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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th March 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 7

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    • GROANS FROM BEVERLEY
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      Untitled Article

      FEABGUS O'CONNOR ON THE COMPLETE SUFFRAGE QUESTION ; ¦ ffe take the following from that prince of cheap -ajjodicil *) the English Chariist Circular : — m i— — i .

      "TO THE WORKING PEOPLE . , t jjy deab FRIskds , —If ever there ¦ was a time -hen it behoved the industrious classes of these coun-* £ & to bestir themselves about their own business , it is lI 3 Iy space trill not admit of much circumlocution , li d ' therefore , I come at once to the question of—^ you— the most vital importance—the question , of tfea ^^ jfaoy converts have " recently been made to the -jjsop le—that is , to a confession of the abstract right Slgset of converts declaring in Avon * of the Charter , ^ ar ai ruervat iovs as to detail * . Another set rtflSOTicg of t&e principle , but starting at twenty-five Zfl of age instead of twenty-one as the qualifying

      ' jWj - Another set speak of manhood suffrage . FL gjET set ¦ will giva us Universal Suffrage , Equal Sectoral Districts , and the Ballot ; -while another set Si of ' Cmp lete Suffrage . ' Kow , it is to the latter 3 £ e of converts I shall first direct pnblic attention , resection i * headed by Mr . Sturge . of Birmingham , a ± ^ g excellent person—* man , a * the -world goes , a tBTy before his order in all the distinguishing quali-Si which mark progression , shewing that he is aware jvjj the human mind will keep pace -with civilisation Za scientific improvement Nay , more , these may be ^ characteristics of art and cunning ; -while I am free to confess that he is as far in advance of Ms cam--aiions in all those attributes which should adorn tmyn ,

      u be is in "ie onvard mvca ol the science of polities . Thus I deal fairly and openly -with a political onnoDent , giving to character and mind all those advan-£ f £ jtf Trtsica I Tterer desire to see them stripped . TtLfcet , 1 'declared- , st the outset , that I esteem and tjue Mr . Sturge more than the whole party with -bid , he is mixed ap } but I do not esteem him as onca M p rinciple , neither shall I allow myeelf to be bd from the true path by the fanciful light of his ftnannation . In boot * . J att * H deal with the ques-« on and not with the man , -well knowing that all Ben are not Stniges , and that to Ms proposition many would be parties not influenced by the same nobleness of mind or good intention . "What , then , does complete suffice mess J If it is not intended as a false fight to lead vs astraymnst it not meanfirstly - ¦—— — - ¦¦»¦ -- - 0

      , , , T ! ilS * 3 j'fi" * - _ , — * , the possession of the franchise , and secondly , the most I { all ample , beneficial , and COMPLETE application or nse ' of it ? If it does not mean this , it is not the ' , Charter , and should be denounced . If it does mean ; this , it means neither more nor less than the Charter , ! jnd should be declared so by the adoption of the Char- ' tet An undefined political term is pre-eminently calyj jnjatad to lead men astray . Thns , the principle glared in the Reform Bill , thai " taxation , and repre- ' b extensive the

      gsfoiioa sh&tia e co , " was principle for ^ iuch , in 1832 V you contended ; that contained the irfeole of the Charter principle ; in it was embodied the principle cl " complete st&rape / ' and now mart yon { reH the shape and form into -which the Parliament gat arranged the details of the Reform Bill has moulded g » measure to class purposes . Let us now clearly jndHStand the value of what is called " complete suffnye , "&s defined in the speeches and resolutions of a » se working with Mr . Sturge . They say first , get the Ttte , ana then a Parliament elected by the -whole peojjemust JLBSA ?< GE the detail . Xet us , then , tako jyestnussier , to vrit , snd see in how far the pere election by Universal Suffrage would be " Cokpi ^ etb SuFFUiGE , " and whether without

      S » very points of which they -will not hear , jamdj , . ASOL . 1 HOS ot pbopebtt QirjiiyiCATiow 1 ST ) TAT 5 TS 5 I OF ILKHKEES , it -would confer mora San a mere possesion of these rights , while it would withhold its beneficial use and complete application . Under sock a Suffrage , is there one single mas in Weotjninster commanding your confidence and esteem , who rcu ! d be qualified to represent you ? Not one—you jsay elect , tat itmurtbe a man having NOT LESS J& 3 R £ 300 a-year . Mind , not l « s , -while his only tfcaace would be having ytrj mnch more . I wish to instruct you "well upon thi 3 point ; £ 600 a-year ji the LEAST qualification for a county Tepreaenfcaure , and £ 300 a-year is the LEAST for a borough representative . Now mind , that is the

      LEAST ; so it is in the present HouBe , and yet see how many , how very many , possess fifty , ninety , and more than one hundred times the amount of THE LOWEST $ ralificaticn . This , then , is my position . Firstly , debarred of the full right of free choice , the constituent kody would be indifferent ; firstly , as to the attainment d the franchise ; and secondly , as to its application . And instead of destroying bribery at elections , one of ibe erils now most conplained of , ft would but open a ¦ wider door for corruption , and thus throw a much pe&ter weight into the golden scale , increasing by fivefold the present evils of class legislation . A man with £ 300 a-year in "Wesminster would now have some chance , while a man under Universal Suffrage , and no more , would have no chance whatever for Westminster .

      ^» rh election would a contest between the wealthiest Hid the merely qualified of the upper aud middle dssses ; and tiM » is the proposed noetrnm for the Abo-Hiion of Clasa Legislation . Now always bear in mind , my frisids , that we are the Anti-Class Legislation Army tf Chartists . Suppose then a parliament elected by rmverssl Suffrage of qualified members . They are Bare for seven years , and being all class supporters Ssere , every session would be devoted to the destruction Ed annihilation of these other Chartist principles to the recognition of -which tkey look for the overthrow tf iheir rule . The Charter Snfeage wonJd not rob any Has , - » Mle it would protect and enrich all , while compJete Suffrage would merely tantalize you with the pos-Kaion of a thing which you could not use , and would

      Btirely prostrate labour to capital and speculation . Ihs Charter Suffrage would , firstly , more than treble oar production , now locked up , restricted and narrowed , thus it woali cause a more equitable distribution cf the increased production . Complete Sufirage would sot increase the production , while it would monopom all that was produced . Repeal of the Corn Laws without the Charter would make one great hell of Engfcnd , and would only benefit steam producers , merfianb , and bankers , without giving the slighest hnpstos to any bade , save the trade of slavery , while 5 wtrald , from the consequent improvement and inul-Splication of machinery , break every shop-keeper and

      fiaive one-half of our population . On the other hand , fi » Charter -would in less than aii months from the . Site of its enactment callfotth . all the industry , energy , nd poTer , of every class in the state . Every trade cold be at full work , every shop-keeper would be in ; IbH bosiness . and whatever price the loaf was at , every felly would be fnll also . The two great things to be j siected by the Charter are these : firstly , tbe d * Brruc- \ fioa of those restrictions by which mines , fisheries , and hfld are locked up ; and secondly the more equitable . fixtribTition of the consequently increased produce of . HOME ; and mind , after all , you must be great at j tone before you can be great abroad . The political [

      economist * would make you dependent upon the . ' fccKgDer for your three meals s-day , and in case of } * arcity would enable him te starve you ; and all to { sake money for the mest crnel , griping , heard-hearted \ si of slave-owners that ever lived ; whereas the Char- i far Trodd make you independent of the whole world , j fbey irish to make our movement auxiliary to their ¦ ¦ cerement ; it is for you now to decide whether or not , ; liter ten years' trial of . and as many years of sanction i * 2 der , one Keform Bill , you will now waste your enerfcssbr confirmicg the power in the hands of those who « » Jooe were beuefitted by lhe . fonner measure . The iact , i > that men who have made millions under the present , Intern , now wiih for a gross medium of circulation to . B&SBf * their gambling speculations , and they look to , &e kad of the world as a mint too small to coin a i 1 D £ ssure adequate to their capacions desires . i

      v > orking men , stand by your order—THE A OBL * . ; A £ ht or Chartists . j "Et £ i your faithful friend , j " FEASGrS OCO > " > "OB" !

