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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd December 1843, Edition 3 of 5, Page 4, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW versus COAL-KING LAW.

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  • Departments (3)
    • CONSTITUTIONAL LAW versus COAL-KING LAW.
    • Cfcartisi 3&xtslli%tncz
    • THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1843.
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      Untitled Article

      CASE OF MBS . ELLIS . TO THE CHABT 1 STS OP Y 0 BKSH 1 RE . f 1 bed hoped that the appeal made by Mr . Sweet in last week ' s Star , in behalf of Mrs . Ellis , would Jwve met with an immediate and universal response ; J m bitterly disappointed , I have not the means to ijivea sum that would be of any use to Mrs . E . ; but ' imake jovitMs offer . —I vAll attend meetings m the Sunday , called for the purpose of raising subscriptions for Mrs . Ellis , at any place within twenty miles © f Leeds—I will charge nothing for expences , and go entirely at my own cost ,- you undertaking to raise ten shillings { and as much mWe as you -con" ) by collections at the meeting * or any other means you think - fit . Tise entire proceeds to he given to Mrs . Ellis . / Rm . it the circle 1 ° , iwsniy miles , because my very limited income will not . permit me to take a wider

      range at my own cost , and I wish to take nothing from ihe collections * The present state of my health trill not aU&tc me to speak more than once on the day of my visit , and ii trill be at least a . fortnight yet before I shall be at liberty to commence my tour . In the mean time I shall be happy to receive communications from any places wUhin the-prescribed limits . I . irustthat sty motives may not be misconstrued in making this offer . Forbidden ^ as I -am , by medical advice to attempt spedkiny at till under present circumstances , I had hoped to have been permitted to hate remained in privacy ; only to emerge from which as a public speaker upen rare and extraordinary occasions . But this is a case in which J feel bound to do » iy little best to help in saving an unfortunate family from starvation , and ihe democratic party from the indelible disgrace ichlch would be the consequent result . Gsorgs Jtjlian Habxkt . northern Star Office , Dec 22 , 1843 .

      Untitled Article

      Carlisle . —Mietik g gp tub Council or the Q-RT . T > T . Tt Chabtist Association . —At a meeting of the Council , held it their room , No . 6 , John-street , Caldewgate , on Sunday last , Mr . Robert Grahame in the chair , The address of the Executive was read irom the Northern Sfcr of Saturday last ; after ¦ which arrangements -were made for collecting the -tribute required oa Christmas Day . We have so doubt thkt a pretty liberal Bum will be collected . The attention of the Council were then drawn to

      ihe deplorable case of Mrs . Ellis , by Mr . James Arthur , who said it was the duty of every sincere dartist to assist those who were suffering under finch circumstances . After some very feeling obser-Tations from various members of the Council , the sum of fire shillings was ordered to be immediately remitted to Mrs . Ellis , along with one shilling snbfiflnbed for the pnrpose by Ml . Arthur . A vote of thanks was then carried to Mr . Baxter , for his handsome present of a cop ; of hia " Book ef the Basses . "

      The Bet . Wx . Hiii delivered two leetures in « nr Theatre , on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday last . After Mr . James Arthur had been appointed Chairman , the ReT . Gentleman proceeded "with his first lectnre , by introducing himself as a Christifta minister . He spoke in a singularly calm impressive manner , and was listened to throughout with the greatest attention . After delivering a diseonrse replete with facts and sound arguments , expository of the present state of England , he concluded bj promising to treat of the remedy for this state of things on the following evening , and retired amidst applause .

      SHEFFIELD—Fi g Tbee-luj—A good meeting wa 3 held on Sunday evening , which wag addressed bj Messrs . Green , Briggs , and EvinBOBu GiAseow . —In order to give every eoustesaBce the public meeting , beia in the City BaU , on Mobday evening , "to take into consideration the late interference of the Peel Ministry with the right of petition in Ireland , " the anal weekly meeting of Ibe Chartists , held in College-street Academy , was ad-JoHrned to Monday evening next , when business of serious importance to the people * caste will . be laid belore the meeting .

      A Pxtbuc llEXTis g was held in the City Hall , on Monday evening , for the purpose of talcing into consideration the conduct of the Government in reference to the Clontarf meeting , Mr . J . Tsrser in tie chair . The XMefing -was not bo numerous as might have been expected . The cause was , that the RepealersjaaxiouB to give jnportance to the meeting , threw themselves into the arms of the Complete Suffrage rump faction , "Who care as much about Ireland aa the devil doea about psalm Kinging ; bat who would join with Old JTick himself in order to jmt ^ down Cbartira . Tbe Bepealea were to bear the expanse , and Ure other party had the management of the affair , hence the failure . Had the Repealers acted boldly , and sought tea after Provost Lnmsden , and Whig town councillors , whose sympathy extends no farther than the

      polling booth , they would have had a very different ¦ ronofcrnj - George Anderson , 2 £ e % ., city conncillor , moved the first resolution , and thoogh Mr . Anderson is not a great orator , be had the boldness to declare what sons of his colleagues has ever yet dose , vis that , " the people would continue to be trampled upon 611 sack time as Universal Suffrage was the law or the land . " The other speaker * -were Messrs . Cullen , Card , "Malcolm , Dr . Hay , a Mr . Scott , from EdiDbarjtb , and Mr . M'Farlane . All the resolutions were cirried uaanlmouslj : and , without farther ceremony , a- vote of f-huWfrf was moved to the chairman , and the meeting distolved . No petition or memorial to the Queen was spoken of ; sotting but the mere passing of three resolutions , of » general nature , > ad there tne matter ended . ' . _ - ¦ .--- _ .

