Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 24th December 1841, Edition 3 of 5, Page 4

Page 4
Page 4
4 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • THE NORTHERN STAR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1841. (SATURDAY BEING CHRISTMAS DAT.)
  • Text (7)
  • 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

      IHB ADDRESS OF THE DELEGATES OF SOUTH ULKCASblKB TO THE 1 B CONSTITUENTS , AND THE C 3 &RTISTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM . PeUow-kbourera in the csose of troth , justice , and political emaacipaiian , —We , the delegates assembled in Brown-Btoeet Chutist Room , Dec 19 th , 1841 , beg to lay before you our Tie « s on the line of eondaet to be pnrtned by you and us attfcla most important crisis ; and to iram you against the eunningly-devisrfd echemea intended to entrap yew , as put forth by « body of men belonging to the Corn Law League , whose object is , 8 passible , to gain you confidence , assistance , and support to a half measurer instead of a fall meed of justice A » ere dap-trap , Instead of -what we are entitled to by

      reason . CSiristiaafty , and the ln-wa of Sod , aa folly exemplified is tbe wnols creation of nature , whiefa abundantly prove * tfcat those wbo are willing to labour coght to be supplied with goad -clothing , food , and shelter . Tbe step they are bow takimr is for the parpose of piometing their ova nlfehaad factions interest , sod not front * ay desire to gain yoar richts and liberties Coming forward , as they are , with new faces , prof e « B > ng enbonnded sympathy and food feeling for tbe starving TPilliffTfi whom ., we . believe , hare been u much , if not more , the means of bricgiag to such a deplorable condition than any other party te -existence , by their greedy , gmpine , and grinding pr ^ ensitiea ; by their

      overspeculation , competition , iBiprovtment * in machinery , reduction of wages , ?« fo"g mosey oat of circalat ' on , glutting the foreign market , and destroying the best market , namely , home consumption , by . preventing tbe people from purchasing hats , food , shoes , stockings , farnitxre . and other neoeasariea . Yet they come forward pretending that they wish to benefit the poor , forsooth , by their delusive cry of cheap food , plenty of employment , and bi $ h wages , whilst they barb , in many instances , takes more front the wages ot tbeir -workmen at s single reduction than would provide tfcem with bread for six weeks . Who , then , are tbe partial who have made < ieaz bread ? The cotton-lords —members of the League .

      We argne that the working elaoes hsro hitherto been craciaod between two kinds ef thieves—the landlords sad tbe cotton-lords—the Whigs and the Tories ; and that before they can be permanent ' y benefited , they must be recognised by the law ; they most hare a power which will fortify themselves against the encroachments of both , end thus set both at defiance ; & power -which trill better regvlste the distribution ef their own produce bo that whilst the granaries aid warehouses are cammed with food and raiment , those who labour are ( starring , and those who do not labour enjoy themselves upon tie choice and the fat of the

      We wish , in thus addressing you , to iavite your parttcalsr attention te a " sew move , " . which originated % few weeks ago , after a meeting of the League , in this town , relative to the question of the suffrage . The partial connected with this new more , having for the last two years tried almost every scheme imitginahle to gain your oo-operation ; and because , judging from their actions , we considered their motivta were of an exelu-• ire and selfish nature , and would not bear the scrutiny sad test of fair dhcusaien , we ably met them , and exposed their fallacious statements ; and the result to them was , so far as gaining our confidence and support , or making converts to their pro-Corn Law policy hamhog . a failure and disappointment

      We bare given them , at ah their meetings where we could g « t a chance , dates , facts , and figures , and at every honestly convened meeting where we have had a chance f laying our arguments before the public ; at every meeting where we have beea allowed fair , equal , and free discussion , when the meeting has not been packed / nor surrounded by the blue police , to intimidate , we have ben able to carry a resolution for the Chaster by & large majority against their cry foe a large loaf . What has bow the cause of our opposition ? Was it becMua we did not want , and were hostile to cheep food ? Because we admired the conduct of the landlords , favourable to the Tories , and did not wish toe free trade and . high vagea ? No . Bat became we took a retrospective view of th » past , and found that an

      cxtontloo of tzade had been accompanied wilh a decrease of wages , and we concluded that no measure that might be passed would benefit the working class * so long as the privileged class bad the power of turning every thing resulting therefrom to their own advantage , so long aa one man haviBg & thousand , peepk under bis employ had the power of taking tan shillings by way of reduction , from their wages , and they not in a posi tion to hold him accountable , and on the contrary , if the working nun only took one single ounce of stinking cotton from the mill , be was liable to be sent to prison for a month . And looking at the tyranny practised by the mort ™ flntmfcim 3 and leading men of the League , and believing that such characters were not sincere in their intentions , and every act proved and

      confirmed tm in such Belief , having many times fairly tried them as to how far they were favourable to liberty at various public meetings . They came forward with resolutions cunningly worded , to , if possible , escape detection ; and we s ; M ^ n ** " ** " *; and in other parts of th « kingdom , have only taken the liberty to write Universal Suffrage upon it , before we would vote for it , and behold , to our astonishment , men who wanted to be Chartists in principle wanted to withdraw it , so that the simple act of pntUng Universal Suffrage ctpon it has completely spoiled it in their estimation . What amount of confidence , then , could we pises in aoeh a pa » t ? ? We had likewise an eye to the ripld improvement * that were i * king place la machinery which would deprive tbe working man from reaping

      any benefit from an extension of trade , and to -use the Words of one of the leaders of the League , " There was , " aid he , " machinery equal to one hundred and fifty millions of operatives now lying dormant , which could be brought into requisition at eny moment ; besides , on a moderate calculation , there were fro hundred millions » o : yet brought into the market" We compared the great weight of taxation we have to pay in comparison to these Cort ' nfntal nations against which we have commercially to compete . We saw there waa no guarantee , that if a bad la-w of any kind was repelled one day , that the same parties , as tha House of Commons U at present constituted , could put it on again the next , if it suited them . We could , from accounts from other nations , see bow they were progressing in

