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Northern Star (1837-1852), 19th February 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 7, Untitled Article

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    • LORD ASHLEY AND THE TEN HOURS' FAC TORY QUESTION.
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      Untitled Article

      IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . ( Continued from oar sixth page . } , jid that the principle * of hia Government were for doing away -with all restrictions upon trade—that the Toice had gone forth—that the hand-writing waa on t frt -mil , and that he -who run could read it The electors did read it , and gave the Noble Lord his jppjjw / lsoghter . ) What said Mr . Baines , of the Leeds llercarvl ha declared that it -was not the landed interest , bnt the manufacturers who returned the -resent two Honourable Members to the House as iepresentatives of the West Biding of Yorkshire . The ma ulaeturers then had , therefore , declared in favonr of a sliding scile— ( cheer * . ) They had declared in fa-ronr 0 a continuance of the Corn Laws , and not for a total repeal of them—tcheers . ) During the recess of

      Parliament he thought it his duty to maik the progress of the BDti-Gorn Law League , who were a ^ 'tating the conntry irith the most violent and infamous placards , headed ¦ with the word " the base , bloody , and brutal landlords that were keeping the bread of life from the poor , " ¦ while they -were sending forth agitators who were uttering falsehoods stfll more infamous than what were on those placards ; and to pay the expence of which the Xearnera were , during the past week , " exposing" their iriTescnd daughters at Manchester— ( cms of " oh , oh , " and laufihter . l Whilst they were abating the country , ie : ^ Ir . Ferrand ! mace an inquiry into tho truth connected with their movements . He fonnd that since the establishment of the Corn Laws , within the last thirty years , tht Messrs . Marshall , the gteat manufacfortune cf

      turers , cf Leeds , had accumulated a -C = > 000 000 , and had purchased immense landed States . ' . '— ihear , hear . ) This firm appeared Dot to be ^ iisSed with the carrying out of the principle of free bade in this country , but they were erecting large mills in Belginm . On the 2 Sth January , 1 S 42 , there appeared $ a advertisement in the Leeds Irikllvjencer , which stated that there was a person of great commercial experience in Brussels who wbb desirous of meeting a partner . The advertiser had a splendid estate of 100 acres of land , which was situated upon the hanks o ! the Bedel , aud in one of the most picturesque parts of the country , situated within about three miles from the railway at Lonvame , that he would like a partner to join him in the working of a fl 3 x and tow mill . There

      was also a com mill upon the estate . Aye ( said Sir . Ferrand ) there was a secret about this corn milL The jiTertistment went on to say , that there were numerous populous Tillages in the neighbourhood—that va ? es were considerably lower than in any other part of the conntry—that an exact estimate had been made of the number of operatives necessary to be employed in a flu-mill of l # , 000 or 15 , 000 spindles , at a saving of £ 2 , 080 annually—( hear , hear . ) There was the great secret ; the saving in the amount of wages . He would now mention a few instances , to show the injurious effect cf the Corn Laws on the manufacturers . The Hon . Member for Manchester ( Mr . M . Philips ) stood as high as ever in credit on the Exchange at Manchester . He was s man possessed of immense

      wealth— { " bear , " and a laugh . ) Then there was the Hon . Member for Salford ( Mr . Brotherton ) who had long since retired from trade , having amassed an enormous fortune ; but so horror-struck was he with the cruelty and oppression of the factory system , that he had determined to spend the remainder of his life in trying to remedy it—i&ughter . ) The Hon Member for Stockpori ( Mr . Cobden ) had spent his life in accumulitiug money ; and when , night after night , he was asserting that the Corn Laws had rained the manufacturers in Lancashire , Jit was running his mil ! night end day !' . !—( hear , hear . ) The Hon . Member for Bolton ( Dr . Bowringj was remarkably urgent for & repeal of the Corn Laws—ihear . ) He carried out free bade principles to such an extent against the

      public purse , that he had a right to be considered a freebooter —( loud laughter , and cries of " order . " ) He berged pardon if he had said a "word too much ; bat he wss quite ceiiain that the working classes were much surprised that lie should have accepted £ 10 , 000 of the public coney—( laughter . ) In his ( Mr . Ferland ' s ) own neighbourhood he had made some inquiries Mo the state of trade , and of the injurious effects of the Corn LawB upon the Corn-Law-Repealing manufacturers ; and he would call the attention of the House to a placard dated the Sth of May , 1541 . In the commencement of that month , ( when her Majesty ' s lite Government were tottering to the fall ) & circular v&s issued throughout the country calling en their friends te agitate for a fixed duty on corn . One of

      these circulars found its way to Bingley , and a meeting of the land and mill-owners , and other persons interested in trade , was held in that town . Win . Ellis , Esq ., in the rhrfr . it was then stated that the stocking and woollen trade carried on in the parish , had been in a most depressed state for the last three or four years ; that such depression had reduced to poverty and distress great numbers of tke working classes , who were wandering through fee day in search of work in a state of miserable despondency ; and that this was to be attributed to the Corn Laws . The petition , which was of considerable length , contained a vast quantity of the phrases of the Anti-Corn Law Leagne—( laughter . There were thirteen signatures attached to this petition , one copy of which wss transmitted to the House of

      Commons , another to the House of Lords , and a third to the Secretary of State for the Home Department , to be used by him in a certain quarter in order to obtain a dissolution of Parliament —( laughter . ) The Chairman of that meeting had realised a large sum of ; money , purchased a mill , as well as considerable ' . haded property ; and during the last three or four ' , years , when the cotton and worsted trade were eaid to \ be in such a depressed state , he had erected one of the higest mills in the country , and taken another . The . eeand signature was that of a gentleman , a member of l firm which , during the last twenty-five or thirty years , lad been lunning four very large cottor-mills ; they had bought estates worth £ 18 , 000 a year . They were pos-1 Kssed of an income of £ 25 , 000 a year ; and were still 1

      proceeding in the purchase of property and the accusmlaMon of wealth : The next signature was that of a ; person who was a linen-draper thirty years ago , bet , * feo , during the last three or four years , had purchased . one mill and -taken two more , which were fitted up with - poTer-looms . This person was now carrying on what i in Yorkshire was called " a rattling trade "— ( loud i tagtiter . ) The fourth on the list was an operative . japa-maker twelve years ago ; but he haa / , during the '< list three or four years , purchased one of the largest 3 sSli in the county , some landed estates , kept his ear- nap and pair , and lived in a " rattling" style —( eon- j timed laughter . ) The fifth signature was that of a ' Baimfacturer , who during the last twenty years bad ' made £ 40 , 000 or £ 50 , 000 in the worsted trade ; and during the time that trade was so deeply depressed he i Bitted one of the largest cotton mills , and fitted it np " * aa power-looms . The sixth was a grocer in the town , i

