Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th October 1842, Edition 2 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

Page 4
Page 4
4 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (2)
    • TEE NO-RTHEKN STAft. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1842.
    • PREPATU.KG POR -PUBLICATION, THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION, foe 1843.
  • Adverts (1)
  • Text (8)
  • 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 Ad

      BF JOSHUA HOBSOJf . THIS Year ' s Companion will contain the greatest mass of the most valuable Statistical Information on several Questions of Social and Governmental Polity ever yet given at the price . Next week we shall be able to announce the day of Publication , and give a List of Contents . The price will be , as before . Threepence .

      Untitled Article

      10 TBS SD 1 T 0 E OP THE yOBTHKRN SIAB . Sir , —I am desired on behalf of the Chartists of Salford to give you a summary of events of some impsrtanee , -which have this day occurred in the town-¦ hip of Salford . I must preface my report by stating that the very excellent letter -which was published by Mr . O'Connor 2 b the Star of one of the weeks In last Hay , directing Oar attention to oar local government , induced us to give strict attention to the form of government under Which we lived in Salford ; and we found that we had governments for various purpose ! . As 'Sorreyon of the Highways , ' 'Orerseers and 6 htrdians of the Poor ;'

      an < 1 for the preservation of the peace , a Borough-Jeeve , with two constables , and one- hundred and twenty Commissioners of police— the whole forming a fcody corporate for watering , lighting , and cleansing the township , with a power of levying a rate of one shilling and sixpence in the pound , and no more , for ihe general purposes of the act , which is of conrse , one pissed for the government of Salford alone , and was passed some twelve or fourteen years ago . The Commissioners are elected ont of those persons who are assessed at twenty pounds and upwards to the local rates ; and they are elected by the whole of the ratepayers who have paid all poor and police rates of the township doe in December last .

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

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

      A list of six Tiamafi was then presented by Messrs . Stork and Stunner , as fit and proper persons to repre-Bent the interests , of the much abused working-men of Salford , is the Town Hall , as Cammissioaers of Police . The Whigs of Salford then presented tbeir list of men , more known for their tyranny than anything else , whom they proposed as Commissioners of Police . The Whifs , not liking the looks of the working-men , declared they would have a BALLOT , which means , in cur Police Act , a scrutiny , making every man write his name , and who he voted for , then seeing by the Town ' s Books whether he had paid his rates or not , to the Iwt halfpenny , loi if there was one' halfpenny not paid the vole was lost .

      When the actual struggle came on , the Whigs , with iH their cunning and power , could not muster as many T » tes u the working men ; we polled ten for their one , bat owing to the rates not being all paid , they succeeded in throwing off some . hundreds of our votes , and yet we placed two of oar men upon the floor of the Tewn Hail , u Commissioners of Police . Thus , after a fight of eight hours , ended the campaign against the Salford Whigs , in District Ne . k District No . 6 was soon ended ; the enemy made a poor fight , and owing to the exertionB of MtBsrs . Sanders , Mitebeson , Brassington , Giliibrsndand others , we succeeded in electing three of the friends of the people on as commissioners for Ibis district .

      District No . 7 was pretty well managed by Messrs Smith , Boberts , Evans , Copeland ( who by the way had been imprisoned , by them some days for exhibiting the placard of the Executive ) and some tew others . 2 Jr . W . Willis moved that Mr . Smith take the chair , Which was seconded and carried by a very large majority , upon which Mr . Willis moved and Mr . Piers seconded , a list of six sterling men as representatives of the working men of ' Salford , which list was opposed by the Whigs most bitterly . They moved an amendment , which they lost by the Z 3 al and ability as well as the numbers of their opponents . The Whigs of Salferd at any rate will now know that their despised foes , the Chartists , [ are neither dead nor dying , but that they are increasing in numbers and in knowledge , and that shortly they will be the rulers of Salford and of Manchester , too—Whiggery may become defanct . Chartism never .

      A member of our -association encloses his remarks With a statement of a few of the facts in this business , therefore if this brief account , together with the enclosed , will serve the cause- of Chartism , the Saiford Chartists will have great pleasure in seeing them in this week ' s paper . lam , Most reEpectfully , Salford , Oct . 2 * , 1842 . . J . M .

