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Northern Star (1837-1852), 16th July 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 4

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    • THE SfOETHERN STAR SATURDAY, JULY 16,1842.
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      Untitled Article

      THE MANCHESTER MEETING OF THE SEW EXECUTIVE OF THE K ATIOSAL CHARTER ASSOGlATIOif-Oa MoccUy , Ma 4 \ ii ( lay of Jnly , the Executive essrEa&ed to perform those cnt : es which tare devolved opon them by the stfirages of the members of tlie Katiocal Charter Association . Tis following Eabjects were discussed , and the subjoined resolutions unanimousiy adopted , and ordered to be printed in the organ of the movement for the consideration and adopuen of the members of the Association .

      OFFICE BEAB . ESS . - It was resolTed that Jame 3 Leach do continue to etetclte tke duties of President of the Executive . It -was reared tnai John Cioipb = U do act as Secretary . It was resolved that the thanks of the Executive be given to ilr . H ^ jwood , Treasurer of the Association . It vas ifcKJlved that in consequence of the removal of the Sna-ctary from Manchester to London , Mr . John -Cleave be appointed Treasurer to ths Association for the ensuing yeur .

      ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COrSCIL . It f"a 3 c greed to appeal to the rac-ni'bfers of the National cturat Association ou tbe question of altering the date cf the annual election of the Exscntlve , and to prevent future complaint , to have their sanction to insert in tie rules a ^ d regulations , June , instead of February ; Jaly , instead of fH&rch . The Council are therefore requested to bring this subject before tbe AEs-jciauon .

      ORGANIZATION . The aspect of the movement and the strength and position of tbe Associataca , - were taken i ^ to xaatnre e * nr . i 3 eration , audit "was resolved to draw np a district p ' -an for the "whole ration , to prepare a plan f or soenrin ^ commodious meeting houses , to recommend v&ya urA meins of defraying the attendant exptne ^ s of tae movement , aud for the purpose cf practically Marking these mezsaruB , and rfiscassi ^ e others of equal iniporVince , and cf devkita tBzct&al za-sms c-t pr&Tentitfg clyvlsions and sguabb ! ts f . » rthe fainre in iht Nitiomi Caai ; -tr Association , ii was resolved to summons

      THREE GREAT CONFERENCES . Tlrsoivtfi that each conference do consist of delegates from esch locality , the number of delegates to be rx * u " a ** d a * -corv . ing to the resource of the localities , a :: d each delegate to be a member of tlie General CoancU .

      THE FIRST CONFERENCE ¦ wHl b

      TliE THISD CONFERENCE TrS ' i be summoned to meet in Birminshiin . POLITICAL PB . JSONEHS . The Executive are , from the geccial appearance of tie country , n . Ed information received , / ally satisfied that tie guTennGcn ! have resolved to prosecute , arrest , -RBd imprison tlie Ita-Jers cf ihe movciscr : '; oa the least opportunity being tfTorfied thtia . The Executive therefore csutitn the members of the Association s ^ ai-st the adoption of ray Bfccret plans cf -resistance , anJ advls * ifctai to discountenance all recomaifccdauoas to the use of phjslcal force . Several of the members

      bxte been airre . dy arrested and imprisoned , and the Executive thertfore recommend a levy to be made upon each menhir of cne penny , to be paid at two different rimy *; tbe -srJac-Je smsnri so collected to be coiled the National Victim Fund , and to be applic-d to the support ti : he families of all political prisoners , aiid mare espe-« ialiy vo ifce maintenance of the family of tlie * xiled Patriots , and of the murdered Clayton and Holberry . The Council are , therefore , called upon to adopt this without delay , and to for «? ard the amount to the general Treasurer , ilr . John Cleave , specially menticking the purpose for -which it is sent , so that disiasct accounts rcsy be preserved .

      FK 05 T , WILLIAMS , A > "D JOXTS . The Executive most earnestly call upon the members ef tbe National Charter Association to bring the sufferings of tie tx ies and their unprotected families casfitantly btfjre the notice of tbe people , and at all paKic meetings te tertify their empathy for them , cot oaJf bf tbe ssoal rotes , bnt litewise by pecuniary contritwtio&a . ¦ rms XiTlOXAL EEMOXSTRASCE TO TBE HOCsE 0 ? " C 0 MHOSS . " . Each JoeaJity is requested to prepare their remonartranee * , U > attach the Chairman's same to each sheet , znd forward the same immediately to T . S . Dunoombe , H . P .. the Aih&ry , London .

      TBE > ATI 0 WiL MEJIOBIAL . Tlie date fixed Cor the presentation of the memorial is Sionday , Stptewbsf 19 & . On that occasion , a great jwocsssion Will aooompany the memorial t ^ tie Queen's Palate ; and as tbe i / scdon members bor ^ ; Db total ex pence attfcadaot epos tbe presentation of the National Fetnioa , it is reeomaended that the country do Qtfrsy tbe eipencs tttendant upon the presentation of ihi Esasrisi 1 » £ s « o ' vire thertfuic r&poni-

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      mend each locality to forward , ooe fortnight previous to the presentation , subscriptions , not less than five shillings , to tie <( 3 eoeral Treasurer , particularly stating the object fer "whkh the awney « to be expended .

      LECTURERS . The ExeostlTe took into their serious consideration the numeroes complaints which have bsen made concerning tfee present loose and unsatisfactory manner in which lecturers aro appointed . They are apprehensive of the d&oger to be incurred should unknown and unqualified men be recognised as belonging to , and holding responsible offices in , tbe National Charter Association , and have therefore recommended that in Mature no person ought to be receited as » Chartist lecturer , * rho does not bear with him a clear and satisfactory appointment to that office , issued by the General Council , and signed by the leading members of the locality in -which he has resided , and where bis character and principles are best known . It was also resolved , that the General Council , after the nominatien of lecturers , do forward a list of the appointed lecturers for publication , and to enable the Executive to choose from the whole men , to agitate the

      WOBGAMZED DISTRICTS . For which purpose an agitating fund should be established , by devoting the proceeds of one lecture , ball , or soiree for that especial purpose , every Chartist lending his gratuitous aid for that important end .