      Tho had accumulated a very nice income , and educated fciifamilyin the first-rate styla This gentleman happened tf » bs a dissenter ; and , to prove his haired of the church , he had brought np ODe of his sons to enter ' A , and receive a little of its wool 1—daughter . ) The nert -individual on the list , three or four years ago purebutd a very large mill in the parish , and a considerable SaanBty of land surrounding it The mill was fitted ° p with power-looms , and he also was carrying on a " rattling" trade—slaughter . ) Then came tiiesignatare of ¦ -. a manufacturer who had fitted up his mill with power- ; Jttfflis , ard that of a person who had made a large for- ; tone in trade and then retired from it . The remaining *" - £ EatuT £ s were those of persons in some degree con- ( netted with those whom he had already mentioned— j ftear , hear , and laughter . ) He wished this was the ; o ^ yaatter connected with the parti es to whom he ; had referred . Bnt he would now mention a fact which j

      would- prevent Hon . Members from crying " hear , j kssr . ' so readily . The fTiayrmp-n of that meeting , the aan 'Who placarded the parish of Bingley with these 1 teolntions , pointing out the landed proprietors as the . P ^ sons -who had brought misery and distress on the ] " wtpeopie ; this man , at the time he occupied that Osir , was on the Doint of taking a mill . Soon after- j « srds that mill was fitted up with power-looms . But I cid Max gentleman go into Bineley market-place and j fT to the people ; " Why stand ye idle all the day I ^ S ? Why eat ye the bread of idleness ? Why do I Jen tot come into my Kill and work ? " Did he do ' * - » ' ? 2 fo "! He went into the county of Lancaster , j ^« re that infamous conspiracy existed between the ' *" ° or Law CsraunisBioners and the cotton spinners for « epnrpo £ e of equalising wages , and reducing the 10 ' Pa cent that had been advanced upon the wages of the '

      £ ** weavers . He went there , and picked np a large ^^ oer of poor families , whe had been reduced to such 8 stats of misery and dutress fcy their former em-J % es that they were glad to eat their food from off jstir dEBgbjlIsj He brought these poor people to * k * to * Ti of Birgley , there to amass another fortune * " > m thtii anews in his new mill—( hear , hear . ) f * e forgot the claims of the working classes of ¦ B ujgl ey—ie forgot those men whom heiad excited to a pitch of desperation—he forgot that he along with cU . tr manufacturers had reared and bred them in the I 5 r k— 'ie < n £ them of ! and they were now in a state JK tne utmost wretchedness—he had left them to " wanoer through the day in search of work in a state of Stserable despondency . " The fact was he dare not ask the Bingiey people to labour for him for the paltry sum 06 got these starving leavings of the Lancashire mill-° * ners willing to take J Hon . Members did not now

      ° T " hear , hear , " and " langh- " No , they blushed at ^ sth a disclosure ; and they ought to tremble at such an * xposure ? This man had sprung the mine too soon for « & antL Corn Law League at Manchester . He had let jfctthe secret of the great anti-Corn Law excitement wrouehout the country ; he had let the working classes * the north of England know their motives , and what * ° nld be the consequence of the repeal of the Corn j *» s ? That consequence would be the reduction of * eir wages—( cheers)—to the same level as wages on * e Continent ; the filling of the mills with power * Hi 25 , and the " easting off * of the workpeople to » andtr through the day in search of work in a state * niiserable despondency . "—( hear , hear . ) Tbeanti-«» n Law advocates assert that the great number of the ** &ufacturer 3 in the country were insolvent , and that « e Corn Laws are the cause of that insolvency . He r * - ~ £ -i had icquirefi into that assertion , and he was J ** y to Eiy it -was true as far as the insolvency went .

      £ t ^ Cora Laws , however , were not the cause of that ^ -Tcccy . The reason was this—they never were * Kfc £ i in their lives—( loud laughter . ) He would ^ fc&Toai to describe to the house the manufacturers > aT nbnh of EnSlaDd Et tke present day . There « s but a icmnait left of ths hish-minded ^ and ][ bon

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      ouableclass of men who formerly had raised the trade and commerce of thecountry to the highest pitch of respecta bility . There were bnttberemnantof tbosemen whowalked about the streets with honesty depicted in their countenances . There were bnt few of these men left now . There were a-few , he admitted , who tr ied to tread in their steps ; hut the remainder were men who knew bo bounds to their insatiable thirsk after wealth ; they were gamblers in trade . They were a set of men who had been set up in trade by the joint-stock banks—( hear , hear , arid cheers )—and many of these banks were little better than stores for the protection of swindling . They got their names entered on the jointstock bank books ; they then went to a woolstapler , and offered to buy a quantity of wool of Mm . They referred him

      to the joint-stock bank . The answer was , "Oh , they are highly respectable ; they have their names on our books . " They purchased the wool at three months' credit , then turned it ky their power mills into goods , and by the fallowing week they had it in the market , and sold it in the market for ready money . Bat they were forced to sell . The consequence was , they had to sacrifice a large amount to tbe merchant who bought to sell . They did not pay for it at the end of three months—they had two months further credit , and they had to pay five months'interest to the woolstapler . The consequence was , that these men seemed to go on very prosperously as long as there was a call for the goods in the market ; but when there came the-slightest stagnation : » trade , they

      immediately broke , and what a scene there was in the Court of Bankruptcy—( heai , and loud cheers . ) They had had exposures in the Court of Bankruptcy , which shewed the effects that such a state of things produced , when the honest merchant and manufacturer were broken-hearted in consequence of the losses they have to sustain from Euch men . It often happened , also , that such men spent the money that had been confided to them by their unsuspecting neighbours ot workpeople , and placed in their haHds in trust for their families . This was not unusual ; and the result was that the unfortunate families were reduced to beggary . These men were scarcely beyond the verge of the Bankruptcy Cjurt before they were enabled to start in business again . They got some friend , if they could pay

      some Is . or Is . 6 d . in the pound , to come forward and prove for a large debt , and probably to become the petitioning creditor , and they soon managed to get their certificate and start again , and run the same race over that they did feefore . He now came to what were the designs of the Corn Law League . The commencement of this Com Law League toek place three years ago ; they attempted at first only to try for an alteration in the Corn Laws . They soon found they had very few supporters in the conntry . They then held out terms to the enemies of the Church , and said that if they would juin them , as soon as they had carried the repeal of the Corn Laws , then the Established Church should be attacked . After this offer had beenmade to the conntry the Hen . and L-rarned Member for Cork was invited over to take his seat at their dinner . He then declare i

      in the presence of these manufacturers , that they were possessed of Eufficient wealth in Manchester to buy up all the landed estates of the nobility of England . He also asserted that " the landlords' venison was mixed with the widow ' s tear , and that their claret was died with the orphan ' s blood *"—a rather cool assertion of the Hon . Member fcr Cork ,, when it was remembered that he had existed for many years out of the pence extracted from the poor . But he would ask what had the farmers of England to expect from the cotton lords who were able to purchase up the landed interest ? It was their principle , when they purchased an estate , immediately to have it re-valued . They carried the principle of the ledger into their rent-roll , the rents were

      doubled . He had known many families in his part of the country ruined by the oppression of these men , when from the proceeds of the workpeople in their mills they had amassed sufficient to enable them to purchase an estate in land , and become landlords . He remembered an instance which took place many years ago , where a poor farmer had his rent doubled . He straggled on for a few years to try to me ° . t it , for he could not bear to leave the spot . He had to pay a few hundreds which he had saved , as increased rental to his landlord ; and when the time came that his cattle were seized for rent , he died of a broken heart His wife was not long before she followed him . Their eldest Eon , just bursting into manhood , endeavouied still to keep the family together ; but the last which he

