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Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th October 1842, Edition 1 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • PREPARING FOB PUBLICATION, THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION,
    • THE ^ OETHEEN STAft SATURDAY, OCTOBER ^9, 1842.
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      Untitled Ad

      foe 1843 . BY JOSHUA HOBSOX . rpHIS Year ' s Companion will contain the greatest J- mass of the most valuable Statistical Information on several Questions of Social and Government al Polity ever yet given at the price . Next week we shall be able to announce the day of Publication , and give a List of Contents . The price will be , as before , Threepence .

      Untitled Article

      1 0 TTTg EDITOR OP THB NO&THEBJi SlAH . Sib , —I am desired on behalf of the Chartists of Salford to give yon . a summary of events of some impertanee , which have this day ' occurred in the town * ¦ hip of Salf ord . I must preface my report by stating that the ycry excellent letter "which was published by Mr . O'Connor So the Star of one of the weeks In last May , directing tuat attention to our local government , induced us to grre strict attention to the form of government under Which we lived in Salford ; and we fonnd that we had BoYernments for Tarioui purposea . As Surveyors of the Highway * , ' ' Orerseen and Gktrdiana of the Poor , ' _

      and for the preservation of the peace , a Borough ' Jeeve , with two constables , and one- huadred and twenty Commissioners of police— the whole forming a J » dy corporate for watching , lighting , and cleansing the township , with a power of levying a rate of one shilling and sixpence in the pound , and no more , for ihe general purpose * of the act , which is of conrse , one pissed for the government of Salford alone , and was passed some twelve or fourteen years ago . The Commissioner * are elected out of those persons who are assessed at twenty pounds and upwards to the local rates ; and they are elected by the whole of the ratepayers who have paid all poor and police rates of the township due in Decanter last

      The township la divided into eight districts , and the election cf the Commissioners for the first four districts took place on Friday , the 21 st , and for the last four on Honday , October 24 th . Concerning the first four districts , I may merely observe , that -we got in , through a little exertion , foar gentlemen who are far Universal Suffrage ; but the chief tug was to be in districts 5 , 6 . and 7 . The members of the association were upon the alert early this morning , as the election of Chairman in each district came on at nine o ' clock precisely ; it was necessary , therefore , to bring np * the voters before nine , in order to be ready for the straggle for the chairman .

      In District No . 7 , those well known arid indefatigable Zrlends of the people , Messrs . Rankin , Littler , Stork , » nd Stunner , assisted by other worthy men , mustered She working men in goodly numbers ; and just at the boor of nine , one of the Salford Whigs moved " the Soroughreeve take the chair , " upon-which , without Waiting for the motion to be put , the Boroughreeve , Who is a little old man , named William Lockett , who in by-past days was a fustian-cutter , a circumstance , ¦ which by the way , be appears by no means anxious to keep in remembrance , immediately proceeded to take the chair , when his ears were rather disagreeably saluted with these words , uttered by frierd iittler , " I beg to move , ai an amendment , that Mr . Joseph Wain-Wright Hodgetts take the chair , " " and upon a sbow of banis being taken , it was found that the Boroughreeve mnst retire to make way tor Mr . Hodgetts , as there Was an overwhelming majority of the electors in favour pi that friend to Universal Suffrage taking the ' ehair , which , as a matter of course ,-he immediately look .

      A list of six names was then presented by Messrs . Stork and Stunner , as fit and proper persons to represent the interest !! of the much abused working-men of Salford , is the Town Hall , as Commissioners of Police . The Whigs of Salford then presented their list or men , more known for their tyranny than anything else , whom they proposed as Commissioners of ^ oUce . The Whifs , not liking the looks of the working-men , declared they would have a BALLOT , which means , in our Police Act , a scrutiny , making every man write his name , and who hs voted for , then seeing by the Town ' s Books whether be bad paid bis rates or not , to the lart halfpenny , for if tiere was one' halfpenny not paid the vote was lost .

      When the actual struggle came on , the Whigs , with all their cunning and power , could not muster as many Tttel M the working men ; we polled ten for their one , but owing to the rates not being all paid , they succeeded in throwing off some . hundreds of our votes , sad yet we placed two of our men upon the floor of the Town Hall , ai Commissioners of Police . Thus , Biter a fight of eight hours , ended the campaign against the Salford Whigs , in District Ve . 5 . District No . 6 was soon ended ; the enemy made a poor fight , and owing to the exertions of Mtssrs . Sanders , Miteheson , Brassington , Giliibrscdand others , We succeeded in electing three of the friends of the people on as commissioners for this district .

      District No . 7 was pretty well managed by Messrs Smith , Roberts , Evans , Copeland { who by the way had t > een imprisoned , by them some days for exhibiting the placard of the Executive ) and some fsw others , ilr . W . Willis moved that Mr . Smith take the chair , Which was seconded and carried by a very large majority , npon wbJch Mr . Willis moved and Mr . Piers seconded , a list of six sterling men as representatives of the working men of ' Salford , which list was opposed by the Whigs most bitterly . They moved an amendment , which they lost by the zjal and Ability as well as the numbers of their opponents . The Whigs of Salford at any rate will now know that their despised foes , the Chartists , [ are neither dead nor dying , but that they are increasing in numbers and in knowledge , and that shortly they will be the rulers of Salford End of Manchester , too—Whiggery may Jbecome defanct . Chartism never .

      A ' member of our association encloses his remarks with a statement of a few of the facts in this business , therefore if this brief account , together with the endosed , will serve the causa- of Chartism , the Saiford Chartists will have great pleasure in seeing them in this week ' s paper . lam , Most reEpectfully , Salford , Oct . 21 , 1842 . . J . M .