      THE CHABTIST PRESS . The Executive are anxious that every encouragement and support be given to the organs of tha movement , and that the Star , the Statesman , the Trumpet of Waits , and every other publication inserting our documents and advocating oar principles , should be read and circulated . The smaller organs have invariably been allowed to die , and it is with regret that the Executive perceive that the Enaluh Chartist Circular is almost about to

      expire for -want of due encouragement to such a talented , cheap , and instructive sheet . It it important that a halfpenny publication should belong to onr movement , if it -were for no other purpose than to enable the poOTest to wad , and the richer to p-orcbase it , and circulate , by an easy . medium , the principles of the People ' s Charter . The Executive therefore call upon the Council and the members to aid them in upholding this the smallest and cheapest of our Chartist papers , not only on account of its merit , but of its utility to the

      cause

      STATB OF THE CoUKTRT . Tbe Executive have seriously deliberated upon the distress of the people , and deplore tha absence of the Suffrage , -which could so speedily exchange comfort for poverty , plenty for starvation , and freedom , for submission . They do not see any just or wise teme&j in violence or insurrection , neither do they see wisdom in uncomplaining obedience and servile silence . Therefore they are prepared to recommend peaceful and constitutional

      T 1 TEUI 0 E MEASERKS , as soon as they have gained the legal opinion of an eminent barriste ? , at tbe head of the movement , whose judgment will not be biassed by the fear of government , feut whose opinion will be tempered by anxiety for the success of the cause , and care to : the safety of the people , the leaders and the Charter . The Executive "srili , therefore , be prepared to recommend measures of peaceful resistance t » the assembled conferences of the Association , where they will have the benefit of the opinions of the leading councillors of the National Charter Asssociation .

      FINANCE . The Executive proceeded to examine the accounts of the Secretary , and discovered that every debt of the old Executive was defrayed , and that a considerable sum w&s £ ue to the present body for cards . It is to be heped that the Executive of the present body will meet with the same support , and on the termination of their annual term of office , have as ltttle reason for complaint The strength of the Executive lies in the command of funds , and their weakaess consists in not being supported ; but the experience of the past affords no reason for apprehension in the future ; and the present body throw themselves entirely upon the judgment of a people who will have sagacity enongh to protect and suppoit them in the performance of a duty so sacred and responsible . JOHN CAMJEELL . S 6 C .

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      THE MIDDLE CLASS MOVEMENT AND . THE RIGHT MODE OF TREATING IT . Nothing can be more important than that the people should rightly naderstand and duly appreciate the disposition now manifested by a portion of the middle classes to raise an outcry for exteoded suffrage . We are quite aware that by some ( it may be honest-minded bat we must think shortsighted ) Chartists , we have been thoDgbt a little too sceptical of the intentions , and too suspicions of the motives , of the new-fledged middle class

      " Chartisls-in-pniiciple-but-not-in-name . ' It is aigued by some that the character of the middle classes is not now what it was ten or twenty , nor eren what it wa 3 five or seven years ago ; that whereas they were then universally opposed to the granting of tbe people ' s rights , many of them , now , admit that the people have rights , and ought not to be dispossessed of them ; that this is to be regarded a 3 a step in the right course—as an advance towards the recognition of jusi principles , and that those advances should by no means be repelled , but , on

      the contrary , encouraged ; that we have nothing to * do with their motives ; that their sincerity or insiBCfcrlty is of no moment to as ; that it mattere not whether they mean good to us or whether they only mean good to themselves through our instrumentality ; that our business is to accept their advances and proffered aid in a frank and friendly spirit—to give them credit for good intentions while their acts tend manifestly to our good , and to reciprocate such acts by every means in our power that involves no compromise of

      principle ; shewing ourselves as disposed to conciliate as to be conciliated . Now , we are as ready as any not merely to admit but to insist that whenever their acts tend manifestly to our good , those acts—no matter what may have been their motive—should be reciprocated and encouraged . We merely wish the people to make themselves quite sure , before they 3 j into the arms of those who profess themselves almost persuaded to be Chartists , that their acts do

      tend manifestly to our good . We have not yet been abi-3 to satisfy ourselves that any of the many " new moves " , which have successively enjoyed the sunshine of middle-class countenance , has either had or been intended to have tbis tendency . We see nothing in the character and conduct of the middle classes noW j that doesnot designate them clearlyasthesame selfish , grasping , crafty , cowardly , dishonest politicians and societarians that they have ever been . It certainly is , not in such details of iDjastice , and oppression , and wickedness , as abound , in OUT present

      paper , and ia every honest record of passing event 3 ; it is not in the locking up of the white Elaves by the Whig millowners cf Bingley , lest they should hear the truth respecting the cause of their degradation , at the late visit of O'Coskob to that town ; it is not in the compelling by the master coal and ironstone minors in Scotland , of their men to sign a new code of roles—the very first of which is , that they slall not , during the time of their engagement , attend any meeting , by night or by day , above ground or below

      ground , and especially the meetings of the " Coal Miner's Association , " besides plundering their labour through the medium of fraudulent weights , against which the poor fellowB are now petitioning j it is not in the brutally abusing and discharging from his employment of a good n ^ n for attending poor-HoLSEKav ' s funeral ; it 13 not in the thousand different forms under which the infamous truck system of robbery manifests , itself ^ throughout the whole of . the manufactaring and mining districts ; it ia not in the heartlessness with which the poor agricultural labourers ( decoyed from their own

      districts during the transient rampancy of an "increased foreign trade" by lying promises for the sake of keeping down wages ) are now left to die of famine ; ii is not to the devotion , at a single breakfast , of nearly £ 2 , 000 bo the carrying of words abroad while their next door neighbours are dying of hanger and lobbing swill tubs for ood ; it is not in their recent exhibitions of sympathy with us as jury-men , when onr best men were , by shoals , committed to the dungeon ' s gloom for the assertion of our principles ; it is not in the judicial murder of Clayton and Hoiberry , the all but murder of Duffy and Hoey , and