      tMr . F . ) had heard of him was , that reason had lost her empire over , his brain , and that he bad become the inhabitmt of an asylum . He would ask what the members of this Com Law Leagne wanted ? They wanted to increase their profits by reducing the price of labour . That was the secret of their " grand boon . " They wished to become the com merchants of England . They wished to convert one part of their mills into a granary , and the other part into machinery to grind the com—( a laugh . ) Hon . Members might laugh ; they could not deceive the working classes ; they had tried to make them believe differently ; but with all their agitators they could net do it Thus the poor of England were to go down to these men , into the manufacturing districts , with money in their sacks , to buy

      corn . That was part of the system ; but what came ntxt ? Had Honourable Members never heard of the truck system ? ( Hear , hear . ) Had they never heard ef labourers having their wages paid in goods ? That was part of the system . Bat he would now refer more particularly to the treatment of the poor by the manufacturers in the Korth of England ; and he would produce before the House such a syttem of tyranny , oppression , and plunder as was disgraceful to a civilised conntry . When the poor went to receive their work of the manufacturers , they found it now consisted of a very inferior article . Tbe wool , and the warps , "which were dealt out to them , was so poor that they scarcely could comb the wool , or convert the warps into pieces . On the Saturday came the period which ou ^ ht to be the sweetest of the week for the working man , —when he ought to receive the price of his labour , the reward

      of his toil . He went with his work , and who received it ? 2 ? ot the master of the mill ; no , but an overlooker . The overlooker examined it . and found fault with it He said " Ton have done this work ill ; I must deduct so much from your combing , or your weaving ; ' and tbe poor weave ; s , who were only receiving 3 s . Cd . or 4 t . a wet-k , were constantly mulcted by these overlookers , who had their wages paid from what they deducted from- these poor people and a per centage on the amount ! Then what came next ? The poor people had not the small remnant paid in moneyit was paid in goods , in rotten flour , aud " cheap corn . " When the poor man carried it home to his wife and family , after in vain endeavouring to induce his master to pay "him liis wages in money , he found that tbe flour which he had taken home the week before and given to his family they bad not been able to consume . It had made the children sick . He asserted ihal this was

      truth ! He had it from the mouths of hundreds of the wt / rkiEg classes . And the men who treated their labourers in this horrible manner were the men for whom the . 'anded interest of England were to be destroyed ! These were the men for whom the yeomanry were to be trampled under foot . ' These were the men who were to become the possesors cf tbe English soil . ' These were the men who were ruining the character of British merchants aEd manufacturers on the Contitent ! These were the men who moved and had their being for money alone ! . ' They cared not how they got itwhat cruelty and oppression they inflicted , so long as they amassed wealth from the sweat of the peor man's brow . They" refused him the price of his labour ! They looked for nothing but enormous profits ! They

      declared there was no religion in trade ! They were , to use tbe language of Mr . Burke , a set of men " who made their ledger into their Bible , their counting-bouse info their church , and their money into their god . " He had heard a great deal said about the principles of free trade , aid that they were to save the country . Is bad happened that during the recess two Koble Lord * —the Member for the _ city ef London and the Member fer Tivextcn—had been something like the poor of the parish of Bingley . They had been " wandering in search of employment , and could not find it . " ( Loud laughter and cheers . ) There were kind and humane persons as Bridgenorth who had drawn them up an address of condolence . He had not a copy of the Neble Lord ' s reply , bnt he ( Mr . Ferrand ) remembered that he

      asserted that the principles of free trade were sound , and that the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir R . Peel ) had an easy task before him . He ( Mr . Ferrand ) supposed the Noble L * rd bad been trying to prove his assertion in the last few days in that House . ( Laughter . ) The Noble Lord the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs stated , in answer to an address presented to him from his snpporters , that he had endeavoured to apply to the commercial legislation ef the country the principles w ^ ich had long been acknowledged as forming the only sure foundation for the permanent prosperity of tbe country . He ( Mr . Ferrand ) confessed he was a r ^ Tj dull person ; " but had tried to find out what were tie sound principles of free trade . If gentlemen opposite were to be believeS , Smith . M'Culloch . Ricardo , and

      Husisson had only seen the subject through a glass darkly ; i was reserved tar the Hon . Member for Wolverhamp > n to dispel the cleuds . The Hon . Members for Bolton od Stroud were to become bright constellations in the sense—( peat laughter . ) The Hon Member forDum-¦ ies ( Mr . Ewart ) would bathe evening star—( renewed LHghter . } The two Noble Lords opposite would be the in and moon in this expansive , well-defined social rstem . The " Hon . Member then proceeded to read : veral extracts from the works of Adam Smith , [ 'Culloch , and . Malthus , with the view of proving lat their views were at variance with those entertained 7 the Hon , Members to whom he had referred , and lat they were favourable to the protection of

      domosc industry . " He concluded by saying that he would ppeal to tbe landed proprietors of England , and ask lem whether they would assist the anti-Corn Law esgne of Manchester in carrying out their tyranny apresrion ,-and wicked designs for the reduction of the ages of the working classes . Mr . Clay moved the adjournment of the debate . Mr " P £ JiBEEXOK obtained leave to bring in a BiU i enable his Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales to ant leases of the Duchy of Cornwall . The Bui was read a first time , and ordered tabe ad a second time on Friday . The other orders of the day were then disposed of , id tbe House adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock .

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      SOWERB 7 .-rOn Shi ove Tuesday a ball was holden thiB place , the proceeds of which were to go to the rthcoming Convention . ?

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      NATIONAL PETITION . TO THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND . We , the undersigned Delegates of the West Midland District of Scotland take this opportunity of addressing you at the present time upon a subject ot some importance to the success of tbe common cause in which we are all engaged—the Peple ' s Charter . The Chartists in Scotland looked forward to tbe meeting to be held in Glasgow upon the 3 rd of January , 1842 , as one of great importance in its results to the cause of Chartism . A united coursa of action in pursuit of a common object , the people expected as the labours of the Convention . In this , we think , the conntry have not been disappointed—their proceedings , with one exception , being characterised by prudence , firmness , and conciliation—the exception to which we

      have alluded being the discussion and the vote in the Convention upon the National Petition . This discussion showed more of local feeling and- national prejudice than might have been expected in a body of patriotic and intelligent men struggling against class legislation . Union of action with both England and Ireland all who took part in the discussion admitted to be necessary to our future success . Why , then , it may be asked , oppose the naming of two great grievances complained against by the working population in these countries , and determinedly upheld by those who profit by claa 3 legislation . Such conduct was neither wise nor dignified on their part . If the discussion upon the subject matter of the Petition showed a proud and narrow spirit , the voto upon the Petition in the

