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Northern Star (1837-1852), 5th February 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      TO THE WORKING MEN OF YORKSHIRE GENERALLY , AND OF LEEDS IN PARTICULAR . Tbxww-Cotjstbymes , — The brasen atiemps now Bade , by those -who ought to act differently , to injure mi in your estimation , and to retard the measure they u well as ourselves hare so long demanded , compel us to resort to this means of defence . Tbe present "Ten Hours * Agitation" commenced in the latter part of the year 1830 . From its first

      commencement up to the present boor , some of the members of the Leeds Short Time Committee have been unceasingly engaged in it . From that period up to the present , Leeds has never been -without a regular organised Short Time Committed ; and 70 a , the working men , have , many times and oft , in public meeting assembled , accorded your confidence to that Committee , thanked them for their exertions , and bid them go on with their praiseworthy efforts to secure the passing of a measure founded on the principle that labour ought & be protected .

      Ever sinoe the establishment of the Leeds Tit&es newspaper up to -within the last twenty months , that paper has been the Known , the accredited organ of the Short Time advocates . Its columns hare always been at their Berries . Scores of times has its Editor eloquently and triumphantly pleaded the cause of the poor oppressed factory children . Scores of times has it met and confuted the steel-hearted and Mammon-prompted objections of the enemy . Scores of times has it lashed ZbeMercwy for its known subserviency to the owners of machinery » nd capital ; and Bcoresof tones has it asserted that the measure of protection sought for was necessary to snatch the infant factory worker from altate of slavery more galling , more demoralising , more debasing , and more iBjurieus in its consequences , than any other system of slavery the world ever knew !

      Besides this , the Leeds Times has had scores of pounds « f the money subscribed by yon and your friends to advance the Ten Hoars cause . His articles have been reprinted from its columns , because deemed worthy of it ; his reports of meetings have also been extensively circulated when reprinted ; long adverti&emetts -have been inserted in his paper and paid for ; and every means taken by the friends of Shert Time to extead bis circulation , and establish his paper as an organ of the working cla ^ am , as fax as this question , at leasl , was concerned .

      2 sou > , however , the scale is turned ! Nous , the Leeds Times violently opposes the measure be before so gallantly defended I Now he treats the agitation of the Ten Hours Bill as a fraud ; and though it was commenced twelve years ago , he says it is but just started far the purpose of superseding the anti-Corn Law agitation ! Now he is more violent in his denunciations , jnoia base in his insinuations , and more shameless in his lying , respecting us who have maintained , our integrity , than the Leeds Mercury himself ! How is this ? Wbat is it , that can ^ have caused such a change ? © old . ' mUlownera' Gold J . ' Free Tradere' Gold . ' ! . ' The man has been purchased by the enemy ! He must do the enemy's work ! !

      Is this true ? It is . Here is the proof . About twenty months ago , Sie conductors of the Leeds Times had gone almost as far with it as they could . It did not pay its eipences . It was offered for sale . It wa » in the market A bargain was made for it , and a price agreed on , by some parties connected with the working classes . Had it eome into their hands , it would have become mare Democratic , and more Ten Hour-ocratie , ( if the latter were possible ) than it bad ever been before . But here was an opportunity for the enemy not to miss . To get hold of an •¦ organ of the workingelassea" and turn it to their own selfish purposes , might possibly end in turning the way of thinking amongst the working classes themselves ; or it might , at least , produce division in their ranks . At all events , the thing was worth the trial . The necessary steps were taken . It was forthwith announced that Dr . Smiles had been admitted a partner in the proprietorship of the paper .

      Now , where did Dt . Smiles get his money to " put into fiie concern , " to enable him to become " half-proprietoi ? " He ia not known to have had any of bis own . * • * * "Where did he get the money from ? Ay ! thereby hasgsi&j tale . Two Factory-lords of Leeds found the money 3 They exacted certain condition * before they did so , as to the line of policy the paper should pursue : but they found the money ! They insisted that Dr . Smiles should be admitted partner , as a gnarantee that those conditions would i » kept : and he was admitted . Twas the money wrung from your sweat and bones , that kept the Times in its present hands , to betray you and your cause !

      Thi conditions which were exacted by the moneyfinders were , that Corn Law Repeal » h « uld be worked ao as to make it taks the precedency cf all other mea-. sures amongst the working classet , and that the manufactnres should be defended from the complaints of those who groan and smart beneath the " monstrous tyranny " d the Factory system ! Here is the cause of the change ! Here is the key to Represent conduct of the Leeds Times . From the Mercury we do not expect fair-dealing . By him we have always been most bitterly and . unscrupulously opposed . But his conduct not , bitter and uncompromising an enemy as he is , is mildness ax-d paibness itself , when compared with that of the Times !!

      The labours of the deputation we recently stnt to Ministers to press upon their attention the measure we are organised to watch over and promote , have strangely excited the ire of this purchased gentleman . He finds himself hampered up . Unable to meet their statements and arguments , he is compelled to resort to the next best mode of warfare , imputing bad motives , and heaping upon the deputation lots of abuse . Amongst otbei things , he charges them with " artfully beslavering " the Ministers they waited upon , to serve the paity purposes of the Tories . have

      What are the facts of the case ? The deputation reported the conversations as they took place , as accurately as they could . We have reason to believe they have only tola the truth , as to the manner in which they wfere Teceived , and as to what passed at the several interview * . To have U& ± other than what they have , would have been TO lie : and because the deputation would not do this ; because they would not sacrifice honour , conscience , and duty to the vile purposes of an infamous . par / j ' , they are abused by tbe Leeds Times man and his compeers as beslaverers of Toryism ; and the old cuckoo cry "Tory trick" is raised !

      It is no doubt galling to these men that Tory Ministers should have admitted working men to a friendly conference , when they remember the conduct of the Whig Lord Merboume , who , as principal Secretary of State , refused to see a . deputation of werkirg men , though sect by a Yorkshire West Riding meeting ! The recollections of these things may be painful : but the Whigs ebouid not require the deputation to lie to get them out of the mess . Well , but then , we are told , the deputation did not press upon the Ministers the adoption of the People's Charter . And who complains of this ? The Leeds Times man , who has dene his little best to swamp the Charter agitation ! The man who has omitted no opportunity of doing his uttermost to sow division in the has mal the moti

