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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd December 1843, Edition 4 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • Chartist BEmtftfsnwe
    • THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1843.
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      Chartist Bemtftfsnwe

      Chartist BEmtftfsnwe

      Untitled Article

      C&BI 3 SVE , —MXBKKO 6 ¥ THB COIJKCIL OP THE CiBij-iB Chabxist AssodiiioH . —At a meeting of * he Council , held at their room , No . 6 , John-street , CaldeWiate , on S r inday last , Mt Robert Grahame ja the chair . Thfe address of the Executive was read fcom the Nortfern Star of Saturday last ; . after irhich airangeBrentB -were made for collecting the tribate required on Christmas Day . We hare no doubt that a pretty liberal snm -mil "be collected . The * U « it » n of the Conncil were then drawn to

      ihe deplorable case of Mrs . EUis , by Mr . James JLrthnf , "who said H . was the duty of every sincere Chartist , to assist those who were Buffering under gnch cireusstances . After some very feeling obser-Tatlons from Tarious members of the Ctmiiwl * tbe sum of live Bbillins 3 was ordered to be immediately remitted to Mrs . Ellis , alone with one shilling subscribed for the purpose by Mrt . Arthur . A Tote of thanks was then carried to Mr . Baxter , for Mb handsome present of a copy of his " Book ef the Basffles . "

      Ta * Bsv . "Wjl Hiix delivered two lectures in our Theatre , on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday last . After Mr . James Arthur had been appointed Chairman , the Key . Gentleman proceeded -with his first lecture , by introdocing himself as a Christian minister . He spoke in a singularly calm impressive manner , and was listened to throughout Kith the greatest attention . After delivering a discourse replete with facts and sound arguments , expository of the present state of England ; he concluded bj promising to treat of the remedy for ifew state of things on the following evening , and retired junidst applause Sheffield—Fio Tabe-uxe—a good meeting was held on Sunday evening , -which was addressed fey Messrs ; Green , Brigg 3 , and Evinson .

      JTEWCASTUB . —Tbe Hsv . Wm . Hill lectwed at the Hasting * * Arms , Seaton Delavall , on Wednesday evening , tbe 13 th insU , upon the benefits of Trade * Societies . The large roem of the Hasting " * Arms "was croiraed to iuffo » tian . and a very good spirit was evince ! throughout the meeting . The meeting was likewise addressed by Messrs . Simpson and fiuwell { two working pitmen ) . Mr . Hill lectured again upon the same subject , to the men of West Moor , on Thursday evening , to one of the largest in-door meetings ever held in that district Jit Wm . Thompson having been elected to the chair , opened the proceedings by iatrodnciDg Mr . Hill to the meeting ; Mr . H . ' eonrinded an excdlent discourse by exhorting his auditory to remain firm in their united exertion j and he heped soon to see every other bade take an example by the Colliers . A -rote of thanks vras given to Mr . HOI for his able lecture , and the meeting broke up highly gratified with the proceedings .

      Mr . ( LOOUGB , of Northampton , lectured to a very respectable audience at Walker , on Saturday evening . Tbe CHastists of Newcastle and Qate&head held their "weekly meeting on Monday evening , Mr . Young in the chair . After disposing of some local business it was unanimously agreed that at arrangements were made -withlOi . Jnde to meet in his large room for the future , a&d that » public meeting of the Chartists of Newcastle and Gateshead be held in Mr . Jude ' s long . room , Three Tons Inn , Manor Chare , on the the evening otMonday , the 25 th pnitani at seven o ' clock . The Chartists will meet erery Monday « Tening tfor the transaction ol btudaeB in the above commodious room .

      GliASG-OW . —In order to give every countenance to the public meeting , held in the City Hall , on Monday evenin g , " to take into consideration the laVe interference of tbe Peel Ministry with the right of petition in Ireland , " the usual weekly meeting of the ChartuEtB , held in College-street Academy , was ad-Journed to Monday evening next , when business of ¦ eriona importance to the people ' s cause will be laid t ^ ore the meeting . A Public Mkstik g was held In the City Hall , on Monday evening , for tbe purpose of taking into consi deration the conduct of the GoTemment in reference to tie Ctantsrf ^ nwHwg , Mr . J- Turner in the chair . The meeting was sot so numerous as might lave been expected . The cause was , that the BepeatasJanxions

      to give mportancs to the meeting , threw themselves into the anas of tbe Complete Suffrage rump faction , Who care as mnch about Ireland as tie . devil doea abend psalm singing ; but who would join with Old Hick himself in order to put £ dewn Chartism . Tbe Bepealera were to bear the expanse , and the other party had the T"WM > gfTnfT't of the affair , hence tbe failure . Had the - £ epeal * za acted boldly , and aongnt leas after Provost IVumsden , and Whig town council-Ion , whose sympathy extends so further than the polling booth , they would have had a very different T » ft » HT > g George Anderson , Btq ., city councillor , moved the first resolution , and though Mr . Anderson

      is not a great orator , he Dad tbe boldness to declare what none of Ms colleague * hai eves yet done , "via . that " the people would continue to he trampled upon till rock time as Universal Snflrage was tbe law of the land . " The other speakers were Messrs . Cnllen , Card , Malcolm , Dr . Hay , a Mr . Scott , from BdiBburgh , and Sir . H'Farlane . All the resolutions were carried unanimously : and , without further ceremony , a vote of thanks was moved to the . chairman , and the meeting diwolved ; 77 o petition of xaemorial to lie Queen -was Bpoken of ; uotnlng tmt the mere . pasilng of three nsoIoQonsj of a general nature , and there the matter coded .