      ( From aaolher Correspondent . J Some time ago , about two months , on the Sunday , lha Chartists of Salford were assembling as usaal , in their own room for the purpose of listening to a lecture , which would have been given had not the " authorities " flared to interfere with them ; but they did so , and actually turned them , out of their own 100 m ! assigning no reason for such outrageous conduct . Of course , what could a set of poor working-men do against such a body of august personages as the Boroughreeve and Constables , who had given orders to their menials to " clear out that den of infamy , and Bend the rascally Chartists borne , if they will not go to Church , "

      We , however , determined not to let the matter rest . We called a meeting of the members , to consider what Bteps should be taken , and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Boroughreeve and Constables at their next meeting , to know upon what grounds such a fl * g »* Tit injustice and outrage had been perpetrated upon us , and all the satisfaction the' deputation could get was , " Oh , we can ' t enter into smch an enquiry at aU ; betides , we are a corporate body and can't suffer Strangers in our presence . " The parties were again Bent to a subsequent meeting of the Commissioners , but » H they got said to them , after sending in their memorial and waiting for sometime ontside , was " No answer . " Wa then thought of taking our case before

      xhe magistrate * , to see if such a shameful trampling down of rights , and such a sweeping destruction of the libety of the subject , would not render the perpetrators amenable to the law regulating ' the " civil and religious liberty , " bat we concluded that it was likely , as we Were poor despised Chartists , we could not get justice , ihoBgh we went with ready money to purchase it . And Bo the matter zested until the time arrived for tha election of new Commissioners , which was lasi Monday , When such a tremendous re-action took * place that shook the whole fabric of corruption to pieces , and in walked Six of oar men as Commissioners ! some of whom were elected is three different districts , with overwhelming majorities !

      Thus , we , the insulted Chartists , have taught the ^ n « nitmt gg ^ f in offi ce a lesson they wont soo n forget ; they will be cautious for the future how they excite the indignation and hitherto dormant energies and lion strength ot the working men of Salford . We ate now more thoroughly convinced than ever of the truth and value of Feargus O'Connor ' s remarks In a letter some time back , that if we must succeed In reforming a corrupt national government , we must first reform the local governments of the country , and there needs co argumeat to prove that . Now by way « f informing and inducing our Brother . Chartists all through the country to be up end doing the same , by which they will not only force the " upper classes" to respect them through

      Iheir p « wer , but they will ^ virtually subdue Ihe national Government , and bring them upon their Totes * before the sovereign people ; for really and truly the national Government is only the creature of the local governments , and the local governments may be made to consist efihe . people , if the people will do their dnty ; and the men of Salford , I am proud to say , are determined to do theirs . They have been vexed into a sense of their duty during the tcrntiny ot one of the districts , when the viHanous nature of the laws was 80 forcibly illustrated by the disfranchisement of scores of tV " friends for the non-payment of a single half-penny of their poor ' s rates ; and the brave fellows are farther determined never more t » live in houses where the owners compound for the

      Cheer mp , my friends , fox , with all their vaUanous power , we will defeat them , and by this mode of attack we not only disappoint the hateful monster , oppression , from aprfogfog spoa and seising with deadly certainty , biipntr , a > heretofore ; but by ¦ baring power with them , and being in their campany , we can dviliie and tnmanJsB them , and make than lore liberty and jtutioe , whan trtifr" •*""* . becanse then they will feel the blearings that would flow from the same . Ton will perhaps be able to judge of the extent of oar ¦ aeeesB&l victory , by reading what took place in No . 7 diatzkt : early In the morning we called upon our

      friends and marshalled them down to the Town Hall , and by nfl ti"C promptly , and strictly in accordance with their own law { the Police Act ) defeated them in the appointing of a fW " J which so mnch chagrined them that one of the party , sained Jenkinsoa—a bright and exemplary specimen of Whig liberality—jumped up and demanded a Ballot , " tat , " says he , " I dont l ike the looks ot yon ; " and from our strength and determlaataen , be had not the smallest reason for liking us ; neither did he like the testa we bad printed and circu lated , and which one of our « Mn ^*« t »« answered in the following manner , which made them writhe during the white : —

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      Question 1 st Will yon do all in your power to resit the incorporation of the borough of Salford ? Yes , because I conceive were we to be incorporated , the majority of the people would lose the few remaining rights they have left unusurped by the commissioners of police , who , even now set the people at defiance , and imperiously trample down , in a shameful manner , all law and justice ; but which they could do with greater impunity under the proposed charter of incorporation , therefore , would I resist its introduction ; and I sincerely believe , furthermore , that none wish for such a charter but knaves , who wish to bask in some snug roost of office , and thus fatten by place and pelf ; or Tain and weak minded men , who dream and rave about the prospect of shortly seeing themselves pressed np to the height of their own petty ambition , in the gewgaws of office , flattering in the throng of a lord mayor ' s show , like a butterfly in a flower garden .

      Question 2 nd . WiH you do all in your power to obtain & full extension » f the Suffrage , in the election of commissioners of police ? Yts , because , as a lover of justice , I would give unto my neighbour , irrespective of rank or station , the same riehts which I possessed myself ; for we are all human beings having equal natural rights ; and for me it is no reason why—because a wicked arrangement of society has set np conventional grades , and established artificial rights by which the people have been surreptitiously robbed , that such should longer continue ; no , but that all should have equal rights and power , none wishing to take advantage .

      Question 3 rd , Will you move or second a motion for an application to Parliament to grant to Salford , a new police act , giving every male inhabitant of 21 years ef age and upwards- a vote in the election of commissioners of police ; and making the qualification for a commissioner to be the approval of a majority of the voters ? I will , and for the following reasons , first , because the law of this land recognizes him as a man at that age , and makes him responsible for all his own acts . Secondly . —Becanse every individual , male or female , old or young , is equally interested in the good and cheap government of their borough , therefore , we ought to have more mind and interest brought to bear upon this subject than the present franchise allows .