      machinery , and -we concluded that , tbe statement of the League relative to foreigners erasing manufacturing was absurd , and that is was foolishness on our part , whilst we kad land whkfl ought to be cn ) t vat 9 d , to be dependant on the people of Russia , Prussia ,- and the buni&g kstwb of Africa fox a breakfast ; and that it was monstrous to hold out the ridiculous and delusive hopes that in Russia , where there is a population of 52 . 000 , 000 , France 32 , 000 , 000 , Prussia and Austria - each 22 . O 0 O : 00 o , and the smaller states of Germany 25 , OuO , oOO— toial , 173 , 000 , 000—would leare manufacturing , and go to the plough tail , to grow corn for a population of 27 , 000 , 090 . What sort cf stomachs mnst they fancy the people of Great , Britain to have ? Sureiy

      this would be sufficient to cause our brctkrin of the distant parts of tbe world to conclude that ^ e -were Dotting more er less than a race of gluttons—a complete insult The foregoing are , then , amongst a ftw cf the reasons , in addition to our belief that there is do hope of relief but in the land , why we deter mined to go for a foH measnre of justice , 'which would pi jttct as alike against the avarice , tyranny * and encroachiati-ti of the landlord , cotton lord , Whig and Tory , s . Tid tTery otiseT factions party . I \ o man , or set cf Ken , Kill blame us for our c .-nduct , because "vre have agitated for eqtiality , -willing to eire the same ta others as we elaimed for ourselves . The Plague , as a last at ' empt , have now corns forward , under another cover , ia a new face . " A change has come o ' er the spirit of thtir dream . " They , after ail the opposition

      which tbey have from time to time shown tq car movem&t , by thtir plans , press , and Epfcfchta , wou ; d have Jon 10 beiicTe ' . good , kind , patriotic soul *!> that they Were all at once converted to the question of the Suffrage , -which they dedne as complete , but vrhich we consider vagae , indtfinite , and unqualified , ana show their dishonesty bv bearing to blind us as to their real EiftiT . s ; because , if they laeant by that term not to go so far as ruiretsal Sofirsce , as property defired in the Caartir , as a test ef union , then they call . upon you to make a compromise—const quently unworthy ot out and year snpport . Ai-d , if ' they siean fcy the term to go further tban -we mean ia onr Charier , why of course , they cnly the- * their hypocrisy and cajolery by - not con . icg at encs to vaz iticdard , hiring never proved it any other bat just a-. 4 reasonable .

      In crdei to unite the middle and the worhing classes fcrtbe agitation of free trade and the suffrage , making the latter always a secondary measure , the members of the League appointed paities to draw np a declaratioa . At t ' ni" metttng tkere were deputies from all parts ol the Kingdom , and in tlie ifcs juiuon they were

      unanimous . This important document has taken ( according to the words of the party who drew up the same ) , several weeks most serious consideration , before it was brought before the public , and we are constrained to say , that it has again shewn tbeir cloven foot It really put us in raind of the fable of the mountain in labour which brsngtt forth a mouse . And for your information and amus *! sent . we here treat yon with a copy of this most important , this seriously considered , this -rery elaborate declaration , and if our remarks are not quite so pleasing aa the " Pl&gue" could wish , -we beg them to remember that they emanate fr > m working men , therefore will deserve their pity for our misfortune initiad of eecsure for our ignorance . We take it from % thick asS thin supporter of the League , i . e . tbe Mmchetler Times of last Saturday , bearirg the signature of Mr . Storge , of Birmingham . Bub your eyes , then , and read tbe following wonderful production , of these great feelotophers , and would-be leaders of the people : —

      •• Deeply impressed with thecoEviction of . the evils wising from ciats-le ^ islatiOB , and of the snfiering thereby inflicted upon ' our industrious fcllow-subjecia , tha undersigned affirm that a large majority d tha people of MSs country are unjustly excluded from that Car , fu - , ^ 3 f ^ excise of lDe elecuve franchise , to which they srs entitled by f- « - grsit principles of CsristiaD eqri ' r st * aK ? by tte Bdiis v Constitution ; for no nbjact of Es ^ kjJ cm Ire constrained . to pay any aid , or tsxes , evtn for tbe d ^ ence of the realm , " or . tha " support of lie Q ovoz :-TfX , ° ^ Bnch as « e >» P <*« rby his m KHUtet , or fc&t of fcu rexTweoUtiTes ia P * di * Beut "

      Untitled Article

      There , then , is a oopy of what you will b « called upon to give up the Charter to agitate for . As they have given the subject theirBerions consideration , we conceive that is quit * as imaeh as it deserves ; atali « veBts , it will take but little efieet npom as , as delegates { and , so far as oar judgment goes of the Goartists generally , we are ted to coBolude they will treat It aoaordiBg vo \ ts merit * . tt is laaa * , short , tmi does sot come np to the mark ; to say nothing of ths shuffling y > A tmm « M ^ fa » g manner they speak of tbe suffrage . We would ask them what they mean for us to do with the other points of the Charter , which are highly essential to make even that measure beneficial to the gnat matt of society , samely , the Ballet , Annual Parliaments , no Property Qualification , Payment of Members of Parliament , and equal Electoral Districts T

      Are you , the -working men Of South Ioaeaabire and of Great Britain , willing to compromise yovr principle for stub declaration , after the great B&aggt * yon have made , the persecution and prosecution yoabave been subjected to , the support you have given to the two Conventions , and carried on your cause against all opposition , Bidding defiance ( because armed and Biimulated by truth and justice ) to police spies , magistrates , Judges , Juries , and having torn from you five hundred of your virtuous leaden , whe have braved the storm , and in every instance have come out better men , so far as determination was

      concerned , than they were when ant incarcerated ! For our part , we will not , and so far at you are concerned , judging fr » in your former conduct , we think we hear you cry aloud , " hear , hear , and amen . " They must come to the Charter before we will have anything to do with them ; so far , then , we wish to inform tbe League , that theix last move , if they anticipate gaining the cooperation of thb Chartists , will prove a decided failure . We are very dubious of the consistency and intentions of men , who , but a short time ago , b * ea « se they could not meet ua in fair discussion , resorted to the baseminded means of hiring a aumbtc of deluded men , to Dludgeon us into submission .