      STJXCSSBXlAKO—Mr . Gsmmage lectured on Sunday and Monday to crowded KnrHencpx , XBOMZWSAB 2 SOUTE—Mr . Dickinson lectured fcere last Sunday . Ml Clabjles Totje—On Tuesday evening I lectured at Traro to a large and enthusiastic meeting . IHx . Parr , & working man , an honest elector , ably filled theehair . -At tbe dose , Mr . Jury proposed , and Mr . Xongmead seconded a msotattion pledging the meeting to stand by tbe Charter , and to recognise only the National Charter Association . Several persons took oat cards of membership , and the meeting sepamsd , giving three cheers for the Charter . . On Wednesday I proceeded to Bsdruth , but found on my arrival that owing to unfavourable drcmnstanees , it was Impossible

      to have a meeting there that day ; so 1 left them with a promise to call on that day week , when a goodly muster ia anticipated . On 32 xund » y l went- to Hale , bere l was obliged to speak in -the open air . Mr Skewes , of Cambome , occupied the chair , and opened the meeting in a mort masterly ro Miner , l spoke an tour . At the close of my lecture , seven ! joined our racks , ¦ whilst all expressed thezBaerrea perfectly satisfied that nothing short of the Charter -would make them independent of their heartless task-masters . On Friday , I proceeded to Pewanee , a large town situate on the sea coast . Here I found a leir ol the right tort of Chartists . In fchs errsmng I lectured to a numerous auditory In

      Mr . O'Brien ' s commodious School Room , capable of holding 500 persons . Mr . O'Brien vras unanimously chosen to preside , who , after addressing a few senalile remarks to the meeting , introduced me . f spoke SESrly two horns . Before I left I bad ' tie pleasure of forming the nuclues of a locality which bids fair to Sain strength and prosper . —On Saturday morning I left Penzsnee for Cambome , where I again lectured to a numerous out-door meeting . On tbe whole , from what I have seen of Cornwall , I am led to believe that continued agitation , such as has been carried on in the northern counties , would make it one of the most flourishing Chartist districts in "RngjmT )^ .

      TROWBRIDSB . —At a meeting of the-Council held on Sunday morning last , a resolution was unanimously passed in support of the National Tribute . Collectors were also appointed , and a Local Treasurer to bold the monies obtained by the collectors . To our Chartist brethren we » y , Go and do likewise . BlLSTOM . —Mr . M'Gr&th lectured here on Sunday last , to an attentive audience , in the large Boom , in Stafford-street . The lecturer gave great satisfaction After the lecture a subscription ^ was entered into for the National Tribute , when 4 s 6 d was collected . CARRXXeTON , kkas 'Sotttsq-rxh Jobs Haskard , Thomas Gaunt , a&d Daniel Gi-egbry have been appointed ooHectors of the National Tnbnt& Manchester—Cab ? £ ntebs * haix—on Sun . day last two lectures were delivered In tbe sboveHaU , by Mr . J . West , from Sheffield . The spadous building was crowded in every part .

      S ALFORD—A lecture was delivered in the Chartist Hoom , Gr eat George ' s-street , Chapel-street ^ Salford , on Sunday last , by Mr . C Iteyle , to a large and respectable audience ^ stcckport—Mr . Egd , from KewcasHe , de-HveMd m lecture in the Association Boom , on Sunday « v «^ nghut , to ' a large audience . At tbe close of tbe ¦ wcture seren shillings was collected for Mrs . Ellis . _^* Ji--MT . Dixon aeliTerea a lecture in the ttoaea-stre es Lecture Boom on Sunday evening last hoS 2 S ° S , 7 T ee& 3 g rf *• » trict Co *" " w » f £ ST- ^?^^ POUIICAi ASD SCIS 5 T 1 IIC lXSTTTirrTn- « r ^ SSS ^ fSSSi * •— . . "S !!? S = fi

      WOXKIKG MJL 5 * S 6 HX 11 , MllB . Es !> HqA 1 i „ . Sumday evening , Mr . B . Maul * l «* ared to a crowd ^ audience on CharBfln and BepeaL « owoea GOLDEN UOS , DxjJi-BTXBXT , Soho ^ -a * tbemeetibg , os Sunday erening , a resolution- was passed hi favour of the National Tribute . Ax a Meetis * of the Hammercuitb Chartists , held on Tuesday evening , It was unanimously resolved to commence the collection of the National Tribute next week . : Eiuletx ' s Bhigjlde . —A publlf meeting was held at the Bricklayer ' s Arms , Homer-street , New-road , on Monday sight Tbe meeting was addressed by Messrs . Wynne , Mauls , Davoc , and others .