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

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

      the magistrates , to Bee if such a shameful trampling down of rights , and such a sweeping destruction of the liberty of the snbject , would not render the perpetrators amenable to the law regulating ' the " civil and religious liberty , " bat we concluded that it was likely , as we were poor despised Chartists , we could not get justice , ihoagh we went with ready money to purchase it . And Bo the matter rested until the time arrived for the election of new Commissioners , which was lasi Monday , ¦ when such a tremendous re-action took * place that shook ihe whole fabric of corruption to pieces , and in traiked Six of our men as Commissioners ! some of whom were elected in three different districts , with overwhelming majorities . '

      Thus , we , the instated Chartists , have taught the Insolent cub * in office a lesson they wont soon forget ; they will be cautious for the future bow they excite the Indignation and hitherto dormant energies and lion strength of the working men of Salford . We are now more thoroughly convinced than ever of the truth and value of Feargos O'Connor ' s remarks in a letter some time back , that if we must succeed In reforming a corrupt national government , we must first reform the local governments of the country , and Jhere needs no argument to prove that . Now by way » f informing and inducing our Brother Chartists all through the country to be up and doing the same , by which they will not only force the " upper classes" to respect them through

      their p « wer , but they will ^ virtually subdue the national Government , and bring them upon their Tateet before the sovereign people ; for really and truly the national Government is only the creature of the local governments , and the local governments may oe made to consist efthe people , if the people will do their dnsy ; and . the men of Siiford , I am proud to say , are determined to do theirs . They have been vexed into a sense of tbeir duty during the scrutiny of one of the districts , when the viflanous nature of the laws was 80 forcibly illustrated by the disfranchisement of scores of tV " friends for the non-payment of a single half-penny of their poor ' s rates ; and the brave fellows are farther determined never more ts live in houses where the owners compound for the

      Cheer « p , my friends , for , with all their vallanous power , we will defeat them , and by this mode of attack we not only disappoint the hateful monster , oppression , fros tffr'efr'e * P °° " * seixuig ** & deadly oerUinty , bis prey , a « heretofore ; but by sharing power with then , and being in tbeir campany , we can dviliie and bmmaaiw them , and make them lore liberty and justice , vbaa utoftn-K ** , beaase then they will feel the Mining , ! thif TmHfl-Tfn— * Ti Too will perhaps be able to judge of the extent of oar ¦ Beeenfal victory , by reading what took place in No . 7 district ; early tn th « morning we called cpon our

      friends and marshalled them down to the Town Hall , and by « ti"g promptly , and strictly in accordance with their own law ( the Police Act ) defeated them in the appointing of a <*»<™ m | | which so mnth chagrined thepi o ^ one of ihe party , named Jenkinson—a bright and exemplary specimen of Whig liberality—jumped up and Aawmwrtart a Ballot , " for , " says be , " I dont like the looks of you ; " and from our strength and determination , he had not the smallest reason for liking us ; neither did he like the testa we bad printed and circulated , and which one of oar ffltTntidtft ** answered in the following manner , which made them writhe during the while : —

      Untitled Article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Tee No-Rthekn Staft. Saturday, October 29, 1842.

      TEE NO-RTHEKN STAft . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 29 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

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

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

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

      parsons . Hence the legalization of gin palace 3 , tippling shops , and all the other , the resorts of idleness , vice , and infamy : hence the munificent granting to the people of £ 30 , 000 of their own money for education purposes , while a like sum is niched yearly from them to buy breeches and garters for a German boy , and £ 70 , 000 is appropriated to the making comfortable of the Queen ' s horses ; and hence too the fact that the gradual disappearance of that popular ignorance and general grossness of taste and habit before the spirit of intelligence and enquiry fills them with alarm and rage to such an extent as renders concealment of their realj character impossible .

      An application was made lately by Messrs . Hexhbbikgton , Lovett , and others of ( he ** New Move" Society for & music license to their Hall in Holborn . It was stated that the object of the applicants was to diffuse the blessings of moral and physical education ; that music was included as a part of the education laid down in Mr . Lovett ' s book ; and that it was one of the rules of the association that spiritoas liquors should not at any time be admitted into the ball ; that even those who might hire the hall for

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

      Untitled Article

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

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

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

      " The said Henry Hetherington , and also William Lovett , and Benjamin Huggett , two other of the applicants , are members of a society calling themselves' The National Association of the United Kingdom for Promoting tbe Political and Social Improvement of the Poor ; ' and the said W . Xovett is secretary to the association . " That some of the professed objects of this association , as Bet forth in a printed address ' to tbe political and social Reformers of the United Kingdom , ' are , te establish in one general body persons of all creeds , classes , and opinions , who are desirous to promote the political and social improvement of the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Untitled Article

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

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

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

      The Executive very properly require the votes of the members as a sanction for this proceeding if adopted ; and we suggest to the members that tbeir votes should be individually carried by each member separately to his class leader , and so returned to the Bab-Secretary for transmission to Mr . Campbell , the General Secretary . In localities where no class leaders reside , every member should himself deliver his vote to the sub-Secretaries . The votes OUGHT KEVEB , TO BE IAKKN AT A MEETING ! every