      Untitled Article

      . ^ j ER . M'DOUALL AND MR . DUNCAN , OF i DUNDEE , I to the editor op the sobthe& > " stas . j SlK ^ —I legrtt to see ike turn which Dr . M'D-uaiL ' by Mslftta in the Sorlhesn Star of the 5 th inst , has z pven to my diBcus ^ jon with him regarding the Petition of the English Executive . 1 had hoped the letter 1 woteyui en the 21 st would have been my last on tbe \ subject ; b * t the Doctor , having since chosen to mis- ; Kpresent aua falsj ^ f my sentiments , as well as to ic- j troduce charges and insinuations against myself pet-, » nal ] y , 1 cannot avoid n ^" addressing you , nor j

      vill you , I hope , refuse me the opportunity ofi icing sa j As the Doctor charges me with having introduced j > ersoEalities into my former letter , it is perhaps S 3 \ till to clear up Un 3 matter at the cntset . My first ' ¦ fetter made no personal allusion of any kind , nor did j * y secend , with the exemption of a single sentence ,: tndered necessary by the Doctor ' s own unjustifiaWe j Ondnct . The exception I allude to was this . In his j Eswer to my £ r > t letter , he thought proper to bring j leharge againit Hie , which , if true , ought at once to i tetroy my political character . " He charges me in effect , j

      Jith having knowingly and wilfully attempted to mis-. * &d the public on a subject cf vital importance to the j fee . In my rejoinder , I indignantly repelled the * &nder , as every honest man would do ; while the > *^ etor ( as no honest man would do ) has , in bis su » s £ -1 fent letter , neither apologised for his conduct , nor j ** eajpted to justify it , by proving the truth of his : « aige . He baa passed over it without a single al- ; « 6 on I With this exception , my letter referred solely : ' the question at ksue ; and , if the Doctor cuts but a \ ^ y figure in it , the fault is his own , not mine . I , we , thtrtfore , had no har-sl in iDtroduciDg perscEBSsb into the correspondence ; and it would , perhaps , 2 * fared as well with the Doctor had he fojlowed a ;

      • cow proceed to notice his last letter : —Upon the j ?« U of the English Petition he finds it prudent to say ?* or nothing ; but directs thai part of his letter v ** rigbt of protesting against it : in other words , f * 5 Kleavoar 3 t-j maintain his old gronnd tLst the f ° ** Sih people fcad no right to pursue a course different ^ 'iat recommended by what he calls "the majority . ' ,

      Untitled Article

      THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . Brother Chartists , —We have had the good fortune to serve you many months without the slightest accusation having been brought ata : nst us , as an Executive Cuuncil ; and , stieugthened by your confidence , we have unanimously adopted thfc various addresses ¦ which have-been laid brfjre you , at each time receiving thanks from the people for our services , and always having their" support ir . tbe course which we rfccommeiif'ed to be puroaed by the mswbera cf the Association .

      It would not be natural if we did not feel much gratification in preserving the esteem and confidence of so many of our fellow men , and In tbe same proportion we feel extremely senitive when the slightest doubt is raised as to onr political integrity , because , like CEBsar's wife , the Executive Councis should not only be virtuous , but free frcm all suspicion . We are responsible to the people f - >* . every act and advice . We submit to no other authority ; and , when we adviBe with cur constituents , we tirfet deliberate on the best course te be pursued ; and , secondly , lay our resolutions before the Association for the adoption and approval cf its members . Should the people return a favourable answer , we conceive it to be ihe test of tbe justice of our views ; but should they ( which they have uU jet dose ) rtturn an answer , disapproving of cur arts , we are then bound to amend our acts , or give place tu others who are more capable o ! conducting the business of an Executive .

      In List Week ' s Star , we , in an adJreM to the people , pointed out the causes which had induced many < f the middle classes to profess Chartist principles ; we alluded to the difiKuiiy of our position in as far

      Untitled Article

      as we anticipated that many might be deceived with the professions of the middle class , and wander from the grasd object of our agitation , the Charter , the whole Charter , and nothing less ; we laid down the landmarks by which we should steer ; they were the Charter , as the polar star , and on either band the Association and the National Petition . Our advice regarding public arrangement , may be too strong for some , bat by no means unnecessary at this important crisis . Oar advice as to public meetings in regard to resolutions , and particularly in reference to the returning of Chartist members to Parliament , has a so been generally approved of , with the exception of the Editor of th » Northern Star , who has entirely dissented from us in respect to the two resolutions proposed in oar address . ¦ ¦ ¦ — -1 - . — .

      The Editor of the Northern Star , conducting an organ acknowledged as the organ of the movement , is in the right to criticise the productions of the Executive Council , and Bimply performs his duty when he points out anything which may be wrong or unadvised in the conduct and proceedings of a public or respon-• ible body like the Executive Council . The Editor has onr thnnk * for the support he has afforded us in the past , and for the opportunity he has afforded us now of explaining o « r reason for offering two resolutions to the people for their approval ; but while we thus amicably proceed to explain ourselves through the Editor to the country , we must , in the most friendly , but determined

      manner , protest against the E litor associating the Executive Council with the humbug trap and the Bath conference . We have the greatest possible respect f « Mr . Hill , Mr . O'Connor , and Mr . O'Brien ; but we most say that the former is not justified In making the Executive answerable for aught save their own acts as a body , or in mixing them up , as a Council , with the private proceedings of Mr . Vincent , Mr . PhUp , or any other man ; and although Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Hill ' s conjoint advice would influence the people to a greater extent thatt that of the Executive , we are not justified in acting upon their suggestions , except they reach us through the public voice , from which quarter we are ready to receive instruction without asking .

      The members of the Association will excuse our bluutness of expression , and justify us in saying that we conceive ourselve s responsible only to those who elected us , and that we are determined to act independently , or cease to act altogether . We are resolved , as heretofere , to give our advice to the best of our ability . We throw ourselves entirely ini > the handB of the peeple , and the moment our ability to act , or our sincerity in advising , is doubted , we shall not injure the future , existence of an Executive Council , but instantly give place to better men , who can more earnestly support the character of a body responsible for their every act to the people alone . The Executive Council is the key-stone of the Association , without which all would be confusion , every one advising and no one obeying .