      X * QCSWOOP . —ObI Suodsy last , at the District Itelegate Meeting , held in the Democratic Institution , Zodcwood , Mr D 3 Vid Gledhffl in the chair , tbe following resolution mat unanimously passed : — " That each Delegate * endeavour to iaise a subscriptioir in his -own locaaty , to assart in carrying out the plan for agi-&& $ ( be wmtry , as projected Vy the Executive .

      Untitled Article

      A 8 HTON-TJNDER-LYNB .-Mr . E . P . Mead lectured in Vtxi Chartist Association Boom , on Sunday and Monday evening . - PRESTON . —At a meeting held in the Chutist Boom it was resolved—" That a Committee & $ ap . pointed to make the proper arrangements to '< msure the representation of the democratic party in Uje Municipal Council . HYDE . —On Sunday last the CjbutistB of this town held the first weekly meeting rinse the League Plot . Tbe memben whjD took cardB from the " Champion of Liberty" when in Hyde came forward in the true spirit of democracy , and paid up their weekly subscriptions . All communications intended for the Chartist * of Hyde to be addressed to J . M . Leach , 82 , Charles-street

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

      The Northern Star Saturday, December 23, 1843.

      THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , DECEMBER 23 , 1843 .

      Untitled Article

      THE DURHAM •» DAMNABLE" AGAIN . Last week we ventured to give our opinion upon this case , having only heard the masters * side of it That opinion was—that the tyrants had ] plundered , their slaves , and were now experimentalising upon the feelings of the men . That vhey have selected this Thornley Colliery for the purpose is not wonderful ; firstly , because from the number of hands engaged in it , a strike in that pit will become more expensive to the general body than if a smaller one had been eeleoted ; and , secondly , because the Thornley bond presented superior means of exhibit " ing the power of the tyrants , and the weakness of their slaves . Since last week we are in possession of the evidence for the defence , which will be found in

      another part of the paper , and will doubtless be read with deep anxiety . In order , however , to bring the subject clean to bank , and not to allow Hkccles or his devils any opportunity of laying out for . black brass , we shall here make an abstract of the most material portions of the evidence , to be seen at a glance , and to be comprehended as a whole . Here , then , follows the case for the defence : — William Henderson—I will swear nothing about whether I was fined a shilling , because my mind u so distracted with this oppression that I can swear nothing about it —( loud laughter and cheers from the pitmen ) . I haTe been a pitman thirty years . John Stepbenson— I have been a coal hewer twenty yean , and never knew so hard a bond . Although I have a wife and five children , I would rather go to that gaol till April than work wider this bond .

      JoMpb Longstaff—I am prepared to say from my own observat ion that it is impossible for a man to live under that bond . Newtrick Walton—one of the deputation appointed to go to the Inspector of weights . We were appointed because they thought the steelyard was unjust . They bad previously made complaints of the steelyard . We went for an inspector , and be said he could aot come , without an order from the Magistrates . We w « nt to tbe magi strates , who refused us an order . The men bad several times complained of the weights before

      John James Bird applied to tbe magistrates f » r a summons against tbe masters for JH-osage , and bad betn refused . Went first to Mr . H * jb ' s cmce , and then to Mr . Haym ' * house , and then to Hi . Barry , the magistrate . Mr . Barry came oat and asked what we wanted . We said we wanted a summons for non-payment of wages . He asked tbe sum , sad we said three shillings . He said " For tbe small sum of three shillings ! " I stated that it waa sot * n application IndiTiduaXly but collec tively , and that it amounted to a large sum collectively Ws wanted some discussion , and be said be was not there for discussion , and walked away without granting a summons . Mr . Barry is now on tbe bench . John Cresswell—Had been charged 1 ourpence s quart for splint for three fuarts . John Lumsden—Had been charged threepence , fourpence , asd a shilling per tub for splint

      Samuel Turner—Had worked at other collieries , and tbe flTe-qnarter seam at Thornley waa the ' dirtiest he bad ever worked in . They were erecting a beam and scales now , and that be belisved was tbe result of tbe present strike . William Wilkinson—Mr . Hescles bad told him he smew the weight was -unjust . Mr . HeoeXes said be knew that it made a difference with ths weight according to the end at which the tab went on , and that eren a one-sided corf -would make a difference .

      William Anderson—I have used every energy to make a living , and have of late thrown off several tub * a gay to get clear of theflnef ; and I think if we were to be fined for having a quart of foul coal it is impos * sibli for any man to make a living . No man can live under tbe present bond . I think the prison is a place to which I would not like to go , but I would rather go there than go to tbe colliery any more . Tbey nave charged me fonrpenee a tub when tbey should only have charged me threepence .