      Ma . Clabxes Toxjb—On Tuesday evening I leetared at Iraro to a large and enthusiastic meeting . JIi . Parr , a -working man , an honest elector , ably filled the chair . At the dose , Mr . Jury proposed , and Mr . Jjongmead seconded a resolution pledging the meeting to stand by the Charter , and to recognise only the National Charter Association . Several persons took out cards of membership , and the meeting separated , giving three cheers for the Charter . On Wednesday I proceeded to Bedrnth , but found on my arrival that owing to TinfavOTTralbl 1 ? rirciff "' ftM'rM » j it was Impossible to have a meeting there thai day ; so 1 left them with * promise to call on ttjat day week , when a goodly muster is anticipated . On Thursday 1 went to Hale , kere 1 was obliged to speak is the open ait Mr . Skewes , of Csmbome , occupied the chair , and opened tfio meeting In a most masterly manner . 2 spoke an konr . At the close of my lecture , several joined oar ranks ,

      ¦ W hilst all expressed ttemselTOS perfectly satisfied tbat nothing Bhrat of the Charter would make them independent of their heartless task-master * . On Friday , I proceeded to Penance , ft large town situate on the sea coast . Here I found a few of the Tight ^ rt of Chartists . In the evening I lectured to a sumeiuus auditory is Hr . O ^ Brien ' s eommodloms School Eoom , capiblB of iolaing 500 persona . Mr . O'Brien was nnanimoasly chosen to preside , who , alter addressing a few sensible remarks to the meeting , introduced me . I spoke searly two hoars . Before 2 left I had the pleasure of forming the nodnes of a locality which bids fair to gam strength and prosper . —Oa Saturday morning I left Fenzance fat Cambome , -where I again * lectured to a rmmgron * oat-door meeting . Oa the whole , from what I have seen cf Cornwall , I am led to believe that continued agitation , snch as has been carried on . in the Northern counties , would make it one of the meet

      ¦ B f > nr ? Bftrng CbiTUst sistncts in . England . THOWBRIDGB . —At a meeting of the Council held on Sunday morning last , a resolution was unanimously passed in support of the National Tribute . Col lectors were also appointed , and a Local , Treasurer to told the monies obtained by the collectors . To onr Chartist brethren we say , Go and do likewise . SXXfiTOK . —Mr . M'Grath tectured here on Sunday last , to an attentive audience , In the large Rosm , in Stifibrd-Btreet . The leetoer gave " great eatisfaction . After the lecture a subscription was entered into for the Rational Tribute , when to 6 d was collected .-CAaaXK 6 TOK MBAS KOTTJSffHJiX John Saskxrd , Tbomas Cuxnt , and 3 > aniel Gregory bave teea appointed collectors of the National Tribute . KA 34 CBSSTSB—CXRTSSTSBS' HALI- —On Suniay last two lectures were delivered in the above Hall , by Mr . J . West , from Sheffield * The jpadons building -was crowded ia every jsart .

      SALFORD—A lecture was delivered in the Chartist Boom , Breat George ' e-street , Chspel-rtreet , Salford , on Sunday last , by Mr . a Doyle , to » large and respectable audience . STOCKPORT—Mr . Edd , from Newcastle , delivered a . iectnie in the Association Boom , on Sunday evening last , to ' a large wdiesce . At the close of the l&ctere seven shillings was collected for Mrs . Ellis . BtTKT . —Mr . Ulxon delivered a lecture ia the Garden-street Lecture Room on Sunday evening last . LONDOn . -a meeting of tfce District Council was holden on Sunday last , Mt Kciengili in the chair . After the transaction of a good deal of business prindpal ^ connected with the getting up of meetinis-on the approaching liberation « t an . Wkite the meeting ad-J ourned . ° Political xxd Scxestoic ijrsTmjnoi . On

      Wobxibc TAxs ' B Hail , Mtle-Esd Road , —On Snaday" evening , Mr . B . Mau lectured to a crowded aBflfo"TO ^ n f ! h » TH » m * y \ H Uppt ^ i GOLCETr XTOKj DXAB-ITBIXTj SOBa—At theaeetiag , on Sanday evening , a mclktion was passed in favour of the National Tribute . At a Weetis * of the Haxamenmith Chartists , held on Tuesday evening , It was unanimously resolved to ommence the collection of the National Tribute next week . EhmxtTs Bbigad *—A pnhli * meeting -was held al the Bricklayer ' s Arms , Homer-street , New-road , on Monday night . The meeting was addressed by Messrs 'Wynne , Hastz ^ I > avoc , and others .

      ZfOCSWOOS . —On ] Sunday last , si the District Delegate Meeting , held ; in the Democratic Institution , iockwood , Mr . David Gledhffl in the chair , the following resolution war uusnimouily passed : — " That each I > elegate endeaTonr to raise a subscription in his own localily , to assist in carrying out the plan for ajj . fating the country , ai projected by the Executive ^ - _ >

      Untitled Article

      PliiSTOW . —At a meeting held ia the Chartist Boom it was resolved—" That a Committee be appointed to make the proper arrangements to ensure the representation of the democratic party in the Municipal

      COBDCS . HYDE . —On Sunday last the Chartists of this town held the fixate weekly meeting since the League Plot The members -who took cards from Hia " Champion of Liberty" When in Hyde came forward In the true spirit of democracy , and paid up their weekly subscriptions . All communications Intended for the Chartists of Hyde to be addressed to J . M . Leach , 82 , Charles-street ClHHEBO .-The members of the Working

      Men ' s Mental Improvement Seoiety met on Sunday night last . The subject was— "The best and surest means of accelerating the progress and dissemination of Chartist principles . " The subject was eloquently spoken to by various tweakers . At the conclusion , it was resolved that they should meet every Sunday evening . The subject for next Sunday evening ' s digcnBsion will be— " Whether a Monarchical or a Democratic Government is most conducive to the prosperity of a nation . "

      ASHTON . UNDER-I . THE . —Mr . E . P . Mead lectured in the Chartist Association Room , on Sunday and Monday evening .