      Untitled Article

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

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

      Untitled Article

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

      good , honest-hearted men , who think others like themselves , and who , therefore , give the Stuege men credit for sincerity in their "talk" about demo craoy and right ; while Hahuents , the master tailor , and Dutton , the gentlemanly President of the Bristol Sturgites , make manifest the . real animus of Stuege and his co-workers in the " lead " of this Anti-democratic movement . If any confirmation had been wanting of the deliberate character of the insulting " no " returned to White ' s committee , it is furnished in the proceedings ; of this meeting . We

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

      Untitled Article

      NECESSITY FOR THE CHARTISTS ACQUIRING LOCAL POWER . THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS . Wb have often endeavoured to press upon the Chartists of the kingdom the imperative necessity there exists , if they would make themselves "respectable" felt , and feared , to obtain possession of those outposts to general government , —the local offices . The present is an opportune moment to repeal and enforce the advice .

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

      Whenever the Chartists have obtaiuedfposses 3 ion of those outposts of general Government , from that moment may they date the success of their general endeavours to establish right . With unwilling administrators of bad laws , a bad Government cannot exist . Its power ceases the moment administrative support is taken from it ! It must aocomodate itself to the opinions and feelings of those who are to carry into force and execution its legislative enactments .

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

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

      praise . In this gathering together of power with which to battle the general enemy , we are happy to say that Leeds has taken the lead . For many months past have the " good men and true , " been on the watch , and suffered no opportunity of strengthening their position to escape . They have manfully and triumphantly asserted their principles ; and have gathered to themselves power and renown . They elected the last Board of Improvement Commissioners . On that Board were several well known

      and unflinching Chartists . While the Board continued to exist , those men did their duty to the inhabitants who had sent them to administer the law . They refused to be parties to , or sanction in any degree , class or party efforts for distinction or advantage . Under their auspices , public meetings were holden in the Town-Hall , at which good Chartist measures were almost nightly advocated . At those meetings the old hacks of party were put to the rout I aud the principles of tight and justice boldly and manfully asserted in the hearing of the " great" ones of the town .

      They elected also a Chartist lot of Churchwardens-These officials are in office now ; and we challenge any party to say that they do not perform the duties ef their station with efficiency and in a good spirit . They are , by their conduct in office , heaping honour upon the cause of Chartism , which seated them at the Vestry board . Hvddebspielv , too , has followed , in some degree , the example of Leeds . Some weeks ago , the new Constabulary Act came tinto operation . The good men of Huddersfield were called upon to meet , to

      put in force some of it ? provisions . They did meet . They responded to the call made on them by the Overseers of the Poor ; and , when bo met , they did their business ! They passed a list of names from which the Magistrates are bound to choose Constables ; and which list contains the Barnes of well known Chartist friends . But they did ^ ore than this : they rejected ihe police system iv , all t ( s shapes and forms ! In consequence of th ^ c meeting tbe Huddersfield people are released from the burden of paid policemen , which for some years they have had to bear . [ In March next meetings will have to be again hQiden ur . der this Constabulary . Act : audlwe shall

      Untitled Article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      never can be reformed or put an end to , ' till the burgesses send men to that Council who will make the general welfare of the borough at large their entire study and sole rule of aotion , instead of iseeking to promote class or party interests . And , Burgesses , what are the claims and qualifications of the several candidates who have been submitted to your notice , and for whom you are called upon to vote ! There is Mr . Arthington . What do you know of him ! Has he been before you , to explain his views on the momentous subjects on which he will be enabled to legislate , should he be returned ! Have you bad any opportunity of learning what he is 7 of ascertaining what

      views and opinions he entertains on any question connected with local Government ! Do you know whether he is disposed to vote for the abrogation , or a great reduction , of the unnecessary day policeforce ! Do you know whether he is inclined to pnt a stop to the wasteful extravagance that has lately been pursued in tbe Council Chamber ! Indeed , do you know any thing of him I Has he given you any opportunity to judge of his fitness or unfitness for the post he aspires to ! None whatever 1 Yon know nothing of him ! He is to all intents and purposes , a pig in . a poke I" Can . 50 a vote for such a man ? If you do , you deserve all the evils whioh you \ tiU have to endure resulting from bad Govtrnnv ant .