      William Ord—Went ; to Mr . Heceles , and be asked me if I was sot content with tbe half-crown ; and I ¦ aid , " Ifo , man ; bow can I be content with half-acrown taken eff when I have only addled three shilling *? He threatened to get a warrant against me . They flue us just as they have a mind . It Is anything but just Mr . Heceles sent for a warrant , but vre got adrica from an Attorney , and tbe warrant was sever got The men ware stupid or half mad when they went home last Friday night We did not-ask for the quart pet If Mr . Heceles stated so , he bas

      told a lie , and a gross lie . The refusal of the warrant which was applied for at Durham irritated the Kiea ' j minds , because they thought the masters could get a waggon load of warrants and the men could not get one . Tbey thought they could not get justice either from the owners or the magistrates . Just previous to the 24 th , tbe men came to the resolution that tbey would stand for ever unless tbey got justice . Every man will go to prison rather than ylsld . I will rather go to prison than work at tbe main coal or any seam they have .

      William Hay , weigher for the Thornley colliery . The witness after describing the working of the steelyard , said he could make it either just or unjust as be chose . By the shifting of the weights the men might lose five pounds . Didinot . think he could do justice by this mackine . Join Bate *—Since the bond bad been put In force bad been fined threepence a quart , and before fourpence , and one shilling a tub . The men are tired of applying for summonses . They applied at Durham twice . I know tbey applied twice , for one time they did not come .

      William Toplls—Mr . Heceles' bas offered me a brit 3 to swear that tbe men could get a living . I was at work about a month ago , and be comes unto me and says "Wh o's this" ? Issid"Toplis . " He says "I suppose yon want tbs boxas , do&t you ? X said " Tea , of course . " He asked what we wanted with them , and I said to see them laid out He said " tbe men are going to get a summons 1 suppose . " 1 said 1 don't know , you are tbe likeliest to know . " He said " do you think that yon could not work here a week or a fortnight and

      have none laid out" ? 1 said , " No , 1 did not suppose 1 could . ** Be E&ys " if you will swear that yon could work here for a week or a fortnight without having any laid out , you shall have your bread for nothing" —( loud hootingi ) . He said " 1 should have easy work , 1 should cars tbj bread for doing nothiBg . " 2 thought mj father would not let me , and 1 said " 1 durst not say . " Nothiug more took place about that . 1 thought him a nice man . 1 recollect 1 am on my oath , and 1 swear that all 1 have stated is true .

      - Augustus Sing—The men were anxious to obtain justice from tbe masters and the magistrates . When the summons was refused ths mas gave it op as a bad job . Tbey said it was as much use going to Castle Eden or Durham as going to a mad dog . I believe no man will rrer woik- » t it . I asked for my clearance , and be said if be gave it to me be would put something in it which would make me get work nowhere—( jetta ) . Robert Toplls—If tbe bond had be » a enforced tbe colliery could not have been carried on—it would have been impossible for a man to get a livelihood .

      Ilobert Walton—Have been at Mr . Hecclea about the beam and scales twice . It has been a constant irritating sore on the men's minds . It was tbe intention of the sen to try to get justice If they could get it I think the men would not have struck if they bad got ft summons when it was applied for . Tbe refusal of the BBmmous was a rankling sore to tbe men , and was spoken of by them as a refusal of justice . Since these proceedings eammenced I have heard tbe men say they would get no justice . Reuben Forstet-Had been fined lls . 4 d . U » last pay for the last three days . I worked 22 tabs . When I T , *^ to . tiieo' ? enMn * o reckon be said my coals were ¦ Uios short

      ; in weight The hewing cameto 6 m . lid ., ??? L ** *?•« * ° r « quarts , at 3 d ., which came to ™* * ££ - }' WU 4 s - 4 d - to debt for three days ' of the fln « nea } he I *? came on , be deducted 23 quarts cheSed ^ e otf I *** J ^ ^ ' " ^^ SS « Sl ¥ tf x ^ wj& t £ * && be abont two minutes in the efflee altogether . No ex plaa&tioQ was made to me nor tbe other men who were

      Untitled Article

      timers , There was a great number in at tbe time . Mr . iecties asked if I had come to get bound , and asked my name . I told him , and be wrote my name , and took hold of my hand till I made the cross . Charles WiUett—I put my cross to tbe bond . I can write my name . Tbe bond was not read to me . That I'll swear . - Joseph Burnett—Had been fined 6 s . « d . for twentysix quarts , during the three last days . Had only put his mark to the bond , though be could write . The bond had never been read to him . He could not make a living under the bond , and would rather goto gaol than work und « r it Tbe boxes were set up at the reqaest of the men , but not tbe quarts * .

      William Park—They could noV send np a tub with less than a quart of black brass . He waa Is . » d . in debt after working three days . Edward Clark was three miles off when the bond was read over , but afterwards signed it No explanation was givsn me of the bond at tbe time I signed it I did not know that I was Uabl * to a quart fine . Jabez Wonders—The bond was read over to me . I could not write , bnt hava put my mark . When I went to reckon with tbe overman I was fined 12 s . for tbe three days . I then stood 3 s . indebted to my master . I laid down 5 s . for the overman to take pay , and be refused to take it . The men did not think the masters would nave been so unreasonable as to exact the quart fina Did not hear that part of the bond read .