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      THE DURHAM * DAMNABLE" AGAIN . Last week we ventured to give our opinion upon this case , having only heard the masters' side of it . That opinion was—that the tyrants had ; plundered their slaves , and wbib now experimentalising upon the feelings of the men . That they have selected this Thornley Coilierj for the purpose is not wonderful ; firstly , because from the number of hands engaged in it , a strike in that pit will become more expensive to the general body than if a smaller one had been selected ; and , secondly , because the Thornley bond presented superior means of exhibiting ihe power of the tyrants , and the weakness of their slsTes .

      Sznoe last . week we are in possession of the evidence for the defence , which will be found in another part of the paper , and will doubtless be read with deep anxiety . In order , however , to bring the subject dean to bank , and not to allow Hb « cl £ 3 or his devils any opportunity of laying oat tor black brass , we shall here make an abstract of the most material portions of the evidence , to be seen at a glance , and to be comprehended as a whole . Here , then , follows the case for the defence : — William Henderson—I will swear nothing about whether I was fined a shilling , because my mind is so distracted with this oppression that I c&a swear nothing about it—( load laughter and cheers from the pitmen ) . I have been a pitman thirty yean .

      John Stephenson—1 have been a coal hewer twenty years , and never knew so hard a bond . Although I have a wife and five children , I would rather go to that gaol till April than work under this bond . Jossph Loogstsjf—I am prepared to say from my own observation that it is impossible fox a man to live under that bond . Newtriek Walton—one of the deputation appointed to go to the inspector of weight ! We wen appointed because they thought the steelyard was unjust . They had previously made complaints of the steelyard . We went for an inspector , and he said be could not come , without an order from the Magistrates . We went to the magistrates , who refused us an order . The men bad seTerml times complained of tfee weights before

      John James Bird applied to the magistrates f « a summons against the masters for ill-usage , and had been refused . Went first to Mr . H « ys * B oftoe , and then to Mr . Hsys's boose , and tnen to Mr . Barry , the magistrate . Mr . Barry came oat and asked what - »• wanted . We said we wanted a summons for non-payment of wages . He aaked the sum , and we said three shillings . He said " For the small ram of three shillings I' I stated that it was sot an application individually but collectively , and that it amounted to a large sum collectively We wanted some ^—m—!«»_ , sad he said he was not there for discussion , and walked away without granting » romiDons . JJr . Barry is bow on the bench . John Cresswell—Had been ckarged fourpence a quart for splint for three smarts . John Lumsden—Had been charged threepence , fourpence , and a shilling per tub for splint

      Samuel Turner—Had worked at other collieries , and the five-quarter seam at Thornley was the dirtiest he bad eTer worked is . They were erecting a beam and scales now , and that bs believed was tie result ot the present strike , William Wilkinson—Mr . Heecles had told him Jie knew the weight waa unjust Mr . Heoelea said he knew thai it made a difference with th « weight aocordng to the end at which the tub went on , and that even a one-sided corf would make a difference .

      William Anderson—1 have used every energy to make a living , and have of late thrown of several tabs a day to get clear of the fines ; and I think if we were to be fined for having a quart of foul coal it is impos-¦ & !• for my man to make a living . N o man can live under the present bond . I think the prison is a place to which I would sot like to go , but I would rather go there than go to the colliery any more . They have charged me fourpence a tub when they should only have charged me threepence .

      William Ord—Went- to Mr . Heceles , asd he asked me if I was not content with the half-crown ; and I said , " If o , mm ; how can I be content with half-aerown taken eff when I have only addled tJtree shillings ? Bs threatened to get a warrant against me . They fine us jost as they have a mind . It is anything bat just Mr . Heceles sent for a warrant , but we got advice from an attorney , and the warrant was never got . The men were stapid or half mad when they went home last Friday night We did not ask for the Quart pet . If Mr . Heceles stated ao , he has

      told a lie , and a gross lie . The refusal of the warrant tvhich was applied for at Durham Irritated the men ' s minds , because they thought the masters could get Si waggon load of "warrants and the men could not get one . ' They thought they could not get justice either from the owners or the magistrates . Just previous to the 24 tb , the men came to the resolution that they would stand for ever unless they got justice . Every man will go to prison rather than yield . I will rather go to prison tr >» " work at the main « oal or any seam they have .

      William Kay , weigher for the Thornley colliery . The witness after describing the working of the steelyard , said he could make it either just or unjust u be chose . By the shifting of the weights the men might lose five pound * . Did , not . think be eosld do justice by this macaine . John Bates—Since the bond bad been put in force had been fined threepence a quart , and before fourpence , and one shilling a tub . The men are tired of applying for summonses . Tbey applied at Durham twice . I know they applied twice , for one time tbey did not come .

      William Toplis—Mr . Heccles * has offered me a bribe to swear that the men could gets living . I was at work about a month ago , and he comes unto me and says " Who - Bthis" ? I bsH" Toplis . " He says "I suppose you waat the boxes , don't you ? I said "Yes , of course . " He asked what we wanted with them , and 1 said to see them laid out He said " the men are going to get a summons 1 suppose . " 1 said 1 don't kaow , you are the likeliest to know . " He said "do you think

      that you could sot work here a week or a fortnight and have none laid ont" ? 1 said " No , 1 did not suppose l could . " He says " if you win swear that you could work here for a week or & fortnight without having any laid ont , you shall have your bread for nothing "—( loud hootings ) . He said " 1 should have easy work , 1 should have my bread for doing nothing . " 1 thought my father Tfonld not let me , and 1 said " 1 dust not say . " Nothing more took place aboat that . 1 thought him a nice "iaTy l recollect 1 am on my oath , and 1 swear that alii have stated is true .

