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THE jTORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1841.
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F. O'CONNOR TO MR. HENRY HETHERING TON, ONE OF THE SHOPOCRACY.
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3To iUaircrtf antr (totve^onXicntff
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
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TOTAL OTERTHBOW OF THE MINISTERIAL ] £ I 2 riOXS AT NT 3 WCASTLE-IIPOX TYKE . . v I ra informed by aa agent of the Whigs that they l&tended to try tha Mayor to convese ft public meeting « the iahabitaita to adopt the Anti-Corn Law Petition , at sereno ' clock , P . M ., to give the working duw an opportunity of attending , and if he acceded , that they ^ rould not placard the town nntil after two o'clock of the same day , that all the working men . might be gone from dinner . Bat hi * worship would not grant them that booH , but called the meeting for Friday , one o ' clock p jc , 28 th May , a day of the week of all others
the most inconvenient for men that had work to attend , * ad at an hoar that none coold come -without making a crest sacrifice . Soon after twelre o ' clock , the GnildbaQ wai densely crowded by the working classes and others , the bench was occupied by such persons as intssded to take a port in the proceedings . Soon after one o'clock , the chief actors in the play , such as Mr . liockey Harle , Mr . Alderman Losh , Mr . Justice PhiJIipaon , Mr . Greenhani , Tsix . Allhusen , Mr . Charles Kayne , Hr . Chamly , fcc . surroanded the bench ; they looked blue when they saw such a number of " workies" arrayed before them .
Mr . HaRLE said he hoped the working classes would » ot attribute the meeting being at this hour of the day to the persons who got up the meeting , for he eonld ' assure them that the whole fault lay ¦ with the Mayor , ¦ who would not call the meeting at any other hour , and ae the Mayor could not attend himself , he would more that Mr . John Bayne should be called to the chair , ¦ which was allowed to pass without opposition . Mr . Rayne read the bill calling the meeting , and said he hoped eTery gentleman that addressed the meeting would hare a patient hearing , and that they would be unanimous in their desire to repeal the Corn and ProTirioa Tax .
Mr . Alderman Losh moved the first resolHtion ,, which was in effect , " That the Corn Laws were injarious to the working millions and prejudicial to the interests of commerce , and ought to be abolished . " He made the most unconnected and eonfused speech ever uttered . by » Councillor . He wished to tell us that the tax upon bread amounted to fifty millions annually , and was wrnsg from the people to enrich the landlords . Mi . Chb . isti . a 5 Allhcses seconded Mr . L ' s resolution , whose remarks generally , as well as Mr . L " s , were principally directed to conciliate the industrious ciasses , and to endeavour to dupe them into a general support of the ministry in the deplorable predicament in which they are placed .
Mr . Mason ( Chartist ) rose to move an amendment to the resolution , which went to show that a full and fair representation in the state to the working classes was the only effective remedy for the great evils occasioned . by the Corn Laws , and for the redrew of the manifold grievances under which the industrious classes laboured . He entered into a long argument which showed that the repeal of the Corn Laws alone would not bent fit the labouring classes , but the great capitalists ; that it would not isduee the continental countries to discourage their own manufactures for the E&ke of encouraging the British manufacturer ; that it would seriously injure the landed proprietor and agricultural labourers , and reduce all whe depended upon agricultural prosperity to the worst condition of pauperism , for which the infamous Whigs had prepared already splendid bastHei all over the land . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . M . concluded an energetic speech by exposing tha true character
of the present Corn Law agitation , and expressed his decided opinion thai it was got Tip for . the sole purpose of keeping the worthless ministry in office , and that their only object inbringing forward their resolutions on the sugar duties and Corn Laws was to deceive the people , as they had hitherto alwajs done , and that he would sot now trust them again , nor would he consent that they should mike their elap-U » l measures the means of deceiving the pc-ople as to their real principles . He also adverted to Lord Melbourne ' s memorable declaration , that the men would be mad who attempted to repeal the Corn Laws , and ridiculed the idea that they should now be ca'led on to help Melbourne in his official difficulties , by entering npon the mad career of agitation , which the ministry were now endeavouring to get up throughout the country . Mr . M . was loudly cheered throughout his address .
Mr . Sinclair seconded Mr . Mason ' s amendment . Mr . Harle replied to Mr . Mason , or rather vended a tirade of abuse in which there was neither argument or reason , after which be requested of Mr . Mason to let his amendment go as a separate resolution ! , but as Mr . Mason would not accede , the Chairman tried to put the original motion first , when Mr . Mason contended that the amendment should be put on the motion , and if negatived , the original motion should then be put . A show ef hands being taken , the amendment appeared to have the majority , but as the Chairman seined unwilling to decide which party had the majority , it was proposed that they should all go down to the body of the hall and range themselves on each side . I afterwards learnt , from good authority , that at the time
the arrangements were making for the division , that Harrison { the Whig man of all work ) and several others , had gone among the shops , warehouses , * c , canvassing for men to come to vote for them . Allfcosen and several other masters , paid their men a day ' s wages for attending to vote when the signalwas given , and to hiis when a certain gentleman in black who officiated in the capacity of fugleman , cut a certain caper with his hind . The Quaker of Friar ' s Goose had his men there , so properly trained and drilled , they went and told the Quayside labourers , that if they eame and voted on their side , that they would remunerate them for loss of time . Several pieces of silver were given to induce men to corae to their Bide of the loom .
