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Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th July 1847, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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    • K) THE MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY.
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      Untitled Article

      My FaiEHDS , — -It was my intention to have written you a useful letter this week upon agriculture and our progress and prospects ; bat , finding that the malcontents had built hope of strength upon my disregard of their folly , and Mr T . A . having insisted upon answers to THEIR questions , I have thought it . best to silence them by gratifying him . Next week yon shall have an account of my operations here , which will be attested by thousands , and which will astonish yon and paralyse Faction . I wish you could see my wheat sown at the rate of less than EIGHT POUNDS' WEIGHT OF SEED TO THE ACRE , AND TOO THICK . What I ' shall prove is this : that a man , his wife , and five children could not , in SIX MONTHS , consume the produce of a QUARTER OF AN ACRE , according to what I have this year produced under the most unfavourable circumstances , not having put a spade in the ground till the 8 th of March , and my wheat was sown on that day * . I think nothing of building houses : I could erect twenty thonsand of them in the year ; hut I will show the LAND , and what I

      have done . I will tell you a fact here , and will treat of it next week ; no man who has not seen it will be inclined to credit it ; but "dates are stubborn facts , " and no one can disbelieve his own eyes . On the 13 th of June 1 planted a plot of potatoes , the largest I could get : this is the 7 th of July , and 1 will now have them measured , and my evidence attested . I have had the potatoes measured . I took not the tallest in aline across all the drills , and they aver age over SEVENTEEN INCHES IN HEIGHT ; some are over ^ wo feet , and average abaut seventeen stalks from each seed ; the drills are three feet apart , and the seed potatoes are three feet apart in the drill

      and they now meet and touch . As the blacksmith who has just seen them says , they are like umbrellas . Now , if the day they were planted was not hooked and known to all , and if they did not bear unmistakeable evidence of the fact of their growth , I should not mention one word about them—but I have not done yet—they have been landed , « earthed " np TWICE , and are that height above the second landing . We measured even from the surface , and those , potatoes were planted by me , and will be eaten by Mr THOMAS ACKLAM , of BARNSLEF . Now , every acre in England may be made to produce as much Mr Cullingham , our foreman , measured the potatoes , and he will bear witness : —

      " I have this day measured the potatoes referred to , and fully corroborate every word of the above statement ; and , truth to say , I can scarcely credit my own eyes , but so the fact Itands , ' Henry Cullingham . ' So much for what was never done before ; next week I will account for it , and show how every man may do likewise . Well , you see lam on my hobby , and I must go on , thongh I have done as much this week as would kill a LITTLE

      HORSE . I have just dug one stalk of potatoes for my own dinner , and had the potatoes counted ; there were FIFTY POTATOES , every one of them fit to cook , and no two persons would require more for dinner ; those I planted on the 8 th March , on my own plan . Peter , a BLACK MAN I have , counted them , and when the old Bailiff turned them out , the Black Man roared out , Oh , Massa EUis , Massa Ellis , what a sight ! " Now , this was not a picked stalk , but came in its regular turn . Now for the wheat : such a thing as this my eyes never beheld ; it is about

      fourand a half feet high , and each ear is about five inches long , even now , and that I intend as ¦ tock to supply all the occupants with seed . I mean to propagate it on my own allotment , and to GIVE enough to each occupant , not to SELL it ; I will giver seme to each of the O'Connorville men this autumn . I planted less than eight pounds * weight to an acre ; the farmers sow stout fourteen stone ; so that at 2 s 6 d . a stone , I saved nearly II 15 s . an acre in seed , and left it for consumption . I would give a large sum that every working man in

      England could 6 ee my garden , and not l , 000 Z . but 50 , 0001 . a week would come in ; and I tell you , that on my word and on my soul , I would rather be the founder of the LAND PLAN than monarch of Europe , upon the condition that it should not be carried into effect . I tell you more , —that its full results have not yet entered into any man ' s mind , even the most sanguine or enthusiastic . Now , allow me to digress a bit—you see I will go on , though I was up all Monday night , and only in bed three hours last night . Men of

      Stockport , you have not been the most backward of your order in carrying out the LAND PLAN , and , still more glorious , your generous donation to Chartism proves that it has not destroyed your love of liberty . You remember that in November , 1835 , nearly twelve years since , I told you that if the land was locked up , I would not give you a straw for Universal Suffrage . You remember I told you , that in one year the people could

      purchase the tithes , and in a few years could purchase the Land , and by prudence could pay off the National Debt Will the men of Middleton , and all who have read it , remember my speech delivered at Middleton in 1838 , wherein I predicted the effects of FREE TRADE , and how it would affect the several interests ? You all remember my Letters to the Irish Landlords in 1 & 40 ? Now then observe , it is important ; read those letters , and say if I have not foretold , to a miracle , the present state of Ireland .