      Augustas Bang—The men were anxious to obtain justice from the masters and the magistrates . When the summons was refused the xn « n gave it up as a bad job . Tbey said it wo as much use going to Castle Eden or Durham as going to a mad dog . I believe no man will ever work-at it I asked for my clearance , and be said if he gave it to me be would put something in it which would make me get work nowhere —( yells ) . Robert Toplis—If the bond bad been enforced the colliery could not have been carried on—it would have been impossible for a man to get a livelihood

      Robert Walton—Have been at Mr . Hecdes about the beam and scales twice . It has bees a constant irritating sore on the men's minds . It was the Intention of the sen to try to get justice if tbey could get it I think the men would sot have strode if they had got a summons when it was applied for . The refusal of the summons was a rankling sore to the men , and waa spoken of by them as a refusal of justice . Since these proceedings eemmenoed I have beard tha men say they would get so justice . Reuben Fonter . —Had bees fined lla 4 d . the last pay for the last three days . I worked SS tubs . When I went to the overman to reckon he said my coals were

      HlbK abort ia weight The hewing came to ( s . lid ., and I was fined for 43 qnarts , at 3 d ., which came to 1 U 3 d ., so that I was 4 s . 4 d . in debt for three days ' work . When the pay came on , he deducted S 3 quarts of theflne , and then I had only fld . to receive . He *^ ^ v ° ^ * I ***? ' ^ J only got Bd . Did sot hear U « clause about the quart before I signed the bora , i will swear it -was never read in my presence . It was sot generally known among the men that the fine was a quart I signed tie bond in the office . Tbey would not let me write my name , bat took hold ot my hand whilst I made my marS . I can mite . Would be about two minutes in the office altogether . No explication was made to me nor the other men wlio were

      Untitled Article

      there . There wm a great number In at the time . Mr . Heccles asked if I had come to get bound , and asked my name . I told him , and he wrote my name , and took hold of my band till I made the cross . Charles Willett—Iput « ny crossto the bond . lean write my name . The bond was not read to me . That I'll swear . JoBeph Burnett—Had been fined 6 i . « d . for twentysix quarts , during the three last days . Had only put his mark to the bond , though be could write . The bond had never been read to him . He could not sake a living under the bond , and would rather go to gaol than work tinder it Tha boxes were set tip at the request of the men , but sot the quarts .

      William Park—Tbey conld not send up a tab with less than a quart of black brass . He waa Is . 9 d . in debt after working three days . Edward Clark was three miles off when the bond was read over , but afterwards signed it No explanation was givtn me of the bond at the time I signed it I dl « not know that I was liable to a quart fine . Jabee Wonders—The bond was read ovei to me . I could sot write , bnt have put my mark . When I went to reckon with the overman I was fined 12 a for the three days . I then stood 3 r . indebted ; to my master . I laid down e » . fer the overman to take pay , and be refused to take it . The men did not think tbe masters would have been so unreasonable as to exact the quart fine . Did not bear that part of the bond read .

      Joseph Walker—It would be impossible for any man to make a livelihood in the place where I nave worked for the last six weeks . It is a place not fit to put a dog In , 1 st alone a Christian . The bond was not read to me , and no explanation was given of it to me . I will swear the bond was sever read in my presence . The air was so foul , that after working two hours my head got so bad that I could work so longer . Though I have a wife and four children , I would rather go to prison than woik under that bond .

      Robert Richardson—There is no nan better acquainted with the colliery than I am , and I am certain that so man can send up a tub with less than a quart In weighing the coals , we see nothing bat tbe baulk asd the weights . We cannot see the pivots . We cannot see the figures . With a bean and scales we could see everything fair . I have never been before a magistrate , but I would rather go to prison than work under the bond . Thomas dough—I believe that during those days the men did all they could to get their coals clear , for when they came to me some of them shed tears at the imputation of being fined . They have not the 'policy to shed crocodile tears , The year before last I was Bsntr

      to see about the weighing machine by the men . I wished to see if it was just , and I made application to tbe colliery for weights to test it , aad see if it was just , fcnt I could not get them . A fortnight after I thought there was a deficiency in the men ' s surplus weights , and on looking saw there was { tha main pivot deficient . I made application tor those weights again , and found tfie steelyard , had a variation of lSlba . against the men . I am of opinion that men cannot make a living her * under tbe bond . The men applied to me about this strike , and I persuaded them off , for I am against all strikes among bound men . They said they bad made an application to the adjuster of weights , who

      had refused to come and adjust tbe machine , and that he had refused to come without an order from tbe magistrates . I advised them to apply to the magistrates , and they said tbey had refused to grunt an order . X then advised them to apply to Mr . Wood , and they said tbat they thought it would be of no use , and that the only way to bring the matter before the magistrates would be to strike , and they went away with that determination . I believe if the men were treated with a kind feeling , they would at once go to work . I have heard tbat twenty colliers are now at work through Mr . Robert's advice . I never heard it repeated that you endeavoured to . widen tbe breach between the mastere and men .

      Andrew Hope—I . hav # been fined . They gave me 7 d . to take home for my three days' work . The amount of fines was Al 2 s . Cd . ; they , however , deducted some f uarta off . I am sure it is impossible when a Bias only earns 0 s . 4 < i ., when Ms . 6 d . 6 taken off when the coals come to bank . I would ratbar go to keep my father company than find my own candles , powder , and backey , and still be indebted whan 1 come to bank . Now that is the evidence of honest working men . Sworn before those who were cognizant of every fact , with ft solicitor to protect them—with a bench of masters to appeal to , and yet that solicitor does not appear to have received any instruction to break down , to weaken , or ? to negative , this portion of the evidence . Tbe reader who has impartially perused

      the case , will , like ourselves have come to the conclusion , that a grosser act of tyranny , a more lagrant act of injustice or barbarity was never yet committed , than than of which the Thornley Colliers have one and all to complain . As well those who being robbed are compelled to remain idle , as those who , being plundered , are now suffering the felons fate . We ventured last week to assert that the bond had either not been read , or had been falsely read to the pitmen who signed it . In this atSettion we are fully borne out by a large number of tbe contracting parties , while Jabei Wonssbs swears that the part of the bond imposing a fine for a quart of u fool" fT ± S MOT MXAM OTBH TO HIM . It WOUld be as insult to the pitmen to comment further upon the portions of the evidence that we have selected , and therefore we shall proceed to a general consideration of the case .