After the Whigs got all settled , at about a quarter to three o ' clock , when the most of the working men that had work to go to , had to be at work , the Chairmas , from aa eminence , viewed both parties , and declared the majority , although small , to be in favour f the original motion ; and I believe that one third of tie ministerial side did not know what » tbey were Toting for , having been in their stalls until summoned by the Whig heralds ; but this they knew , they were paid for tbeir services . A result so unexpectedly fortunate to the Whig Corn clique , was received with several rounds of cheering . They became less timid in expressing their idsas is the presence of the honest working men , and chuckled heartily at their late triumph , but a haughty look often precedes a fall , as the sequel will shew was the case "with thpm
Mr . Greeshax rose and moved the second resolution , wkich said something about the merciful intentions of Providence beiag impeded by the Corn Laws , but there "was such a noise that I could not hear the whole contents . Mr . G . extravagantly praised liberal men and liberal measures , eulogised the ministry for their great boons to the people , and smacking his lips , talked energetically of the advantages of receiving French wines in exchange for the manufactures of this country . So much was he transported with the quality -of the wine , that he handed his spectacles to the Chairman , instead of the resolutions , and lifting the-resolution , which at a distance appeared rolled in a triangular shape , to his head , west through the maccEuvres of drinking a glass of wine to the great amusement of all who observed him . Mr . Pollard seconded the resolution , bat very prudently did not « nter into any of the intoxicating qualities of the Ministry .
Mr . Masox denounced tie allusions to the . merciful intentions of Providence as a gross blasphemy , and protested against the , general tenor of the resolution , but suggested no amendment . The motion ¦* ras put from the chair and carried . Mi . LOCRET H . AB . LE proposed the petition for the adoption of the meeting . As Mr . H . was going to read the petition , the Rev . fugleman seeing the agitated state Mr . H . was in , plucked the petition out of his hand , and was joing te read it , when -Mr . H . retook it , amidst the convulsing laughter of all present ; even thoss that were paid for hissing for them all day , joined in the laugh . \ Ir . H . would wish to make the people believe that the Whigs were tbeir best fritnds , and had always stood forward as the friends of liberty ,
when several voices asked at once if there was any friendship in incarcerating hundreds of the honestest men in England , for no other reason than -wishing to be free , and wishing the accursed Whigs to do something ia tke shape of justice to the starving millions . Where is Frost , Williams , and Jonas ? Where is O'Connor , O'Brien , ie . Are there any signs of friends of liberty in their conduct to them ? Whsre is Ciaytoa , whom they murdered , &c &c 7 Where are the knights of the pestle , Sir J . Fife and Dr . Headlun ? are they friends of liberty ? Where is Charley Lark ' m ? -where is the her * of the Forth ? Where is the knight ? Sir John is a knight ! where is the shabby turn-coat ? The people became indignant at Mr . IL ' s presumption , and would hear no more from him .
Mr . Phillipsos secoBded the adoption of the petition , which the Chairman was about to put to the meeting , when a scene of esDfusioa ensued which baffles all description . Several working men , iirfustian dresses , denounced the base Ministry for prosecuting Chartists for political agitation , which the Whigs themselves first taught them , and were now attempting to revive , so as to enable them to delude the people , Mad cheat them out of their just rights . They had ( said Mr . Fainloagb ) only on Tuesday night last , on Mr . Doncombe ' s motion for an address to the Queen to pardon political prisoners , stepped in to st » y the prerogative of mercy , and their pauper Whig Speaker , a man named Lefevre , gave his casting vote against the Blot ion . The Chai&mas made another attempt to submit the petition to the meeting .
Mr . Cook ( Chartist ) rose , and in a very eloquent speech , in which he recapitulated many of the infamies of the Ministry , moved that the following resolution be incorporated with the petition , viz . — " That whilst this ™«« Hng is of opinion that the Cora Law is bad in principle , and unjust in practice , still it has no confidence in the sincerity of her Majesty ' s Ministers , it would , therefore , humbly implore your honourable House U exercise your power in causing the Sovereign to drive her present advif ers from her councils , and make a selection of honest men for her Ministers , who will not only repeal thfe Corn : Laws , but will also take into consideration the propriety of reducing the debt called national . ' Mr . Ma * 05 , in a very able and appropriate ipee * h # eeoaded ik » resoluiio * .
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The Cha . is . kan said that it could not » e incorporated with the petition , signifying that it was inconsistent with the resolution that wu adopted . The poor well thrashed Whigs became again as chopfallen as they were at the unexpected array ef the industrious classes . At one o ' clock , coaxing and blarney were then resorted to , to induce Mr . Cook to relinquish his addenda being incorporated with the petition . The trick however failed , notwithstanding tha earnest entreaties of Messrs . Lockey Harle , Greenham , Charles Rayne , Lash , the Chairman , &c Mr . C » ok still retained his Integrity , and insisted that his resolution should be incorporated with the petition . The Chairman still oontlnued to refuse to put the amendment in connection with the petition , declaring it irrelevant , and inconsistent with the object of the meeting .
Mr . Btb . uk then rose , and , in a very able speech , proved that it was quite relevant to the principles of the petition . He contended that if the object of the projectors of this meeting was honestly to petition for a repeal of the Com Laws , it was quite consistent to adopt the addenda of Mr . Cook , in connection with the petition . He came not there to screen Ministers ia their vill&ny , but to expose fraud in whatever quarter he believed it to exist He owed much to the Whigs ; he owed them three months' lodgings , and he was determined that they should be at no loss by him , for as soon as he had it in his power he would pay them with interest
The Whigs were confounded ; they bad sent their voters on the former division away . The Chartists were apprised of the roguery used on that occasion , and were determined to force the Whigs to be honest for once in tbeir lives : the heralds were arrested in their attempts to summon their minions . They had no alternative ; the Chartists would not move a peg from the position they had taken , and the Whigs , with the tear in their eye , consented . The Chairman submitted Mr . Cook ' s addenda to the meeting , and four-fifths of the hands then were held up for it The Whigs made a grand retreat , and in the confusion they lost the petition and all the resolutions , which accounts for me not giving a verbatim copy of the resolutions and petition , with the exception of Mr . Cook's .