      We leave Mr . Vincent and Mr . Philp , if they have done wrong , to answer to the people . We will do likewise , and state why we recommended the two resolutions to be adopted . We proposed the first because of its theoretical and practical justice . The second , because after the abolition of the monopoly of the suffrage , all men who are Chartists are resolved on the abolition of all other monopolies ; and no man who is n . ta Chartist wculd consent to the other stringent rules and regulations laid down , or believe in any benefit arising from the abolition of the Corn and Provision L&ws , until tiie first resolution -was earned .

      There was a great want of unanimity of action throughout the conntry ; at Marylebone meeting the resolution adopted declared , in the outset , its unqualified approval cf the principles of free and unfettered trade . At Biimingham entire representation was mixed up with the repeal of the Corn Law . At other places no representation whatever ; we therefore considered it to be part of our duty to advise at such a crisis , and recommended one resolution to be adopted as tbe first at all meetings , mixing up nothing with the Charter , but presenting one entire principle , without alteration , mixture , or deduotion . We were fully aware , also , that in various localities our strength

      differed , and at Corn Law meetings especially , our amendments had to allude to the object of tbe meeting , therefore we gave a second resolution , which condemns all taxes on the necessaries of life , points to the monopoly of the suffrage as the cause of the Corn Laws , declares a want of confidence in all Governments appointed under the present system , and pronounces its conviction that the repeal of these obnoxious laws ( which tre suppose , the meeting to be discussing ) can only be effected thruujh a Parliament representing the whole people of Great Britain and Ireland . We cannot suppose that this is a handle for tho Repealers , and if any man believes we offered it as such , we repel the insinuation with the utmost indignation .

      We might , it is true , have altered the terma of our resolution in the following manner : — "The total and entire repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws can never be beneficial except when made the act of a Parliament representing , " &c As we gave it , and as it stands , we cannot for a moment suppose that any man who agreed in spirit and in principle to the first resolution , would be base enough or have the means to do injury through the second , and therefore ia offering thtm to the peeple we gave them both ont of a true desire to keep the association to the Charter first , and if they would have it , the repeal of the Corn Laws ot free and unfettered trade last . We most earnestly request attention to the first resolution , and as each locality is fully aware of its own strength , let them on no account avoid an opportunity of passing it , and if they cannot , by all means have the Charter in first , the Corn Law last .

      We have laid an address before you , and it la for the members of tbe association to deliberate upon the instructions therein contained Let it be clearly understood that our resolutions have to be confirmed by the people , and should Mr . Hill , Mr . O'Connor , or any other men draw up better resolutions , we are ready , with the permission of tbe majority , to withdraw ours and give place to theirs ; but until we are duly informed of such a decision on the part of our constituents , we must abide by our deliberate resolution . "We remain , Brother Chartista , Your faithful representatives ,

      James Leach . P . M . M'Douall . R . K . Philp . Morgan Williams . J . Campbell , Secretary

      Untitled Article

      THE STOXE MASONS OX STRIKE , FROM THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT , AND NELSOS ' S MONUMENT , LONUON , AND THE W 00 L"W 1 C 1 I DOCKYARD ,

      To the Public and the Trades of Great Britain and Ireland . - When men lie dispersed without concert , order , or discipline , communication is uncertain , counsel difficult , and resistance to oppression impracticable . Where men are not acquainted with each others * principles , experienced in each others' talents , not practised in their mutual habitudes and dispositions , no personal confidence—no friendship— -no common interest subsisting between them—it ia evidently impossible that their interest and rights can be defended with uniformity and effect . No man ihonld flatter himself that his single , unsupported , and unsystematic endeavours are sufficiently powerful to defeat the subtle designs and united cabals cf those who live on the vitals of his

      inti

      ousiry . " Brethren , —We are now in the twenty-seventh week of our strike , struggling in an uphill tight against tbe combined efforts cf a class-erected government , a class-chosen legislature , and an ungenerous , an unfeeling , and rapacious host of indolent capita . ists—men professing the precepts of Christianity , while practising the decrees of his Satanic majesty . At the Hcuses of Parliament , notwithstanding the report of the " Surveyor , Engineer , and Architect , *' : that " the works » f this splendid pile are now inactive progress , " little , very little , ia perceivable as the progress made since our members left ; and on Saturday nigut several of their most efficient huntls , from about Dundee , left the works . At the Monument , we cannot see any difference since we last reported . The number now on strike from these works are one-hundred and twelve

      The following passage occurs in a letter from our delegate at Penryn , in Cornwall , relative to this column : — - - " Tbe Winns , who are at the Monument , have sent a letter home , stating they are tired of their job—that things in London are in a very disturbed state , and wishing themselves back again . " These gent ? , wanted us to give them £ 10 each to take them home—tut it was " no go . " A respectable master builder of Penznnce , one of the intelligent , and consequently enfranchised class of that locality , has issued a manifesto , of which the following is a verbatim copy : — " March 6 th , 1842 . " Gents ., —This evening any Chartist Unionist of the Tradesmen ' s society in my employment shall no longer be in my service , and wind up all—all accounts next week !!! " A . BERHTMiN . "

      In relation to our strike at Penryn , our delegate writes : — . ' . ¦ " Mr . Hoskins ( now our only opponent here ) is completely in a coiner—he says , if be cannot get on better he must give it up . " Circumstances have not proved so fortunate as our delegate anticipated they would have done when he wrote last fortnight , consequently nine are yet on the funds in that place . From Dartmoor our delegate writes , — " They will be forced to do something ; at the quarries they are in a miserable way . Frazier , G & P- ' s agent at "WooVes-icD , Baa been here , and condemned & great quantity of stone ; he decZared he would not receive it—that it is not like the thing at all . Things never looked so vxll here as at the present . "— -Number out here , forty .

      Untitled Article

      From Woolwich we have received the following information , dated March 15 th : —; : » A number of the blacks were discharged on Saturday last , principally for the want of atone ; and , to all appearances , if there is not a more plentiful aopply the job must Inevitably stop altogether , it ia quite trne respecting the piece work excepting two or three all are working task-work , and I feel conscious that at no very distant period the day will be ours . Number out here , thirty-eight . " : , From Plymouth we have received the following :- — A cargo of granite coping has been Btnt frolfl Mr . Johnson ' s to Her Majesty ' s Dockyard , Plymouth ; sixty stones in number , twenty of them dress « d by « ur members previous to striking ; the other forty by the blacks since . The forty dressed (?) by the blacks are every atone condemned by the dock-yard receiver . Number out here fifteen . " — — -. - "

      Such is the position we at present occupy , and from which you will judge whether , with a continuance of yo « r pecuniary aid , the aspect 1 $ not sufficiently healthy to warrant a steady prosecution of this all-important struggle--whether our minds shall rise superior to any difficulties that may present themselves , or crouch with obsequious subserviency to the iron hand of oppression —submit ¦ •¦ ' ¦ ¦ : ¦ . ¦ ¦; . ¦ ¦ -: ¦ - ¦ . - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ::. ¦ . ; ¦ ¦•;¦ ..: .- . ¦ . ¦ . ¦ :. ¦

      " To live a life half dead—a living death Among inhuman foes . " ; ' ; It is pretty clearly shown in th « lines placed at the head of this report , that in the want of an intimate and extensively organised union—a reciprocity Of feeling and of action amongBt the working classes—; may be traced the cause of their present miserable and degraded position . ¦; .. . ¦'¦ .- ¦ . - "" .. ¦ ¦;•¦ . - ¦¦ '¦ ' . ' ; ' ¦; :: ' ¦' . '¦¦ ¦¦ '¦ All other classes , castes , and grades ; are united to a man in promoting and protecting their several interests at the expehce of the toiling niUHotts . ' ihe priest ; the doctor , and the lawyer by legalized act-cfrParliament unions ; the landowner and the capitalist by corn bihs and a monopoly ot legislation ; bat the interests of the working classes are not only not thus legally protected —not only preyed opon by a combination of all other classes—but , by internal dissension , by division amongst themselves , all but wholly neglected .

