Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th April 1842, Edition 2 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

Page 4
Page 4
4 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (2)
    • THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1842.
    • 3Co 2StaUf^ mtf €x>tr^jpo«^«W
  • Text (12)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      MB , O'COKKOB , TO MR . O'BRIEN . London , April 26 ih , 1842 . Deab O'BBiEJf , —The very unaccountable and uncalled for manner in which yon have endeavoured to mix mj same up with "what you term an intent > c-nal attack upon joa , demands ^ some notice from ds . I shall be brief and snail strictly confine myself io dites and fact ? . About three years a ^ o , just when the Birmingham ttea deserted the Convention , you made the followic < observation to me , " By G—d , FeargusO'Connor , if this agitation soes on , and if you are in earnest , the middle classes uriil murder you . " I replied , "That as I had commenced it , I would finish it , even at that hazard . " 1 merely remind you of this fact , in order to > hew yon that their attack npon me at Birmia ^ hatn aad Manchester prove you to be a good prophet , inasmuch as all who do stand np in gupport cf popnlar rights in the hour of danger , and ia oppo ?

      Siiic-n to every direct and indirectattempt at disunion Eiads by the middle classes , are sooner or later in jeopardy : and to assure you that even such anticipation shall not seduce me into dishonourable safety for again I say , that I will go on straight forward , should I fall a sacrifice in so doing . I rhaH now show you , that you elate what , is not correct , in the Tery first paragraph of your letter ' You say that it was not your iritsaiion ever again to Lave troubled the editor o £ the Star with any communication . Yon appear to have forgotten onr Tery last conversation , whjch took place on ihe day that the Birm . ngham Conference broke up , in which you spoke as follows : — ** Fe&rgns O'Connor , I vrish to write a - series Of ktters in the Star , if you will allow me space for them . " I at once acquiesced , and said , " I was glad to have it in my pswer to afford yon the opportunity of doing so . "

      Before I come to the main question , as to the misrepresentation of your speeches , allow me to dispose of the objection which you cow make to my letters ; mind , not "wisbing to enforce a belief that letters may not be written at one period meeting with your approbation , while at another period the same writer may incur your displeasure ; bat inj observation bears npon the charge of denunciation , On the way from Eccles to Manchester , pa the day of the Manchester demonstration , and which was the £ rst time we had met since our respective liberations ; you said tome : " Fe&rgus O'Connor , your letters from York Castle , especially xhose on Ireland , have done us great good ; but 1 have two great exceptions to make ; first , you should have denounced the Scoicb Chartist Christians as well as the English ; for believe " xne the humbugs will do us equal damage ; and , secondly , yon should have backed Waikixs in hb noble attempt to destroy those London ruffians : for

      cy G—d their aim is io get hold of the people , and then to destroy yon and me , and every other man connected with the Chartist cause . If 1 had a paper as von have , I would have despatched them in six lines , like common phJcpockets . " I mention shi 3 fact for the purpose or reiaiuding you , that you do not always object to denunciation ; but on the contrary , that you denounced me for not denouncing ; and nko to remind yon that the very men whom yea designate as pickpockets , are the very men who are now at the iead of the new move . I now come to your complaint of misrepresentation ; and I trust , upon reflection , you will feel yourself bound to confess that if you have been misrepresented , that yon , and you only , have been the cause , in order to lay the whole question plainly before the country , I feel myself compelled to revert to the whole week ' s proceedings , during the sitting of Conference . :

      On Tuesday , the Conference met , as did theJDelegatesfrom various parts of the kingdom , appointed By the people fjr the defence of our cause . A meeting wa 3 announced , by large placards , to be held in Duddeston-row , to back us . You were announced in . the bills as one of the speakers . You did npt attend . On that eight w * hsd a glorious meeting in the Hall of Science . You did not atteud . After the meeting , the Delegates met at ten o ' clock , when von ¦ were present ; and , to our delight , ; rcporred the Conference proceedings of the day as follows : — " Well ! they have acknowledge the principle of Universal Suffrage , and to-morrow the six points are to bo discussed seriatim ; and I promise you ibey shall swallow the "sylole hog , bristle ? , and allj and -wash them down by gulping the name . "

      Wednesday v ? e sat night and day . loa did not come near U 3 ; but yon attended a meeting at O'Neil's Chartist Church at night . Thursday we Bat night and day . Yon did not come near us . On Friday , both Conference and the D ^ le ^ ate Meeting broke up , wilhont the delegates seeing more of-you . After all the proceedings had terminated , I met you in the street . You accompanied me to my lodgings , and did me the honour to diae with me . And now 1 come io the most Important portion of my communication . I then understood fr oia yon , for ihsfirsitime , that you were not a mere visitor at the Conference but that you had been elected by the people of Wotton-under-Edge . Yen said : — " Feargus O'Connor , I wish to lay my exact position before the

      country ; if I furnish you with an outline of the course I took , will jou -write an article upon it ! " I replied , " Indeed , O'Brien , I will not , and for this Stmple reason ; because I should be sure to do wrong . Bat I tell yon whs ;; write an article yourself , send it to me . I trill be at the trouble of copying it—a j > b I hate—and it shall appear in the Star . ' " Well I VILL DO THAT ; PSBI 1 APS THAT ' S HIE BEST WAT , " Was yonr reply . I beg to remind yon that the above conversation took place on Friday . That in the Star of lhaJ week de Editor announced his intention of ¦ waiting for the report promised by the Nonconformist , . the accredited organ of the Conference , before he ventured to comment uprn proceedings of which he had no report . On the following day the Birmingham Journal came cut wiih substantially xhe

      Baine report as the Nonconformist ; and although you had a weed's notice of the-Editor ' s intention to make his commentary , and although yon had the Birmingham Journal on Saturday and theJYb . ncon / ornm / on Wednesday , which should have rendered jonr determination to right yourself more necessary , yet you never correct one word of the K misrepresentation" which appeared in either of those prints , and npon which the Editor of the Star was bound to found his reasoning . I ask any sane man whether or not it was yon who led the Editor into -wilful error , and allowed Trim to remain in interested ignorance , for the express purpose cf an attack ; or , whether the Editor , in the discharge of his duty , is liable to the gross , and I must say , unjustifiable imputation sought to be cast npon Mm ?!

