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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th January 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      A& 0 NEL rTBOMMOV AND IBS CHABTI 8 TS . TO IRE ' JEDHOK OP IHB S 0 BZHE& 8 SZAB , Sis , —I hare just read a letter In fee Sfar-of last sdsnJay , purportinf to hive been writfenljy Colonel Oolapson , in reply to Mr . P . Anderson , of Edlnbnrsh , ftTsibjeet matter of whieh has reference to a lecture aT the Com Laws , delivered by the Colonel in the onsen's To **** in **»*» town , on Tuesday , SOth Hot . SsTand to tbe report of sad lecture and the proceedton thereat , which subsequently , appeared , in the Tgr iten Star . Had I . -read inch a letter pur-I nrting to emanate from the - pea of Colonel S ^ r aon , prior to my waiting on Mm as part iT « deputation , or listening to hfa lecture on the session j alluded to , I would = hare conceived myself w * md to reject it as a libel on the character of that Ignflemai - became all that I had theretofore lead , S « jn 2 his signature , w * a plain , lodd , unambiguous ,

      « ad « aoafeleof coming flonw weven toe-meanest cana-!* t -but I mo 8 * to e * 11110111 " acknowledge my inability S , arrive at just coBdnaon * Brto the precwe inferences iweb he expects Mi- Anderson or ttapablic generally , tn draw from toe pausal of mica a document as his •" j ITj-Hie 3 &r of ihelstinii The main object of ^ S ^ i eaa coherer discover . It i « to mralidste ^¦ Vntbeatiaty of , and -negative the statement * con ^ biJm \ a , the report to -which italludea , It surely wnst have required an extraordinary amount of labour & the part of the Colonel , an amount to which I would ot to desirous of subjecttn g myself , to hare so

      successtaJlj brought forts a creature to tne world possessing L ather the distinc : attributes of the negative nor the -gnmtiTe character , althongh partaking of the nature jo ^ noaiity of both ; something like those nnaccount-« We fresks ef nature whieh are called hermaphrodite . jfow , Sir , ^ . regards the authenticity oC ffie report m < mesii 0 O , iHiibaB-&old rayself responsible for its ccrjecSafr- ^ I ^ pWeB aiysetfiw itB earery se&Uaee ; and I « m-ted > jBr prepared to produce axaait of witnesses ^ to cor ^ bcrate tte evidence which l iere voluntarily Sorely , Calonel Thompson esnaat have read the

      sports of tha proceedings on the Liverpool press , theJferciffy and Journal , for instance , tie recog-^ ed < 9 S » b » oO&a e ^ Coni -Law - party , or he > cdld- " n « t hare risked -ids reputation lor veracity fcy ' ^ ba writing of such ' a letter . I shall , I trust , , ho ¥ to the world that although a working , toiling ( BHjrssbed if jou like ) mechanic and the »» & « of the report in question , I have as jealous a care of my jOTotaiioa and " . fair fame" for truth , as a man—aye , yrf » ipHaVist—4 Sa ~' aaft and every of the haughtiest of those who fear that I , and sush as I am , should eonie - betwixt the wiad « nd their nobility . "

      jp » gallant Colonel saya in the outset tost—** It is always difficult to distinguish how much of a report may be wrong from malice , and how much from jiisbke or prejudice . " tntix regard to any portion of tha report beisf- V wrong from malice" I believe that I , as the wrifer . am exonerated from being actuated toBJotivescf a malicious nature , by the fact of my having sp . to last week , or perhaps the night of the Tsctare , fully coincided in the opinien of Feargus O'Connor , ' that he ( the Colonelj was about the very best mun of his class in the country . Malice eould sot then

      be my isoUm If I hare been " mistaken" in the report , many , very many indeed , are so in common fith mjseiL And when I Snd the report in the Star to be in general accordance with tha reports in those Jour-B&ls whose reporters attended for the special purpose of prereE&Bg mistaken statements going forth , I surely must at once conclude that I am not so utterly lost in ti » " Ubarynth of " mistake" as the-Colouel would es&aTour to insinuate . "So much' for the jratuitous intmuE ^ on throws . pet at random in the second pjagraph . ' . In the third paragraph , the Colonel

      says"JIb deputation irer © not £ uccessfu in explaining whii their object was , or that they had any distinct «^ 8 * aS alL- •; - ^ Cf . -ft wwild hare best bat holiest on his part to hsreatthe £ ame time stated the precise . reasons-why they were not " succewful , ** - as he asserts ; the interruption to ~ the conference which we ( the Colonel a&d 'Siyself ) were then toldisg , haTing » iin « n from within ¦ s arm ^ -Iength of his person , and by ana of his Mends , * j explaicedin the report , . " Ifce Colonel askc— - " Didit depend en . his answer whether he wu to be Jflowed a hearing or not ? " ~

      Sorely sufficient transpired daring the brief interview to point out to Mm the absurdity of asking such a quaJion . But does be deny th * precise words , as repotted mtk&Sior , of tbi » interview ? N » , b&t by two lines of myfctifled reasoning , aad two qnsstiona embodied in £ va lines , he endeavours to shake the jSaailily if ha cannot directly grapple with the authenticity of the report . In the fourth paragraph be ays;—" When the objection was advanced , that the average -wages iate . CGttonj 3 fiJ 0 Jl 2 ifini . ia 1797 , was 26 s . &L wea ^ r / anafelgiOroidSy 5 * . 6 d- weekly . "

      . This hejpamr-tolgirg-as the entire question . Now by jsftrence to the report it will be seen thai the Colonel , for some purpose best Jcnewnto himself , has not here stated one-hal £ the question . 2 ? one who was present at the Jjoiernew- — - »? & . even hjnmelf , can deny ttat the iaetsyere ^ tliese ~ :--tlie ^ Colonel had stated in Vfae " eouiBe of his lecture , of which I , took a note , that as trade increased the better condition of the working-Stan iaereased in the same ratio , or words to that effect . I shewed the meeting , in contradistinction to that theory , that our manufacture cf cotton had increased from tbe former period , 97 , to the latter period , 40 , from twenty-three millions pounds , to four hundred and sbdj minions pounds , » nd I then shewed the

      decease in wages . This he carefully loses Bight of , and selects the portion wMch best suits his purpose , making it seem a perfect quotation , and thus ' raises a technical ejection abeut the wcrd " hnndloom" not being attached to the term" weaver , " and then Bays he fiU&a up the void which I had left . He then attempts to shew the fallacy of my reasoning , by lugging in the WJgmakers , and telling the meeting that tfce one reference would be as food or as reasonable in my argument as the other . Bat after he had denied the evil eSscts of machinery , I merely wished to ascertain to what source we eonld trace the depression of those en-£ * £ ed in tite manufacture of cottcn , when that manufacture had ircreaKd twenty fold .

      TheCjlonel next says after this it is unnecessary for us to say that the assertion that"IdEniedtiat the liand-loom weavers were badly iS , sad of its being received with the marked indignatioi of the meeting , is eafeirely without foundation in fcet- . 5 ow , I ^ ish to know from the gaDant Colonel , fu&sa he means that the assertions imputed to him in &s report , are without foundation in fact , or the -COTTter of its reception bj the meeting , for the reading * i 3 % ear both interpretations . If be denies making use of the expressions , let the Liverpool Journal bear witness . I give the reply in full , and bear in mind areporter from that office was specially retained .