We are determined to watch them , and to protest against any other petition being imposed on the Commons as emanating from the inhabitants ef Newcastlenpon-Tyne—Correspondent .
The Jtorthern Star Saturday, June 5, 1841.
THE jTORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , JUNE 5 , 1841 .
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WE ARE TWO MILLIONS , AND SOMETHING MORE . The observations which we purposed makiBg npon the all-important National Petition presented to the House of Commons on the 25 th of May , and conveyed to the bar of the House upon the shoulders of working men , have been in a great measure forestalled by the letter of Mr . O'Coknor , which we this day publish upon the subject . Nevertheless , there are reflections other than those contained in that letter , to which the whole proceedings must give rise .
This document , the most numerously signed ever yet presented to the House of Commons , is laughed at , scoffed at , ridiculed and derided ; and after being made the sometime butt for aristocratic Peer and speculator , the merit 3 of its doubled prayer are discussed in double quick time , while the presentation of such an array is not considered worthy a single line ef comment in one newspaper throughout the land . In fact , a stranger to our mode of conducting proceedings in the "Honourable House , " would be led , by a perusal of the English press , to suppose that such a petition constituted a
necessary portion of each day s debate . That it was a common thing , a usual thing , a necessary but nnimportant thing . While this mighty " silent monitor , " the reflex of Chartist moral force , is thus unceremoniously treated , we find double the space devoted to the discussion upon it , bestowed upon a clap-trap motion of Mr . Easthope's , which immediately succeeded it , for leave to bring in a bill to humbug the Dissenters and assist in his ( Mr . Easthope ' s ) return for Leicester Whatever the Parliamentary title of the Bill may be , the return of Mr . Easthope is the grand object
m . But what of the serpent appears mo 3 t conspicuous in the whole proceeding connected with this most mysterious affair t This . While we find the propr ietors of the two " leading journals" pairing " on , in order to avoid the damage which neutrality would inflict either personally or on their respective parties , we recognise the real motive for the act of eaeh in the silence of their journals .
1 es , yes , the country is wide awake now , and knows enough to be assured that if service to the prisoners had been the object of either Walter or Easthope , their columns would have supplied aid to their vote , but inasmuch as the whole was a forced bid for popularity , eur good friends the " fustians" still remain of the opinion that Walter or Easthope , having the casting vot « in case of the life or death of every prisoner for whom they felt so much sympathy , would , without hesitation , vote for the hanging of all those in oustody . and for otherwise disposing of all those Chartists at large . Of thb no man in England of common sense entertains a moment ' s doubt .
But let us ask if it was right or just , or , what is just now far more important , was it expedient , thus to treat the moral exertions of a very powerful , a very outraged , and ingulted party f Is it prudent to add derision to insult and oppression ! Let those who speak so much about the torch and dagger take heed lest they really provoke their use . Again , is it prudeat j cst now , or expedient , to laugh at the
petitions of the people at the very moment when the Noble Leader of the House of Commons sets a time specially apart for the mere purpose of speaking the national will through the medium of petitions ? But mayhap , the tone of the petition was not to the tune prayed for by the Noble Lord . Not one paper but the Star published the petition , while we find every scrap from hole and corner meetings , and Common Conncil meeting ? upon the question of
" COMMERCIAL REFOKMS " Pompously paraded in every paper , and their petitions set forth at full length . Now , we ask , was this treatment fair or prudent Or was the most made of such an opportunity afforded to the Whigs for the expression of contrition , sorrow , and repentance , for having abandoned such support for the excruciating and murdering caresses of Tory perfidy 1 Aye , aye , courtship of perfidiou 8 friend 3 and neglect of real ones has been the Alpha and Omega" of Whig folly , and even now being determined to " die same" in the
language of Lord Palmerstos , which we take to mean that they are resolved to commit suioidewitha blunt Tory instrument , they and their journals are even nous in the last hour of the last day , madly admitting the fact , that they are fearful of being guilty of an act of retribution to men ichom they confess , have already suffered too much , lest tlie ad should subject them to Tory taunt , and Tory suspicion ef courting popular favour J Poor fools ! had they courted popular favour instead
of Tory support , they would not now have been in a glorious minority in their own packed Parliament . The Whigs have lost this opportunity , which fickle fortune in a fit of kindness , threw in their way as a list resource . Much might have been made of the monster petition . If England had an Alfred , he would order the Petitions of 1838 and 1 Ml to be made the supporters of his Throne , and sitting between them , and with * nara resting upon each , he would receive the Ministers and Ambassadors of all
threatening Monarchs , and Bay , Behold , go tell your master that you saw the King of England sitting npon his Throoe surrounded by his people . Tell him that in his dominions you saw no barracks , bnt many sentry-boxes , that in the streets of his metropolis you saw no regimental soldiers , but many detachments of the great national army , of which behold the " muster roll ; " say that when he ballots , it is not for martial service , but for domestic duty—net to see who shall fight as an unwilling serf , but who shall remain at home to keep watch and ward—and that so great is the en-
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thssiasm of his people , the man on whom fortune ' s lot lights as the peaceful centinel , esteems himself insulted by fate , as all born to flock to the standard of their chief , when summoned to the defence of his people ' s liberty , their country , their families , and their homes . " Suoh is the use which a constitutional monarch would make of the " muster roll" of a nation ' s strength ; that in our day , and with our legislators , one Honourable and Gallant Gentleman " splits hairs" about its legitimacy , and the House splits factions about its constitutionality , while the hostages are still in dungeons . But , treat it as they will , we are
TWO MILLIONS , AXD SOMETHING MORE ! and death alone can strike a single name from the regimental roll of the noble army of Chartists . The following is a list of petitions , with the amount of signatures attached to them , presented to the " House , " from the commencement of the Session to the 20 th of May ; and which we extend to the 23 th , that we may adorn the rude file of " broad cloth" with
TWO MILLIONS AND ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FUSTIANS , for the release of Chartist prisoners , the return of Frost , Williams , and Jones , and for making the Charter the law of the land . ' . ' It will be seen by this return that the "Fustians '" Petition—got up in the teeth of all intimidationis nearly four times as numerously signed as all others put together : — PUBLIC PETITIONS TO MAY 20 .