      I was at Leeds on Saturday , the day after the Conference broke np i and my last words ro Mr . Eobson , my publisher , who accompanied me to the train , were these : — " Hobson , if any coaununicition comes from Mr . O'BriBn , see it put in hand immeidiately ; and should I have anything to say upon the Conference—( this had reference to your promised communication )—l&ok to the sense ; 1 write bo uniutelligibly when I am hurried . And the first moment you have time , look carefully over all the type weiaTe not in use . and pick out the bsst that may do again , as I promised it to O . Brien . " Now , this does not look like a conspiracy , on my part , to injure you , or thwart von . or destroy you .

      Bat I return to Mr . Porter s bouse , where you dined with me . as I before observed , en the Friday 3 . told ypn of ' onr contemplated demonstration on the following Monday ; that your name was in the bills j and thai I considered it a glorious opportunity for our meeting once more before tfee public " Now , " eaid I , "O'Brien , I tell yon what . I propose that yoa should head the Birmingham procession on Monday , and meet me and the South Staffordshire demonstration at half-past ten within a half mile from the town . " Your , answer was , "Well , well , well , I don't care . " " Well , " said I , " but will yon do so ! " and you said , " Yes . " Mr . Porter , and Mrs . Porter , and " myself , were all delighted ; and Mr . Porter immediately said , "Well

      done 2 by . G—d . that s the way to make the tyrants tremble . " Yon accompanied me to the railway Station ; and said that " the Conference were a set of middle-class humbug , trying to get rid of too . and me , to destroy the Chartist movement . " You said that You were not astonished at Arthur O'Neil , as he was puffed up with vanity and conceit ! but you were astonished at Vincent , who , yo ' u bajl always considered a good-natured fe ) low . " This was with reference to the meeting at the Chartist church . Well , I left Birmingham on Triday ; travelled all night to Manchester and Leeds , aad returned to Wolrerhampion and Bilstoi on Sunday , where I announced the glau intelligence that you would meet us with the Birmingham

      procession . When we arrived in Birmliiiinam , I aste where you were I and no one knew . When I arrive it Mr . Porter's , after the meeting , I learned that yo had said that you would attend the meeting if deputation waited upon you at eleven o'eiock , Six . Porter ' s ; and that you were very angry at yot name being in tiie bills , althongh it was done wii youi perfect consent , as stated by Mr . Linney , wl waj deputed to ask you , lest you might consider a liberty . I learned also that a deputation had con to Mr . Porter ' s ; and another came ; and anoihei and that you were not there to meet them ; ncithi did yoa attend oar meeting , for which you we announced ; bat you did attend a ticket meetin « OQTe ^ ed for the very same evening , in the To ?

      Trusting th * t you will not attribute to ms a cesi to misrepresent you , I here transcribe one passaj from your speech made upon that occasion , reported , not in the Nonconformist or Birmingha Journal , bnt ia the Statesman ! who appearslo ha had a special reporter present . You are reportas tollowB : — Mr . CBbjen then said , " Th . it though lie bad private acquaintance ¦ whatever \ yjth Mr . Starge , ' solemnly declared hia belief that tiera ¦ waa not , British soil , a man better suited to lead this mov JtSNT . "

      Now , O'Brien , I ask yon . in plain and s ' mrt language , whether or not this ' ia tantamount tob&B Sg . C&r fflOTemeai over , seek and crop , to the p :

      Untitled Article

      poses of that party which you w would hivo despatched in six lines like common pickpockets'' I I ask you more ; whether or not your countenance , cooparation , and aid , were not absolutely necessary to keep up the drooping spirits of onr layering clients—to inspire them with confidence in themselves , instead of paralysing us in the eleventh hour , by the delusive hope of an honourable union with a party whose machinations , views , and motives you have so ably exposed ? With respect to denanciafcion , either by private letter , in conversation , or in the Star , I defy you , or

      any other man , to point out Sk single instance in which I have , directly or indirectly , denounced , weakened , or injured the character of a single Chartist leader . On the contrary , the general charge against me has been that I have been too lavish in my praise of undeserving individuals . O'Brien , if you could lay your hand to your heart as I . can , before God , and say that " throughout the whole of life , since I knew you , your happiness , popularity , and independence have been matter of fond and anx \ &ns consideration , " you wonld De a happier man than you appear to be .

      Ere I close , let me assure you , that no power on earth shall ever force me into the false and wicked position in which you seem to wish to place me ^—as one of your revilers ; while , upon the other hand , no dread of your wrath , your satire , or anger , shall ever deter me from discharging any single duty which I owe _ to the bravest , the noblest , the honestest people upon the face of God ' s earth—the workixg classes ! To them both you and I must leave the dnty of distinguishing between their friends and their enemies . They are quick to praise , and slow to censure- They look to the straight walking of

      those who profes 3 to lead them , ' ihey will not tolerate a wabble without a warning . 1 see no reason why I should meet you in angry controversy , or heated discussion , while yon yourself have been the wilful cause of all that misrepresentation of which you complain , and which yoa would now saddle on innocent parties . Had not the Editor of the Star commented , fearlessly , upon your conduct , equally as upon the conduct of any other individual , I , for one , should have considered him highly deserving of censure . He did so comment ; and 1 think mildly ; while you have thought proper to reply in a most indecent strain .

      O'Br ien , you have yet to learn that the world was not made for you or me . Not a word in tins letter i 3 intended to annoy ; while all of it is necessary ; and , in conclusion , allow me to say , that should the world frown upon you , you shall ever find a welcome from Yonr sin c ? ro Friend , Fbakgvs O'Con . vok .