      Convention ought to have consigned tbe idea cf a new petition to oblivion . Tae casting vote of the Chairman makes a le ? al decision in a meeting ; but when the Chairman claims a vote as a member in tlie meeting , the casting vote in a popularly convened meeting in such circumstances makes its legality doubtful . In this case it makes the Petition his petition , and those who sign it along with him . It can claim no higher authority . It cannot be looked upon as the petition of the representatives of the Chartists of Scotland . Bat there are other- objections of another kind to be stitsd . The delegate from Arbroath , Montrose , Brechin , and Forfar voted for the new Petition , while the towns he represented in this Convention had , six weeks previous , adopted the National Petition entire , and had largely signed it , and are doing so still . It is reported that other delegates in this

      Convention have acted a similar part upon the National Petition . For these reasons , and others which might be brought forward , we think the new pttitiou cannot be regarded as the act of tae people of Scotland , dene through taeir representatives in the Convention held at Glasgow , 3 rd January lait . Those who mi ^ ht be inclined t > sign this new petition upon , tbe ground that it was one adoptod by the representatives of the Caratifts of Scotland , will now know upon what authority it refcti its claim to be considered a National Petition , and they will act accordingly . Tho people of England and Ireland will learn from these facts thu real feelings and seit ' ments of the Chartists of Scotland , and the amount of signatures to the old and new petitions will prove the extent cf sympathy felt for the wrongs of Ireland and England by the people of Scotland .

      As one of the eix Central Committees cf Scotland , we tave ever taken an active part in Chartist agitation , Chartism being the public voice throughout the whole of our district . In all our past straggles we have looked to England and Ireland aa our fellow-labourers in the same glorious cause—the emancipation of the people from class legislation in the three kingdoms Under the old nationality , local evils peculiar to the country must exist ; these will be best known to the people themselves , and we think they ought to be stated in every petition praying for the Charter , as the remedy to remove these evils . These considerations Induced the people in our district to adopt the National Petition , and we call upon all ctaer Committees to be active in signing the National Petition , and to make known their sentiments to the people of Ireland and ^ England upon this interesting subject , and shew there is no division among tbe people of the three kingdoms , this being the enly way to teach our leaders to represent the people , not themselves .

      George Rattrat , John Drummond , AH DREW M"KE > ZIE , THOS . BE . VNIE , David Harroweb , James Pat ^ bso ' n , John Marshall , Jou . n Harrower , Wm . Cameron . Coalsnaughton , 5 th Febrnary , 1842 .

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      ADKBESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENEBAL COUNCIL LIVING IN BRIGHTON XO THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION . Brethren , —The time having arrived in which it is our duty to yield up the authority with which we have been invested , as a portion of the great Council of thfi National Charter Association , we cannot give up our effiie without addressing to you some few observations as a retrospect of the past year . In this retrospect we shall , of course , confine

      ourselves to events more particularly associated with our immediate locality . Whatever opinions may be entertained of us . by our ftl' . ow members in Brighton , we feel assured that we have done nothing to forfeit the confidence that was reposed in us at the first ; if we have not done as much as might have been ¦ wished for , we know that the members generally being fully aware of the restricting circumstances under which we have been situated , will make every reasonable allowance for what we have not done , in furtherance of the great object in view .

      We have been , and are very much restricted and cramped in our exertions in this town . The greatest of our restrictions is , of course , the general poverty of that class to which we ara nevertheless proud to belong , namely , the really industrious class of the people . The next restriction we have had to experience is , the want of a larger and more commodious place of meeting . This is a restriction which we Lave long and severely fell , and we sincerely deplore the fact that a spacious reom fur meetings and social entertainment ,

      to which the members could at all times have access , is yet , and must for a considerable time , we fear , be a desideratum . It has been our wish , and the wish too of our friends , to Bee an establishment made where we shonld not only be able to hold large and frequent meetings , and get up social entertainments ; but also , to provide reeding and coffee rooms , and a home for thfi beat tried veterans whom we have the honour to possess . Most sincerely do we hope that the time will come when arrangements of such a nature can be entered into . '

      Other restrictions upon our energies have arisen from the prejudice and party spirit that have been exhibited towards . us . But in proportion as our real objects become understood by the other classes of society , a great deal of that mistrust and jealousy will die away . We have but to adhere stedfastly to the path we have h-therto pursued , and we shall find that our own strength will increase , while the forcea opposed to us will diminish . Having thus alluded to the mistrust and prejudice that have Btarted up to thwart cur purposes , we cannot but recal to your mind a meeting that was convened by the High Constable , iu the beginning of 1841 , to adopt measures in opposition to the introduction of the Poor Law Amendment Act into Brighton . We , as your Council , considered it expedient to attend that great and important laeetir . g , and tho taiX m'A \\ tfe&tet

      on that occasion by all the Brighton Chartists , produced results that must never be forgotten . More sincerely opposed to the tyrannous operation of tea New Poor Law Bill than the other political parties , despite their great professions of sympathy , we frit a strong conviction that & petition prr . yiiig for the withholding of the operation of the New Poor Law Bill from Brighton could in no way be invalidated by a forcible statement of the cause of all oppressive enactments , and the real means of airesting the evil complained of . The opposition which we experienced you all remember ; but you will rememcer , too , that the triumph was on oar side . To that event we attach great importance , for it was on our part an exhibition of moral strength that nonb tod given us credit for possessing . From that time we have , as a party , gained ground ; if we cannot achieve what we desire , wo have shewn that we are not so miserably weak as we have been said to be .

      With this we are led to associate , though happening more recently , namely , the election for this borough . There are , unquestionably , a great many who affect to ridicule the position we assumed on that occasion ; bat while we are sensible of the goed effects of our exertions at that time , in the business of the election , we can afford to bear the ridicule that may be levelled at us . We had long borne the credit of being able to " make mischief , " as it is called , at our town meetings ; but it was reserved for tbe election of 1841 to shew the aristocratic parties that working men were capable of taking a prominent place on the hustings , and that they could secure a degree of courtesy and attention not always paid to rank and wealth . By this event , and our own exertions on the occasion , we established ourselves es a political party , and it will be our own fault if we do not retain and improve our position .

      While on this topic , we feel it cur duty to express the esteem and gratitude which we entertain towards Mr . Brooker , who stood forth in so disinterested and kind a manner as the representative of ear principles on the hustings , and throughout the recent election . To that gentleman we owe much ; and nettling can afford us greater pleasure than to record his disinterested adherence to the principles of civil and religious liberty . To him , as well as to us , it will afford a lasting gratification to have witnessed from the hustings to triumphant a show of hands in favour of the principles he advocated .

      As one of the results of the recent election , we shall be pardoned in recalling to your mind tbe courteous manner in which the use of the Town Hall was , not long since , extended us ; on which occasion the second National Petition wss enthusiastically adopted , and when , too , our proceedings were sanctioned by the presence of the Borough Members , and of many others who had hitherto deemed us too dangerous and illiterate to be associated with . Contrasted with this we must also recal to your reniemberance the fact , that when , in the previous Dec . we wanted the use of the large room of the Hall , for a meeting to memoralize the Queen on behalf of the ex-

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      patriated patriots , Frost William * , and Jones , but request was moat particularly : opposed . May we then not hope that the paltry prejudices which had existed to onrdetriment are fast passing away , and that erelong we shall enjoy what we ' hare's right to enjoy , the nnrestrictod expression of political sentiments . Connected with the proceedings of the past year , vnn dnr petition on behalf of poor Holberry . We had flattered ourselves that in effecting his removal to his present prison-house , his condition and treatment would have been greatly improved ; It is a source of sincere pleasure to hear that out hopes have not been disappointed We trust that fresh exertions will be made more effectively on his behalf .

