , Bat like & patriot true and brave Caass tyrants to oblivion ' s grave . Then soon will p ~ ace and plenty reign , When all their equal rights will gain ; So new assist us to obtain Our losg-loit rights , the Charter . GEORGE LlXDSAT Patrlcroft , July 13 th , 1 S 42 . >?

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      CHARTIST LINES , FOR RECITATION . Upon its mother ' s throbbing breast An infant luj , but could not rest ; It wanted focd , and eft its psrchM lips tried The miltless teat , by woe and famine dried—Then screaoi'd with pain . *¦ Hush J biby sleep , The mother cried , " I can but ^ tr ? p . '' Tes , wretched parent , but griefs hot skower Will net restore thy timelesB drooping flower . The child is dying ; tbou thyself must

      die—Famine by las decrees it Tis sad to see The ysung thing writhe and hear its famish'd cry , And know no help z . 1 all can come from thee . The pelican will shed her blood To give her famkh'd nestlings food , And so WuulcLst tica ! tu ; ail in vain ;—It will not sleep , —nor czji ' st thoa soothe its pain . lf O God , " she cries , " O G > J ci earth and heaven , Save me and my sweet babe to day—Perhaps to-morrow something may be given , And wa may live— Great God , I pray . "

      5 s . e sa-w no hepe ; zn wuu distress , Lire Hsgar in the ¦ wilderaess , She Kid her gasping infant by—She c- > u ! d not bear to see it die ! Teen frantic S-w from that sad 5 pot , Bnt could not rest where it w& 3 not . Its look of p ; in—its fetbie cries Haunt her hear : where ' er she fli-. s . Back the retum'd ; her faded fijwer Smiled as it lay—a lovely smile ! Her tears fell fsit as they could pour ; But death sat on its face the while . She catuht it up ;—oh ! load of lead ! What weight so heavy as the dead ? But more she loved it now than ever , And clasp'd it close—no more to sever . Tes . mother and child are now as one—Cold aa f oim 3 of sculptur'd stone .

      And where was tie husband , that child's hapless sire ? He had left them that morning , his brain was on fire With their cries for relief , their moan * of despair Which ha could not ease—he only could share . Twas in vain to beg , for no one wonld give— " He would not steal , then now must he live ? No work could be had , not a friend had he;—There is nothing but hardship for peverty I All he could eell had long been sold , And now they were starving with hunger and cold . 11 Oh God , " he cried , " and must I stand by And see my poor wife and infant die , While the rich are rolling in luxury Robb'd from the wants of such as me ? If I must not work , then what must I do ?

      Ton shall not die—111 light for you . ' " Hts rush'd from home , resolv'd fcr food , And his cry as be went was " Bread or blo » d ! " He joiii'd a crowd that was gather'd there , All iisted together by wild despair . Hunger , ' tis said , wLl ea : through wall 3 , And madness cares not fcr cannon balls . Spite of the swords of cavalry And the bayonets of infantry , Tha ; wwn wa 3 sack'd , aad , mid flsma and blood , The Etamng poor got plenty of food . Away rr-n this father and said " I c ^ rna ' . "

      But when he reach'd once more his home , Whit a right was there : transfix'd ha stands , And the bread dropt from his palsied hands . He stood without motion , no more than they On weem he gtzed , as in death they lay . The soldiers came and bound him fnst ; He strove not , he Btirr'd not , he stared aghast-Bat when they would force him out at the door , He b-irat his bonds and fell on the fl > or , «• My wif «! my wife ! niy child J" Le cried ; His ' he&it iud bcrst , asd so he died . J . W

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      OPPRESSION . Shall we for e- ? -: r lick the dust Or fear the tyrant ' s bedins frown , And cringing , pancier to the lust O : pimpcr'd minions of a crown ? Shall ire for ever bear the scorn Of hearties * we ^ th and fan cied powtr ? Bequ = ath to ages y-. t unborn Oar a > j :-ctr-ess—a galling dower ? Sbsll we for ever bs the spoil Of greedy avarice ? and brood O ' er festering wrongs and tiaanklcss toil In calm and melancholy mood ? Shall wa brhsld the festive halls , Whore the leud isugh of revelry Echo £ 3 along the tinselled walla In mockery of our misery ?

      Stall we n blind submission pay To rteel'd oppression ' s ruthless reign ? Qiiescent sigh ? and meekly pray O £ death to eaa our rankling pain ? Forbid it , God ! the dignity Of manhood must awaken'd be ; Justice demands , and Liberty Proclaims we must and ahftll be free J D . C

      %Ocal Atrtr Cfmral Zntemzence

      % ocal atrtr Cfmral ZnteMzence

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      LEEDS . —National Schoolmasters' Pbotidext Society . —On Saturday last , ai noon , a general teeeting , convened by circular , of masters of the KfcJion&l Schools in the dioewes of York and Ripon , tm held in the Girls' School Room , High Courtlans , Leeds , to take into consideration the propriety of forming a society to be entitled , The National Schoohaastera' Provident Society f the object of which Eacrald be to render nrntnal assistance to each <* ber . Dr . Hook , vierr , of Leeds , took the ehair , and xpressed his concurrence in the object * of the meetiag , although he doubted whether a sufficient number ti subscriber oould fee obtained to meet all the contemplated object ? . The Rev . Mr . Hessay , of HaddersSeld , moved the first resolution , and itated that the Vicar of Huddersfieid would have been present hat for a domestic affliction . The resolution *« , TbAt &s nauooai tch » olniist « r » , as a body ,