      "In replying to the question , CoL Thompson said Sat what had just been stated agreed with what he bid already said . He had stated tliat going on as they » ere , the operatives were compelled to compete with each other , and what other could result from the system a » 2 that their wages should be reduced ? The trade of G » country had laboured during the time under an in-Jn nity , sad thwefore the objfcctor bad only confirmed ™ i CoL Thompson ' s ) propositions . The previous speaker caA , howev 6 r , omitted one word in ids statement , wbieh ss eagfct to have mentioned . He fead omitted the ^ srd " fa apd-loom , " before the term " weavers , " in his wwrrsSons . He [ Colonel Thompson ? denied tint the ™ Moom weaver was at the . present time badly off ; *> & ~ & an impetus were given to commerce , no one SR&l dsay that those mtn would not also be gainers by it "

      f * u ? . X *^ *^ e Teraci ° tts Colonel dispute authority « ms 1 > WD organ ? Bat how has the journal let the Wtg-iailiEg anairslip tirough Its flrgers ? For the «« reason ia the world ! because it was never uttered at this Etsge of the proceedings , if uttered at alL With * & * & to the reception of this denial of the actual connifamioI Ux = lssn ( J-lo 6 m wesroa , it would argufy little ., Uie intelligence of a meeting of working Ben , L they -sremia tolerate such assertions as I have nere proved wereBsed to pass without expressing their marted " and henest" indignation . " ^ the next paiajjraph , tie Colonel labours with an « Mmty feorib j a better object te excuse his pnrposs « a « eaTonriBg to disprove the evil effects of machinery ; ga asserts that in letter-press printing , machinery , rj ^ j **^ ' diminkhiag mpTin ^ l labour , has actually in-~»« aiL" And this , too , after finding fault with my «* t » pB ate of the handloom weavers ! ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ I ¦ ¦ f ++ VW ¦• ¦¦ ¦

      * w * . ^^**^> m *^— ^* * r * i Siring as an offset mj case of the weaTers p * ** bis case cf printing , let me direct his attention ~> few oUiet instances where machinery has been in-™« ceedto tks almost utter prostration of the interest , ~* psnual labourer . If one * n *» i in the paper-suina ^ bnsiiiess at the present time can , with the aid of ^ offiery , q Trhat Tronld have required sixty men to «> ten or twtlve years ago , I want to know if the fifty-™* ^ ns thio-vni -npun the world have received such a c ?^ pciidiiie amount of cood from the introduction

      ~ toe machine as will force them to pronounce it a ®** &&g ? If , in the calico-printing department as ™* & can be done by seventy men in tkree mouths , ™*» i the tdd of machinery , as s » me years ago would ~^ employed five hundred men nine mouths , 1 beg to 7 ° * from the gallant Colonel if machinery in that « sehas been to the working man " rather a benefit «* ban injary—rather a blessing than a curse ? 11 Yet , ¦™» t machinery has gone en producing , it has con-^ ed no thing of that -which it has p rodnced ; and , 5 ^ 8 ^ , it has rendered the home market Talnriess . bv

      jeroiring destitute on the world those who were our •**» consumers in the hame-market , namely , the -vrork-* S classes . When the Colonel convinces the opfcra-^ s ' of this empire that machirery has bettered tiieir wsation . he mil cave fens ployed more conclusive reason-« g fcan ha has yet exhibited . * - tta Dect paragraph , he expresses his regret at * sng an objection , paimed upon the working classes *> disc reditable to tbfc UBderstaacing of those -who ad-^ ced it Permit me to tell the " Gailant Gentleman *> t Uie individual Viio made the objection , or rather

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      it a » qnestfon , w » lte yet for a reply . With regard to r . Ambler ' suniierstandingar judgment beingat » U com : wmisedby puttingthe question , the Colonel would save ted a far more becoming part . had he answered the letfion , than fa deploring brexpfesdnghlB regret btit » ing pat I But he htoself arowed that it was rather fficstt to answer * perhaps a » tcausadhkato « gret being pat I again quota the Journal Sot his answer i foil : . - ¦ ' --¦ ' . . :-. - . , . / . ¦ " Golonel Thompson Bald & « iabjeetor-iad stated a ifflculty ; but he thought it also remained with -that feTson to ahew why » thgretore , the people of this eoun * 7 should . shut themselves up . . ( Laughter . ) let the amber of inhabitants be great or small , they had a got to get as much as they could , but they were not ) say they were to do nothing because we had m » - linery to do the woik of six hundred millions , and lere were only eight hundred ¦ millions of people on M earth . '

      I now wish the Chartists fairly lo examine the question in the report , and the answer here given , and then Jay whether the Colonel did not fully shew the difficulty ot answering to the satisfaction of any man , save a Corn Law repealer ? The next paragraph is not worthy my notice . In the following one the writer saya— . : " That I denounced the Ch&rHiSs for their interference , after being invited by the Chairman to ask questions is utterly unfounded : on the contrary , I regretted much that the Chairman did not prolong the questioning , as tlie meeting was manifestly on my aide . " Now , let the world read the organ of the free-trade men at that meeting—the Liverpool Journal , in reference to this denied denunciation : —

      " Tee Gallant Colonel h « re administered a rery becoming reproof to the Chartists , who had most irapextineBUy obtruded themselves upon public meetings , for no other purpose than , to interrupt the proceed ings . He hinmrtf had been a Chartist , sad bad assisted in drawing up the Charter ; but the manage * meat of the affairs of that body having been entrusted to ^? ery in discreet and ; unwise hands , who expected to gain something by ' throwing tha nation into , a state of convulsion , lie had witcdrwwn from them . " ' ¦ * ' ; - - ¦ _ ' " ¦ - ' ¦ x •¦¦ -. > - ¦ .- * : ¦

      It would seem as If all , both friends tnd co&eeiyad foe * , had eateied into a feul conspiney , for the parpoee of mitrepreseating what the gallant Colonel really did say on the occasion ; or if this be not so , whan ail ags found to approach . so neatly to each other J » thsg varioas versions of the matter , the , Cfcartist public , [ will know how to appreciate tbe deniaL , ' Sia Jomrnai haa certainly omitted the words ' for ever , " if they were not uttered , I trust they will fee acted upon by the gallant Colonel ; as I think the sooner tbef are put

      into practical operation the belter for the -cause in which I , in common with others , am honestly engaged . As to the Colonel ' s regret at the conduct of the Chairman , I eould wish to know if it was on that night , or the next morning , or after the receipt of Mr . Anderson's letter , or when reading the report in the Star of the 11 th Deo-, that this request arose in his bosom ? as I was engaged in conversation with him on tbe platform whilst the Chairman was endeavouring to prevent Mr . Ambler from being heard , and none of those requests then found utterance .

      Lastly , the Colonel says , in quoting the report , that he is" Bound to stamp it as a misrepresentation by all the obligations , which bind a man not to be a party to a wilful fraud upon the public ; the truth is tke Chartists were a small minority , 50 or 60 at the most , in an assembly of 2000 , and collected in the corners of the pit where they could make most of their strength in coneerj . " Jfow , Sir , if I" was aware of the motives which prompt the Colonel to make this statement , bo utterly at variance with truth , I would better know how to meet it If the assertion is made on the authority of

      bis own observation , I must accord him but litUe credit for Ms acute perception . If . the statement is mode on authority of some individual or other than himself , he ought in common justice to his own character , to have Instituted a more strict inquiry previous to giving it the seal of bis authority . If the Chairman had conceived that tbe numbers were so innigT ^ ftenint as the Colonel here asserts , ' why did ha not put to the meeting the resolution , moved by Robert Jones , of Corn Law notoriety , in Liverpool , in tbe Same manner as the resolution , moving a vote of thanks to tbe lecturer ? . No ; the Chairman was over well convinced that the numbers of those who despised their , theorising would have been made too glaringly manifest ; hence

      prudence overcame zaal , and the resolution was put in I a manner utterly at variance with all forms of public i usage- - - 1 As regards the itraeudoes thrown out In various parts ; of the letter asainet the Northern Star , all that I shall ; say in reference thereto , is that , so far as the report ! complained of is concerned , the Star is wholly and ) entirely irresponsible , for either its veracity or its falsei hood . And permit me here to direct CoL Thompson ' s f attention to a fact , which at once goes to show that the I Star , instead of having a desire to misrepresent Jiim u |» pnMlcinsny or ViraesTour Ecfcrtiate a prejudice unwax-: rantably against Mm in the public mind , is actuated I by a feeling precisely the reverse ef this .

      A report of the next Chartist meeting which was held here , after the lecture in the Theatre , was sent to the Star for insertion , containing some severe strictures on Colonel Tbomp&oa for his tiia \ recent oonduct ; but Instead " of glflBglhe report ' as sent , the Editor excluded from it every word which ha 4 reference to Colonel Thompson , instead of evincing a desire of inserting what might have to him proved prejudicial as a public man , 'he threw around him the delicate mantle of charitable silence : in hepes , perhaps , that although one frail step had been made , subsequent reflection would again turn the wanderer to the path of public duty . Such'hopes I am far from entertaining , and indeed , I believe all who in connection with tbe Chartist movement in Liverpool have witnessed treat I have witnessed on the part of the Colonel as a public man , agree with me that there is not a hook whereon to hang such a hope .