      We wish to put you on your gaard against false statements put forward by the leading members of the League in order to lead you astray , statements which appear at first sight plausible , but when examined they turn out to be like all the rest of their absurdities ; we allude in particular to Mr . Cftbdea , who has been figuring away in the Midland counties , and where he appears to have found a mare ' s nest , which because believed a something by the Editor ef the Ifancftetter Times , has been paraded as a leader . The gist of the argument put forth by these men ia , that tbe Corn Laws alone have been tbe sole cause of the depression of trade amongst the stocking-knitters of Leicester , Hinckley , ic& Jte , He feels , and appears to feel confident in this position , because there have been no new machinery brought into requisition , nor any improvements introduced for the purpose of superseding manual labour . A child would , with a little study , be able to give an answer , tending to tbe confutation of this newly-discovered theory .

      We would ask these gentlemen whether the tens of thousands who have been mad * surplus population in the manufacturing districts can- wear as many stockings as they could when fully employed ; whether they could wear as many hats , shoea , and co&ts , as formerly , and whether even those who are employed , having had their wages reduced , on purchase the same articles as they could before ? and when they answer this question we shall have another to aak . What has been tbe number of stockings imported iat } this country from Saxony ? the tendency of which has been to cause a competition with the knitters of Leicester and Hinckley .

      We cannot give Mr . Cobden credit for his boasted patriotism , having closely watched him for some time . At many of our meetings , he many times said be was aa good a Chartist as toe best of as ; bat , before he could join ui , we must throw one of oar best advocates—one of our most disinterested leaden overboard , namely , Feargus O Connor , Esq . We wish to inform Cobden that we admire that gentleman , O'Connor , because of his conslttaney , and we discard him , Cobden , and his measures , for bit inconsistency . When a number of men belonging tbe late election committee , at Manchester , waited upon Mr . Cobden to ascertain whether he would stand as a candidate for this tows ; he , by way of answer , told them be would not serve amongst such a set , even if elected , fie said they talked about things which his grandmother did .

      In a short time after , this same gaatlemaa went to Stockport , and personally canvassed the electors for their votes , and when questioned at the nomination , although he had declared repeatedly that he was a Chartist only six miles from the spot ; he said that he would not vote for Universal Suffrage , nor Annual Parliaments , and hoped they would not Kt >»< " « down as a five-point man under any circumstance He at tbe same time said that if ever the lifting np of bis finger would bring Frost , Williams ,. and Jones back , he would not do that mnch ! Are we , then , to take this man into our ranks , and discard Feargus O'Connor , who has done more for those suffering patriots , tft " any other man in tbe Kingdom ? Mr . Cobden cautioned the wotting classes against men , who would mix the question of free trade with every other . Thus showing that if they could obtain a repeal , we might go to the devil for any further indulgence .

      We now , by way of conclusion , wish to caution you ag % lnit the Corn Law Repealers , who boaat of obtaining 40 , 090 signatures to a memorial to the Queen , vbo have taken it into the factories and Sunday schools , and are now representing it as the National Petition . Many have signed this memorial under the idea that it was the Chartist National Petition . They have had recourse to that aitince , because they , the ladies who haTe carried them from house to house , although treated with personal respect , the object they had in view was indignantly spurned . We hope and

      trust you will' march forward in your glorious agita tion for tha Charter . Admit of no compromise ; and , as your determined conduct has moved them one peg , by a perseverance in the same line of conduct , you will compel them to move another and another , until they come " the whole hog , bristles and alL" We pledge ourselves to those undying principles contained in the Charter , and call upon you to rouse from the routine of your former energies ; and , ere long , we shall , by oui united efforts , be able to wring from a tyrannical Government our sacred rights .

      We remain , fellow Countrymen , On behalf of the delegates , Tour ' s , faithfully , James cahtledge , Wh . Gbocott . Universal Suffrage , and no Surrender ! [ The Committee request the Editors of tb . « Findieaior , Chartist Circular , and CommonweallhS 7 uan , to eopj the addreis from the Star- ]

      The Northern Star Friday, December 24, 1841. (Saturday Being Christmas Dat.)

      THE NORTHERN STAR FRIDAY , DECEMBER 24 , 1841 . ( SATURDAY BEING CHRISTMAS DAT . )

      Untitled Article

      WAGES OF LABOUR , AND "EXTENSION "

      OF COMMERCE , Our article of last week on this subject has , we are glad to say , been received by the Work ing people in the manner -we wished . We have communications from all quarters , informing us that parties are already actively at work in compiling the tables of vrages for the period nansedj and which we asked for aa most necessary for the Kronsdinx of aa opinion as to whethsr another " extension" of oar commerce was desirable . This is as it should be . We have had plenty of assertion upon assertion from all parties , upon the

      subject of wages and its relative amount at difieient periods : it is time we had facts which none can gainsay : and if those who are most interested in the fullest investigation of this question will bat second our effjrts , it shall be placed beyondthe power of any theorising political economistto paim his guesses npon the public as to the real condition of the working people , and the effect of our present anomalous and murderous system of applying machinery . We will know , and the world shall know what the real effects of our Commercial policy have been upon the producers of wealth ;

      and tnen all will be able to say whether we ought farther to " extend" it , or not ! Again , therefore , do we earnestly call upon the seTeral Trades to famish us with the facts . Let os have tbe tables of wages asked for ; snd then we shall see how the matter really stands . ' Meanwhile , we beg to call the most serioos attention of all parties to some statements given in another part of our paper , under the head " State of the Country ,- " the major portion of which have beea culled from tbe report of a meet ; ings esignated . in the Morning Chronicle , under

      the head "CORN LAWS JLKP COMMERCIAL REFORM , " as a " Great Meeting at Manchester on 4 he slate of the Cotton Trade . " This meeting is reported to hsve been " composed of Depnties from tie various towns comprised within the great Cotton District . " Ho tt these deputies were appointed , or whom they represented , we are not informed ; bnt from a list of the principal deputies who attended , which is given , vre are sure that the " great" cotton lords of the great cotton district were represented I though we don 't by sr . y duns ftel to sura that Tom an