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      the now slowly perpetrating murder of Peddie and Brook , through the malignity of middle class jurors it is not in their utter refusal to co-operate with UB in demanding the recall of the unjustly and illegally expatriated Welch patriot b ; it is cot in the suffer * inp of the savagely and cowardly persecuted , and unjustly convicted and expatriated , victims of their own riot in the ball ring at Birmingham : it is not to

      any of these prominent marks of middle class character , nor yet to their more recent evidence of sympathy in the case of Mason and his Chartist brethren at Stafford , that we can look for any amelioration of the character which appertained to them in years gone by . It may be that our vision is beclouded , but to us , they wear the same aspect of dogged , unreasoning , and unreasonable , sordid selfishness as they have ever done .

      Well , but " vast numbers of them" now , " not only recognise us as an integral and important part of the body politic , but they have actually , in some instances , paid court to us 1 " Jf this had been a new point in their character , we might probably have been more easily deceived by it ; bnt we are old enough to remember that this is not the first occasion on which these parties , —not simply the middle class of that day , but the middle class of this day—have thought it necessary , for the attainment of their own objects , not only to recogniee us as an integral and important part of the

      body politic , but actually to pay court to us" ; and , knowing this , we are the less disposed to give them credit for any purpose now but that of again playing the same game . While , therefore , we , as well as the advocates of the middle class suffragists , " should deem ourselves criminal in the sight Of tbe people , and traitors to the cause , if Vve offered them any the slightest obstruction , when disposedno matter from what cause—to give a helping hand towards carrying the Charter " , we wish , before

      lending ourselves to them as tools in their hands , to know that they are giving a helping hand towards carrying the Charter ; and that they are not , while amusing us with talk about the Charter , securing our help for the carrying of their own * ' free trade " and " extension" projects , by the attainment of which our bonds would be rivetted more firmly , our poverty and degradation made more appalling , and the carrying of the Charter indefinitely postponed .

      We have never offered them any obstruction . We have never recommended that the slightest obstruction should be offered to them . We have never repelled any one of their advances in- the right course . On the contrary , we have given them eyery encouragement in our power . We have continually laboured to show them that their real interests were effcotually bound up with ours , and have invited them to join the people in demanding that universal right which must , eventually , issue in universal good . We have been always most anxious to see the middle

      classes join the people , and nothing could have given us so much pleasure as the consummation of this great good ; but we Bee a great difference between accepting the aid of the middle classes and suffering ourselves to be used by the middle classes ; and hence we have been just as cartful to avoid the latter as to obtain the former . For this reason we have watched always , and watched narrowly , the movements of these middle class gentry . We knew that no jot . of the full measure which was tbe object of our righteous contention could be abated " without & compromise of

      principle , " and that therefore if any honest coalition took place between us and the middle classes , it must be by their coming to us , and not by our going to them . This has always been our doctrine of " conciliation . " We know nothing of any "disposition to conciliate " which could induce us to give np one tittle of our full principles , or to slacken one breath of the fulness of our demand for right . Hence our continual warning of the people against the " Ballot , " the " Foreign Policy , " tha "Household Suffrage , " the "Short Parliaments" the " Education

      Suffrage , " the " Repeal of tho Corn Laws , " the " Repeal of the Poor Law , " the " Manhood Suffrage , " the "Universal Suffrage , without details , " and all the other crack moves of the middle class men , whether Whig or Tory . We have sung always one song . We have 6 aid to the people , " Keep where you are ; stir not an inch ; and when they see that they can't * fetch' you , they will come to you / ' The event has justified us . The very same parties who have successively tried all these moves have taken the last position prior to an amalgamation with the people . They have admitted all

      the principles for which we contend ; but they still stickle , and would still divide us on the paltry matters of inferior details—of leadership—and of a designation . This is , to ub , evidence of insincerity j and we must see better reasons for it than we have yet seen from its warmest advocates , before we can consent to regard it otherwise . But it is said that their recognition of our principles , whether sincere or not , tends to the enhancement and confirmation of those principles ; and must , therefore , however it may have been intended , be a great good , if we don't prevent it . Just so . And this is just

      what we have always Baid ; the very doctrine first preached , and often repeated by ub on this Bubject , Immediately on our learning that the Complete Suffragists had admitted all our principles , but yet refused to make common cause with us , we at once stated the opinion which we now repeat , that the conference men had proved to a demonstration their own insincerity , and that the people ought not by any means to unite with them ; while at the same time we most strongly warned them against

      offering any opposition to the new-formed " National " Complete Suffrage Union ; but exhorted them , on the contrary to protect and assist them oa all occasions of their piblic assertion of our principles . In our leading article of the 16 th of April , which we wish every Chartist would again read , after reasoning the whole question and proving the insincerity of the new " new-movers , ' we gave our opinion to the people in terms which we now repeat , having carefully reviewed and seeing no reason to repudiate them : —

      " The people shoHld have nothing to do with them . They should leave them alone ia their littleness , and laugh at them . The people must not oppose them , for they profesB to be seeking the advancement of our principles ; let them , therefore , go on their own way ; and if they are determined to go aloce—if they are determined to make a foot-road for themselves alongside the people ' s turnpike , in God ' s name , let them walk on it until their ancles ache , and they begin to feel their loneliness ; but support them against the factions in all their assertions of the great principles of liberty .