      Tbe intensity of Buffering manifestly existing amongst the producing portion of the community—the poverty , the wretchedness , and the misery to which existing usages of society have subjected them— -should arouse the most careless and apathetic to an f in media 13 and calm consideration of the question , " Why are they subjected to such unmeasured and unmitigated ills ?" Why the sweat that flows from their brow should generate fortunes fur the idle , the crafty , and the indolent , leaving no traces of improvement in the condition of its hapless and poverty-stricken producers ? ' . '¦?¦ - '" : ¦ ' , ¦ ¦' ¦ ' .. ¦ -: ¦ ¦ ¦ .- ' - ¦ - / .. ¦ ' - -: >¦ .--. The following quotation from an address by Eli Moore ( late a member of Congress of the United States of America ) to the members of trades'societies in New York , may not be inappropriate here : —

      "It has beea averred , with great truth , that all Governments become cruel and ari&tocratical in their character and bearing in proportion as one part of the community is elevated and the other depressed ; and that misery aud degradation to the many is the inevitable result of such a state of society . And we regard it as equally true , that in proportion as the line of distinction between the employer and employed is widened , the condition of the latter inevitably verges towards a state cf vassalage , while tbat of the former as certainly approximates towards supremacy ; and that whatever system ia calculated to make the many dependant upon , or subject to , the few , not only tends to the subversion of the natural rights of man , but is hostile to the best interest of the community , as well as to the spirit and geniUB of oar government : ^

      Fully persuaded that the foregoing positions are Incontrovertible , we , in order to guard against the encroacBments of aristocracy , to preserve » ur natural and political rights , to elevate onr moral and intellectual condition , to promote pur pecuniary interest , to narrow the line ef distinction between the journeyman and the employer , to establish the honour and safety of our respective vocations upon a more secure and permanent basis , and to alleviate the distresses of those suffering from want of employment , have deemed it expedient to foim ourselves into a * General Trades ' Union . ' . '

      "Itmay be asked , how tuese deslfab- ' e objects aro to be achieved by a ' General Union « f Trades . ?* How the encroachments of aristocracy , for example , are to be arrested by pur plan ? We . anawer , by enabling the producer to enjoy the full benefit of his production , and thus diffuse the stream of wealth more generally , and consequently more equally throughput all the ramifications of society . This point conceded , and conceded it must be , it is not requisite , we ; conceive , that the line of investigation should be dropt very deep , in order to bring it up tinged with proof that the vority of our other positions necessarily follow 8 . "

      These , fellow workmen , are the opinions of no mean authority , and are the result of practice and experience . '» Why , " again asks this author , " should not those who have the toil have the enjoyment also ? anil what better means can be devised for promoting a more equal distribution of wealth than for the producing classes to claim , and by virtue of union and concert , secure their claims to their respective portions I" ; The strength of union is manifest , in our poverty : by the union of other classes , which live on tbe yitafs-of our industry , we are made miserably " poor indeed ; ' * bat by a comp ete and extensive union of the working classes—by a well-regulated system of co-operation amongst them—they could speedily relieve themselves from these unbearable burdens , and snap the chain , of slavery asunder , and fjr ever .

      In once more thanking you for the dignified manner in which , by your pecuniary aid to u ? , you have marked your disapprobation of the . inhumanity of our late employers , we are compelled from circumstances To : call upon you at this momentous crisis to continue your best and noblest energies in defending the rights of insulted labour , to still further assiBt us in our endeavours to annihilate that system of despotic rule which , admitted with impunity , would prostrate | he noblest faculties of the hurnan edifice , and place the honest artizan in a worse position than beasts of burden . ;

      We beg to subscribe ourselves , Gratefully yours , , The Masons' Society , Thomas Shortt , Sec 6 , Agnes Street , Waterloo-road , Lambeth , March I 6 th , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Edinburgh , 3 rd Match , 1842 . Sir , —From the indulgent manner in which you-have inserted my former communications respecting the treatment of Mr . Robert Peddie by the Whig Government , I now beg leave to trouble you with a few notes taken from one of his last letters , which shews that his complaintB are not much mended—that he has only " got out of the frying pan into the fire , " and that the tender mercies of the wicked are still cruel . ;¦ ¦ - . Every petition sent in bis favour , either public or

      private , still receives the same ready-made lithographic answer from the Home-office ; so that it is evident , notwithstanding . ill the palliating circuriiBtancss that have been advanced In his'favsur— notwithstanding that as a proof of their moral virtue and veracity , some pf the accredited spies , -who inveighed against him , are in the hands of justice for deeds of ' . ' crime that will not hide , it is still evident that he will have to serve but the full term of his lODg three years' imprisonment , if his shattered constitution is V made meet for the burden . " :

      Had Mrs . Peddio not been a woman of the most consummate industry and propriety , sh ? could never have kept herself and her family afloat in the respectable manner in which she has done—in a manner which , notwithstanding her misfortunes , has excited the envy of her neighbours . For I must confess , that in this hotbed of Whiggism , very little sympathy is shewn to persons in any way connected with the persecuted Chartists . It is , therefore , the bdunden duty of that body to administer every relief in their power to Mr . Pefldie and his family . I should not have made these reflections , but from the silence of your cpnternpprarles ; for were it not for the public . ' . notices which have occasionally appeared in your journal , it Would , be a matter of doubt whether or not such a man was still in existence . ' . ¦¦'" ¦' ... " . '

      Mr . Peddie has also other just mattera of complaint , for although " he has been denied ' any intercourae with his friends , or the visits of a belpvedwife and daughter , for these two years part , ' yet has he often been exposed to an ' -idle cariosity , and exhibited togratify the visitors of the establishment , from the liveried footman to the scullion of the kitchen—from the godly priest to the cher ami of the magistrate ! ' ' ¦ ¦•¦ . ;•' . : ' , ' Such things , although perhaps trivialln tbemselves , must , to a man of his acute and sentimental mind , be in the highest degree painful ; and , as a proof of whicht shall only further trouble you with a few verses , which must prove interesting , from the remarkable circninstances under which they were composed . Let me first premise that Mr . Peddie is occasionally indulged with a look of GbamberS ' s excellent Edinburgh Journal , through the goodness of the Governor .