      Itold the Landlords of Ireland , that if they did not subdivide their estates , to meet national requirements , that Government would confiscate them . Well , read the "Morning . Chronicle ' of Monday last , and there you will find that the greatest part of the Irish land MUST BE SOLD . Sead tte bill that Lord John Russell is preparing to enable them

      to sell , and read the very fact as I stated it , that the Jews and Mortgagees would oust them ; and they are doing so . And now I tell ' you that you have only seen the BEGINNING OF THE END . I told you that when the Church pressed hardly upon the remnant _ left to the landlords , that they would then inquire what Chartism meant , and would say , "WHY , BLESS MY SOUL ! I HAVE

      BEEN IN IGNORANCE—WHY , I AM A CHARTIST . " Now , without vanity , workingmen , ( although we are told there is nothing new under tie sun ) I ask you , if , while factions have been talking about moonshine , I have not , for fifteen years , been telling you what the inevitable effect of class legislation must be , and if I have not clearly mapped out times that have come ? Now , I will venture another prediction . The present Pope is an honour to theap , but even

      lie Has to some extent joined the league of kings ; he has interdicted all priestly interference with political questions . Now , couple this with the avowed intention of the British minister to exchange ambassadors with the court of Rome , and to that add Archbishop Murray ' s political interdict , and the only sane answeris , " ENDOWMENT OFTHE IRISH PRIESTHOOD and prostration of the Irish people . ' " And now attend to my prophecy on the 8 th of July , 1847 : —

      JOHN O'CONiNELL WILL BE MADE THE LITTLE MOUTHPIECE OF THE IRISH CATHOLIC HIERARCHY ; AND THOSE OF HIS ORDER WHO NOW PLEDGE THEMSELVES TO REPEAL , WILL ADVOCATE THE EQUALITY OF THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD , THAT IS THEIR PROSTITUTION , AS A NECESSARY PRELIMINARY ; AND WHEN THE GENERAL ^ ELECTION IS OVER , YOU WILL SEE IRELAND

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      Question 2 nd . —If to the { Company in trust , how far is each member liable } Anttoer . —It appears to me that you have got hold of some railway act , and are knocking your head against it . No individual member is liable for any act performed by any officer , or by any member of the Company . The fact is , I am obliged to guess what you are driving at . as there is no sense in your ques-Question 2 nd .-If to the IComnanv int

      tions . I remember , when the " Northern Star' yf as established , a cunning attorney of Halifax , who was also a brewer , coroner , and coal miner , told , the people , in my presence , that all who took out shares would be liable for my debts , for stamp duty , libel prosecutions . and all the rest of it ; he knew he was telling a falsehood , but he thought to intimidate the people , as . being a humbug Liberal , he dreaded the influence o ? the " Star . " . ' ¦ ' .

      Question 3 rd . —If liable to expenses , losses , « c , in conducting the Company , is he liable to all , or is the exact amount of liabilities defined in such deed ? r No amount of liabilities is defined , because no amount of liability is incurred . Question 4 tt .- ~ When a party has paid ojSF the money advanced , is the property conveyed to him singly , free from alHn ^ brSticel * wil he still liable , as a member of the Company ! to its debts ? - r ^ v ? Answer . —If T . A ., as a member of ihe LamVCompany , pays the sti pulated amount of his allotment , the land and premises are

      conveyed . to him , for ever , free ][ of rent ; and , in case the Company was ' to fail on the next day , the property of T . A ,, so conveyed , would stand precisely m the same situation as A . B ., who may have purchased a portion of an estate from a landlord , who might subsequently fail neitherlawnor equity could touch the property of T . A . in one case , or of A . B . in the other case , any more than it could compel 0 D who , on the 1 st of July , had purchased and paid for a pair of stockings from E . F ., to pay for them again , in case E . F . had subsequently become a bankrupt . T . A . has an indisputable nght to all the privileges of a landlord over so much property .

      Question 5 th . —If liable , is the amount set forth ? £ . Answer . —The amount is nft set forth , because there is no liability . Now , sir , Jthese plain and simple answers are given to your mysterious questions , lest simple and unsophisticated men may be duped by cunning individuals . And now , let me ask you , if you ever heard a society so pure , so spotless , and so honourable as ; the Land Company ? so pure , so spotless and honourable , that the minionsof faction , the hired scribblers of political speculators .

      spies , and informers , dread its influence upon their ? several trades and callings ? I am of frugal habits , sir , of sober habits , and of inexpensive habits . I would prefer living upon a dry crust earned by the sweat of my own brow , to living in luxury upon the proceeds of those whose confidence had induced them to place the parings from their scanty board in my trusteeship . I established this plan , sir , with a character ; I established it upon a pledge , and I told the confiding that its success mainly depended upon confidence ; and it is because I see an attempt to weaken that confidence , relied upon by faction as the means

      of destroying the plan which must inevitably and speedily shake Monopol y to its very centre , that I thus condescend to notice your letter at all ; and , in truth , I may add , that the most fortunate are the most' querulous . You , sir ; have been very fortunate ; you have got your four-acre allotment ; and , therefore , your attention is directed to the protection of your own interest , without reference to the interests of those who have not been so fortunate . I do not blame you for being nice about your own interest , but I do think that your searching letter might have contained some show of anxiety for the interests of your less fortunate brother members .