      Untitled Article

      Dick and Harky had had any share either in tha appointment of these great deputies , or that of the lesser ones who may be excluded from the list . 2 fa matter ! here we have the mastrbs themselves , in full conclave , giving forth statements as to "the condition , of the population of the distrUt , beth employer and operative ; the part and present state of wages ; the nnmbera of unemployed ; and the extent of pauperism . " It is therefore important that we abould know who were present at this meeting ; for the statements we allude to are given

      bj them ; not by some " rascally Chartist , " or infidel Socialist f they are the evidence of the "great" masters engaged in the " great " ' cotton trade , as to the effects of their own blessed commercial system upon themselves and the operatives employed by them . It to important , therefore , that the names of those who thus testify should be recorded , that we may bo able to find them another day ; for the testimony they give will have to be often , very often , referred to . That there may be no mistake about the m * tter , wo insert the list ia full , just as given in the Chronicle : —

      " The attendance ot deputies was large , Including—Richard Cobden , Esq ., M . P ., Joseph Brotherton , Etq , M . P ., Mr . R -bcrt Hyde Greg , Mr . John Brooks , Mr . T . Bazley , jun ,, Mr . W . R CaHender , Mr . George Wilson , Sir . William Evan * , Mr . Samuel Leet , Mr . William Rawaon , Mr . James Kershaw , Mr . John Rawathorne , Mr . "William Lockett , Mr . William Resley , and Mr . A . Prentice , for Manchester and Salford ; Mr . Robert Benson , jus ., DroylBden ; Mr . Charles Jackson , Leigh ; Mr . Timothy Wharmby aud Mr . Oswald Mqselejr , Haselgtove ; Mr . Tbouum Tuornbei and Mr . William Ecroyd , Colne ; Mr . John Kylands and Mr . John Allen . Warrington ; Mr . John Bright , Rochdale s Mr . Wm . Nelstrop ( mayor ) , Mr . Holiins , Mr . Henry Coppock

      ( town clerk ) , Mr . Charles Hudson , Mr . Sefton , and Mr . Wilkinson , and the Ruvds . Messrs . Smith and Waddlngtoa , Stockpoit ; Mr . Edmund Ash worth , Mr . Henry Ashworth , Mr . J . C . Darbiahire , and Mr . Thomas Thomason , Bolton ; Mr . Joseph Spencer , Mr . George Southam , Mr . Alfred Reyner , and Mr . George Higglnbottont , Ashton ; Mr . Joshua Brooks , Mr . Bradley , and Mr . Pass , Mosaley ; Mr . Robert Platt , Mr . John Cheetham , and Mr . William Bayley , SUlybrldge ; Mr . J . H . Roberta , Burnley ; Mr . H . Fletcher , Darwen ; Mr . William Holliwell and Mr . John Barker , Todtnorden ; Mr . Holloday , O ! dham ; Mr . Nicholson , Lees , && T . Thomely , Esq ., M . P ., was present daring the meeting . "

      Well , then ; what do these parties say is the " eon * dition of the operative" ! for it is in reference to Aim , that we shall examine and apply their statements . The great" cotton masters have organs who will take care that their M condition" is fully made known , if it should happen that the working of their own system has turned the screw so as to pinch where it is not wanted ; bat M the operative , " though so kindly taken into the account by these " great" deputies just now , has not many organs in which his condition or his wrongs will be set forth . We shall , therefore , confine ourselves mainly to what was said as to his "condition , and the past and present st&te of wages . "

      What do these masters say , then ! What is their testim ony ! They were met to promote the cause of the M extension of Commerce . " Their meeting was but another move , another shift , to bring the anti-Corn Law agitation into notice ; another attempt to promote the spread of " Free Trade principles . " What , then , do they say ! Their testimony is important . Many of them have been engaged in our "great " Cotton trade for a considerable period ; they have had opportunities of observing the actual workings of the system they are engaged in . They have had to do with our " great" Cotton trade , when it was not " great ; " they have lived to see it " extended " over and over again ; they know what the effects of each " extension" have been . These are the parties , then , whose testimony we should seek . What , then , did they say !

      . It must be remembered that they were met to promote another u extension . " It will , therefore , be expected by every oae that they set to work and denmutraied that every former M extension" had been of benefit to both employer and employed . They , no donbt , shewed beyond the power of contradiction , that the profits of the great" cotton master , and the wages of the operative bad both been increased b y each successive " extension , " and

      in proportion to the extent of the " extension . " No doubt they did this ; for this is the very first thing that ought to have been done , to make the people in love with the project of another " extension . " What , then , did they say ! Our readers will read the entire article we have before named for themselves . We shall , however , here give one or two specimens of the kind of testimony given by these " great" masters , as to the effects of their present commercial system upon the wages of " the

      operative . " " A reduction of the wages of the factory hands of Hyde , to the amount ef 12 per cent has taken place in the last two years . AH the manufacturers have been obliged to work their machinery with fewer bands , and have discharged erery person with whom they could possibly dispense . Many workpeople who had built cottages have been obliged to sell them . " " The decrease in the wages of cotton bands at Mossley , during tbe last ten years is 25 per cent The decrease in the wages of woollen hand * for tbe same time is 15 per cent . There are a many families in the deepest distress . Shopkeepers and tradesmen of all kinds cry out mest bitterly ; complaints are universally prevalent , and prospects for the future exceedingly dark and gloomy . ''