      " What gave risa to the following trifle , " Mr . P . observes , " was from reading , in tne last part of Chambers'Journal , a few days ago , a poem ^ entitled * Winter ' s no that far awa , ' introduced as a production of merit by the Editor ., I thought the day was passed for Buch tifles passing for good poetry : but the rhyme pleased me , so my muse , in the course of half an hour , or thereabout , produced it The original was said to bs written by a Belf-taaght geniiis , under all the concomitant evils attending on poverty ; but in regard to depressing circumstances , I thiufc I have not been butpassed . Mine was composed when I was walking in the prison-yard , in a xound ting , with some score of

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      thieves , and a muckle idle chleld ia th « midst of them , to keep the rascals from speaking to , or looking at each other . Let Willy Chambere' poeta beat this if they can . .: ' ¦ . ¦ ' ¦ '" ; ' .- ' : ¦ ' ' ¦ ¦ . - . ¦ ¦ : ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ¦¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ' : •¦ ¦ '¦¦ : ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ / - ¦ - ¦

      SUMMER'S SYWE NO FAB AWA \ Whien the sun clips Bhort the gloamin ' , And on the hill aide melts the snaw ; When younkers tbro * the glens are roaming , Summer ' fl syne no far awa " . When to thV joy of ilka miller . Their dams do feel the loosening thaw , And their clappers win them siller , Summer ' s syne no far awa * . i \ When nae mair round farmer ' s ingle , Lads and lassies merrily ca' , Jests wi' merry sangs to mingle , Summer "s then no far awa' .

      When naemair bauld Boreas atorming , Threats to gie ' s a roofless haV And noisy Unua gl © o'er their foaming , Smnmer ' a then no far awa ' . - When Tod Lowrie leaves the phuiUng , Shunning far the farmer ' s ha ' , Flying to the distant mountain , Summer ' s syne no far awa ' . When the Uolln leaves the biggin , The merlin leaves the ruin'd wa' , And sparrowa build withia the riggin , Summer ' s syne no far awa ' . When clear and pure , wi' gentle motion , Burniea rin , and the sea-maw Leaves the fresh loch for the ocean , Summer ' s syne no far awa ' .

      When the trees put on new cledin" , And round them whore the noisy eraw , WheH ewes upon the heights are bleating , Sammer ' asyne no farawaV ; When amang the woody bracken , Nae mair ye hear the woodcock ' s craw . But mavis * notes the shades are ; wakin ' , Summer ' s then no far awa' . When t » greet the early momin ' , The lark doth hail day ' s gowden ba' , When draps o" dew ilk leafs adornin * , Summer ' s syne no far awa' . When the thorny hedge is fragrant , And on it hangs the ripening ha ' . When Wanders wide the aged vagraat , Summer ' 8 syne no far awaV

      When the enckoo's notea are booming Down amang the birken shaw , When theyeilow broom is blooming , Summer's syn « no far awa " . When the bare-bell and the gowan , Makes our glens and meadows braw , And roses on the briars growing , Summer ' s Bjne no far awa' . When the grlcvs struts up the furrow , An' wide abroad the J 3 eed does ca ' , When the bind yokes to tho harrows , Summer ' s syne no far awa ' . When the oats and bear are brairded , ^ Tatoes in the ground an'a' , And the drills frae craws are guarded , Summer ' s eyne no far awa ' .

      When high upon the lefty summit , Of North Berwick ' s lofty law , The mornin ' mist sits like a bonnet , Summer ' s syne no far awa ' . : Robe » i Peddib . Beverley House of Correction , 2 JLBt Feb ., 1842 . In conclusion , I need scarcely remark , what a man capable of expressing such sentiments must feel when placed in such company , and how well deserving he is of pur sympathy for his unhappy fate , and that of every patriotic lover of bis country . I remain , Sir , Yours respectfully , ¦ ; ¦ ¦ - ' . ¦¦ ¦ ' ¦' ¦ ¦ : . ¦ ' ¦ WvR .-S . - s ^ sj ^\^\^\^^^^ s ^^ rf ^^^^^^* taMtf ^^^^\^^\ y ^*^ - >^^«^^ k" ' ^

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      ^^^^^ _ THE OASTLER TESTIMONIAL . On Thursday week a meeting of the friends of Mr . Oastler was held at the British Coffee-house , Cockspurstreetr for the purpose of prompting ^' ..-the subacriptioh proposed to ba raised in commemoration of the exertions of Mr . Oastler in the cause of the labouring classes . Amongst those present we observed the Right Hon . Lord Fevershath , Mr . Ferrand , M . P ., Mr . Walter , Mr . J . Percival , Mr . Wing , the Rw 1 . 8 , Cox ; Mr . TJndorwopd , Mr , Grant , ( from Manchestar , ) && , Onthemotiofi of Mr . Walteb . ; Lord Feversham was called to the chair , and on assuming that position his Lordship said that it afforded him great pleasure to have the honour of filling such a post on such an occasion ; It Would not be necessary for him to state at any length the object tor which th « y

      had aaaembled , because they were all fully aware of its character . They were also well aware of the situation ixt which their friend , Mr . Oastler , had been placed- —he had been an inmate of the Fleet Prison for a period of sixteen months , for a debt due- to Mr . Thornhiil . During that time Mr . Oastler had undergone many hardships , and his health had been considerably impaired . At the same time , however , he had received the visits of a number of his friends , and he enjoyed the sympathy of a large body of the public—two facts which had tended very much to alleviate that distress of mind which he would otherwise have undergone . ( Hear . ) The immediate object ef the present meeting was not merely to effect the liberation . of Mr . Oastler , however desirable that object wonld of itself be , but to further a

      subscription which had been instituted for the benefit and future comfort of that gentleman and his family . ( Hear , hear . ) Of course it would be an after consideratien amtngsfc the subscribers and contributors generally , as to the particular way in which the money colleoted should be appropriated . If a fund eould ; ba raised sufficiently large to enable them , after having gained Mr . Oastier ' s liberation , to place him and his family in a comfortable and inclependeDt position , it Would he extremely gratify ing ; but , at all events , the first anxiety was to rescue him from bis present confinement , an end which a very large proportion of the people were most urgent to Bee accomplished . ( Hear , bear . )

      He had known Mr . Oastler for many years , and it bad been a source of great regret to him that he should have been p ' aced in bfs present painful situation . ( Hear , hear . ) He most sincerely hoped , however , that the day was not far distant when they should have the satisfaction of accomplishing his liberation . In the meantime let him ( Lord Feversham ) press upon tbe meeting , and upon all the friends of Mr . Oastler ; the necessity of exertion in the obtainment of contributions , so as to effect that object , and he trusted that the funds collected would , as he bad already intim ited , be so large as to enable them to place Mr . Oastler and his family in a position of comfort and independence . ( Hear , hea ^ ; - ; . ' "¦ ¦• .: ¦¦'¦ : ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' ¦ ¦ ' ¦•¦ ¦¦' ¦ ¦ ' ' . " ' , - ¦ ' ¦ . V - ; " . ¦ ' : ¦ ' ¦