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      have no resource to fall back npon , neither in age or sickness , it is desirable that a society for t ° e ! e . Purposes be immediately formed , nnder the title of'The National Schoolmasters' Provident Society . " Mr . Bell , of Huddersfieid , seconded the resolution , "which was caiiicd . The Rev . Mr . Morris moved the second resolution , " That a committee be appointed to carry out the objects of the first resolution . " Mr . Roberts , of Leeds , seconded the resolution , which was also adopted . Mr . Bell , of Huddcrfield , was requested to act as seoretary until the society be fully established , Mr . Simma moved , "That the committee , with the chairman , be empowered to draw up the rules and regulations of the society , and submit the same to a general meeting

      of tha subscribers hereafter to be called by the secretary , and that they apply to his Grace the Archbishop of York , and to the Lord Bishop of Ripon , to become the patrons and presidentsof the society , and to the Archdeacons of the two dioceses ? to become vice-presidents . " Mr . Blanchard seconded the resolution . Mr . Edmondson moved the fourth resolution : — " ThaE all schoolmasters who are now present , and who approve of thesociety , do immediately after the meeting signify the same to the Secretary , and become enrolled members ; that all the national schoolmasters in the two diocesses who have not assented to tho proposed society be written to and requested to become members thereof ; and that any person wishing to become

      a ,. ember of the society , whose school is not in union with the National Society , must produce a certificate from the clergyman of his parish , stating that the school is conducted on the priuciples of the Church of England , and is under his superintendence . ' Mr . BraUhwaite seconded the resolution . Mr . J . Lee moved ih-j next resolution : — " That the head master in each district be the Secretary ( pro . tern . ) for such disttict , and that such Secretary be authorisedin the name of the society , to solicit the clergymen in his district to assist and co-operate in the views of the society . " Air . BiEks , of Holmfinh , seconded the resolution . Mr . Easiham

      moved" That at the formation of ths society , such masters as have signified their intention to become members , bo called upon 10 pay their first quarterly subscription , on the 30 : h of September , or ss soon as convenient . " Mr . J . CollingwoodjOf Whitkirk , seconded the resolution , which like all rhe others was carried unanimously . The following persons were then appointed a committee , viz —Mr . J . S . Bel ] , Seed Hil . i , Huddersfieid ; Rev . H . Braithwaite , Trinity Church , ditto ; R ^ v . F . Holroyde , WoodhouEe , Huddersfieid ; Mr . J . Haywood , Lockwood , and Mr . C . Binks , Holmfirth , with power to add to their number ; and thanks having been voted to tho Rev . Chairmau , the meeting broke up .

      ' Stealing Monet . —On Monday last , a woman named Ann Cow sum , who ha * i been for a few day ? cook at the Griffin Inn , Boar-lane , Leeds , was bruuj ; ht before Griffith Wright and Anthony Titiey , Esqr :- - ., at the Coart House , on a charge ot having stolen four sovereigns , two aprons , and other articles , the property of Esther Moorhouse , barmaid at the Grifliu . It appeared that the prisoner and prosecuirix slept in the same room , and on Friday night , on retiring to re&t , the prosecuti-is had thirteen sovereigns in her purse ; she was awoke during tha night by the prisoner feeling about her pillow , but not suspecting anything , did

      net examine her purse , and consequently did not miss any money until Saturday night , when she missed four sovereigus . She charged Cowburn with tne theft , who denied it , but on searching her , four sovereigns ( for which she could nol satisfactorily account , ) were found in her pocket , and two apron ? , a ' -so the property of the prosecutrix , were found in her box . _ The members of Mrs . Riley ' s family had lost various articles , which were found concealed in different parts of the kitchen , no doubt for the purpose of being taken off . The woman made the usual defense , that the things were her own , and after examining all the witnesses , the woman was committed for trial .

      , Plug Drawirg . —On Saturday last , three men , named Edward Chapp : ll , cloth dres ; er , Hunslet , John Sampson , miner , BLrkenshaw , arid John Scott , micer , Beestoa , were commuced to York Castle for trial , by the L . cds Borough Justices ; the former charged wiih being concerned in "drawing the plug " at Messr ? . Tatham ' s , at Hulberk , and ; he two lat : er being parties in a similar offence at Rojd ' s mili , daring tne recent disturbances .

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      LEEDS BREWSTER SESSIONS . The annual Brewster Sessions were held on Monday morning last at ten o ' clock . Toere were present the Mayor , ( whopresided ) , JamesHoldforth , E q ., Anthony Titley , Eiq ., J . R . Atkinson , E-q ., Ralph Markland , E « q ., Darot-jn Lupton , Esq .. Win . Smith , E = q .. Richard Branilcy , Eiq , Griffith "Wright , E q , George Goodman , Eiq ., "William G . iiimen , Esq ., Jamta Musgrave , E : q ., and Kaiuer Stansfeld , Etq . The Hayok uddress&d a few words to the assembled publicans , and remarked that all persons to whom

      licenses were granted were expected to keep tfeeir honsts in an orderjy manner , not to allow the assem bling of disorderly company therein , but to conduct them accoruicg to the tenor of their respective licenses . The Magistrates had a list of those publicans before them atainst whom complaints have been preferred during the past year , and the licenses of thete persons would be withheld until an inquiry into their conduct had b * en mad ? : the applications f . r new licenses would not be entertained until the others had been all disposed of .