      " The cotton weavers employed at Leigh , have had their wages reduced about 20 to 25 per cent since 1836 , and they cow receive 5 s . for weaving a description of cloth for which 30 s . were regularly paid in 1816 . Aa able-bodied and clever workman does not earn more than 5 s . per week in this branch . " " The handloom weavers of Wigan have been reduced since the year 1835 , from 7 s . to 5 s . per piece . The cotton spinners' rate of wages has not varied much for the last six yean , except among reelen and mule spinners , whose wages have been reduced one-fifth . The power loom weavers have been reduced in a similar proportion to the mule spinners and reelen . "

      " The colliers in Wigan and the neighbourhood , in the year 1835 , got 6 s . 8 d . forgetting three tons of coals . In tbe present year 1841 , they get 7 s . for getting seven tons sixteen cwfc . of coals , and there is now more difficulty in getting the coals than there was in 1835 , owing to the depth of the pits , and the accumulation of water and itflimable gas . " " The people , although in great distress , and in too many instances , positively starving to death , appeared to enjoy momentary consolation from the very fact of persons being appointed to inquire into and sympathise with their suffer inga . "

      "The wages of spinners at Preston have been reduced this year about ten per cent , with a probability of a still greater reduction . The wages ef the weaver fell twenty-five per cent , during the present year . Some manufacturers have closed , and many ethers are regularly reducing the number of tbeir hands . Weavers are wandering about and willing to take work at any price . Every body ' s spirits are down ; the shopkeepers are complaining bitterly , and the small farms in the neighbourhood , owing to bad seasons and heavy taxes , are fast sinking into ruin . "

      " There are 1 , 177 individuals at Oawaldtwistle , constituting 243 fa : ailies , -whose average earnings per week ia 3 id . No account was taken of any family where the earnings amounted to or exceeded 2 s . per week for each individual , and a great number were just over that limit The general destitution is great In some cases the visitors foand only one bed for ten persona , -without a particle of covering , and in many instances , four , five , and six had to occupy one bed , with nothing to throw over them . A great many whose earnings are more than 2 s . are almost entirely destitute of beds and clothing . " " Since 1836 , the reduction in wages at Glossop has been on spinning 25 per cent , on card-nv > m hands 12 per cent , ou power-loom weaving 14 per cent "

      " Desirous of eliciting every information connected with , ths manner in which the working people live both by night aad by day , it was found that 1 , 194 persons slept three in a bed ( if such it could be called ) , 712 four in a bed , 200 five , 156 sir , and 66 seven and eight in a bed , while a very many poor creatures were met with who bad neither bed or bedding , nor anything bat the bare floor to lie down npon when nature became exhausted . Nlneteen-twentleths of the materials termed ' beds' and bsdding' cannot properly be said

      to have claim to such like terms , being nothing more , i a the majority of cases , thanjold straw , chaff , shavings , or eorna other such like materials , held together hy coarse vrreppering , without either blankets , sheets , or coverings cf any kind , and in many instances where there was covering , it was only a piece of coarse calico pieces . Some had sold , and others pawned all they could spare , even to their beds and bedding , to procure food for themselves and famishing children . However nnnatural it may appear , ic is nevertheless true , that in some dwellings old age , youth , and infancy , six , seven .

      Untitled Article

      and eight in number , of both sexes , are obliged to huddle indiscriminately together in one bed , for want of means to provide better accommodation . Severalhundrerts of fami . lies , both parent * and children , have no ohange of clothes of any description , the linen of both , men , women , and dilld / en , has to be washed on the Saturday night , the parties having to remain entirely destitute until it is dried . Hundreds alao complain of their inability to attend their respective places of worship on the Sabbath day , for want of decent clothes to appear in ; while many , after relating the appalling difficulties under

      which they laboured , wished "The Almightymifiht terminate tbeir sufferings before morning . " In several house * , daring our visit in the afternojn , tne children were , crying most piteously ; and in reply to a question for their so doing , it was stated they were crying for bread , not havtag tasted any kind of food that day . Some of the dwellings contained scarcely anything but the bare walls ; in many of thto description , there being no seats or any kind of furniture , we were obliged to write standing with our books upon our knees . "

      What ! and . is this tho sort of testimony that Messrs . Cobdbm , Bkooks , Gregg , and Ashworth give as to the condition of those who hare been in their employ ! Ia this the ** condition of the operative" enagoged in our " great" cotton trade ! Is this the end of our former " extensions" of commerce ! Is there any reason here why we should have more " extension" 1 Have they not revealed too much ! Is not their testimony sufficient to make us bait in our course , and ask " where are we going to ! " Have not these " great" masters proved themselves " great" fools to ask the operative to aid

      them in further " extending" that system which has already reduced Aim to starvation , misery , and death V Could there by possibility have been stronger evidence given by any party that we have already gone too far , than these " great" wiseacres have adduced to induce us to allow them to go farther ? Really we have had enough of extended commerce" if this he the end ! It did not use to be so ! There were times vrfcen the working men of Lancashire were not in the condition their ** great " masters now describe them . They wore not always without bods and linen and furniture ! What is it

      that has taken the beds 1 What is it that has taken the linen 1 Who is it that has gotten the furniture 1 Where is the eight days' clock , and the good bedstead , and the feather bed , and the linen sheets , and the quilted coverlett , and the " meal-kist "! Where are they gone to ? Who has taken them ? Where is the pig , t he bacon , the potatoes , aad the beer 1 Where are they gone to ; for gone they are 1 The " great" masters of the " great" eotton : distriet describe their workmen as being so destitute of every thing like food or furniture , that they found them in many instances wishing the Almighty might