      Untitled Article

      THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES . TO TBS SUFFERING AXD STARTING . FELLOW . CorxTB . TMEN , —We have received many important communications ftvm various districts , describing the excitement and dissatisf : ction which prevail in the minds ef those who have been driven into po-erty and starvation by political causes , which they have no power to destroy , and scarcely any liberty to describe in Parliamentary petition . We have decided on petitioning Parliament on Mor . day , the 20 vh of May , to be heard at the bar of the House of Commons to lay befere the world . A fall and honest statement of the cause of your grievan ces , the extent of jour sufferings , and the grand remedies to be proposed for tfea immediate and permanent , removal of all natural suffering and social wrong .

      We wait with patience and subdued feeling the result of onr mutual prayer . We are fuUy sensible that it is almost a mockery of" justice to ask the starving to be submissive , and the injmed to bow their famished bodk 3 to the footstool of oppression , still the sacredness of our cause , and the hopelessness of all attempt * at violence , are sufficient to guide us in now calling upon yon to abslain from any act littly to bring our principles into disrepute , and dye deeper the red banners of despotism with the blood of our bretareD . "We deeply sympathise with you . We have expressed our hostility to the system which has stripped you , misled you , repressed yonr mnrmurs by force , subdned your complaints by a demonstration of steel , and threatened bu . tch . try . . You ask us for advic ? . We counsel you to watch the decisive answer of the Government . Tiie month of May will bring the intelligence to you .

      Yon ask us how yea are to act . Await the decision of the National Convention . Tour delegates will carry with them the results of onr aeliberations ; and rest assured that we ara too much alive to the danger of collision with an armed Government ever to advise it , and we possess too much experience ever to recommend violence-as the course to be adopted in our struggle for justice . Fellow Coo'trymen , —We have heartily , yet decidedly , adopted this course , out of regard for you as well as out of respect f- » r those principles which have progressed by the aid of reason alone , and needs no ether argument , greater than present necessity , to enforce them on the leaiE . la . tee .

      We have placed it in tha power of the Government to spptase the rising indignation of millions by granting their advocates shearing . We now await the result , and all we desire from you is , to sacrifice feeling for a " time , and imitate us in the practice of rational patienee , at the same t'me that we prepare to advise you on tie future ceurse to be pursued the moment the legislature have given their negative or affirmative to a nation ' s demand . ( Signed ) AbbaM Duncan , Chairman . Johx Campbell , Secretary .

      Untitled Article

      THE PEEL TARIFF .- " FREE TRADE . " The measures of Pbel are sure to pass . The Income Tax Bill is progressing through the House of Commons at a pretty good rate : for the wind of the opposition inside seems spent for want of popular pnffd outside . The Tari is ihe nest in order , of Peel ' s measures , to be entertained by the House . The discussions ui > on it will shortly be had . No doubt

      that it , too , will pass , and mainly in the shape proposed by Peei .. Some slight modifications may be determined on by Parliament : but Peel having staked the existence of his Ministry upon the principles of the Tariff , there can be no doubt but that it will pas 3 . Pkel ' s party cannot do without him : and however much they may object to his " freetrade" concessions , yet they will suffer him to drag them up to the neck in mud—nay , sonse them over head and ears—before they will lay aside their paTty warfare , and make common cause with the working people .

      The Tariff , then , may be looked upon as carried ; for carried it is sure to be . What will be its effect ? What alterations will it make in the condition of the people 1 These are qaestion 3 upon which none can do more than merely speculate . The old adage that " the proof of the pudding is in the eating , " fully aopiiea here . The proof will be in the eating !

      Meanwhile speculation is rife . One party is promiring gre 3 t things to the nation from its adoption , inasmuch as it is an acknowledgment , as far as it goes , of the principles of " free trade" ; while accther paity prognosticates ruin to many interests in the state who have hitherto enjoyed protection , and disappointment and loss , instead of benefit to the nation at large .

      Time will soon dbcovcr which of these two opinions is tho most correct ; which of these two parties has studied and applied the true principles of political economy . The revision of the Tariff , is , no doubt , a concession , by Peel , to the " free traders . " It is a sop to them ; and in our opinion , it will prove to be a sorry sop indeed ! The cry of " free trade" has been raised and kept

      up mamly by the manufacturing interest But what they have always meant by that cry has been , a " free trade in corn , " and rnoTEcnoN for manufactures . Every one of the bawlcrs has been for " free trade ' up to himself . Photect his business or calling , and " free trade" was right and proper for all the rest ! This is the meaning , when you sift it to the bottom , of the manufacturers' cry for "free trade . "

      Perl has , however , very adroitly turned the doctrines of the "freetraders" npon themselves ! He has reduced , but not reir . ovcd , \ h . B protection given to the agriculturists by the Corn Law ? , while he has EE 3 tov £ D in many instances , tiid greatly reduced in many more , the protective duties upon several branches of maruLcture . He seems to have formed the purpose of letting the ** free traders " have " free trado" amongst themselves , and afterwards asking them " how they like it ?"

      They will cot liko it ! The operation of the Tariff scheme will not suit them . They will get a snrfeit of "free trade , " and will be the first to call out for * return to the protective system !

      Untitled Article

      This would be all right aad proper , w ^ re th ere not others to be affected by the measures . But there are others ; and the will have no oause to thank the " free traders" for compelling Peei , to grant a modified free trade . There are the working people i On them and their interests Peel ' s "free trade" will have a most destructive influence ! True , the Tariff will reduce the price of food ; true , that it will reduce th © prices of nearly all articles of produce ; true , that this will be one of its effects : but another of its effects will be to beducb wages ; for wages arc the " PRICE" of labour , and are reduced along with other " prices" whenever a general reduction takes place ; and IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF TAXATION ! !!

      Already are the manufacturers at work , to meet tho anticipated " altered circumstances" ! Ten per cent , here ; fifteeD per cent , yonder ; and twenty per cent , in the other place , are already being deducted from the PRICE of labour ! and by the time that tha new measure comes into full operation , that " pkice" will bo generally reduoed as much ( and in many instances more ) than the reduction in the prices of provision ! Small indeed will be the benefit that the working people will receive from the reduced prioes of food !