      In conclusion , I leave the men of Leeds and Manchester to settle their account with the Gallant Colonel , as . to them seema most fitting to do . Bat I would in a spirit of kindness caution Cslonel Thompson against the statements of commercial travellers who are to be met with by accident , particularly if they should wear glazed hats . I trust Colonel Thompson's friend " the traveller" did not wear a glazed hat The weeful remembrance of the traveller in Wales with tbe glazed hat , in the case of our lamented patriot Frost , is yet bitterly alive in the bosoms of the Chartists . ieavinr this rather lengthy document in tbe hands of my Chartist brethren throughout the empire , and prepared to redeem every pledge here given , and with a jealous eys vigilantly observing the movements of professed friends , and with a determination to enceunter open and avowed enemies ,

      I beg leave to sufescribg myself , In the cause of democracy , A yerj humble but yerj sincere disciple , Behxaed M'Cart . net 13 , Crosshall-street , Liverpool , January 5 th , 1842 .

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      THE RECENT MEETING AT THE MUSIC HALL TO THE EDITOR OF THE NOETHEHN STAB . SIR , —Would you allow me to make a few observations npon the meeting at tbe Music Hall , on the 4 th inst , through * the" medium of your widely circulated and valuable journal . In reference to the society who called that meeting , and whose proceedings we are falsely charged with having interrupted , I teg to ask what are th 9 real intentions of the party composing that society which has for its ostensible object the extinction of slavery in Africa ? We have the fullest right to inquire into their motives , as well as to hold up our hands at public meetings , both of which we are determined to exercise on all befitting occasions . Some of the men composing that

      society are men who were violent oppsnents of tie emancipation of the Slaves in the West Indies , and some who I saw in tie orchestra that evening hold and epenly avow principles utterly at variance with every principle of true liberty , and who , in perfect accordance with their principles , have , on every occasion , shown a strong disinclination to move in the cause of reform at home , though continually and closely pressed to do so by their more liberal minded friends ; and eve ? at this moment of unparalleled distress , when all elasses are suffering ( except the tax-eaters ) without exception , to a greater extent than at any former period , these -parties still exhibit an apathy , an unwillingness to lend a hand to extricate the country from the heavy load that bears down her every energy , ¦ wholly , totally inconsistent with the spirit of true philanthropy . That such parries as these should all at

      once exhibit such a wonderful , such an unwonted sympathy for tbe blacks , such a strong desire to alleviate / A « y sufferings , such anxiety to teach them the arts and sciences , and to elevate them in their moral and physical condition , looks to me extremely suspicious . If the ostensible object were the real one , it is laudable enough certainly ; but we very much question whether it is so . We cannot . help thinking that behind all those finning appeals to " every friend of the human race , " a BUboprick lies concealed ; and that an attempt will be made , when all is fully matured , to fasten upon the poor negroes one of those blighting curses and destroyers of all pure religion—a state priest We shall not be in th *; least astonished to hear , in a short time hence , of some holy son of the Church moving a grant out of the pesple ' s hard earnings to my Lord Bishop of Temando Po , or seme other locality on the Niger .

      We have a perfect right to infer Mr . Editor , that this far-famed society far the extinction of slavery , with Prince Albert at its head , is nothing more than another attempt to ramify society to the greatest possible extent , with a class of men who have ever been , and ever will be , the most fiery and unrelenting defenders of despotism . Tee present time partially favours their wishes ; for whilst one of the bleodieat set of despots that ever corset a -nation with its rale holds the reins of government , and who will not fail in imitation of their immediate predecessors to urge the iron heeiof oppression still closer upon the necks of their si&ves , and who erer and anon develop * a wish to set some bounds to human progress , to-stay tha overwhelming tide of democratic liberty , backed by such a government , the S 9 eiety for the extinction of slavery forsooth

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      e in hopes of adding another Ifnfc to the already tiling chain . Absolutism , coercion , Is written on terr front It is imposslbla to mistake them . No ponder fheD , that such precaution was taken ;' i > wonder such fear was' manifested ; no wonbt they dreaded to arouse the honest and just indlgitlon of the people whom they wished to make their asstve slaves , and-whom they hoped would assist in ttging their own chains . Else why such an array of airty or forty policemen , with the chief constable of ae town at their bead / and who were oh the spot before ae meeting began to assemble , lining the door-way , and ame In the room ? And why was tbd riot act carried to be meeting in the pocket of one of the promoters of bis society V Why all this , when the ostensible object f the promoters of this society was only to make an ppeal to the sympathy of " erery friend of humaity " ? Let Mr . Tottie and his friends answer if they

      Now , Sir , one word about iiterrnpting the meeting . To that statement we give a most unqualified deniaL The meeSng was nofc interrupted . It was a pnblic " meeting . ' .- " Every friend of humanity" was invited to attend . As soon as the time arrived for opening tile ' business of the meeting , Mr . Tottie { with the riot actin his pocket } arose and proposed that tbe Mayor should : take the chair . This motion was seconded' ; and before it was pat , some one proposed that Mr . William Broolr should take the chair . This was also duly seconded , ' and was put to the meeting , when it appeared that the meeting were completely unanimous in the choke ' of Mr . William Brook . Thus far all parties

      had conducted themselves with the most perfect order , and in accordance with the usage of pnblio meetings . At this moment the gentlemea who had called tbe meeting / together with their friendi , arose en masse , "&nd left the room instanter , without attempting to bring a single iota of their business-before the meeting ; thus adding another insult to the many already heaped upon tbe people . If they had stayed , they would have obtained { a fair and impartial hearing The after proceedings of the -meeting fully justify me in asserting this ; for never w » s meeting more orderly , or more good-hamouredly conducted in this world . ;

      , Now , Hr . Editor , allow me to-direct your attentfoq to aiDOet gross aad outrageous insult offered by the ieed * . Mercury to » large number of the most respectable portion of the middle class , as well as the working ; claw . generally . In the course of his comment on the ' Sasswaight'B meeting , he asserts that Chartism and * IMMsmqirffvgrnonimous ; in other words , all who hold tt ^ Pf 9 # ef-e 0 f&talned In the People's Charter to be founded in justice , are necessarily Socialists . There ^ s a eompliment for . you , Messrs . ilursel , Giles , Plint , Stansfeld , Marshall , Biggs , Smiles , Miail , and the numerous Jbody Df your class besides , all of whom hav « openly recognised tbe principles of Chartism , and who only disagree with the working class as to the best means of obtaining the Charter . Gentlemen , you

      are all of you , according to Mr . Balnes , stanch supporters of Socialism . Ton want to live ia community and in paralellograms ; one and all of you repudiate the law of matrimony , and otker absurd ao £ immoral laws of the old immoral world ; according to the representat ions of Mr . Balnea , as to what it Socialism , You are rational religionists , and wish to convert your chapels into balls cf science ; indeed yon repudiate erery thing except the sublime dogmas of Robert Owen . Gentlemen , all this is true , because Mr . Bainea says that Socialism and Chartism are synonymous , and this is what he . represents Socialism to be . But why should I pursue the subject farther ; pitiable indeed must be the condition of the man whose lact resource is ex * hausted , and in order to prop up a foiling—nay , a fallen and despicable faction , must have recourse to wholesale

      slander and lisa . I do not wish to qualify the expression in the least Mr . Baines knew when that sentence was put forth , that it was a mean and slanderous libel upon more than alneteen-twentieths of the people of this country , holding really liberal opinions ; therefore it will serve u a criterion by which we may judge of other statements put forth by that organ . Mr . Baines is really an adept at handling the worn-out tools ot the eld Tories . A few years since , every man who was known to hold anything like liberal opinions was denounced as a Jacobin , Atheist , Revolutionist , and Tom Paioex ; but , unfortunately for Mr . Balnea , people have now-a-daya an awkward notion of thinking for themselves ; therefore , his attempt to sink Chartism by fastening hit Socialism npon it will prove altogether abortive .