      In our general reviews of popular grievances we have endeavoured to convince the working classes , that the hardships imposed upon them by statute law are comparatively insignificant when contracted with those grievances imposed upon them by looal clubs of capitalists . We could not have selected a more perfect illustration of our views upon this subject than tbe case sow under consideration furniBhcs . It is a hard thing that a man should be transported or imprisoned for shooting a hare , caught in the act of injuring bis poperty ; but the man may abstain . It is a hardship to imprison a man for giving tree expression to hid political or

      religious opinions , bat then he may abstain . But how much greater the hardship upon a man who after having earned live shillings by two days' hard labour is compelled to forfeit the whole amount , and to add six shillings to it , in compliance with the conditions contained in an illegal bond . What act of tyranny equal to this can the law commit against a working man t What act of the law is there against which he has not some chance to battle ; while in this case all hope is cut from under bis feet ? What one act of the law will induce thousands of honest working men to prefer a prison and hard labour to compliance with its provisions-I

      What act of the law can so poignantly strike the working man as to make him shed tears for the injustice to which it subjects him f—while we find the clubbed power of the tyrant taskmasters forcing tears from their eyes as they are compelled to grope their way penniless to their expectant families , after a sight of unremitting toil in a dark , a damp , and a loathsome atmosphere ! What Act of the law can tnrs their labour upon a blunted pivot f What Act of the law justi-£ es the oath-man , Hscclxs , in endeavouring , to snborn a man to perjury , to aid him in blB acts of plunder ! What Act of the law justifies a knot of village Dosbebkies sitting in judgment upon honest

      men , by whose labour , or rather upon whose plunder , their wives and daughters are enabled to appe&r at church with an extra ruffle , a sable muff and boa , or satin dress , while they implore curses upon the heads of those who would rob the poor , the widow * and the orphan t What law justifies the sneaking sycophant who scribbles in the Durham J-diertiter , in his attempt to convince the world , after tha evidence that we have adduced , that the men are criminals , and the masters most merciful 1 No law justifies these things : and yet are men robbed , Bent to prison , and treated as criminals , because they prefer idleness to paying six shillings a day for beiag allowed to work .

      How happens it , we would ask , that that portion of the press calling itself Conservative , has sot dared to meddle with this easel There are portions of that press loud in denunciation of acts of oppression committed by individual aoblemen and gentlemen . If a Noble Lord dares ujustly to eject a peasant from bis cottage aia politics are no protection againat the censure of the press . If a Noble Lord who has been accustomed

      to ihe rigid rule of the quarterdeck , takes the law into his own hand 3 and orders a father to whip his own son , for killing a hare under very mitigated circumstances , his Conservative politics do not screen him from censure . But when the tyranny of the club is brought into action , and . when the rights of labonr are to be contested against the usurpation of capitalists , then is the press silent . Then do the treacherous acts of Whig Justices silence the thunder of its eensurf .

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      In onr comments upon the magistracy we speak generally , referring as well to those Cotton Lord Justices who sit in judgment npon their slaves as to tbe Coal King Justices who sit in judgment upon their victims . In all future oases when the men are complainants we trust that they will procure the attendance of the few high-minded magistrates who still remain , and who wilt interpose their anthority between the rich oppressor anditue poor oppressed ; and that in tbe meantime Mr . Robgbts will prepare such a oaeo for Mr . Doncoubb to move upon in the

      House of Commons as will insure to the men the substitution of an honest tribunal for that in which neither we or they have confidence . Yes : although the appointment be surrounded with all the horrors of patronage , let us hav » stipendiary magistrates appointed by the Government , and wholly unconnected by marriage , blood , or plunder , with coal property . Let us not see the complaints- of honest men , robbed of their labour , submitted for adjudication to Lords of the manor , who own the royalties ; to coal kings who own the labour , and to viewers and overseers , whose very existence depends upon their ireaohery . Let us have enough of those stipendiary magistrates , both in the factory and

      the colliery districts , and our Hfe upon it , if they do their duty , they will place a large amount in the Exchequer annually , after paying their salaries , arising from fines inflicted upon the masters for their violations of the law . This is one of the changes which the operatives and colliers should insist upon . It is one that the peace of the country , the very existence of sooiety , and the stability of the throne , must depend npon ; for in our conscience we believe that a few more such instances of disregard of a ] l law , as those recently evinoed in the counties of Durham and Northumberland , will lead to a system of wild revenge , such as Irish feeling now presents .

      Ia perusing the evidence it will be seen tbat even \ he three-pence a quart imposed by the bond for " foul * ' did not satisfy the just viewer ; but that , on the . contrary , in most cases , four-pence per quart was exacted . We would ask if the Durham Justices could be prevailed upon to believe that they had jurisdiction ; and if not in this case , would they , or the Durham scribe inform us of any description of casein which the men were complainants that they would have jurisdiction ! Then we have a word to say to the Durham shopkeepers , who constitute a portion of that tribunal to which the justice or injustice of the

      whole case must be interestedly submitted . We will suppose that £ 00 men are thrown out of employment by the strike of the Thornley Colliers , and that according to the terms of the bond those 500 earn twenty-six shillings a fortnight each , and all of which would be spent with the Durham shopkeepers . That sum would amount to £ 650 a fortnight ; a sum the abstraction of which from the labour fund would be sensibly felt in their tills oa Saturday night ; and will those shopkeepers reflect that the whole of the Bench , together with the proprietors of the Colliery , are , one and all , free-traders

      of the darkest dye ; and will they longer hesitate as to the part that they shall henceforth take ; whether to assist wealthy individuals in reducing wages , or the community of working men to increase and protect wages , the result of which would be a larger traffic , and consequently more profits to their order ! The thing is now done , the victims of the cupidity and tyranny of the masters are consigned like felons to the dungeon and the treadwheel , and , therefore , it becomes those , upon whose behalf they have volunteered themselves as a willing sacrifice to etand by them in the hour of need , and to support their destitute families during their absence .