      terminate their sufferings before morning ! " Again we ask , Where is the foodgone to ! Why do the dwellings of working men " contain Ecaroely anything but the bare walls" I How is this 1 Where is the food , and clothing , and furniture gone to ? We want this question answering I It must be answered ! Time was when this state of things did not exist . When was that 1 Was it before we had " great" masters in our " great" Cotton trade , or since ! Who has gotten that which formerly made the workman's cottage comfortable and happy ? Has it disappeared since our commerce was extended ! " Was he as

      badly off , or worse , than his master now describes him to be , before we had the steam-engine , or selfacting mule , or power-loom ! Has improved machinery aad "extended" commerce bettered his lot ! Has every new improvement , and every " economical" process , and every " extension" of commerce , given him greater command over the necessaries and comforts of life ! These are questions which the " great" masters should have answered , when they were asking the working men to help them to " extend" the system whieh has produced the state of things they describe as existing I They are

      questions , too , which must be answered 1 We must know why the workman ' s cottage has been stripped , and where the things are gone to ! We must know whether the fact that we have a Goir and a Marshall in Leeds , worth their millions , is sufficient compensation for the destitute condition of the operative , who once had plenty ! We must know whether the fact that Mr . R . H . Gbeo is the "largest" cotton spinner in England , and that he has large " concerns" in Belgium and Germany , atones for the condition of those who work his machinery ! We must know

      whether the score of " large" masters , who have risen up in a short time from nothing , to be worth more than would purchase up the aristocracy of England , is a good exchange for the happy homes and well-provisioned larders of our working men ! We must know how many " meal-kists" there are in Marsh all ' s " floating" and " fixed" capital ! We must know where the beds ar « . and the beef , and the bacon , and the beer I Who haa themi The working man has not . They are gone from him .

      An adroit attempt was made by these assembled Deputies to enlist the shopkeepers on the side of an " extended" commerce , by pretending to sympathise with them for their want of custom , and consequent difficulties . With this class the " great " masters will be likely to succeed : for in the first place , they have not " suoked-the-hammex" so long nor so often as the working man has ; nor have they ever yet , unfortunately , been ready or willing to make common cause with him from whose

      wellrequited industry they live ; but have , on the contrary almost invariably taken part against him , and joined the " great" masters in sinking him in the scale of comfort and being . With the shopkeepers , we repeat , the "great , " masters will be likely to succeed . The nostrums will be swallowed , and an "extended " commerce asked for by those who have been brought to ru n by the " extensions" we have already had It matters not to this class of the community , that the operation of the manufacturing system has been to leave the workman without wages , and consequently the till without pennies ; it matters not that

      the custom of the cabinet-maker , and the grocer , and the draper , and the provision dealer , has declined just in proportion as the wages of labour have been lessened , and both in the same proportion that commerce has been " extended ; " it matters not or these things ; their clasa prejudices , which cannot bear to look upon a working man as a "fellow" mortal , will prevent them joining those with whose comfort and well-being their interests are inseparably bound up . Spaniel-like to those " above them" in the scale of sooiety , they will continue to lick the hand that smites them , and press

      destruction to their bosom ! Shopkeepers are without custom . How could it be otherwise \ Where are the wagea 1 They are gone ! and custom has followed them ! What dolts the shopkeepers have been ! They would not open their eyes to the faot , that when they reduced the working men to & state of starvation , they cut their own throats ! Who are the customers of the shopkeeper ; or , rather , who toerei The " great" masters * Not a bit of it f but the poor despised , put-upon , reduced working men ! Whose pence filled the till ; and whose pence is now wanted ! The working men ' s ! O ! ye of little foresight , what fools ye have been ! Just look here ! Take this one fact , and then wonder no longer that you are without custom ?

      The number of persons engaged in actual labour , in the production of wealth , has been stated to be somewhere about 5 , 000 , 000 . We will take it at that amount . If these 5 , 000 , 000 labourers received wages ou an average , amounting to 30 s . each per week , the amount of money that would circulate through their hands yearly would be £ 390 , 000 , 000 . But if they only received on an average ten shillings per week each , the amount circulating yearly would only be £ 130 , 000 , 000 !

      Where do the wages of the labourer go to , when he gets them ? Into the till of the shopkeeper . A working man does not hoard up money . Ho buys food , and clothing , and furniture with , it , when he gets it . A reduction of his wages , therefore , is eo mnca abstracted from tho ahopkeepins class ! And who getsj it ? Thosejwho jump from their [ clogs to

      Untitled Article

      their carriages ! Those who make , or , rather get , millions of money in about twenty yeara ! Theseare the parties who devour the comforts of th « cottage and the business of the shop keeper ! A « d thte'tliey employ' their capital in french railroadsi or Belgip factories * or fo Forei gn " Stock" of some description or other ; and the shopkeepers help them to do thiB , andwill be ready to aid them further ! ; Will it be always thus ! Will this class never open their eyea to their true position 1 Will they ever continue to kiss the rod ! Let them look here ! add see the value of our foreign trade ( to " eitend " which so much fuss is made ) , as compared with that hohb tiudh which they have helped the *? great" masters to destroy .

      The r *«/ value of the whole of British manufactured produce exported from the United Kingdom for the year ending Jan . 5 th , 1841 , was £ 51 , 406 , 430 . For this we received payment in all sorts of things ; a portion of money , but s great portion of it in things of no real value or earthly use . A reduction of the wageB of labour generally , of ten shillings per man per week , would amount to £ 130 , 000 , 000 per year . Have not the wages of our labourers been reduced , since " extensions" of commerce began to be made , mare than ten shillings per maul

      If the average of wages fifty years ago , were 30 s . per week , ( a low amount , ) is the average now 103 ! If this reduction has taken place , we have aacrificed £ 260 fiQ 0 fi 00 yearly to secure a yearly foreign trade of £ 51 , 406 , 430 ! 1 ! a great portion of which Is worth less than nothing !!! ! ! The loss has been experienced , first by the labourer , and then by the shopkeeper ! Another " extension" of commerce , that will absorb every iota of wages and profit left , must be desirable ! Operatives and Shopkebfebs I what say you ?