      Chartist caap ! ^ ho igned ves , aspersed the characters , and lyingly misrepresented the conduet of the Chartist leaders ! the man who put words into the moath of Mr . G J- Harney , at the last election for the purpose of hounding on the Whig physicals to trounce his bones—pnt words into his mouth which were never uttered , and represented fckn as uttering them in Leeds , when he never saw Leeds on the day named ! a man who has systematically traduced the character cf J . B . O'Brien , and of Mr . F . O'Connor J a man who has culled from every source all that he j > ossibly could by his bands on , which would at all serve his purpose of exciting jealousy and disunion amongst the Cfcartdst ranks f a man who is secretary to the Fox and Goose Ciub , —a society formed for the express and avowed purpose of swamping the Charter agitation . This is

      the man to complain that the deputation did not do that which they were not sent to do ! This is the man to send his toals , two peese ; two members of his Fox and Goose Society , to move at the Leeds 3 Iusie Hall meeting , that the deputation he censured for not pressing upon Ministers the People ' s Charter ! This is the man to act thus , when he and his tools have schemed in every possible way to overreach and put down , the Charter agitation ! The man who moved the amendment at the Music Hall , are both members of the Fox and Goose club ; and the " amendment , ** ao artlessly dictated by the modest mover on the platform , was concoctad , arranged , by the Foxes , before the mover of it came near the meeting at all . And these , forsooth , are the men to complain that the deputation omitted that which formed no portion of their duty t

      jtiii working men , you will need no spectacles to enable you to aee through all this ! You will need no id to enable you to divine tbe causa of this new-born ¦ sal for the Charter , and love or the Chartist agitation Not long ago , the party of which the Leeds Times is now the paid tool , themselves sent a deputation to

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      the Tory Ministers . Of course Dr . Smiles and his coworkers took care to instruct their deputation to name the People ' s Charter to the Ministers , as a measure of relief ; 0 / course they took care that the Ministers had thai subject brought under their notice . Not they , indeed ! They sent their deputation to press for Cora Law Repeal alone ! and the deputation never mentioned tbe Charter ! Of course Dr . Smiles censured them for this omission . Not a word of it . ' It would not have served his purpose . Apropos . Who sent that deputation ? Whom did they represent ? The Leeds Anti-Carn Law League . And who censtltntes the Anti-Com Law League | How were they chosen ? Have they bad the sanction of a public meeting ? and are they a duly recognised public body f jUuwer these questions , pray , J > t . Smiles .

      That deputation returned . Instead of all agreeing upon a regular Report of their mission , as the Ten Hoars' deputation did , different members began to circulate different statements as to what the Minister had said , upon whom they bad waited . Some of these statements , made to serve , not the Toriesj bat the Whigs at the expence of truth and fair-dealing , were so outrageously and shamefully false , that other members of the deputation felt themselves bound publicly to contradict the statements , and deny that the language imputed had ever been uttered !! Such was the way the Whig deputation acted ! and because our deputation did not follow the dishonourable example ; because they confined themselves to strictly speaking the truth , they are accused by these same Whigs of aiding the Tories ! The deputation are also charged with not having whispered a word respecting that system or class legislation , which is the cause of the evils under which the country labours . This is a pure misrepresentation !

      The deputation represented that the working people had had no hand or part in the bringing on of the evils they complain of ; they represented that their position is such , as to leave them entirely at the mercy of th « Capitalist , who does with them whatever be thinks proper ; they represented that the accumulation of evils from tht « cause had now become so great that they could be no lenger borne ; they boldly stated that the time had come , when something must be done for the working people as a class ; and that that something must be a measure calculated to protect them in some decree from the tyranny and power of the other " classes" who have hitherto prayed tipon them ! They showed that the evils complained of arose from the fact that , all consideration had hitherto been had to protect Capital , and leave labour entirely at its mercy ! Thus showing that it iB te classlegislation alone to which we are to ascribe the evils the labourer has to endure !

      Then look at the recommendations of tbe deputation . They did not prescribe the Ten Hours' Bill as a " final measure . '" but distinctly named it as a beginning ! That measure involves the principle , protection to LABOUR ; and this is the secret of the great opposition and loud cry of tbe Letds Times man and his fellows . They know that if this ' principle be sanctioned , away goes the power of the manufacturing " class" to press you into the dast That principle sanctioned and legislated on , you are no lenger without the pale of the law ! yon are no longer at the mercy of the " classes " who have reduced you to your present deplorable condition .

      It was expressly stated to the ministers by the deputation that the Ten Hours' measure they recommended to be passed , would not do anything like the good it would have done if passed ten years ago . And why ? Because the excessive competition produced by our present system , and the immense aid given to needy speculators by the joint-stock banks , had increased onr machinery fifty per cent during that tan years ; and that our machinery , if worked no more than ten hours per day , was more than equal to the glutting of all the markets in the world . The ministers were , therefore , duly warned that the adoption of the Ten Hours' measure would not be any thing like a remedy for our many eTils ; but that it would be a beginning ; that it would be an earnest that the working class , as a class was at last cared for ; that it wonld be received in that spirit ; but received only as a beginning of a series of measures of justice and protection which the condition of the operative community loudly calls for .

      They also pressed for the immediate Repeal of the New Poor Law , in the same spirit , and for the same object . That law is avowedly founded on tbe principle that the poor man-has no right to live in the land of his birth ; that nature has doomed him and his progeny to starve ; that she has provided for Aim no place at her table . The old original Poor Law of Eliz * btta was founded on the principle thai the poor man had a right to the first take from the soil . No landlord could get a farthing of rent , until the occupier had first paid vp his ' rates . ! and tbe rates could be laid to any amount , even to the entire swallowing of the entire produce , if the necessities of the poor required it Under that law , too , every man reduced to poverty could force a maintenance : not a starvation-point exlstment—bat a

      livina maintenance . Under that law , Poor Houses-were unknoirn ; there never were any such degrading things thought cf . The poor man was to be relieved at home when be needed it No " fcrsf of poverty then ! nosubmitting to conditions then , which bespeak the absence of all independence and manly feeling ; no requiring that a man must prave that his spirit is completely bowed down ; that he is utterly cotped ; that he is no longer a man , before they would grant him relief . He could force a good maintenance when sickness , or accident , or infirmity , or want of work , " brought him to poverty . That was the principle of the Oid Poor Law of England . The principle of the New one is a complete negation . He cannot force a maintenance ; he has no ri ^ hl to be in the land ; if relieved at all , be must submit to degradation the most complete . Against such a system every good feeling and every principle of justice wages eternal war ; and it was in that spirit ,

      « nd for the purpose of removing odo of tee most odious evidences of elass-legislatu n , —odious in principle , edioua and fr » w > i in its operation—producing misery and degradation unheard of and unparalleled before ; it was for the purpose of establishing the right « f tbe working row * to" live in the l&Bd of his birth , and to stop the career of desolation and death throughout the land , —for who of spirit but would welcome neathin a thousand shapes before submission to the indignities and degradations applied as the " test" of poverty ; it was to establish tbe right to be in the land , and to arrest the monster's lash by which the naked back of honest poverty is ECourged ; it was to do these things that the deputation pressed for the immediate jackal of the New Poor Law , along with the passing of the Ten Hours * Bill , as an evidence that , at last > tbe poor should be cared for ; that their interests should be in somewise attended to ; that their wants and requirements should be in some measure satisfied .