      Joseph Walker—It would be impossible for any man to make a livelihood in tbe place where I have worked for tbe last six weeks . It is a place not fit to put a dog in , let alone a CbriBiian . The bond was sot read to me , and no explanation was given of it to me . I will swear the bond wei never read in my presence . Tbe sir was io fonl , that after working two hours my head got so bad that I could work no longer . Though I have a wife and four children , I would rather go t » prison than work under that bond .

      Robert Richardson—There is no nan better acquainted with the colliery than I am , and I am certain that no man can send up a tub with less than a quart In weighing-the coals , we see nothing bnt tbe baulk and the weights . We cannot see the pivots . Wo cannot see the figures . With a beam and scales we could see everything fair . 1 have never been before a magistrate , but I would rather go to prison than work under the bond . Thomas Clough—I believe that during tbose days the men did all they could to get their coals clear , for when they came to me some of them shed tears at the Imputation of being fined . They have not the policy to

      shed crocodile tears , Tbe year before lost I was eant to see about the weighing machine by the men . I wished to see if it was just , and I made application to the colliery for weights to test it , and see If it was just , but I could not get them , A fortnight after I thought there was a deficiency in the men ' s surplus weights , and on looking saw there was jths main pivot deficient 1 made application for tbose weights again , and found the steelyard , had a variation of 121 b * . against the men . I am of opinion that men cannot make a living her * under the bond . Tbe men applied to me about this strike , and I persuaded them off , for I am against all strikes amocg bound men . They said they bad made an application to the adjuster of weights , who

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

      Andrew Hope—I bav * been fined . Tbey gave me 7 d . to take home for my three days ' work . Tbe amount of fines was 41 2 s . Id . ; tbey , however , deducted some % oarts oS . I am sure it is impossible when a man only earns 6 s , 44 ., when 10 s . 6 d . is taken off when the coals come to bank . I would ratbsr go to keep my father company than find my own candles , powder , and backey , and still be indebted when 1 come to bank . Now that is the evidence of honest working men . Sworn before those who were cognizant of every faot , with a solicitor to protect them—with a bench of masters to appeal to , and yet that solicitor does

      not appear to have received any instruction to break down , to weaken , or * to negative , this portion of the evidence . The reader who has impartially perused the case , will , like ourselves have come to tbe conelusion , that a grosser act of tyranny , a more flagrant act : of injustice or barbarity was never yet committed , than than of which the Thornley Colliers have one and all to complain . As well those who being robbed are compelled to remain idle , as those who , being plundered , are now Buffering the felons

      fate . We ventured last week to assert that the bond had either not been read , or had been falsely read to the pitmen who signed it . In this assertion we are fully borne out by a large number of the contracting parties , while Jabez Wonders swears that the part of the bond imposing a fine for a quart of " foul" WAS NOT KKi » OVER TO HIM . It WOUld be an insult to the pitmen to comment further upon the portions of the evidence that we have selected , and therefore we shall proceed to a general consideration of the case .

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

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

      What act of the law oan so poignantly strike the working man as to make him shed tears for the injustice to which it subjects him ! while we find tbs clubbed power of the tyrant taskmasters" forcing tears from their eyes as they are compelled to grope their way penniless to their expectant families , after a night of unremitting toil in a dark , a damp , and a loathsome atmosphere ! What Act of the law can turn their labour upon a blunted pivot \ What Act of the law justifies the oath-man , Hecclss , in endeavouring to saborn a man to perjury , to aid him in his acts of plunder ! What Act of the law justifies a knot of village Do « be * rie 3 sitting in judgment upon honest

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

      How happens it , we would ask , that that portion of the press calling itself Conservative , has not dared to meddle with this easel There are portions of that press loud in denunciation f acts of oppression committed by individual noblemen and gentlemen . If a Noble Lord dares unjustly to eject a peasant from his cottage Ids politics axe no protection against the censure of the press . If a Noble Lord who has been accustomed

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

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      la oar comments npon the magistracy we speak generally , referring as well to those Cotton Lord Justices who Bit in judgment upon their slaves as to the Goal King Justices who sit in judgment upon their : victims . In all future oases when the men are complainants we trust that tbey will procure the attendance of the few high-minded magistrates who still remain , and who will interpose their anthoiity between the rich oppressor andfthe poor oppressed ; and that in the meantime Mr . Roberts will prepare such a case for Dukcombe to move upon in the House of Commons as will insure to the men the

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

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

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

      whole case must be interestedly submitted . We will suppose that 500 men are thrown out of employment by the strike of the Thornley Colliers , and that according to the terms of the bond those 500 earn twenty-Bix shillings a fortnight each , and all of whioh would be spent with the Durham shopkeepers . That sum would amount to £ S 50 a fortnight ; a sum the abstraction of which from the labour fund would bo sensibly felt in , the tills oh Saturday night ; and will those shopkeepers reflect that the whole of the Bench , together with the proprietors of the Colliery , are , one and all , free-traders