      Untitled Article

      NATIONAL EMIGRATION . We make no apology for again introducing this subject to the notice and consideration of our readers . Its vast importance demands that there should be no mistake about it ; and we hold it as our duty so to develope it in all its bearings as that let the Government plan of transportation assume what shape it may those most interested may be prepared to meet and defeat it .

      We do not deny that a ease may occur when it may be necessary as well as desirable that "the hive should swarm . " We are perfectly aware that the land is limited ; we also know that a given quantity of food is necessary for a given number of mouths , and that , of course , if mouths multiply faster than food can be provided , the surplus must emigrate or starve . We engage to show , by and by , that this is not at present the condition of this country , nor iB it likely to be for many years after our present state tinkers are buried and forgotten .

      Before we do thiB , we will suppose , or the sake of axgument , that this is the case , —that the hive must swarm or the bees perish , —and we will inquire what , under such circumstances , emigration ought to be . Emigration to be really effective must be voluntary , extensive , and well organised . To make this clear , let ns contrast it with the thing called emigration , as it has been practised for many years past ; and which , in reality , is not emigration , but transportation and gambling speculation . Those who have left this country to seek a settlement in our

      distant colonies have chiefly consisted of two classes ; speculators who invested a certain amount of capital in colonial land , intending thereby to realise ample fortunes by monopoly and indirect taxation ; and parties , wretchedly poor , sent out for the most part by parochial authorities or by the Government at the nation ' s expence , who , whatever might have been their expectations , soon found themselves reduced to the condition of serfs or bondsmen . Doubtless many families possessing small capitals have left this country , but the larger portion of these have gone to the United States . The rolling tide

      of emigration into our own colonies has consisted chiefly of those who had no property , and who , therefore , were entirely dependant upon their own industry for support in the land of their exile . These , it is clear , were actuated by no voluntary motive : they went because they were compelled to go . Thus , then , the first necessary ingredient is wanted . Let us look at the second . We Bay env . gratvon to be effectual must be extensive ; that is , it mnst be a consecutive band of men , women and children , married and single , having in view one object , and directing their course to one

      locality as the point of settlement . This spirit of unity , this combination of purpose , forms no part of our present system of what is called emigration . We admit that the Bystem has been diffusive , but that very fact has prevented it from becoming extensive , in the sense in which we here use the word . All has been individualism und disjunction ; scarcely have two families emigrated with the same purposes and designs ; and the reason of this is that the third ingredient necessary to successful

      emigration has not been even thought of . So far from judicious organization having been the order of the day , there has been no organization at all . The tide haa rolled on without let or hindrance ; every man has done that which was right in his own eyes ; no calculations as to supply and demand have been made ; and the cousequeaoa is just what might have been anticipated ; the poor creatures have fled from oppression and distress at home to encounter still worse oppression , and still greater distress abroad .

      Let us contrast this modern abortion with emigration in ancient times . The Phoenicians and tho ancient North Men , understood the science of colonization perfectly ; and they were the only people who ever did understand it so as to carry out its principles into actual and succesful practice . Among them the voluntary principle was tho ruling spring of action . They moved forth ; not at the bidding of class legislation or when reduced to starvation point by the insane and foolish social arrangement of their kind ; but , feeling themselves ptess'd for room , they collected their means together , and

      marched in compact phalanx to conquer and subdue a territory for themselves , in some distant and , according to their views of the matter , more desirable region . Here then were two ingredients of the essential pre-requisites for successful emigration ; independence of action and extensive combination . Nor was the third wanting . The necessity for organisation was duly felt and nadeviatingly acted upon . The capitalist took with him his capital and his arms , and such a number of retainers , together with their amilies and what property they had , as were sufficient for laying the foundation of that now Social

      Community , which was the summit of their hopes . Those ancient migratory tribes never moved without bearing with them ample means lor securing their success . One remarkable feature in those ancient colonies was tbe entire absence of monopoly , in the ordinary acceptation of the term . Genuine liberty was unknown ; but a commonality of interests supplied ita place . The capitalist—that is to say , the daring bandit ( for such were all the capitalists of the time ) , shared with his followers the fatigues , dangers , and privations of the enterprise ; and the humbler marauders , who followed him , shared in the triumph

      and success . We are aware that these lands of anoient emigrants were , for the most part . 'banda of daring and unscrupulous robbers and cut-throats ; that most of them preferred war to industry ; that they were wild , savage , and determined ; that the arts of peace were unknown to and uapraotised by them ; but as rapine and confusion , had they become universal , would have defeated their own ends , some of the peaceful pursuits must be adopted , to secure existence ; aa'd hence those tribes were ever ready to move forward to a land more fertile and better cultivated than their own . We have not referred to those proceedings of ages long gone by for the purpose of advocating a ,

      Untitled Article

      literal imitation of them in the nineteenth century : we know that our whole colonial system is a close copy of the anoient system as to all its vices , without one feature of its redeeming qualities ; what we want to impress on the minds of our readers is the fact that in these early migrations the various hordes acted conjointly , and not individually ; and that they neglected none of the means necessary to secure their object . They fixed their eye upona ^ pot which they deemed desirable , and they resolved to obtain it . It might be that it was already appropriated , boil arms and

      bravery might subdue the natives and . give , their possessions into the hands of the invaders ; rma and bravery therefore were never lacking in as emigrating expidition . Bnt the men who had crossed the ocean in search of a distant home , and had cutthroats by thousands in order to secure it , were too " noble , " too " right honourable" to attend to matters of trade and industry ; and thus an inferior race of bondsmen became neceB 8 ary to provide for the wants of tha blood-stained conquerors ; and hence were always , to some extent , snatched from the jaws of

      death to be manacled with the chains of slavery ; and slavery was ever an ingredient iu the ancient states . But , to preserve the state from perishing in its new home , civil government , or rather military government with civil functions , was absolutely necessary . Hence the capitalists , or chiefs , were absolute but not despotic . They might rule , but , as a condition , they must provide ; to have left the people in want would have been virtually to abandon their right to rule . From all this it is plain that the ancient system of emigration secured to

      those who engaged in it ample provision agaius want and a due protection for life and property Now , let it be carefully obBervtd that in every system of colonization the spirit which animated the Phoenicians and the northern tribes most rule or its failure—its utter and entire failure—is certain and inevitable . The manner of its developement , however , in the present age , must be essentially different from that which prevailed in times of old . Like the Chartists , the emigrant's motto must be—•• God Is our gnide ; no sword we draw ; We kindle not wars battle fires . "