      The Ten Hours' Bill contains tbe principle that Labour seeds Pboiection . The old Poor Law of Eli » ibeth contains the principle that the Poea hate A RIGHT TO BE FIRST KEPT BY THE LaUD- The establishment cf these principles will form a groundwork for the working men to work upwards to that comfortable and plenteous condition which is theirs by right , by reason , and by justice . Bat were these all the recommendations of the deputation ? Did they suggest nothing more ? Yes ! Tbe immediate appointment of a committee of inquiry , formed of practical men ef all parties , for tbe purpose vt endeavouring to ascertain the cause cf the poverty , misery , and discontent now in the land . A committee that should go honestly to work \ 6 fathom the

      question ; that should examine into the workings of all portkna . of our present system , upon all classes : that shonld examine more particularly into the workings of machinery , especially during the last fifty years ; that should receive evidence and take the statements of ail parties , workman and master , labourer and employer churchman and dissenter , Whig , Tory , Radical , and Chartist A committeo that should examine into , and report upon , all the measures of relief that are proposed . A committee that should endeavour to go to tbe root of the matter , and devise , from the schemes before them , a plain , simple , but comprehensive measure of relief , adequate to the removal of the evils it

      tas to supplant , and adequate to tbe establishment and securement of plenty and contentment throughout every workman ' s house in Britain . Such was the recommendation of tbe deputation : and what more do the owners of machinery and their advocates want ?! Are they afraid that before a committee so constituted , and for such a purpose , they could not make out their case 1 The Chartist will have n © such fear . He dare rely on the justice of his case . He dare submit his claims against all comers . The advocates for the protection of labour dare do the same . Who , then , is afraid ? If the Cam Law repealer is , he will dread the encounter' If he is conscious that he rests his case

      upon baseless theory and specious fallacies , he will shrink from examination . But not so the man who fe&ls the confidence arising from truthful conviction . He dreads no inquiry . He courts it He knows his claims will be heard . He is convinced tint the justice of his cange will stand out fully apparent And is noi a . solemn inquiry of this kind needed ? Is it not necessary ? Are we incessantly to be stunned by the babble , and din , and confusion worse confounded , arising from theorbts and surface-skimmers dogmatically contending that , they alone know the cause of the evil , aad alone know how to apply a remedy ? Js this war of werds to be endless ? Are we to have endless crimination and recrimination , and abuse , and denunciation , and proscription , instead of going to work like men determined to ascertain the cazse of our manifold evils , and to apply an efficient and comprehensive remedy ?

      It was for the purpose of securing a faib . hearing for all parties , that the deputation recommended this course . And it must be taken ! The facts connected with the subject must be ascertained , before a remedy can be applied . It may turn oat that Corn Law Repeal would accomplish all its advocates say it will ; but they must first shew that they know the evils they have to core , their extent , their depth , and their cause , before we can judge as to whether their proposed measure of relief will at all apply , or whether it would

      not augment the evils already existing . Calm and dispassionate inquiry may demonstrate that the Charter alone , or a plan of Home Colonisation , or both united , may get us out of our difficulties , and enable us to deal effectually with that disorganising power which has already worked such revolutions ia our habits , customs , condition , and feelings . Bat the inquiry must first be had , before the demonstratioB can be given . The truth is , we have no facts , as far as tbe tremendous power of machinery is concerned , to accurately guide us . It has sprung « p amongst us , deranging all

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      our former calculations , upsetting all oar former arrangements , introducing new habits , and changing the whole aspect of society ; and yet we know scarcely anything respecting it Ita rise ia but as of yesterday , and yet it is already almost too powerful » customer for any Government to grapple with . On one hand stand the advocates for an unlimited extension of it , stoutly contending that it has been an unmixed good to all parties connected with it ; and on the other band stand the working people , loudly calling oat for measures of regulation and restraint ; for it has snatched the blanket from the bed , the beef from the eapboard , the coat From the back , and the child from tho home of the

      working man , and doomed the father to unwilling idleness , while It imposes upon the infant toil unceasing , destruction of health , loss of limb , aad premature death ! Is no inquiry needed here ? Should we not ascertain what really have been the workings of this tremendous power , whether for good or evil , or both ; and to point out the one , and the meins of escaping from the other » And can any plan better adapted for accomplishing this object be hit upon , than that suggested by the deputation ? If so , let us hear of it ! Till one is broached , let no one complain J And none but those who are afraid to submit their nostrums to examination will dare to complain .

      Away , then , with the canting cry that the deputation did not press for a Repeal of the Corn Laws , or for the adoption of the People ' s Charter t They proposed a mode by which all parties , Chartists , Free-Traders , or Home Colonizers , could have a fair and dispassionate bearing and judgment Does any one want more ? Does any one want less ? He is conscious he is a quad , and fears the light ( Such then , Working Men , were the recommendations of the deputation , and such were their reasons for the course they took . What the Ministers may dp in these matters , we know not But this we know , that if they possess not the virtue and courage to grapple with these great questions , and grapple with them , too , in such a way as will benefit tbe distressed working people , they

      will soon have to give way to others who are able and willing to remove the burthens from the backs of a trod den-down people . A very sH « t time will show whether they have this courage or not : and none will more readily join in hurling the Ministers from offloe should they fail , and in replacing them with better men , than the body who now address you . To the cause of the working people are we wedded . To that cause will we continue to adhere , spite of all political considerations whatever . We have ever professed ourselves willing to receive aid in this cause from all and every one : we have readily supported all of every party who would support us ; and we have as readily opposed all of every party who have opposed us . To this course of action we are determined to adhere ! No charges ef " Tory tools , " or charges of " Whig tools , " shall divert us from it The man who will support the

      cause we contend for , PROTECTION FOB LABOUR , is our friend . The man who opposes is oar enemy . The one fihill have our support The other out opposition . Working Men ! we call upon you to be true to your selves and to your cause ! It never was in bo good a position as it now is f True , the miseries you have to endure are appalling ! True , the operations of our present system have brought you to absolute starvation ! True , it has inflicted suffering Incalculable upon you : and the system has , at last , reached those who have been fatting while you have been gradually coming to the preaent pass . True , these things are so ! and that those who have last come to taste the poverty and care attendant upon our present system bear it with an ill grace , flounder about , and cry out most lustily , forgetting what a deaf ear and indignant denial they gave to your cries long since uttered . True , that these things are so ! and that heaven and earth are to bo moved to

      procure an " extension" of the system which has already plunged all into difficulty and want True , that these things are so ! ? ET bk firm ! A little time longer , and the groundwork for your redemption will be laid J A little time longer , and the cause you have so earnestly and so perseveringly fought for will be triumphant ! Protection for labour must be had , or you must be prepared to run still further down the road of competition and commercial strife , your rate of wages and state of being still and still continually deteriorating , as they have ever dose since you set out upon it . ' Reflect ! what will be the end , if you have not gone half-way yet !! 11

      Heed them not who cry that many of you would be glad to get ten hours work now ! That is a very shortsighted view of the question . Are there not some nott working more than ten hours ? Would it not ba bttter for more of you , if that work was more equalised ? Ten Hours would do that , if it did nothing more ! Besides , the Corn Law Repealers say they are going to repeal tbe Corn Laws . This , they also say , will bring us another " roaring trade , " Will it not be better , then , to have the Ten Hours * Protection beforehand , so that we can be sure that the greedy portion of the manufacturers do not again work our children to death ! When we had a " roaring trade" before , they worked infant * for eighteen hours continuously , with only thirty minutes intermission for rest , meals , education , and recreation ! Will it not make our next " roaring trade" latt longer , if we run our mills only ten hours a-day , and not run them day and night , while tbe push lasts , and then have to stand idle till another push comes ? With every determination to meet the foe in whatever shape he may present himself , and with a firm hope that the time is not far distant when the measure we have so long asked for , and over and over again proved the necessity for , will be given us , We are , your ' a faithfully , The Leeds Short Time Committee .