      The visit of Mr . M ^ Douall , tnd more recently of Mr . O'Brien to Brighton , are cirenmstances that we shall all remember > with extreme gratification . That these gentlemen have been the unflinching advocates of tho principles of Chartism , ii in itself enough to claim our respect and attachment : that they have endured imprisonment on our behalf , innst rendor them more worthy of our gratitude and attachment . In the commencement of these obseitvatiops we remarked that the poverty of the industrious classes is

      a great restriction on their political exertions . We have deeply experienced this . That this is the fact , does nevertheless enhance beyond all praise their enthusiastic readiness to subscribe to the many laudable funds that have been ' established for the purposes of the association , and to meet the necessities of the injured . We feel great pleasure in bearing testimony to the promptitude of the Brighton Chartists in this respect , and their self-denial in responding by pecuniary aid , to the wants of their Chartist friends in various parts of the kingdom . ¦ \ , ¦

      Thus in our immediate locality , during the past year , subscriptions have been raised for several praiseworthy purposes to an amount not less than from sixty to seventy pounds , a sum ' that cannot be regarded as trifling , when the number and the circumstances of the subscribers are considered . Our correspondence has been very great and extensive—as you are already aware very cheering , correspondence haa been received from Chichester , Southampton , & . c , &c We trust that ere long we shall hear of the flag of Chiartism being firmly planted in several places around us . We have now briefly referred to the principle circumstances of the past year , and with these observations we give up the the office we have fulfilled , most earnestly trusting that as Brighton has been , it will continue to be , an important locality in the wide spread tract of the National Charter Association . : Signed , William Woodward , George Giles , John Allen , Robt . LDNsdell , Robert Cooling , Reuben Allcorn , FREDERICK PAGE , JOHN PAGE , WjxliamFlower , sub-Treasurer . Nathaniel Morling , aub-Secretary . Brighton , Feb ' ,. 2 nd , 1842 . "

      Lord Ashley And The Ten Hours' Fac Tory Question.

      LORD ASHLEY AND THE TEN HOURS' FAC TORY QUESTION .

      A general meeting of delegates from the Short Time Committees of the West Riding of the county of York , established to promote the legislative adoption ef a Ten Hours' Factory Bill , was convened at the New Inn * Bradford , on Wednesday , the 9 th of February , inst , when the following address was unanimously agreed to : — ' ¦" ' :. ¦¦¦ ¦ - . .. ' . ' . ' ¦ : ' ¦ -

      To the Right Hon . Lord Ashley , M . P . We , the delegates of the Short Time Committees of the West Riding , having assembled for the purpose of considering the course which ought to be pursued on the factory question , feel ourselves called upon publicly to acknowledge your Lordship ' s letter of the 2 nd inbt . intimating that "Sir Robert Peel had signified his opposition to the Ten Hours' Bill ; " we cannot conceal tbe fact that we feel deeply disappointed and grieved at this announcement Our hopes and expectations had been raised , not merely from the justness of the cause we have prevailed on your Lordahip to advocate for us in the Housa of Commons , but from the representations of our deputation , that her Majesty ' s Ministers appeared to understand the true interests of the country , and were impressed with the necessity of further amelioration in the condition of children and young persons employed in factories .

      We are indeed grateful to your Lordship for the renewed expression" cf your determinetibn to persevere in your endeavours to obtain an enactment which shall better the condition of the working classes and be of permanent advantage to onr country . We promise our continued co-operation with your Lordship , and will employ every constitutional means in demanding an improvement of a system which is . rendered indifensible because demoralizing and destructive in its influences , by labour too protracted for social and moral , as well as physical health . Surely , my Lord , also , we have a right to feel convinced of the propriety of our claim when we perceive an almost uniform disposition in the public mind favourable to the Ten Hours' Bill ; None but the avaricious , the prejudiced , or the ignorant , attempt to justify the existing system , and their

      justification of it never appears before an open and public company for discussion . Nor can any question of importance be instanced where so fowptftions have ever been presented to the legislature as against the Ten Hours' Bill . When we reflect on the reasonableness and necessity of the measure which has been entruttsd to your Lordship ' s care , when we adverb te the fact that even , 'ifter we have obtained what we ask for , young persons will still have to be confined and toiled in a factory atmosphere from six o'clock in the morning to bIx in the evening with only intervals for meals , ( for this would be the operation of ths Ten Hours' Bill , ) we are persuaded that the day mast speedily arrive when the common sense and justice of humanity will establish the measure as one essential to the character of a civilized country .

      We sincerely sympathise with your Lordship ; and regret that your patriotic exertions in behalf of the operative classes , are not appreciated " in certain quarters" according to their merits , but we have not lost our hopes that when the question shall again be brought before Parliament , the claims of injured factory children will be paramount . Trusting that your Lordship may be blessed by Divine Providence in all your efforts to advance the welfare of our common country , We remain , my Lord , Your Lordship ' s most ofeedient and most gratefril servants , ( Signed on behalf of the Meeting of Delegates from the Short Time Committees of the West Riding , ) Matthew Balme , Secretary . Bradford , February 9 tb , 1842 .

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      '— «•» - TO JOHN ASS . My deae JonN . —^ You must pardon me if for once in addressing you I feel it necessary to sacrifice politeness to truth , and in lieu of adopting your favourite name of Bull , use that to which your conduct indisputably en titles ycu . Tae bait has some noble qualities in him , such aa courage , impatfence of injury , and no lack of strength to avenge it . The ass is net without his good . . qualities either , but they are of the passive soit . He isa capital fellow for receiving kicks and thumps without wincing —so are you , John ! He patiently suffers hunger and

      coldand wet , and a . comfortless stab eafter a hard day ' s work , or forced idleness—and so < lo you , John ; he tamely enough bears any load hia four legs will enable him to stand under , and hia master may please t © lay upon him , and f . ever thinks of throwing off until his back is nearly broken—neither do you ; John { but it is useless to carry the parallel of your relative conditions and temperament further , for were it continued till Doomsday , i the result must be , most unquestionably , that you are more entitled to the appellation of Ass than Bull . ^ - : V

      And now , John , prick up your long ears and listen while a few -wotdsaie addressed to you by one of those who , like yourself , is reduced to the condition of a beast of burthen , bnt has hot enough of the ass in his composition to forgtt that he is a man , and , as such , baa inherent rights vested in him by nature and society which he is not disposed passively to have trampled by any one , and certainly not by those to whom he owes no affection , and from whom he receives no benefit . Oara is a theatrical sort of world , John ; and in no circumstances of itia itmoie so than as regards politics . As far as we are concerned in such matters the curtain has once more been lifted up , and the drama commenced ; whether the entertainment provided for us will be tragic or farcical , time , I suppose * will show ;

      but as respects the cast-off parts there can be little doubt , if we may judge from the past * that broad farce will occupy the talents of pur principal performers and the every-doy business connected with the suffering or tragedy departmfnt will be lef fc as usual to the millions , who are by this time bo well acoustomed to its various incidents that they require no aid from the promptor to delineate their respective characters with all the frightfulness of truth ; for instance we have daily in one place or other of her Majesty ' s dominions , some thousandsof them perishing with cold and hunger , With abundance stftreing them in the face to mock and flout

      them by the contrast . I call this tragedy . We nave at home broken-hearted families separated from each other , not by the grave under the dispensation of providence , for that would be natural , but by Tunica Bastiles , nnder the intervention of human laws that are not natural . This is tragedy , tool Then we have industry walking barefooted and hungry about the streets , to avoid the noise of bis half-famishing and half-clothed children at home . ' —the mother forced by dire necessity to steal , that her children may not perish before her eyes- ^ -and those children made outcast 3 from society , because a mother ' s feelings overcome her reverence for those laws by which her family was beggared .