      Mr . ATKINSON ( the honorary secretary ) haying been called njoon by the noble chairman to state what progress had been made in the business , said that early in the last year be had become personally acquainted with Mr . Oastler , and during his visits to that gentleman in prison he had had occasion to observe his great exertions far the public good ; and at the same time , unluckily , to remark that those exertions of mind had impaired , and made great inroads on , his health . ? and eventually , in , the month Of July , he was confined with a severe fever . It bad also come within his knowledge that he was Buffering the greatest anxiety of mind upon the Bnbject of the situation of his family , arid of others who were dependent on him for support . In consequence he had written "to the noble Lord 'who that day so

      kindly presided over , them , knowing that he had been a friend of Mr . Oastler . Eyentually the noble Lord and himself had had an interview , in the course of which it had been arranged that this scheme for accomplishinfi : Mr . Oasticr's liberation should be put in circulation among-g his old friends at the earlieBt moment . ' But previously to that having been done , it ; was' deemed prudent that he should visit some of the chief manufacturing districts ; and accordingly he bad gone to Coventry , Birmingham , Liverpool , ' 'Manchester ' ; ' - Bradford , Hu'ddersfield , Leeds , Sheffield , Nottingham , and Leicester , and in all these -plac . es h ? ^ had met with the most cordial reception , all ' parties" manifesting a warm anxiety for the Buccess of the undertaking ; ( hear ) : and , moreover ,. " -each- expressing a desire to

      contribute towards the proposed subscription . ( Hear ) He must here say , that in the progress of the plan the public press had displayed an anxiety to further the cause , and most nobly and effectively had they supported it by their writingp . ( Hear . ) On his return to town , tbe first step adopted was that of framing the scheme which was to be Bent forth to the world generally , m well as to the private friends and admirers of Mr . Oastler . The worthy speaker hereread the paper to which he referred ,- which has already appeared in onr column ? . He might add , tbat the Noble Chainaari , Sir George Sinclair ; Bait , Mr . Walter , Mr . Fielden ,

      M . P ., and Mr . W . Ferrand , M . P ., had accepted the offices ef uuBteeBr—( heat , hear . ) " The amount of subscriptions already received was £ 580 ., and they had that day been favoured with a check for £ 50 from Mr . . Fountayne Wilaon—( hear , hear . ) They had ' . . also received £ 100 from Mr . Tatham , Nottingham , and £ 25 from Mr . William TatbaHi , of the same place , and five guineas from the Courier newspaper- — ( hear , hear . ) He could assure the meeting that the country , especially the manufacturing districts ^ were quite alive to the subject , and that being the case there could be no doubt of the apeedy acopmplUhmeat of the object they had at heart —( hear . ) ' .. ' 'W " : ' ¦; . . . . - ; . ' : 'V-: "' v . ' ; ¦ ; . . " ¦ . ; . ¦¦ : ' ;'

      Mr . Walter aald , that in recommending the resolution which had been intrusted to hini to propose to the meeting he thought it would Jbe unnecessary for him to occupy the attention and the time of thO 3 e around him by any lengthened observftUonB . Such a course , indeed , was rendered the less requisite by the candid and full statement which they had just heard from the Noble Lord who had done them the honour to preside over them on that occasion , and to whom he , in common with all the other friends of Mr . Oastler , felt extremely grateful for hiakindness in taking

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      the chair that day . With respect to VMr . Oastle * , those whom he had the pleasure of addressing were at well acquainted with that gentleman as ke was himself . They all fully appreciated his meriti and hi « worth ; many of them , probably , had ha * greater opportunities of knowing him from the fact of baying resided in the neighbourhood in which he bad lived , and they were all equally earnest with hirnBeJf in thei * desire to obtain his liberation from prison—( hearj . He knew not of any better plan to accomplish that object thauthat of a liberal subscription on the part of his friends and admirers—( hear , hear );—and although the amount they had as yet received was not large , still

      the . ( sura was highly respectable , inasmuch as it bad nearly reached £ 6 oe—{ hw , hear , )—and ttat , too , without any efforts having been maUo in the manufacturing districts , where Mr . Oastler was far better known and esteemed . He sincerely trusted that the endeavour to raise a subscription would-be attended with complete success—( hear , hear ) . They were many in the room who were associated with the manuf icturing portions of the kiogdora , and he doubted not but that they would exert themselves most strenuously with a view to attain the object they had that day assembled to promote—( hear , hear } . He would conclude by proposuig the following resolution : —

      "That in the opinion of this meeting Mr . R . Oastler is entitled to sympathy and support on account of the uaceasing and arduous efforts which he has made , and which he still continues to make , for the welfare of the labouringclasse ? . " ' ¦ - ¦; „ - ¦¦ ry / ' '• ¦ ..-: ' . . ' "' ,. : ; - - - Mr . Wing seconcfed the proposftfon with the greatest satisfaction , Mr . Oastler had heeen one of the inosfc unflinching and - - ' zealous advocates of benevolence of his day : he was one whpse whole life bad been signally marked by a strong feeling of sympathy for the misery arid sufferings under which others bad existed . Let It be remembered , too , that throughout his exertions in the cause of benevolence Mr . Oastler ' a conduct bad at all times been distinguished by a veneration for the institutions of the country—( hear ) . The resolution was then put , and unanimously agreed

      Tbe . Rev . J . S . Cox moved , aa the second resolution , " That this meeting approves of the scheme which has been proposed for raising a testimonial for the benefit of Mr . Oaatlet and his family ^ by means ol a public subscription , " and said that he had become acquainted with Mr . Oastler through the performance of his public duties , and if it were not deemed unbecoming in a minister of the established eburch to do so upon such an occasion as the present , he would say that that gentleman had gained : his approbation originally by his attachment to that church , and by the vast struggles ha had made to alleviate the distresses of others —( hear , hear . ) He had derived the greatest pleasure in tha intercourse be bad enjoyed with Mr . Oastler and hia family .: That Mr . Qaattet ' a exertions had been invariably those of public benevolence it was impossible to doubt , and they bad abundant evidence ' , to prove that those exertions bad been attended with very

      considerable success- —( hear , bear . ) It was ; not a little strange that the mauufacturing districts of this country should have been so long , left without some legislative check ; but such had been the fact , and many circumstances which bad come to light clearly showed how necessary it was that some man like Mr . Oastler—a . man possessed of a ppwerfol mind , swayed by patriotism and humanity of feeling , should have brought his energies to bear on the subject —( hear : ) The result of that gentleman ' s labours in the cause bad b . en that the manufacturing districts bad at length become the object ef legislative enactment —( hear , bear ;) : The succesaful exertiona of Mr . OiStler 6 n the factory question- —his endeavouni t « gain an alleviation of the miseries under which the poor factory children were labouring—were known to all the wprld- ^( hear , hear . ) That relief had been in a measure gained by the means of an enactment cf which many of the millowners themselves , he believed , were now ready to admit the benefit —( hear , bear . )

      Mr . Ramsay , in a speech eUologising the benevolent and powerful exertions of Mr . Oastler , seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . Mr . J : Pehcival then proposed " That a committee , cemposed of the following gentlemen ^ , with power to add to their number , be formed , for the purpose of assisting the undertaking in London -and it is strongly recommended to Mr . Oastler ' s friends in the country to form similar committees , and that they communicate theresu : ta of their labours to the Sscretary in London ; " and went on to remark that in a lengthened intercourse with Mr . Oastler , the only faults that he had bad to find with him were , that bis liberality was too unbounded , whilst bis kiEdne « 3 of feeling had been tco fine —( heari hear . ) . ; . ;

      Mr . Ukderwood seconded tbe reaoJutfon most cordially . He had been acquainted with Mr . Oastler upwards of seventeen years , and a more worthy , a more benevolent man , never existed—( hear , hear . ) He was beloved and esteemed , especially by i the worEing classes , by all who knew him—^( hear , hear . ) He was satisfied that hts powerful opposition to the New Poor Law Bill had been the cause of the irritation of Mr . Thornhill , who thereupon had urged his claim against him . ' :.. .. ' . : ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦; . ' ¦ ' ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ' " , " ' ¦ -: . ¦ ¦ ' . - ... - ¦;¦ . •; . '¦ ¦" The resolution was carried . -- ' -.