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      CHELSEA . A public meeting was held in tbe Commercial Rooms , Royal Bath Garden ? , King ' Road , Chelsea , for the adoption of the National Petition , on Wednesday , January 26 th . The front of the piace of meeting was illuminated by variegated lamps , forming a large P . C , tbe initials of the Peopled Charter . The spacious building was well filled . At ba \ f-past seven o ' clock , Mr . S . Ford was-unanimously called to the chair , and in a . few brief sentences requested a patiest hearing for all -who might present themselves , and called on Mr . Whitehorn to read and move the adoption of the National Petition . . . Mr . Whitehorn said it gave him great pleasure to do so , because it contained wqual justice for rich and poor . ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr . L . H . Lei « hs seconded the motion . He said as one of the working classes of this great csmmunity , he seconded it with great pleasure , embracing , aa it did , the six points of the Charter . We certainly had no wealthy or titled aristocrat to preside over our meeting ; it w&s , nevertheless , a most numerous and respectable meeting . Tbe day had gone by for idle pomp , useless glitter , and expensive shows . He would be brief , because he was sure they were anxiens to hear that great and good man , Feargus O'Connor , who was present ( Loud cheers . ) But be would , nevertheless , explain the bearing of the principles of the Charter ; they would , then , be enabled to give their judgments fairly on the principles brought before them . That Government originated from tbe people in America , was quite true ; but was it so in England J How was It here T Why , it originated from a banditti of petty tyrants , and on this basis was monarchy established . We had now oligarchies of landlords , millocrats , millionaires ,

      who each and all claimed to be the people ; but the millions were not the people . He agreed that all ought to be represented . The millions were regarded as respectable eo long as they served the purposes of faction—( hear , hear )—like the ass , so long aa they carried the load . ( Hear , hear . ) We complain that the House ef Commons do not tell us what they will or will not do ; no , if they did , it would cement the people together . We had been disappointed by all parties , how was the present state of things kept up ? by classlegiHlation . ( Cheers . ) A large army , and a most expensive rural police was maintained at the public expence ; bnt when the people become enlightenedwhen in every cottage was to be found an English Chartist Circular , and the Northern Star—( loud cheers ) —then would despotism cease . ( Reiterated cheers ^) Mr . L . then eloquently denounced the atrocious Poor Law Bill , and lashed . alike most unsparingly Whigs and Tories , as its supporters , and concluded amid the cheers of the meeting .

      The motion was then put , and unanimously adopted . Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., now rose , amidtt the most deafening applause , again and again repeated-He said , Mr . Chairman , Working Men and Women , it gives me great pleasure to meet so numerous a body of my fellow men and women on this my second appearance among you . Whether shall we attach greatest importance to the meeting of yesterday ( the Royal christening ) , or to the forthcoming meeting of Parliament ? he was sure the Windsor meeting was not without its good effects upen the people . Only think of tfaft profuse and lavish expenditure , while thousands of the

      wealth-producers was perishing ef hunger . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , history , science , literature , and the arts had found their way among the people , be was sure these tidings that the Royal tables literally groans with the weight of gold ; and that the streets were carpetted for royalty to walk on , while twelve thousand persons were perishing in Paisley alone—would spread like an electric shock—and it would be found the schoolmaster had not been abroad for nothing . It ia so difficult to give a name to a Prince that all this fuss must be made—that a king must come so many thousands of miles . Bat in this christening he read sifnr of the times . There vras not that brilliant illumination there waa

      wont to be , nor such a numerous body « f lamp gaaera ; the middle classes had begun to find they were paying too dear for their whistle . ( Loud cheers . ) In a few weeks the Petition wonld be presented to the House , carrying four millions of signatures on itabofom;—( hear , bear , )—to this House we had been taigbt to look for a redress of grievances , and lat them not disappoints , see the effect of Whig finality in 1831 , a majority was found to oust tbe bortwghmongew ; in 1842 , a majority of 91 was found to iphold those very Tories . ( Hear , hear . ) We had been told that a Urge man of blue and red soldiers was kept op to keep down the people ; but neither the sabre of the one or the truncheon of the other , would be used unlees the money was f « ond to pay them . ( Loud shoess . ) He had found the police , especially in Ireland , were employed as spies ; they frequently forgot they were citaaas , and

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      lent themselves to the worst of purposes . ( Hear , bear . ) In hfapnKitice as a barrister , after baffling all other witneasses , he had found them with their notes carrying a conviction . He need not tell them be placed no reliance on the evidence so given . ( Hear ; bear . ) The time was fast approaehing when royalty itself wonld not feel comfortable , unless the people were happy—unless the people were placed in a position to become consumers , the Exchequer wonld always be empty . In 18 * 0 , their petition waB presented , signed by twomillions , and tbe Speaker , who ought to be neutral , threw liis weUht in the scale , and overbalanced the two miilfoni , Tb * y would now double the number , continue their steady course , and beat the Tories as they had beaten the Whigs . ( Cheers . ) The Government was as weU aware

      of what they were doing as they did ; it was necessary that we show our strength—then mere " Reformers " would go with us . The Whigs admit their mess was spoiled ; believe htm tie WWgs would rather return to power for an abridgement of the franchise than for its extension ; but let us determine they never shall return to power , unless as Chartists . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . O'C . then most eloquently and laughably anatomised the Midland Counties Charter , amid the loudest applause of the whole meeting , showing the fallacy of its provisions . He bad been to Leicester , and asked for Mr . Biggs , who bad denounced him in bis absence ; but he was not tobe found . ( Hear , hear . ) He there had a meeting of at least 4 , 080 ; he put both Charters and the original People ' s Charter was oannimonsly carried