Petitions . Signatures . For Proposed Sugar-duties 22 1 , 718 Against ~ . ~ ~ _ 43 2 , 767 Against proposed Timber * duties _ . _ . _ . « 12 552 For Repeal of the Corn Laws __ .. . *> 2 , 068 699 , 095 Against ~» -. — 636 35 , 120 For proposed Measure on Corn Laws — ~ 15 5 , 198
Against — ~> 136 9 , 592 For Revision of Importduties w . ~~ ~ . 104 39 , 368 For proposed Measures on TmporVdutiea — -. 490 » 110 , 603 Against — . «~ 2 , VI .. LL . L 40 f For Release of Political Prisoners , the Recall of Frost , Williams , and Jones ,
and the enactment op the People ' s Chaster ~ _ 1 2 , 100 , 000
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THE MORNING CHRONICLE AND THE " GREAT COMMERCIAL REFORMS . " We have before noticed that our friend the Chro ' nicle invariably selects the last , or the second last day of the week for the publication of a " lie with a circumstaice , " in order that it may pass current with us poor country bumpkins , for at least ten days . We select the following passage from the Chronicle of Friday last , ( we write on Thursday , ) for present comment , and as illustrative of Chronicle practice . The Chronicle
says" The manufacturers do not wish or expect to lower wages by lowering the price of corn ; but , on the contrary , they expect that wages will rise , because employment will be increased—and that , is point of fact , the Corn Laws inflict a double irjury on the working man , by dimimishing the demand for labour at the very came time that they add to the coat of living . " In . addition to these facts , it would be shown that the Com Lam have already driven us from some of our best markets ; that they cannot be continued without losing those which we at present possess , and sacrificing our foreign export trade of £ 35 , 000 , »» 0 a year , which gives employment to upwards of two millions of our population ; that they are no less injurions te
the home trade and to the revenue , by obliging the labouring classes to spend more of their wages in food , and less in clothing and other comforts—that they are the occasion of the ruinous fluctuations in the money market , which have occurred regularly for the last ten or fifteen years , whenever we have had a bad harvest —and finally , that we have come to the point when we have no longer any choice but to break through our restrictive system , and adopt a sounder policy , or to see the manufacturing and commercial greatness of Britain pass from her hands into those of rival nations , who do not tax the necessaries of life in order to protect class interests , and to strengthen an aristocratit faction .
" These are facts which the Tories can neither deny nor explain away . Can we w » nder that they shrink from a discussion on the Corn Laws as they would from a pestilence ?" After having perused the above , let the operative reader take the following bold assertion from the leading " anti- Monopolist , " for dissection : —Hesaye , " The manufacturers do not wish or expect to lower wages by lowering the price of corn , but on the contrary , they expect they will rise . " Now here i 9 a positive , not a relative position . The Chronicle does not say , that under the contemplated scale of duty
the value of wages relatively to the consequent price of corn might be increased . No such thing ; bat he says" at once boldly , presumptuously , and foolishly , not only that wages will not fall , but that wages will rise ! If , then , wages do rise , we ask our friend what is to become of the £ 35 , 000 , 000 now derived from our foreign export trade \ Will high wages create lower prices for the produce of the operative ! or will the increased price brought about by a rise in wage 3 induce our cheap producing neighbours and customers to buy our produce at a fancy price to square with a popular "tariff ?"
But we like figures . The Chronicle estimates the numbers to be directly benefited by a " Great Commercial Reform " at 2 , 000 , 000 . We take the census as correct ; and will admit , for argument ' s sake , the propriety of sacrificing every thing to the most convenient method of making 2 , 060 , 000 slaves work from morning to night for the benefit of some few purseproud slave masters . Well , then , suppose the object to be to give , not to sell , but to give , corn to those 2 , 000 , 000 . How much does the Chronicle suppose that they the 2 , 000 , 000 would consume in a year ? Let U 3 allow five to a family , or any number , it matters not , as we make our calculations by the
single mouth . But suppose five ; 2 , 000 , 000 quarters of wheat per annum , would allow nearly five stone of flour per week to each family of five , and which at forty shillings per quarter would C 03 t , £ 4 , 000 , 000 sterling annually ; to that amount then , even if gratuitously presented , would the actual slave producer require the staff of life . " Yes , yes ; " say the monopolists , " but then see the vast quantity which all other persons would consume . " They would so ; and for the purpose of giving it to them , ( who are the rich classes , ) cheaper , the 2 , 000 , 000 must work cheaper in order to undersell all their rivals , else must the whole export trade be stopped . '
Let us follow this portion of the question up a little . One would really suppose that the operatives were to be eternally swallowing bread and evacuatiag bales of cloth , or that the foreigner would kindly take more of our produce than he required , in order that we may have as much of his bread as we wished for ; and that all Europe weuld forthwith be devoted to producing corn for ihe purpose of purchasing coats , breeches , shirts , waistcoats , and other comparative luxuries , at a higher price than they could get the same articles at borne .