      Tae licenses were then proceeded with . Ihe following were withheld for further inquiry : — Mr . Thos . Moss , Queen's Arms , Kirkgate ; Mr . Thos . Eshelby , Gilbert ' s Arms , . Wortlty ; Mr . Rsbert Cross , Pack Horse Inn , Briggate ; 31 r . Shires , Wellington Hotel , Wellington-street ; Mr . ' Joan Wittoa , Old Parrot Inn , Call-lace ; Mr . Jobn Bairstow , George and Dragon , Marsnlane ; Mr , We Swale , Old Red Lion , Hoibeck-lane ; Mr . Charles Collirter , King ' s Arms , Holbeck ; Mr . Charles Wainwright , Aire and Calder , Calllane ; Mr . Joseph Bsevers , D .-ysalters' Arms , Beeston ; Mr . Thomas Banks , Chequers Inn , Marshall-street , H ?! beck . These licenses will be farther consid ered on Wednesday , the 14 th of September , till which day they are suspended .

      The magistrates then proceeded to bear applications for new licences , when the following were granttd : — Tios . Eall , Queen ' s Arms , Sunny Bank-street ; Henry Robinson , Coach aiid Horses , Buslingthorpo ; John Tate , Aire a-d Calder Nsw Docks , Crown Point ; KtJita Thompson , New Inn , Dj ^ sbnry-road , and to Jonathan Alders jn , Gipton Woo-1 Inn , Roundhay Road . The two following eases were ordered to stand ore until the adjourned brevphter sessions : — Matthew By water , Jfuw Ieb , Wilsun-street , Meadow Lane ; and Benjamin Robertshaw , Britiih Queen , Green-Bide , Wortley . The following persocs had giren legal notice of application , but were refused : —

      J . 'b n Black , Victoria Bridje Inn , School-street ; Tbos . Thornhill , Waterloo Inn , Busiinstkorp ; Wm . Craister , the Qaeen , Roucdhay-road ; James ThompBun . Shepherd ' s Inn , Briuge-sJreet ; Joseph Bobinson , York-street ; John Ripley . Chandler ' s Arms , Mill G ^ rth ; John C ^ stelow , Commodore Napier , Charles-street . Top CIobg ; Geo . Wiseman , Jolly Sailor , Kirkgate ; John Cummins , Hops and Anchor , Pearson-street , Pottery Field ; Joseph Webster , New Inn , Hunslet-lane ; Samuel Ciiy , Grey Mare , Hunslet ; John William Hirst , White House , Dewsbury Road-end ; John Ciitcbley , Prince Albeit , Foster-street , Hunslst-lane ; John North ,

      British Q'a =-en , Grape-street ; Josepa Ceoper , Clareraont House , Braittwaite's Field , Ho ' . htck ; John Caadwick , Moulder ' s Arms , Water-lane , Hnlbeck ; John Brooke , Fsuntain Inn , Armley New Koad , Hoibeck ; George Hopgard , Three Tuna , Marihal .-strect ; John Morton , Globe Inn , Hoibeck ; John Nicholson , Bar )< . y Corn , NfeW W * Ttlty ; Thomas Cawoc-d , Goldtn Lion , Bniruley ; Jonas Hanson , Waggon an ' ' H rs e * , Swinnow Moor , Bramley ; Jetomiah Shiers , x > own Cow , Swkaiow Moor > Bramlty , Wm . Verity , Hough Ead , near Park Spring Wood , Bramley : and John Cooksoa , Queen ' s Arms , Chapel Allerton .

      The farther proceedings were then aojourncd till Thursday , the 14 th of September . Ferme . nt amo- ng the Bisuops . —We uiider = tand ' . hat the serious illness of tho Arcbbi .-hop oi Cauterbury has occasioned au extraordinary ferment amont ; thG Bisbop 3 , all of whom are a 3 tmsy as a certain notorious personage is s&id to be in a high wind . Exctsr has laid a&ide his inreution of paying a second -visit at the public expense—to the Sciily Islands , and is preparing , instead , a

      pamphlet , whoso object is to prove that the present GoTernment is the best of ail possible Governments , and Sir K . Peel the best of all possible Premiers ; while Londoa , equally on the alert , ha 3 been seen frequently , within the last few days , flitting uneasily to and fro between Whitehall-garden 3 and Downing street . The Episcopal Bench has not been so active as it is now since the death of the last Archbishop . The news of the Pope's landing at Dover with a cargo ef faggots would not occasion half such an excitement among them .

      Dkeadpul Death fbom swallowikg Vitbiolic Acid . —On Friday , one of the mechanics employed in the moulding department of Woolwich dockyard , died in the Marine Hospital , in consequence of the exttnsive internal injuries he received by swallowing a large quantity of vitriolic acid . Th * deceased , it appears , wu at work in the workshops of tho moulding department , and , besoming thirsty , he took up a mug containing that destructive liquid , conceiving it to be spring water , and took a draught , which barnt his month and throat in a dreadfnl manner . He was conveyed to the hospital , where every attention was paid , bnt , after lingering for nearly forty-eight hours , ho expired , having suffoxed the greatest agonies . It appears the acid is au article frequently required in the ^ work . The deceased , whose name was Edward Nicholson , was a yoong man only twenty-five years of age , and had bat recently been married .