      And thirdly—In reference to the latter part of W » question it is the only sensible and rational qualification an honest man would look for . No upright individual would , . because possessed of money ( called wealth ) , no matter how got , whether by vUlany or trade , or any other species cf gambling , thereby claim to himself rights which are denied to poor men ; and honest men would scorn to have riches considered a oualific&tien ; they would much more value the good opinion of a majority of their fellow-townsmen . Question 4 th . —Will you vote to rtop all supplies of the police funds to the orders of the boroughreeve and constables , until they are all rightfully elected by the majority of the people in publio meeting assembled ?

      Yes , I would do all that lay in my power to stop the working of the present machinery , until full justice is done to the people ; and for this reason , that when a body of men have the power to elect or appoint themselves to important offices , and in defiance of the people too , whose servants they are , and whose business and money they have to manage , there is a strong probability that the one will be badly done , and the other will be recklesily and extravagantly ' jobbed' away . The only seurce of legitimate power is with the people in public meeting assembled , and never could it have been Mrenched from them but for their sluggish apathy in not looking after their own affairs , together with that unmanly , that revolting slavishness , that devotional willingness to fall down and worship ' rank , ' that spaniel-like readiness to lick the dust from the foot that kicks them . Is it not a lamentable fact greatly deplored by all men worthy the name , that no sooner hare the people appointed one of their fellow-men to

      fill any effice , than tfeey fall before it as to an idol , crawling and cringing with servile meanness , and approaching it with humble submission ; yet it is but a creature of their own creation ; and no sooner do they find themselves cnugly ensconced in office , than they turn round to insult you , and trample upon your rights , and when you want them to do any thing for you ,. do you not say , " we reverently beseech you ' to do so and bo , and if you will do it we will " humbly pray V Out upon such abject slavery I tell them in a manly voice and manner , stand erect Jike men before your servants , and tell them you wish them to do so and so , and if they do not attend to it , you will send them about their business . What are your parliamentary petitions but wretched samples of grovelling slavery ? a vile disgrace to any nation sending such- These things have given arrogant power to wealth it otherwise would not assume ; but whilst you are slaves you must be content to be treated as such .

      Question 5 th—Will you do all in your power to give the people their rights in the election of Surveyors of Highways , which is now wrongfully usurped by the body of Commissioners of Police ? I will , as well becanse they ought to possess them as I conceive they are the best judges of the fitness of the men who are to do their work ; and the people ought to repsdiate w , th supreme contempt , acorn , and indignation , any man who offers his services and will not pledge himself to these tests , bscanse they contain nothing that an honest man can object to ; and he who does object , I maintain cannot be an honest man .

      Preparing Fob Publication, The Poor Man's Companion,

      PREPARING FOB PUBLICATION , THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION ,

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      THE PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT—THEY MUST BE EDUCATED . A very notable instance of the contemptible hypocrisy and damnable tyranny of faction occurred last week . Every one knows bow the " ignorance " and " brutality" of the " lower orders" is harped upon ; every one knews that the grand reason for denying to them the right of Suffrage is alleged to be , not that the right is untenable , but that they are

      unprepared to use it with advantage to society because of their defective edncation . The gross habits of the people—their intemperance and general love of sensual and animal delightB—though certainly not nearly so disgustingly displayed as in the aristocracy and" higher ranks" by ¦ whom they have been always most carefully nursed and promulgated—have yet afforded too much appearance of plausibility toj , he objection .

      Had there been siacerity in the objection , and honesty in the objectors , every effort would have been made by them to remove the ignorance and ameliorate the grossness which thus operated to the hindrance of justice . Bnt this was not the policy of faction . The end being robbery and the means fraud , it was necessary that the b ignorance" and the " grossness" should be perpetuated that the pretext might remain . Hence the whole course of that legislation which draws the support of government from the extension of the very " ignorance" and " grossn € S 3 " complained of . Hence the nine millions yearly , wasted , to a great extent , upon idle and immoral blackguards in the shape of

      parsons . Hence the legalization of gin palaces , tippling shops , and all the other , the resorts of idleness , vice , and infamy : hence the munificent granting to the people of £ 30 , 000 of their own money for education pnrposes , vrhile a like sum is niched yearly from them to buy breeches and garters for a German boy , and £ 70 , 000 is appropriated to the making comfortable of the Queen ' s horses ; and hence toe the fact thai the gradual disappearance of that popular ignorance and general grossness of taste and habit before the spirit of intelligence and enquiry fills them with alarm and rage to such an extent as renders concealment of their realj character impossible .

      An app li cation was made lately by Messrs . Hethekington , Lovbtt , and others of the •* New Move" Society for & music license to their Hall in Holbom . It was stated that the object of the applicants was to diffuse the blessings of moral and physical education ; that music was included as a part of the education laid down is Mr . Lorett ' a book ; and that it was one of the rules of the association that spiritous liquors should not at any time be admitted into the hall ; that even those who might hire the hall for

      publio meetings , most take it under that condition . The people of the neighbourhood were in favour of the application . The parties applying had no interest or hope of profit to themselves , from the granting of the license . They gave gratuitously their labours . They had already established classes of their own members for music and dancing ; but they were desirous of extending these humanizing benefits to all who might choose to avail themselves of them , and they wished to de so in respectful accordance with the law ; aeaoe the application , f « a > license .