Now , we beg to assure the Chronicle thai a very small portion of Normandy , on the banks of the Seine , lying between Havre and Rouen , would produce more than all the operatives in England could consume ; and let us even go further , and argue from precedent . It never strikes the " anti-monopolists " that any great advantage contemplated by England , from free intercourse with other nations , must be sanctioned by those other nations ; and while our
rulers are speaking of destroying monopoly at home , they are actually laying the foundation for an extensive and uuiversal monopoly abroad . They may require a precedent ; and we furnish it in order to show how the rulers of every country will either by " ad valorem " duty , prohibition , or fixed duty , make the most of their staple commodities , dead or alive . Thus . The emigration of mechanics and artisans from England was formerly prohibited .
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The ? exportation of Iheir tools was prohibited ; the exportation of machinery was subjected to a heavy tax , and much of our produce to heavy duties . Why was this t Because they were articles in which we had an advantage over our neighbours , and for which we consequently made them pay . Well , then , let the monopolists once bring Britain to that position when she will be wholly dependent npon her foreign customers not only as consumers , but as producers , and foreign rulers will say , according to precedent , I must levy a tax upon that article of food whioh I find you require from us .
Now , suppose a case . Suppose the Corn Laws were repealed to-morrow , and suppose America , Russia , Prussia , Poland , Germany , Holland , Belgium , Turkey and France , all set out upon the speculation of supplying the inoreased demand . Would not , in suoh case , the farmers on the banks of the Seine , who could shoot their produce from the barn into a steamer within a twelve hours passage of our ports , undersell those at a greater distance , paying heavier freightage and insurance , by at least 7 s . per quarter ! and we ask would those who could supply us cheapest and with
all that we required , take our goods in return for their produce ! What would Mr . Easthope say to the manufacturer who attended the arrival of a French vessel from Havre , Dieppe , Calais , or any other of the contiguous French ports , laden with wheat , for the purpose of purchasing the cargo , who should say to the French merchant , ** you mutt take goods in return , or else I won't purchase your corn ; the Americans , the Turks , the Russians , and others take goods in exchange . " Would not the Frenchman say , " well , if you don't , here comes a speculator who without reference to the two commodities , will
buy as cheap as he can , and will yet make a profit by retailing the cargo at prices lower than those at a distance can sell ; and he will pay in cash ; and let me see whether your two million operatives will take so many yards of their manufacture , to exchange with the Turk for dear corn , or so much of their wages to exchange with my customer for cheaper corn . " What in suoh an emergency would the Government of the nearest producing countries do J Why just this . They would have their Corn-Law League ; and the Kings of France , Holland , and Belgium would say , " we must have a fixed duty upon our exported corn . France can export at so muoh per quarter cheaper than such and such places , and
can actually run across in three hours with a supply to meet any demand . Holland , in twenty-four hours , can do the same ; therefore we must have our sliding scale , and put in oar pockets the difference between the price at which our land can furnish it , and the prices at which the most distant can supply it . " Prussia and Germany Would have their sliding scale , and then would John Bull be compelled to pay the very highest price at which the most distant of his growers could supply his breakfast dinner and supper . In the midst of all this conflict , it would appear as if England alone was to progress in manufactures , and all other countries
were to become " smashers , " and destroyers of manufactured goods , for the mer $ purpose of supplying 2 , 000 , 000 of English operatives with cheap bread , while the fact is that England is at this moment exporting prodigious quantities of her most improved machinery , and , as soon as England , with her drag-chain of a gormandizing oligarchy , quits her hold of monopoly upon any one article , her neighbour will embrace the earliest opportunity of grasping it . It is a contest between the rival factions of the earth , the committee of monarchs and their satellites , for the subjugation of popular rights and liberty ; and before anything
permanently beneficial can be done , we must all start equal under the law , and then we shall haar of no " anti-Monopolists , " as there will be no monopolies to oppose . This subject has never been made familiar to those for whose advantage it is boastingly offered ; and they have discovered that God only helps those who help themselves ; and that the masters having very abundantly helped themselves , appear hitherto to be the favoured of providence , but in proportion as the people help themselves , in the same proportion will the Almighty smile upon them , and join them in their righteous work . The Chroniclg concludes thus : —
" These are facts which the Tories can neither deny nor explain away . Can we wonder that they shrink from a discussion on the Corn Laws as they w » uld from a pestilence ?" We , as Chartists , have not only denied tha Chronicle ' s facts , but we flatter ourselves that we have also explained away his faliaoies . So much for cheap wages , by which the English slave is to undersell the foreign slave in his own market In fact , the whole scheme is a pitting of the
working daises of one country against those of another country . We trust , however , as we have more than once said , that we are not far from the period when we shall see a congress of working men of all nations meeting annually , to devise means for the preservation of peace , law , and their ordera noble substitute for a congress of kingly tools , who have met for the purpose of shedding blood for the ascendancy of faction . The Charter is the only repealer .
TREACHERY AND SUICIDE OF SIR ROBERT PEEL . "A long day , my Lord . " Oub , readers will now bear in mind our several hints about Peel and Stanley , and the horror which the Right Honourable Baronet saw in being prematurely pushed forward by the hungry hounds of bis own pack . In confirmation of all we have said , let his course be now watched , and who can , for a moment , doubt his object , and his treachery to his party .