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

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

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

      We will say that 100 , 000 pitmen will feel an interest ia this case ; an interest sufficient to induce them to subscribe a penny a week towards tbe support of those who are unwilling idlers , and whioh would amount to £ 416 13 j . 4 d . per week . Suppose there are £ 00 men on strike receiving ten shilling a week , that would amount to £ 250 , and which deducted from the , weekly subscription would leave a surplus of £ 166 13 s . 4 d . for general purposes . This is but the social part of the questionthe feeling part of the question—and we have yet to view it in its moral tendency . We contend for

      it , then , that an honest hard-working man should not be allowed to spend six weeks or six minutes in a felon ' s dungeon , and committed to hard labour , without receiving full compensation from his fellowlabourers , as far as they can render it , at the expiration of his sufferings ; Every pitman , aye , and every man who lives by his labour too , should be in Durham upon the day of the liberation of their victimized brethren , should receive them at the prison doors ; should take them in triumph through the town , Btopping before the Justice Hall , to allow the public voice to be heard within Hb walls , giving the lie to that judgment which pronounced honest

      English working men to be criminals . We have not done with this case . We shall not be done with it either , until we see the effect that the reading of the Thornley bond by Mr . Duncombb in the House of Commons will produce upon those who , last sessions , were so loud in tbeir sympathies for the oppressed Colliers . Aye , the whole bond , the Thornlev damnable , must be rea 4 » and published to the world . It shall be in every man ' s hand who ohooses to possess it . We will publish it in the S ( mr next week , and then appeal to every honeat man in England , whether " There is not more honour in the breach than in tho observance . "

      Again we bave to express a hope that the Confer * ence about to assemble at Manchester will see that this ia getting in the thin end of the wedge , io . or . der to split up the Union in its infancy ; and that ao available opportunity will be lost in driving it : while the very existence of the body depends upon the result of the pending oontest . It would be unfair to withhold from Mr . Roberts that large measure of praise which is due to him , as well for his warmth as for his ability . It is a novel thing to see the warmth of the gentleman , and the ability of the practitioner equally offending the ears and paralysing the nerves of the poor man ' s oppressors . In general it is the practice of those gentlemen to be employed by the defendant and concerned for

      the plaintiff ; but in the ease of the Colliers we find tbeir advocate entering heart and soul into the sufferings and feelings of his clients , and aotually endangering his own personal liberty by tho free expression of his warm feelings . Apropos of this . It appears that the Durham Dogberrys threatened to commit Mr . Robehts for contempt . What a joke ! A joke to bpeak of , a joke to think of , but no joke to them , had they dared to put their threat into execution . What ! a bench of village justices to commit an advocate for discharging his duty , with warmth , and for repelling insolent insinuation by indignant denial ! Commit him , indeed ! Had they dared to go this length , they would have gone beyond the limit of their tether , and from ( heir rashness , they would hare learned the wholesome lesson

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      that Mr . Roberts ' , » 9 well as themselves , was one of the parties to ] the proceedings : and , although they had the will ] they had not the power to carry It into execution . ) But the bond and the support of the men on strike ) are now the all-important considerations . The bond , when read in the House of Commons by Mr . Ddmcombs , will find its way into every paper in the Kingdom . Then the men ' s case , through our humble instrumentality , will be submitted to the general reviow of public opinion—then they will be justified by that opinion , and by it their masters will be damned .

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      THE ARMS BILL IN OPERATION . " NIX MY DOLLY PAU 3 , FAKE AWAY . ' * There are some subjects so seriously ludicrous that it is impossible to decide upon the most fitting description of criticism ; whether to weep at the unaccountable blunders and tom-foolery of the clown , or to laugh , at the sorrows of the brokenhearted heroine . I We confess that the ignorance , the patriotism , the anticipations of danger , and the valiant precautions to prevent it ; the rantings , the ravings , tho forebodings , and the heroic deportment wiihal of the Cork magistrates , recently assembled at Maoroom , for 1 tbe purpose of administering the

      Arms Bill , places : us in " a pretty considerablefix , ' > and rather puzzles us as to the course which , as journalists , it is our dtity to take . Speaking , however , ot the Arms ) Bill itself as a measure , we may , with becoming pride , refer our readers to the fact , that while the Bill was under consideration , we opposed it , not more because it was a gross violation of the constitution , than from the fact , as we have over and ; over again stated , that the village Dogberries , acting las the Executive of the Protestant party in Ireland would convert it into a ' casus belli' !; and under it would rally all those evil sectarian passions a gainst

      which the' | Government and the Irish Executive would struggle in vain . Indeed , to this end the magistracy was purified by the Lord Chancellor ; none being allowed to remain In tho Commission of the Peace save those who could be safely relied upon to aid iu the subjugation of Ireland . Whether or no we were right in our conjectures will be best proved by reference to the proceedings of the first court , held in the great county of Cork , for ths purpose of administering this unconstitutional , anti-Irish , anti-Catholic Bill . Since that report was in type , however , we have received the following more graphic description of the extraordinary proceedings from an eye witness .