      Here I think is enough of tragedy for the millions , and excellently well do the parts become them , for , like you , John , they deVight in exhibiting their powers of endurance . But I want , to learn , if I can ; whether the same distribution of parts is likely to continue through another season ? Because ^ if go , I muBt at once enter my protest against the arrrangement . " ' '¦ "' . ' ¦• ¦ " " i ¦ . '¦ -. " . ¦ ' " ¦ . ¦¦" : ' The " Stars" of our Home Company have for some time past had a pretty good spell in the winning , or laughing line , and have long reserved to themselves all the provocatives to broad grins , and unrestrained merriment that could be invented for their gratification . Thus they have had a royal christening , with royal

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      sponsors , and Jordan waters , and junkettings , and feastlngs and dancings , and all sorts of royal glorifications at Windsor , as if the only business of such performeis upon earth was to " eat , drink , and be merry / 1 That ifl amusing enough , as times go , is it not , John ? Then they have i : royal viflitpr to see us , and right royally , John ; hive the craven-hearted , lickspittle , miserable followers of your family in London ran about after his carriage wheels , to get the honour of a splash of the mud whirled up by-the rapidity of his progress This , too , is farcical enough , forsure | but this best of the jskeia to coma We ^ ave ^ ^ since been"delighted by a grand gingerbread show to open a session of the collective wisdom of the nation , « naeted with as much pomp , parade , and botheration , as though a world was to be called into being by the mere fluttering of a parcel of butterflies'Wings .

      John , the good sense of your family 3 s by no means proportioned to the length ef its . eare , or every window would have been closed , every back turned as the insulting calvacade passed through the streets of this doomed metropolis . . It strikes me , that the gorgeous banquets and more than oriental magnificence displayed at the Court during the past week or two , would have excited a fesling of pain in the heart of a truly benevolent ruler of toe miserable poor and starving people of this or any other country . Their condition does not , however , seem to have crossed the thoughts of our semi divinities , who have gone on revelling , and rioting , and wasting , as though enjoyment was co-extensive with eternity . Dives , feasting in his purple and fine linen , little heeded the Lazai » 3 who lay in raga and sickness perishing at his gate . But he had his reward . And why should we doubt the justice of providence or the hidden purposes of its wisdom ?

      But , friend John , the Parliament has nut . What will it doforus ? Shall I tell you what it will do ? In one word—nothing ! Nothing that can possibly tend to diminish the means of enjoymentby the '^ rattwillbe done for ¦ . •' . the s ? nall—nothing . that can possibly trench upon the prerogatives , the splendour , the aggrartdizsment , the pleasures of royalty , Will be touched for the benefit of the people . Nothing that will operate to lower rents—to diminish the value of the funds—to reduce tbe allowances of the palace , will be thought of for the advantage of the poor . They will talk of such things , and the present week will be wasted in adjourned debates upon the Corn question , which will leave off where it began , and after tremendous labour we tliall see the mountain will bring forth a mouse .

      The grounds upon which I build this presumption are asfollows : In the first place ; the royal speech is-full of self gratulation and bombastic nonsense , insincere expressions of satisfaction and hollow protestations of future good , which those may believe that like them ; I do not . Her Majesty is made to say , " ray measure of domestic happiness is now- comp ' tt ? . " Good God I how . can the ruler ; af this country , in its present condition , boast of the fulness of her domestic happiness , when ahe must know that the domestic happiness of thousands upon thousands of her people is utterly destroyed , that she may enjoy abundance . ' Bnt why , if so , mock us with it ? Why recall to our miserable recollections tho outrageous contrast between the condition of the rulers and the ruled .

      . She iellB her Commons she relies with entire confidence upon their disposition , that while they enforce the principles of a wise economy , they will make that provision for the service of . the country ( that is , for the gew-gaws and trappings of royalty , and the maintenance of its parasites ) , which the public exigences ( that is , class indulgences ) require . " She says , "I have observed with deep regret the continued distress of the manufacturing districts of the country—the sufferings and privations Which have resulted fromitLave been borne * ith most exemplary patience and fortitude . " Exemplary patience . ' Yes , the patience of despair ! the patience of exhausted energy 1 the patience reduced by apathy ! by the utter abandonment of hope 1 the fortitude of soulless indifference—of hearts crushed by suffering and Whose ouiy prospect upon- earth is terminated by a paupers grave !

      And is there anything in these passages that can Warrant an augury of future good—is there ought that can warrant the boast , " that my measure of happiness is complete ? " Is not the latter a vain conceit which the first boast of popular indignation will scatter to the elements ? . . '' . .: ' ' . ¦ " Fine words butter no parsnips , " as Sancho says , nor will half a dozen sugared words in a royal speech , fill the bellies or satisfy the just demands of a 'long suffering , and most patient people .

      And , now my dear John , in conclusion , let me intreat you to be up and doing—rally round the men of the Charter—assist them with your strength , your patience , your determination . If you cannot fight for it as a bull would ! you can bray for itr— throw yourself in the way of its opponents— trample down every obstacle—and finally , unless you are the most incorrigible ass in existence , you will die ere you give up your right to it , and your determination to possess it . Yours , Fact . London , 8 th February , 1842 .