      As this letter is intended as a wet blanket to the several squibs that have been thrown by the dissatisfied , I shall also notice here another fact that has come to my knowledge . It is this : great sympathy , has been expressed for the allottees at O'Connorville , and several insolent questions respecting their condition have been put to me . Let me here , then , answer those several questions at once . The allottees at O'Connorville have received their respective capitals of 152 ., 222 . 10 * ., and 302 ., without the deduction of a single fradtion for the culture of the land , for seed , for dung , or for labour . They were located on the first of May , that is , 2 months since ; and I should be glad to know which of the four-acre occupants would have

      earned 42 . a week at his trade during that time ; which of the three-acre occupants would have earned nearly 32 . ; and which of the twoacre occupants would have earned 22 . Furthermore , the occupants were not charged a falling for two years' firinff . and I am now engaged in contracting for the erection of outbuildings to every ., man ' s cottage , and , when the Company is completely registered , every occupant will receive a conveyance of his castle and his labour-field from the trustees , as stipulated by the Rules . All these things have been done upon the principle that I laid down in the outset—that the poor and confiding must not be crimped like soldiers into bad service , and then punished for their misplaced confidence .

      Now , I make these observations because ! understand that subscriptions have been made for some of the occupants at O ' Connorville , and besause a set of prowling vagabonds are lurking about the outskirts to discover whether they have jumped , as if b magic , from the jaws of the bastile to the luxury of a palace . How many of those men how enjoying the free air of heaven would have been now separated from their wives and families , paupers depending upon parish relief , but for the Land Plan ?

      And here let . it be understood , that although anxious and desirous to stretch the powers given to the directors in favour of located members , that the directors have a duty to perform to the less fortunate , and from the strict observance of which they will not be frightened by the taunts of individuals or parties . There is not a member of the Land Plan who at all expected , or had a right to expect , the advantages that have been conferred upon those located , and I am repaid for what I have done by the fact that I don ' t think out of the thirty-five there are two dissatisfied individuals .

      Now , give me leave to ack how it is that no bubble by which the working clisseshave been duped has ever been exposed by the virtuous press ? The 'Dispatch , ' since the establishment of the 'Illustrated London News , ' has become n mere Whig , and now under the management of the dismissed League tool , Sidney Smith , it has become more anti-popular than ever . Read the following letter , supposed to be

      written to the Editor of the Dispotfcftby , * " Newcastle Miner , " and restrain your laughter , if you can : — Devonport , July 2 nd , 1847-Sjr ,--I gend you the following extract from the IWyxucft ( weekly ) of June 27 th . I think the letter bears the impression of its concoction by the nolle editor ; it is not like the style ' of a miner ! This 1 shall leave to your superior judgment to decide . FEARGUS O'CONNOR'S CHARTIST Co ' -OPERATIVE SOCIETY . We have received the following letter from "A Miner , " dated Newcastle , June 22 nd , 1847 : ••

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      titettl }™ SP ° ? ' < wsuch , anxioui &a * ni ? co ? d 1 ^ 0 ? J nave seen in a prospectiu and rule * , circulated here , that for £ 212 s 4 d I can get possum of two acres of land , a good dwelC » nd £ lj , , n money , or money ' s worth , on thep&ymeJ SSire nTrS V ' iHt be ¦ tTOt&tKm S" " th" > / of such a sum as £ 212 s . id ., I will ffiohfe £ ? " % atixious t 0 know m ° « of S ^^ fJS ^ * - * " * - > kfiSSE ^ Sft-sss aii . ua members lor the aubscriDtion set fnrih ;„ ft .. ^ SirTam ^ errnnn , ^ „„ , „____

      >™ ft ™ - « «»• * d ., £ 3 13 a . « ., and £ 5 is 4 d 'Slfte « A « - 8 UMtwo » CW 8 of ^ d . » good house , and £ 15 m money ; to the 2 adsum three acres of land , a better home , and £ 22 lOsin kE ^ to the 3 rd turn , four acres ofland . i wjw * «»» e still , and £ 80 in money f . JV -. r-J * «» Company * leg « l one , and shall I bt safe in-joining it ? ¦^^• -ItiB sefc forth in the prospectus and rulei wfcfoh I have ^ seeD j that it was ' provisionally regii . , tewd under the Joint-Stock Company ' s Act ; but I understand that this wag to be followed by a complete registration . ' Is that registration compietra j ¦ ' ¦ ¦ . " * # ! ' 7- | fJ » t be not . is there any Becuritv for th * he »» to

      SiK ^* * anybody legmlly bound » o-« amggKV , w cannot any of ft ^ omoers that on 1 ^*? " ^ *^ 4 » Wtf % riintohis pocket ahdsBaphisfingersat the rest of hi * copartwriin an illegal trading company ? ' " fi % ~ l f ? lt that if thi 8 complete ngistration is not effected , the Company is enabled to go on with actireoper ttiong—subscribemoney—buy land-ballot forit-and occupy it by the fortunate' shareholder ! , leeingthatotheroompaniesonly ' provisionally regislild ' Trith ^ hV ' law 1 ? 6 Unt ! 1 lhey h » Te completely o ^ m-Your anBwew » g these Queries in the Ditpauh will greatly oblige me , for I am sure you will speak hokbsili of the project . If it be a safe one , you will sayso . - ififc be unsafe , it is time that an exoosure

      snouw De made , and the promoters of a fraudulent scheme sent to keep company with the 'Moriion piU squad , who had a universal panacea for all the physioal ills that flesh is heir to ; only the remedy , unfortunately , rotted theentrathjofthoge thatapplied it . I remember some such scheme as this Land Company being started in London some time ago , only the subscribers were to have their land in Venmela not in England . I remember that some thousand pounds were subscribed on this scheme , and that many partieB left their homes to take possession of the promned land ! ' Can you tell me how they ar « doing ? ' ., ^ , ^ e cd m . think « " > h a company is illegal . ii