      We formerly showed , clearly and unanswerably , that , while the taxation of any country remains at the same fixed money amount , every reduction in the prioes of produce entails upon the community a real increase of that taxation in exact proportion to the decrease of prices . Taxes can only be paid in produce . It is the wealth we cause io be that pays all , —taxes , rent , profits , and wages . And as long as the value of that wealth is measured by a money standard , and as long as the taxes are fixed at a certain money amount , so long , and inevitably , will every reduction in the money value of wealth cause more of that wealth to be necessary , and given , to pay the taxes !

      Whatever , therefore , bo the reduction of prices of produce consequent on the " free trade" Tariff of Sir Robert Peel , in exact proportion to that reduction , will the working people have to produce MORE for the tax-eater !!! Then , look at its effect upon several of the trades of the kingdom ! Want of employ ment is said to be oac of the cause 3 of the horrible amount of destitution everywhere prevailing . To remedy this , Peel is going to set the FOREIGNERS to work , to make shoes , and boots , and furniture , and beef , and pork , and leather , for us ; while- our own artizans and labourers are to continue idle ! And this is the "free trade" system ! This is the "free trade" way of providing for our own population " PLENTY TO DO" ! ! ¦

      Foreign boot 3 and shoes are to be admitted to this country at a greatly reduced duty . Foreign furniture , and foreign vegetable produce , are also to be admitted at a reduoed duty . The operation of this portion of the Tariff scheme will ba , upon the shoemakers and cabinet-makers , and ( to a certain extent ) upon the market-gardeners , just what the reduction of duty upon foreign silks has been upon the Spitalfields and Macclesfield silk-weavers ! Shoemakers ! look out ! Cabinet-makers 1 how do you like free-trade ?! You can answer us this question very feelingly in two years from thi 3 date ! . '

      Foreign silks have nearly superseded our own manufactured silks in our own markets . The prices of English silks and tho wages of English silk-weavers bate been driven down to nothing . Precisely such will be the action and conEequencc of the operation of " free trade" upon the English shoemakers and furniture makers 1 French boots and shoes will supercede our home made ones ; and German furniture will drive onr own out of the

      " cheap" market . Foreign fruits and vegetables wo shall have in abundance , six weeks or two months before our own is ready for the market ! Of course the English market-gardener , when he comes to market with his produce , will not find his customers supplied ! and of course he icill be able io command the price he formerly obtained . . ' And this ia Peel ' s method of finding remunerative employment for the unemploytd ! ! This is " free-tbade" ! ! !

      Let n 8 just see what the protective system would have done in this case ; cr or rather let us eee what the frotective system did do , when many thousands of the working people wore formerly thrown out of employment through the operation of a partial" free-trade . " We have now lying before us on our table six largo folio volumes ; each one as big as a family Bible ; containing all the statutes of this realm from Magma Chabta down to the end of the reign of Geobge II . ; and amongst them we find some very curious and admirable laws , that oftentimes induce us to think that , in this age

      of " Bcienee" and " learning" and " crime , we have not much IMPROVED upon the " wisdom of our ancestors . " On former occasions we have given one or two of these laws verbatim from the old book , and applied them to the questions we have been discussing . Our readers will , of course , judge for themselves with svhat force this has been done ; and whether the inferences we have drawn from them aro correct or not : and they will also judge as to their relevancy to the respective subjects in hand . Having detailed the method adopted by Peel to provide the unemployed with " plenty-to-do , " we shall no n quote from our black-letter book , a whole Act of

      Parliament passed in the nine-and- thirtieth year of the reign of Queen Elizahkth , being Chapter 14 of the Statutes passed by Parliament in that year , 159 G ; the reader can then contrast the mode adopted by the Parliament of that day , to provide means whereby " many thousands" of working people were " to live and well maintain themselves , their wives , families , and children , by the benefit mid zise of their trade , " with the plans that aro resorted to , now-a-days , to remedy the distress and privation enduTed by all classes of artisans and labourers ia the country , arising from want of remunerative eoxployment ! litre is the old plan .-

      —" Whereas many thousands of woollen card mr . terB and card wyer drawers of the cities of London , Bristol , Gloucester , Norwich , Coventry , and of m ? . ny other her Highness cities and towns within this realm , have heretofore lived and well maintained Viem&elves , their wives , / amides und children , by the benefit and use of their trade and faculty of card making and draining of card wyer within this realm : and now of late , time , by KELSON of ihe common bringing in of foreign cards for wooll out of France , and other foreign parts , the saul card makers and card wyer drawers have ban so much impoveritJud , that scant the twentieth person that heretofore lived hy the said trades , is now maintained and set on work thereby .

      "Be it enacted by our Sovereign Lady the Queen ' s Majt ^ ty , and by the I / orda Spiritual and Temporal , and the GommonB in this present Parliament assembltd , and by authority of tha same , that do person or persons whatever , from ot after the feast day of purification of the biased Virgin St . Mary now next ensuing , shall bring , Bf-nd or convey , or cause to be brought , sent or conveyed into the realm of England or "Wales , from , the parts beyond the seas , asy carrts for wooll , to be sold , bartered or exchanged within the realm of England or Wales , upon p .-un to forfeit all such cards for wooll , bo

      to be brought , ssnt or conveyed contrary to the true meaning of this Act , in whose hands soever they , or any of them , shall be found , or the very value thereof , the one half whereof to bo to our said Sovereign Lady the Queen's Majesty , her heirs and successors , and the other moitty thereof to him or them , that will seize the same , or sue therefor in any Court of Record cf the Queen ' s Mnjes !? , her heirs and successors , by action of debt , bill , pluint , information or otherwise , in which actions , suits , plaints or informations , no wager of law , eaaoign or protection shall be allowed . "

      Uovs , what does the reader think ? Doea eitheT Peel or tho " free-traders" possess all the wisdom in the world \ Are they the Solons they would pass themselves off for ? Do they go the best way to work , to get the nation out of the difficulties into which they have plunged her 1 Whether does " free trade , " or the pbotectivb bystem , caro most for tho labourer that prodaceth ! Peel ' s Tariff will augment the national digress amongst ihe I ^ bcmring classes and the shopkeepers It will entail upon the former less of employment , lower wages , and an increase of taxstion ! It wWl entail upon , the latter loss of custom , and less profits

      Untitled Article

      upon the business they do . Low prices are not what the Bhopkeeper makes the most by . Low prices briDg lower wages ; and the great consumers pf the eJippkeepers * stock buy iess in quantity ^ than they did befordVwith high prices and higher wages . The Bhopkeeper has a per-centaga upon the money he turns over . If he turns orer a large amount , his profits are commensurate : if he turns over a smaller

      and em&ller amount , / us income diminishes 1 Peel ' s reduction of prioeB will reduce the shopkeepers ; but it will ADD to the income of the annuitant , the pensioner , the salaried man , the Bineoumt , fie deadweight reci p ient , and all those who possess fixed incomes ! It is only another tdkiny from those who produce ! and a giving to those who produce hot !! !