      Allow me one word more in reference to the meeting . We are not only prepared to defend our conduct at that meeting , both in a Court of Justice ox before the public , but to act in a similar manner whenever a similar occasion calls for it , netwithstan&ng any and every attempt to dragoon us into passive obedience aad nonresistance . I remain , dear Sir , Most respectfully yours , V . B . Westxaxs , 67 , Chatham-street , Leeds , Jan . 11 , 1842 .

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      - TO HAMER ~ STAN 5 FELUrESQ . " " Taxes are fistd monetary payments , a&d do not lower with the fall of prices of " produce . "—J . Pen . v * . "AD classes will prey upon all other classes jost as much as they can and / tor * . "—Hameb SrAHSFBLD . > , SIB , —You will recollect that , some little ifma ago , in tha ' coarse of a conversation we had together . upon the question of a repeal of the Corn Laws , T placed the argument before you in the same manner as I did in my last letter but one ; and you observed , that " the position was forcibly and ingeniously put , but that there was a fallacy In it somewhere . '' I nave since laid it before yon and the public , in print , so that the fallacy , if there be one , may be detected . It appears to me to be the pivot upon which the whole question must turn ; nor does there appenr to be any mode of escaping the consequences , but by at once boldly denying the fixed monetary payments .

      When Mr . Piint told na that " taxes had nothing to do with the price of articles , " common men smiled at the absurdity , and were astonished at his assurance . As that gentleman has a great desire to appear metaphysical in his " political economy , " he might . have carried the idea t « a much greater extent , and have fearlessly asserted that rent , tithes , poor rates , county rates , wages , it , as well as taxes , " are only deductions from the farmer ' s revenue , " and that they have nothing whatever to do with the price of corn ; and that the only cost price of wheat is the profit of the farmer . However sceptical we might have been , this position is just as true as the first ; and no doubt we shall believe it , at the same time that we are convinced that the forty per cent upon our malt , the almost one hundred per cent upon our sugar , the more than one hundred per cent , upon our tea , and the nine hundred per cent . Dpon our tobacco , have nothing to do with the price of those articles !

      Tbu will also recollect , Sir , that in the conversation before alluded to , and after you had admitted that the " position was forcibly and ingeniously put , but that there was a fallacy in it somewhere , " you observed , " the cause of our being embarrassed by the question waa the introduction of money ; and that if we would disencumber the question of all money transactions , and rtduce it to simple barter , which , in fact , all commerce was , we should then arrive at the bottem of the question . " Let us , then , try the " system of barter , " and see if that will make it appear to be either juBt or practicable to repeal the Corn Laws , so long as our present fixed monetary payment remain .

      To proceed , then , we must suppose that the forty per oent . upon our malt , the almost one hundred per cent upon our sogar , the more than one hundred per cent upon our tea , and tho nine hundred per cent , npon oar tobacco are all abolished ; that all commutation for tithe bas ceased ; that the poor rates , the county rates , in abort , every kind of direct and indirect taxation has ceased ; and we must also suppose , as vre did in a former letter , that the f undholder , the army , the navy , the pensioners , the tithingroan , and the . whole , host of

      those who wallow in the taxes , including the criminal Judges , and the Poor Law Commissioners , ( the representatives of that class of " independent labourers , " which the system has caused to " eat their beds "); we must suppose that these parties are all assembled in the taxing house , at the entrance to Leeds market , to take payment in kind instead of in money : in this case , we can with more propriety , perhaps , introduce you as going on the " principles of free trade" with yonr nine yards of cloth , worth £ 1 per yard , to . the market to barter for wheat / v ~

      Let us suppose you , thepr , at the taxing-gate , and the usual form of introduction over . That you have told them yon are an Englishman ; aDd that you are going with nine yards of cloth worth £ 1 per yard , to barttr for nine loads of wheat . Tbe tax-eaters tell you that you must give them one-third of the quantity before you can be allowed to pass the taxing gate and enter the " free trade" market You ask , with considerable agitation and surprise , what 5 s it for ? The Taxeaters tell you that it is to cloth the fundholders , the gentlemen of the army , the navy , and alse the pretty Misses on the pension list ; and the criminal judges and Poor Law Commissioners , add , in tones so sweet , so bland , so "full of the milk of human kindness , " that they require their share for the clothing of those poor souls , whose " extravagance and indiscretion" have caused to be "snrplus population , " and which our over-merciful Cbrittian institutions have consigned to " our paternal care . "

      Hamsr Stansfeld—Foolish , mercy ! why not throw them upon " their own resources" at once ? Why not tell them that" nature ' s table is fall , ' and that " she has doomed them _ and their progeny to starve ?" ¦ ' But gentlemen , you do not clothe tbe paupers in fine broad cloth , I hope , and you will recollect that mine is worth £ 1 per yard . .. Judges and Commissioners—O , no , Sir , we do not clothe them in cloth of Vial kind ; but you know . Sir , there is the jiidge , the barrister , and all the grades of officials , down to the goaler ; and the commissioners , assvitADt-commisaioners , and all the grades , down to the " union-house koeper ; " and these being ' "pofts ef trust and importance , " cannot be committed to any but men of " respectable" connections ; and , these you know , Mr . Stansfeld , must be clothed as " gentlemen . " But , Sir , the little which will be left nftsr all tbe " officiaiV ; are clothed , we shall "barterfor " Grogram , " which will be quite good enough , and indeed too good , to clothe those who have committed the monstrous crime of being poor .

      Untitled Article

      And taan , Sir , yout Beelng ¦ the bayonet , peeping from underneath the surplice of the tithlngman convinces you that it will b « In vain to reaisf You give them the three yarda of cloth demanded , and push forward into the market '¦ " ¦ ¦ - f ¦ - ¦ : ;¦•; . ? . > - . j - ; ' j .-y-- '¦ ' ' !• ¦ . ¦ ' . ¦ <>• - '/¦ - * Up comes a stranger to the taxing-gate tod fcellathe taxing-housekeeper that h ^ is a Belgian , who has come on " the principles of Free Trade" to toe Leeds market ' with nine yawta of fine doth worth £ l fcer yard f an « thafc : fce tt come to » barters itfor ninfrloada of wheat : and he Ia allowed to take bis'irtand beside you with iht whole of his doth . The farmer walks up to you both andsayss r : ; ,: ¦ . - , ; . ; : ¦ . ¦; . : .. '¦¦' ¦ , \ * v \; ' ' ¦ ' J \ r ' - - ' i : .. Fortner—Well ; Mr . Belgian , wnat hate ' yon -got to barter ?^ ^ . : ; ;•¦ , ¦¦¦ ¦ . . - . " , ¦¦ : \ -- \ ii ¦ . .:,::. ¦ . ¦ . "¦ . >

      . Bd&Mr-l have got nine yards ot doth , which I wantt ^ iwrtei for nine loads of wheat . Famer ^ m ^ mtbii quantity to dispose of , and I waDtyo ^ gnan % ofcloth i bnt l will see what neighbour Btttosfeld ^ Sias got Well , Mr . Stansfeldi i » haVl » wy *» ' g 6 b r - ?; - vi / -. :- . ;\ : ¦ ' -. : ' \ .. ¦ . ¦ . - ¦ : ¦ ..:, .:.-, Sfa « s / W * - ^ W « n , aelghtxmr , when I left home tW » , inoiniag , I bad nine yards of as goed cloth af the ¦ Be ^ giaa ; but when I , got . tothe taxing-feouse » frjtt » e entrance to the market , I was compelled to give three yards , of clott * . to , ; the fundhplderv the >« 8 iyi aavy , tttbejman ,, fee . a ) n ^ on ; t ^ W :. i ^ i-- ] Eax ^^ m < these mpg » V 6 necessary to the pireBet ^ tioipl ^ HJtj ^ drious Qittltotlons ia / , V « hurch w& state . *> I % ||| -not-ffifarm yoa . ' DeighbOttr ^ that part ef the fundiwMers ' claim . ia