      nonuiiy registered ; and it the directors have proceeded to buy and divide land upon a provisional registration , they may be proceeded against for a breaoh of the law . With respect to the expediency of joining it , A . Miner' may determine that by looking through the roles , vrhen he will ue the land , house , fic . areto be paid for by a rent eiiual to Bix per i ™^ ? 2 t e a 8 cMtaine . < i ™ lue . If the two acresol land , the £ 15 to crop it , and the hut built upon it , « re of the value of £ 83 0 i . 8 d ., the holder is to pay a rent ot £ 5 a-year , till every member of thecotnpany has , in turn , been provided with a house and landwinch , we guess , will run over a terribly lone number of years . We certainly shall not venture to

      recommend an investment in such a project . ] "This is the opinion of the noble and excellent Dupateh . He also , in another paragraph , an » wer » the query of'A Dorking Labourer , that he will make good his auertiooB respecting spade husbandry . I presume he takes the negative portion ™ to iu utility and superior advantages . n Query .--l 8 a pensioner ( either Greenwich or Chelsea ) safe in joining the Co-operative Land Company ?—for I know when I was in Sussex in 1837 , a Greenwich pensioner forfeited his pension , became he was rather conspicuous in joining a body of Chartiste-I believelit was done b y the Whigs , who pretend to love Liberal opinions . "J . W "

      Now , what do you think of that 'Morison pill' touch coming from underground ? Don't you think Sidney was the fabricator of both question and answer , and are you not aware that Sidney ' s old friends , the League , dread the uccess of the Land Plan more than all other classes of society put together ? And then the article in Lloyd ' s , edited by Carpenter , signed lc Omega ? ' Now , the object of that article is to weaken confidence inme ; and , in return , just allow me to ask you to read the character given of Mr Wm . Carpenter by his friend , Joshua Hobson , Jn : the "Northern Star : " — "The People are too wide awake either to be deceived by the miserable concoctions of Hill or Carpenter . " * * *

      As for William Carpenter , h haaappealed to the eighteen years of his publio life ! We purpose going through them with hm . We intend to' begin at the beginning , ' and follow him doiely down . We intend to know all about his various ' tvherbabooib , ' and his d ifferent and 'PECULIAR , ' and very contradicioet occupations , from a writer of religious works down to the ieeper of a no matter what , just now . We intend to know all about his connection with the Trades' Unions , and a press bought with their money : in short , we intend to trace him through all the tortuous windings and twistings of the eighteen years he has appealed to , that we may know foot too as he really is , and be able to judge of his fitntss to give advice to anybody ORlanything . "

      Now , that article was inserted contrary to my wish , and was considerably softened down by my direction ; and I would ask you what confidence you can place in the teaching of a man deserving such a character ? And Mr Hobson ' s observation to me waB ; " Sir , I can prove every word of it ; " and yet this Mr Carpenter was one of Mr Hobson ' s principal witnesseB in the aetion against me for the recovery of a year ' s wages . Now , is it not plain to everv

      man of common sense that men who have been the bitterest enemies to each other will forget their feuds when 1 am to be attacked ? The Land Plan is now provisionally registered , and the law which requires provisional registration as a first step , and complete registration as & second step , was framed for the purpose of protecting the thoughtless from the snares of the wily ; but it was not made to aid spies and informers in their assaults upon the honest intentions of honest men .

      If I were called upon to furnish an account of the funds of the Company , and could not produce at a minute ' s notice twenty shillings and intereat for every pound paid , the law would scourge me , and very properly so ; but when I could place in the hands of the court , principal and interest , without a shilling ' s deduction for my own expenses for two years and a quarter , and when I was the man seeking legal protection , and anxious to discharge myself of so much responsibility , by conveying all the property to trustee ^ law would say , and equity would confirm it , that this is a company within the strict meaning of the act , —this is a man who leeks , not to embezzle , but to discharge himself of an immense amount of property .

      Now , sir , give me leave to state that se jealous am I of the fair fame that I have honestly earned , and bo frugal and industrious am I , that it is my fondest hope that I never shall be obli ged to call upon the shareholders to pay even my travelling expenses incurred on behalf of the Company , for visiting estates , attending auctions , or other acts consequent upon my anxious and arduous duties—duties which would cost the Company sometimM 10 UJ . a week , and which last week cost me over 20 / ., and in addition to which it is my intention to bestow the premiums I promised upon the most deserving occupants . I shall now state , for the satisfaction of the members , what is meant by the sevevalj stages of

      registration . Firstly . The Company is " provisionally registered : " a preliminary step required for the limitation of operations , until the Company is completely registered , and till which the Company could not buy lands or do other acts * This step was rendered necessary to protect shareholders against the concoctoi-s of bubbles , and this is the reason the estates have been purchased in ray name . " Complete registration" means , the writing of every shareholder ' name , residence , number of shares held , and the respective numbers of those ^ shares ,