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      Royal Visit to Scotland . —Her Majesty , Prince Albert , and suite , left Windsor Castlo on Monday morning at fcweaty minutes past five , and arrived at the Paddington terminus at ten minutes to six . From the terminus they started direct for Daptford , where relays of horses were waiting to cenvey them to Woolwich . It having been generally known for some days past that it waa her MUj-isty ' s intention to embark at seven o'clock from Woolwich for Leith , great preparations had been made by the steam-boat proprietors for the immense number of passengers who it was supposed would leave London at an early hour for the purpose of witnessing the departure of the Qieen from the Bhores of England . The morning at four o ' clock was calm and beautiful , and gave

      every promise of a fine day . As the c ' ay broke , however , the oloads began to gather , and at a quarter before five the rain commenced falling in torrent ? , and continued in one unintcrmitted pour until after eight o ' clock . The rain at about half-past six o ' clock Bomewhat abated ; and at Woolwioh the sight , notwithstanding the chilling influence of tho weather , was exciting in the extreme . The Royal George , with the Royal standard flying at her main , her yards manned , and her officers and men at quarters , formed the most conspicuous object . Close alongside her was tho Commissioners' yatebi , tho William and Mary , wuh bxr yards manned . She was profusely decorated with flags , Tho Lightning , the Salamander , the Monkey , and several other steam-vessels werj iu auenda . nc ? . Flags were seen floating over the dock-yard , the barracks , tho arsenal , and the o : i : er public buildings . The shores on

      both siie 3 were crowded wkh spectators . Precisely at seven o ' clock a royal salute , fired from a battery stationed in the dockyard , answered by another salute from the arsenal , announced the embarkation of hi-r Majesty . Jn the cours 3 of a 'iff seconds the Royal Gcorgo got under weigh , and beinc taken in tow by the 6 t < am tug Monkey , W . Bryant , proceeded a : a rapid rate down the river . The Royal George was preceded by the Lightning * steamer , Lieut . G . SaelU which cleared the way for the progress cf tho royal fleet , also the Shearwater , Captain Washington , the Fearlesa ( steamer ) , Captain F . Bullock , aud the Ridamanthus , Lieut , T . Laen , brought up the rear . A 3 the royal h \ -et pas ? ed down the river , royal salutes were fired from the barracks and from the arsenal , as well as from the dockyard Tho royal squadron was off the Nore at eleven o'clock this morning .

      The coal whippers of London struck work on Wednesday , in order to relieve themselves from a larjje per centago which reduces their pay from seven farthings par ton to one penny , and which is exacted by certain middlemen called " undor-undertaker ? , " at Shad well am other places below London ; and to throw off their thraldom to agents who are also publicans , and who obligs tha men whom they employ to consume certain quantities of beer . The Dublin Papeiis mention three brutal murders . Thomas Long had Ills brains dashed out near Limerick , on Saturday ; Honcea , wjod-ranger to Mr . Vandeleur , was killed by a drunken companion , as they were going to renew a broken temperance p ' esige , in Clare , on Friday ; and on tho 10 th , one Mercer was beaten to death at Glenkean , near Londonderry . No cause was known for either of these murdors .

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      Two important Parliamentary Reports in reference to Africa and tho West Indie ? , have beeu hid upon the table of the House of Commons ; and as we deem them of considerable importance , we take the present occasion of inviting public attention to them , as documents in which the labouring populatior of thid country are deeply interested . luovrarof capital against labour is as unequal as it is uDj ' u .-t . The powers possessed by the antagonistic parties arc such that the one must , under existing circumstances , yield to the other , and in every state where capital gains the ascendancy over labour , an injury i 3 ii flicted upon industry in every

      part cf the world . Thus it appears that the rampant dominion of the non-producing classes in England , has excited the hopes and the cupidity of their brethren in the West Indies , who are now straining every nerve to rcb the emancipated negro of the fair results of that freedom , so dearly bought for them by the toiling millions of this land , and should th « y be allowed to succeed in their infamous and murderous design , we may rest assured that their doing so will , as a natural consequence resulting from the laws of action and re-action , result in an increase of depredations en the part of tho raonied classes over tho industrious bees of this island hive . And hence arises the nec ? ssi ; y of watchii : £ most carefully any emulation from that den of darKne = s in which tho

      demon of clas 3 legislation and legalised oppression for ^ e the chains by which hones ' , laloar is to be fettered to the earth . The first report to which we are desirous of calling the attention of our readers is that of a Select CoEmittee on the West-Iadia Colonies ; and was got up for the pnrposa of examining into the effects of the Emancipation Act upon the prosperity of tho planters , " The questions immediately submitted to the Committee which first rtported were , whether Negro Emancipation has or has not entailed certain evils , iD

      withdrawing large numbers frcm the labour-market of the Wt-st Indies , a :: J bringing the planters , through the compulsory payment of lavish wages without securing adequate supplies of labour , to the verge of ruin ; and ¦ whether those evils can b « repairtd by free imm i gration of negroes from Africa— crftcina sends . The Committee examined witnesses both for and azainst the planting interest , from the Colonies of St . Vincent , Trinidad , Barbadoes , British Guiana , Grenada , Antigua , St . KitVs , and Jamaica . They had no time last session to make a detailed report , and thereforo they Earn up their conclusions in the Bubjoiaed resolutions ; which they

      intiuiiucethus" In recommending those resolutions andthe evidence to the atuntion of tha House , your CommUtte feel bound to state , in conclusion , tint thVy caiiuot regard the prt'tufc state of the West-India Colonies , unsatisfactory as it is , with any feeling cf despair . They believfc that the distress now prevailing in those colonies is very great , and requires immediate atttntiou : they csnnot indicate any remedy by which they can be sacgoiue tr . ough to suppose that such serums iiistrtsa cm ' . d bo speedily removed ; but ! hey have offered suggestions , in the EuVjoined resolutions , the effects of which tLey couddently hope may be ultimately though gradually successful .

      " They believe that if those suggestions are considered and acted upon in a spirit of equal justice to both proprietors and labourers , prosperity may be restore *!; and tLa ' ., uniier the blessing of Divine Providence , the world may witness the complate success of the great example which this country has afforded . All this at first sight miy appear reasonable The Committee would evidently iuduca the House and the country to conclude that the inquiry has been go : ; e iato without any bias one way or the other ; ana wo aro sufficiently acquainted with human nature to believe that they have in reality persuaded thrmselve 3 into a belief of that which they ara evidently most anxious to impress upon tho public micd—their own strict impartiality .