      Here , then , is our registered opinion of the famous Tariff scheme ! Wo have thug given it , and thus registered it , that it may bo referred to another day , A Bhort time will shew whether we are correct or not ! A short time will serve to shew whether the " free trade" measures of Peel will have the effaot anticipated from them by the "free traders" ; or whether they will riot be found to sicken the nation of all "free trade ? and all" free trade' ' advocates !!

      To Time , then , we commit our opinions ! our prognosticatioii 8 j To Time the Tariff will soon fee also committed : and if Pbel , or any other Minister , can manage to fiqueezo from this people , £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year , either by indirect or direct taxation , or by both ; if Pbel , or any other man , can manage to do this , with the reduction of prices consequent on his Tariff , without produoing misery and destitution throughout the length and breadth of the land

      compared to which the misery and destitution already existing ( horrible and appalling as it is ) would be happiness and plenty it&lf ; if Peel , or any other Minister , can , with a reduction in the prices of produce , raise the required £ 60 ^ 00 , 000 a-year , without breaking up society from its very foundations—then we shall bo willing to be ac * counted ignorant indeed , and confess that we know nothing of either politics or political economy !

      Untitled Article

      VALUE OF TOKY SYMPATHY FOR THE POOR . THEIR PARTY OUTCRY AGAINST THE NEW

      POOR XA . W . When the Whigs were in , and the Tories were our , it was the cue of the latter party to be horrorstruck with the enormities of the New Poor Law . Now that they are in t small indeed is the Bong they sing to that tune ! Of the sincerity of the oryraisad upon the hustings by many of the Tory followers , we shall have « directly , a good opportunity of judging . The Tory Secretary of State for the Home Department , on Tuesday night last , gave in the House of Commons the following notice : —

      "Sir James Graham gave notice that on Thursday , the 5 th of May , he should move for leave to bring in a bill to continue the powers of the Poor Law Commissioners for a time to be limited . " Ministers , then , have determined to continue the New Poor Law abomination f Will they , in tfeis , be supported by their Tory followers % We shall see ! Dare they rebel against their leader ? We shall see ! Will they leave him and the Whig opposition to saddle the atrocity upon the people ; or will they help both him and them ? We shali . see 1

      On Thursday nest , then , the Minister for the Homo Department moves for leave to bring in a Bill to continue a law which robs the poor of their right to tho first take , a living , from the soil ! And the Legislature of England will aid him in his purpose ! ! And yet they dare to prate about maintaining the institutions of the country !! ! dare to prate thus , when they are abrogating , knocking down , the most famous and the most necessary institution of all ! 11 an institution in the absence of which all private property is a wrong !!!! Verily our Legislators are curious Conservatives !

      This Poor Law question must be a little better understood than it now is . The poor , at least , must bo made to comprehend it in all its bearings . Next week we shall endeavour to give them the benefit of our readings and reasonings on the subject ; and , amongst other things , We shall print , entire , the original Poor Law of Eu > land—the famous 43 rd of Elizabeth .

      THE NATIONAL PETITION . Ere we again meet our readers , the Petition will havobeen presented ! The Nation ' s tongue will have given utterance to tho Nation ' s griefs ! and we shall have heard the answer of the chiefs of faction !! Let , then , the quiet and the patience of expectanoy abide , until that answer shall be known . After it shall have been received , the people ' s delegates will doubtless issue their instruction and advice . We shall , if necessary , throw our mite into the common tr easury of council , and consider , with our brethren

      how we may beet make good our vantage , or continue to uphold the struggle . One thing let the people be assured that whatever good is to be done for them must be done by them . If they hold not themselvosin readiness to achieve the redress of their own wrongs , they will never have redress from those who have inflicted and are seeking always to extend and perpetuate them ! The address of the Convention in reference to the petition and the position of the people , will be found elsewhere ; let it be read , and carefully !

      Untitled Article

      Grow and Tyruell ' s Bbjba . k . fast Powder . —W ' e have received a tetter , signed by . twenty-five Chartists of Nottingham , who have tried this Chartist beverage , and speak of it in very high terms . We have not room for tiie letter ; but we cordially second the recommendation it contains to all Chartists to patronise this beverage , as the manufacturers contribute handsomely from the profits of it to the support of the JExecutive . This beverage and Finder ' s blacking ought , if property supported , to produce abundantly sufficient to pay the Executive , the Convention , and all the public lecturers . Stockfort . —The paragrpgh about the unknown would I 7 i all probability bnng on us another prosecution . This we suppose our friends do not wish . A Woolwich Cadet must excuse us . His letter looks a little too much like kicking a dead ass .

      J . B . Smith must have read the Northern Star of last week very carelessly if he did not see the column of "Forthcoming Chartist Meetings , " in thefifthpage . « r . - The Sunderland Meeting , and the " Cheers for Mr ^ Sturgk . "— We have received a communication signed by a number of Chartists contradicting the letter of Messrs . Monarch and Mowatt , of Sunderlund , and affirming that the cheers were . given . An Old Radical . —Thanks . Mr . Griffin wishes to inform his brother Chartists who write him , for the future to address No . 8 , Robert-street , Bank-top , Manchester .