Unassisted by Sir Robert , the Whigs must inevitably have died a natural death ; but , well knowing his own dissolution would speedily follow , he assumed the bold and open man , ( whioh neither becomes him or sits comfortably on him , ) for the mere purpose of saving himself , by saving the Whigs for another season . The debate goes on , as the ministers are speaking against time and " quarter day ; " while we have very little doubt that the artful opposition of the leader of as wily a conscience as ever haunted man ' s breast , will drag to their support all the old rotten fragments , ever ready to declare big upon abstract principles , but to fly to the cry of the Whigs , ( id . est . J " our seats and our pockets are in danger . "
Pbel has done this with his eyes open , and has thus put another prop under limping , hopping , hobbling Whiggery , that he may " rule in hell" with all the delights of forcing others to establish precedents for his future acts of tyranny , without being himself a responsible agent . There breathes not on earth a more wily , artful , sleek , oily , and cold-blooded politician than Pebl—the Right Honourable Sir Robert , M . P . for Tamworth . He would prefer a pound to commit an act of popular injustice , to a guinea to do an act of substantial justice to the people .
We never can meet the Conservative army openly so long as it is commanded by its present retreating General , who only gives battle when he aay secure a personal triumph from his party ' s defeat . Victory was within the reach of the Tories ; but Peel has told them his policy is—by keeping men in , you keep them eut ; just as the ladies say , "By keeping mea off , you keep them on . " What are the odds in the event of Peel ' s motion being negatived , " That littla Jack Horner Don't come from the corner " And speak as follows : —
" Sir , —The nation having , at this eventful crisis , again , through its representatives in Parliament , registered its confidence in her Majesty's Ministers , we should , upon our part , but ill requite that confidence by abandoning the country , just as personal danger and responsibility threatens us . ( Indescribable cheering . )
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« , —I now state that her Majesty ' s advisers will not desert their ^ vereign , her people , or their trust . ( Renewed cheers . ) 41 But , Sir , finding that we are in advance of the country , and that an . immediate appeal upon the gigantic reforms which we hare propounded would be taking the country by snrprise , and that considering the many interests at stake in the proposed alterations , we have thought it our duty to continue in . oar very unenviable position until the fall weight of national judgment shall have been thrown into the Ministerial scale . ( Tremendous applause , which lasted for many minutes . )
" Sir , —When it is further considered , that an immediate appeal to the country would interfere with the approaching Assizes , and with the harvest , —( hear , hear , and cheers , )—I feel assured that our self devotion , by remaining in office for twelvemonths longer , will be justly estimated by the country . ( Loud cheers . ) " Sir , —My Rt . Hon . Friend is now prepared to satisfy the House as to the manner in which he proposes to get over his present financial difficulties . " And then comes Baking , the Rt . Hon . Francis , Chancellor of the Exchequer , with the" eld hat" ( a lump of Exchequer Bills ) to stop the hole , to keep the Whigs in and the Tories out , and so may end the farce , when
" Imperial Robert , dead , and turn'd to day , May stop his hole to keep the wind away . "
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" CORN LAWS AND COMMERCIAL BEFOBMS . " The following is a list of the most recent discoveries of Liberal Depots , by that praiseworthy and energetic antiquarian and navigator , Professor Easthope , who is now upon a voyage of discovery in qaest of Whig Land , said to be seen by Captain Parry , but of which very little information is contained , either in his or Captain Cook ' s voyages .
It will be seen from the Journal and Log-Book of the gallant professor , from both of which we give copious extracts , that he has enoountered heavy gales , and has had many " hair-breadth scapes , " being more thaa once driven upon the Chartist rooks by the prevailing winds , known in that latitude by the name of Tory squalls , and which come on very suddenly , appearing as if they sprung from the depths of the ocean . But to our extracts : we begin them with : —
" Farringdon without St . Sepalchre ; [ an awful name , it should have been reserved for the last ;] Hackney ; Paddington ; Town Council of Liverpool ; Town Council of Hull ; a Cambridge Correspondent ; A Huddersfield Correspondent ; a Hythe Correspondent ; Dover ; Faversham ; Newcastle-Emlyn ; [ not Newcastle-upon-Tyne—there the good ship struck upon a Chartist rock and damaged its keel . ] Lime Regis ; Abercbirder ; Peterhead ; Kelao ; Preston-pans ; Woodside ; Leslie ; Girven ; Dunbar ; Ward of Portsoken ; Wick ; a Man of Kent ; Ciria , and a
bread-eater ; the Wiltt Independent ; Windsor Express ; North Wales Independent ; a Bilston man ; Rugeley ; Aylesbury ; open air meeting , in a house without a roof , at Romford ; Leamington , in Dr . Jephson ' s medical labaratory ; Lewes ; Guild of Dundee ; the Anti-Bread Tax Circular , alias , the Young Liar of the North ; from the Scotsman of the 26 th of May ; St . Anne's , Limehouse ; St . Luke '? , Middlesex ; Chelsea pensioners ; Liverpool , continued for a month ; [ Pot-house at ] Stroud ,
[ having been licked in tha open air ]; Poliokshawd ; Torquay ; Clayton ; Northampton ; Town Council ; Wednesbury ; Dunblaine ; Kinross ; Kincardine ; Mortlake ; Liverpool , still sitting ; Portobello ; Haddington ; Markincb ; Galston ; Largs ; a subscriber to the Chronicle ; Agricola ; Gatton ; Old Sarum ; East Redford ; Parish of St . Luke , Middlesex ; Parish of St . Botolph without , Aldersgate ; a Correspondent at Waleall ; a Correspondent at Sheffield ; Ditto at High Wycombe ; the Aberdeen Herald . "
" To be continued in our next ; " ad interim , be assured , Mr . Professor , you will fail in your object . You have Chartist rocks and Tory squalls to contend with , now , in every inch of your course . You are a good Whig , but a bad politician , and a worse navigator .