      S ; ili vre must not forget , and the people must not lose sight of tho fact , that this Select Committee was composed of men of proporiy , and that the invi ;? :: gation was instituted on behalf of the Capitalist : and Planters iu cur West Indian settlements . isearii ; g ibid iu mind , we request our readers to ' mark , learn , and inwardly digest" most carefully the subjoined resolutions , and wo much mistake if they do not find in them another additional motive for continuing and increasing their exertions , until the Charier is obtained , the enactment of whie . li can alone give just protection to property by securing and upholding the rights of labour . As the resolutions are but short , yet most important , we give them entire : —

      " Resolved—That it te the epinion of thU Committee , "l . That the great act « f emancipating the slaves in the West Indian Colonies has been productive aa regards the character and condition of the Negio populatios , of the most favourable and gratifying results . " 2 . That the improvement in the character of the Negroes i : i every colony Into the state of which this Committee has had time to extend inquiry , is proved by abundant testimony of an increased and Increasing desire for religious and general instruction , a { rowing disposition to take upon themselves the obligations of marriage and to fulfil the duties of domestio life , improved morals , zapid advance in civilisation , and incraaseJ Etuse of the value of property and independent station .

      " S . That , unhappily , there has occurred , simultaneously with this amendment in the condition of the Negroea , a very great diminution in the staple productions of tbo West Indies , to sach an extent as to have cau ^ . sd serious and in some cases ruinous iojury to the proprietors of wttatss in those colonies . " 4 . That while this distress has been felt to a much less extent in some of the smaller and more populous

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      islands , it has been so great in the larger colonies of Jamaica , British Guiana , and Trinidad , as to have caused many estates , hitherto prosperous and productive , to ba cultivated for the last two or three years at considerable loss , and others to be abandoned . " 5 . That the principal causes of this diminished production and connoqueut distress are the great difficulty which has been experienced by tho Planters in obtaining Bteady and continuous labour , and the high rate of remuneration which they give for the broken and

      indifferent work which they are able to procufj . " 6 . That the diminished supply of labour ia caused partly by the fact that soma of the former slaves have bstaken themselves to other occupations more profitable than field labour ; but the more general cause is , that the iabonrers are enabled to live in comfort and acquire wealth , without , for the most part , labouring on the estates of the Planters for more tban three or four days in a week , and from five to seven hours in a day ; so that they have no sufficient stimulus to perform an adequate amount of work .

      ' 7 . That this state of things arises partly from the high wages which the insufficiency of the supply of labour , and their competition i ith each other , naturally compel the Planters to pay ; but it is principally v > be attributed to the easy terms upon which the use of Jand has been obtainable by Negroes . " 8 . That many of the former slaves have been enabled to purchase land , and the labourers generally are allowed to occupy provision-grounds subject to no rent , or to a very low one : and in these fertile countries , the land they thus hold as owners or occupiers not only yields them an ample supply of food , but in many cases a considerable overplus in money , altogether independent of and in addition to the high money-wages which they receive .

      " 9 . That ihe cheapness of land has thus been the main cause of the difficulties which have been experienced ; and that this cheapness is the natural result of the excess of fertile land beyond tlw wants of the existing population . " 10 . That in considering the anxious question of what practical remedies are best calculated to check tbe Increasing depreciation of West Indian property , it therefore appears that much might be effected by judicious arrangement onthopatt ofthe Planters themselves , for their own general advantage , and by moderate and prudent changes in the system which they have hitherto adopted .

      " 11 . That one most obvious and desirable mode of endeavouring to compensate for this diminished supply of labour is to promote the immigration of a fresh labouring population , to such an extent as to create competition for employment . " 12 . That for tbe tetter attainment of that object , ha well as to secure the full rights and comforts of the immigraats as freemen , it ia desirable that such immigration should be conducted under the ' . authority , inspection and controtil of responsible public officers .

      " 13 TbatitisalsoaBerlousqnestion , whetheilitisnot required by a du 6 resard for the just rights and interasts of the West Indian Proprietors , und the ultimate welfare of the Negroes themselves , more especially in consideration of the large addition to the labouring popuiatioh which it is hoped may soon bo effected by immigration , that the laws which regul ate the relations between employers und labourers in the different Colonies should undergo early and careful revision by their respective Legislatures . "

      We are sure that our readers must see at onco that a decided bearing to the fancied interests of tho planters is visible throughout the whole of these resolutions . It is admitted that the Emancipation Act baB , as far as the condition of the negro population is concerned , been productive of great and manifest advantages . And , in proof of this , we are told that in every Colony into the state of which inquiry had been made , there was , on the part oT tho enfranchised blacks an increasing desire for religious and general instruction , a growing disposition to take upon themselves the obligations of marriage , and to fulfil the duties of domestic life ;

      improved morals , rapid advance in civilization , and increased sense of the value of property , and of indep 3 ndent stition . This , to a mind rightly csmstituted , would bo a source of unmixed satisfaction and delight . But property-men , as a class , whether in the Colonies or at home , have no-conception of great and philanthropic principles . Their hearts generally are in their purses , and to look for the noble feelings and generous sympathies of humanity among such worshippers of gold is an act of the greatest absurdity . The negroes are free , and aro becoming moral and religions ; but they demand remuneration for their labour * and this tho planters are by no

      means disDosed to give . This country gave to them tbe costly offering of £ 20 , 000 , 000 , to puroha-se freedom for the slave . They willingly took the gold , and now they would introduce indirect slavery , as the introduction of it in a direct form is no longer possible . They complain that tho labour market is not sufficiently supplied , and this pliant Committee endeavours to p ; rsuade the Legislature to sanction the importation of fresh workmen from Africa , in order to bring down the wages of tho newly-emancipated bondsmen , and realise a vast profit from a people reduced to starvation , in addition to the blood money so generously paid by tho mother country .