      James B . O'Brien . — We have received a blackguard letter bearing this signature , with an intimation that we may either put it into the Star or thefire . We shall do neither . We shall preserve it as a . choice specime 7 i of the ravings of an angry man who has " put his foot in it" While it suited the purpose of jfatneg B . O'Brien to write on matters of public principle , we readily afforded him the use of our columns , on any su' jcct and at any length . : For Billingsgate he must seek some other vehicle . J . Sweet begs to acknowledge the receipt of 2 s . 6 d : from Bagthorpe , Nottinghamshire , for the Con ' venlion , and also 2 s . 6 d . for the Petition Demon' stration , from the same place , which sums have

      been duly forwarded to Mr . Cleave , London . Ji Pilling . —His communication announcing the lecture of Mr . Leach , and the intended lectures of Messrs . White and BairstoWyWOs not received till Saturday . Mb . John Watkins . —We are happy to learn that this gentlemen is much recovered . Hewishesus to state thai letters for him should be addressed to him at Batlersea . Caroline Maria Williams wrilfis us to complain that having recently opened a school for infants , at Bristol , with a fair prospect of success , the parish clergyman took the trouble io go round the neighbourhood and advise people not to smd their children to her as she was a Chartist , by which her school has been very seriously injured . We can only say , that if it be so , the parson

      is a busy , dirty , meddling fellow . Puilanthropia writes ustosaythattheCharlistsof Truro have se ? i < 10 : s , by post office order , to > Mr . Cteave , forthc use of Mr . Powell , ( heir delegate in Convention . Trowbridqe Chartists—We have not room for the address of the Council to the inhabitants of Trowbridge . A . McGregor . —We hav * a perfect reliance on the honesty and truthfulness of our Sheffield Correspondent , and we think it quite likely that he , upon the spot , would be able to judge of the facts , speeches , or other proceedings of a meeting at Sheffield , at which he was present for the purpose of reporting , mote accurately than any gentleman at Edinburgh , who may reasonably be supposed not to have been present .

      Mr . Bairstow must excuse us inserting Ms letter . The mistakes are not very important ones , but our space is very important at present . We have sent his letter to our Correspondent . Eccles Chartists . —Had belterwrite to Mr . Barrow . George Lindsay , —The case is one among thousands of similar ones . We have not just now space for its insertion .. A Real Democrat . —The letter of the Chartist shoemakers of Northampton was received three weeks ago , and was not noticed because we received by the next post another letter purporting to be from the same parties requesting us nolto notice it . The Readers of the Northern S ? ar in any town in the East and North Riding of Yorkshire who

      have not yet joined the union , wishing to have the services of a lecturer , may contnmunicaie with Edward Bur Icy , 19 , Billon street , Layorthorpe , York , slating the amount they can pay weekly towards his salary . A Poor A rtisan will get all the requisite information respecting the trades , employment , labour , and prospects of working men in the United Statesfrom Chambers ' a In tor mat ion for the People , parts 5 and 6 . J . BiiooK i Bradford .- ^ We have some recollection of the sixpence , but realty don ' t know what it was about ? Will the partywhosent it ' say ? Mb . Wm . Auty , of Daw Green , is the Agent for the sale of Roger Pindef s Chartist Blacking .

      MR : DKWHIRST s motion of thanks to the working classes , in the Slurge Conference —3 Ir . Smyth writes us that " the number , tolio voted for that motion was seven , namely . Deuhirst , Brook , Smyth , Burrows , Hodgson , M Gartney . arid Cooke . - Aga-inst' 3 lr Parry ' s amendment five , namely , Deichirst , Brooke , Smyth , Burrows , and M'Carlney . "

      Untitled Article

      James Thompson . Ddndek . —Yes . An Old Subscriber , Leicester—The fanlt is with the Agent : it he order Plates when he orders his Papers he will get them . T . G . Hibbard . —Write to the Po 9 tmaster-General . Thomas Cook , ousTON . —It can't be done . J . A . Hogg , Hawick .- ^ The division of the lOs ., noticed in tha last Star , had reference to Hawick : Carlisle never sent anything . T . S . Stoke mast refer to the notices of cash received . POR THE MANCHESTER SUFFERERS . ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ : ' - ¦ - ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦¦ ¦ -::. ¦ ¦ £ 8 . 6 . ¦ From Looghbro * per T . Eveleigh ... 0 2 tt $

      Untitled Article

      FOa THE EXECUTIVE . From Ipswich , perW . Garrard . „ Q io p ¦ . „ Plymouth , per John Rodgera o 10 0 ¦¦ - . « , -Joseph Morgan , grocer and cheesemflinger , Deptford , being proceeds , at the rate of 2 ^ per cent . upon the articles purchased at his shop by the Qhattists ... o 4 2 ^ Montpelier Tavern , Cambervrell localityiJ . Parker , bud-^ Secretary \ ... V 1 * 1 9

      FOE MBS . FROST . From J . W . Smith , Mansfield ... 0 0 4 „ a few friends at Fenton ... o 3 o • . ' .. ¦'¦ ^ dittOj Iiongton ... 0 4 11 FOR MRS . FROSTj MKSi WILLIAMS , AMD MBS . JONES . From Marple , per T . Parker .. ; 0 5 0 FOR THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THE INCABCEBATED CHARTISTS . From London , per Edmund Stallwood , being proceeds of a ball ana concert held m the Temperance Hall , Chelsea .. ; ... 0 5 9