      It is the duty of every pitman , and of every man connected with the colliery forthwith to join in a union for the support of these men and their families . Committees should be appointed , and all means for collecting the pence of tbe men to battle against the pounds of their oppressors , should be put into immediate and active operation , so that the tyrant masters may be baulked of the triumph anticipated from the first blow . Nay more , in every instance where colliers deal largely with shopkeepers , let them ask those shopkeepers respectfully for their 'Subscriptions to aid the "turn-outs" inUheir righteous

      struggle against their oppressors . Upon our part , to shew that we practice as well as preach , we have banded one pound to Mr . Roberts , by order of the proprietor , and five shillings from ourself to bead the list . We do this because we look upon the struggle of the Thornley Colliers as one upon which the fate of labour must materially depend . These men must not , from poverty , be forced back into the jaws of the devonrer . They must not be again subjected to the condition ? of the hellish and inhuman bond ; and , above all , the masters must not establish tbeir unopposed tyranny upon suoh a precedent .

      We will say that 100 , 000 pitmen will feel an interest in this case ; an interest sufficient to induce them to subscribe a penny a week towards the support of those who are unwilling idlers , and which would amount to £ 416 133 . 4 d . per week . SuppoBe there are £ 00 men on strike receiving ten shilling a week , that would amount to £ 250 , asd which deducted from the weekly subscription would leave a Surplus of £ US 13 s . 4 d . for general purposes . This is but the social part of the questionthe feeling part of the question—and we have yet

      to view it m its moral tendency . We contend for it , then , that an honest hard-working man should not be allowed to spend six weeks or six minutes in a felon's dungeon , and committed to hard labour , without receiving full compensation from his fellowlabourers , as far as they can render it , at the expiration of bis sufferings . Every pitman , aye , and every man who lives by his labour too t should be in Durham upon the day of the liberation of their victimised brethren , should receive them at the prison doors ; should take them in triumph through tbe town , stopping before the Justice Hall , to allow the public voice to be heard within Ub walls , giving the

      lie to that judgment which pronounced honest English working men to be criminals . We have not done with this case . We shall not be done with it either , until we see the effect that ( he reading of the Thornley bond by Mr . Dukcoimb in the House of Commons will produce upon those who , last sessions , were so loud in their sympathies for the oppressed Colliers , Aye , the whole bond , the Thornlev damnable , must be read and published to the world . Jtshall . be in every man ' s hand who chooses to pos-S £ S 9 ; it .. ' We will publish it in the Stmr next week , and then appeal to every honeat man in England , whether There is not more honour in the breach than in the observance . "

      Again we have to express a hope that the Conference about to assemble at Manchester will see that this is Retting in that hiu end of the wedge , in order to split up the Union in its infancy ; and that no available opportunity will be lost in driving it : while the very existence of the body depends upon the result of the pending contest . It would be unfair to withhold from Mr . Robsbti thai large measure of praise which is due to him , as well for his warmth as for his ability . It is a novel thing to see the warmth of the gentleman , and the

      ability of the practitioner equally offending the ears and paralysing the nerves of the poor man ' s oppressors . In general it ib the practice of those gentlemen to be employed by the defendant and concerned for the plaintiff ; but in the case of the Colliers we find their advocate entering heart and soul into the Bufferings and feelings of his clients , and actually endangering his own personal liberty by the free expression of his warm feelings . Apropos of this . It appears that the Durham Dogberrys threatened

      to commit Mr . Roberts for contempt . What a joke ! A joke to speak of , a joke to think of , but no joke to them , had they dared to put their threat into execution . What ! a bench of village justices to commit an advocate for discharging his duty , with warmth , and for repelling insolent insinuation by indignant denial ! Commit him , indeed I Had they dared to go this length , they would have gone beyond the limit of their tether , and from their rashness , they would have learned the wholesome lesson

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      that Mr . Roberts , as well as themselves , was one of the parties to the proceedings : and , although they bad the will , they had not the power to carry it into execution ; But the bond and the support of the men on strttce arc now the all-important considerations . The bond , when read in the House of Commons by Mr Ddncombe , will find its way into every paper in the Kingdom . Then the men ' s case , through our humble instrumentality , will be submitted to the general review of public opinion—then they will be justified by that opinion , and by it their masters will be damned .

      Untitled Article

      THE AR ^ S BILL IN OPERATION .

      M NIX MY DOLLY FALS , FAKE AWAY . ' There are some subjects so seriously ludicrous that it is impossible to decide upon the most-fitting description of criticism ; whether to weep at tbe unaccountable blunders and tom-foolery of the clown , or io laugh at the Borrows of tha brokenhearted heroine . We confess that the ignorance , the patriotism , the anticipations of danger , and the valiant precautions to prevent it ; the rantings , the ravings , the forebodings , and the heroic deportment withal of the Cork magistrates , recently assembled

      at Maoroom , for the purpose of administering the Arms Bill , places ub in " a pretty considerable fix , '» and rather puaijes us as to the course which , as journalists , it is our duty to take . Speaking , however , of tbe Arms Bill itself as a measure , we may , with becoming pride , refer our readers to the fact , that while the Bill was under consideration , we opposed it , not more because it was a gross violation of the constitution , than from the fact , as we have over and io ? er again stated , that the village Doosesbibs , acting ! as the Executive of the Protestant party in Ireland would convert it into

      a " eatus fall ?' ; and under it would rally all those evil sectarian passions against which the Government and the Irish Executive would struggle in vain . Indeed , to this end the magistracy was purified by the Lord Chancellor ; none being allowed to remain in the Commission of the Peace save those who could be safely relied upon .

      to aid is the subjugation of Ireland . Whether or no we were right in our conjectures will ' be best proved by reference to the proceedings of the first court , held in the great county of Cork , for tha purpose of administering this unconstitutional , anti-Irish , anti-Catholic Bill . Since that report waa in type , however , we have received the following-more graphic description of the extraordinary proceedings from an eye witness .