      for interest of money lent to jrat down , our American oolbn { efc >' lrbd ' VQBd- - t ^^^ p ^^^^ tQ ^ : g ^ y ^'/ titat-the . « mpt&et xountry ' had no right ia tax theni without theiroonaent , " It is tree , tea tagabonds auc&eded ; and afterwards with' theit' "fir frigates , with fetts of bunting flying at their Mass heads , " to ; tm the Right H ^ $ . Oabnlng ' B description , they thwi <* ei us upon t £ e-li&b . ** as , ' and compelled na to give ^ p the " right of sea » $ hJ but , inrecotnpence for this , oufctrobpa , though defertfedi ^ wfecovertd with "' glory" Anif'fiieiAyoukrio'ir whatgs ' i ^ ieektng- ^ hlng It wouldhavebeen if the republJcatfPi ^ ndi had been ^ sllo wed to set the example of a ¦ natio % t ^ ing witho « tfc- kings , lordif ^ and tithes 1 and -thflfliro we-itd ro-oiftiblish the " damnable errors of popei « rt * weatthe same time established a king , which

      you , f wb sue' will acknowledge is worth more than all ¦ ; - *» -bptto'W pay to the fundhblderV And then as to . clothi ^ T the army , you know it , keeps dowii th (^ . " | MrcaUy Chartists , " who have the impudeijipto say tiSfei ** God created only male and female ; and ; * ot lord * * nd slaves ; " nay , I once heard one of them say that "be did not think that any body bad a right to the fruit * of his toil without a fair equivalent " Did you ever hear such eeditiou ? But , by-the-bye , I see ^ that the army can be used for other purposes than putting down the Chartiats ; for when I hesitated to give my \ htea yards of clotb , af the taxing bouse , I plainly petceived the bayonet Uiruit . out from beneath the surplice of tha tithelngman . But as the taxes are paid to ourselves , an 4 sjKmt among ourselves , and

      " havp nothlag whatever to do with the price of aTUdAa /* we Bhall all be right a ^ laet ; so you can take tny ciou ) LiBi < J I will take your whejut Farmer . —I most confess , Mr . Btansfeld , that 1 do not very ! V ^ ll underatand these kind of things . It is true wat jour friend Plint has told us that .. . " taxes have nothing whatever to do With the price of article * -, " but it plainly appears that if they have nothing todo with the price . they have something serious tp do with \ &e quantity ! iot you have only six yards left to ofil ^ r me for my nine loads of wheat , while the Belgian , who has had nothing to give towards maintaining our fundholder or titheing-man , has nine yards , -which he ofl ^ a me for my wheat I suppose , Mr . Stanafleld , that It does not need much political philosophy to

      eonvince you teat" I would rather have his nine yards thanyour sjx yard * . Bnt as you are a" citizen ol the world ; ' a complete •' free ^ trside" wan in ^ every respect ; and , aa you ho doubt , are a sincere btliever in the doctrines of that great apostle of " Ships , Colonies , and Commerce , " Dr . Maccullocb . ; be , you know , has told us that it makes no kind of difference to this connfefy-whether we purchase our cloth of the Belgian or of the home manufacturer . ; '• " that it only changes the species without diminishing the quantity ; " and , as I do not understand these matters , possibly he may be right- ; bat I cannot help thinking that the Belgians nine yards will do more towards clothing my carter and pl ^ ughraan than yonr six yarda . You , Mr . Stinafeldi inlTso doubt smile at Biy ignorance for thinking so ; hut'I'assure you that the moment I understand

      how it is that your six yards will clothe aa far aa tha Belgians * nine yards ' I wilb'barter with you . In the meantime I must close in with the offer of the Belgian . To be rare he will J and all the nonsense which the " blp » , Colonies , and Commerce" men ever spouted witt net induce him to act otherwise I How do you like yt > ur position , Mr . Stansfeld ? Do you think it just , jkbit the Uxenter Bhouid take from you one-third of your cloth , and then turn you into the market to " comptte" with the Belgian T Is this really what yon meptibf ** free trade" ? And how : far has the " system ef barifr gone to support your systom of Taxes Laving nothixratp do with " the * , matter ? Is not the thing , « JteSt ^ b * ve ioser- t «* o abeura tc ^ Jireea anotheP word t ^ Bat tbi » in nothing , as compared with the degreSrtif absurdity to which I will reduce it before I havadoni . ' - - - ¦'¦ '¦ ¦ ' ¦' - ¦ :: ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ * - ¦¦¦ ¦ - ¦' - . ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦•• ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦; - '¦ ¦ ¦;¦; '

      . .. . * . What , would you think , ilr . Stansfield j what would the whole . world think of a treaty of commerc ^ made nth ' ilA sBl ^ f ^ feVt 9 ^ f $ &Z ) U TVjiicb - fi |} 0 IZlu ' 1 * 1111 ^ ^ JX ^ M . Sttt . « H gdocr ^ w- wljat ^ vi ^ ffuuT ' con ^^ fflxfifc . Americfti shalLba allowed to come into the English market free of all tax or toll -whatever ; but that ail goods coming from France , Belgium , or any other part of the European continent , shall pay » duty of one third of their value before they shall bo allowed to enter the inarktt . " What would you think of thiB ? Would not the " citizen king" and bis and our relation in Belgium thiiik this a curious illustration of the prineiplea of " free trade ? ' Wonld it be just to the remaining parts of the world ? And would not the rest of the

      world conclud * that , be the professions whatever they might , the act was intended for the express purpose of preventing them from comiug into the English market ? Aud , by what prooess of reasoning do you come to the conclusion that that which would be unjust to the rest of the world would not be unjust to the English farmer ? If it be unjust to compel the continental manufacturer to pay a tax of one-third of the value of his produce before entering the market , and at ti / e same time allow the American to come in free ; is it nofc equally as unjust to compel tbe Englishman to pay onethird , and at the same time let the foreigner come in free ? Come , Sir , where is the distinction ? If there be one pray draw it ! and that early .

      But we are yet only at the commencement of the absurdity . In the example which I have given I left it to be understood that after " free , trade" was established , the tax-eaters enly continued to take one-third of the amount of our produce . This would be by no means the case I We mu ^ t recollect that there is no such a thing as " barter" with the tax-e » ter . He gives ns nothing in exchange for what he takea . 'nor does he take so many loads of wheat , nor so many yards of cloth , for his amount of dividend ; but so many pounds sterling ! without any consideration whatever as to its relative value in cloth or corn ! In shprtr according to the principle laid down in my second letter , " the lazes are FIXED monetary' papments ; ^ and do NOT LOWER WITH THE PALL OP PRICES OF VRODCCE . ' ¦ ¦ ¦• " " " ¦ ¦ : ¦ . ¦ '• ¦ ' . * ¦ ¦ '" : ¦ v ¦ : . - . " ¦ ¦ .. '¦ . ¦ : ¦ '• .. ' ' ¦ ¦

      Keeping this principle , then , steadily in view ^ let wj again take you into the market Mr . Stansfleld ; and see the situation in which you-will be placed after you have bartered your doth . If you refer to the examples previously given , you will find that after the ' tax-eaten had , taken one third , or three yards of cloth , that you had still bIx yards , or the value of six loads of whent , remaining to take home with you , for the wages of your men and your own consumption . But this is far from being the real state of the case ! -. ' ¦ '¦ . : ¦ ' " . '' : Let us suppose you again in the market , then , with your nine yards of cloth ; and , to make abort -work of it , that you have " bartered" it , on the principles of free trade , " with the Polander for his nine loads of wheat ; and let as also suppoBe , in accordance , with your own principles , that the price of wheat baa fallen One-half , and that , consequently , when you have obtained your nine loads of wheat * yon can only exchange it ( or . £ 4 10 s . instead of the £ 9 which yon had formerly been in the habit of obtaining . :

      Now , Sir , recollect that the taxes are fixed monetary payments , and do not lower with the fall of the prices of produce ; and that , consequently , though you have only bartered your jvheat which you get in exchange for your cloth , for £ i 10 s ., you will' . still , have £ 3 to pay to the taxeaier out of it I the same as ytnr'had to pay when you " ' " bartered" for £ 91 And recollect , Sir , that the £ 6 left ont of the £ 9 would purchase 240 pounds of American cotton , at sixpence per pound ; and that the £ 110 s . which yon have left out of your ^ 4 10 s . will only purchase 60 pounds of cotton , er just one quarter of what it would before ! not be heightened by any thing which could be said by I need not add another word t The absurdity could Yourstruly , : ¦ •¦ ¦ : "¦ - : ¦ v . "" . ¦ ¦' " : ¦ ' - '•• jASfES PEWNT .: *¦¦ Millbridge , Jan . 11 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE WORKING MEN OF SCOTLAND . Fellow Countrymen , —I addressyou as one whom you know , as a man identified with your country , and as a Chartist whose conduct you have approved of whose principles you have applauded . Let me be divested for a time of the © nice of an Executive Cpuncillor of the National Charter Association ; « s a countryman , let me transfer myself in imagination amongat you ; and then allow me the privilege of addressing myself to yonrreason . I will neither arouse nor offend your

      national prejudices ; I will neither be Rejected nor dismayed by your recent rejection , in various public meetings , of the National Petition ; I will not heed whether the pride or prejudice , the policy or principle of your leaders may have , by the casting vote ef the Chairman , viitualiy censured the so-called English Petition ; but , demandipg that which you have never denied , viz . liberty of speech , I shaiU as a man , a countryman , and a Chartist , enter my protest against the ejection of the National Petition , by a majority bf one in the Scottish Convention . The following are my reasons :