      Mr . FEREA . ND begged to move a vote of thanks to tbe Noble Lord who had so ably presided over them , on that interesting occasion—( hear , hear . ) He was confident that every friend of Mr . Oastler's , as well as that gentleman himself , would feel most deeply grateful to the Noble iord for his tinduess in taking tne chair —( hear , hear . ) Hebad known Mr . Oastler tor twelve years , and tho first time he had become acquainted with him was on the day when he had cailed a meeting in defence of the poor factory children , and , as a proof to what an extent bad been the attachment of the working classes to tbe man , and the great cobfldence they had reposed in him , he would inform the meeting that it was the largest assembly that had ever been witnessed in Yorkshire . The vast masses of the country .

      had assembled that day for the purpose of being guided by Mr- Oa-stler ^ lhear , hear , and loud cheers . ) In that county there appeared to be one feeling fur him ; he was beloved and respected by all , and the general , opinion there was , "that iu his conduct towards bis master he bad been a sincere , active , and faithful servant ( Hear , bear . ) Like a previous speaker , he believed that Mr . Oastler's powerful opposition to the Poor Law was the sole and only ground which had induced Mr . Thornhill to take any step against him—( hearj beat ) . The whole of bis life bad been devoted to the cause of philanthropy , manifested by a reatless

      anxiety to alleviate the miseries of his fallow creatures —( hear , hear)—and if his friends in the manufacturing districts , every man claiming to himself an interest in the welfare of the factory classes , exerted themselves , Mr .-,-0 ' asUw wculd , ere long , again come forth into the world a free man , - unfettered by any claim whichhis late master had had upon him —( hear , hear ); The Hon . Gontleinan then passed a very high eulogiutn on tiie Noble Lord , whose conduct through life had been marked by consideration far the humbler orders , and whose example he wished were more extensively followed . He concluded , by moving a vote of thanks to his Lordship . ' : V - ; ' . ' - - - " ; '¦ ¦¦ ¦' . - ¦¦ ¦ . , - ¦" . ¦'

      Mr . Grant seconded the resolution , and stated that the liberation of Mr . Oastler would be bailed with loud expressions of de . ight throughout Lancashire as well as in Yorkshire . ¦ : ¦ : ¦ The ChxirmaiJ baying , in the bandsoinest terms , acknowledged tfee compliment , and urgticJ that strong exertions should be made to effect the object they bad in view , ' - ' . . , . " . \ .- ' . " ; ' ¦ ¦' / , .: '' . ' ' ' - ^ . The meeting broke up .

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      THE NO R THE RN STAR . ¦¦ ¦ v . - ' a : -..,- ^; , :- ' - „ . ; . '¦ ' ¦ . - - ^ yQ ^^' U ^ f ^ ' ¦ ¦ '• : - ' ¦ - ¦ ' " ' ' - ' - .- '¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ _^^ ¦ / : _ a . ' ; ' _ L' ' ' " ¦""¦ - ¦¦¦ ¦ ' ' - - ——t

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      . - — ¦¦¦ ¦ .. ... Snch ot your readers as may have read my former letters , will , perhaps remember , tbat I met this on two grounds , I maintained , first , that there were subjects upon which it wa * incompetent for & majority to dieftte to a minority ; and , secondly , that in ibis case no majority have ever declared for the English Petition la a way to debar the Scottish people from deciding npon its merit * . These were my positions , and I adhere to them . In support ot the first I stated what appeared to me the legitimate power of the majority . It was , that their decisions were to be confined to matters that " did not interfere withthe private opinions of members of our body on other subjects . " The justice and propriety of this is so evident , that I imagined none would be hardy enongh to dispute it . Dr M'Douall seems to have f « lt

      its fores , for , instead of attempting to argue against it , he takes to tbe usual resort of foiled disputante , that is , calling names , and characterises it as " unsophisticated expediency . '" An easy way of overturning an unassail able truth , truly ! If he made use of the term in ignorance of its meaning , hia ignorance is to be pitied , and his presumption in using words he does not understand condemned : but if he did so , to impose upon the ignoranee of » ther » in whose minds the base ' ¦ expediency" practices of the Whigs may bave excited a dislike to the name ¦ without knowing its exact meaning , then hia knavery is strongly to be Teprobated . In either case , he has not met my armament fairly . Nothing

      can be further removed from expediency than the rule in question . Expediency involves an abandonment of all principle . The rule just quoted is sterling principle and nothing else . The one is a pa"try and crooked shift ; had recourse to for the purpose of gaining a temporary party end ; the other is based upon a great truth , the observance of which is of the utmost importance to society in all ages and in all countries , and the neglect ot -which is morally certain to break up any party , or convulse any -community who may be so unwise as to contravene it . "Unsophisticated expediency" ! quoth the learned gentleman ! I should like to h » ar his difinition ef the term .

      The Doctor , having declared the voice ot the majority omnipotent in all things—or at least , having made no exception , I put a case , with the view of testing tbe soundness of this sweeping doctrine , tasked whether , if the majority of our body bad decided that we were all to join the Romish Church , h . 3 thought the minority should give in ? This , it will be observed , was calculated to bring him out If he answered in the affirmative , and said that they should , then the absurd nature of his position became manifest : if he answered in the negative , it was tantamount to an admission that there were ASL « MX in 1 V > li # *> 1 fKa mninrnfo Varl nr \ v 4 nVt t / t ^ i » it « ta

      become necessary for him to define the powers cf the majority—to draw the line to which they might go , but no further , a task which , if he attempted , would bring Mm to tbe sentiments he immediately afterwards repudiates as " unsophisticated expediency . " He " was in a corner , " as the phrasa is , and he saw it , for bis answer is this : — Answer (?)— " Speaking for myself , I would not be disposed , for expediency ' s sake , to take up the crucifix of the Irish Church to please the priests , any more than the creed of a Christian Chartist Church to conciliate the fanatics . " - This " answer ' ' \ is no answer at alL Tha question was not what the Dector individually , or " speaking for himself , " thought of the scheme of joining the Irish Church , but what he held the duty of the minority to be , in the event of a majority deciding that we were to join that Church . It was not whether the Doctor would join the Romish Church to please the priests , but whether the minority should do so to please the majority .