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      TO THE FEiMALE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Sisters jn Political Bondage , —We , the female Chartists of Manchester-road , Bradford , address you on the necessity of uniting in the struggle that pur husbands , our brothers , and our sons are engaged in ; 'tis a holy struggle of right against might We see gaunt misery and famine stalking forth in all its horrors and see the useless extravagance bestowed on pampered royalty , When we see a Dowager Queen , who does nothing for tae state , yet receding the enormous amount of £ 100 ^ 00 per annum . When we calculate that she receives £ 11 8 s . 3 ^ d . per hour , whilst thousands of our fellow creatures are in a state of actual starvation ; and again , Bisters , we havo been insulted by another system of extravagance , wrung from the toiling millions in the shape of a royal christening , over which

      £ 100 , 000 has been lavishly expended , which Would have maintained twenty thousand families , each family consisting of seven individuals , for one month , at £ 1 per Week each . Behold also the State Church , the whole body of parsons , aid and assist in carrying out all bad laws passed by the middle class Parliament , and indeed in all their evil doings they rob and plunder the working millions of the fruits of their industry ; they are receiving yearly ten millions , and for what . ' why for preaching passive obedience and non-resistance , to persecute us if we offer to resist their tyranny . The heart sickens when we think of the wrong inflicted Under the cloak of religion ; therefore females , unite in one great phalanx ; then by one mighty movement sWeep the citadel of corruption from the face of the earth , and on

      its ruins build the temple of Cbartism ; then s ' sters , and hot till then , will the working classes obtain justice . It is said what can woman do ? she can do a deal in her domestic capacity , she can instil the holy principles of the Charter into the minds of ber children ; in her daily occupation she can commune with her husband , and while all others toil she can persuade ; her courage rises with the difficulties she has to endure . Then , sisters , you can do all these , if you will but arouse yourselves from your lethargy , and shake off tho chains of slavery , and imitate the Spartan mothers of old ; then arouse yourselves , and sign tho National Petition , and every one of you join the National Charter

      Association of Great Britain , remembering that union is strength ; and never let us for one instant forget those expatriated and much injured , yet magnanimous patriots , Frpstj Williams , and Jones ; remember tliose that have , and ara at present suffering now for their and our causa ; remember those Whig-made widows , Mesdames Frosti Williams , Jones , and Clayton ; the murdered Clayton calls aloud to you to redress his and our country ' s wrongs . How are we to do this ? By a general and united exertion of the people at large , both mate and female . Let U 9 emulate ; our husbands , our brothers , and our sons in the . holy causo of liberty . Wenow conclude by quoting the language of an immortal poet and patriot : —

      . " There is an uuseeu power lies in the moss Of human slaves , which , if aroused , would sweep Not mortal tyrants only from their thrones , By one brief crashi with all their blind Bupporterb , But e ' yen this mighty opaque globe herself , they could ¦ ¦ . - .. , . unhinge ,. ' ' ' ' - . ¦ ' •' . ¦' . . ; . ; . ' .. . .: . ' . - . ¦ - . ' . ' . •' ' -. And send her blazing through the solar system . And I for one would lend a band to this , Rather than kings and priests , and common thieves Should make the life of man an endless curse : — But there ' s a way to raise this potent power , Not to extinguish man , but recreata And lead him back to nature and himself ; To turn bis ceaseless labour into play , His life into a cloudless holiday . " Signed on behalf of the Female Chartists , Sarah Leatherbarrow . ' . ' ¦ ' . ' ' .. —¦•*—¦ — '

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      ADDRESS OF THE CHARTISTS OF GEORGESTREET , TO THE WOOLCOMBERS OF BRADFORD , Fellow Wording-men and SLAVES ,--Our intimate knowledge af , and sympathy for , your sufferings prompt us , at this eventful crisis , to address you on tiie necessity there is for that union and action essential to secure that full amount of freedom , independence , and supply of the necessaries and comforts of life , without which life is but a burden ; Yon form by far-the greatest number of Working men in this district , your cordial co-operation and assistance therefore , must b >

      of paramount importance , we call upon yon "t ' j come forward in your strength , and show your oppressors you are determined to be free ? ' let not the want of time , nor the shortness of means , nor the threat of the domestic master tyrant , nor the ecom of the ignorant and the proud , deter you from the performance of a known duty . Surely you will not longer stand by and see your neighbours ' struggle alone for rights , in the securing of which you with them are equally interested . For the love of country and home—for your wives and for your children ' s sake , aicouae you from your lethargy , and come up to our help against tbe mighty oppressors and robbers of the poor . :

      The . prime' cause of the prevailing distress , the master grievance ,.. this being the cause of every other grievance , is c ' ass legislation , ; nor will there be any eflectual remedy for your social diseases , until the wfeole people

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      , ,, _; , - ...,., , .. _ . . . .. m be represented in the Commons Hons 3 of Parliament . You can never secure good government until you get good governors , and these you never will bare ss long as the right of franchise remains with the most vicious and interested portion , of Bociety . You wish to have better wages , get then that electoral power which will enable you to choose men who will legislate for the protection of labour , —this ia the great question after all . ' . ' . ;¦ . •/ . ;¦ , '¦ . - . ¦ ,. - ;' - "' '¦; /' . ' ¦ ¦ ¦" ¦ ¦•' " : ¦ ; ' ¦ , ' .. . ¦' ; ¦'" : . ¦; " . '¦ " - We call upon you to enrol yourselyes members of the National Charter Association ; and we will hai ! you with pleasure . If the hour of freedom be hot fast approaching , remember it is not our fault but ' yours . Some of you " care for none of these things" others actively support your enemies , especially the enomyis press . It must bo obvious to every man of ordinary discernment that the " Radical" Leeds Times is a mere manufacturer's paper , and yet you . the victims of

      capital , are its principal supporters . There is every likelihood that the Corn Law question will be settled in soroe shape or other ; and then , we are tpid , we are to have a breathing time : but the working classes of this country are not committed to that question , and consequently will be under no obligation to take any " breathing time . ' * If the intended change in the Corn Laws should turn-out to be extensive , there win then be a season of speculation and " prosperity , " at the end of which your employers will be stronger , because richer ; you will probably be weaker—certainly not stronger . You will hence perceive the .. . necessity of keeping up and of increasing tbe " pressure without " until you have stormed and taken the " citadel of corruption . " The Corn Law repealers tell you that a cboap loaf is better than a dear one ; but they forget to remind you that the dearness of bread is only relative , and depends upon the amount of a man ' s income .

      Fiualy , fellow-wotking-men , be not content with mere relief—let nothing short of justice satisfy you ; relief will be but a temporary advantage—justice Would secure you permanent prosperity , / comfortable fire-sides , cheerful wives and- children , and fo yourselves peaceful and contented minds , Yonrredeii ! j > tion is in your own hands , a | id the Work of national- regeneration depends chiefly upon you , arid your " brethren in bonds ! " Wait not foolishly for the aid of any other cla 83 of society besides your own . Can your '' freedom come from your enemies ; as soon might the Egyptians , have been expected to liberate the Israelites , ov -the West Indian plantera the black slaves , as the middlQclassc ' S of Engand voluntarily to give up their hold upon you and the frnit 3 of your toil . Look then to , others to do your work , if you msan it to bi badly done , or not done at all ; if yon with it to bedonc , and done well , do it yourselves . ; GniFFiTH Higgins , Chainn : n . Thomas Hanson , Secretary .