      Untitled Article

      iLotal art& © towral % nteTtixence +

      Untitled Article

      BRADFOBD . —Manob Coubt . —Clarkson v . Whitney . —In thiB cause , tried On Friday laat , for recovery of money received by the defendant on account Of the Bradford Victim Fund , in 1840 . and not paid over , a verdict passed for tog defendant } which being contrary to evidence , notice hag been , given of an application Tor a new trial . ; LEZCESTEB . —Our borough is in a state of military occupation . Two troops of the Third Dragoon Guards have been marched into the toWB . Several hundreds of special constables have been called out , and are beheld parading the streets mingled with the police . The cause of all the alarm into which these threatening circumstances have thrown the public mind , is the erection of a hand corn mill at the hostile , at which out-paupers ire compelled to work , at two-pence half-penny per ; day , to be deprived of all relief for themselves and families . The mill has been broken twice while the

      men have been at work . The first time the men were charged with the damago . They were acquitted by the magistrates , after the bench had listened to tho able advocacy of Mr . Wood , attorney , who has taken a Chartist card , and avowed his conversion to democratic principles . On Friday week , four men Were arraigned before the bench charged iwith the the Becond damage of the mill . Mr . Cooper secretary of tho Shaksperean Association , having taken the office of olerk to Mr . Wood , appeared before the magistrates , to plead the cause of the men . The miller , however , had finished his evidence before Mr . C . could fret into the court , and ooiild not be cross-questioned . Owing , chiefly , to this circumstance , the causa was lost , and the four men

      were f entenced to four months' imprisonment each An exasperated crowd hooted the miller all the way to the bastile , and broke upwards of twenty panes in the bastile windows . Last Monday morning three persons were tried for this last offence , under the name of " riot , " before the Borough Magistrates Mr . Cooper defended them ; but , after four hours ' trial , they were committed to the sessions . . Three more men were then charged with participating ia the act of breaking the mill the second time . Mr . Cooper entered on their defence ; and , after three hourg' contest , in which he clearly convicted the miller of perjury , and also of wilfal and malicious neglect in the management of the mill , . the magistrates determined to adjourn thecase till

      Wednesday morning . The Market-place waB crowded during the day— -the police and special constables were on duty , and a few foot-soldier 3 on recruiting service in the town , were called out to display their arms . A crowd followed the miller to the Ba 3 tile , again hooting on , the way , and some threw stones . In the evening all was peaceable , although thousands thronged the Market-place . Mr . Cooper and Mr . Beedham , from a waggon , addressed the multitude on the Charier , and au address to the Convention expressive of the resolution of the working men of Leicester to abide by the Charter , and the name , and

      to support the Convention and the Executive ; was carried by acclamation . On Tuesday afternoon the Dragoons arrived , raising increased exasperation in thertowh ; and at the present moment of writing , ( Wednesday morning ) the magistrates have not yet pronounced santftnee on the adjourned case , and it is uncertain what may be the next stage of public opinion , or resolution . Mr . Peter Brophy , of Dublin , gaye ua' two stirring lectures , in the Shaksperean Room , last week ; and Messrs . Cooper and Beedham preached to attentive and excited audiences , in the Market-place , on Sunday afternoon and evening .

      BIRREINGHAJ / L-- ( From our own Correspondent . >—There is a thorough steeple chase in Birmingham amongst the clergy . It seems that there was a vacancy in a fat living ( about £ 600 a-year ); Three of the clergy put up for the place * which is at the disposal of the parishioners , but one of them has since resigned . The election begins to-day ( Wednesday ) , and ends on Thursday , at six o ' clock . There is as much bustle and noise about the affair as if It was a regular election . Cars are driving about with large placards stuck upon them to induce people to vote for this or that candidate , as the case may be . There has been a great deal of recrimination between the parties , and altogether it will open the eyes of the public to consider well the character

      of tho = ie men who pretend to take care of their souls . < - — Wednesday Evening . —The steeple chase , of the parsons for the fat living of St . John ' s , Deritend , has terminated in the return of the Rev . Mr . Smith by a majority of 298 over his opponent , the Rev . Mr . Storer . A more disgraceful affair could scarcely have ; taken place . The rival committees of the two candidates very liberally distributed " tickets of refreshment , " which entitled the holder to a certain amount of beer and tobacco ; and some had gotten so beasfcly drunk that they set on to fight in the streets . There seems to be but one opinion amongst the thinking part of the community , and that is , that it was most disgraceful , and would opon the eyes of the people more than any speech-making could do . *

      The Mining Districts .- —Birmingham , Wednesday Evening . —The town of Dudley is yet free from any marked violence , but 1 rather fear there are some grounds for supposing that things Will not end without some unpleasant disturbance . The Magistrates are' apprehensive , and hare taken every precaution to keep the peace ; Lord Clive has armed , and is iu constant consultation with the Magistrates . This morning , about two o'clock , ono hundred yeomanry marched into the town , and soon after two pieces of artillery arrived , so that it would seem that Ihe authorities ha i some cause of alarm . Nearly a troop of thelEaniskillen dragoons are also stationed in the town .

      and the rest of the two troops are quartered in the neighbourhood of Lye Waeta , S ^ ourbridge , Hales Owen , and other places . All , as yet , ia these parts , are quiet ; but if the men cannot be prevailed upon to go to work , how long it wiil remain so is uncertain . It is a fact that the colliers are expected to turnout on Monday next , and they are a powerful body . A reduction of iheir wage 3 is said to be the pause ; indeed , the whole . ' .. district is * as I before wrote you , in the utmost di&tr < sss , and there is no immediate prospect-of relief ' . I am sorry to know that one man , named George G . If , was severely wounded , on Monday evening , in Dudley , his nose being nearly cut off by a , sabre wound .

      Child Murder . —On Wednesday , an inquest was held atlhe Ashted Tavern , on the body of an infant ¦ child , alleged to have been borne and murdered by Mary Ann White , a serFans in the house of Mr . Henry Jacob , of 142 , Ashted-street , accountant . Several witnesses were examined I some of whose evidence is uiterly unfis for publication ; and from the whole it seemed that the : girl had for formerly borne an excellent eharaccer and was much liked by her mistress ; that there waa no suspicion of her being pregnant until the morning of her labour , and that she had horre the child in . the privy , beaten it to death with a broom , and then thrust it down th ? hole into the soil .: The broom was found in the privy , the handle being bloody . There was also blood in several niches in the place , though water had been used to wash st away . A verdict of Wilful Murder waa returned against the mother .