      . ; First , the so-called English Petition is the petition of the majority of the Chartists of Grcai Britain . I assume in the outeet , that the working men of Scotland ( whatever the middle class may desiie ) mean to . bare *

      Untitled Article

      Universal Suffrage , or , in other words , that they , in common with the working men of JEngland , Wales , and Ireland , intend , under the Charter , that the majority of the people shall govern , and that ¦ the iama jOi tto ? Ife * . shall ; not be the ; laws of the many . / If our principles azo . exactly the same , then in pradioe yourMeaderSj or a majority of them , 'have seceded jttem the spb 4 Vof : the Charter , and have virtually laid It down aa ' i rule that in pettttona the inino-Tity haye a ' clear right toinile , because Scotland being a minority-of the people of Great Britain and Ireland , has assumed tlie rulerahip df tbe remainder . . To my mindi the rejection of the petition ( which never had sidissenUentvolce in the Chartist rankB in England , Wales ; w Ireland , ) Bimply means that the Scotch -people . ; ' br'that part of themwhoagree -with

      the ninjorlty of their leaders , desire to separate altogether from the sister k ingdoms in the present agitaUon , or still remaining in union with them , that the rule of the minority means ^ ^ Chartisua . If yon wantarepeal ; of ^^ the Charter Union , why urge it as an objection against the National Putition that one of its clauses approves of a repeal ot the Irish Union , if the Jrish people demand it If you insist upon a repeal of the Charter Union existing between England and Scotland , let it be made known , and the ^ £ r ^ M ChatUsts will at onc « a ^ your JBeparatef sovereignty . '; ^^ but if ¦¦• yoia the working nien , desire ^^ instead of a repeal a brotherly union to exist between Chartist and Chartist , without' any distinction of conhtries , then I demand from you the observance of the first grand principle of the Charter , which is that thi minority yield to the suffrages of the ittajbrity . ^ ..: ' ; ' : ' ; - ' - ^ " v ¦ ; : ¦ ¦ . ¦ '¦; . : ;• - ' ' . ¦ ; : ' / - ^ : : . ' : . >(' .:.. ' ;¦ ¦•

      That you nave not the niajorlty on your sida must be apparent , first , from the whole of the English people adopting ' . the ' National Petition . Secondly , from the whole of the Welsh people having done the earne . JThirdly , from the Irish people having adopted it and signed "; it In many difltjicts j and fourthly ,-.. I fironx the ascertained fact , that your delegates were equally divided ; on the question . Tcero cannot be a shadow of doubt concornlng the question as : to which havel the majority , although it may be urged that William Lovett , and about fifty meiubers pf his

      Asseclation , discussed the question whether they w > ul < sign the petition or not , as English Chartists . It may be argued that Scotland was not asked to vote at al ) , and heDce that Scotland ' s pride waB touched . To . Jills ' I reply that a petition was drawn up in England , which was submitted to the people for their approval and adoption . It was open to revision , amendment , and rejection . Some one must have drawn it up . Why did noi the Scottish Veaaera forward their protest to the concoctors of tbe Petition ? The Executive ) Council waited to receive all communications . None would

      have received greater attention than the protest of the Glasgow leaders , but none came . The petition was adopted by two nations , besides the half of Scotland , and » f ter this decided expression of the opinion of tbe majority , the few ballotted ' - ' against ' it , and have gained ft most un-Charttet-like , and , I hope , temporary victory pver principle and for prejudice , Do you , the working men , justify ibia proceeding in yonr own minds ? Do : you , reasoning apart from country , and only for principle , approve ? - If you say yes , then you decide that no grievance endured by Englaad , Wales , or Ireland should be mentioned in a petition , except . Scotland feels it Is this patriotism or selSsbness ? In my opinion , it is the purest specimen of selfish legislation ; and in my second reason for protesting , I shall endeavour to make it clear . Secondly , ' . ' . . ¦ : . ' ¦ ¦ •¦ ¦ ¦• ¦ ¦; - . ¦ ¦ : . - ¦ . ' . - ' ¦ :. ; ' ; : - ;¦ '¦ ¦¦ :

      " The objections urged against the adoption of the National Petition are insufiScient to authorise its rejection by the working m 6 n of Scotland , " It ia .. said the people of Scotland , were not consulted . That ' . 'ia no reason vrhy they should reject a just complaint or refuse to abolish an admitted grievance . It has been said that grievances should not bo mentioned , but simply the principles Of the Charter . If thisis admitted , tke next order must be to deiine topics for the lecturers ,.. aud that would lead to a college of Chartist / inquisitors equally repulsive or . injurious to our principles and onr cause . Besides the doty of tbe Scotch people was . not to curtail the statement of England or Ireland's grieysinces , but to add as many more ot their , grievances aa they thought right . If England rejected 3 petitioa . from Scotland , it must be on aome rational grounds ;; ; What are the grounds for the objections of the Scottish leaders ?

      Do they object because the Executive Council of the so-called Euglish asaoclation drew it up ? If so , then Englishmen will never be guilty of such narrow jealousy . That cannot be , because the Executive Council is based Upon a far superior principle than that ef the Central Committee of Scotland ? ' ¦ . " . ¦ Why so- ? , '¦ '¦' ; : ¦ ' ; v ' -y ' : ~ . : ¦ ' .- ' ¦ ' ¦¦ - ... ' . . . ... . ¦ ' [¦¦¦ Because the Executive Council is elected by ballot , aad by the votes of the members of the association , wiiereaa the Central Committee is only elected by the delegates of the Universal Suffrage Association without ballot , and without the votes of the members of their association being recorded , v _„ .:,. C . ... ^ . . . _ .. ¦¦¦ ' "Th *' Executive ^ TCouncii represents the whole of iheix association , but the Central Committed is only a sort of senate representiiig delegates , in the same way as if the Executive Council represented only the committees of the association .

      I rejoice to observe that several of those who actively , denb ^ oed ''' 't ^ & >^ eaMi ... ; Commiiie ^ . /<^/ $ cofbti 4 > ^^ e become , in the € onverit { on | its equally octivel « ipport ers / and after writing the above , I am almost inclined to state that therefore the principles npon which the Central Committse was elected , must have been altered . ' . " _ ¦; ' - " " " ¦ - : "'¦ . . " .. " - ... ' . ¦" . :.. ¦ ' " / . " : ' . ' : ' ¦ There cannot be any , objection to the Executive , although it has been denounced in Scotland by some crotchet-mongers , who imagined that Mr . O'Connor had niprepower over the Executive than he could procure

      by his single vote aa a member of the association . I am aware of a little unmanly jealousy prevailing in that respect , and I can only say , that Mr . O'Connor had as much " t » - do with the formation of the association as a prisoner could have , and as much to do with the drawing up of the Petition ; aa an absent man could Iiave ; besides Mr . O'Connor is an ardent supporter of the Executive , and , consequently ; of the principle that an elected and responsible body shall only have the leadership of the movement in the so-called English association . What more is 1 wasted from man ?

      The Executive and Mr . O'Connor cannot have excited the ire of some of the Scottish leaders . There must be some other cause . Is it the Repeal question ? Surely not , for there is no nation upon earth that would so much benefit under existing circumstances by a repeal of the legislative uuion as Scotland , and that belief has been admitted by at least one influential meeting in Glasgow , at which were present some of the most acute and penetrating minds of the Chartist movement in Scotland . Several of the objectors to the Petition were also present , and I do not recollect that , thej exercised their , unique powers of dissent upon that occasion . ; .