      If they should be weak enough to take the open field in defence of our principle ? , relying on their own strength , rush to the rescue , lest the enemy should overcome them ; let them not , by any means ' be beaten by the open and avow « d advocates of class legislation s on every public occasion when the Complete Suffragites muster for the assertion of our common principles , there let the Chartists muster with them to a man ; let there be no such division in our ranks as the enemy can take advantage of ; let tnem be well proteoted , and by our assistance made triumphant , in every public assertion of our principles which they may attempt ; but never leave them

      without letting them know to whom they are indebted ; never leave a meeting without a resolu tion pledging the people to their old leaders bo long as these remain faithful , to their tried friends , who have braved the battle and the breeze , to their own national organisation , which they know to be legal and efficient , and to tho evidence of sincerity to the cause by enrolment in the National Charter Association . This is the advice we give the people ; we give it in all sincerity and earnestness ; and we tell them , that if it be not heeded , they aro likely to have bitter and abundant reason for repentance . " We wish to recall attention to this advice , and to in treat the people never to lose eight of it . We do

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      so the more particularly , because we hear that during the past week a meeting of Complete Suffragists at Bristol , was disturbed and opposed by Chartists . ; If this was so , it was very ' wrong . It was affording , so far as it went , just cause for tho very complaints of intolerance and violence which the Complete Suffragists urge as a pretext for dividing the strength of our common body by refusing to unite with us . Again we say , " the people jiust hot oppose them . '' They profess t © assert aid advocate our principles ; and when they meet for that purpose , as seems to have been the case at

      Bristol , they should surely be allowed to do so peaceably , and in their own way . The duty of Chartista in reference te the Complete Suffrage union is very clear . It is their duty , while they carefully avoid joining or in any way actively assisting the union , to avoid , as carefully , the offering of any opposition , or annoyance to them . Attend all theii meetings ; . and , so long as they '¦ ¦ assert , without compromising our principles , take no part in their meetings ; leave them to do their own work ,

      unaided , but unmolested ; but if any compromise be attempted—any shirking or buTking of any of pur great questions , or any making of them subservient to Free Trade , ?* or " Corn Law Repeal , " or "Poor Law Repeal , ' or any other isolated matter—or if either Whigs or TorieB take the field in opposition to the Complete Suffragists , then let the Chartists do their duty ; let every other consideration merge in the great consideration of the assertion and upholdihii of the glorious principles of Chartism .

      This is the only way in which the Charter movement of the middle classes can be made to subserve the interests oif our cause . Let the Chartists thus act , and , if the middle claas be sincere in their movement , they will sbon discover' their own weakness and the absolute necessity of laying aside their fastidiousness and coming to the people ; that they may have power to attain their object ; if they be insincere , they will be fast nailed to the pillory of their own ehamo , and compelled either to exhibit their true character , or to go on aiding the work of righteousness against their will . In either case , the people will thus make the most of the middle class movement , by merely adopting the right mode of treating it .

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      not be glad to afford proof of his thorough attachment to the democratic principle by making personal consideration at once bend to public consistency . Let us not be ^ accused of ' ** denounoiDg ' the Executive . We have an opinion on' the matter ; we have a . right to state that opinion ; and there it is . Every other member has ah equal right to have his opinion ; and we oily wish our ' ato be taken for as much as it is worth . It is ouite competent for the

      people to make the alteration the Executive wiah ; but it can only be done properly ^ and legally in one of two ways—either by a general ballot , as in the eleotion of the Executive , or by a National Delegate Meeting . It is certainly not worth the expenoeof a National Delegate Meeting : and a general Ballot y ? ould be just the same trouble and expenoe as reeiacting the Executive at the right time ; so that nothing would be gained by that , save a perfectly useless alteration , merely for the sake of change ,

      ViTith respect to tho '* three great Conferences " proposed to be called by the Executive , we really think that in the present depressed state of the country the people ought to have more information as to ^ the : necessity for these Conferences than we have yet seen , before they are put to so tremendous an expence . It is a very easy thing to talk of sum-• monyiig National Conferences ; but the poor people , who have the money to find , and upon whom there are just now so many < many drags , ought to be well satisfied of the absolute necessity for them before they agree to them . Our own opinion ; is , that there

      is bo necessity at all for these Conferences ; at least we have not yet seen any . If the plan Of the National Charter Association be ; duly iacted on , the Executive can . obtain the opinions of all its members upon any subject much more effeotually by proposing the subject to ; their consideration , and requesting a general vote upon it » than by the much more expensive , and mnch less general expression of opinion , which might be obtained from a National Delegate Meeting ; because in the former case all could vote , and consequently all opinions would be expressed ; whereas in the latter case , very many localities being prevented , by distance and expence , from sending delegates , would be utterly unrepresented . Wo trust , therefore , that if

      the necessity for these three conferences be apparent to the Executive , they will make it apparent to the people before calling them , and that if by any means the expense can be avoided it may be ; that so the people may be all the better prepared to uphold the hands of the Executive with funds for lecturiug , publishing , and other absolutely necesmry purposes . We cordially reciprocate their opinion , that" the strength of » he Executive lies in the command of funds , and their weakness consists ia not being supported . " "We trust to see them much better supported in this way than they have ever yet been ; and for that reason we are very anxious thatthe resources of the people should not be subjected to needless drainB .