      The schoolmaster was indeed abroad , and the people were not to be caught in any trap , neither Poor Law , Corn Law , or any other humbug . He supposed Mr . Biggs agreed with the poet , who said the best time to court a widow was on her return from her husband ' s funeral ; , but hi thought Mr , B . would have no chance of catching the people just after the incarcerating upwards of 400 of their best friends . ( Hear , hear . ) He was to appear to-morrow , for the fifth time , in the Court of Queen ' s Bench . He had never travelled a mile or eat a meal at the people ' s expence ; and if tbe Lord , Chief Justice were to say to him to-morrow , you shall have the Charter , if you -will take it when people shall arrive at twenty-one years and three days , or yon shall go to Tork CaJtle for five years and pay a fine of

      five thousand pounds , be would choose the latter rather than budge an inch from the people ' s rights . ( Thunders of applause . ) Did ever nation present such a spectacle as we did at'the present time t : Here we had On the one band ! tbe rich and powerful oppressors united , on the other , a ragged ; and hungry people beating down all opposition ; and why ? Because they registered their vow rather to die freemen than live slaves . ( Great applause . ) We had been tld we could not gain the Charter without tbe middle classes j but if they will not go with us , we will try if there is not another most inflnential party learning wit—the trades , ( Loud cheers . ) They bad tried everything save the Charter , and had failed . They were now coming out for that ( Long continued cheering . ) He bad to address the masons

      on Monday ; the shoemakers on Tuesday ; the weavers on Wednesday ; and shortly the tailors . He should then have an opportunity of telling the trades how machinery affected them—it was art against nature . ( Hear , hear . V The people ' s actions relative to the free trade fallacies had amply compensated him for all bis sufferings . There was more money in the country than ever , yet the miHocrats complained of distress , and hundreds of thousands of people were starving . ( Hear , hear . ) Machinery worked against manual labour ; that was the cause . ( Hear , hear . ) It was now a gambling affair—a game of chance which had been going on for the last twenty-five years . Taxation had increased , and would continue to do so . Machinery had driven people from their birth place

      to compete with the men of London . It would be better for those in employ to pay those out than allow them to act ns a reserve for : the masters . Mr . O'C . then passed an high eulogium on the musons for their patriotism . He ( Mr . O'C ) was we 1 tried , having been many years before them . He left it to them to say had he ever been found wanting ? ( Loud cries of "No , no ; " loud and reiterated chbera ) Labour would not , or did it rtquire to be represented without the other classes were also represented . A drunkard reeled along the road the other day ; a gent said * 'there , O'Connor , that is one of your men , would you give him ^ the suffrage ? ' He would ; and why , because if » teetotaller was to be found for a candidate he would be sure to get bis vote ; and so were you to extend the Franchise to thieves , &c , they weuld

      not vote for thieves , knowing them too well . ( Loud liughter and cheers . ) The Charter was the sunshine of liberty , it would moralise the whole ; it waa the lever that would raise man to his proper sphere . He thanked them for the kind and enthusiastic manner in which they had received the names of Frost , Williams , and Jones when read by Mr . Whitehorn ; it was tbe conviction that he should live in the memory of working men that induced him to make such strenuous exertions . Mr . O'C . then showed tbe glaring injustice of the conviction of Frost , Wiliams , and Jones . The ignorance of the Juryman , Christopher Johns , who declared he did not find Frost guilty of high treason , but of being in Newport ; however we should not get them back until we could send but a frigate with the Charter colours

      flying . Respecting the Dorchester Labourers , he had told the ministers ' .. that they ought to occupy their place in their colonies instead of them . He had aided in restoring them and the Glasgow Cotton Spinners , and he -would Bring back Frost , Williams ,, and Jones . ( Great cheering . ) Dont let them mistake ; he did not mean to do it himself ; he x » u » t have their aid —( hear , hear )—tbe millocrats with their millions complained of poverty , and wanted the repeal of the Corn Laws but they would naver go for the Corn Law repeal if they were to have the Charter with it . ( Hear , hear . ) He would put all the League in tkat room , and go blindfolded into a meeting of working men , and pick out twenty

      men possessing more talent thttn all the League combined . The League was to have a meeting on the 8 th of February ; he would meet ! them , and convince tbe people , that they ( the League ) were the only monopolists . They were about to have a little parliament of their own—tbe Convention . ( Loud cheers . ) He had now performed his duties . Mr . O'Connor now showed cards of tbe Association , and called oa those present who were not enrolled to enrol themselves forthwith . He would take his le » ve , assuring them that be would be always found at his post ; and should at any time be happy to eome and address the men Of Chelsea . ( Loud and long continued cheering . )

      Mr , Mathers then read and moved the address to the Queen in behalf ot Frost , Williams , and Jones . Mr . GtmiRi ' si , in seconding it , eulogised the character of Mt . Froet , with whom he bad been personally acquainted ; it was put aad carried unanimously . Mr . B . Ridley moved , and Mr . Warminster seconded the motion , "That Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., present it to her Majesty j" this was carried unanimously . A vote of thanks wm given to the , Chairman , and the meeting broke up .

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      RAISING THE WIND . When we are urged to make any sacrifice with a view to get rid of the existing Corn Laws , there is an implied assumption in the exhortation , that by attaining . that end we should save the country from impending ruin . The patient , Bay some , is in danger of instant death . Doubtless , p « fe « t health can only he' restored by a course of alteratives which shall act upon the constitution ; bat there is no time to carry prescriptions of this character into effect . The country is sinking from exhaustion . Let our first efforts be directed to a revival of her trade and commerce , and we may then proceed at leisure to the great woTk of political refonn . To this we have but two . objections ; but then they are formidable ones . First , that we cannot muster up a sufficient dose of stimulant necessary for securing the revival we need ; and , secondly , if we could , we should proceed so very leisurely to amend the constitution , that ere long the patient would be as bad

      as , ever .. . .. ¦; .. ' - - - ...- ; . . They may doubt this who look upon class legislation as a thing of recent origin , or who imagine they see in our present restrictive system no more than " nature erring from herself . " A slight acquaintance with Parliamentary history will set them right : From the first moment of the installation of what we may call the landed interest in the supremacy of powei until the present time , our legislators have pursued their selfish ends—have aimed at increasing the value of their own property , at the expence of those whom they were called to govern , with a systematic pertinacity no less than instinctive . Their conduct , from beginning to end— " from morn to dewy eve , " has been

      consistent . With untiring saal they have kept before them one object—self-aggrandisement ; with nnwearied assiduity they have pursued it Bafflirt in one instance , they return ' to the chase with new alacrity—omit no opportunity—spare no vigilance—overleap all the landmarks and hedges of justice— -turn this whole country into one vast hunting-groand , in which the people are the victims , laws the hounds , and pelf the end of the pursuit The statute-book is simply a record of the transactions designed to transfer property from the ruled to the rulers . Our Corn Laws , our Money Bills , our Stamp Acts , our Excise Duties , our Enclosure Bills and Game Laws , the Church , the magistracy , the army , the navy , Colonial Goveramente—all tell one tale , the role , or rather the misrule , of monopoly .

      Singularly enough , the origin of this power , the power of the greater and lesser landowners , was unconstitutional . The Convention of Peers and country gentlemen , which assembled on the restoration of Charles the Second , and proceeded to abolish every enactment of the Commonwealth as illegal , was never summoned by the King ' s writ Under pretence of restoring the monarch , they changed the constitutional policy which had prevailed from the conquest in 1066 . From the feudal services which they owed to the crown , and in vbtue of which they held their lands , they exempted themselves , and the commutation land tax which bad been established under the Commonwealth

      in lien of such seryioes they refused to re-enact , but granted instead an impost on wine , eider , beer , apd ale , and afterwards , to make up the deficiency , poll and hearth taxes . This , it must be confessed , was a hopeful beginning , and gave ; promise of that matured selfishness which they have since produced in such ample profusion . They commute the burdene upon their own estates , burdens far lighter them thoie which pressed upon them when they held their lands from the crown ; and having thrown off feudal homage due to the crows tern lands apportioned to them by the crown , as well as tie money tax imposed in lien of that hoaage , they call upon the people to ' ' pay , and shift their debts , as uswU , to the country .