      Upon Mairxo 1 d « h M'Donnacan , of Sleiveballykinmaokmuckridgetownorossroad , applying to register fire arms under the Act , the following dialogue took place : — \ Chairman—Is jthere any objection to this man t First Magistrate— -Yes . I have a few questions to ax him . Are you a Repale Warden ! No ; I am not ;

      Wore you ever I No ; I wasn ' t . Did yon collect the Repale rint f No ; I didn ' t . ; Did you collect the O'Coanell rint 1 No ; I didn't Damnation to your sawl do you mane to tell me that you are not ( a Repaler f No : to be sure I ' m a Repaler .

      Magistrate—Q wisha , you thundering villan , did ' nt I know you were a Repaler ! reject him . Stipendiary Magistrate—Is there anything against the man ' s character ? Several Magistrates speaking together . Och tunder and agers , agen his character ; what do you mane , with your speeching , you piebald Protestant ! Isn't he a Repaler , and isn't that enough for you ! \ Stipendiary—No . The law requires something

      more . ; Bench—The law is it 1 what the divil do we care for the law ! Ar ' n ' t we the law 1 Stipendiary—But then the Act of Parliament . Bench—Wisha , blood and tunder ; isn't the maning of the Act of Parliament in its ieeence and spirit , its very body and sleeves , breathing through its very nostrils , ; the disarming of the Repalers , for the preservation of the peace , and the safety of Her Gracious Majesty ' s crown and dignity !—( Cheers . ) ! Stipendiary—But wejmust go by the law .

      Bench—By the law is it ! What the divil law was there for striking honourable men out of the Commission t aad can , we allowtthe sting to remain in the tail when the Lord High Chancellor has knocked the vinum out of the head of the serpent ! —( Vociferous cheering j followed by—reject him , reject him , reject him . ) " ^ Kit Downing , \ from Skibbereen , was the next who claimed to j register under the Act , when the following dialogue took place between Alexander O ' DriscoII , J . P . j and the claimant . O'Driscoll—Downing , I ' ve a question to ax you . Arn ' t you a Repaler ! Kit—No , I am sot , Mr . O'Driscoll ; but why so , Captain f ¦ f

      ODriscoll—Because you ' re an ungrateful vagabond . ( JTiV— Well , Mr . O'Driscoll , but you astonishes me i Had ' nt I often the honour of dining at your own table , and didn ' t you often dine at mine ; and whit have you agin me i O'Driscoll ^ -0 ! the curse of Cromwell upon you . Kit ! Didn't I give you many a good " blow out , " and a skinful of beef and cabbage , and as much Parliament whisky as you could tuck mto your carcase , and didn't you prove ungrateful , by attending the Repale Meeting in Skibbereen , contrary to my express proclamation f

      fit—To be sore I attended that meeting ; bat that was before the Clontarf meeting . Several Toicet—Och % tbat makes no difference . The magistrates ] mere dismissed before the Clontarf meeting ; reject him—reject him . Stipendiary— Is there anything against the man ' s character 1 j O'Driscoll—Yqb ; he owes me an arrear of tithe of £ \ 17 s . 3 d : isn ' t that enough ? Several Voices—Yes , yes ; reject him . Kit—Och , Captain , Captain , didn't jott distrain a fine two-year ould coult , and three lambs , for the debt ! ' j ¦

      O'Driscoll— Hear that gentlemen j by the holy post , and , as I am an honourable gentleman , that coult and lambs were the ruin of me ; and I never charged the ungrateful rascal a farthing : bnt the coult gave Blue Sam the best hunker that I ever had , the mange , and I lost him for the season ; and bat ihe lambs gave me whole look the scab . All—Shameful I shameful 1 reject him . Stipendiary—I object . All—Nose of [ your speeohing ; pitch him over . Who the divil cares what you object to . Reject him ¦—re ject him . | Mat tfallmven jwas the next claimant ,

      Magistrate— Mat , yoa ' re a broth of a boy . Damn your soul wasinftityou that shot the ould vixen , with a belly off cubs in her , last March ; and is that the gun you want to register t Mat—Wisha ypar honors , but sure I complained to bis honor time after time , and all to no purpose after she took a > vay the ould turkey and left the whole brood to jdie on me ; and then took three early lambs that I had to pay the rint , aid was destroying me , and the divil a bit of consideration hw honor had , bat laughed at me . Several Magistrates—Answer the question , Sir , without equivocation . Did you shoot the for f

      Matt ( scratching his headJ—Am I bound to auswer that question f Stipendiary—No , no . Magistrates-Yes , yes . If you don't answer it you ! llbe committed for contempt of court . Now , will you answer ! Did yoa shoot the fox f Mat—I didn't jthen . Magistrates—Yon . thundering liar ; you perjured villin ; you lie , you lie . Reject him .

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      Clerk—Take down his words ; we'll commit him for perjury . Mat—Well , suppose I did . Magistrates—Why , that Mr . COuld transport you for it . Mat—O well then , you may reject me , and 111 give my gun to his honour . Tim Mullagan was the next applicant . !! Magistrate—Axn ' t you a poacher I Tim—Wisha , what ' s tbat , your honor ! Magistrate—Why , don't you shoot game by moon .-light ! Tim—Indeed , then , I don't , your honors ; but I wouldn't know how to shoot them .

      Magistrates— Then what do you want of a gun , if you don't know how to shoot them f Tim—Of wiBha , your honors , sure a man that couldn't shoot a snipe or a patridge that would be flying , might hit a crow in his corn field , or make him lave that any how . Magistrate—Gentlemen , I contend for it , that a man that could shoot a crow , could shoot a Protestant . ( Cheers and shout ? of reject him , reject him . ) Stipendiary— -But the act . Several Voices—Damn you asd the act . Hasn't he convicted himself as clear as the nose on your face V Reject him , reject him .