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IRISH "MORAL FORCE . " The Dublin Monitor gives the following cheering account of the characteristic mode of preserving peace and exhibiting " moral force" practices by the Corn Exchange patriots , at one of their recent meetings ; the Pacificator General in the chair : —
" LOYAL REPEAL ASSOCIATION . " The usual weekly meeting of this association was held yesterday at the Cora Exchange . " Thomas Sfceele , Esq ., in the chair . " Mr . John O'ConHtU was about to address the meeting , when " Mr . Doheny claimed the attention of the chairman for a few minutes . He said an attack had been made upon him in that room , and he wished to have an opportunit y of refuting it " Mr . Doheny—If I come heresolely for the purpose of vindicating myself and not to charge any other person whatsoever , I am sure the meeting will heat me . ( Hear , hear , order , order , and chair . ) " The Chairman intimated his intention not to hear any discussion upon the subjeet introduced by the last speaker .
" Mr . Doheny—I merely want to vindicate myself against statements made here on the last day of meeting , which are totally unfounded . ( Order , order , and great confusion . ) " Mr . Reynolds—In reply to that I say you are a liar . Those statements are true . ( Increased confusion , and loud cries of ' order . ' ) " Mr . John O'Connell—I rise to order . " The Chairman—It is most unpleasant to me to be obliged to listen to such language as this . Mr . Reynolds—I say he ( pointing to Mr . Doheny ) is a liar . ( Loud cries of * hear the chairman '— ' order , order' —and great tumult )
" Mr . Reynolds here seiisd a piece of paper , upon which he wrote his name and place of residence , and having flung it across the table towards the place occupied by Mr . Doheny , addressed him in the following terms : — ' Here my good fellow , take that with you . These are the civil gentlemen who prate abouj the violence of the " miscreant Chartists . "
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PUBLICOLA AND THE CHARTISTS . Publicola , who has recently become a pure Whig , and aothing more , most ludicrously informs us that he is a Chartist and " something more . " That our ignorant readers may judge for themselves of " Publioola's" principle and logical powers at the same time , we submit the following extract from his letter of last week , under the head
"CHARTISTS STAND BY YOUR COUNTRY , " And introduced with the quotation from Nelson , " England expects every man to do his duty . " Under these banners , " Publioola" writes thus : — ' " If a Whig will not pledge himself to all these , are the Chartists to fly to the Tories , that will pledge themselves to none ? Let them gat the most that they can . With some of the six points of Chartism I by no means agree . I am thoroughly disinterested in my disagreement I am enamoured of the Ballot , Annual Parliaments , No Property Qualification , and Electoral Districts ; but because I like these , I dislike Universal Suffrage , oh a conviction that it would destroy them all . Aa to the sixth point , the Payment of Members .
I hold it absurd ; and it never deviates from absurdity excepting into mischief . Do the Chartists mean to say , that » disinterested candidate , who went the four points , and gave substantial reasons for not going the other two , ought to be opposed , and this in favour ofs Tory , who gave up no point at all , and whose principles and practices were diametrically opposed to all of them ? It Is almost impossible to suppose any party so infatuated as to pursue such a system . Such doctrines create a suspicion that the Chartists have enemies in their camp . Permit me , Mr . Editor , to say , that the Chartists' principles and doctrines do not go half far enough for me , and at any election I would vote for a Chartist candidate ; but I would not be so infatuated as to v »» te for a Tory , or Whig , or Radical candidate , because the Chartist did not go my length . " Now , we have only to ask , was th « re ever a load : of rubbish ehot on "Chalk Farm" equal to this ?
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"A Chartist , and something more , " and opposed ' firstly , to the whole spirit—indeed , the only spiri whioh the Charter breathes , Universal Suffrage \ and , again , opposed to the only measure of detail "the payment of Members / ' bj which a free ohoioe under "Universal Suffrage" could be secured ! But , "Publicola" is a Republican , and yet opposed to Universal Suffrage ; and the ChartigU don ' t m
far enough for him . Poor "Paradox" 1 We have lately mourned to find the principles of the Great Dispatch' * and of " Publicola" to be guided by the principle ! of the Times . Whatever the Times fa , " Publi coU * is resolved not id be , and nothing more ; and if th » Times came round to the thirty-nine paradoxical articles of our friend to-morrow , he would , we fejf put on new political spectacles , and see error ia every opinion that he now holds .
W « have marked this governing power , orej the ruling passion , vanity , " ever since the rejectioi of Mr . Hakmeh . by the citizens of London ; &n $ now ,. before it goes too far , we would merely say ' . — Turn again , Publicola ; Lord Mayor of London . Turn again , Publicola ; Lord Mayor of London . Turn again , Publicola . ; , Lord Mayor of London .
F. O'Connor To Mr. Henry Hethering Ton, One Of The Shopocracy.
F . O'CONNOR TO MR . HENRY HETHERING TON , ONE OF THE SHOPOCRACY .
Sib , — I am honoured with another letter from you t& type , ready for insertion in your own paper . Immediately upon it * receipt , I sent for every number of your pape , published from the commencement of the " new more . " I never saw one of them before ; and judge my honor my indignation and scorn for you , upon finding thai you had not published mp answer te your letter , whij » I published both . O , you immaculate lover of { & play ! what will the country say to that ? Nay , mote you sent slips to many journalists , wh * published yon letter , fcut not one published my answer .