      In concluding our remarks , we again beg that the spirit of them may not be either misconstrued or misrepresented . The last Executive , in their valedictory addrens , admitted their public documents to be fit subjects for observation and comment . We hope the present Executive will not find anything here than fair comment in the few observations we have thought it our duty to make on this their first public document .

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      THE "EXTENSION OF COMMERCE " GENTRY . THEIR CONFERENCE . T HE L A TE MEET ING O F THE LEED S SHOPKEEPERS . "N ! O POLITICS" ! The " Extension" men of Leeds are sorely provoked at tho remarks we thought proper to make upon the recent meeting of the Leeds shopkeepers ; and more particularly that portion of them where we Stripped the " no politics" portion of the oon-COCtors' humbug of its very thin and awkwardl y contrived veil . They cannot disguise their chagrin . It peeps out , notwithstanding all the attempts of Mother Goose to smother and hide it .

      It was an adroit attempt on the part of the "Extension men" to tnrn to their own selfish account the very distress and privation they have themselves caused I and there is no wonder at their grief and rage at being foiled . "Ex tensions of Commerce" have done their work . They have reduced the working portion of the population to starvation and death } and they have brought the middling , the shopkeeping , class to

      beggary and ruin . But while they have done this , they have given MILLIONS and "HUNDREpS OF THOUSANDS" to our Mahshalls and our GoTTS ; our Peels , our Arkwsights , oar Strutts , our BouLTONs , our Gbantsj our Smiths , our Ghegs , our CoBDENs , our Dyers , our Walkers , and our Dunns . Though they have yeilded such bitter fruit to two entire classes of the community , the above-named individuals and a few others have

      made " a pretty penny" by them 1 -It . is an ill wind indeed that blows nobody good ; " and the interested in " Extensions of Commerce '' have raked up to themselves immense treasure from the nation ' s ruin ! Their wealth has given them power . That power they have used , and continue to use , to acquire to themselves more wealth . To do this it is necessary for them to hive further " Extensions of Commerce . " The workings of their own system ha > Y < 3 brought their trade almost to a stand-still . They have immense sums "invested" in mills and

      machinery . Unless these are " running " , that "investment" makes no " return . " To find employment far their machinery , they want "Extension of Commerce . " They have got it into their noddles that a Repeal of the Corn Laws would give them such "Extension ; " and they , thereforej use every means within the compass of their well-practised ast and wile to procure the " Repeal . " One of their means is to pretend to deplore the suffering they have occasioned ; to " SYMPATHISE" with the starving ; to counsel and advise the beggared and ruined ; and to press upon the Government the wretched state

      of the working and middling classes , with a view to the devisement of measures of relief : they taking good care that the only measure brought under the notice of the Minister shall be that one the } h&ve determined to carry for their own selfish ends!—Corn Law Repeal !! Ever since the dismissal of the Whigs from office , the cue of the Extension men has been to cry up the distress and suffering everywhere abounding . Before that period they denied its existence ! There is lying _ before us , at this moment , a large "blue . bookof 798 folio pages , crammed with " evidence" taken before the '¦ ** ¦ Select Committee on Manufactures , Commerce , and Shipping , " in the year 1833 ; That Committee examined Marshall , of Leeds , Greg , of

      Manchester , Lewis Loyd , Kihkman Firlay Joshua Bates , Henby Hdghes , John Bhooke , Timothy Wiggin , George deH . Larpent , and a whole host of other millowhers and merchants ; and the whole point of .. their evidence was to prove that the condition ef all classes of society never was so good as at that time ! that wages were as good a * they were ever known to be ; and that the Workman was able to procure everything that was necessary to enable him to live in comfort and " independence / ' Then , ** never were there such prosperous times , " was the cu «; and this continued up to the period of the Whigs being thrust oat of power ! AW , it is with these same parties , bankruptcy , "" rain , " " starvation , " " death" !

      [ By-the-bye the blue book" just spoken of contains some queer ^ things ; Borne vtxz queer things . Amongst others it contains the new mode of mstribctiom , under the millowners' system . To make oat their then case , Mr . Prosperity Marshall , of Leeds , was imprudent enough to give to the Committee a list of the respective rates of teases he paid , his mill " hands , " averring that he had paid according to that rate for ; more than twenty years previously . This list enables as to see who has had the lion ' s share of the wealth produced in Marshall's mill ! ThiB list lets : us into the secret of " MILLIONS" of money to the ** proprietor / 1 and of paltry pence to the worker !! This list is

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      extremely valuable . We shall try * some day ^ to place it before the public in a light Mr . Marshall little thought of when he gaye- it ! In the mean time we just barely mentioa the fact that the list , as given in by Marshall himself , gives an average of 6 s . lljd . per week for the whole " bands ' h © employB !!!—and that 16 s . 7 ii . i 3 th 6 tUmost average he pays to ** hands" of twenty-one years of age and upwards ! Just mentioning this fact , and just reminding the reader- that this man , who contended before the Committee that his men *

      weavers , ( who he showed were only receiving- 10 s . id . per yteek \ l ! ! for a whole week ' s work , ) were ^ exceedingly well off" ! that :- * their wages were as high then as during the war ; and that , as provisions were much cheapened , their wages would produce to them more comfort" J ; just reminding the reader that the man who thus " evidenced" had then bagged fox himself upwards of TWO Millions of money , we leave the subject for the present . Some day or other we shall have a pretty exposi in connection with it . ]

      To : accomplish their object—the forcing the Tory Minister either to give them " Repeal " or to quit office , the " Extension •» . mea have what they call a Conferencb now sitting in London : This Conference is composed of parties selected by th 6 members of the anti-Cora Law League . When this move was determined 1 on , it , was also determined : to get the Shopkeeping class to squeak out , so as to frighten Peel , if possible , into the demands ; of the confederated Extensionists . " Ready tools were set to work ; and , under

      the pretext of " eeivingh ^ party , " "having nothing to < lo with politics , " " pointing out no remedy , " they succeeded , in one or two instances , to get the shopkeepers to give mouth . Leeds was one instance Before ; that meeting some of its conoootors had departed for London , to sit on the "Conference "; and after the meeting others of them , who had merely been left behind to do the " humbugging * portion of the business (" no politics !") joined their colleagues , and used the Squeak so as to forward the ends of the " no politics" Corn Law Repealing gentry 1 !