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      A word of explanation may nob be misplaced here . The origin and nature ef feudal service may not be generally understood . ¦ ¦ " - :- ' .- ' - -h ' - ¦¦ . '' :: ¦ : }'¦ : ¦ h ' ¦ ¦ : : - ' " ¦¦'¦ ; ' ;¦ At the conquest all the land of the kingdom was held to be vested in the victorious sovereign , who became the lord paramount of tin nil . He divided it among his comites , or associates , to whom Jhe granted , however , only the occupancy of It , reserving to the crown the fee-simple or proprietorship . In return for the right of occupancy and osufruct , then military associates were pledged to render important service . They defrayed the expence * of jurisdiction within their several districts—they maintained order , and were bound to furnish forth a certain numbar of men with arms , equipments , and food , in any military expedition commanded by the monarch . They held their estates from him as the proprietor , with an express view to the performance of these duties . We need not run

      through the history of that process by which the estates were first held for life , then for two generations , and subsequently became hereditary property—nor need we follow all the change * effected in the conditions of tenure . It may suffice to say that the proprietorship of the soil was ultimately wrung from the monarch , and that in place 1 of feudal homagefand bnrdensome services a tend tax Was imposed . That which was once held upon condition of famishing aid to the king in bis military undertakings , and which on that condition alone belonged to the occupiers of the soil , was during the commonwealth , held on condition of the payment of a steady and unvarying tax / and from all further obligations landowners were released . Thjs obligation , upon the restoration of Charles the Second , the illegal convention of the landocracy immediately abolishedfreed their own estates from incumbranee , and threw the burden , in the shape of excise taxes , upon the people . ^—Nonconformist ^ ¦

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      MISERIES OF EDITORS . 1 . A kind visitor , whom you would make almost any sacrifice to rather than offend—without the least ill intention in the world , but merely moved and instigated by mother Eve ' s fatal vice , curiosity , rummaging your private desk , if it happen ta be commodiously open , examining your letters and other correspondence ; resorting to your composition drawer , on the ground of intimate acquaintance ; deranging and inspecting manuscripts , when you had as lief be had intruded into yourwife ' s dressing-room ; or peeping over the cases , and interrupting compositors , to see the original articles , which you did net intend to show him , or anybody else , except through the medium of the press . . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ " '¦" ¦ - •'' :.. " '¦ ; ' . ¦ r ^ - ' ^ - . . ¦' . '¦ ' ; . ,: ' : •• ' ¦ -V . v

      2 . Receiving a manuscript , of which l \ seems doubt * ful whether the writer intended to represent European , Cbaldalc , or Chinese characters ; and , after patient attempts to decypher the hieroglyphics , resorting to the author , and heariDg his unfeigned expression of astonishment that you did not find all as plain and Iegi-We as a new tin pan . ;¦ . " ; . ' . ¦' . •• ,. •; :. . ;¦ .: ¦"•;¦ . ¦ ,.. ; -: - , ' - ; 3 . Just as you are in the busiest part of your daily duties , in preparing your paper , having an obliging call , with a very verbose communication of a private nature , which you are required not only to receive , but to hear read , amid the din of other calls— " Proof is ready !"¦— " Waiting for proof , Sir ! "—and the prospect of a late , paper , and subsequent complaint in anticipation grinding on your feelings . ; 4 . Inquiries—"; Who Wrote that article ' ? " when you have no fair right to inform , when it seems unkind to refuse , and incredulous to say you do not know : : •• . : ; ; . ' . ¦ ' ;¦ •¦ ¦'"¦ .. ¦ ¦/• ¦ ... ¦ . ; ' ' ¦ " . ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ ¦'• ' '¦

      5 . In a busy moment receiving a personal lampoon , which you are resolved not to publish , yet wish to give yourreasahs , without time to explain them . N . B . — The writer , full of the'justice of hiscause , and perfectly incredulous that there are twe sides of a question . 6 . Amodest requestfrom a good friend , just as your paper ought to be at press , that you would prepare a special article for bis particular view . 7 . And lastly , for the present , a quick succession of complaints , such as— "Way was our advertisement omitted?—That communication will be too late next week . —The other papers have that news more in detail —I wonder you should publish bo many light articles , and leave out commercial ones—this is an important time , and politics ought to be your principal object— - Literary articles ought to claim a part of your attention ; " till , with forlorn gas : 9 , you measure with your eye the extent of the columns of your paper , and Wistfully

      exclaim" Te Gods ! annihilate both time and space , And make us printers happy . " PoSTCRiPTr-Another dreadful misery . —While yoa are collecting news from a dozen or twenty different papers , when you have to keep in your mind ' s eye the leading features of all , to have your papers misplaced , and your arrangements all broken in upon by the busy interference of half-a-dozen goodnatured , friendly loun . gers . who after having agonised yon * feelings into a high fever , retire , on « after another , humming a tune , " What ' s this dull town to me ? "or giving some other indication of their idle propensity or negligentaire . — New York New Era ,

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      YEOyXX ., SOMERSET . ——A meeting of the inbabitahts of this place was held on Tuesday last , to congratulate the Queen upon the birtb of a son and successor to the British throne . Many of the respectables and clergy of the town and neighbourhood attended , and also a few of the working classes . The Portreve was called to the . chair , who briefly stated the object of the meeting . W White , Esq ., in a short speech , in Which he eulogised the town for its great loyalty , proposed an artdress of congratulation to her Majesty , Which was seconded by the Rev . W . A . Rojbinsonu Previous to its being put from the chair , Mr . Bainbridge wished to offer a few remarks . He rose for the purpose of moving an amendment , and in doing bo , he could assure them that it was not out of any

      captious opposition to the address itself , hot put of any ill feeling to the gentlenieri who drtw it up , not out of any want of loyalty , nor a desire to disturb the unanimity of the meeting , but from a feeling of duty to the many thousands of his suffering fellow creatures to his country and bis Queen . The amendment was as fol ows : — " That we your Majesty ' s most loyal subjects beg most respectfully to congratulate your Majesty on the auspicious event of the birth of a son and successer to the British throne , but we tnist it wHi hot be considered as detracting from the affectionate loyalty with which we offer these our umlted congratulations , if while we rejoice in your joy , we . cannot refrain from expressing onr deep sympathy with those who weep . It is scarcely necessary to state to you , moBt gracious Sovereign , that poverty , misery , and human degradation

      prevails to an alarming extant , in every part of this our favoured land , and wh' . ch if not Bpeedily removed , will , in all probability , lead to results the most fearful to contemplate . Believing that those evils are caused by class legislation , and being earnestly desirous of securing virtue , happiness , and : tranquility to your Majesty ' s subjects , , as well as . protection to , your Majesty ' s crown and dignity . We humbly beg of your Majesty to adopt such measures aa shall destroy the monopoly of political power , anct do ample and equal justice to all classes of the community . " Mr . WUU briefly seconded the - . amendment G . Harbin , E = q , agreed that great distress prevailed , but thought that it wasfereign to the ot ^ ect of the meeting to bring it for - ward at the , present time . Several other gentlemen followed in the same strain , when the Rev . H . Soley rose and spoke as follows : —