      Upon Mairtouqh M'Donnaoan , of SleivebaHykinmackmuckridgetowncrossroad , applying to register fire arms under the Act , the following dialogue took place : — [ Chairman—Is there any objection to this man ! First Magistrate—Yes . I have a few questions to ax him . Are you a Repale Warden t No : I am not .

      Wore you -ever ]! No ; I wasn ' t . ] Did you collect the Repaid rint ! No ; I didn ' t . I Did you collect the O'Connell rint ! No ; I didn ' t . ] Damnation to your sawl do you mane to toll me that you are not a Repaler 1 No ; to be sire I ' m a Repaler .

      Magistrate—O . wisha , you thundering villan , did ' nt I know you were a Repaler ! reject him . Stipendiary Magistrate—Is there any thing against the man ' s character \ Several Magistrates speaking together . Och tunder and agers , agen his character ; what do you mane , with ] yomr speeching , you piebald Protestant \ Isn ' t he a Repaler , and isn't that enough for you ? \ Stipendiary—Ho . The law requires something

      more . ; Bench—The law is it 1 what the divil do we care for the law ! Ar ' n't we the law ! Stipendiary—But then the Aot of Parliament . Bench—Wiaha , blood and tunder ; isn ' t the maning of the Aot of Parliament in its issence and spirit , its very body and sleeves , breathing torough its very nostrils , { the disarming oi tbe Repalers , for the preservation of tbe peace , and the safety of Her Gracious Majesty ' s crown and ]| dignity ?—( Cheers . ) ; . Stipendiary— -But wefmust go by the law .

      Bench— 'By the law is it f what tbe diril law was there for sinking honourable men oat of the Commission f and can we allow . the sting to remain in the tail when the Lord High Chancellor has knocked the vinum out of the head of the serpent f —( Vociferous cheering , followed by—reject him , reject him , reject him . ) Kit Downing , \ from Skibbereen , was the -next who claimed to register under the Aot , when the following dialogue took plaoe between Alexander O'DrifiColl , T . P ., and the claimant . O'DriscoU— Downing , I ' ve a question to ax you . Arn't you a Repaler ! Kit—No , I am aot , Mr . O'DriscoU ; bat why so , Captain ! .

      O'DnscoIl—Because you ' re an ungrateful vagabond . | Kit— Well , Mr , O'Driscoll , but you astonishes me I Had ' nt I often the honour of dining at your own table , and didn ' t you often dine at mine ; and what have you agin me J O'DriscoU—O ! the curse of Cromwell upon you , Kit ! Didn't I give you many a good H blow out , " and a skinful of beef and cabbage , and as much Parliament whisky as you could tuck iato your carcase , and didn't you prove ungrateful , by attending the Repale Meeting ] in Skibbereen , contrary to my express proclamation *! - Kit—To bo sure I attended that meeting ; but that was before the Clontarf meeting .

      Several Voices—Oob , that makes no difference . TheKmagistrates ] were dismissed before the Clontarf meeting ; rejeot him—reject him . Stipendiary—Is there anything against the man ' s character } j O'Driscoll—Y 6 b ; he owes me an arrear of tithe of £ 1 17 s . 3 d : isn't that enough ! Several Voices ^ -Yes , yes ; rejeot him . Kit—Ooh , Captain , Captain , didn't yon distrain a fine two-year ould conlt , and three lambs , for the debt ! i

      0 'Driscoll—Hear that gentlemen ; by the holy post , and , as I am an honourable gentleman , that conlt and lambs were the ruin of me ; and I never charged the ungrateful rascal a farthing : but the coult gave Blue Sam the best hunker that I ever had , the mange , and I lost him for the season ; and but the lamba gave me whole flock the scab . , 4//—Shameful ! shameful I reject him . Stipendiary—I object . All— None ot Jyour speeching ; pitch him ; over . Who the divil cares what yw object to . Rejeot him —reject him . j Mat € ra Haven was the next claimant .

      Magistrate—Mat , yoa ' re a broth of a boy . Damn your soul wasin't you that shot the onld vixen , with a belly ofj cubs in her , last March ; and is that the gun you want to register f Mat—Wisha your honors , but sure I complained to his honor time after time , and all to no purpose after . Bhe took [ away the onld turkey and left the whole brood to die on me ; land then took three early lambs that ; I had to pay the rint , and was destroying me , and the divil a bit of consideration hie honor had , but laughed at me . . Several Magistrates—Answer the question , Sir , without equivocation . Did you shoot the fox ! '

      Matt { scratching his head J—Am 1 bound to answer that question ! Stipendiary—No , no . Magistrates—Vea , yes . If you don't answer it you'll be committed for contempt of court . . Now , wi ll you answer \ Did you shoot the fox 1 Mat—t didn ' t then . Magistrates--You thundering liar ; you perjured Yillin ; you lie , you lie . Reject him .

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      Clerk—Take down his words ; well commit him for perjury . Mai—Well , suppose I did . Magistrates—Why , that Mr . ¦ fcould trans * port you for it . Mat—O well , then , you may rejeot me , and 111 give my gun to his honour . Tim Mullagan was the next applicant . !! Magistrate—Arn ' t you a poacher ! Tim—Wisha , what ' s that , your honor ! Magistrate— -Wbj' , don't you shoot game by moonlight ! Tim— Indeed , then , I don't , your honors ; but I wouldn't know how to shoot them .