      It could not be that the Repeal question was objected to because O'Connell had adopted it . If so the objectors must have , a forty-horse power of belief in that gentleman's consistency , and if they have no confidence iu him , then their course is likely to a ^ rve liim , on the principle that , as he doea not want Repeal , . and only uses , it as a scarecrow , he does not desire to be compelled to accede in earnest to it or renounce it . Fell&W'Countrymen , what are the real grounds of objection ? I must enter upon this subject next "week , and endeavour to lay before you the remaining reasons fox protesting against the decision of your leaders .

      Faithfully , Yours in tbe cause , P . M M'DOUALL Eettering , Northamptonshire , January 10 th , 1642 .

      Untitled Article

      THE FACTORY SYSTEM . ( From the Fleet Papers ) But there are still other thousands of victims of tbe accursed factory ; system unmentioned by the Leaguers —thousands of neglectad , abject , forlorn , degraded , crippled , useless pieces of human lumber , vhich . the factory system haa thrown out of it 3 jaws , because they could minister no longer to the preflt of the Leaguers , having baen , though juvenile , ' ? used up '' in the creation of wealth for their oppressors . To see those living cra > li » g things ( poor creatures , my heart bleeds for them while I write ) in dark damp cellars , crouching upon filthy straw , huddled up , as I have beheld them , like lumps of waste skin , and crooked stunted bones , so wretched that they are ashamed to mix even amoDgst their own kindred—the very outcasts of the destitute ( for they feel themselves degraded below the human family)—to think , Sir , of the bodily and tha mental

      anguish , of th » se children of woe , even if they were in plenty , but now hungered almost to perishing , perhaps the last to be fed and attended to in the " home" of destitution , and glad to feast and company with pigs ( Sir , I do not exaggerate ) r-to measure all their woes requires more perception and tenderness of feeling than Is given . --. to man .. God only can measure their grief , gltrive , if you can , to apprehend somawhat of the keenness of " the iron that has entered into their souls . '' I speak of thousands of poor factory cripples who have been carefully and purposely excluded , but must now be added to the lists of the Leaguers . Poor , abject , wretched children , they have been denied the honour of a place in that scroll , because no sophistry could deny that , they , were the indisputable victims of the philanthropic (!) Leaguera . it is \ to reaerve to them-: selvea the power pf 4 ' manufacturing ^ sneh wretched , miserable things , that the cruel Leaguers . have bo long- opposed the passing of a Ten Hours' Factory

      Bill .: - ¦¦ ¦ - . :. ¦ .- ¦ : . :- ¦ - . •;• . ¦ :- . ¦ - . : - ; - ; j- ' : . - ¦ ¦ .-. ¦ •> ^ ~ Think of those injured oneB , and of their sorrowstheir pains in all their joint 3 ,. and , in very many cases , nought but damp straw to lean on , on the cold stone floor ! with iron frames to prop them ! Think of their hunger , and nought but husks to satisfy it ! Then try to feel the horror of their broken spirits , broken so ; thoronghly that they , if possible , avoid tlie sight of man / and often hide theniBelvea , even from their own flesh , their kindi-ed ; and then , if you can , apprehend the avrfnl ruin of their minds ! Pour tray the anguish of their parents and their brethren , dejected , ; degraded , desponding : their grief is augmented . in the season of destlfcutioiQ , because the labour of those cripples no longer helps to supply theii * wants . They a / e now a dead weight an tb ' s tci atj ¦ piovi * ica of the rest . Oh ,

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      Sir ! I have seen what I would ; & ? n pourtray ; but worJs are nadess , where wretchednew « o much abounds , ¦ ¦ ¦ ''•¦• ' : ' . ' ¦' . ¦ '¦ ¦! ¦ . :: ¦ . " ¦•;¦'¦ ¦ . a- ' ¦ ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ . ¦ If our governors could enter into the feelings cf { topse . cripples andthefr famUles—could realfe » ttteir p » ta and grief , and destitnMon , under the accumulated causes of sorrow whicfe they . feel—could ; breatoe their atmaaphere , and for a se « son exist in : their cold , damp , cheerless holes , in those sepalcbres of the breathing f andlf they could ascertain the ^^ cause of ^ ^ all that sorrotri if they are human ; they would no longer delay to «*« for and provide ito jremedy . Bnt , Sir ; the leaguers wiU not aid them in that search-itaey will not assist them in that cure ! They know too well that its causa

      is nowhere to be found but in their grasping greediness . Those poor children , who-are thus sank below hamftnitf , are the victims of ffiat greedy system ^ hic& tha Leaguers seek hot to restrain , but to enlarge : ! . They are the Victims of overproduction—the exampleB ^ of " false distribution . In them you witness the foundation of our miUionnaires , wHo have succeeded In their de « - atruction . Sir , the - same eystemi the same men : who * have ruined these children ; the Leaguers , &re aiming at yours ; and if hot restrained by wholesome laws , they will accomplish the rnin-of your ; ¦ ' • < a&etS' , aa sorely aathey have succeeded in crushing those unhappy children . I . cannot too often remind you , that you are both in the same boat—the fafltoiycbjld ^ y ^

      arlatocracy . : •'¦ : r : ,. ^ . ¦¦ . '"¦' - ' ¦ : -- ' ¦' : -: . \^ . '"¦ How strange , that those poor , wom-out factory cripples , who are certainly tfee most deserving objects of charityT- ( No , no , I will not thus desecrate he name)— -their claim to compensation is . their right I But , sir , how marvellous it Is , that thoai ? cast-off " woaltti producers should never have been thought of by any of the Christian philanthropifita of our age , In all tha world , such claims on pur benevolepce cannot elsewhere ; be found . But they" have been pushed out of thft notice of the benevolent , by the self-same spirit ^ hich , j ^ fter having victimised them , has , to hide its ; owa guilty kept them out of the misery-records ,. of the League . . -.. ' ' ,- " ¦ : ¦¦ " - " ' : " : '¦ ... ' ^¦ " ^ - ' -.- ^ : - ¦ . "' ' - ¦'¦ ' ' ¦ ' ' '

      Many are asking , tow can the people most appro * ptiately honour the infant Prince af Wales ? I answeraad who can gainsay ? By founding a Royal Asylum for tbe poor factor ; cripples . True ; they have not beenwounded in the outside battles of their country , but they have been wpuuded in the civil wars of capital- f Their strength has been wasted , their limbs have b ^ en torn or crippled , or lest , in the strife of the Loaguere- ^ the strife of money-getting . The Standard'truly says of these child-tormentors , " . Their money is their country ; " and Burke remarked of such like men , "Their ledger is ^ heir Bible , 'ttieir counting-house is their church , and their money is their ; God . " . r It is at the cost : of these wretched cripples that out bo much boasted capital has been acciunulated : it is but just that a portion of that capital ahonld now find them a home . •¦ - ¦ -. ' - ¦ ' ¦ . : "; - ¦ : ' " : u . > - ' - ¦' . - ¦ . ¦ :

      Letthen , the nation do honour to itself and fo its Royal Prince—ay , aud to hisBoyal . Mother , byfound * ing and maintaining the Prince of Wftles ' s Asylum foe Factory cripples , and let the Leaguers be first called upon to subscribe . This will at once test their'loyalty and their sense of justice . /; : V The following anecdote will be interesHbg :-r I once visited two factory cripples . Joseph had been " dona np" at the Rge of sixteen ; William was finished at thirty-one . I was Weary when I called . I jokingly told them I wanted a little repose , but I could safely sleep under their protection they were my body-guard . I observed that that expressioa , though meant quite friendly , pierced to their bearta . They blushed , looked at their deformities , and then one of them said , " We wish we were better able , 'iKing . '" < ' They : thought that I Blept I heard the ^ ^ following conversation : — . ' ' ¦