      In another portion of our paper will be found a paragraph descriptive of an interview the confederated humbugs have had with the Minister . THERE they used the Shopkeepera' Squeaks in accordance with their present cue ; and although the poor brokenspirited humble TiLL-ocracy " could not presame to point put a remedy , " ftbe dextrous pullers of the wires that set tbe " humble" ones a-dancing , took care to represent it as their belief that a Repeal of the Corn Laws was the only means pf relief "ill ( 0 I how well the " np politics" dodge answers I ) Disappointment was the result of this interview j for they found that Peel too " SYMPATHISED " with the distress occasionedby " Extensions of Commerce" ! and tbey determined to " continue their sittings , and to use every ' constitutional [ of course means for the attainment of their object .- '

      Now then , for the ** Constitutional Meahs" of the confederated Extension men . In their organ , the Sun , of Thursday ^ July 7 th , we find the following : — ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ " ¦ / . ¦ / - . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦' - '¦ ; '! - ¦ ' .- '¦¦ : ¦ ¦ ¦ ; . ¦ ¦ The proceedings yesterday at the anti-Corn Law Conference speak for theniBelves . Gentlemen who DECLARED THEY WILL PAY NO TAXES TILt THE CORN" LAW BE REPEALED , were twei / erously chtered . The recital ' that workmen have said it was not words -would move Partiament , but force , and they would have it if they did not change tbeir Bvstcni , ' wa 3 heaid with no disapprobation . In the

      manufacturing districts men declare that ' no good caa be done until they riot , ' and in the metropolis the information la received with approbation . To-day and to-mo . trow It will be spread throughout the empire , and the i d e as ofrisinff , of rutting , and of refusing to pay { cures , will be presented at one and the same time to many thousand persons . The sanctity once belonging to the law , which prevented such conceptions , Is at an end ; tke minds of the people are becoming familiariBed with the idea of REgistance ; and , if their misery be not relieved , it will not be long before corresponding DEEDS will : spring FE 0 M IHB IDEA . ! '¦' : ' - . ¦/ . - ' . . . ^ :: ¦ ¦ ' . ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦¦ . ' ¦ ¦ ¦¦• ¦ - ¦ ¦¦

      • Mn common with many members of the Conference , and with the raemorialiata f rom Hinckley , we have become convinced that it . is useless to place before the Parliament and the aristocracy evidence of the Bufferings of the people . Politicians rejoice th&t the unimlj workmen of the manufacturing towns are tamed into obedience by hunger ; bigots exult that the half pagan , half free-thinking towns-people are for their sins visited by a judgment which threatens annihilation . To bigots and politicians , pictures of distresa in the manufacturing districts are not disagrs 3 aWe ; and we will not contribute to their p ' easvre by repeating them . We turn rather to ' Mr . Taunton ' s speech , who said— :

      " It appeared to him that the time was past for talking , The TisiE was COMK TO DO SOMETHING , and he would tell them what to do—( cheera ) He thought they ought to proceed at once to appoint a Com-MITTKE OF PtTBLIC SAFETT IN THE METROPOLIS , and indued every delegate from the country to pour in such facts as would organise such a body of public opinion as would create the utmost odium against those in power , and COMPEL them to yield . " * Famous " CoNstitdiional mbans , " gentlemen !

      Excellent ! Most excellent . ' ! One could almost fancy we were reading . one of the "Constitutional " speeches of the Reporm time ! " Pay no morb taxes" ! "Rising" . " Rioting " . m Committeb of public Safety" ! " COMPEL them t © yields ! O what " constitutional means" ! Where was the , Queen Groaner ? He ought to have been present . His absence is unpardonable ! There only wanted his one ingredient to make the budget of u Constitutional means'' perfect 1 Where , ; 0 whefe ! was groaning Neddx 1

      Reader ! look over the extract from the pun once more . Repress the almost overflowing indignation that ; arises from the reflection that these things are said and done by a set of the most cowardlyandmostselfish miscreants the ' light of day ever shone upon ; and said and done for the purpose of completely attd utterly kuining the nation that they may have an opportunity of picking up the spoil . Repress the choking . indignation that the remembrance of this fact calls up , and contemplate for a moment , their ludicrous phrenzy and pitiable antics . Remember that the vapouring detailed by the Sun is mouthed out by a party who

      dare not call a public meeting in any part of Eng * land in support of their measure of relief I Remember that all the above-reported froth proceeds from those who are obliged to skulk into holes and corners to do their business ; to ""• humbug" and deceive even the Shopkeeping class with their " no politics " dodge ; to hire men to sign their petitions , with vamped up names by thousands ; to send their prowling hireling lecturers over the country , to persuade the . people ( where they dan meet with any that will listen ) that another Extension of Commerce will do a / rgood : remember that tKe proposala and threats of hoi paying taxes "; of *? rising ''; of " rioting "; Of " DEEPS springing from the idea of resist ^ anoe" ; remember that these threats come from a party who are scouted from the public gaze the

      moment they show themselves 1 The very day after the above exhibition had been made in " Conference , " they determined to try , in an out-ofthe way place , the public mind ; and accordingly appeared before a portion of them as " SYMPATHISERS ^ with public dist ^ refer to the report of the proceedings on that occasion . He tvill find it in the first column of the second page of our present sheet . He wiH find too , that the whole herd were routed , scouted , brivbw from public gaze ! Pretty fellows these to talk of •' rising" ! of " rioting" I of " deeds" / of a "Committee sf Public Safety" ! Moderate your tempers , gentlemen ! Persuade your passion ! pray do , now . u Do not tear YQtra shibt ! " Take it coolly " Draw it mUd 11 "