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

      Untitled Article

      who will stand up for , and maintain against all comers , the general interests of the general icnabitants of the borough , . , . i , . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . ABTHiNsioif was brought out as a candidate at a private neetvng of some half score Whigs , after Miv ^ obflon had been unanimously fixed upon by a PUBLIC MEETING of yourselves . Lose not eight of the fact that Mr . Abthingtoh's Committee have declared . jthat they would rather see the council chamber filled ' with TORIES than see a REAL REFORMER there , in the person of Mr . Hobson . LoBe not sight of the fact that it is the Wbigs , those who are supporting Mr . Arthington , who have introduced DIVISION and DISUNION in your ranks , for the purpose of securing the return of the Tory ! Lose not sight of

      the Tact , that Mr . Hobson publicly ottered to leave the decision of the question as to whether he should stand or retire , to a pubho meeting of tbe inhabitants of the Ward , called for the especial purpose of judging upon the respective merits and qualifications of himself and Mr . Artbingtpp , so as to prevent division and disunion , on the condition that Mr . Arlington ' s Committee should pledge themselves to abide by the decision of sach meeting , and that " all sections of reformers " should agree to merge their minor differences" and cordially support the rctormbe thus fixed upon , to the exclusion of the TORY for Hunslet from the Counoil . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr Arthington ' s friends HAVE NOT DARED to accept this proposal ! That they have { not dared to appeal in any one shape , to a public meeting in the whole Ward ! That they have not dared to take the

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

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

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

      During the past week , Mr . Hobson has also been started as a candidate in the Holbeck Ward , for reasons whioh are clearly set forth in the following address : — TO THE LIBERAL BURGESSES OF THE WAED OF HOLBECK . The Committee appointed at a public meeting of your body to secure the return of Mr . Joshua Hobson , as a common councillor for the Wntd of Holbeck , after he had been nominated as a candidate for that office by the same public meeting , deem it necessary , both as a

      matter of justice to themselves and to you , to explain how it came to pass that that gentleman was submitted to your netice at all , and placed in such a position as to have a claim on your snffragea . It is quite true that at a former publio meeting , holden in Messrs . Marshall ' s scbool room , two other gentlemen , Messrs . Cliff and Whitebead , were nominated as candidates . And it ia also true that scarcely any one knew of the intention of tbe parties promoting tbati meeting to submit the latter gentleman to the notice of the Burgesses of the Ward , fie waa , however , so submitted , and nominated as a candidate along with Mr . Cliffi

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

      for the gross and brutal outrage , when appealed to ! All these things , an 4 many more of the same character , were stated * to the members of Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead ' s Committee ; and , as a matter of course , they came to be talked of generally . In fact this feeling againBt Mr . Whitehead was so manifest , that the Chairman of his own Committee felt himself bound to bring the matter before his assembled colleagues ; and declare it as his opinion that the feeling against Mr . Whitehead was ao strong , that . A * had serious doubts as to ihe possibility of VuAr being able to carry him at all ; and that it was a question as to whether it was not the moat advisable course to withdraw that Gentleman from the field , and bring forward another against whom no such objections could be raised , as had been mooted and advanced against the man they had !

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

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

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

      The result of that Deputation was this A "a 0 " ?* waa made in the Committee that the request of tne publio meeting shonld be complied with . WhenpM to the vote , one-half of ihe Committee voted for it , and tne other half against it The Committee were eauaUT divided 1 Tis true that the motion was stated to oe lost by a majority of two ; but that « majority" was . obtained by two persons voting who were not members oj theCommittee . „_» . Since that decision , a placard has appeared , purporting to emanate from Messrs . Cliff aud Whitebead a Committee , in whioh those who object to the tatU * gentleman are designated " a faction" 11 Rather * curious "faction" that , which consists of the nujomy of the burgesses and inhabitants of the Ward , and includes in its numbers one-half ef Mr . Whitehead ' s own Committee 111

      . . in that placard it is stated that » Mr . Whitehead despises and defies" those whom he denominates "designing calumniators , " and " challenges them to meet in pablio to prove their assertions" This ts mere vapouring and bombast . Mr . Whitehead cannot both " despise' and " defy . " The act ot "defiant *' proves that he does not " despise" I He affects , too , to challenge" those who speak against him to " meet in public . " This is mere affectation we fear , or the parties putting forth this pompons challenge would have called a public meetlng . ' hHid eiven all an . oppof « nity of attending fc .

      Untitled Article

      4 THfE NORTHERJN STAR . i . ^ m ^ . ' . ii i ii , . i >_ — . ' • - ¦ , i n ^ a ^

      Prepatu.Kg Por -Publication, The Poor Man's Companion, Foe 1843.

      PREPATU . KG POR -PUBLICATION , THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION , foe 1843 .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 29, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct454/page/4/