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      TO THE FACTORY WORKERS OF YORKSHIRE , Brethren , Friends , Countrymen , —It has often been our lot to irteet you in private converse , aiid mingle with you in your homes ; and by your hearths , when the sun of England ' s prosperity was yet above the horizon , and the soul of the English artizin was not yet oppressed with the accumulating load of misery which laws ,. '' -restrictive , partial laws , and the aggrandising cupidity of capitalists have taught him now to bear . :

      From past experience we feel ourselves qualified to form a correct estimate of your character as : v body , and unless oppression baa changed the current of your feeling ; unless the kindly sympathies of your nature have been blunted , and Yorkshiremen have ceased to boast of English' hearts , we feel confident in saying , that th « wrong 8 and sufferings of : your c ' ass wii ! riria a ssmpatheUc response in : so \ ir bosoms , and \ hat the ready hand which ¦ . '• often ; . ' sent the wayfaring stronger rejoicing on bis way , will not withhold its tribute to brethren in distress ,- ^ -

      ¦"¦¦ . " A brother to relieve , how exquisite tbe bliss . ' But arfcruce with : preliminaries , and let us proceed to the painful task of enumerating the miseries of onr brethren , and calling upon you to extend tfeeh . aid of support to . theni . We ate far away from you in&wothex country , we may say , where distress , in its most , painful forms , is staijking throngh the manufacturing distrfcts ; but it is not for the tamishiDg people of Paisley , neither for the starving producers in Dundee , that we claim your support , it is for your own countrynii p .. your own neighbours , the turn-outs of HuddersneUl , that we ask your sympathies and expect your pecuniary aid . ; ¦ ' ¦ ' ' ' ' ¦ ¦ . ¦ /¦ . . - ' . ¦ . - . . - ¦¦¦ - . -

      These men lef t their employment because IV employers , taking advantage of the . depressed stace of trade , sought to materially reduce tbeir aJre ;«! y too scanty earnings , arid thus crush them below the point of human resistance to tyranny , making tbc-iii , aa it were , the pioneers of our downfall , for the " unholy alliance of capitalists , ; " working for mutual benefit at the expense of ua all , would soon have made us follow in the wake of our conquered bKibren . There are forty-three men turned out , and all the support which they and their families have received for the last fortuightis £ 12 17 a O ^ d . ; ^ Now there are , at present , about two thousand workies employed in Huddersfidld , Brighouse , Bradford , Halifax , Elland , Hebden Bridge , fcc ,, who , if they were paying 3 d . each per week , would realize a sum of £ 50 per fortnight , a » d thus would we be enabled to support tbe noble men who battle for the rights of labour . .,. ;

      Good God ; Enelishmen , my face burns to think that one mill in Scttlaud , in Edinbnrgh , whprp , there is not that personal intercharge of sympathies that exists between you , should contribute almost as much as five milts in my own land , to the support of tba gallant defenders of the poor man ' s property from the encroachments of vampire capitalistfl . ; Will it be said that Englishmen are so besetted that they will allow their own interests to be sacrificed along with tSeir brother toilers ? Shall it be said that the adage whieh says , " The poor man alone when he

      hears the poor moan , of his little a little will give , " ha » never become reversed , and that an Englishman ' s bowels of coTupasaionare dried up . ¦ Shall tbe arifitocrat tauntingly hold out his ringer and say these men ask rhe for justice , and yet refuse theirown class compassion ? Never . Let the higb-sonled principles ' o £ jutt cei ' altthe' love ' ef native land and domestic felicity ^ combined with the sympathies that reciprocally beat in poor men ' a'bosoms unite in arousingyou to a dttcrminatiou not to see your fellow labourers immolatetroa the altar of Mammon .

      Prove by your , actions that you are deserving of poll * ticai liberty ; show the united " -millionairus" that the U ignorant" labourers are determined to stand fast in dfcfence of the rights of labour . The time speeds fastly on , and the hour cometh when pu-se-prpud insolence must . be contstitid with its own rights , and labour shall no more be spoiled to enrich a corporation of grasping avarice or to support an oligarchy of caiioua oppressors . : : ' : . ' . ¦' "' ¦ ¦ .. ' Factory wbikerai of Yorkshire , do not '" . allow the gal * lant fellows in Huddersfleld to be put down through the machinations vt employers , they are tryiug all their arts te break off the little support they now obtain , but be ye true to yout order for only a short time , and a day shall soon dawn of prosperity to our class , a day thr . t shall relieve us of the necessity of wand Bring in , the lanes ; and •• 'alleys of our towns , competitiye drags upon the energies of bur employed friends . Working nieu , do your duty , and tho days of oppression are numbered ; fight the good fight , of human redamptibn , and strive to make the world .. btttei- than yea found it . ' Yours , in behalf of the Workies of Castle Mill , Edin «*> urslj , Edward Sutclhi 3 . 9 th February , 1842 . .

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      JEDBTJRGH . —A public meeting of the iuhabitanta of the town of Jcdburgh , was held in tha county ball , on Friday the 11 th iostant , to take into consideration , the propriety of again adopting the National Petitioa without alteration or amendment . At the time of meeting , the hall was crowded to excess . Mr . Adam Mathison was called to the chair . Mr . John Wark proposed the first reeolution , imputitvg all the grievances under which our country ia at present groaning to claes legislation , and thai the only remedy would be to pass the People's Charter as tbe law of the land , and moved that we do ai'ain

      petition for Universal Suffrage . The rcsolnrioii was carried . Mr , James Noble proposed the National Petition , which being seconded by Mr . John . VVark , the Chairman introduced Mr . Charles Haii { h , _ from Hawick , who was received with great /• . •' cheers . Mr . / Hajgh then rose amidst renewed cheer ins ; , and spoke for three quarters of an hour in a strain of eloquence and argumen t . The pe it ion was . put and carried amidst great cheering . Three cheers were then given for Mr . ' Haigh , three for the Charter , three for Frost , Williams , and Jones ; for Feareus O'Connor , Ee ^ ., forthe Chairman , and the Hueeving broke up . . •¦ . •¦¦¦ ' ¦ . ' . ' : ¦ ¦ ' ¦{¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ : . ' - . - - ' ¦ . ¦ ' ' ¦ . ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ¦ - "

      PALRY , ( Atrshipe . )—The Corn Law Conirnittee of repealers chaUeiiged the Chartists to a discussion with their great gun , Mr . Acland , who has been figuring this some time past in the Corn Law movement ; The discussion was to come off on the evening of Wednesday , the 9 th of February . The Chartists engaged . Mr . Wm . Smith , from Ayr , to meet this ; celebrated champion of expediency , Wednesday arriyed , and the village and neighbourhood was all bustle in anticipation of the discussion to take place in the evening . In the forenoon , the Com Law Committee was engaged circulating bills stating that Mr . Acland had been engaged at two places on the ; evening of Wednesday , the flch of February , ( Stirling and Dairy , V and nostponine hia

      lecture in the latter place . until Saturday . Mr . Acland lectured on the evening of Tnesday , the , 8 fch , in Saltcoats , and passed Dairy on the forenoon of Wednesday , the 9 th , Whether he got notice of Smith to meet him , or considered the Corn Law repealer ' s . "' - ' . of Dairy beneath his notice he know 3 best himself . Smith : however , liko a true Chartist , was at hiB post , and a public meeting was held in Mr . Cologain ' s Hall , when Mr . F . Sterrat was elected chairman j and Mr . I . Miller vice-chairman . The hall was crammed in every part . Smith delivered a lecture , and in good style laid oar principles and position before the meeting . At the close of the lecture the National Petition was read * moved and seconded , and carried unanimously .

      Untitled Article

      ' THE NORTHERN STAH . ¦ " v - ; :.:: ' . ' :-:: : - : .: \\ U ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct586/page/7/