      Their object must be to obey the Divine command j and , taking to themselves yet unappropriated portions of the earth subdue them " to their will ; and on plains rendered fertile by their own industry M increase and multiply . " To this end , it is clear that the emigrants must be organised . They should be formed previous to their leaving their native shores into joint stock companies of at least one hundreds couples with children and dependants forming a society of not less than one thousand souls , with rights guaranteed and privileges

      secured . Each of these tribes would form the nuoleus of a future state ; and it should be , and mutt be provided with all the requisites for its comfort , prosperity , and permanency . To each of these collective joint stock companies should land be appropriated in shares proportionate to the number of adult emigrants to be their property and that of their successors living in the colony for ever . This would secure the independence of the colonists , who , after the first year , should have the election of their own governor and officers , and the entire control of their internal affairs and the most free

      and unrestricted rights of trade and commerce with the mother country . One of the most essential requisites to the ; success of these infant colonies is capital—not accumulated but diffused throughout the whole mass . And this mast bo supplied in ample measure by the parent state ; the Government being the agent . All sums advanced for this object should be by way of loan : not ft penny should be given without a provision made for

      its repayment ; and all the loans should , after the first ye » r , become chargeable with interest at five percent ., and be repaid by moderate instalments , as the colony became prosperous through united and profitable industry . Every shareholder would of course , have the right to sell his property after a given time ; subject to the condition of the purchaser becoming a resident ; no absenteeism should be allowed on any account .

      This is what emigration should be when necessary ; next week we shall try t show that , if this country wore rightly governed , no such thing would be needed for ages to come .

      Untitled Article

      JOINT MEETING OF CHARTISTS AND CORN-LAW REPEALERS , AT BATH . Elsewhere we give a report of a large meeting at Bath , which seems justly to have excited much attention . It seems that the Chartists aud Corn Law Repealers of that city have coalesced , and thrown iuto ono stock their grievances . We rejoice mod cordially to see this . It is evidence of onward progress . The Liberals" are on their last legs when they require Chartist crutches . Let the people but beware . Let them not forgot 1830-1-2 . Let them keep their own place , and this Bath meeting may be the initiative of a nearer approximation to a

      oordial nmoa with the middle classes than was by many hoped for . But be cautious . Be wary . Do not let us be again cajoled into thinking that we have got them to help us for universal justice , when , in reality , they have got us to help them for class crotchets , without rendering a quid pro quo . We confess that , though this Bath meeting affords us matter of gratulation , we don't see ; much to admire in it . We hope the Petition founded on the joint resolutions of the meeting will be full and strong for the Charter as a first and most necessary measure . Our reporter has not informed ua how

      the Petition is to be signed , whether by the Chairman " on behalf , " or individually ; we hope the latter way . Tho manner in which this petition is expressed and Bigned will shew whether Mohammed has come to the mountain , or the mountain has gone to Mohammed . If it represent the repeal of tho Corn Laws aa the primary , and the Charter merely as a secondary , object , the Chartists of Bath have been " done . " If it be well aud propeily got up , arid the repeal-mongers hesitate to sign it , the sure inference ia—that their attempted purpose was to entrap and not to assist the people . In either case , from that moment the connection becomes an unhallowed and misohievous one , and should be instantly dissolved .

      ' We have written on the matter as one of mere expediency , without reference to our own opinions on the Corn Law question . Some of our Chartist friends may and do differ from our opinion on that point ; but there can be no difference on the necessity of the people ' s keeping their eyes wide open . The Whigs are like pi ga with soaped tails they are hard to hold when caught . The tenor of the speeches of the Liberals leads us to view this meeting as a stratagem of tbe Repeal-mongera to steal a march upon the people , who they knew would not permit them to have a meeting to themselves . We shall be glad to find our opinion incorrect ; but let the people , at all events , look out . ,

      Untitled Article

      A MERRY CHRISTMAS . Aftkb the appalling revelations of the " great " Cotton Lords above alluded to , with squalid misery , and want , and wretchedness abounding through the whole land of •* Merry England , v ? ho can sit down to bid " good-morrow" to his friends , and pass coollr round M the compliments of the season . " We cannot . Our feelings and our religion alike forbid us to mock misery or fawn on vice . We are not fearful of any man s mistaking us for votaries of " rueful su « peretition , "bntwearenowconstrainedtoeschew merriment , and must recommend in place of it amendment . / To the rich oppressor we say , " Repent , ere it be too late , aiid the reward of your unrighteousness have visited von . " To the

      peor oppressed we say , "Arouse ft » m torpor and inactivity . Cast aside your differences ; lay hand , one and all , on , the axe which your sufferings have sharpened ; lay it at once to the root of tha foul tree , and let corruption & 11 before you * o be no more planted . " , Then shall right be done , and peace obtain , and plenty be diffused ; aud old England shall again become " marry England , " and the grateful consciousness that the precepts of our great Gail and guide are ' inidethe law of social life Bhall causa the widow ' s heart to sing , and the face of the labourer to be brightened as he hails tha future celebrations of his advent as the " merry Christmas , " which , as it " comes but once a year , " is anticipated with delight by old and young . '

      Untitled Article

      4 THE NORTHBRN STAR . ' - ¦ - - ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 24, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct579/page/4/