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      and which , when ; done , is called the [ schedule of the deed , and when that is done the names of those representing one-fourth of the amount of shares must-be signed by the shareholders themselves , and then the Company is completely registered , and the property will he conveyed by me to the trustees ; and by the trustees to the members , as located . Now , this was no easy preliminary step for the directors to perform ; and yet , by proper exertion on the part of the district secretaries , the whole of the required operations may be completed by the meeting of Conference . The , . , , ., .

      names for the schedule are nearly completed now , and , in a very few days , the shareholders representing one-fourth of the amount of property could perfect the deed , as I think we could procure the required number of signatures m London , Manchester and districts , N ottingham and districts , and Leeds and districts . Now , the shareholders will observe , that for nearl y twelve months I have been urging the district secretaries to the performance of this duty , and their neglect , and not mine , has been the cause of complete registration not being effected : — I will bow , in conclusion , ask a few simple questions of the shareholdera : — ¦ -

      Whether do they think that affection for them or hatred of me induces , the Opposition of the Dispatch , Lloyd ' s , and those wily disreputable rascals , who correspond under feigned names , and who are afraid to attach their own signatures ? Was there ever a society so noble , so glorious , so freedom-breathing and so prosperous ) established for the working classes ? Was there ever such publicity given to the accounts of a society ? Was there ever such open and candid dealings between the managers and members of a society ? or , Was there ever an equal amount of business transacted for a like amount of ?

      money Was there ever a proprietor of a newspaper who refused to charge even the duty upon advertisements where he was , entitled to charge a large amount for the advertisements ? The liberty-breathing papers of the 'Young ' and ' Old' Ireland party charged for the publication of the monies wrung from the starving Irish , and for the resolutions and addresses of the hypocritical leaders ; while no penny appears in my balance-sheet for which there is not a receipt . Not a fraction of the nioney has been speculated with , but every pound has borne interest from the day it was paid , although that

      lunatic , Jimmy O'Brien , has put down the interest of the money at 5 per cent , as a handsome remuneration for my services . Let the members say that there is any other individual in which they wish the property to be vested in preference to myself and the conveyance shall be made , with twelve hours ' notice ; and let them bear in mind , that , until complete registration is effected , it must be vested in some individual . Now , sir , I wish you to understand that I will not gratuitously devote every hour and every moment of my time for your benefit and the benefit of those

      from whom I am to receive no gratitude for my exertions ; and you and those who have been the most fortunate have the least right to cavil or complain , as , without any liability , the successful occupants can always make a small fortune upon their outlay , and if you are dissatisfied with yours , and if you dread the liabilities , and if you have more confidence in the "Miner'' and . "Sidney Smith , " in "Omega" and "Wm , Carpenter , " than you have in | me , I will discharge you of all your fears , liabilities aud apprehensions , by transmitting you by return of post £ 80 for th » four-UPV& Yiiioriioat * ffiat vnn Yinva f ! i * awn / vnf /\ f + Tia vuiavv ui vtt \ i tiw

      " *»• ** mv * B »* fv UAiti'll VUV VA V » v deceitful ballot-box ; and surely , sir , the most artful or cunning cannot diminish that amount by a fraction when it is in your pocket , even if the Company should fail upon the following day . The members will now see why I limited my operations to 24 , 000 , and , if J had been aware of the obstruction to be offered by the most fortunate , I would have allowed the power of fleecing the confiding to devolve upon a more willing instrument than myself . Good God ! sir , when did you see castles with outbuildings springing up , as if by magic , for the confiding poor ? And is it any wonder , sir , that

      they should lack friends when those friends receive but the poor requital of the insolence of the most fortunate ? When did you ever see , hear of , read of , or think of , the transformation of slaves into freemen ? Do you not hear of building societies and bubble societies , all living upon popular credulity , and fostered and encouraged b a venal press , because the wealthy make merchandise of : the poor . But when do you see the poor reaping the fruits of their own labour ? Do you suppose , sir , that you have any inherent right to my every hour ' s toil ? Do you suppose , sir , that I will neglect at th

      my own business ^ my own priv e duties ; at I will pay a host of editors for doing what I might do myself , in order that my who ] e labour may be given to you and your order ? Do you suppose , sir , that I will make dung , hills from daylight to dark } that I will plough the ground , and buy the seed , and sow the seed ; that I will turn horse jobber , and cow jobber , and bailiff , and pay-clerk , and surveyor , and Land purchaser , and receive only

      insolence as my pay ? No , sir ; if I chose to establish a society of a few rich men for the purchase and subdivision of land , I could make more money in a year than I could spend in the whole of life , and what I have a right to expect , and what I will have , too , is respect , if not gratitude , for my services . When the people find me turning those services to my own account instead of their benefit , then , but not till then , they may treat me as their hired servant .

      Now , sir , you may lay that your letter did not merit so discourteous an answer . I say it did ; for I cannot construe it otherwise than as a pitiful attempt to know how you can secure y « ur own early-acquired benefit without a particle of consideration breathed throughout for the interests of those by whose pence you have been placed in the position of little landlord . I also intend this as an answer to hundreds of anonymous scribblers , and to the satisfied members whose fears may be operated upoa

      by the more wily . If the fourth section had not been opened , I would have confined my operations to three sections , and let your letter and hundreds of similar ones | be my answer to thousands who have requested me to keep the Company open until better trade shall enable thousands and tens of thousands who are now anxious , but unable , to join . A single remark and I have done . While sky-scrapers , moonrakers , and star-gazers , are divining the future ill-success of the Land Plan , I may be permitted to show the failure of their several predictions by what has passed .