      Ah ! but when is the " rising "^ and the ' rioting ?' to take place ! When ia the ** Committee of Public Safety" to be appointed ! And who are they to save 1 Let us know these things , pretty gentlemen We will find you a band that shall " save * ' you from even attemping to put your vaponring threats into execution 1 Will your . *? risings ? and your " rwiingi *' be , like your meetings , in holes and corners j Will you venture to come forth out of your hiding places ? If you do , the Chartist army shall keep you " safe " enough ! - : y : . ¦¦ : ¦¦¦ . - ¦ ¦•;' - - .. v-. / -- -. . ..::-:,-..: ¦ ¦ . ' - ¦;¦ ¦

      The Sfoethern Star Saturday, July 16,1842.

      THE SfOETHERN STAR SATURDAY , JULY 16 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      Brompton . —On Tuesday evening , considerable local business connected with the ensuing ball and concert , war transacted ; the mim of sixpence per week was voted to the wives of tbe Staffordshire vtctiins . The Committee appointed to draw up the itatement regard ing Mr . Stallwood reported , and were ordered to tend it to tbe Northern Star and British Statesman lot insertien . This locality will meet on the ensuing Tuesday evenisgs ( until they have procnrwJ a suitable lect «« room ) at Mr . Wright' s , tkd Eagle , Northnrtreet , Newroadi Chelsea , ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ - ¦'¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ / . ¦ ¦ , ¦' . ¦ . ; ¦¦ . • . ; ¦;¦¦ . :... . ¦ :: y . ~

      Untitled Article

      THE BRIGHTON CHARTISTS AND THE SOUTHERN STAR . TO THE EDITOR OF TUB K 0 B . TIIEB . S STAR . DEAR SIR . —Tbe enclosed address vras introduced » t our usual -weekly meetiag , the Brighton Chartists Toeing asxions to express their opinion of yocrself » nd our O'Connor , earnatty requesting you to give it iafcertion . « ' We , whose names are attached to this address , feeing members cf the General Council , and members « f the Kitional Charter Association , residing in Brighton ,

      having witnessed witii deep regret the divisions caused in this town , anrt tbronjjhont the oonntry generaUy , "by the conduct of some men whom we had reason to respect for their advocacy of our principles , and being anxions to use oar influence to restrain either good or bad men from itj&rlng that cause ¦ which , is as dear to us ss our lives , as -well as to check any " new move " Usat may be made by interested individuals , have considered it to be our duty to introduce and support at our "weekly meeting the following rtsolutien , proposed by Hi . Allen , seconded by Mr . Fiowtis : —

      " That we , tfee Chartists of Brighton , earnestly desiriag to see th * t union and brotherly attachment exist bes-ween all ttioi-e wbo are striving to obtain political freedom for the people , believing it to be essential to the success of the cause , have read with deep regret the pamphlet entitled A Tindication of Mr . O'Brien ' s Conduct it the late Birmingham Conference , ' and contoinicg a viritty of other articles which , in cur opinion , must tave the tendency to cause dissension ia our ranks , we therefore respectfully , bnt earaestSy , reqnest that Mr . OVBrieD , with every other friend to our cause , will abstain , according to toe rtsouaon aud recomiaendalion ef the late Con-Tention , from either writing , saying , or doing any thing that may have the effect of causing disunion among the Ccartist body ; but that through the

      unfkir conduct and abusive language of those who vrere opposed to tins raaolution—such as representing our respected and venerable friend Flower , as a traitor , and using language disgraceful to any body of menthe Chairmen dissolved the meeting , after five evenings's discussion , without putting either the above resolution , or tlitir smeiKiment , "Whicli "was an unquaVifieii vote of thanks , from all parties . A-aj sab-Sccp-mt proceedings we have b . ad nothing to d © -with , nenhtr do we rtr-ognisB any ; and we hereby express oar cctire cunfidence in Mr . Hill , the editor of the Jtortkern Star , and Fesjgus O'Connor , Etq ., its noble proprietor , and a-re folly resolved to stand by and support them , to the utmost cf our power , while they puriU 5 the persevering straightforward course they have hitherto done . "

      John Pase James Agturn George Tings John Knight William Flo-srsr Join GoSdard Junts Williajns Thomas Fisher William Lewis William Fisher Grtage GUes Henry Mitchell James Firxman , sen . John Allen John PllliEg George Ramsey Hturyluiett William Kvad EdwardFenner " William Head WHlton Stanley Stephen Burton John Boss Gsorge Taomsan Abrata Hunt Hbnry Brotrse "Wiinain Ellis Edmund Poundeibsry Josepb f iteman Rjcbard Goodtve ¦ Wiiliaia Ftist George Giles , Caairman . "William Flawer , sab-Treasurer