      Teady > Muldooney was the next claimant . Magistrate—What do you want Muidooneyl Tead— Why , your honors , I want t # register under the act . Magistrate—At'n '' t you a Repale Warden I Tead—No , I am not . Magistrate—Did you ever collect the rint ! Tead— I didn't . Magistrate—Weren't you suspected of Btealiug Mr . M'Sweeney ' s pig ? Tead— I , never hear I was , indeed . ^ / Magistrate—Mightn ' t you be suspected without hearing it t Tead -I might , indeed .

      Magistrate—Well then , gentlemen , I contend for it that the very guts and the essence , and the marrow—( hear , hear)—of the act applies to the disarming of suspicioue characters —( Cheers , and reject him ) . Magistrate—What kind of fire-arms have you ! Tead—Wisha , indeed , your honor , then I don't know how they are spicified in the act ; but I was tould by the neighbours that all fire-arms should have the Protestant stamp upen them ; and so I brought mine for the purpose . Mogislrate— -Well , where is it ! A detonator , or a flint lock , or a fusee , or a patent breach ! or doea it go off by a match f or is it a rilef or what the divil is it !

      Tead— Indeed , and your honours , it ' s none of them at all , but here it is , says Tead , (( drawing a long poker from under his great coat ) , sure this is my fire arms ; and but the neighbours tould me that the act meant every thing that could give a wound , and but I thought . that my poker was included among them . Magistrates—You scoundrel , 'twas the priest put you up to this , to insult the Court . Clerk , make out his committal for contempt . Tead— Indeed , God knows , your honor , bat I did not mane any offence ; but the neighbours tould me that nothing was safe , that hadn't ihe brand upon it , and that I might be transported if it was found with

      me . Magistrates?—We'll adjourn for an hour to take this case into our serious consideration . At the time our report loft their worships had not resumed their Bitting .

      Constitutional Law Versus Coal-King Law.

      CONSTITUTIONAL LAW versus COAL-KING LAW .

      GOOD NEWS FOR THB MINERS . Htobah 1 hurrah ! S hurrah !!! Just as we had closed our remarks upon this damnable case , we received a hurried note from Mr . Roberts , announcing the glad and joyous tidings that retribution had followed speedily on the heels of injustice . Resolved that justice should be had at any price , and instantly , he started for London , where , upoa carrying the case before Judge Pattison , that constitutional lawyer instantly granted a habeas corpus for the immediate appearance of the incarcerated victims of the Coal Kings . When Mr Robkrts wrote he was about to Btart -himsel * with the writ , and to bring his men up .

      So that while our readers are struck with the horrible picture we have drawn of " Club Law , " they will rejoice to find that in the real Law there is yet protection for the poor . To get the Law is the thing , and Mr . Roberts appear ? . to have discovered the magical process by which this desideratum is to be achieved . Truly this man deserves well of his clients- Bat as tne process is very expensive , WO trust that he will be maafully backed up in his noble work . It is most probable that while our readers are sympathizing with the Coal Kings ' victims , they may be on the road home , about to spend their Christmas at come instead Of in the dungeon . This is in truth a great move . i —** i ^—V ¦ " -tf- ^ a rfM ^ b ^^^^ SS ^ iS ^ Ssi ^ B * rf-rf m&kfr i ~ r r f m

      Untitled Article

      STATE OF THE AGRICULTURAL tDISTRICTS .

      IORD ASHLBF AND THE WHIG PRESS . The readers of the Northern Star , for the last few weekB , have found ample testimony that the " Condition of England , " eo far from improving , is daily growing worse and worse . The " .. Question" which the people have often put to their rulers : "how have you led us , fed us , and taught us while we have toiled for you t" and which •* hereditary legislation * and " collective wisdom" have shuffled from answering ; is now being answered by the questioner themsehtt ! answered too , in language not to bo

      misunderstood , not to be mistaken ! answered nightly ia characters of flame , which , reflected far and wide , form an appeal from earth ^ to heaven against the wrongs committed by man upon bis brother ; and demand , at the throne of eternal justice , the annihilation of that accursed system of social and political wrong which has brought England to a state of anarchy , and arrayed class against class , and man against man , threatening the utter ruin of each and all , the oppressed and the oppressor !

      England is in a state of anarchy . True , some of the outward signs of such a state are yet wanting ; hitherto not seen : not because soldiery and police prevent such exhibition ; but because the people , or a large portion of them , if they have well nigh abandoned hope , are yet unwilling to commit themselves to the crimes of despair . They are no lovers of crime , [ this Anglo-Saxon race ! They have been famed for their crimeless obedience to the law ; and now would thousands of them rather suker any extent of misery , than have recourse to the " wild

      justice of revenge . " But this will not always be i If justice be not done to the people , the unjust must expect to have justice , —eveu though it be of tat "wild" kind , —done upon them . And , God forbid that it should be otherwise ! We deplore the exist ' ence and the undoubted increase of crime ; but vre are not i gnorant of the causes of that existence and increase . It is dear as the sun at noon-day who are the partieathat are responsible for this criminality—« hk holders of PBOFEBTT . Tis they who hava the social arrangements of society ia their bands ; they who wield the power of life and death over the

      unhappy bondsmen of this " Christian , " " enlfguteniid , " England . 'Tis they who have exclusively the law-making of the country to themselves ; they wh « make laws to make men criminals , and then pass laws to punish them for committing crime J Yes , these are the parties to whose account is really ohargeable the frightful deeds now spreading terrorism through the once happy rural districts of onoe Merrie England . " Aye , we repeat it : if the holders of property will not do right ; if they will sin against God ani man ; if they will rob the poor and oppress the do *

      Cfcartisi 3&Xtslli%Tncz

      Cfcartisi 3 &xtslli % tncz

      The Northern Star. Saturday, December 23, 1843.

      THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , DECEMBER 23 , 1843 .

      Untitled Article

      4 , , THE N 0 } RTHERN STAR . |

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct682/page/4/