      Firstly . —It was predicted that we would not find land to purchase . Secondly . —That we would not be allowed to purchase it at the fair market price ; and Thirdly . —When purchased , that the class for whose benefit it was intended , being unaccustomed to agricultural labour , would fail in their new occupation . Well ;; Firstly , —If I had ten millions of money , I could buy land within a month to that | amount . Secondly . —I did make a profit on one estate , aad might have made a profit upon all ; and Thirdly . — -The very women andxhildren who

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      havebeenalltheirlivescooped-upin a " rattiw box , ' are the very best and most industrious L » bourers at O ' Connorville ; . and the weaver have actually the best ' cultivated allotments while a great number of them have from one to six pigs . Now , they never liiid these tMnffB before ; and I wish it to be strictly home m mind that when I established the Land Pkn I never encouraged the . occupants to . - supposer that every occupant , whetheridleor ind ustrio us would succeed . The Land is the field , Laboup is the means , and comfort is sure to be tha

      end ; while the idle have the consolation to know that my industry has placed them in the situation to turn their 2 / . 12 s . id . into' 40 / . ; their Zl . 18 s . 6 d . into 60 / . ; and their 5 / . As . id . into 80 / . ; and this fact I always stated as the security of the Company , the certainty of success , and the means of remunerating even the most idle : and I now confidently stnte

      that when the security we can afford the Land Bank is understood , nnd when the effect which will inevitabl y bo brought to bear " upon the government is felt , that every member of the four sections will be located within live " y n m this date » and that when the affiu ' n ot the Company are wound up , the Bank will nave paid the guaranteed interest upon every pound deposited , and 20 s . in the nound to every

      uepositor , while an enormous amount of capital win remain for distribution amongst the members . < . . e .. 1 tell you , sir , that it is impossible , wholly and utterly impossible , that the government ot the country can overlook the LnndPlan , or ret m r Car $ K Uout ' There W !» » l > wt of Mr Ferrand ' s speech at the Crown 'and Anchor meeting which was not published eyen in the Star . ' He said that there waurt a man in England of any party whtf was conferrin » such benefits upon , or doing so much good for , the working classes , as Mr O'Connor was br

      his Land Plan . Such men as Eerrand and Oastler , who call themselves Tories , are sure to be in the next Parliament , and are sure to urge this Plan upon the consideration of government , and they are not men to secure seats iipon pledges which , they mean to violate , but theyaremen who would perform for Labour-tea thousand times more than they would pledge therneelvGs to on the hustings .

      I shall continue in my even course , resting my claim to confidence and support upon the motto by which I hope now and hereafter to be judged— "To live usefully , die a pauper , and live in the hearts of those whom 1 shall have emancipated . " I aify Sir , your obedient servant , * Feargjus O'Connor . P . S . —One caution I consider necessary . Let not the fortunate occupants , now or hereafter , allow the peace of their little community to be

      disturbed by the ravings of the dissatisfied or the artful ; and let not the industrious suppose that the ill-success of the idle is to denote their failure . We are embarked in a great , in a novel , in a high and philanthropic undertaking for the regeneration of the countryandthe emancipation of its slaves j and if art , wile , or folly should drive me from the pursuit , I will prove popular ignorance by carrying out the plan to

      a greater extent , upon my own responsibility , than 1 have hitherto undertaken ; and , perhaps , if I wastopocketsome thousands ayear , instead of placing it in the coffers of Labour , then I might be considered a great patriot and a wonderful benefactor , as I always find that the working classes have the greatest respect for those who grow rich upon their confidence . I shall write no more letters upon this subject . F . O'C .

      Untitled Article

      THE LAND AND T'JE CHARTER . A numerous and enthusiast !* publio meeting was held on Monday evening , July 6 th , in favour of the aboTei objects , at the Paragon Chapel , Bermondsey Mr Johw Sbweh was unawmoualy oalled to the chair , and said the meeting was convened for the purpose of making the principles of the National kand Company better known in connection with the Charter . Had It not been for the activity and able advocacy of the Chartist body , so many thousands would not now be on the high road to the enjoymentof those blessings which the soil , under the guidance of the National Land ComDanv with

      moderate industry , was sure to bring forth . ( Load oheerH . ) They would all admit that the aristocraoy had monopolised the land and its fruits , and that it was high time both were restored to their proper owners , the people . ( Renewed cheering . ) Theprinciple of a free soil was not only prevalent in oar land but had happily extended its benign influence to thtt Americans . ( Hear , hear . ) They had had a number of goodly men politicians and philanthropists , but , alas ! the good effects produced by their glotiona efforts had been but faint . Why ? because the working men had not hitherto been sufficiently united . Bat , thanks to the indefatigable ' energies of Mr O'Connor , and that great lutninwy the Northtm Aar—( Loud cheers , )—intelligence now prevailed ,