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

      face ! Reject him , rejeot him . Teady Muldooney was the next claimant . Magistrate—What do you want Muldooneyf Tead—Why , your honors , I want to register under the aot . Magistrate—Ar'n't you a Repale Warden ! Tead—No , I am not . Magistrate—Did you ever collect the rint j Tead—I didn't . Magistrate—Weren't you suspected of stealing Mr . M'Sweeney' 8 pig I Tead—I , sever hear I was , indeed . Magistrate— Mightn't you be suspected without hearing it ! Tead - I might , indeed .

      Magistrate— Well then , gentlemen , I contend for it that the very guts and the essence , and tbe maxrow—( hear , hear)—of the act applies to the disarming of suspicious characters —( Cheers , and reject him ) . Magistrate—What kind of fire-arms have you ! Tead-r Wisha , indeed , your honor , then I don't know how they are spioified in the act ; but I waa tould by the neighbours that all fire-arms should have the Protestant stamp up « n them ; and so I brought mine for the purpose . Mogistrate—Well , where is it ? A detonator , oz a flint lock , or a fuzse , or a patent breach t or does it go off by a matoh t or is it a rifle t or what the divil is it !

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

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

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      CONSTITUTIONAL LAW versus COAL KING LAW .

      GOOD NEWS 1 T 0 R THE MINERS . Hurrah ! hurrah ! ! hurrah 1 !! Just as we had olosed our remarks upon this damnable case , we received a hurried note from Mr . Roberts , announcing tho glad and joyous tidings that retribution had followed speedily on the heels of injustice . Resolved that justice should be had at any price , « nd instantly , bo started for London , where , upon carrying the case before Judge Pattison , that constitutional lawyer instantly granted a habeas corpus for the immediate appearance of the incarcerated victims of the Coal Kings . When IPr . Roberts wrote he was about to start himself with the writ , and to bring bis men up *

      So that while our readers are struck with the horrible picture we have drawn of " Club Law , " they will rejoice to find that in the real Law there is yet protection for the poor . To get the Law is the thing , and Mr . Roberts appear ? to have discovered the magical process by whioh this desideratum is to be achieved . Truly this man deserves well of bis clients . But as the process is very expensive , we trust that he will be manfully backed up in his noble work . It is most probable that while our readers are sympathizing with the Coal Kings ' victims , they may be on the read home , about to spend their Christmas at home instead of in the dungeon . This is in truth a great move .

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      STATE OP THE AGRICULTURAL . DISTRICTS .

      LORD ASHLEY AND THE WHIG PRESS . The readers of the Northern Star , for the last few weeks , have found ample testimony that the " Condition of England , " so far from improving , is daily growing worse and worsa . The " Question" which the people have often put to their rulers : " how have you led us , fed us , and taught us while we have toiled for you 1 " and which " hereditary legislation '* and "collective wisdom" have shuffled from answering ; is now being answered by the questioners themselves ! answered too , in language not to b © misunderstood , not to be mistaken ! answered

      nightly in characters of frame , which , reflected far and wide , form an appeal from earth . to heaven against the wrongs committed by man upon his brother ; and demand , at the throne of eternal justice , the annihilation of that accursed system of social and political wrong which has brought England to a state of anarchy , and arrayed class against class , and man against man , threatening the Utter ruin of each and all , the oppressed and the oppressor !

      England is ia a state of anarchy . True , some of the outward signs of such a state are yet wanting ; hitherto not seen : not because soldiery and police prevent such exhibition ; but because the people , ox a large portion of them , if they have well nigh abandoned hope , are yet unwilling to commit themselves to the crimes of despair . They are no lovers of cr ime , this Anglo-Saxon race 1 They have bee * famed for their crimeless obedience to the law ; and now would thousands of them rather suffer any extent of misery , than have recourse to the " wild

      justice of revenge . " But this will not always be ! If justice be not done to tbe people , the unjust must expect to have justice , —even though it be of the " wild" kind , —done upon them . And , God forbid that it should be otherwise ! We deplore the existence and the undoubted inorease of crime ; but w # are not ignorant of the causes of that existence and increase . It is clear as the sun at noon-day who are the parties that are responsible for this criminality—CHE HOLDERS OF KtOFBBTT . 'Tis they who haW the social arrangements of society in their hands i they who wield tbe power of life and death over / the

      unhappy bondsmen of this H Christian , " enlightened , " England . 'Tis they who have exclusively tla lav-making of the conntry to themselves ; they who make laws to make men criminals , \ and thenp » & laws to punish them for committing crime ! Yts * these are the parties to whose account ^ reaflj chargeable the frightful deeds now spreading terrorism threugh the once happy rural districts * f once * Merrie England . " Aye , we repeat it : if the holders of property will not do right ; if they will sin against God and man j if they will rob the poor and oppress the de *

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      A THE NOm T H E R N ST A R .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct833/page/4/