      SUNDEXXXiAND . -Teetotalism . —On Thursday cvemng there was an extraordihary large meatitig of the teetotallers of _ Sunderland , held in the Arcade Room . It : was generally understood that some Vmember 3 of the spciety 'intended' to bring before the meeting the general ooriduot of the commiitae . After some of the usual haeknied speeches from the " Adults , " a Juveuilt ? " rose to address the meeting . This was the event of the eveqing ; at his rising , the meeting gave him a simultaneous and ftrithusiastio round . of cheers . This straok terror to the chairman and the members of the committee , who were on the platform ^ The chairman rose to stop the juvenile speaker , bocauso he said tha committee had not appointed him to speak , and none were to ^ e allowed to speak but those who had beun so appointed . The youth , however , with great presence of mind , and sound discretionappealed from

      , the decision of the chairman and commit ceo to tha meeting , by requesting all those who wished him to speak to hold up their hands ; immsdiately nearly every hand in the meeting was hold up , ' and taa chairman , after a little further opposition , eai do wo , and allowed the young man to proces ?! . T ! io speaker then etated , that he was a mi ' -mboi of the Juvenile Total Abstinence Society ; -th '« is nau d

      Untitled Article

      4 ' . THE NORTHERN STAR .

      The Northern Star. Saturday, April 30, 1842.

      THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , APRIL 30 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      THE GOOD PAITH OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES WITH THEIR VICTIMS . Tnis times are now most critical ; and the people never needed more of oautijn , of prudence , aud forbearance . The factions have , by misrule , brought us to tho very depth of degraiiation and destitution , and in the spirit of that misrule are yet preparing to open " Beyond the lowest deep still lower deeps " of misery into which they seek to force the people , out of whom they live . We were fiorry , but not eurprised , to find in the Suri - . of Tuesday evening , the following statement from a correspondent : —

      " Dudi-ky , Aplil 2 o . —^ This morning a ppdy , consisting of several thousands of nailers from the surrounding oountry , came into this town , for the purpose , as they stated , of rcnionstratiug with the nail masters against the reduction in their wages , amosinting to nbt less than 20 per cens . The poor creatures appeared in a moat wre _ toiied and famishing condition , many of them cavrying in their countanances undeuiablo attestation to their declaration , that they had not eaten a morsel of food for the last two days . Up to the time of the reduction , the uiost expert men of the body could with difficulty cam four and sixpence a week each . But the proposed diminution , Bhould it take place ^ -an event

      mo 3 t probable , from the condition of the masters themselves—will lead to suffertnti hitherto unparalleled in this district . The Magistrates mat for the P « rpO 9 e of consultation , after whiah a proposal was made to the hungry multitude to select twelve Of their body to confer with their employers on tha eubjectof complaint . It is .. much to be lamented that from Boma cause , not yet made public , this conference did not take place , as the people readily suoaiitted to the proposition regarding it , and waited with exemplary patienee the result . Meanwhile , a -detachment' of the 6 sh Dragoons arrived from Birmingham , and proceeded at once , with draWn BWords ^ to disperse the people—a task

      they found no difficulty in accomplishing . Large numbers of the nailers are still in tho ne ? Khb ( iurhobd , and as they suspect that the proposal for the conference was only a trick to obtain time to send for the troops , they are highly indignant ; and the inhabitants of the town are in a etatc of great alarm , lefct the multitude may return when the soidiers are removed , and , under the influence of iiriiatod feelings , proceed to > iolcnpo . ' * ' Tiielmagistrates deservo all credit for their prompt attention to tho circumstaiiceR , bt ; t it is

      thought by many that ; matters would have ended better , had' argument and expostulation , with , if possible , a prbmLc of some ccmiwision , bee ? i eniplityed before the troops proceeded to the livswess of dispersion . Though tho town was . -gri aiiy ¦ txcited , the shops being closed , and-jbusinosa entndy KuspeHded , yet th 6 assembled multitude showed no di ? positiou to riot , and ah address suitel to the ncceisfon , expressive of sympathy with i ' leprcple imdrr their heavy sufferings , delivered by the Vivar , ( who uiitoriunately was on horseback "? mangsi the militarjj

      would have done more to allay irritated feelings , and to produce tranquillity , than any coercive means . " Trade is in a moat lamentable condition in the neighbourhood , and an irruption of the colliers , a far more dangerous body of men than the nailers , when stimulated by the pangs of hunger , is anticipated with great alarm . " 'Tis thug , that by the middle clasaea whom they sustain with their sweat and with their blood the

      poorhave been ever treated ; their confidence has invariably been mocked and taken advantage of ; and we coBfess that we have little hope that this classof necessity the kites and ravens of society—will eyer act otherwise : we hare no faith in any pro * mises made by them , and attach , consequently , little importance to any proposals coming from them ; since all experience , in much and in little , shows them to be , as a class , characterised only by rapacity and insincerity . The exclusive power afforded to them by class legislation of directing the energies of steam and other inanimate agents , and of thus

      increasing , at their pleasure , cheap production , has enabled them to create a surplus population ; that is to say , it has enabled them , to a great extent , to do without the people , who are now only so much vermin upon the land , which they are glad of obtaining any pretext to ¦' *? clear off ; " and henco we doubt not , that a pleasure truly diabolical , would be experienced by a great many of them , if the people could be goaded into open resistance il sectional detachments ; knowing that , from the same oircumstances , whence they derive power to

      oppress , they derive also power to destroy . It is this very thing against which we have had mainly to combat during the whole existence oi the Northern Star ; and it is because of our constant warning to the people , upon this head , that the wretches , hating and fearing us , are continually bellowing out about " the Violence of the Northern Star , " and about our incitements to physical force : while our whole life and labours are expended in counteracting their diabolical schemes to entrap the people into collision with their armed myrmidons .

      Thanks to the people ' s good sense , maugre all the bitterness of their oppressions , they have hitherto , generally speaking , baffled the foul , fiendish , tempters ! and we implore them still to continue so to do . Most heartily would we re-echo the excellent advice Of their own Parliament given to the whole people ; and we would especially recommend it to the poor nailmukers , colliers , and others of the neighbourhoods now so fearfully disturbed by middle-class tyranny and treachery . They will find it elsewhere in the address of the Convention to the industrious and starving , aud we intreat them to read and pon der it most carefully .

      3co 2stauf^ Mtf €X&Gt;Tr^Jpo«^«W

      3 Co 2 StaUf ^ mtf € x > tr ^ jpo «^« W

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 30, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct428/page/4/