      popular apatby had been shaken off , and the result was a National Land Company with a fund exceeding £ 40 , 000 , five eatateB , oie in occupation , and a second just ready for occupation . ( Great cheering . ) The directors of the National Land Company acted in the true fraternal spirit worthy of that Democracy of wbiou they were proud to be the advocates , asking no man when he presented-himself for membership what his country , colour or creed , sufficient for them that he was member of the great human family . ( Loud cheers ) He had much pleasure in introducing their friend Mr Doyle to their notice . ( Cheers . ) Mr Doyle said , some two hours ago he heard * person regretting that the Land Company had been

      founded by Chartiste . It was true its founders were Chartists , and that they gleried in the name . ( Much cheering . ) He looked on Chartism as the noblest principle in the world , demanding , as it did , political equality for all , and so well calculated as it fcas to bestow happiness on the whole human race . ( Load cheers . ) But had the National Land Company been founded by Tories , or even by the detestable Whigs , looking at its great intrinsic merits he could not have objected to support it . Pity it was that there should exist such contracted minds as thosewho upon such small grounds wonld object to support the benign principles of the National Land Company . ( Hear , hear . ) Had he not havo been a Chartist until last night , the spectacle he then witnessed would

      have made him one . On passing Saint Martin ' s workhouse he saw at least forty huuura beings with scarce rags sufficient to cover their nakedness , almost in a starring state craving for admission and shelter in the union Bastile ; and this too in a nation which possessed a plethora of wealth , and at a time too when the parliamentary estimates numbered included one of £ 6 , 000 to erect a pedestal on which to mount the statue of his Grace of Wellington , whose solemericonsisted in devoting his whole energies to the de . struction of human life . ( Loud oheering . ) He believed there were no people oh the fac « of the earth , trampled oh so muoh as the people of the United Kingdom ; yet they were told they were the glory of the world , And the envy and admiration

      ot surrounding na tions . What an insult , what a degrading mockery ! The sight of last night convinced him that their freedom consisted in being free to starve . ( Hear , hear . ) If this was a test of the good qualities of British institutions , the sooner they are levelled with the earth , and others erected in their stead , the better . ( Much applauBe . ) Yes , the men who produced all , both necessaries and luxuries , were left to perish of cold and hunger , while the useless wealth-consuming , idle drone was overgorged with the good things wrung from overwrought honest industry . Again he said " periBU such . a state of things ! " ( Loud and long continued applause . ) Oh for the Chatter , that they might wtabhsh suoh a code of 1 » wb as would enable us to

      labour and live , and enjoy the bounteous produce of God ' searth . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr Samubi , Ktb » spoke at considerable length , offering some convincing proofs of th » capabilities and certain success of the Land plan ; He also ably defended the Charter . Mr K . was loudly cheered . After a few words from Mr Gathard , . M'Grath said , no subjects could be of more importance tnanthe Land and the Charter ; the Land to gite sustenance , and | the Charter as a protection from marauders . ( Loud cheers . ) The Charter was a means to an end . He agreed with Mr O'Connor , that the Charter would be useless if the Land waa locked up . Ho looked on the Charter as the means of obtaining the Land . He had recently stood on a public platformalon gside of the scion of a

      , noblo house , the Honourable Leveson Gower , the Whig candidate for Derby ; and a rare specimen of Whiggery he was . His miserable Whig shuffling was exhibited in too matter of the Suffrage , the Church , or Death Punishments , but his political intelligence was most wonderful . | He went to Mr Goree to canvass for his vote , and in the presence of his tail of followers declared that he did not know what tho Ratepaying Clauses in the RefsrmAct were . ( Roars of laughter . ) He ( Mr M'Grath ) knew many working men who would make excellent mentors for this Whig philosopher . ( Loud cheers . ) After commenting on tho Land Flan at considerable length , Mr M'Grath resumed his seat amid great applause . A vote of thanks to the chairman closed this eutiia * siattio meeting ;

      K) The Members Of The Land Company.

      K ) THE MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY .

      Untitled Article

      NORWICH . Duty and justice to the men of Norwich compels me to say , that such a demonstration as theirs of Monday last has not been seen in England since 1839 , and was never excelled even then . I never was more astounded . To make a guess at the numbers , or to attempt a description of the enthusiasm , would be folly . "WTien in the centre of the congregated thousands , I could neither see beginning or end of people or banners . Close behind my carriage , drawn by four beautiful grey horses , was tha

      mostmagmncent flag that can be imagined . On one side was a huge Bastile , aporpoige of . an overseer at'the door , dragging a starving child in , and paupers bearingthe corpse ofa pauper passing by ; over this were the words " ENGLAND AS . TT IS ; on the other s ide was a view of O'Connorville , splendidly done , and over it , « ENGLAND AS IT WILL BE . " The market-place ( an immense place ) was filled with people , and the Hall at nigU was crammed . In short , nothing could be more

      triumphant ; while I am bound to say , that the absence of both Mr Jones and Dr Simpson was an insult to the fine fellows by whose exertions the whole affair was got np ; and I must ' add , that they , the Chartists , are not at all chargeable with the neglect . I can partly excuse Mr Jones , though he should have been there ; but I cannot excuse the Dr ., who can offer no earthl y apology . The fact is , all must remember the adage , " God helps those who help themselves ^ and those who stand in need of Chartist simnm * n ^ at ;• . stand in need of Chartist support must in

      future be able to plead SUPPORT OF CHARTISM . In compliance with the request of the Election Committee , I sent to the address they gave me , in the hope of finding Dr Simpson , and determined to comply with their wish ; but I now beg to observe that we must have a better system of discipline in our ranks—a system based on the principle of MUTUAL co-operation , not a kind of forced or one-sided action ; and I beg to tellDr Simpson that he will find himself

      most egregiousl y mistaken if bethinks lam to be his travelling trumpet , or if he thinks the Chartists are going to humbly beg his assistance . I was the only one of the three who had no personal object to serve . by going to Norwich . I went to assist others , and I was fte only one of the three present . Henceforth I beg to state , that IwUl assist no man who has not openly , avowedly , and consistently assisted and advocated Chartism . The lessening of our own dignity makes factions and waiters upon Providence despise us .