      The Rev . H . Solet said he had considerable hesitation in putting himself forward on the present occasion , afraid that , from h ^ having been so short a time an inhabitant of the town , it might bo deemed presumptuous in him to offer any observations .. Nevertheless , he could not remain an indifferent spectator under circumstances that appeared to him of considerable importance . He could not help feeling that it was of no slight value ta couple with their address of congratulation to their Soveraign an txpression of their deep sympathy with the millions , who were suffering in every corner of the land . It seemed to him they would not be doing their duty if , while their hearts were full of pity f « r the unfortunate , as he truly believed they were , their words were indicative only of

      contentment and joy . They must remember that out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speafcethj and they must beware lest silence on the subjeet of such suffering should give rise to the belief that either the suffering or the sympathy did not exist , if they really deeply deplored the condition of their countrymen as it deserved , they could hot help availing themselves of such an opportunity of making known their sentiments in a quarter whence relief might possibly flow . But it was said , the present was not a fitting occasion for the addition , he would not call it au amendment to the address now proposed , in reference to that point , he would quote the precedent of the Wilts county meeting lately convoked for a purpose similar to the present , when the Earl of Radnor had moved an

      amendment relating to the existing distress , and although other places may not in general have adopted sach a course , it seemed to him peculiarly natural and right that , while they hjjoiced with those who rejoiced ; they should not forget also to monrn with them wh 6 wept Why were they to be tied down by precedents , when the sacred emotions of the heart were the only subjects involved ? He had very little doubt that his friend would withdraw his resolution in accordance with the suggestion of Capt Harbin if such should appear to be the decided wish of the meeting , and the use of the room were granted to them for another public meeting , bnt for his own part , as he wished to see every cpngra tulatpry address throughout the country coupled with

      refere ces to the national misery , he should sincerely regret if the meeting were indisposed to adopt tbe amendment The state Of the country was indeed frightful j even in this town where they knew nothing of such misery as in the middle and northTtf England , there was much , very much to-deplore . Well he knew the charitable disposition of many of the inhabitants of Yeovil , and hasrejoieed in paying his humble tribute of praise to many of the gentlemen now present , for tiheir late exertions in the canse of the poor , fint there was something bettor than charity , something stiU paore seeded—that was jnstice—an ounce of justice was worth a ton of charity . We want to see our countrymen not jn want of charity , but able to afford it to others , and if justice were done them ,

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      could it be believed that In such a country as ^ EnSanS . long . fameid for its indnstry , its enterprise ; and ita various natural resources ; hundreds of thonsanda wonld be In need of elemosynary support f He need refer but to one item ; of the wrengs suffered by the working millions , namely , the Corn Laws , to showrthat that they were cruelly and most unjostly treated , aad it was because he saw that the working classes were not protected by others , and were not allowed to protect themselves , that he fel it was of so much value to call thie attention of tte Sorerelgn te the do ^ r of » ' gor « 6 « ment , to legislate for tbe benefit of the whole , and not for a few . He knew that he had been accused of inter .

      fering jn political matters , but in the face of that meetbig , he must disclaim belonging to , or having any connection with , any political party . All parties ought to be able to look ( upon the ministers of the Gospel aft their friends , which would not be the case if thy were ideatifled with any one of them , but there were great eternal principles of right and wrong , which he trusted be shonld never shrink from advocating j and certainly not , because good and honest men ( meaning the-Cbartists ) for doing the same , were covered with obloquy and made the victims of persecution . The present occasion did seem to him an opportunity for bearing Witness to these principles , for which if they let it pas * now , they might be called to account hereafter .

      As it was donbtfol whether ta « original address would be carried or not Every means was used to get Mr . Bainbridge to withdraw his amendment , but without effect After much discussion , those lovers of fairplay determined to pnt the original address , without noticing the amendment , which was eventually done , although Messrs . Bainbridge and Soly protested against such an unfair proceeding , and urged that it was not an ' address from the inhabitants * of Yeovil , but of only a few individuals . They carried it by a show of hands . The result of this meeting baa created a great sensation in the town , and all cry out against the unfair prooeeding of what are called the " gentlemen" of Yeovil . ¦ . - .: - " ' .. ' ¦ ' . ' ¦ ¦ . ¦"• ' : ' . ;' ¦ . : :. >¦'¦¦ ¦ - r ^ - ^ r-

      'VDARLIWQTOM . —The Chartists of Darlington held their weekly meeting in Biggs' long room , when a tote of thanks was carried unanimously to Mr . Sfciran ' and the Chartists of BUston , for their beroJo conduct in carrying their amendment against the Vicar and churcbwardens for attempting to carry a church-rate . KENT . —Pbogress of Cuirtism — A puWio meeting in furtherence of the cause was held in the spacious room of the Compasses Tavern , High-street , Chatham , on Thursday last ; The meeting was called for balf-past seven ; at that toe the room was densely crowded . . Mr . Clark was unanimously voted' to' thft chair . He requested a fair and impartial hearing for all who might present themselves . Mr . Stallwotfd , fiom London , was engaged , and would address them . He was sure , in accordance with Chartist nsagd , if any had an objection to offer , they would be patiently heard , and fully answered . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Stall wood ' then rose , and was most cordially received . He ^ c-

      hibited to them , in a manner not to be mistaken , the principles of the People ' s Charter , showed the * incoxt * sistency . and fallacy of the Midland Counties Charter , the absurdity of Sturge ' s declaration , ' and tiler mis- ' chievous tendency of free t ade _ under present circumstances—most clearly demonstrated the practicability of the Chattist principles , refe ring to Norway ,- Swit « erland , &a ., as indisputable proofs—showed the immense mass of corruption , tumult , convulsion , and bloodshed caused by the present system—and that the only remedy was to place political power in the hands of the people—and concluded an argumentative and eloquent address , amid the loudest applause of a delighted audience . Opposition was com ted , but none offered . Tbe Petition was adopted , and received many signatures . The Chairman announced that Mr . Stallwood would lecture oh the' ensuing evening . Several members were added to the locality , and the meeting dissolved . "" : "' : ''¦ ' ' : ' ¦ . ¦ ... ¦¦"' .: . ' -- " .- ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦¦¦ "; -i-y .