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      Now , one would have thought this an application at which the " respectables , " the friends of order , and enlightenment , and morality , and ameliorated habits , and extended education , would rejoice . It was natural to suppose that the -magistrates—the guardians of the peace and welfare of societywould not only at once grant the license , but subscribe liberally to the objects of such an institution Did they do so ! Not a bit of it ! The application was refused with contumely . It was characterised by the hired mouther who opposed it " professionally" as " one of the most impudent and profligate applications that had ever been made to a court . "

      Upon this truly "impudent and profligate" observation , a contemporary well remarks that " a judge has argued that a Chartist must have violent intentions , because his principles will never be quietly conceded by the aristocracy ; and so a barrister follows up the logio to the conclusion that a Chartist cannot desire the legalization of concerts but through impudence and profligacy . The one argument is parent of the other . The gaol , and not the music room ) is the place for such people . The hard construction from the bench generates the virulent abuse of the bar ; and the spirit of an Abingeb inspires the tongue of an Adolphds . "

      Not only , however , was the application for this license opposed by the hired and mercenary blackguardism of this Mr . Adolphus : it also assumed the more tangible shape of a written document in the form of a memorial from the vestry of the joint parishes of St . Giles-in-the-Fields , aud St . George , BloomEbury . Now , this "joint vestry" would , of course , consist of the " respectable" inhabitants of those parishes ; the middle classes ; the merchants , the shopkeepers , and the gentlemen ; those who are most anxious for the improvement , and the education , and the comfort , of the poor . What did it set forth as the ground of objection to the granting of this license ? Let the following extract tell : —

      " The said Henry Hetherington , and also William Lovett , and Benjamin Huggett , two other of the applicants , are members of a society calling themselves' The National Association of the United Kingdom for Promoting the Political and Social Improvement of the Poor ; ' and the said W . Lovett ia secretary to the association . " That some of the professed objects of this association , as set forth in a printed address ' to the political and social Reformers of the United Kingdom , ' are , t » establish in one general body persons of all creeds , classes , and opinions , who are desirous to promote the political and social improvement of the

      people , to create and extend an enlightened public opinion in favour of the 'People's Charter ; ' to appoint missionaries to visit the different districts of the kingdom ; to establish circulating libraries ; to print such tracts and pamphlets as the association may consider necessary for promoting ita objects ; to erect public halls or schools for the people , bucu balls to be used during the day as infant , preparatory , and high schools , in which the children are to be educated on the most approved plans the association can devise , embracing physical , mental , moral , and political instruction , and to be used of an evening by adults , for

      public lectures on physical , moral , and political science , for readings , discussions , musical entertainments , dancing , and such other healthful and rational recreation as may serve to instruct and cheer the industrious classes after their hours of toil , and prevent the formation of vic'ouB and intoxicating habits ; to establish normal or teachers' schools for the purpose of instructing schoolmasters and mistresses in the most approved systems of physical , mental , moral , and political training ; and to establish such agricultural and industrial schools as may be required for the education and support of the orphan children of the association . "

      Such are the grounds upon which the respectable middle classes base their opposition to the application of Messrs . Lovett & Co ., fer a license to their Hall . Is any thing now wanting to convince these gentlemen , and all other middle-class-mad New Movers , that the effort to obtain honest assistance in a democratic movement fnm the middle and higher classes , is as futile as would be the effort to draw down the moon with cords 1 It is not in them . They are , as a class , tyrants to the heart ' s core *

      They would sooner see society involved in all the horrors and bloodshed of revolution than invest the masses with the mantle of that legislative power which belongs to them . Nothing so much alarms , nothing so much infuriates them , as the progress of intelligence amongst the people . With an ignorant , sottish , and brutish people , they could deal easily ; but an intelligent , high-minded , sober , and moral people , is Bure to give them much trouble to uphold their unrighteous domination .

      What lesson , then , should the people learn from this and such like occurrences ! Should it not be the lesson of renewed perseverance and entire selfreliance ? Should it not be the lesson which during our whole carer we have inculcated , that their own work must be done by themselves ; for that there is no hope nor prospect of their deriving extraneous assistance ! No mistake is more stupid or more mischievous than that of those who tell us that the working-people cannot work out their own emancipation without aid from the middle classes . Every new incident confirms the truth that he who supposes that the middle classes ever seriously purpose to assist them , may be a kind-hearted and good-natured man , but is a very short-sighted , unobservant , and ill-reasoning man .

      We say , then , to our " new move" mends , in whose anxiety for extended education we most cordially participate , go on with your good work o ( humanizing , enlightening , softening , and guiding , the minds and passions of your fellows ; permit not the Btinking rampancy of power to affright you ; you have testified your respect for the law , by appealing to its provisions ; hold yonr concerts and your balls without license , for which you have been

      refused the license , and let the treatment of your middle-class friends teach you how grossly you have miscalculated in making these your " arm of strength ! " while we again say to the whole people rely only on yourselves ; acquire knowledge ; exert your intellectual faculties ; let prudence , peacefulness , and determination , be the characteristics of your patriotism ; aud smile contemptuously at the " impudent and profligate" displays of factious ignorance and vice , even though clothed with power .

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      THE EXECUTIVE . PRESENT DIFFICULTIES REQUIRE PRESENT REMEDIES . We direot attention to two documents elsewhere inserted ; one from the president and secretary of the Executive , and the other from the Executive pro . tem ., in reference to the election of proper persons to fill up the places of those members of the Executive committee whom tyranny has driven from their post . It will be seen that , including that " most improper person , Mr . Mobling , " nine persons have been nominated—Of them Mr . Watkins declines to serve ; so that only eight remains to choose from .

      We think the suggestions of Leach and Campbell , that : — " Out of the whole list of candidates put in nomination , those five that have the greatest number of votes Bhall be held in reserve , and whenever there occurs a vacancy , the candidate amongst the five who had the greatest number of votes to be called to the vacant seat , and so on in succession until the last of the five should be called , if there should occur successive vacancies ; but

      in all cases the rightful elected member to resume his seat if he be able and willing to do so ;" is one about which there can scarcely be two opinions . It is the plan best calculated to meet the real emergenoy . As to its being an addendum to the plan of organisation , we suppose no one can object to it on that account , so long as it is evidently called for by circumstances , and accords with the spirit of the organization .