      The non-attendance of those gentlemen was a sore blow to the Committee , who worked hard to get up the Demonstration , and my going was a very serious inconvenience to myself . Now I tell you what : for the future I vote for . hiring candidates as we hire other servants , thus : SHOW ME YOUR

      CHARACTER FROM YOUR LAST PLACE . This picking up and hawking about of candidates , upon the modest assurance that they will condescend to represent us , is positively a disgrace to our cause . Fbabgus O'Connor .

      Untitled Article

      MORE DISTRACTED THAN EVER , BY THE CONTENTIONS BETWEEN THE ENDOWMENT AND NONENDOWMENT FACTIONS . But , my friends , do you look to the LAND AND THE CHARTER , until all factions shall have EATEN EACH OTHER TO THE TAILS . Your sincere Friend and Bailiff , Feargus O'Connor . MORE DISTRACTED THAN EVER ,

      Untitled Article

      TO MR T . A ., BARNSLEY . SlB , —I take the letter which I here print to be that of Thomas Acklam , and I shall jnake such comments upon it as it richly deserves . Here is the letter : —

      THE LAND SOCIETY . Barsslki , 29 th Jane , 18 i 7 . Sib , —A number of perrons , I among the rest , not being able to ascertain the mode of conveyance , and what kind of security members will have when they are located , I have been desired to request a solution from you in next week ' s Star . And , as I am informed there are members who wish to sell out , and others who decline paying up , under the idea that they will have no personal security whatever , and be liable not only for the nioney advanced by the

      bank , but for the expenses , losses or misappropriation in conducting the society , even when the mort . gage is paid off , it is hoped you will consider it worthy of your attention , and , as it is presume *] to be one of the main points , that you will either give the required information , or direct as where to obtain it . The questions that present themselves to me are : How is the property conveyed ? to each member , or the Seciety in trust ? If to the Society in trust , how far is each member liable ?

      If liable to expenses , l osses , &c ., in conducting tho Society , is he liable to all , or is the exact amount of liabilities defined in such deed ? When a party has paid off the money advanced , is the property conveyed to him singly , free from all lncumbrances , or i s he st ill liable , as a member of the Society , to itadebts , fcc . ? If liable , is the amount set forth f I write this not doubting the integrity of the promoters , bat wishing that every member may see what i » hit own , and what is another ' s , and that he may know that there is a security p rovided for him to place hum at the will of no man . You will see the point alluded to , and , if the queg-! tions are not put right , all we have to request is that yon will be so good as to clear every doubt that mav exist on the pout Yours respectfully , T . A

      Now , sir , in reply to your own inquiries , to make which you are only stimulated by your own interest , no one in Barnsley , no party in Barnsley having asked you to be their mouthpiece . If I was to devote my time to answering such ridiculous freaks of imagination as yours , the Land Plan would very soon fail for want of my supervision , as my whole tune would be occupied in replying to such correspondents ; and the reason why I dignify your letter with peculiar notice is , because it is an artful and cunning compilation of the rubbish that appeared under the signature of « Omega , " in Uoyd ' s paper , edited by Carpenter , the Chartist " deserter , and of that signed "A Newcastle Miner , " written by Sidney Smith , the ex-League spy , in the Dispatch .

      I see no reason for punishing the artlesB for the deeds of the artful , and , therefore , I shall reply seriatim to your questions , and shall then make some observations upon the opposition offered by those two journals to the Land Plan . . ¦ firstly , you ask , — "How ; is " the property conveyed ? to each member , or the Society in trust : '' Answer . Until the Company is completely registered , no property can be purchased in its and

      name , , therefore , much against my consent , and at the desire of the directors , during provisional registration , the property has been purchased , „ my name . When the Company is completel y registered , in twenty minutes after I shall convey the whole property purchased in my name to the trustees for the benefit of the members , according to the intent and purport of the rules of th ! Company . When the property is thus assigned , the trustees will make the conveyance stipulated by the rules to eachjoccupant . ; '

      Untitled Article

      IP */ Z / - ^ 5 ^ - W ¦/ ' //? , ; . J ^| Y ' | i ; . /^/ ^ / f * 4 * *» * 6 £ AND NATIONAT , TiffiES' JOURNAL .

      Untitled Article

      Ijjkj- Ng 507 . LONDON , SATURDAY ,: JHLT 10 , 1847 ««« b ™*^—^ W . ¦ * ' * Five Shiningn nnri Sixpence peV Quarter . ' ¦ -=====

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 10, 1847, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1426/page/1/