      On FRiDJtT evening , the room was again filled . Mr . Clark was re-appointed to the chair . Mr . Stall * wood came forward amid loud applause , and showed the misery , wretchedness , and crime caused , by the present system—the inefficiency of our owa ' •" " institutions" for tbe present time—that there was no such a place as the Commons Housa , the House bo called being a junior House of Lorda— and the great necessity that existed for a changa At the conclusion , a vote o ? thanks was given to the lecturer . The Chairman eloquently supported the views of the lecturer . A

      voteof thanks was passed to the Chairman . A-considerable 1 addition was again made to the petition , and several converts entered the National Charter Association . Although \ thi » locality » i ^ on ry ' fceeh in existence nine weeka , th » y have bad twe lecturers down from London—held four large meetings—and obtained six hundred signatures to the National Petition . All that is new required Is the presence of Feargus O'Connor to make Chartism fashionable tere ^ Then hurrah for the cause in the Government Borough of Chatham } ;

      MSWCASTXf . —The Newcastle Chartists held their weekly bnsinesB meeting on Monday evening , in the Chartists Hall , Goat Inn , Cloth Market Hr . Croiherg having been unanimously called to the chair . Too secretary read the minutes of last meeting , likewise some letters which he had received from Leeds , respecting the O'Brien Press fund , and one from York , when the folio wing resolutionswere agreed to unanimously . M » ved ; by Mr . Cockbnra , seconded by Mr . Sinclair , "That this association highly approve of the exertldna of the youths ( in connexion with our body ) in their endeavours to get np a reading room and debating society , and we do hereby promise them our hearty support in furtherance of their desirable objects . ' * Aloved by Mr . Cockburn . seconded by Mr . Dees , "That all who may be willing to become coUectora for the Convention fund , be furnished with books for that

      purpose , and that they be requested to report progress to the Council weekly . " Moved by Mr . Dees , seconded by Mr . Frankland , -V That the secretary b > instructed to procure twelve collecting books for the purpose , and that jione be considered duly appointed to collect without a mandate , signed by the secretary , on behalf of the Chartist ^ body . " Moved by Mr . Binns , seconded by Mr . Cockburn , " That a deputation of three be appointed to wait upon the two members of Parliament for this Borough » ad present them with a copy of the National Petition ( adopted at the public meeting in the Guildhall , last w « ek , with the mayor in the chair , ) and a copy of the People ' s Charter , each respectively , aud to request them to support the prayer of the petition in their places in the House . If they should have left for London , the secretary was instructed , to forward the copies to their addresses in London , with the above request" ' : ; . " ; . " . ' ¦ ¦ ' ¦ " ¦ .. ¦ ¦ : . • . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' - ¦ - ' . ' : ;¦ ¦ . ' .. ' ; -- ;¦ ¦ -. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ "¦

      Repeal of the Corn Laws Nor a Political $ _ OBJECi .-r-The Chartists of Blaydon waited some time ago upon the managers of the Primitive Methodist Chapel to request the use of the cbapel to hold a Chartist meeting in , but received in answer that it was an unalterable law with the society , that the chapel could not , on any account , be used for any political object whatever ; but what was the surprise of the good ; : men and true pf Blaydon when , upon going abroad on last Tuesday morning , the village and enyirens were placarded , announcing that Mr . ' -. 'Liddle , anti-Corn Law lecturer , would deliver a lecture on the Corn Laws in the said chapel , oa Wednesday evening . Wednesday " came , / and so did Mr , Liddle ; the Chartists were there too . Mr . L . Undine himself in a

      country village , thought he could make them swallow , any nonsense he might be pleased to ( Ject ; opened out in a regular tirade of such hackneyed abuse as the League generally resort to , when they think they can do so with impunity ; but the men of Blaydon were too old birds to be caught with chaff ; they offered to discuss the subject with him ; but he very wisely declined . The meeting , which was a bumper , came to the unanimous conclusion , that all the evils with which society is afflicted is owing to class legislation , and that nothing but a full and free representation in the state can ameliorate the present deplorable condition of the industrious classes . After giving ^ three hearty cheers for the People ' s Charter ; three for F . O'Connor ,

      the friemd of the people ; and threefor Mr . O'Brien , the meeting separated . This said Mr . Liddle placarded . - the walls of Newcastle , announcing his intentions of delivering a course of lectures against the Corn Laws ih the Ranters' School-room ; Nelson-street , on Tuesday evenings ; admission 2 d . each . How many do you think attended his first lecture ? exactly four ' , including himself and the person appointed to take the twopences when they came . Of course there was no lecture ; and after waiting nearly an hour , and seeing ho more ' -prospect of any twopences , be walked away grumbling that" if thej folks would not come aud get cheap bread , they just must go and buy dear . ' So much for the prospects of the Plague .

      TONBRIDGE , ( Kent . )—The cause Ia progressing with wonderful rapidity in this part of the Country Many of the middle classes are how coming out for the Charter . A public meeting was held on Tuesday evening , in the large room of the Association , at the Chequers' inn , for the purpose of adopting the National Petition . The chair was taken by Mr . Payne , a most staunch advocate of the rights of man , who stated at some length the objects of the : meeting , and pledged himself , as far as he was able , to ensure every one a fair hearing : Mr . Spring moved the first resolution : —

      "That the distress which at present exists in this country calls for the interference of every generous mind . " The resolution was seconded by Mr . Harri ? . The-second resolution— "That all the evils under which the people labour are caused by class legislation , and that they will never be removed till the people ; axe fully and fairly represented in . the Commons House of Parliament , " was proposed by Mr . Snelling , andseconded by Mr . Elliott The third resolution , adopting the National Petition was moved by Mr . Harris , who read the petition , and commented at considerable length thereon , and was seconded by Mr . Hemsly . The whole

      were carried in a most enthusLutic manner , the sentiments of the ipesksrs eliciting the most unbounded applause . This meeting was got up as an antidote to another , composed of Whigs and Tories , held on the same day , to rejoice at the christening of a Prince of Wales , it was the first pubiio meeting held by the Chartists ' , in which all the speakers were members of that body , and we have no doubt it will have a good effect , and be the means of extending the glorious principles of the Charter . A lecturer would do great good in Kent , as there are many towns willing and waiting te be enrolled . Agricmltorsi districts have been too much neglected . : ^

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      TO THE XD 1 T 0 S O ? IHB > " 0 BTHEHS STAB . V -Six , —At a special meeting of tbe L « eds Short Time Committee , holden on the evening of Jan . 22 d , 1842 , present , eight of the members , the following resolutions ¦ ware unanimously passed : — 1 st—That the" Address to the working men of Yorkabire . " in reply to tha fool and unmanly attack of the Editor of the Leeds Tina ^ nH in justification of the proceedings of the Ten Hours' Deputation , as bow read , be adopted ; and that 2 , 500 of them be printed for immediate circulation in the mills and factories of tbe town and neighbourhood , lad . — That the Editor of the Northern Star be respectf ally requested to give the document insertion in the columns of his paper ; and that be be kindly thanked for his many former favours . Agreeably to the 2 nd resolution , I beg to hand yon a » opy of the address , and in the name of the Committee , solicit at your hands , the favour of ita insertion . I am , Sir , Yoars truly , Jos . H 0 B 30 H , Secretary . Leeds , Jan . 26 th , 1843 .

      ≪£Fjart(0t 3znuwc&Nce .

      < £ fjart ( 0 t 3 ZnUWc&nce .

      Untitled Article

      6 THS lORTHERI fTAl ..

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 5, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct585/page/6/