      This 18 the question , and to this the Dector gives no answer I . The sneer in the latter end of the • answer" is no doubt aimed at the body of Christians with whom I have the pleasure' of being connected , and of course , at myself also . Such sneers come with a very bad grace indeed from any professing Chartist ; for , to be consistent with his principles , be has no right to assume that his brother Chartists , in the exercise of their religion are otherwise than sincere , unless he can prove them bo ; and it comes with a peculiarly bad grace from Dr . M'DouaJI , who has himself , on more occasions than one , acted the part ef the priest " to conciliate the fanatics ; " as my " fanatical" friends of Dundee with their brother " "fanatics" in Danfermline , Kilbarchan ,

      and no doubt other places can testify ' ¦ "Were this the proper place , I am willing to defend my congregation , and my connexion with them , from any charges the Doctor can prefer against us ; but as it is , I simply content myself with assuring the D » ctor , that I bad rather far " join a Chartist church to conciliate the fanatics " than enter iato competition with " Old Parr , " " the immortal iiorison , ** and other , to use the Doctor ' s own words , " professional and non-professional quacks , " to til my own pockets . I shall be glad to hear that , after a twelvemonths * trial , the Doctor ' s patients are as well pleassd witfa bis doses as 1 bave reason to think the Dundee " fanatics" are with my labours amongst them .

      So" much for my first position regarding the general power of the majority ; my second , namely , that in the present case no lair majority bad ever been ascertained , tbe Doctor also touches upon . Oa this subject I said , " The Petition was concocted by one or two individuals , and no proper mfarts were taken to ascertain the sentiments of the Chartist pnblic concerning it ; " adding , "it is contrary to the spirit of the Charter to pursue a certain line of conduct when they are not consulted in determining as to what line cf conduct should be . " The Doctor suppresses all this , with tbe exception of ti » e -words , " The Petition was concocted by one or two individuals , " -which he quotes , and , by a word or two , insinuates that my objection arose to the individuals and not to the course adopted ; than which nothing is mere faJse , as will be seen upon reference to that part of the sentence which the Doctor found it convenient to omit [ We here omit a paragraph or two which might have led to farther controversy . —Ed . X . S . ]

      I have little-to notice in tie rest of his letter . It is entirely composed of either misrepresentations or a species of smill wit ; which latter , however well it might be received from a tavern orator or a third-rate circus clown , is not the language we should expect to hear from one who is discussing matters of desp interest to the happiness of so many human beings . I therefore pass it over . But of bis misrepresentations I may cite an instance . In speaking of the difference existing among the Chartists as to tbe use to be made , I took occasion to express the sense I entertained of tbe gieat good done by Mr . O Brien in this particular . The Doctor qnoted this part of my letter , and has

      actually the audacity in the quotation to insert the words " and myself his disciple" after Mr . O'Brien ' s name , thus attempting to make it appear that the encomiums -I felt it my duty to make regarding Mr . O'Brien -were meant tqanllj for myself He then sneers at this " mountain of modesty" and charges me with egotism and conceit , while the only passage from which the shadow of such a charge ceuld be deduced , is the one fradultntly introduced by himself . Upon such conduct I need make no remark , the reader will no doubt duly estimate the strength of tke Doctor ' s cause , as well as his mode of defending it , when such means as these are resorted to .

      Before conclu 4 ing I have another small matter to settie with the Doctor . In a former letter he tilked very big of " political traffick . " " masked faces , " &c , jast as if these were peculiar to Scotland . I took occasion ( in order to remove any impression which the Doctor's language might have conveyed ) to express my opinion that there was as much of that ia England as in Scotland , and put the que&tion to the Doctor whether it was not so ? instead of answering he tells me coolly that I know my own friends and correspondents better then he does , thus openly awuiirig me of being a traitor . If be thinks I am one disposed tamely to bear such slanderous imputations from him or from any one else ,

      he ias mistaken me . I tell Peter Murray M'Douall that his charge is a false one , aud that he has made it without a shadow of proof . If it be tine , tbe sooner he shows it the bttter . If tas I maintain ; it be false , whit estimate are we to form of the man who made it , when he would thus allow factious feeling and wounded vanity to-cany him eo far aa wi : fully to slander a man who hvi never publiciy attacked fciw , and fruiu whom in private life , he never experienced aught but friendship . As it is , he must either prove Ms charge or pass for a convieled slandertr . In thus position I leave him , I am , &c , Joax Dr . vcAN .

      Dundee , March 15 th , 1842 . [ A-s this eorrespon'Icnco is now becoming merely prrs /> i ; al , it must here dase ; at least in so f-r aa the columns of tbis paper are cone-rued . Ed . ]

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      " The flesh will quiver where the pincers tear , Sufferings , by long continuance , grow on pain ; But these are foreign to the soul , not mine Tbe groans that issue : on the rack I scorn thee ! Were I not thus reduced , thou wouldst not know That thus reduced I dare defy thee still !" Young ' s Revenge

      Groans From Beverley

      GROANS FROM BEVERLEY

      Untitled Article

      The body of a whale was recently washed ashore , near Bastia , ' . Corsica ! , which bore upon its bod y the marks of a shark's jawB ,. and had no doubt quitted the open sea to avoid this savage ewmy . Corn Law REPisALEHs' Mope of conducting Discussions .- —A correspondent who gives his name , writes us the following account of a set discussion in the Panorama Rooms , London , between the Chartists and an Anti-Corn Law lecturer named Haynes : — " Just as : the chair had beea taken , Mr . Haynes went out of the room , and the Chairman began to apologiso for Mr . Haynes , who would be absent for about half an hour . About twenty minutes after

      forty or fifty Irishmen , from St . Giles , came into the room , and in three minutes afterwards Mr . Hayriea made his appearance , and Raid , he thought it Would be better to adjourn to a ground floor , for hp was afraid the floor of the room they were in would give way . The room at the time was Hot near full ; however , the mesling was adjourned to the Panorama , Leicester-sq uare , whick is capable of holding two hundred and fifty to three hundred persons , and it was about half full . Behind the chairman stood , au Irishman , who gave the signals to his men when to clap and cheer . It was . quite laughable to . see them , with their hands up and their mouths open ; watching the fugleinan for the signal . [¦ Does this not show that these men were hired to attend V '

      Aim-CoRN Law VAPOuRiNGr--l « Iotmng fits so ill the stomach of the '' League" sp-ouiers aa to be compelled to discuss the principles contained ia- their aadresseSj with any One likely to know any thing about them ; Of this a remarkable instance was recently afforded by Mr . Knock- off hats Sidney , the "plague" man who infests the neighbourhood of the Metropolis . Tiis . worthy , some few weeks ago delivered a lecture in the Western Institution , near Leicester-square , Mr . Leader , M . P ., in th 6 chair , and the room was moderately filled . After the spouter had delivered himself of hia stock of . out and dry philippics against agriculturalists and a poor attempt at an attack on the principles of Home Colonies , a gentleman present , connected with the John street Institution , ro ? e , and requested

      permission to reply . This veas shuffled on the plea of ** late hour , ' ? and the Hon . ChairmaTi suggested that the parties should discuss the question at another time . Mr . Smith , on being ' asked if , he was willing to do so , assented with great seeming cordiality . Therb the matter dropped for that night ; and the next day the lecturer was written to and requested to meet the party and settle prelimmaries . No answer being returned , the : request was ' repeated after the lapse of several days . Ho was too busy preparing for -the-Anil-Cora Lit ?^ Conference . The Conference got over and the gentleman ' s memory was again jogged ; when he ultimatelybaoked ou > through the medium of . a bullying blackguardly epistle , which , of necessity , put an end to the oorre * spondeaoe . ¦ ;

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 26, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct747/page/7/