      The Executive very properly require the votes of the members as a sanction for this proceeding if adopted ; and we suggest to the members that their votes should be individually carried by each member separately to his class leader , and so returned to tho rab-Secretary for transmission to Mr . Campbe ll , the General Secretary . In localities where no class leaders reside , every member should himself : deliver his vote to the sub-Secretaries . The votes I OUGHT NKVEH TO BE XAKEH AT A MBETIMG ! every

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      suoh aotbeing in legal phrase , the act of " apart or division" of the society ; and therefore an infraction of the Corresponding Societies' Act . One thing tbe Executive and tbeir now assistants , the Exeeutive pro tem . will , of course , see to ; that no return of votes bo given for any candidate who may not happen to be a member of the General Council . We do not know whether all the candidates be on the General Council or not ; but if any man ba appointed to act on the Executive Committee who is not a member of the General Council , it will not merely be against the law of the Association , but will vitiate the whole of the proceedings by rendering them illegal .

      Nothing is more important than that we should comply with the provisions of the law ; at least whenever we can do bo . In hope of making all fta meshes obvious to the most simple Chartist , we shall , now that the hubbub is over , go on again with our articles on Organization , making the whole system and working of our National Charter Association plain to all .

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      TO THE FOXES AND THE GEESE . Elsewhere our readers will find a most interesting report of a Complete Suffrage meeting , for enhancing the National Defence Fund . We give the report from the Evening Star ; and we request particular attention to it . We especially request that all working men who have been by the specious representations made to them by the Sturgites , induced to run after them , will readjthis report . They see in the proceedings of this meeting an exact epitome of the whole Sturgite community . Johnston and Chard are their own representatives , simple ,

      good , honest-hearted men , who think others like themselves , and who , therefore , give the Sttjhge men credit for sincerity in their " talk" about demo cracy and right ; while Hamhents , the master tailor , and Dutton , the gentlemanly President of the Bristol Sturgites , make manifest the . real animus of SniEGEand his co-workers in the " lead " of this Anti-democratic movement . If any confirmation had been wanting of the deliberate character of the insulting " ho " returned to White ' s committee , it is furnished in the proceedings ' of this meeting . We

      defy any man to use his own eyes and watch the movement of the Stukoe leaders , without ooming to the same conclusion to which we have been driven ; that the whole thing is a snare , meant to deooy the people into the hands of the "extension of commerce " fleshmongers ; and the democratic causehasno enemies more bitter or more watchful than the insidious foes who put on the garb of friends . Another proof if wanted maybe found in the conduct of Adak , the Sturge Newspaper Man , at Aberdeen , after Mr . Vincent ' s lecture , the report of which we have also given from the Evening Star ,

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      ~ r - ^ ~~ " ^ —~ - ^ ^~ w—u ^ » U J W IJ . ^^^^^^^^^^ »« u — ^^^ . I W . PJ NECESSITY FOR THE CHARTISTS ACQUIRING LOCAL POWER . THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS . Wb have often endeavoured to press upon the Chartists of the kingdom the imperative necessity there exists , if they would make themselves " respectable , " felt , and feared , to obtain possession of those outposts to general government , —the local offices . The present is an opportune moment to repeal and enforce the advice .

      Local Power is the key to general power . Local " authorities" have the administration of general laws . Any law , even the most tyrannical , can be made to bear either harshly or mildly , according to the views and feelings of those who administer it . An expression of sorrow at having to put in force the infamous provisions of an infamous law goes a very great way indeed to procure the abrogation of the obnoxious statute . There is all the difference in the world between having reluctant instruments to do the tyrant ' s work , and having these who blurt out : " You have offended against the law ; and the law must be obeyed / the VENGEANCE of the law must be satisfied . "

      Whenever the Chartists have obtainedjpoflsession of those outposts of general Government , from that moment may they date the success of their general endeavours to establish bjoht . With unwilling administrators of bad laws , a bad Government cannot exist . Its power ceases the moment administrative support is taken from it ! It must aocomodate itself to the opinions and feelings of those who are to carry into force and execution its legislative enactments .

      The ChartiBts can acquire this Local Power . It rests with themselves to put forth their hand , and clutch it . It offerB itself to thoir grasp . It is fairly before them , and within their reach : let them seize it ! Let them suffer no opportunity to pass o ^ patting a friend into office . Uproot the enemy from his stronghold . Do this generally , and the victory will soon be our own ! The advice we have given respecting this matter has , we are glad to say , been acted on . Wherever it has been enforoed , good , great good , . has ^ followed . It has brought bur principles before the moneymaking sordid portion of the community in a striking and novel manner . It has stirred up

      the cess-pool of local corruption , and put the local birds and beasts of prey into fearful commotion . It has upset many a nest of thieving vultures , and put the fattening brood to unexpected flight ! It has taught those who have hitherto treated us with supercilious scorn , and lorded it over us with all the airs of established authority ; it has taught these that we are somebody ; that we have a power within ourselves ; and that we oan deprive them of the plumes which they so proudly toss and flaunt ! It has produced a wonderful change of tone towards the Chartists wherever it has been put in operation 1 It has even brought those who beforetime despised and reviled , to court and praise .

      In this gathering together of power with which to battle the general enemy , we are happy to say that Leeds has taken tho lead . For many months past have the " good men and true , " been on the watch , and suffered no opportunity of strengthening their position to escape . They have manfully and triumphantly asserted their principles ; and have gathered to themselves power and renown . They elected the last Board of Improvement Commissioners . On that Board were several well known and unflinching Chartists . While the Board continued to exist , those men did their duty to the inhabitants who had sent them to administer the

      law . They refused to be parties to , or sanction in any degree , class or party efforts for distinction or advantage . Under their auspices , public meetings were holden in the Town-Hall , at which good Chartist measures were almost nightly advocated . At those meetings the old hacks of party were put to the rout ! and the principles of right and justice boldly and manfully asserted in the hearing of the " great" ones of the town . They elected also a Chartist lot of Churchwardens-These officials are in office now ; and we challenge any party to say that they do not perform the duties ef their station with efficiency and in a good spirit . They are , by their conduct in office , heaping honour upon the cause of Chartism , which seated them at the Vestry board .