      The Committee tells us that " They believe that the distress now prevailing in those Colonies is very great , and requires immediate attention ; " and of course they directed their bast attention to devising a remedy for such distress . We will examiue the proposed remedy in its proper place , but let u >? now look at the evidences of distress which are glanced at in the resolutions , and upon which tho belief oi its prevalence ia founded , if such belief existed at all . Tho first proof of distress which seems to have struck the notice of the Committee is the increasing prosperity of the negro population . The West India Colonies are on tho versa of ruin ,

      because the negroes are evincing an increased and an increasing desire for religion and general instruction , a growing disposition to take upon themselves tho obligations of marriage , improved morals , rapid advance in civilisation , and increased sense of the value of property , and independent station . " All this appears to us very questionable evidence of tha prevalence of general disire .-s . Lot us look at proof second : —Tho Committee states that " unhappily thero has occurred a very great dimunition iu the staple productions of the West Indies , " which diminution they trace to the great difficulty experienced by the planters in obtaining steady and continuous

      labour , and the high rate of remuneration which they give for the broken aad indifferont work which they are able to procure . " This looks something like distress , to be sure , but it is only on the part of the planters , who are , even according to the testimony of their own committee , in part at least , to blame for their own mishaps . We agree with the committee in thiukiug that the planter * have thomflelves to blame for tho distressed condition in which they find themselves . But we slightly differ from them as to the particular acts to which blame is to be attached . According to the resolutions , the planters are a most generous and ill-used body of

      men . They have let their former slaves have land for little or nothing I They remunerate them so highly as to injure themselves , aud yet the ungrateful wretches will not work , but by their idleness are reducing their tender hearced benefactors to absolute ruin . Lot it bo remembered however , that these same idle rascafc are rapidly advancing in civilizition ; taking upon them the obligations of marriage ; and though the most unprincipled villains , only evincing their villainy by conducting themselves like sensible and honest men . The planters may indeed exolaim "Save us , from our friends , " when they receive this extraordinary Btring of resolutions .

      Then comos tho third evidence of distress , which is presented to us in the shape of a complaint that the ne&roes are too comfortable and too industrious ! "Some of the former slaves have betaken them-Belves toother occupations more profitable than field labour . " And again , The labourers are enabled to live in comfort , and acquire wealth , without , for the most part , working on the estates of the planters , for three or four days in a week , and from five to seven hours in a day . " We fear the Committee are somewhat inconveniently troubled

      with defects of memory . We recollect that when tbe emancipationists urged as one plea for the abolition of slavery , the arduous nature of tbe labour performed by the blacks , they were told , that the toil endured , except at particular seasons , vras far lees than that to which the majority of the working classes in England were subjected , and that the negroes had ample time to secure their own freedom , if they were disposed to do so , by extra labour . If their statements are forgotten by tho coloniBts , their friends are not ao ready to forget .

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      From all that appears , the planters are m a mo 3 t pitiable condition . They have a eoil so fertile that it produces more than abundance with comparatively little labour ; thsy are surrounded by a population from whom they have nothing t » fear , but who are , on the contrary , forming the best of all the elements of national prosperity—a moral and industrious community ; a community which finds its present condition and future prospects so cheering , that it resorts , to the hymeneal altar , without even the shadow of dread or alarm as to the contingency of raising up a . surplus population and they

      have received their own price , £ 20 , 000 , GOO of British gold , as a compensation for the . supposed loss to which the new order of thing 3 might possibly expose them . We ask for what was the £ 20 , 000 , 000 given if this was not its object * It was not voted because the right of the planters to acquire property in human Sesh was recognised , for that was emphatically denied by the whole body of abolitionists , both in and out of Parliament . Bat it was said that capital , to a * vast amount , had been embarked in West Indian property , under the sanction of British law , and that the act of emanci

      pation would entail numerous losses upon West Indian proprietors , unless compensation was granted . And we are ready to admit , that probably no grant ever passed the House of Commons , with so much of popular approval as that which was to purchase the freedom of 800 , 000 of our suffering fellowmen . And now wo call upon tho advocates of the negro race to speak out , and to declare that the rascally avarice of the insiiiable planters shall not frustrate this mighty effort of British generosity . Tho planters have had their price , and tho newly enfranchised population mus ; bo scoured iu the freedom which this costly offorin ^ procured for them .

      Wo aro satisfied that the friends of the negro never intended to redeem him from iho lasb , ia order to leave him exposed to the still more horrid scourge of starvation and ill requited labour . Yot this is the fate to which the tender mercies of the planters would inevitably doom him ; but from thia fata ha must , and will ba saved , if the people of this country are not prepared ' to forgo every claim to ba considered either men or Christians .

      But is the condition of the planters indeed such that their estates will not yield a remunerating profit for the labour bestowed upon them \ Let as reason from analogy . The eighth resolution tells us that the Iato slaves holding . land a 3 owners or tenants , nud it so productive as not only to yield them an ample supply of food , but in many cases a considerable overplus iii money . Kow , if the provision grounds of a late helot be

      tnus profitable to him , is it not fair to infer thai the rioh planter , with all the advantages of capital , might make his large plantations equally productive . Of course it is , and we must therefore * oome to the conclusion , that it ia not a fair remuneratory pi ont that is sought , but such a command of the labour market , as will onablo the rich to tramplo upon tho rights of industry , and to establish slavery in reality , though not in name .