      Wiiliam--Joseph > have you get over the shame of being crippled when you meet any person ? ; Joseph—7 N 0 , William , I think I never shall . William—I wish I could . I know that it is yery wrong , but I cannot help it . 1 sometimes think the shame is worse to bear than the pain . Many a time , when I am passing persons in the street , if I see their eyes glance at qiy legs , the blood flushes into my face , and I could wish uiyseif under the flags . I know that it is very wrong . I pray to be delivered from it , but I fear I never shalL / . : ¦ . . ; , ¦ ¦ •";• : ¦ ¦ . ' .:- ¦ . . ' ¦" : ¦ : . ' ¦ ¦• • ¦ ' •¦ ¦¦' . . Joseph—Why , you know , William , tt is . not out fault ; we have done nething wrong to cause , our deformity , it is our masters Bhouid shame j but I am like yourself , I get out of the way as much aa I can , when I see people look iat me . Bat , if I see a gentleman with crooked legs , I am so pleased ! I know that it ia wrong , but 1 cannot help it . He makes me think better of myself .. ¦ ¦ ¦¦¦ ' ¦ . .:- '¦ ' . ¦ . - . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' :- : - ' - ' - ^ - - ' ¦ ¦"'¦ : ' ~ . ' ¦ : ¦ ¦

      William—When I see people with fine limbs , how I envy them ! -. ; , Bat 1 don't see why we should feel 10 , for , as yon say , we arc iaot to blama ; I interrupted them by saytog , "If England has any cause to be proud of her manufacturing syatem , yott ought to be rs proud of your wound aa the bravest warrior at Greenwich or ChelBea is of his ; without disparagement to them , you are a ? deserving of _ pen « siofiT as' they . " "WfflnMn theji said , VJ shall never forget one day , virhen I was in compmy with strangers , who were cpnverslng-about me . They could not see my crooked lega ( they were ander the table } j bat they saw I had lost my arm . They took me for a soldier .

      For awhile , I felt snch pleasure ; I « eemed to be quite another creature . But at length , unhappily , one o ( them asked me- ' , What regiment I had served in ? In wfcal battleXhad . beenwounded ?! : I could not tell hlnl alie ; all my bravi aeble feelings bad vanished ; how I blushed I I could have hid myself under the table I I wished myself anywhere else than there , when I was forced to say , 'I was wounded in the factory ! ' they then knew that the supposed veteran Was only a poOs factory-lad . " William concluded by say ing to Josephi "Well , what is past cannot be helped ; we must do all we can to ^ assist ' the old King' in getting a Ten Hours' Factory Bill , and save others from out fete . ¦•'¦¦ '• ¦ ¦ . - "' ¦ ' . - : ' ¦ : ' . ' ¦ ¦ - . . ¦ " " . ' ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ :. " .:. . -. ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ •¦ : :.

      Mr . Thornhlll , I was much aflEected with that scene . None were present save tho > ' Kllng" and his two crippled «' Bubjecta . '' Really , I was proud of them , and resolved to get them an asylum if 1 could . And now , Sir , permit me to urge the friends of the poor every where to be up and stirring to tbe help of Lord Ashley . His Lordship has taken his stand ; ha baa set a noble example ; he-wilf , no , doubt , early in next session , again attempt to obtain a Ten Hours * Factories' Regulation Act He will , pt cbnrse , be met by the keenest opposition of the Leaguers . His lordship will require the aid of all true Christianst I , therefore , entreat all ministers of religion to niake it their business to formtfd petitions ' to Parliament , praying for a TenHoura' Factory Law . O& , that every bishop , priest , and-deacon , would see to it / that he obtains one ! I know of nothing that would so much unite the poor to . the priesthood . How I shall be rejoiced if thus , at last ,, my labours should be erowned by the Church . ; . ;

      On the cover of this Fleeter ara inserted two forma of petition , for the use of thOEo in the factory districts , who might otherwise be at a loss for the proper words . I earnestly pray , feat every clergyman who reads this letter may ; become a helper in this great arid good work . . ¦¦ ¦ ' , - \ \ r ¦ ¦ . ¦>¦/¦ : ¦ ¦ : ' ¦ ' - ' \ . y : ' : . ¦ . . ¦ :: !; .. ;¦ ''¦ ¦ ,. .- ' . . The landloidsiaud agriculturists will do "weU to lend their aid . It ia their interest as well as their duty ; I hope that Riddlesworth will Bet the example , aed that from every nook and corner of the laad petitions will now be forwarded to Parliament for my paor , innocent , and cruelly-oppressed clients ., ¦ Forgive ' -my importunity—I foel most keenly on thi « , sulject . Thii spirits of Gould and Badier , smiling , urge me onward . I cannot cease to plead until their prayer and mine is answered . -

      To the inhabitants of the factory vlllsstes and towns I need say very little . They know and feel that their duty requires that they should be stirrinjj now . J Would , however , suggest that this time the West Ridin | f of Yorkshire and South Lancashire should have a muster meeting . Meetings in villages and tuwns ate well and good , as far as they , go ¦; but to hack L » rd Ashley triumphantly those large difitricts should have their provincial gatherings I : - ; " V Ten Hours' BiH men , " everywhere look to it ; the •^ Klrig" v ? ills , a long pull , a sbron |! pull , and a pull altogether . " See , victory waits to crown your efibxts ¦!' Cheer me , in my cell , with the realfzstion of roy hopes ? —Ashley for e yer—Ashley for ever—the Ten Hoars * Bill , and no surrender !»

      • ¦ ¦• - . ¦ Poor Williato Dodd I You have notforgotian the touching account of his sufferings I Poor feliow , how I rejoice thatHeayen directed his steps to this cell , rather than ioKehdal Unitfn Workhousa , where , had he not comai-li ' ere , in airprobability he ^ would now ^ as the reward of his industry and sufferings in the service of the Leaguers , have bean lingering his life away , instead of moving in £ hat sphere of useful labour which he has marked out for himself .: V : The . kindness of many friends made William , as he thought ; , ; very rich ; so , wiUi . the few pounds which would have maintained him in idleness during the wintor , he has been on a tour of inspection : in the factory districts . He has obtained most valuable information of the present condition of the facfory ^ workers ., He Is now returned , and is compiling the journal ot hia tour .-If he is aided by his friends , he intends to publish it in a series of letters . - ¦ . •'¦¦ .. 1 . ' "' - ' - '"

      At the present jonctore , William Dood ' s forthcoming Work will be worth a Jew ' s eye ! What the price will be , I cannot juat now ascertain . ' ;''¦¦¦ 7 ; I- ^' If jtheaeol servationa should prove the means of obtaining my friend William a little aid , so as to insure the puMicatipn of hisietters , and reward him for his exertio ^ I shall rejoice . ; , V " " . '¦ .. /" -, ' " ! . ''¦ - :- . 'fr-- ' - That ^ bfanil pijickecl from ^ the fite , v is a very grateful creature . Itequested him ' not td > trouble himself with ( Writing toM ? often on his journey . He no soonee retunied . to to ^ ro : tj 3 an he seit medletter , which I had intended ' to talseit here , because I love the lad , and It Is due to him that he should - once more spesk for ; himself in my little Fleeters . The want of rooih i however ; forces me to delay the insertion of William ' s epistle till next week . ' /¦ ¦¦¦ ' ¦ ;; . ' : ¦ ¦ ¦ ; , ; : ¦¦ - : : - - ¦

      - . I am your prisoner ... RldHABD OaSXtEB , ¦ . , . ....-. " ^ if- - ¦"' . '" . ' - . ¦ ¦ .. ' ''

      Untitled Article

      4 ^ of Business . — ^ There ' s a cha p ¦ down at Quamphegan bo tarnation cute , that bo refuses to pay the debt of nature unless the discount is takea tfil—Tuz £ h < ' ¦ "¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦' ' ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦' :. " : - : ; ¦ ¦ ;

      Untitled Article

      — ' ' ¦ i ^ iai ¦ ¦ - - ' 1- ^————— — ¦ ¦— — ¦— . . ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ! ¦ 1 1 .. - ii — ¦ — •' ¦ 1 - --.- V . . ¦ ¦ - - ^ ' ~' - . - . ¦ ¦ . - ¦ ¦¦'' . ¦ - . ' ¦ ¦ _ v ' ¦ ' .- * ¦ " ¦ : _^_ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ .-- . ¦ _ ¦ ¦ --.- ¦ . ¦ ¦ - . _ 1 — - . .. — .- ¦ ¦— " . I— ¦ ! — ¦ ¦ ¦ ™ ' ' — ' _ ' 2-. - ~

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 15, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct737/page/7/