      Huddebsfield , too , has followed , m some degree , the example of Leeds . Some weeks ago , the new Constabulary Act came | into operation . The good men of Huddersfield were called upon to meet , to put in force some of it ? provisions . They did meet . They responded to the call made on them by the Overseers of the Poor ; and , when go met , they did their business ! They passed a list of names from which the Magistrates are bound to choose Constables ; and whioh list contains the nanvja of well known Chartist friends . But they did ^ aore than this : they rejected the police system * r » , all Ub shapes and forms ! In consequence of thii ' c meeting the Huddersfield people are releaagd from the burden of paid policemen , whioh tor gome years they have had to bear . [ In March next meetings will have to be again boiden ur . der this Constabulary Act ; andlwe shall

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      in due time give our friends all over the country instructions how to proceed on that occasion . It is a most important measure ; and may be wielded to great popular advantage if we bestir ourselves aright . ] Let the reader , too , refer to the account we this week publish as to the noble exertions of our friends in Salford . There is a lesson given to every Chartist in ( the kingdom ! See that it be duly learned 1 and as duly practised 11 Tuesday next is the day appointed for the taking

      of the election for Common Couneilmen , under the Municipal Corporations Act . Every Chartist who resides in a Borough , has a most serious and solemn duty to perform on that day , both towards himself and the cause he has espoused ! If he has a vote * and Rives that vote to swell the ranks of party or faction , he is a traitor to his principles of right and justice . If he has hot a vote , and yet neglects to use all his influence to damage faction and promote the return of firm and undeviating advocates of universal justice and opposers of general and sectional wrong , be is no less a traitor I

      In the matter , too , of asserting Chartist principles at Municipal elections , the men of Leeds have also taken the lead . On this occasion many of the candidates for the " sweet voices" of the electors ha ^ e had to emblazon on their banners the motto—Universal Suffrage . Others have contented themselves with singing out " Complete Suffrage : " but in nearly every case , has the " Suffrage" been required as a test . In this read and see the progress of Chartism ! The Chartists , however , have not been , on this

      occasion , satisfied with the mere utterance of the phrase M Universal Suffrage , " by those who look merely to the 1 st of November as the day which is to Beat them in the Counoil Chamber for three years ; and who , when there , conveniently forget all about Universal Suffrage and the Chartists too , except in the way of sanctioning the authorities in their measures of coercion to put Chartism down . They seem to have become " fly" to * the " artful dodge '' of the 1 st of Nov . Chartists , and the 2 nd of Nov . Whigs 1

      For the right assertion of their own principles , it was determined that , at least , one man who was well known to the Chartists and Chartism : one man who was well known to all as a Chartist ; who had fought and battled for Chartism through good and through evil report ; whose whole life had been devoted to a resistance of oppression , and the advocacy of right : it was determined to bring forward each a man as this , and return him fojthe Council Chamber , as the Chartist representative . Mr . Hobson was the individual selected with whom to fight this good Chartist battle ; and the men of Hunslet had the high honour of being the first to offer to return him for the considerations just set forth .

      This was a step of no ordinary kind . It was of great moment to both the Chartists and the Whigs . On all former occasions the Whigs had contrived to secure to themselves the Chartist support , under the plea of "Union" to "keep out the Tory . " " Merge your minor differences" was the motto ; and the Chartists had faithfully acted on it , and returned for the Whigs Whig Councillors , when , without such Chartist support , the Whigs would have had to Sounder in the mire . This proceeding , then , of the

      Hunslet , men was calculated to test the sincerity of Whig profession , and the honesty of . Whig action . If they really had a desire to " keep out the Tories ;" and if they were sincere in asking all sections of Reformers to " sink their minor differences ; " and if they were prepared to " do unto others aa had been done unto themselves , " they were bound to cordially " unite" to return the single Chartist , in consideration of the scores of Whigs that had been returned through Chartist support .

      Ah ! no ! Whiggery had ? not so read the call to " Union ! " " Union" was all right when it served the Whig turn , and secured Whig men ! but ' union" to return a Chartist ' . —Not so ! The appearance of Mr . Hobson as a candidate threw the whole Whig camp into commotion ! Consternation and alarm prevailed on every side . Tha Factions had had a sample of Mr . Hobson ' s business talents , and of his mode of dealing with Faction ' s crimps , while he occupied a seat at the Improvement Commissioners' Board : and from that sample they dreaded the opening-in upon them of Chartist eyes in the Council Chamber 1 To defeatthe efforts of the Hunslet people was now the sole objeet of

      that faction , whioh has hitherto enjoyed the sole and almost undisputed sway in the Leeds Corporation since it was Reformed . To this end every dirty and dishonourable means were used . Misrepresentation and calumny were resorted to . The power of the press to poison the minds of the Burgesses against Mr . Hobson wa 3 put in requisition ; and , so well aud faithfully did the truth-telling Mercury labour in its vocation , that it openly charged Mr . Hobson with acts of incendiarism I which oharge , we understand , he will shortly have to make good in

      a court of law , or be content to take the consequences . The destruction of Mr . Hobson ' s character , and the prevention of his return by the burgesses of Hunslet , was a matter of so much importance to the Whig faction , whose tool our neighbour Mercury is , that he laid aside his usual caution and brought against the individual whom he wanted to run . down , a charge bo tangible and so direct * that it can be dealt with in a courtof law ; and that , too , without the possibility of mistake as to the result .

      The following address from Mr . Hobson s Committee wi ll enable our readers to see the present position of the Hunslet contest ; and it will also point out to every lover of fair play in that Ward the manner ia whioh he should exercise his vote , if he would avert the direst disgrace from lodging on him and his fellow voters !