      There are many others of the very best Chartists in this trjwn wbo tsisa to akn it , but we are afraid of making the list too lang for your columns . Brighton , June 27 th , 1 S 12 . -CThe a&oTe address -was duly received in accordance with its dite ; but we were desirous to have done ¦ with the matter to which it refers . Having been twice -written to by the pariies , we give it at their earnest request , and have only now to add to it our owi reqnest that , whatever may be their opinions respectively on matters of inferior consequence , tbe honest frieisds of Cbarti ? 2 n in Brighton frill at least les tie enemies of freedom know that their private disagreements do not Brparate them from tbe

      coadvocacy of public principles . We thank onr friends f Gr the expression of their good opinion ; and trust that they -will as readily forget the matter of difference as we have already forgotten it , acd forgiven its anchors . "VVe are aware that every possible effort is being made to keep up the steam ; " hat the fi ^ tcisi fire trill bom cu £ , if no fael be supplied : and we are determined that the iideresled paries to tbis disgrac-J ' ul squabble—disgraceful only toits originators—shall drag no more fuel from u * We recommend a like course of forbearance to our friends . Let us go straight on our way , and treat tbe brawlers witii contempt . They will be quiet ¦ when ibey End that tbeir Tt > ciferations jjioroie no response—Ed . X 5 . ]

      Untitled Article

      THE NEW EXECUTIVE AND TH E NATIONAL ORGANIZA . TI 0 N . Wb direct attention to a letter from the Hull members of the General Council upon this important subject , and also to the first official document of the New Executive , which we how publish . Both these documents are important , and deserving of attention . We are glad to see the New Exeoutive awake to the importance of their position and the critical character of the times , as evidenced by the following extract :- ^ -

      " The Executive are , from the general appearance of the country , and information received , fully satisfied that the Government have resolved to prosecute , arrest , and imprison the leaders of the movement on the least opportunity being afforded them . The Executive , therefore , caution the members of the Association against the adoption of any secret plans of resistance , and advise them to discountenance all recommendations to the use ef physical force . "

      We know that the Exeoutive have good reason for tbeir apprehensions ; and while wo rejoice to see that the brave fellows who lead on the people are not a whit datuitsd by the prospect , bat , maugre the " exam pk . Iflfore them Of Fl-OSt , Williams and Jones , Clayton , ' Holberry , Brook and Peddie , still " hurl defianoe at the tyrants' heads , " we should be ill performing lour duty , did we not givo such timely and neoessary counsel as may tend , if heeded by the people , to make abortive all the efforts of the people ' s foes . And hence our prayer that the well-timed caution of the Hull councillors may be attended to . Our

      organization in its present state is perfectly legal , and should be perfectly adhered to . We have no fear of the people being led , by the ^ rascally spies of the Gove rn - ment , into physical outbreak . They have had enough of that . But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact , that the Tory laws against political societies—so long a , ad so carefully preaexved by Whig conservatorsare yet upon the statute book , and that the same party by whom they were enacted , to put down the rising spirit of democracy , are now in power ; and we do feel , therefore , that if our organization be not striotly and perfectly adhered lov-which it certainly

      is not , at pre 8 ent ~ a handle will be given to the enemy , of which they will not fail to lay hold . We purpose next week , if all be well , to call attention to this subject at some length . We shall reprint the plan of organization , and probably some of the comments we made upon it at its first promulgation in the amended form . We shall point the attention of various localities to practices existing among them , in direct contravention of its provisions , and show them what might be the consequence . We shall endeavour to give plain and clear

      directions to the General Council , to the sub-Secretaries , to the Executive Committee , and to the General Secretary ; pointing out the lespective duties of all these parties . We shall give all necessary information to the members for the conducting of the election and nomination pf their officers , so as to escape any legal hazard ; and show how , spite of all the cunning of the factions , the whole society may with the aid of a national organ , bo made to work harmoniously and simultaneously as a national body while every locality shall have all the briskness and impetus of resident self government and local

      exertion . This , in the present state of the law , 19 not an easy thing to be so done as to bid defiance to an Attorney-General ; but it may be done ; and therefore it , by all meansj should be done . We never acquit ourselves of duty by encountering needless danger . Meantime , we entreat the Chartist body to beware of any tampering with their organisation . Restless spirits must be ever meddling , and it is not unlikely thai in reference to the ' '• Conferences" reconr mended to be called by the Executive , mention may

      be made by some parties of certain alterations in the plan which they may fancy would work more efficiently and more systematically . The people must bear in mind that the question is not whether a better plan than the present one could be devised but whether any better plan be safely practicable in the present state of the law f We say unhesitatingly "No . " The amendment of the plan was the result of the most anxious , careful * and painsful consideration of the whole question , by a large body of intelligent men , selected from the whole nation for the purpose , and having before

      them every Act of Parliament bearing on the subject . Let ^ he people be assured that the plan can ot be again amended , &B to any of its main provisions , for active operation without spoiling it . We are anxious to see it in full operation ; and as our Hull friends say , adhered to , to the very letter ; and hence we should give our individual voice against even the trifling alteration suggested by the Executive : namely , the alteration of the period of election from March and April , to June and July . We hope that the next election of the General Council will be made all through the country at the proper time , and in due form , as both are specified ia the organization , and that the election of the Executive will also betaken at the proper time . The members of the present

      Executive have had the best proof they could have of the people ' s confidence in the factof the re-election of foar of them , after their former period of service ; there can be little doubt that their services hereafter will be V equally estimable to ; and estimatea by , the people With their services heretofore ; and there can , therefore , be no reason why they etould not submit themselves to re-election at the proper period , though a full twelvemonth may not have expired since their last re-election ; the more particularly as it will be a twelvemonth since the time when the last election ought to have taken plaoe . There is , to be sure , one member of the preBent Executive newly elected ; and who will not therefore have had his year of office ; but we know that member too well to suppoae that he will

      Untitled Article

      I . .. . ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦' . ¦¦' ¦ ¦ . .. . " ¦'¦ . /•_ ' /• : 4 THE NORTHEIN STAR . . ¦¦ ' . . . , ' .- . .,. v , ; . :.,-. ' : ¦/¦ V :,,,-: - :--. ^ y ' \ ^ ' > -

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 16, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct607/page/4/