Now , I merely write these few lines to inform 700 , that as you complain of my last being published along . side of your first , I abstain from interfering with your second till next week . Your poison shall remain in the stomach of the country , and your triumph In your brain , for that short period , when I will apply the stomach pump to the former , and will give yoa head such a thump against the wall you have built in your own path , as will addle your brains , if yoa have any ; but will , at all events , raise such a bump in your forehead as will enable all young phrenologists , aa they pass you by , in pity to exclaim , "Ht eve , what a fool 1 " Yes , Sir , I will raise tot . bump of folly on yo « r front
Till Saturday , I admit every word you say , and claim credit for each ; and then I shall show that you , s know lege-monger , have fallen into trouble , simply from not understanding the difference of meaning betveea the two words—circumstances and facts . Circumstuw is a substantive , and means something appendant , or relative to a fact ; accident , something adventitious , Fact means a thing done , reality , action , deed . Now , Sir , while Mr . Hill was merely speaking of circumstances on the 16 th , I was speaking of facts on ( 2 m 24 th .
As to Mr . Whittle , the new Editor of a new paper , his motives will be easily seen through ; but I promiaa him a lick also . / fi ght you all ; I wiU not preserve s dignified silence . F . O'Consoa .
3to Iuaircrtf Antr (Totve^Onxicntff
3 To iUaircrtf antr ( totve ^ onXicntff
POST-OFFICE ORDERS . —All persons sending ¦ money to this Office by Post-office Order , are especially requested to make their orders payable to Mr . John Ardlll , a » , by a recent alteration in the Post-offlre arrangements , any neglect of this would canse us a great amount of trouble and annoyance . Thb Manchestek Radicals . —I feel some apology due to our hard-working friends of Manchester for the very unceremonious and uncalled-for
criticism on the phraseology of their resolution , which waa most unwarrantably affixed during my absence from the office , and without my knowledge or authority . I am fully of opinion that the hateful Whigs richly merit all the opprobium that can be heaped on them . I think no language too marked or too emphatic for the venting of the good men ' s loathing of the " bloodies . " I have , as I hope , taken means to prevent the recurrence of any suoh liberty . — W . Hill .
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To Rochdale Shareholders . —Mr . O'Connor hat directed that the four shareholders of Rochdale who lost their scri p shall get new ones , and shall be allowed to receive their money whenever required . Received bt Feargus O'Connor , jrom two frietuk . at Sunderland , 2 s . 6 d ., for the persecuted Irish Chartists . Mb . O'Connor in account with the Convention Fund . — Mr . O'Connor , Dr . £ . s . d . To amount received , as published ... . 88 7 S To interest while placed in Bank to Mr . O'Connor ' s credit ... 9 3 8 / 88 10 9
Mr . O'Connor , Cr . £ . s . d . Paid Mr . Pitkethly as Treaan" rer to Convention ... 60 0 Paid Mr . Cleave , as Treasurer to Convention 28 10 9 £ 88 10 » Balance due £ 000 01 »
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?— A Chartist ' s Address to his Irish Bbethbk shall appear . George Walker . — We received no letter Jrom Mm last week , and therefore know nothing of tnt case to which he refers . , Robert Gill , of Bilton-street , York , would beam to hear from Mr . Charles Stuart , late of thl Chartist Association , York . Peter Needful . —TV e have no roon » . J . L . —His " Stanzas" shall appear . " Ode to Freedom , or Lines to Ch artists , atdined . 3 . —We have no room . A Chartist— We have not room . A London Working Man will see in our present paper that the fault was not ours . The French Repdblfcan ' s Song , and the 6 onn »
. accompanying it , shall appear . A Newry Chartist . —His song shall appear . A Political Vision declined . , Stapleford Chartists . —At present we cannot ago ™ the space ; but we do shortly purpose to take «? the subject ourselves . P . V . j Chow bet . —fT cannot read his poetry . J . S ., Alva . —A Property Qualification « aot " , quired in the Scotch Representatives . J . S . Smith , Plymouth .- // the Devon and urn wall friends will take the troubleto let us-m notices of their meetings , and send them ™ early part of the week , they shall be notvea . R . G . Gammage . — We have not room . An Irish Chartist , at Pontypool , cannot WPP ™* that we should insert such a letter ash ***? *
anonymous authority . , . o J . C , of Pottery Fields , Leeds , will be [ obltgei to n > Steele andD . Black for a few lines . " The Corn Laws" shall appear . flu T . M'Cartney— We do not know the address ojw . correspondent referred to . S . Tl ., Camberwell . —We have not room . _ Mr . Charles Cross , of Gateshead , « * / "J £ assistance in reference to the Gateshe adtrep * We will alwaus nine it cheerfullv aiMJV * r * fC .
and we do , most effectually , m f * W *™ . following advice . —The Gateshead Chartutsr *'' - we learn , on Sundays-let ihe report f « posted the same night , so that we can have w Monday morning to begin the week « " *//> . ( The National PETinoN .-&m * person hai < W > the pains to cut out and post to us a rabta au on this subject , containing ««»** ** E 2 L-j » ' furious pseudo philippics agamsiy ** w general , and Frost andO'Connor •™ % ™ % tt We shall not nurse the thing" into « " ?** % A . * ^»>«/ . M / t /> n it tnmild beOCCOUntea , ^*'
Yorkshire boarding school , highly disgraced tf boy nine years of age . In every ^" Z ^ f is too filthy to be touched even vnth a wj John Jones . —We did receive his former letkrr * . we did not choose to print it , because » Jr m opinion that he could have had no 3 °° ? * ° ' ™ writing it , and that it was not ealeulakdUV duceany goed result . ^^ JS # fectly well that tliere is no such ^^ ZZulf as that whichhecomplains of-thattt ujM ™^ duavowed-and the whole thing exp laMW - author in his preface . We do not choose , ^ fore , under these circumstances , to iena ^ ctini to the ereating ef a prejudice tn unrej . minds against a worthy a , ul RentedfW without doing any good at all by tt . £ « \ , yy reason-which we should not »« fWJ" ^ expressed if the second letter of Mr . JW ' not made it necessary .
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4 THE NORTHERN STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 5, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct709/page/4/
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