      TO THE BURGESSES OF THE HUNSLET WARD . On Tuesday next you will have to exercise the Suffrage the Law has invested you with , in the election of fit and proper persons to represent you in the Towa Counoil . It behoves yon to be mindful of the manner in which you exercise your privilege . The enormous , lavish , and wasteful expenditure of the borough funds ; the infliotion of an expensive , unconstitutional , and unnecessary police-force ; the heaping of salaries upon officials of twice the amount asked ; the desperate and disgusting efforts of partt to obtain party ascendancy in the con noil chamber : all these thiugs call loudly for reformation ; and they

      never can be reformed or put an end to , till the burgesses send men to that Council who will make the general welfare of the borough at large their entire study and sole rule of action , instead of iseeking to promote class or party interests . And , Burgesses , what are the claims and qualifications of the several candidates who have been submitted to your notice , and for whom you are called upon to vote ! There is Mr . Arthington . What do you know of him ! Has he been before you , to explain his views on the momentous subjects on which he will be enabled to legislate , should he be returned ! Have you had any opportunity of learning what he is ? of ascertaining what

      views and opinions he entertains on any question connected with local Government ! Do you know whether he is disposed to vote for the abrogation , or a great reduction , of the unnecessary day policeforce ! Do you know whether he is inclined to put a stop to the wasteful extravagance that has lately been pursued in the Council Chamber ! Indeed , do you know any thing of him ? Has he given you any opportunity to judge of his fitness or unfitness for the post he aspires to 1 None whatever 1 You know nothing of him ! He is to all intents and purposes , a * pig in a poke I" Can you vote for such a man t If you do , you deserve all the evils whioh you 'MU have to endure resulting from bad Government .

      Then , there is Mr . Hobson , a man who has been kuov ^ n all his life as a firm and undeviating advocate of ' ihe rights of the working man ; as an enemy to governmental extravagance , bothnational and local ; as an opponent of every measure inimical to the welfare of his country ; as a resistor of oppression in every shape ; as an asserter of the rights and liberties of his fellow-men , and one who has always opposed every attempt at their abridgment . In him you have a bold and uncompromising enemy of that unconstitutional and expensive force which it ia a national degradation for us to submit to ; and in him you have one who will do his uttermost to remove the obnoxious force from off our pockets , and save us , at least , some £ 3 , 000 ayear ! In him you have one who will not consent to be used as a , tool of party , but one

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      who will stand up for , and maintain against all comers , the general interests of the general inhabitantBof theborongb . . . , . , « , - . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . AnTHrNSToir was brought out as a candidate at & private meeting of some half score Whigs , rafter Mr . ^ obson had been unanimously fixed upon by a PUBLIC _ MiSiLr-ING of yourselves . Lose not Bight of the fact that Mr . Arlington's Committee have declared ; jtnat they would rather see the council chamber filled with TORIES than see a REAL REFORMER there , w the person of Mr . Hobson . Lose not Bight of the fact that it is the Whigs , those who are supportinig Mr . Artbington , who have introduced DIVISION and DISUNION in your ranks , for the purpose of securing the return of the Tory ! Lose not sight of

      the Tact , that Mr . Hobson publicly offered to leave the decision of the question as to whether he should stand ot UEHE . E , to a publio meeting of tho inhabitants of the Ward , called for the especial purpose of judging upon the respective merits and qualifications of himself and Mr . Arthington , so as to prevent division and disunion , on the condition that Mr . - Arlington ' s Committee should pledge themselves to abide by the decision of such meeting , and that "all sections of reformers " should agree to merge tbeir minor differences" and cordially support the reformer thus fixed upon , to the exclusion of the TORY for Hunslet from the Council . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr Arthington ' s friends HAVE NOT DARED to accept this proposal ! That they have { not dared to appeal in any one shape , to a public meeting in tha

      whole Ward ! That they have not dared to take the sense of the assembled burgesses on their proceedings in any manner ! Lose not sight of ( the fact , that this conduct on the part of the Whigs can only arise from a consciousness on their parts , that what they are doing will not bear examination , and that they are afraid of popular opinion ! If their man be a good man ; if he be a known Reformer ; if his qualifications for the office of councillor will bear the test of scrutiny ; if his knowledge of the local matters appertaining to the office he aspires to can be made apparent ; if he , or they , be not afraid , why not bring him before the publio ! Why not accept Mr . HOBSON'S proposal ! Because their cause is a bad one ! Because they dare not face the day ! Because they know that their doings have deserved and excited suoh strong puttie indignation , that they dare not look the burgesses in the face !

      BURGESSES ! Will you submit to be Bowsed in tbe hands of the Whigs , as to be made instrumental to the return of a TORY for the purpose of keeping a real reforming ferret from putting his nose into the Council-Granary where the Whig and Tory rats are feeding and fattening upon yonr corn ! Mr . Arlington's friends have not a shadow of a shade of success , notwithstanding tbeir impudent and lying assertion that they have a large majority in their favour ! They know they have not the least chance ; aud this is proved by the fact that they are resorting to the most desperate and despicable means of INTIMIDATION td swell their ranks ! Why should Whig Masters be instructed to canvass the men in their employ , if the Whigs have a majority to begin with ! This has been done ! It is true

      that some masters have , to their eternal honour , REFUSED to be thus made the cat ' s paw of part zans : and those who do so far forget themselves as to do the dirty bidding may rest assured that they shall not be forgotten , but shall be holden Hp to the scornful gaze and deepest execration of their honest fellow-citizens . ' With you then , BURGESSES of the Hunslet Ward , the matter rests . If you choose to be sold to the TORIES , support Mr . Arthington . But if you wish to have a man to represent you who possesses a knowledge of your wants and wishes ; whose character for straightforwardness and sterling honesty is unimpeachable ; whose * whole life has been devoted to the advocacy and advancement of the cause of RIGHT and JUSTICE . Vote for Mr . Hobson . ¦