      The great distress , then , which is said to exist in the West Indian colonies , is all on the side of the planters ; and we must remind our readers , that , when to suit , as it afterwards appeared , their own purposes , thoy r > j . cted the boon held out to them in the apprenticeship clauses of the Emancipation Act , they not only virtually declared that the Negroea were fully competent to exercise the rights of freemen , but that a state of labour in which the workman was at liberty to make his own terms with his employer , was iikely to be of more advantage to both parties , than the apprenticeship system

      proposed by Parliament . The relinquiahraeiit of the apprenticeship system was hailed with delight by the friends of Africa iu thi 3 country j but soon the application for , and the granting of certain oraera in Council , authorising tha importation of foreign labourers into the colonies , tore away fne mask , and displayed the planters and their Whig supporters at home in their native and most disgusting deformity . Nor must it be forgotten that it was at that tim 6 deolared , and the statement waa not contradicted , that the reason why the blacks refused to

      work was , that tho wa ^ es offered by tho planters wero inadequate to supply the necessaries and comforts of life . Another fact should also bo borne in mind , namely , that , according to the ' colo&ial press , such was the non-productive character of slavo labour , then enforced by the lash , that many of tho estates did not pay the expences of caltivation ; while the sam 6 press , especially in reference to Barbadoes and Jamaica , declared that under the influence of free labour the islands were rapidly advancing in prosperity and improvement .

      Leaving these somewhat contradictory statements to be reconciled as best they may , by those whose interest and buaiuess it is to reconcile them . We proceed to inquire into the nature and effects of the remedies pointed out by tho committee for this problemmatical state of distress . The first remedy it is thought might bo found in "judicious arrangements on the part of the plasters thom 3 olvos , for their own general advantage , and by moderate and prudent changes iu the system which they have hitherto adopted . '' We ara not told ia what these " changes '' and

      "judicious arrangements" are to consist , but we can make a shrewd guess , even without pretending to the spirit of prophecy . * The comniittw ) tell us that land has been obtained by the blacks on too easy terms . That they can get a good living , and earu money with bu 6 a raadarate amaunt of labour ; tha for field labour the planters pay a rate of wages much too high , and that a portion of the coloured population have discovered , mcrais of employment which will pay better even than field labour and that u ^ ing the privileges of freemen , they have betaken themselves to such employments as may enable them to acquire property and attain to independent station . The remedy of course

      for this disastrous state of things wc-uld be to advance tho price of land , so as to render it all but non-productive to the occupant , and which of couive would be a death blow to their prospects of prosperity . The rate of wages paid for field work must ako be reduced , and means bo dovised by which the produce of Negro skill and industry may ba rendered unprofitable when brought into tho market . All this might to some extent bo effect 3 d by a combination amongst tho plaaUw ar . d this is tho plain English of the suggestion of the coaiinittee . Tho advice contained in the tenth resolution is really to let tha planters combine to starve the Negros 3 into any terms they plea = e .

      But this experiment might fail . Many of the blacks have booms holders of laud , and they can produce moro than they consume , and thus have something they can bring into tbe market ; and this might induce them to assume an independence of character by no means in accordauco with the designs of their monopolising employers . This contingency the Committee have foreseen , and in the eleventh resolution they propose a remedy . They say '' That one most obvious and desirable means of endeavouring to compensate for this diminished

      supply of labour is to promote the immigration of afresh labouring population to such an extent as to create competition for employment . " We request our readers to mark well the words we have printed in italics , and to ponder well this diabolical scheme of tho indefatigable planters to destroy and blast the prospects of their so recently redeemed bondsmen . Observe the Committee , arid here , at all events , it ia the mouth-piece of the planters ,-recommends the immigration of a fresh labouring population , and that to such an extent as to create competition for employment .

      Now , bear in mind that the land is so fertile , that with moderate labour it will produce an abundant supply for a mach larger population than is at present to be found in the Colonies , and recollect also , that the negroes are taking upon themselves tho obligations of {[ marriage , and are seeking to fulfil

      Untitled Article

      the duties of domestic life , the result of which must be a gradually increasing population who would be attached to the sail by that mysterious tie which binds man by a peculiar affection to tho land of hia birth ; aud then say where is tho necessity of rereplenish'ing the labour market by an immigration of naw-comors . Tho necessity exists nowhere but in thuforei ^ n-trade manix , which seems a 3 rioaia the West Indiosas in England . They waa ; a population so numerou 3 a 9 to create a competition for labour . Or rather they would by indirect inea . is extirpate the race of negroes whoh&ve been wres-. ed

      from their mercile 33 grasp , and whom they hate with the most deadly malignity , and aUhosametitas , fchoy would grind down wages to the starvation point by so overstocking the labour market , that they cou ! d dictate their own terms whenever it was found convenient to do so . We have no doubt but that the design is to despoil the present coloured pojmiatioa of tho rU ; Y . t 3 they have acquired in the soil so soon a . 3 itca . ii be dono with safety , and to so overwhelm the native artizans by a new labour popula ' . ion , a 3 to check the growing propensity for lsarria ^ e which has done so much in the way of improvement for tire negro race . In their resolutions not ono word 13 said about securing to the emancipated blacks tha legitimate fruits of that freedom which this

      countrypurchased for them . All the care of the committee is directed to tho welfare of the new-coraers , " to secure the rights and comforts of the ' immigrant '? , " and that . of the West Indian proprietor , and for that end they recommend " that the laws which regubts the relations between employee and labourers in the different Colonies should undergo early and careful revision by their respective Legislatures . " * . These Legislatures , be it recollected , ara composed of the employers , and in them the labourers have not even the shadow of representation . We think it will not require much ekill to discover how far , the interests of the working population would be cared for in any revision of laws conducted by such assemblies .