      During the past week , Mr . Hobson has also been started as a candidate in the Holbeck Ward , for reasons whioh are clearly set forth in the following address : — TO THE LIBERAL BURGESSES OF THE WARD OF

      HOLBECK . The Committee appointed at a public meeting of your body to secure the return of Mr . Joshua Hobson , as a common councillor for the Word of Holbeck , after he bad been nominated as a candidate for that office by the same public meeting , deem it necessary , both as a matter of justice to themselves and to you , to explain how it came to pass that that gentleman was submitted to your netice at all , and placed in such a position as to have a claim on your suffrages . It is quite true that at a former public meeting , holden in Messrs . Marshall ' s school room , two other gentlemen , Messrs . Cliff and Whitebead , were nominated as candidates . And it is also true that scarcely any one knew of the intention of the parties promoting that i meeting to submit the latter gentleman to the notice of the Burgesses of the Ward . He was , however , so submitted , and nominated as a candidate along with Mr . Clint

      After the meeting , the Committee appointed to promote the return of the above two gentlemen , ascertained that a very strong feeling existed in the Ward , amongst the liberal burgesses , against one of the men they were asked to vote for—Mr . Whitehead . Thia feeling arose , it was stated , from alleged misconduct on his part toward * the men in bis employ . That conduct was strongly characterised by those who had votes to give . They spoke of him as a reducer . of wages , not only in his own establishment , but averred that he bad also exercised his influence in other establishments to get their wages reduced too . It was averred , also , that the conduct of the managers in bis establishment towards the employed , was most disgraceful . It was asserted that in some instances hia own son had actually KICKED those placed under his charge 1 ! and that the father afforded no ledresg

      for the gross and brutal outrage , when appealed to ! All these things , amj many more of the same character , were stated * to the members of Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead ' s Committee ; and , aa a matter of course , they came to be talked of generally . In fact this feeling againsit Mr . Whitehead was io manifest , that the Chairman of his own Committee felt himself bound to bring the matter before bis assembled colleagues ; and declare it as his opinion that the feeling against Mr . Whitehead was so strong , that . fte had serious doubts as io the possibility of Vteir oeing able to carry him at all ; and that it was a question as to -whether it was not the most advisable course to withdraw that Gentleman from the field , and bring forward another against whom no such objections could be raised , as had been mooted aud advanced against the man they had . '

      Under these cirounistances the individuals who now address you deemed it necessary to bestir themselves ? They knew of the feeling against Mr . Whitehead . They had no reason to be satisfied with him as a politician . They knew him only as a Whig . They knew tkat the Ward of Holbeck was decidedly in the advance of all other wards in the Borough , In political feeling . They knew that that feeling was essentially radical ; and they knew that if the Burgesses of Holbeck ; were properly politically represanted in tbe Town Council , a " Radical to the back-bone" would be their man . They knew also , that if tbe strong feeling against Mr . Whitehead ended in his defeat , it would also end in the return of a TORY ! and anxious to prevent this , they determined to look out for a man whose general and local

      knowledge eminently fitted him for the office of Councillor , and whose ability and efficiency none could doubt ; and against whose political and private character not even malioious envy herself could establish a charge ] Such a man we knew that we should find in Mr . Hobson . Aware of the dirty and treacherous conduct pursued towards our brethren in the Hunslet Ward by the selfish and dishonourable Whig faction , we felt in some degree bound to evince our public est imation of that conduct All these circumstances pointed out a line of duty , and we pursued it We applied to Mr . Hobson . In answer to that application he promptly stated that " every citfzan is bound to obey ihe call ot his fellow-citizens , when that call involves tbe performance of publio duties which every citizsn owes to his fellow-men . "

      Upon this , we appealed to you . We called a public meeting of your body . That meeting was attended by many of Mr . Whitehead's friends , —one of the Chairmen of his Committed amongst the number . Those gentlemen pleaded foT Mr . Whitehead ; but only on the ground { of his having been nominated at the former meeting . And the result-was , the carrying of resolutions , with only three dissentients , that Mr . Hotaon should be placed in nomination ; and that a deputation should wait up » n Mr . Whitehead ' a Committee , to request thsmto withdraw that gentleman , on account or the feeling described above .

      The result of that Deputation waa this A nation was made in the Committee that the request of tne public meeting should be complied with . When put to the vote , one-half of ihe Committeevoted for it , and tna other half against it The Committee were equaljr divided 1 Tis true that the motion was stated to oe lost by a majority of two ; but that " majority"was . obtained by two persons voting who were Tiot members of theCommiUee . „_* Since that decision , a placard baa appeared , purporting to emanate from Mesara , Cliff aud Whitehead a Committee , In-wbioh those wh » object to the Uttef fentleman are designated " a faction" !! Bather * curious "faction" that , which consists of the msjority of the burgesses and inhabitants of the Ward , and includes in ita numbers one-half ef Mr . Whitehead ' s own Committee !! I .

      in that placard it Ia stated that " Mr . Whitehead despises and defies" those whom he denominates " designing calumniators , " and " ch allenges them to meet in publio to prove their assertions . " This ia mere vaponring and bombast Mr . Whitehead cannot both " despise' and «« defy . " The act ot "defiant *' proves that he does not " despise ''! He affects , too , to " challenge" those who speak against him to meet in public . " ThU is mere affectation we fear , or the parties putting forth this pompons challenge would have called a public meetlng , £ aud given aAl att . oppof < nity of attending It

      The ^ Oetheen Staft Saturday, October ^9, 1842.

      THE ^ OETHEEN STAft SATURDAY , OCTOBER ^ 9 , 1842 .

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      4 THfE NORTHER 3 N STAR . . _ _ ^ ——— ^ ———— . ____^__^^^___^^^^ J ^_ — . ¦¦ , i ~ _* ¦ - . - ' - ¦ _ ¦ — ~ *

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 29, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1184/page/4/