      Bat let us now look for a moment at ihs second report , in order that we may discover from what source this " fresh labouring population" is to be derived . Tho Committee on Western Africa begin by explaining that their appointment originated in the discovery in 1830 , that foreign slave-ships w ~ re permitted to trade for goods at the British settlements on tho Gold Coast ; and in Dr . Madden ' s rtp .-, rt of tha inquiry , which , on that discovery , he wa 3 deputed to make . Their Report relates to the several subjects of the British settlements , tho stato of the slave-trade , emigration from Africa to the West Indies .

      On tho subject of emigration eonae calculations , though not very precise , are mado re ? pcctitu < the population whog 9 emigrants might b

      various classes to be in the West ladies rather than in Africa . As data tho Committee quoiOj at considerable length , from official documents—the , despatches of Sir Charles Metcalfe and tho reports of Magistrates—respecting the temporal , tho moral , and religious advantages to bo enjoyed by tho black in tho three principal colonies , Jamaica , British Guiana , and Trinidad , ranged-under the suvvral heads of those colonies .

      Wo brg to call fpccial attention to the following extracts from this report : — " Now , after looking at tuch a pitture , drawn from the mbat unsiupectml sourcss , we cannot doubt t ); ai , whether for tbe homeless Zi ' e . OTO just re ^ cugd from the hold of a slave-ship , or for the ignorant and unchiiiz : d African who coh ' . hs down to our auUlei ) ieut 3 to pick up a ? mall pittance by the kardett labour and to return with it to tils barb ; irou 3 home , it would ba of tJie highest advantaga , it would be the greatest bleb 3 is ' -g to make such an exchange . ''

      " To such aa thus lcava their homes , a free p . waje back at the end of a cercniu period , say f ' . ree or four years ' , might be promised , with full permission to them to return at any time at their own exnensa . To the homeless African , newly liberator ! . th 9 option should ba given of settling at once iu Ihe West Indies if ha plaase , with pehnis ^ ou to return hereafter at hia own c si , or of removing from Sierra Leone , or of remaining iu it on the first-adjudication if he undertake for his own tu ; iintenauca . or can tiud friendb or relations who will undertake it for him . "'

      We have not spaco at present for further extracts , I ut from these it is clear that the now labourers who aro tc compete with tho coloured population of tho Wc-st Iculee for the benefit of tho avaricious and cruel planters are to be drawn from their native homes is Africa bj promises which will be falsified , and by hopes which never can be realised in their foreign homo . Thia diabolical design must be prevented , British patriotism and philaatrophy must rush to the rescue , and the friends of the negro must resolve that their so anxiously-planted tree . of liberty ' " shall not ba blasted just when its fruits are rtady to appear .

      Let the object sought be ever kept in mind . That object is xo bender tub estates of the planters PRODUCTIVE OF IMMENSE WEALTH , AT THE 1 . XPJ 1 NCE of labour and INDUSTRY . It is not a labouring population , moral , industrious , comfortable , and prosperous ; that is wanted . Such a population exists , and is inerea ^ in ^ . But it is a population in which more hands shall be found than can obtain a profitable return for their labour , and who must in consequence become actually slaves , bound hand and foot , to the chariot wheels of capital . The Committee hope that a large addition to the

      labouring population will be effected by emigration . What would be tha result ! First , a demand far provision ground * to such an extent as would appear to justify ] tho planters in demanding a ruinous advance- ' of . rent ; next the superseding the presens race of field labourers , who are considerably sdvancad in civilisation , and have acquired a ta-te for a superior style of living to that of their less civilised fellows , by men bnt a few degrees removed from the savage state , and who are in consequence capable of working at a much less rato of remu aeration than what is demanded and felt to bo necessary by those •¦ with * whom they are brought into competition . Third , the desire to contract marriages will reseivo a check ,

      and the religious and moral feelings , now beginning to dovelope themselves , will , as a consequence , retrograde . Then , from tho spirit of competition , and tha consequent continued diminution of wage .- , the immigrants themselves must suffer , and their progresB in civilisation be materially retarded ; until , at length , a maddened and starving population , seeing themselves robbed of all the benefits which they justly expected from the Act of Emancipation , will make common cause with the betrayed and deluded immigrants from Africa , and rising in the unconcontrolled fury of determined resolution , will drive the guilty authors of their misery into that gulph of irremediable rain which their insane foliy haa provided for themselves . ,

      Nj >^ we ask will the poople allow all this mischief to be inflicted both upon the Colonies , Africa , and the mother country ! If so , then all the wrongs inflicted by the monster capital upon labour , will be , ia appearance at least , sanctioned by the popular voice , and man will become in truth merely tbo machine made use of for the fabrication of wealth , and for subserving the purposes of avarice and ambition . We call upon the good and wise of all classes

      and of all creeds to unite in the prevention of this monstrous iniquity , aad to declare , in a manner not to be mistaken , that the great act of Negro Emancipation shall hare fair play until it beoomes productive of its legitimate results . And we say especially to the working classes , let nothing turn you from your righteous purpose to achieve that freedom , and those politcal rights , which by securing the equality of all before the law can alone give adequate protection to labour , either in tha Colonies or at Home .

      ^Oriri}.

      ^ oriri } .

      Riie Jyoftthebjsr Stae,. Saturday, September 3, 1842. The West-Indian Capitalists And Free Labour.

      riiE jyoftTHEBJsr stae ,. SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 3 , 1842 . THE WEST-INDIAN CAPITALISTS AND FREE LABOUR .

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      ¦ THE NORTHERN STAR . ? 3

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 3, 1842, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1177/page/3/